In the Wake of Katrina: For Mature Christians Only!

One reason the rescue and relief effort regardingProtestant churches and 19,863 Catholic churches. We
Katrina has been handled the way we're seeing it isrefer to our church buildings as sanctuaries. So, with
because of the Spirit of Confusion that has settledthat in mind, if every American church just took one
over that region. As you know, we battle not againstfamily, we could take care of 347,580 entire families
flesh and blood (Eph, 6:12). But we cannot expect thewho have been displaced. Our large Sunday School
government and law enforcement agencies toand family centers with kitchens and shower facilities
understand this. Heck, most Christians don't even haveonly get used one half a day a week. These can
a handle on this truth.Over the centuries, there's been aEASILY be converted in order to shelter families. Let's
whole lot of witchcraft practiced down in the Gulfthink outside the box! We were born for such a time
Coast, not to mention the mockery of what isas this.Individually, we need to all be asking right now
commonly referred to as "Carnival," a word meaning,what we have that could help somebody else. Many
"to remove flesh" which has actually come to standthings we no longer use - clothes, tools, vehicles, attics,
for sowing TO the flesh. In other words, during thebasements, closets and cabinets full of duplicate
week before Lent - a time intended for self-sacrificehousehold and toiletry items - can make a big
and abstaining from carnal pleasures - many willdifference in the lives of those who are now in
celebrate with a Carnival, a time of non-stopdesperate need. But like I told the kid who told me he
pleasure-seeking.In my research, I discovered thisfelt God wanted him to be a missionary, my response
product on a Voodoo Doll website. The caption gavewas that the call to serve is actually a call to
this definition of the "Spirit of Carnival Doll": In NewPREPARE. So, get a passport, kid, and learn
Orleans, we know that the Spirit of carnival is a living,something about the culture...then come with me one
breathing thing. It completely takes over, lifts andSaturday and knock on doors in your neighborhood. If
enlivens you until you're dancin' to the music of the St.your church wants to be used this way, it's time for
Aug band and literally grovelin' for more Endymion &the congregation to bring its stuff up to the church, get
Bacchus Krewe beads. Like the Spirit of Carnival itself,some beds, towels, old dressers, and THEN go pick
our doll is cloaked in mystery and charged up withsomebody up or send them bus tickets through some
plenty of great energy to get YOU in the Spirit. Havebenevolent organization or Houston or Dallas church.
your best carnival Time ever. Blessings be with youWhen they arrive, help them find work. You'll have a
always.Blessings? The demonic principalities that haveMember for life, in most cases.HERE'S WHAT I'M
ben invited to rule and reign over that part of the U.STALKIN' ABOUT!
desire to cause as much death and destruction toBoston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife
mankind as possible. That's their agenda. As we resistShonda paid to fly a New Orleans family of nine to
these regional devils, we do NOT need to attempt toBoston and pledged to provide them with housing for a
"bind" them as some are teaching (request my bookletyear. The Fields family, with seven children between
"The Battle of Caelum Moor" to read a firsthandthe ages of 5 and 12, fled New Orleans just before
account of what REAL spiritual warfare is all about).Hurricane Katrina struck.
Two reasons: 1) Jesus never taught us to do so, and"When we realized how many people had nowhere
2) the unnecessary backlash upon well-meaningto go, we didn't just want to make a donation," Shonda
Christians only burdens the Church all the more. WeSchilling told The Boston Globe. "We decided we
DO need to pray for great clarity and energy to bewanted to bring an entire family here and put them
given to those who are coordinating and participating inup."The families connected through a Web site,
the lifesaving efforts. In addition, we must pray forOpenYourHome.com, which matches displaced
focus and energy to rebuild that entire region. This isfamilies with people willing to house them. The Schillings
important for the country as a whole.When the Unitedregistered Friday and on Saturday anonymously
States defeated Japan in World War 2, Generalarranged for the family to fly to Boston. You, or
Douglas MacArthur encouraged America's Church tosomeone you know, can do the same.Likewise, the
send battleships full of missionaries to that nation. WeAmerican Red Cross has set up a site where
did not, and missed a golden opportunity to show aindividuals may volunteer their homes or request a
defeated people that the gods they served wereplace to stay. That site is located at KatrinaHousing.org.
powerless to help them. What a time to have shownCheck it out. Tell others. Someone you may know
them the love of Jesus! Likewise, in this dark hour, justneeds this outlet for the burden they're now carrying.
a little bit of light will shine all the brighter. The churchTo Christians everywhere, we must ask ourselves the
needs to gear up to help the Gulf Coast and we canquestion, if we do not take these displaced families in,
do so in many ways.One of these is by loving thetaking advantage of the opportunity to make disciples
refugees and restoring them. According to recentdangling right before our eyes, who will?Let's give 'em
statistics, in the United States alone, there are 327,717Heaven!