There is absolutely nothing (and I mean nothing) that will (not can, could or might) cause confusion, chaos or (but most likely AND) just plain pandemonium and panic like the mentioning of the two simple words WINTER STORM!

By the time you read this article the storm will have passed. If you are reading this, you have survived the winter- pocalypse (I made that word up). The snow totals will be in, we will be digging out and have lots of stories to tell of the winter storm of 2026.

The weather channel and local TV stations all put out the weather warnings on Tuesday. They were not sure of the extent of the winter storm but it had the potential of being a bad one. We might receive 10-20 inches of snow or we might get a dusting. Ice is a possibility as well. We could see massive ice accumulations or maybe just a glazing. It depends on how far north the front comes. Temperature seems to be the only thing certain. There is a Siberian Polar Vortex coming down from the north. It is on a definite track to be over us. Temperatures will dive below the 0 mark and wind indexes will be brutal.

The ODOT is already preparing. They have the salt and sand trucks ready to go out and the snow plow on the front. Today (Wednesday, 21st) I passed a couple of trucks putting down the liquid de-icing solution so the bridges won’t freeze over.

I (and many others as well) have unhooked hoses from faucets. Then we covered the faucet with the Styrofoam cover. I went through the house checking all the windows to make sure they are shut. The heater is functioning quite nicely. Let’s see, batteries for flashlight… and flashlights? (in case electricity goes out.) I might need to get a couple of gallons of water because if no power then will we have water?

Oh, and I need to get some propane for the grill outdoors. If the power goes out, I may want to cook something. Well, let us be honest, I will make my coffee in a pot that will heat up on the grill! But the food cooking idea is a good one.

Speaking of electricity going out, I may need to find some blankets and have them in a handy place just in case I need them. And…let us not forget the groceries.

I do not understand the fact that the weathermen all across the state on TV, radio and social media have told us about the upcoming winter storm, we still wait until the storm starts to go to the store! I used to work in the grocery store in high school when I first noticed this phenomenon of waiting until the last minute to go shopping for groceries. Waiting while you have the warning of the upcoming apocalypse is insane (but I do).

A person has to make sure they are well stocked with supplies. You know, bread, milk, eggs, cheese, lunch meat and most importantly, toilet paper! We wait until the last minute and then, in the mad rush of trying to get all we need before we are shut in for the weekend, we get all bent out of shape when we can’t buy bread, milk or eggs because they are sold out!!!

Once we get out of the mad house at the grocery store we manage to get home to unload the groceries, we discover the surfaces of the earth at our house is now a skating rink. We shuffle, take baby steps or whatever it takes to get from the car to the house. All the while we are doing that, we wonder why we didn’t go by the hardware store and buy some ice-melt to put on the sidewalk or driveway to keep from being a statistic of the people that fall on the ice, injuring themselves and require medical attention… in a winter storm!

All of this preparation for a storm that is coming that we don’t know how bad it will be… Made me think (you knew it was coming).

The Bible tells us to prepare also and I don’t mean a winter storm. Jesus tells us to be ready because He is coming back. The angels tell the apostles to be ready, Jesus is coming back. Paul tells us to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming. We know He is coming. But like the winter storm, we don’t know when.

With the winter storm we don’t know how bad it will be, however, the Bible tells us what it will be like at His return. For believers, we meet Jesus in the air (1 Thes.), there will be not death, sickness, pain or tears (Rev. 21). For unbelievers, tribulation is the word the book of Revelation uses.

I believe, also, people will be like the winter storm with Jesus’ return. They will be waiting until the last minute. Preachers have been warning of the eminent return to Christ and people nod heads, say amen but refuse to prepare until…until it is too late. There will be scurrying around, crowded churches and people with lots of questions but to no avail.

Years ago Blue Bell Ice cream was pulled from the shelves of supermarkets. Distribution had ceased. The manufacturing plants were closed due to the germ Listeria being found. After four months of cleaning and updating the plant, the announcement was made that Blue Bell was coming back. People everywhere were so excited. Lines formed to purchase the long awaited frozen dessert. The buildup to the return was unbelievable and so were the sales.

Tell people Blue Bell is back or a winter storm is coming and everyone gets excited. Tell people Jesus is coming back and “Oh well!” Preparing for the Snowpocalyse, Bro. Tim