Review: JESUS MANIFESTO by Len Sweet & Frank Viola

Len Sweet is a friend, so this review must be read with that in mind. I always look forward to each new book he pens with anticipation. I have also read many of Frank Viola's books and have had several internet conversations with him. Months ago Len & Frank posted a nano version of the Jesus Manifesto on Len's website, NANO MANIFESTO. Frank Also posted the long version of the manifesto on his site MAGNA CARTA of Christ. In my mind and heart I shouted a mighty “Amen!” & looked forward to the book.

Weeks before the release the forward and intro were online, so I made good use of the “free” previews and used them as a guide in my own devotional life. With these few lines of the book I began to again look at the book of Colossians and Ephesians in my personal reading and meditation. There was nothing new in the preview or the book, but what I did hear were the voices of brothers calling me to remember, “Christ is all”. With the western church struggling to find its identity in the 21st Century I believe Len & Frank are speaking words of remembrance with a prophetic tone. A paraphased opening line could sum the entire book, The church has been about many things but Christ.

On the release date, I ordered a copy of the book from Amazon and waited for it to arrive. The book then became my “friend” for the nest two weeks as I slowly read and considered each page, paragraph and chapter.

Though a book encouraging us to have Christ live in us and us in Christ, it is light on practical tips. This is not a book of seven steps to the resurrection life or three keys to understanding Christ in you. It is a devotional and should be used as such. Read a section or chapter, then review the end notes. Open your bible to the scriptures highlighted and simple ask The Spirit to make this universal size mystery real in your life.

My copy is full of red ink where I underlined bits & pieces as my heart leaped during the read. Some pages are nothing but long red squiggles, question marks & stars. The book has now been handed to my oldest daughter who will now change colors as she reads and highlights. I look forward to the colors, the conversations and the unfolding of the mystery of Christ in me the hope of glory.

BEEKEEPERS: I have one question for you.

Do you "take" all the honey off your hives for packaging and feed your bees HFCS(high fructose corn syrup) or sugar syrup or do you leave honey on hives for your bees to eat?

My oldest daughter resembles her.

This is a picture of my grandmother Katie Penny "Lee" Wilson. It was taken about 1908 when she was 18 yrs old. The story is, that was anger on her face. Her soon to be husband James Parker Wilson had just said or done something that truly set her off. That exact action is lost in time, but there is no doubt she is not a happy young woman in his photo.

Many small family events are lost to history. For one, we are not 100% sure what Katie's maiden name was. Her death certificate shows Lee while her headstone shows Penny. The 1900 census of Granville County finds Katie & several of her siblings as "children" of a Mr. James M. Davis. Even as a lady of over seventy she referred to these two people as "Uncle Med" & "Aunt Cindy". Her mother operated a boarding house in Granville County. Her name was Geneva Lee and is buried in a city cemetery in Henderson. Katie referred to herself as Katie Penny Wilson. Penny appears to be a name associated with Geneva's mother's family. We do know Geneva's mother's name, Mary Dickerson. It appears that her maiden name might have been Penny.

Much of the truth of who Katie's father was is lost in time or never discussed. Katie's oldest child was born in 1914, while her youngest in 1932. Through the years questions have been asked, but were met with reticent and even negative response. With only three of the nine children still living, that information may die with her children.

Not that it is that important. As a student of history the question and the answer are interesting things to ferret out some 100yrs later.

Southern Sensibilities can be good but, I have found them to cause more harm and confusion than peace. The "We Don't Talk About That" mantra just separates relationships over feelings of embarassment and usually the question left unanswered creates a much darker possibility in the imagination than the truth.

This I know about my Grandmother:

• She had a tough childhood. Hard work was a part of daily life that increased in volume during the growing season.
• She married James Parker Wilson and they lived in and around Wake Forest.
• She birthed 9 children, one died in a car accident at 15.
• At some point she experienced a radical, life changing encounter with Jesus Christ.
• She became a founding member of The Wake Forest Church of God.
• She fasted and prayed every other day for her children, grand children and great grand children.
• There are older people still living in Wake Forest who will speak of what a Godly wonderful woman she was.
• My early childhood memories of her are of a loving, gentle, beautiful woman.
• She gave me 8 aunts and uncles and scores of 1st & 2nd cousins. My childhood memories of ALL of them are nothing but fond.

May her prayers for me, my family and future generations be full of God's grace & mercy.

Haiti Day 5 by Louis Chalmers

Today we helped construct foundations for new church walls @ Pastor Olistin's church. Many hands make lighter passing stones & buckets of cement to build a foundation. Working along side Haitian brothers and sisters is a refreshing experience- the Church being the Church.

