Dangerously Cold January

by Russell Dennis, Jr.

The United States Weather Bureau was in its formative years in the winter of 1888, and the agency was still under the administration of the army. Veterans of the Civil War and the western Indian struggles filled the leadership ranks.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, Lieutenant Thomas Woodruff was in charge of forecasting major weather changes in the plains. Data would be received from the western outposts, and then an indication report would be sent to Washington D.C. to be reviewed and sent back out by telegraph to the newspapers and weather reporters of the northern plains.

The 24 hour forecast for January 12, 1888 was for general warming followed by snow and falling temperatures. From the data of distant reporting stations, it appearred that the coming cold could be extreme, but Lt. Woodruff refrained from issuing a blizzard warning.

In Nebraska and the Dakota territories the early warming prediction was accurate. So warm was the day that farmers ranged far into their fields, and many children set off to their one room schoolhouses with no gloves or coats.

Then the weather changed dramatically. One eye witness stated that the front looked liked "a huge cloud rolling over and over along the ground." Many remembered the "storm was preceded by a loud roar, like an approaching train."

With all the snow and ice, the visibility was immediately reduced to zero. To be caught outside became a life and death struggle. In three minutes, the temperatures had dropped 18 degrees, and in a few hours the wind chills were down to – 40 degrees below zero.

Even though the weather service had missed the forecast, messages came down the railroad telegraph lines reporting the oncoming storm. In eastern Dakota, a station agent named Brown received the news that morning from Bismarck. There was a schoolhouse near his station, and he rushed outside shouting the blizzard warning to the kids that were headed to school. Many returned home and survived the storm.

That storm of January 12-13, 1888 became known as the Schoolhouse Blizzard, as it hit when many of the kids were headed home from school. The death toll from that one storm was calculated at around 250, with most being children. (Laskin, David. The Children’s Blizzard. New York: Harper Collins. 2004).

How thankful to those who realize the oncoming danger and give a warning, especially to the children.

Classes Resume on January 14, 2015

by Russell Dennis, Jr.

Second semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. There is still time for those interested in taking classes to sign up for the Spring term. A full listing of both day and evening classes, along with a special student registration form is available by calling or e-mailing the office or by downloading from the link below.

We look forward to a fine schedule of chapel preachers and other special events planned for this year. You are always invited to attend.

Download 2015 Class Schedule HERE! >>

Starting the New Year

by Russell Dennis, Jr.

For most of us, the New Year revolves around ambitions and determinations. Many Christians resolve to read their Bible, some pledge to give more, and others to share the Gospel in this upcoming year. Of course for many Americans, their New Year’s resolution is to "lose weight."

However, for a large percentage of the world, the New Year is yet to arrive.

This year, the Chinese will celebrate the New Year on February 19th. The Chinese calendar is based on the moon, so the date for the New Year varies each time as much as one month. The first lunar day of the year usually falls between January 21st to February 20th.

The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival which is the most important traditional festival in China. Much surrounding the celebration reflects ancient religious customs (e.g. door god images, sacrificing to ancestors, the legend of Nian).

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, new clothes are worn, and much like in America, families stay up late and then gather for what is called a Reunion Dinner.

In similarity to our July 4th, after the New Year is announce with bells, fireworks are the order of the night - lots and lots of fireworks. The recklessness and abandonment of these incendiaries yearly cause many fires. The worst in recent times was the devastating New Year’s fire that destroyed the 720 foot Dynasty Wanxin Hotel in Shenyang, China in 2011. All that work and effort was burnt up.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 3 about our life’s work as a building that will one day be tested. If we have built with the right materials, it will abide.

Plan for this year to be Christ-centered. I well remember an old evangelist who used to say: Let the rest of your life, be the best of your life.

Dates to Remember

by Russell Dennis, Jr.

Semester Begins: Wednesday, January 14th

Easter Break: April 1-5

Graduation Week: April 27 - May 1

Combined Church Service with Dr. Gerald Stokes: Wednesday, April 29th, 7:00 p.m.