Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Baptism & BBQ



Yesterday I received a great praise report from Rob Wilton, pastor of Vintage Church in Uptown New Orleans and I wanted to share it with you. God has blessed Vintage Church and their efforts in Uptown and they are beginning to see a harvest from the seeds they've sown. With this harvest came the opportunity to baptize new believers.

"Our goal," says Rob, "was to celebrate the life change and testimony of these seven people in our community. We had a worship service in which we celebrated Christ and taught on the biblical truth about what it means to be baptized. When we finished our worship we went to the back of our church and had the baptism. Most baptisms feel more like a funeral than a celebration. We created an environment that felt more like a tailgating party. There was singing, clapping, praying, and most importantly the baptism. As each person came out of water we yelled at the top of our lungs. It was an exciting time. After our worship we had a cookout in Laurence Park. It was a great day."


What a great way to celebrate what Christ has done in someones life. Keep praying for Rob and Vintage Church as they prepare to officially launch their church plant on Oct. 5th. Also, pray that the seven recently baptized will grow in their relationship with Christ and be an effective witness for Him to their community.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

What A Week!

This week I've been working on the following:

  • Crossover New Orleans (I can't begin to list all this entails)
  • 4 Fall Festivals
  • Block party to kick off a new ministry
  • Prayerwalk
  • Helping a pastor start a new men's ministry
  • Preparing to preach on Sunday

Three of these happen this weekend while the other six are over a seven day period in November. I've declared Saturday, November 15 Its Over Day; a day set aside to celebrate the fact that its over.

I thank God for the people He has sent my way to work with me on these projects. I'd have jumped out the window of a one story building by now had it not been for them. There's nothing like working together with fellow believers who are enthusiastic about sharing the gospel through these various events.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Tree Man

In the absence of Southern Baptist disaster relief chainsaw crews in the New Orleans areas, I've become the official fallen tree inspector. Gustav and Ike toppled a fair amount of trees throughout the metro area but with the worst damage west of us, crews were sent, and rightly so, to places like Baton Rouge and Houma. Unfortunately, none of our churches has the equipment or training to conduct tree removal. Therefore all calls for such work have been given to me for assessment. I don't mind you see, in fact it gets me out of the office and puts me face to face with people in need. I like that.

The problem is, as was stated before, no one, including myself, has training on this sort of thing. I've got the intro down pat: "Hi, my name is David and I'm with the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and we've received word that you have a tree down on your property..." That's not the problem. Its when I walk to the back yard that I have to pretend I know what I'm doing. I've stopped saying stupid things like, "So this is the tree?" Of course it is dummy, its the only one crushing the house. I just walk around the downed tree and look at it intently while the home owner tells me all about their frustrations with the insurance company, dealing with hurricanes, watching their friends and families move away, and so on and so forth. I also listen while they express their gratitude for me stopping by. They often thank me as if I rode in on a white horse, armor blazing in the sun.

To be honest, its not so much about a tree as it is about the person that I do this. Given the situation, we may or may not be able to remove the tree safely. But regardless, we always have the opportunity to build a relationship which can lead to our sharing the gospel. Its times like these that I wish I didn't have to spend so much time behind a desk. I rather be in those back yards investing more time with those people and letting them know just how much the God of all creation loves them and wants a relationship with them. There are thousands of back yards around our city where needs go unmet. It doesn't take a professionally trained team to meet those needs either. All it takes is matching our availability with the opportunity. Obedience to our Lord takes effort and sacrifice, every ounce of which is unequivocally worth it.

Friday, September 12, 2008

255 Miles is Not Enough

Ike is to our southwest on its way to Galveston and Houston but you'd think it was on its way here by the weather outside. The wind really picked up yesterday afternoon and storm surge caught many by surprise as water from lakes and bayous covered streets and flooded low lying neighborhoods. The wind and high water are expected to continue throughout today and begin slacking off tomorrow. It goes without saying that we could really use a break from all this. However, regardless of what we want, the coast of Texas is about to get it and my prayers are with them. Jaime and I have some good friends that live in Houston who have decided to ride it out. Our prayers are especially with them.