The community children attend school each day since the schools are still not open. Lunch is prepared each day for the children and adults of the community.

The children of Haiti are joyful and curious. Our team includes several gifted childrens workers who spent the day teaching them choruses. The children especially enjoy viewing pictures of family on our cell phones.

It is awesome to watch the team God assemblies for these trips. We have several Canadians who can communicate in French with the Haitians and a couple of first aid trained medics who have assisted 3 children this week with removing a rock from an infant's foot, mending a split lip, and lancing a boil on an infant's head.

This last infant was found and taken in by a church member after the earth quake because both parents died. The adoptive mom told us doctors at a Haitian hospital wanted $100 just to lance this boil.

We ended the day with a tour of the destruction near their national palace. It's hard to imagine if we would respond to similar circumstances with faith & joy if our nations capitol and White House lay in ruins.
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Haiti Day 4 by Louis Chalmers

We made good progress today on the foundations and basement of the church @ Penea today.

The comrade re grows daily with the congregation as we work together to rebuild their church. The language barrier limits our communications but bucket lines passing dirt & concrete build strong bonds of friendship without words.

The church was given a gift of an audio new testament today. Pastor Romelus expressed heartfelt gratitude for our efforts to rebuild a larger building for them and reminded us that we will all have a meeting together in the skies one day.

We grow weary each day but were better acclimated to the heat today so we could finish the afternoon more strongly. We brought smiles to our new friends when we wilted in the afternoon sun yesterday.

We look forward to returning to worship with Pastor Oilistin's church this evening with anticipation of sharing their contagious faith and Joy.
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Haiti Day 3 by Louis Chalmers

We began day 3 riding across Port Au Prince after breakfast to the hillside village of Penea. This drive took us past the US Embassy, the UN and many other relief compounds. Haiti is a nation that has depended on hand outs from the world for survival for more than a generation.

Once we drove outside the city into the countryside you begin to appreciate the beauty of this tropical island.

We walked up the hillside to the church site we will be working on for the rest of the week. We were greeted by curious children who marched up the hill side with us.

This congregation of 300 lost their church building in the earthquake. Building demolition was completed by another volunteer group a month ago. Our task is to dig foundations for the enlarged building so they can be poured by weeks end.

The unique pleasure of this effort is that we are working side by side with our Haitian brothers and sisters to rebuild their building- something unique for my volunteer experience. The hope and joy of these people in the midst of loss continues to inspire us.

The work is hard and hot - the ground full of rocks. Progress is measured in inches with a pick ax and shovel. One challenge today was removing a fallen concrete pier from the site for the new pier. This took a couple of hours to uncover, tunnel under, break up, and remove the old pier. We will all rest well this evening.

The children of Haiti are bright, joyous, and beautiful. They hovered about us today full of curiosity and questions. After lunch the children broke out their kites as the cooling breeze blew up. Several of our ladies spent most of the afternoon reading to the children about God's love for them.

We returned to the compound weary but thankful for a good day well spent encouraging a congregation and planting seeds of hope for a community.

Pray for our stamina as the week wears on - the mind is willing but the body grows weary.
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Haiti Day 2 by Louis Chalmers

The day began with a beautiful sunrise over our roof top encampment.

We left for worship @ 6:30 after breakfast of spaghetti with sausage. The alleys and roadways were crowded with traffic and Haitians dressed in their Sunday best on their way to worship.

I am amazed by the smiles, joy, and thankful hearts of these people who have suffered & lost so much. Their hearty praise and worship would shame most churches and can only be rivaled by churches on the other side of the tracks.

Their men's group, dressed in bright white shirts and matching ties, performed a choreographed song celebrating God's deliverance of Moses and his people from Egypt that would rival those tempting Temptations.

I have heard for weeks of the joyful singing of the Haitian people and now have been blessed to worship with them twice and hear those blended voices sing words I do not understand but stir my heart because they praise our Heavenly Father.

Lunch back at the Pastor Olistin's home was fried chicken, Rice&beans, and their red potatoes salad made with beets.

We spent the afternoon visiting our teammates, with new arrivals the team has grown to 30. It is encouraging to hear each team members story of the love of God calling them to come and serve the Haitians. Several ladies nurtured that island attitude by having their hair braded by the pastor's daughters.

We worshiped again with our Haitian congregation and were once again challenged by the joyful singing and smiles of our brothers and sisters. Pray for their continued courage, hope, and joy as they are salt and light in this desperate country.

