Should we believe God's weatherman?

The Rev. Pat Robertson more often than not provides a healthy dose of reality to his viewing audience. Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, is a respected man of God who dipped his toes into the political arena a few years ago. Despite that lack of political success, Robertson nonetheless still advocates views and opinions that are shared with a vast majority of the American public.

Put simply, I admire and respect Pat Robertson. Though outspoken on most topics, Robertson says what many of us feel.

But lately, the Rev. Robertson has me clearly puzzled. Or then again maybe Robertson knows what the heck he's talking about and I'm just a crusty, old cynic.

This week, God gave Robertson a weather forecast. The televangelist says that God told him there "may well be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest." He said God - "If I heard the Lord right" - also said the coasts of American will be lashed by storms.

I don't doubt that Pat Robertson is a man of God. And if God talks directly to him, who am I to question? But I can't help but wonder if God might not have more pressing matters other than to relay a weather forecast to the Rev. Robertson.

This isn't the first time in recent months that Pat Robertson has made the news. He recently said that U. S. agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He failed to mention if God had issued that command. He also said that the stroke suffered by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was divine retribution for his actions. Not sure if that came from God or not.

I don't want to question the Rev. Robertson but his actions as of late make you wonder. I just wish that God would talk to Robertson and tell him how we can end this struggle in Iraq. I wish God would slip a message to Robertson on how to solve our growing problem with immigration.

For now, at least, Robertson is hearing only weather reports. And this special message from above came during Robertson's annual month-long prayer retreat in January. I guess God waits until special times to provide these special messages.

Pat Robertson still has my respect. But increasingly, I am wondering if his age or the pressures of his work may not be combining to cloud his hearing. If a tsunami strikes Seattle, we'll have our answer.