I've mentioned before that I don't like praying for these storms to go somewhere else and instead pray for them to decrease in intensity or just go away. So far, Ike hasn't intensified as expected and I'm glad. However, this hasn't stopped this storm for aggravating us from afar. This is why I'm a supporter of our state's efforts to rebuild our wetlands. When our wetlands were in place they would greatly reduce storm surge but with their rapid disappearance the threat of storm surge is almost as great for storms that hit us as those that are hundreds of miles away.

The past three weeks have been a painful reminder for some and a sobering reminder for others of the effect of hurricanes on south Louisiana. Its exhausting to be completely honest. We're all ready to get back to our post Katrina lives. Three weeks is a long time to put things on hold while we hold our breath. There's prayer walks, fall festivals, state-wide evangelistic emphasis, and Crossover New Orleans right around the bend and I need to be giving them more attention than I'm able to at the moment. Its times like these that you realize just how much you have to put things in God's hands. Without His sustaining power I'd throw in the towel. No, seriously. I'd throw in the towel and go fishing. With that being the case, understand that when these events take place, it will be Christ alone who gets the glory. That's the way it should be.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Old Wounds and Unanswered Questions

Hurricane season is part of the cultural make-up of South Louisiana. From June 1 till the 30th of November, we watch the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico with anxious eyes. That's a whole six months, half a year, we live with the treat of these storms. I can remember growing up how most people gave hurricane season little regard. Most didn't make plans or stock provisions until it was too late and mandatory evacuations were just too unpopular for our local government officials to call. I know people who threw hurricane parties while the storms came ashore. We just didn't take things seriously. Then Katrina. Levees broke, the city filled with water and over a thousand people died. Now we take this stuff seriously.

We've nowhere near recovered from Katrina and another major hurricane has come and gone. Praise God we were spared from the physical destruction of Gustav. Praise God the levees held and the city remained dry. Praise God everyone got out this time.

God, why couldn't you spare us from the emotional damage caused by the storm?

Why do old wounds have to be reopened?

Why?

I confess that I don't have any answers. I only know that such matters are God's business and are derived from a level of reason and wisdom far beyond our comprehension in this world's realm. I do know this; the suffering we endure as a result of hurricanes is minuscule when compared to the suffering Christ endure on our behalf. However, so many people aren't aware that there is strength to face the suffering from The One who suffered the most. These are the ones who live without hope, whose determination and resilience fade with each passing storm. I've already heard from several that Gustav was the last straw. They've had enough and are leaving the area for good. Its not a mass exodus, at least it doesn't look that way. Those I've spoken with who have Christ state economic and security reasons for leaving while those without just seem to be running. They feel the grass will be greener and the wind less vicious somewhere else.

To me, this only reinforces my belief that there is an urgency to love people and share Christ with the Greater New Orleans area. Unfortunately, this urgency seems to collide with a crisis of commitment from the Body of Christ. There are too many Christian social clubs and not enough good and faithful servants. We are letting the greatest evangelistic opportunity in our nation's history pass us by.

Father, forgive our disobedience. Convict our hearts and stir us to action. Use our voices, hands and feet to make You known to all. Show us Your glory through our obedience. And should we fail You by neglecting our city and go the way of the priest and Levite, please send the Samaritan. Amen

Monday, September 08, 2008

Home

Jaime and I made it back to LaPlace safe and sound on Sunday. We arrived a little after 12 noon, or little before half-time of the Saints game depending who you ask, and found the house in good order. The only damage to our property was our back fence which had blown down in a couple of places. Our attempt to buy groceries was a bit of an adventure. There are only two stores open and one had already closed by the time we arrived so we joined the crowd at the other to peruse the thin selection of eatable wares. Thanks to the members of FBC LaPlace, we were able to pick up a hot meal of red beans and rice for our supper. Way to serve! Now to sit back and watch Ike. Yippee.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Lights

I just got off the phone with my neighbor who informed me that our power came on only thirty minutes before I called. They are well and their house is in good order. This is encouraging for Jaime and I as we get ready to pull out of Natchitoches in the morning at 6 A.M. Until then, we're off to Nicky's Mexican Restaurant for a late birthday celebration (Jaime's) with family.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Prepared

