Sobering Merciful Devastation

I have debated whether to BLOG anything at all about the Katrina catastrophe. I know we are seeing it and hearing about it everywhere. It's difficult. My son very seriously showed me an online news photo of dead bodies in the water. I almost feel like we've been watching the 2005 TV news version of the prophet Amos (read the book of Amos and you'll understand why I thought that). Jeremiah 19:3 was my experience last week. "My God, are we watching the judgment of a city?" At that thought my 'ears tingled'... quite literally.

It then occurred to me that we are actually watching mercy. It is mercy that God doesn't choose to annihilate us all. We are sinners and rebels each one. And if we understand the holiness of our Creator rightly, we will understand the need we have for new mercies each morning. Katrina ought to make us quake at the mighty and holy hand of God in our lives - and move us to lay up our treasures in heaven. For our Katrina is coming. One day everything will indeed be shaken and all that will remain will be that which can not be shaken (See Hebrews 12:25-29). That leaves one thing remaining: The unshakeable, eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Christ. I flee to Jesus and to His cross. I hope and pray that all who read this will flee to Him, as well.

I am happy to report that my friend and colleague Willie Neudahl has been located and is safe. There was a thriving C&MA church in New Orleans that served much of the international community. There is a phone interview with Willie that you can listen to at the C&MA website.

Keep them and the city of New Orleans in your prayers.