New blog...

Started a new blog today. It is purely a personal journey of mine. Check it out here.

Bittersweet day...

Well, I made it. I got through it..err...well the Lord got me through it. I preached at my Granny's memorial service today. I sense now more than ever that I was the one that was supposed to speak on this day. You see, my Granny is now in Heaven and I will see her again. As I said on Facebook it's not goodbye, but see ya soon, Granny. That's what I said also at the service. As long as we have Christ in our hearts, we can honestly say "See ya soon, Granny!"

I almost lost it more than once during the service but God took my shaky voice and made it strong again. Person after person came to me afterwards and told me how great of a job that I did but it wasn't me, it was He who dwells within me.

I am feeling called to preach now more than ever. My uncle and I had a good conversation afterwards and he said now all we gotta do is get you behind the pulpit more. I'm very insecure about my abilities to preach-I know that God will show me, teach me, and lead me--but I just, well, I don't know. Maybe I'm getting closer to answering His call but it would mean giving up a lot of things that I'm not sure I am ready to give up. Are things more important than God's call? No not never!! But don't judge me until you've walked in my shoes, k? Enough about me....

My Granny was a superwoman. She raised 4 kids in a small, 2 bedroom home that maybe measured 400 square feet. She never had a driver's license, car, cell phone, satellite TV, computer, or central air conditioning. What she did have was a big heart that cared for us all. She was concerned about our salvation, health, and our needs in that order. Notice I didn't say wants.

She also demanded us grand kids to "come here and hug my neck" when we arrived at her house. As a boy, I thought that was very uncool but now I long to get one of those hugs....

Granny taught me the kids' Bible song Jesus Loves Me. I still hear her voice...Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.....

I am so proud to have known Granny and I look forward to hugging her neck when my earthly journey is over...

What have I become?

If you are a storm chaser, or you have seen the stories on TV slamming chasers lately then you have a small glimpse into the chasing world. I have 2 statements about the recent drama and then I will comment below...

1. What the TIV did last Wednesday (passing in a no-passing zone going uphill) was irresponsible and could have ended up tragically. It was a risk that Sean took, and this time it paid off. Sean, what about next time when a single mom is cresting the hill and your TIV disintegrates her Honda and ends three lives?

2. Josh Wurman and his totally cocky remarks about how "his" Vortex2 research team didn't get precious data because us "peasant" storm chasers would not "bow" to him and let his armada pass by was uncalled for as well. Dr. Wurman, just who do you think you are? TWC interviewed Joshy and he was doing his typical crying because of his failure and the chase community is made out to be the bad guys. Phooey on you doc...

Ok, here goes. All of this garbage has resulted in mass chaos amongst the chaser community. I will admit, I am not as well known as others and in fact, some chasers may not know me at all. That's the way I like it--behind the scenes. So I'm sure that not many will mind my rant.

I simply will not and cannot participate in all the drama and garbage that has been ongoing for several weeks now in the chasing community. Not anyone in particular is at fault, save me. I have allowed myself to get suckered in to the bitterness and anger filled thoughts and attitude that is unbecoming of a Christian. It has caused me to lose focus in certain areas of my life and I simply will not let it get to me anymore. I am co-owner with Lanny Dean of the best tornado tour company in the world, Extreme Chase Tours. I will focus my energy on my relationship with God, my family, and my company. So to answer the big question "is Jeff quitting?" No, I am not quitting. I am simply gonna re-focus on what matters and let the other stuff fall off my back. I am giving serious thought about resigning from Stormtrack, a popular online forum for chasers that has snowballed into nothing more than a hate-filled forum where many new chasers have flocked to and try to act like they know everything. While the meteorological intelligence on ST is second to none, so are the childish games. Jury's still out on my leaving that forum. I know, I don't have to log in...