Tomorrow we join the rebuilding of a local church. We will be working beside Haitian contract laborers mixing/pouring concrete foundations and laying concrete block.

Pray for our strength and safety and that we will be messengers of God's Love by our deeds and words.

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Haiti Day 1 by Louis A Chalmers

Our group of 15 volunteers left Atlanta this morning @ 6AM for Haiti. We are from many churches across the Atlanta area and a couple of guys from Quebec. We landed in Port Au Prince around noon. The rubble and earthquake devastation are apparent from the air as you land. Crowds mingle at the airport hoping to assist some tourist/volunteers with their luggage. Riding through the city you pass demolished buildings, tent cities, curb side vendors, and people milling about. As we drove across the city, I asked Pierre , our 21 year old guide to tell me his earthquake story. Pierre talked of being outside with friends and feeling the earth shift like a roller coaster, whole neighborhoods collapsing, and friends loosing entire families as buildings collapsed. Pierre spoke of a quiet faith that he believes God is still in control in the midst of this disaster. Pierre has told his friends that God spared their lives for a purpose- Piece's vision is a chance for Haiti to be reborn. We met our host today, Pastor Olistin, and are camping on the top of his home's flat roof. We ate dinner with him tonight and were blessed as our hosts led us in choruses of praise and worship. Tomorrow we worship with the pastor at his tent church and tour the city. Monday morning we will join the rebuilding of their church and should visit their school/ orphanage home to 100 children. I am amazed by the Haitian's who are a gracious people of faith and can smile beautiful smiles and sing praises to their Heavenly Father reg

ardless of their circumstances. Pray that we will remember that this trip is about the people and their stories. About the chance to share God's love in tangible ways that people may be encouraged to cling to hope & joy. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Durham based Burt's Bees donates $100,000.00 towards honey bee research.

Honey bee & purple flower

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Durham, NC based Burt's Bees has donated $100k towards honey bee research. The UK branch of the Durham based natural body care products manufacturer gave this generous gift to the University of Sussex. These funds will be used to further the study of "disappearing" and diseased honey bees in the UK and Western Europe. Show your appreciation by using and purchasing their products. I have a tube of Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm in my pocket now.

Thank you Burt's Bees for helping the honey bee community.

Got to be NC. The state of agriculture in NC. NC Ag Forum.

As you plan your spring garden think of the honey bees.

As you plan your spring garden think of the honey bees.

Chicken/Sausage/Red Bean Gumbo

My friend Joey Niquiporo is a real live Louisiana boy. He lives in Baton Rogue & has a fishing/hunting camp SW of New Orleans out in the "swamp"/wetlands that lead to the Gulf. He knows how to cook the local faire. He just sent me his Chicken/Sausage/Red Bean Gumbo recipe. In the midst of this snowpocalypse I cannot think of anything that would taste better on a cold snowy day, just make sure you add a bit of crushed red pepper.

1 cup flourcooking oil of your choice
2 large yellow onions
2 green bell peppers
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1 bunch of green onions
16 oz can of already cooked red beans
about 1 pound of deboned, skinless thigh chicken meat
1 pound of smoked sausage
6 quart pot

Chop all your veggies into small pieces.cut up chicken ~bite size pieces put one cup of white flour in a small sauce pan and add just enough cooking oil to make it pasty. Start with the heat a little high and stir often. You will will be simmering the flower to make a roux (roo). When you first start you do not need to stir too often because you want it to begin to brown. The darker it gets the more you may want to stir and/or reduce heat. You want it brown as peanut butter but make sure you do not burn it. Another way is to put it in a microwave safe bowl and cook for a minute or so at a time then stir until it is dark. Remember DO NOT BURN IT.

Set the roux aside and brown your chicken. If you bought leg quarters, you can boil them then debone them. Save the chicken stock to add back as water. Once your chicken is cooked (browned or boiled) add sausage and veggies. Cook down until all veggies are tender. Once tender add roux, water or chicken stock and bring to a nice slow rolling boil for about 30 minutes. You want enough water to more than cover the ingredients... it is after all Gumbo! At this time you will want to season the water to your taste. We use Tony's seasoning here. Salt, Pepper, some kind of "season all", gumbo file' if you can find it on the shelf and/or anything else you think it needs. Gumbo is a personal dish. Make it fit your taste. Once the seasoning is right, add one can of already cooked red beans. Cook for about another 30 mins or so and serve over rice

Warm & cuddly: The winter "bee ball" keeps honey bees warm through cold North Carolina months.

Warm & cuddly: The winter "bee ball" keeps honey bees warm through cold North Carolina months.

