Tornado Video: August 24, 2008
RICHARD AND LINDA CASE - CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO
On August 24, 2008, the Sunday before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, our family experienced a miracle of God. It was a warm, typical sunny day in Colorado in August - with no forecast of bad weather. It is normal to have afternoon thunderstorms, but usually no big deal. This particular Sunday, our son, his wife, their two boys (ages 4 and 2) and our daughter were with us at home. We spent the afternoon in our theater watching the Sound of Music, our grandson's favorite movie. At around 5:15 pm we all went outside on our east deck. We noticed a cloud above us with a long, thin white line hanging in it. We thought it was strange. Because there was no forecast of severe weather; and we have never experienced tornado's near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, we thought it just a wind vortex that would just pass. We had no concern until it dropped to the ground on the northwest corner of our house. As we watched it grew darker as it sucked up dirt from our property, we then knew it was a real tornado - and coming at our house!! As I realized the potential danger, I told everyone to go immediately inside into the basement to a safe room. I stayed outside and just watched it - still did not seem "real" and "certainly not going to be a problem".
Then, it kicked into high gear - the sound of 100 locomotives that I have heard others describe; got darker and shrubs and trees now flying by. I said to myself: "oh, oh - this is going to be bad, and is coming right toward our house - better get inside, and now!" Being a believer in Christ and the awesome power of our God, I asked the Father: "What are you going to do with this and what do you want me to do?" - He told me through the Holy Spirit which is in me as a child of God: "Do not fear; I will protect you and your house as I have promised you in the covenant to my children; stand against this evil that has come against you and your house; and pray the covenant" (I had been studying and teaching others the wonderful promises of the covenant, which is fundamentally: God will bless me to become a blessing - with many provisions of safety, protection, deliverance, & abundant life). So, I went to the glass doorway and stood there watching and praying as God had instructed. The tornado was coming directly at our house, about 100 yards away - and I just stood there and prayed (about 6 minutes). All of a sudden, it dissipated back up into the cloud, which was moving over the house. I thought - wow, that was amazing - but at least it was over and going to be moving away from the house. So, I went to the front glass door and looked out to watch the storm go away.
But, it did not. In fact, the tornado re-formed right in front of our house, and was now massive - over 1/4 mile wide - it was not going away, but was coming back
toward the house! It was at this point that a 9- News helicopter, that was out covering the democratic convention arrivals was now down in Castle Rock because the tornado had been spotted, began taping the tornado around our house. The beginning part (about 6 minutes) when it first formed and came toward the house was not captured on film. So I again just stood there and prayed the covenant and asked God to fulfill His promise of protecting our family and our house, even though it looked bleak. My wife, Linda, and my daughter, Michelle, had become concerned that I did not join them in the basement, so they came upstairs to look for me. They saw me praying with my hands pressed against the glass, so they came to the door - and saw the massive tornado coming directly at our house!! They just sensed the Lord's protection and stood there with me, joining in prayer. Linda, who had received revelation about the power of the blood of Christ, was praying the blood of Christ. Michelle was praying for God to preserve the house which is used for marriage retreats, asking God to preserve this wonderful place where weak and broken marriages get restored and healed. Together, we stood together and prayed. The tornado seemed to be going away and then it would just come back - back and forth right in front of our house, no more than 100 yards away. At one point, the helicopter caught on tape, the broad funnel cloud engulfing the house. The broadcasters from the live newscast (which had broken into the Olympic coverage) saw it and commented that they thought the house was going to be destroyed. As it pulled away, they could not believe it was still there. We just kept praying. Then, after what seemed like hours, it just disappeared back up into the cloud and was gone!! The video from the news shows all this going back and forth right at our house - for 11 minutes.
It was truly a miraculous work of God that protected our family and retreat house. The video is truly remarkable and shows the reality of this amazing story. By the way, the sign of God's covenant is a rainbow. After the tornado was over, the sun came out and we looked out at a gigantic double rainbow!! The God of the universe did an amazing work for us - His promise was real and He confirmed it all for us through the rainbow. What was meant for evil and destruction was turned into good and wonder.
9-News sent a crew out to our house for an interview, as they could not believe that the house, nor we were damaged at all. They rolled the camera as Linda told the story of the miracle, giving public testimony of the power of the blood of Christ and the miraculous, supernatural power of God that literally held back the force of the tornado and saved our family and our house. She explained the whole story and called it for what it was - a miracle. 9-News led the 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm news with her testimony, and did not edit out any of her giving glory to God. They even finished the story with a statement that "it was a family of faith that saw God work on this amazing Sunday". Wow!!
The video shows that what happened was real; and anyone, even those that do not believe in Christ or the supernatural, can sense that it was a miracle due to a force not of us. We give all the glory to God as we continue to rejoice that we had the privilege of experiencing Him in this special way.
Our purpose in sharing this incredible story is that people reading and watching this might be moved to consider living their life in the wonder and awe of God, who loves and cares for us, and is there for us. If you have an interest in pursuing this life in God, please email us at r.t.case@att.net. We pray blessings upon you.
For information about Jesus Christ and how you can know Him on a personal level, visit one of the following sites:
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