A Rare Event: August without a named Storm

Revelation 16:9 “They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Hurricane season on the verge of rarely seen August without a named storm
  • This could be just the third August since 1961, and the first August since 1997, without a named storm, according to AccuWeather, the independent forecasting service.
  • This season’s calm follows 2021, the third-most active season with 21 named storms, and 2020, the most active season with 30 named storms. And this year was the first time in seven years there wasn’t a named storm before the June 1 start of hurricane season.
  • Dry air, Saharan dust and wind shear are the main reasons no named storms have developed recently

Read the original article by clicking here.

‘We don’t give up really easy’: Navajo ranchers battle climate change

By Stephanie Keith and Andrew Hay

CEDAR RIDGE, Ariz. (Reuters) – Two decades into a severe drought on the Navajo reservation, the open range around Maybelle Sloan’s sheep farm stretches out in a brown expanse of earth and sagebrush.

A dry wind blows dust across the high-desert plateau, smoke from wildfires in Arizona and California shrouding the nearby rim of the Grand Canyon.

The summer monsoon rains have failed again, and stock ponds meant to collect rainwater for the hot summer months are dry.

With no ground water for her animals, Sloan, 59, fills an animal trough with water from a 1,200-gallon white plastic tank. She and her husband, Leonard, have to pay up to $300 to have the tank filled as her pickup truck has broken down. When it’s working, she hauls water herself every two days, spending $80 a week on fuel.

The cost of hauling water has made their ranch unprofitable.

The Navajo Nation – covering a 27,000 square mile area straddling the U.S. states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah — competes with growing cities including Phoenix and Los Angeles for its water supply.

And as climate change dries out the U.S. West, that supply is becoming increasingly precarious.

In decades past, “we got rain every year around June, July, August,” said Leonard Sloan. The 64-year-old rancher pointed toward the dry ponds in the ground near a local butte named Missing Tooth Rock. “When we had that storm, there would be water and they would be full. And now due to global warming, we don’t get no rain, just a little.”

To keep their ranch alive the Sloans have to get water, which is free, from the sole livestock well in the area some 15 miles to the east.

They spend between $3,000 and $4,000 a year on hay to supplement their animals’ feed as the open range no longer produces enough grass to sustain them.

Maybelle has cut her sheep herd down to 24 head, and Leonard tells her to get rid of them and her 18 goats to focus on their 42 cattle, which bring more money at market.

But Maybelle bristles at the thought of giving up sheep herding learned from her mother, and grandmother before her. Maybelle’s mother, father and sister all died in April from coronavirus.

“I’m doing it for my parents,” Maybelle said, wiping tears away as she sat on the metal railing of a corral while her cattle licked salt blocks and drank water.

GRADUAL DISASTER

The Sloans remember grass growing as high as the belly of a horse as recently as the 1980’s.

But drought conditions on the reservation have become largely relentless since the mid-1990’s.

Annual average temperatures rose by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the reservation’s Navajo County area over the 100 years to 2019, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.

The months of June to August this year were the driest on record in the area for the three-month period, according to drought monitoring data studied by climate scientist David Simeral of the Desert Research Institute in Nevada. Three of the five driest July-August rainy seasons in the area have occurred since the late 1990’s.

The warming trend has prompted desertification, with sand dunes now covering about a third of the reservation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

All but one of the reservation’s rivers have stopped running year-round, said Margaret Redsteer, a scientist at the University of Washington in Bothell.

“That’s the really tricky thing about droughts, and climate change is like that too,” Redsteer said. “It’s a gradual disaster.”

DETERMINED PEOPLE

On paper, the Navajo Nation has extensive water rights based on the federal “reserved rights” doctrine which holds that Native American nations have rights to land and resources in treaties they signed with the United States.

In practice, the Navajos and other tribes were left out of many 20th century negotiations divvying up the West’s water.

There are signs some of the next generation are keeping up ranching traditions.

Some youths simply help their grandparents haul water each day from the sole well for livestock in the Bodaway-Gap area. Still others, including Maybelle’s children, send money from their work off the reservation to help fund their families’ ranches.

“Us Indians, we don’t give up really easy,” Maybelle said. “We’re really determined people.”