Vaccination fears revealed...

Abel Pharmboy passes on valuable information about vaccination fears and using law suits to stifle free speech.

An ex-Brit speaks on national health care.

My friend "William" was born in the UK. He was educated in the UK. He graduated from the Royal Naval Academy & served in the Royal Navy as a Commander of Her Majesties vessels throughout the Royal Naval Fleet. After retiring as a naval officer he joined a multi-national corporation and worked with many European governments, including the UK. He realized the British system was growing larger and less free while requiring more and more of his taxes to support more and more "free" services. He came to the USA as a VP of a large international technology company. Since that time, "William" and his wife have become citizens of the USA. His views expressed here are as a man who loves both his home nation and his new home. His identity will be kept secret as he is stilling working in the medical technology field. Big brother could be watching.

A couple of weeks ago I lost a very dear friend. Charlie and I met when we were cabin-mates at the UK Naval Academy nearly forty years ago and though our careers had taken each of us in different directions (his into becoming a fast jet jockey and mine into the rather more sedate surface fleet) we had remained friends throughout the years and always stayed in touch. When he left the navy he carried on flying with a defense related organization, about which he shared many stories but only a few intriguing but frustratingly sparse details.

At work about eighteen months ago, having just landed and parked his aircraft, Charlie was walking through the hangar when he was felled by a massive brain haemorrhage. Fortunately he was surrounded by people who knew what to do in such circumstances, and he had been walking through the home hangar of the local the air ambulance, which delivered him to the area accident and emergency (UK National Health Service) hospital within minutes. It took several very anxious days for Charlie to wake up, and even longer to regain the full use of all his faculties, by which time the entire medical staff had become fully conversant with the pleasures and perils of night flying at fifty feet at nearly 600 mph over parts of the world they had never heard of. He probably omitted to mention that he had been a lot younger at the time. However, I am told that one rather ill-informed but 'know-it-all' individual had the temerity to challenge Charlie about the 'below fifty feet' claim and said that he happened to know that the designed limit for that type of aircraft at that speed was above 200 feet. “Ah” said Charlie. “That's the one they reserve for the guy who doesn't suffer from vertigo”.

For the longest time during his recovery the doctors couldn't figure out why Charlie's blood tests always came back with readings that were alarmingly abnormal, and so stubbornly resistant to corrective medication. His wife, who is not a lady easily ignored, insisted on further investigations and eventually, but hopelessly too late, the advanced metastasized prostate cancer was revealed. You see, under a single payer health system such as that found beyond our borders, investigative research and diagnosis beyond the issue immediately at hand, in this case a brain haemorrhage, is not the norm. It incurs an additional and possibly 'uncontrolled' cost on the system.

And making a bad situation worse there is this. During treatment for the cancer Charlie's doctor told him that there was a drug that he felt would be particularly helpful but, because of the very high price of the drug he was unable to prescribe it on a NHS prescription. So, after a family conference regarding what savings and other assets might be gathered together Charlie and his wife went back to the doctor and told him that though the cost of the drug would swallow almost everything they had put aside, they had decided to go ahead and pay for it. To which the doctor replied, "I am so very sorry. When we last spoke I did not know what I must now tell you. I have been informed that if you elect to pay for that drug yourself you will, by definition, be electing to remove yourself from my care, and that of the NHS, and you would have to find and pay for any further treatment privately".

So I ask you to consider whether or not the true story above could possibly be an example of a third party coming between the doctor and the patient, or is it a simple case of rationing brought about by a disproportionate share of healthcare funds being swallowed by administrative costs rather than on patient care? Or is it all of the above? I suspect it is the latter for to provide healthcare services to sixty million UK inhabitants, of which twenty-nine million comprise the working population, over 1.4 million are employed by the National Health Service. A report I saw the other day informed me that the UK NHS is the world's third largest direct employer, after the Chinese army and the National Railway of India. A replication of the UK system in the US, or even a close approximation of it, could easily employ 7 million public pay-roll people without the addition of a single doctor. What a very convenient and reliably compliant electoral power base that would be.

