Hurricane Sandy Hits the East Coast

Oct 30th 2012

Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the U.S. with forceful winds and severe flooding after devastating parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba. Early reports state that NY, NJ and CT are the worst hit. I just saw some footage of the aftermath and I'm in shock.

NY looks almost post-apocalyptic and the Jersey Shore is almost gone. I know what it's like to live through a hurricane and the hard weeks and months of recovery so I'm praying hard for all those affected by this mega-storm.

Update: Oct 31st 2012
Subways are still closed and power still out for most of the affected areas of New York City and the Jersey Shore looks totalled. News reports are stating that 66 people have died due to the storm in the U.S. plus the number that died in the Caribbean.

Update: Nov 5th 2012

NBC/Universal did a Sandy Relief Telethon with performances by New York and New Jersey natives, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige plus Jimmy Fallon, Steve Tyler, Christina Aguilera and more. They raised more than 20 million dollars which they will donate to the American Red Cross for relief funds for the Hurrican Sandy victims. Reports now state that over 100 deaths have been directly related to the storms effects in the U.S.

Update: Nov 8th 2012
Ecclesia Church is partnering with Samaritan's Purse and Reformation Hope to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief in the Northeast and Haiti. Ecclesia Church will match $1 for each $1 donated in hopes of raising 20k. To Donate go to  www.churchinhollywood.com/#/giving/hurricane-relief

Gunman's Rampage On Sunset

A real life drama plays out on the streets of Hollywood as a gunman terrorizes Sunset Blvd. at Vine by shooting over 20 bullets in the air and then at many drivers and pedestrian. Weirdly, I was watching it live on TV and all I could say was “Oh, my God! There's my Kinko's and the McDonald's” I hang out after seeing a movie at the ArcLight Theater”. I was due to be in the exact spot of the shooting and so I really started praying then because I know that it was only the grace of God that had kept me away and safe.

Unfortunately, one 40 year old male driver was shot in the neck and later died and 1-2 others had the gunman point the gun at them point blank. Some people, especially the out-of-towners and the foreign tourists, saw the events unfolding but thought it was a movie shoot and stopped to observe it. They soon found that it was not and had the horrific and surreal experience of running for their lives on their vacation.

Thankfully, an armed off-duty police man was in the area and he intervened after calling for back up from a full squad of police who quickly responded. The gunman was fatally shot by the “Good Samaritan” cop after he would not drop a knife he pulled when his gun ran out of bullets. The gunman died at the scene and the police quartered off the area and got reports and video from witnesses.

Update:
Police report that the gunman was Tyler Brehm and his friends blame a recent break-up and possible drug use for his rampage. Reports also say that the driver who was shot and killed was John Aterberry, a black music executive turned film producer who had worked with some of the music industry's biggest stars like rappers, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg as well as the late Tupak Shakur. He also worked with popular singers like Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Jessica Simpson and the Spice Girls.

Ironically, Aterberry was said to be producing the Christian film “God's Country” at the time of his death. But, not surprisingly, Sunset Blvd. was back to its weird form of “normal” when I visited the following week after church. Please, pray for Hollywood!