(Reporting by Stephanie Keith and Andrew Hay; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Upcoming August Guests on The Jim Bakker Show! Great teachers, summer surprises! Join us at Morningside!

Jim and Lori Bakker at Morningside

By Kami Klein

Morningside is happy to announce the upcoming lineup of incredible prophets and teachers on The Jim Bakker Show for the month of August.  All of The Jim Bakker Show programs are taped with a live studio audience. Every show has free admission but please be sure you come a little early to get your seats! Most of our programs are aired approximately a week from live taping so if you cannot be with us here at Morningside, be sure to stay tuned and experience these great guests!  You can always check on jimbakkershow.com to see what is airing each week.   

Thursday, August 1st, at 11 am – Dr. Irvin Baxter

Please join us for a live taping on Grace Street as we welcome Dr. Irvin Baxter back to the show.  Irvin Baxter is the founder and president of Endtime Ministries. He is celebrated as a television and radio talk-show host, author, publisher, and international prophecy teacher. His show “End of the Age” can be found on the PTL Television Network.  

Tuesday, August 6th at 11 am – Frank Davis and Megan Poling

Founder and CEO of Food for Health International. Frank Davis has developed the very best in nutritional foods and supplements. Mr. Davis has been invaluable to this ministry in teaching the importance of organic, healthy foods and supplements that are all-natural and amazing for YOUR health!  We love to welcome Frank back on The Jim Bakker Show and this time he is bringing along Megan Polling to help introduce Lori Bakker ‘s absolutely amazing, natural skincare line! You don’t want to miss this one!  

Thursday, August 8th at 11 am.-Dr. Frances Myles 

Dr. Frances Myles will be joining Jim and Lori Bakker on Grace Street.  Dr. Myles is a multi-gifted international motivational speaker, business consultant and Apostle to the nations. He has appeared on TBN, God-TV and Daystar as well as a featured guest on “This Is Your Day” with Benny Hinn and Sid Roth’s “Its Supernatural Television Show”.  

August 13th with taping beginning at 11 am. Hank and Brenda Kunneman                  August 13th at 7 pm for Worship on Grace Street- LIVE stream  

Hank and Brenda Kunneman are known as a ministry team that shares the platform in a unique way and loves seeing lives changed through the prophetic word and ministry in the Holy Spirit. The Jim Bakker Show is looking forward to welcoming this inspirational couple on Tuesday,  At 7 pm ct that night, The Kunneman’s will be our special guest speakers leading worship on Grace Street. If you are unable to be here with us on Grace Street for the evening service we hope you will watch us on our live feed! 

Friday, August 16th at 11 am – Rick Joyner and Dr. Niegiel Bigpond

We are always thrilled to have one of the most highly respected prophetic voices in our nation to join Jim and Lori Bakker on The Jim Bakker Show. Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries, Rick Joyner, is an incredible friend of this ministry with astonishing insight into what is going on around the world.  Rick hosts Prophetic Perspectives, Strategic Insights for Our Time shown on the PTL Television Network which illuminates the current events of today with direct, informative and intelligent thought. Joining him on set will be Dr. Niegiel Bigpond. Dr. Bigpond has traveled worldwide, representing Christian Native Americans preaching and teaching God’s Word. After spending time in Washington D.C. working with Senator Sam Brownback (ret.) on H.J. RES. 46—a joint resolution of apology to Native peoples—Charisma Magazine named him one of the ten most influential Christian leaders of 2006.

Tuesday and Wednesday, August 20 & 21 at 11 am – Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

When Rabbi Jonathan Cahn arrives at Morningside, worship ALWAYS follows.  If you have the chance to experience Grace Street with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn you will never forget it. With two full days of taping, there will be so many prophetic moments. Rabbi is the author of several best selling books, including The Harbinger. He will be here on The Jim Bakker Show to launch his new book, The Oracle!  Please come early if you plan to attend!  If you cannot be here for the live taping, stay tuned and be sure to watch these upcoming shows!  