Its official. Jaime and I are going home on Sunday. This gives our parish a couple more days to work on things and gives us an opportunity to visit Jaime's family in Natchitoches, LA. Jaime received word yesterday that she's not expected back at work until Monday. With that behind us, a feeling of peace about Sunday, and an end to the three and a half days of rain, we could finally relax a bit. And what better way to relax than to go bowling. I know some of you are wandering how we could go bowling at a time like this. Look, you've got to do something to get things off your mind in situations like this and bowling is a great distraction. Apparently some evacuees from Houma thought the same. We ended up bowling on neighboring lanes and enjoyed visiting with one another. I bowled four strikes in a row to finish out one of the games. No really, just ask Jaime. For a moment I was like the Forrest Gump of bowling. It was great!

Before we left Mangham, we picked up some provisions for our return home. We should be good to go for several days without electricity if needs be. However, I'm still a bit worried about the issue of reliable sewage. About the only problem with a modern sewage system is that when its out, its bad news. I've spoken to several friends who have already returned and even those with power bemoan the lack of flushable toilets. Whatever awaits us in LaPlace, Jaime and I are ready, at least at the moment, to deal with it.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Grateful

We got a call this morning from our friend Mike. He had returned to his home in Slidell last night and was on his way to Baton Rouge today to check on some work related issues when he kindly swung by our house in LaPlace. He reported that the house looked good. All the plywood was in place and no shingles appeared to be missing. What a relief. I can't tell you how much I've been wanting to know something about the house since the storm blew through. Our town house didn't exactly fair well in Katrina so my anxiety level was more than a bit elevated with Gustav. In fact, it was Mike who called to break the bad news about our town house after Katrina. Ironic that he would be the one to give the first report about our house after Gustav. Ironic but not surprising. Mike and his wife Rose are what we call "good people." The power is still out throughout the parish and there are only two gas stations that we know of in operation. Jaime and I'd like to go home but we have to admit that the conditions that presently await us are not ideal. Pray for us as we seek God's guidance in making a good decision regarding our return home.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Stuck

St. John the Baptist Parish re-opened this morning. But who would want to go? No power, no water, no sewage, no parish services, no stores open, no gas stations operational, no medical services available, no one out of their home past 8 pm or before 6 am. Thanks but no thanks. I consider myself the outdoors type, but I draw the line at miserable. Part of me thinks that it is irresponsible for parish leaders to re-open these areas in the condition they are in. However, the other part of me recognizes the role of individual responsibility in this process. I'm not about to ask Jaime to sweat it out in an empty house with no ability to bath or feed ourselves just so we can "go home." That means that we'll most likely be here in Mangham for then next day or two. We, like so many others, are doing our best to make the most of it.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Waiting

Props to the Franklin Parish Library for having internet, apparently a rare commodity in these parts. Last night northeast Louisiana got its fair share of Gustav. We lost power at my parents around 10 p.m. and got it back about 7 a.m. this morning. The rain continues however. As for things back home, we don't know much. St. John the Baptist Parish is closed as is nearly all of southeast Louisiana. It may be Thursday at the earliest before we are allowed to go back. Jaime is still uncertain where the bank will send her. There's just too much uncertainty for people to make a firm decision. Southern Baptist are already on the move to set up feeding and other disaster relief units in our area. But as for the rest of us, we have to wait. Jaime and I are passing the time with board games and such. Today is her 30th birthday by the way. This is the second time in four years that she has had to celebrate her birthday while evacuated. I hate that because we should be partying instead of whispering to one another over computer screens. Sorry Sweetie, we'll get our groove on later.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Hopeful

Thanks to Direct TV carrying WDSU channel 6, a news station in New Orleans, we've been closely following things in Southeast Louisiana. The situation looked pretty scary this morning but Gustav turned out to be not as powerful as predicted. Don't hear me wrong, a Category 3 is a big storm but its far better than a strong Category 4 as was expected. As Jaime and I sit at Starbucks, trying to catch a wi-fi signal with some fellow evacuees, I feel a bit optimistic about what's being reported. Hopefully we'll get some information on re-entry within the next day or so.