Also my Facebook page is going through some changes. I gotta get back to basics. When I opened my FB account, I had in mind my youth group On The Edge. I would quote Bible verses and encouraging posts for my friends but then something happened. I realized that I had more and more "friends" and the spiritual posts got fewer and farther between, and eventually my critical side started typing away and you probably have seen some pretty distasteful posts by me. Many of my friends have noticed this as well. For that, I ask your forgiveness. If I have offended you, I am truly sorry. And take heed, if you do not like Bible verses and positive, uplifting posts, then you can hide my status or "unfriend" me. All of us need a re-alignment now and then, and the Lord is dealing with me at this time.

TORNADO OUTBREAK EXPECTED MONDAY!!

Here are a couple of maps. The first is courtesy of the National Weather Service in Tulsa and is a graphic of what is expected for Monday afternoon & evening. The second is courtesy of the Storm Prediction Center and shows what is called a moderate risk of severe weather for Kansas & Oklahoma tomorrow. Bottom line is there will be severe weather, and please make praparations now for tornadoes, large hail, and severe winds. Listen to local radio and TV for updates and keep your NOAA weather radio on. This could be pretty nasty but if everyone will stay calm, we will get through it.....

MAJOR TORNADO OUTBREAK TODAY!!

Models continue to indicate another tornado outbreak for parts of Arkansas, Tennesee, and Mississippi today into tonight. Destructive long track tornadoes are a real threat in these areas. I ask all who read this to please maintain a heightened awareness today. Keep your weather radios and televisions on and be ready to take cover. Do not even try to chase this event--veteran chasers have described the Yazoo City tornado from last Saturday as a "black mass of clouds", and a "rolling black fog" not to mention that these tornadoes will likely be rain-wrapped so you may not know what is coming at you. Also radar data may fail as it did last Saturday so keep an eye on your radar data.

Prayers are going out for the folks affected by last nights tornadoes.

Passion and compassion

Picher, Oklahoma, 2 years after the tornado

Picher, revisited

On a stormy spring day in 2010, we drove by a small town plagued by tragedy. A town that once was a thriving community, a town that was dealt a final blow on May 10, 2008. A massive EF-4 tornado tore through what was left of the town that terrible day. 6 people lost their lives in Picher Oklahoma that day, and dozens were injured. Hundreds of lives were changed forever.

I head up a disaster relief ministry called Mission of Compassion and the day after the tornado devastated the area, we jumped into action. We gathered up food, water, and cleaning supplies and drove the next Saturday to the areas that were hardest hit by the storms. You can visit my blog here and read about the trip. Little did we know that Picher would never rebuild. Still, we left water, food, and hugs with the victims and relief workers that day.

My son, his best friend, and I were on a storm chase that led us through Picher just the other day. On the way home, we decided to stop by and take a look at the town. Was I ever surprised! It was like a ghost town! Keep in mind, FEMA and all government relief money went to relocate the victims instead of rebuilding due to the fact that the area had been declared hazardous and is a Superfund buyout site, but the scene was still surreal. I have never seen a ghost town in real life until now. There was even an auction in the middle of town selling off someone’s belongings.

As we drove through what used to be a nice neighborhood, my heart sank. I could hardly bear to see all the destruction-most looked as if the tornado had just gone through. Trees were still laying on homes, windows blown out, roofs missing off of homes, etc. Some homes had been razed and replaced by empty lots and overgrown vegetation. Trees were torn off at about the 15 foot level and mangled. The streets had deteriorated and had grass growing up in the cracks. Power poles were missing and electric service meters were gone from the homes that were still intact. Nary a car or person in sight, save for the activity of the auction.

It was here, in the middle of “ground zero” that I began to weep and to question my passion, storm chasing. I thought to myself why do I chase something that is so destructive? I hate to see people suffer, why do I chase tornadoes? The answer came quickly for me. What if all the TV stations and the National Weather Service had no spotters or chasers to provide ground truth? What if there were no warning sirens activated in Picher that day? Would it have been six lives lost? Or sixty? God only knows, but I am determined to do my part by calling in severe weather my TV station or calling the local emergency manager to inform him about the situation. It’s my passion. It’s who I am.

I am a storm chaser.

Jeff Smith

Photos of the sunrise....