Tuesday, August 27, 11 am – James Goll                                                                                        Tuesday, August 27, 7 pm ct  – Worship with James Goll – LIVE stream

James Goll, forerunner and pioneer in the prophetic movement will join Jim and Lori Bakker for another incredible program.  James is the President of God Encounters Ministries, and has authored over forty books including The Seer, The Lost Art of Intercession, The Coming Israel Awakening and The Lifestyle of a Prophet. We are also thrilled he will be our special speaker Tuesday night for our LIVE stream worship service on Grace Street!

Thursday, August 29, 11 am – Lori Bakker 62nd Birthday Show with Bee Alive’s Jason, Lori and Madeline Balletta!  

Happy Birthday, Lori Bakker!  We hope you can be there to celebrate this mighty woman of God and welcome The Balletta’s to the stage.  This inspirational family has been wonderful friends of the ministry as well as amazing motivators for those who want healthy, natural products. This will be the first time Madeline has been with us for 10 years and a rare public appearance.  We are so excited to spend time with them!  

We hope you will join us here at Morningside!  This month will be filled with revelation, worship and the unexpected!  Remember that our tapings usually air about a week after taping. You can tune in to our LIVE stream worship services on August 13th at 7 pm ct with Hank and Brenda Kunneman and worship service on August 27th at 7 pm ct with James Goll you can join us on the PTL Network from your Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or go to jimbakkershow.com or ptlnetwork.com to tune in! 

Don’t forget!  Get our new smartphone app for PTL Television Network and watch us anytime, anywhere!   Follow this link for more information!   

 

Minutes from missiles, Guam islanders get to grips with uncertain fate

By Martin Petty

GUAM (Reuters) – Fourteen minutes is not long to prepare for a potential catastrophe. That’s the estimated time taken from a launch of a mid-range ballistic missile in North Korea until impact on Guam, where residents seem resigned to the belief that their fate is out of their control.

The local government of this tiny U.S. Pacific island issued preparation guidance to its 163,000 people on Friday on how best to hide and deal with radiation after threats by Pyongyang to strike Guam, or test its missiles in its surrounding waters.

But islanders don’t seem in a hurry to get ready.

Mike Benavente, 37, who maintains air conditioners, said he saw the advisory on Facebook, but preferred family time at a beach barbecue to stocking up on supplies and thinking about suitable shelter options.

“Preparation for attack? I’m doing it!” he said, pointing to a grill he was readying for burgers and hot dogs. “If we have a big missile coming here, everyone’s gonna die. How can I prepare for a missile?”

In a guidance note titled “Preparing for an Imminent Missile Threat”, Guam Homeland Security advised seeking out in advance windowless shelters in homes, schools and offices, with concrete “dense enough to absorb radiation”.

It said if an attack warning came, residents should seek shelter and stay there for at least 24 hours. Those caught outside should lay down, cover their heads and “not look at the flash or fireball” to avoid going blind.

Plush hotels along Guam’s Tumon beach didn’t seem in a rush to prepare either. Staff at several hotels and resorts said they knew guidelines had been issued but already had procedures in place for emergencies.

“We have an evacuation plan for typhoon, tsunami, terrorism, but we don’t have anything for a North Korean missile attack,” said a supervisor at one resort, who asked that neither he nor his hotel be identified because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

A manager at a hotel nearby had a printed copy of the guidelines, but said there was no instruction yet to distribute it to guests.

 

TIME LIMITED

North Korea on Thursday said plans would be completed by mid-August to fire four intermediate-range missiles to land near Guam, some 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) away, after U.S. President Donald Trump said any threat would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”

Guam, an island half the size of Hong Kong and some 7,000 km from the U.S. mainland, is a target because of its naval base and air force base, from which two B-1B supersonic bombers were deployed close to the Korean peninsula on Tuesday.

It is also a permanent home to a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor.

Local authorities have been reassuring residents and tourists that a “strategic defense umbrella” across the Western Pacific can counter any missile attacks, and the chance of a successful North Korean strike on Guam was minimal.

“Our confidence is it’s point zero zero, zero zero, zero – that’s five zeros – and a one,” the governor’s homeland security advisor, George Charfauros, said on Friday.

“The threat level has not changed. It’s business as usual.”

That was the case on Saturday in Guam’s malls and along its pristine beaches, where children played in the turquoise sea as parents drank beer and prepared picnics.

