The stuff needed in life...

Street sign at the corner of Hope St & Touro St

"We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us..." Hebrews 6:18-20

Dr Eugene Peterson does a great job of translation of this passage in his bible version of The Message. As people of faith our hope is in the life, love, joy and peace provided to us by our relationship with the risen Jesus. The destruction of property from Hurricane Katrina is HUGE, but more than that, the slow destruction of minds and hearts of people continue. The folks living through the rebuilding the three years plus are tired, frustrated and strapped for energy and many times cash. Locals have told me that even with the population less than one half of pre-Katrina the obituaries in the paper have doubled in size. The stress and strain of rebuilding and lack of basic community services are hurting folks each day.

The only hope we have is the living Jesus. The only hope for the rebuilding of NOLA is the living Jesus. The only hope for the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is the living Jesus.

May those of us who are here rebuilding be flames burning with the life of Jesus. May those who will come be filled with His life. May you who are praying and giving be filled with His compassion. May we as a nation bring the love of Jesus to New Orleans.