Today I am praying for cities and their citizens in the general KC metro area. Two impacting stories have heightened my prayers:
Some of you who don't live in the KC area were asking about the chemical explosion in KC yesterday. It was at CHEMCENTRAL CORPORATION off of I-35 and it happened around 2pm (that's north of us). Investigators are still unsure of the cause. There was a loud main explosion, from three 30,000 gal. tankers blowing up. Smaller drums full of chemicals subsequently went up as the fire expanded. Plumes of black smoke filled air and could be seen for miles. We couldn't see a distinct shaft of smoke from our house, but we think we could see the dissipation of the smoke clouds. The smoke wasn't blowing toward our house either, but in a south westerly flow, which took it away from our part of Jackson County.
The fire was enormous and burned until about daybreak today. The fire has basically burned itself out with a few hot spots remaining. Fire fighters went back this morning to foam those areas.
There were no fatalities at the corporation or in the nearby community where it is reported that a few houses were gutted by fire. A mandatory evacuation in the surrounding area was enforced, but today those folks should be able to return to the area. Once again, I thank the Lord for looking out for everyone... it could have been much, much, worse. Everyone was concerned about the air quality here in KC. The EPA has taken numerous samples and have concluded that there aren't any alarming levels. That's pretty amazing to me considering that this was a huge chemical fire!
Also the "reporter" in me is emerging as I am concerned about the affects of a local bowling alley in our city. There was a shooting at a local McDonald's off of 350 HWY yesterday afternoon. Apparently the suspects were patronizing the bowling alley when a fight broke out. It ended with the shooting at McDonald's- just down the street from the bowling alley. All the shooters were High School students from nearby metro schools, too! Unbelievable! No one was injured... and that's a miracle. The local police department recovered over 30 casings. I shudder to think how many people eat at that McD's on the highway. We eat there, too. It could have been much worse.
The connection with the bowling alley and several crimes (one murder a few years ago) is staggering. Although most of the crimes do not occur on the premises, we hear over and over again how fights ensuing at the bowling alley spawn these violent acts. As a member of the community... I want to know what's going on in that place...why it seems to be a social cesspool and catalyst for crime.. and how we can stop these acts. If things don't change there, it's only a matter of time before innocent people will get hurt. I would think that the owners/managers of the bowling alley would be concerned, too.
In light of these two stories today, let me encourage you to pray diligently and consistently for the community where you live. It should start with your neighbors and spread as far as your local government officials, etc. God can move on the behalf of our cities... and we must ask Him to do so in the day we are living in. We need the hand of the Sovereign to protect, defend, heal, correct, serve justice, revive, and disperse blessing! If we want God to touch our nation, it all begins in the cities and towns! I'm sure when you start praying, God will begin to specifically lay names, departments, officials, or businesses on your heart. Let's allow the Spirit to lead us today concerning the areas we live!