“I haven’t really thought about preparation. We really don’t know what to do if there’s a missile attack,” said Marlene, 37, an accountant.

“We get just 14 minutes. The military says they’ll be ready, so we’re banking on them.”

Auto parts seller Mitch Aguon, 51, spent his day off fishing and said preparation was pointless.

“By the time we hear about it, it’ll be too late and there’s no room for us ordinary Joes in the bomb shelters. We’re dead meat,” he said.

 

(Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

 

Small U.S. towns brace for rare solar eclipse, and crowds, in August

Books and a cardboard cutout representation of the moon eclipsing the sun on August 21, 2017 are seen at a bookstore in Jackson, Wyoming, U.S. July 12, 2017. Picture taken July 12, 2017. REUTERS/Ann Saphir

By Ann Saphir

DRIGGS, Idaho (Reuters) – Hyrum Johnson, mayor of the tiny city of Driggs, Idaho, expects some craziness in his one-stoplight town next month when the moon passes in front of the sun for the first total solar eclipse in the lower 48 U.S. states since 1979.

The town of 1,600 people in Teton County, just west of the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains Teton Range, is getting poised to receive as many as 100,000 visitors on Aug. 21 for the celestial event, said Johnson, who was both excited and worried.

Driggs is one of hundreds of towns and cities along a 70-mile arc, stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, that are in the direct path of the moon’s shadow. The full eclipse and the sun’s corona around the disk of the moon will be visible for a little more than two minutes only to those within this narrow band.

Driggs and other towns like it are scrambling to prepare for the onslaught of curious visitors.

“We expect gridlock,” Johnson, 46, said as he drove his pickup truck through town.

Tucked amid seed potato and quinoa farms, Driggs normally enjoys a more languid pace of life, with highlights including $5 lime shakes sold on balmy summer days at the corner drug store. But with the impending eclipse, planning has kicked into high gear.

To make sure nothing more than the roads will be clogged, Johnson took shipment this month of two massive generators that can be deployed at key spots along the city’s sewage system to keep it flowing in case of a power outage.

“We are telling our residents to hunker down,” Johnson said.

And while Johnson would have preferred to have taken his family backpacking during the time of the eclipse, he’s planning to stay in town in case anything goes wrong.

‘ALL HANDS ON DECK’

Over on the east side of the Teton Range, authorities are preparing for the day “kind of like a fire,” said Denise Germann, a public information officer at Grand Teton National Park. Estimating crowds is nearly impossible, she said, but “it is an ‘all hands on deck’ event.”

The 480-square-mile park’s campsites are completely booked, and it expects visitors to pour in from all over, including the bigger Yellowstone National Park, just north of the path of totality. Grand Teton will waive its $30 entry fee to keep traffic from backing up.

Many of the park’s 465 summer staff will be posted at trailheads and along roads to warn visitors to brace themselves for failed cellphone service, jammed roads and scarce parking, and to urge them to carry plenty of food and water, as well as bear spray to ward off wildlife.

In nearby Moose, Huntley Dornan said the county had warned business owners like him to expect four times the usual number of customers in the days leading up to the eclipse.

“I find that hard to believe, but I’m not going to be the guy who has his head in the sand and didn’t plan for it,” said Dornan, who runs a restaurant, deli, gas station and wine shop, the last place to get supplies before entering the park from the south.

Dornan plans to park a 48-foot refrigerated trailer stocked with a couple of thousand pounds of pizza cheese, 150 pounds of ground buffalo meat, a few hundred tomatoes, and gallons of ice cream, among other provisions for the expected hordes of tourists.

On eclipse day, only people who paid as much as $100 each to attend his viewing parties will be allowed access to the narrow road on his property that offers a clear view. Security will keep others out.

About 14 miles down the highway, in Jackson, Wyoming, Bobbie Reppa expects the family business to be flush with demand. She and her husband run Macy’s Services, the only purveyor of portable toilets for miles. The 50 she normally has on hand simply aren’t enough.

“We’ll be bringing them in from as far as Ogden, Utah,” she said.

(Editing by Ben Klayman and Bernadette Baum)