Interviewed on Bill O'Reilly last night Dr. Brian Day, former President of the Canadian Healthcare Association made a number of interesting remarks. Among other things he said that 14% of Canadians do not have a family physician, said that rationing is a major problem in Canada and stated that out of the population that is just one-tenth the size of the United States, they have 1 million people waiting for surgeries, and another 1 million waiting to see a specialist for their condition. He also pointed out that a significant number of Canadians die needlessly because they were unable to get an ambulance to take them to the emergency room. The reason? You need separate insurance for an ambulance ride. See the video at http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-bloggers/2321143/posts

So, at the acceptable risk of being labelled an astroturf mobster I find myself implacably opposed to the various versions of the proposed healthcare reform bill washing around Capitol Hill. I’m opposed not because I believe our healthcare system is just fine and dandy the way it is, but because I believe that the solution to the shortcomings of the system in no way support a wholesale takeover by the government. I am insulted by those who tell me that such a takeover can be achieved without adding to the economic deficit. I am angered by those who would have me accept at face value their assertion that somehow, despite overwhelming international evidence to the contrary, that a couple of hundred politically motivated ideologues are capable of succeeding where the rest of the world has so demonstrably and unarguably failed. And I am enraged by politicians who do not read bills, but who are nevertheless content to rush them into law without giving me and millions of others the chance to consider and comment. That’s not democracy, that’s government by dictat. And they call my objections ‘un-American’? How dare they!

Conservative Americans agree that nobody should be left impoverished and/or homeless just because they got sick. They believe that nobody should have healthcare insurance denied or withdrawn because they fall victim to a disease or major ailment; that’s not insurance. They accept that there are probably some 17 million people who through distressed circumstances have less than adequate access to quality healthcare, and they are anxious for that need to be addressed. And they also recognize that the scourge of unemployment, particularly when it is accelerated and exacerbated by reckless, frivolous and wasteful government spending, adds to the ranks of those that become uninsured.

But they don’t accept that the solution to these and other problems lies in the creation of a bloated, unelected, unaccountable and perpetual bureaucracy. They do believe that someone who is harmed by medical or any other malpractice or incompetence should be properly and fairly compensated, but they don’t believe that the fool who bites into an apple turnover still bubbling from an extended session in the micro-wave should receive hundreds of millions of dollars for their stupidity. So why not tort reform? Could there be a powerful interest group or two at work?

And finally, for those who believe that the defeat and banishment of the current healthcare reform bills will allow them to sleep peacefully once more, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news. The American Recovery and Re-investment Act (HR 1), also known as ‘the stimulus bill’, - the one that nobody bothered to read before it was rushed into law, - contains all the new healthcare rules and information technology infrastructure, together with the necessary funding, for the current administration to achieve a very large part of what they are seeking to enforce through the healthcare reform bills. Don't believe me...................?

For details, go to http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr1_text.pdf, and read:

Division A, TITLE IX—LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION starting on or about page 129, and,

Division B, TITLE IV—HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY starting on or about page 395.

Certainly it creates several new agencies and off-shoots of agencies and czars, and it also mandates the introduction of electronic health records, the better to strip fraud and abuse from the system - and also adjust physician reimbursement rates. There is much there that if used by safe hands there is every expectation that huge financial savings can be won. Unfortunately however, those safe hands are self evidently not available in Washington.

Oh! About Charlie. Well he cheated the cancer, but at way too high a price. He was fifty-eight. He spent his life defending the land that he loved. He leaves a wife and two fine adult sons.

While resting at home after a heavy dose of chemo, he succumbed to a stroke that occurred in almost exactly the same position as his first haemorrhage.

I wonder why they didn’t fix that in the first place. May he rest in peace.

A day of demolition...

Kevin & I made an early run to Durham to begin the demolition of our kitchen project. The plumbing was disconnected, electrical wiring was made safe to remove appliances, the cabinets were torn out and the counter tops removed.
Kevin gets things going;removing cabinets, backsplash & mouldings.
Kevin is a skilled craftsman and we enjoy working together.
After a few hours of hard work, most of the kitchen was cleared.
After removing plumbing, electrical, cabinets & counter tops we removed the existing floor. The linoleum was torn away, ceramic tile was broken up and the concrete backer board was pried off the floor with a six foot crow bar.
The client wants more space open between the kitchen and small dining room. The doorway was removed and 35 inches of the wall.
After spending time removing the sheet rock, I realized the wall is weight bearing. That means it holds the weight of the ceiling above. On Tuesday, Kevin and I will add a small beam made of engineered laminated veneer lumber to carry the weight as I open the pass through counter.

Been weeks I know...

It has been weeks since I posted & truly I have not missed it. I do love blogs and blogging, I just needed some time away after my seven weeks in New Orleans. Business has been good and the family is great. The honey bees have been working hard & I look forward to honey harvest in a few weeks.

I am starting a kitchen renovation in Durham on Monday. Kevin Osborne & I have a challenging 10 days to complete the project while the clients are out of town. I am dependent on suppliers for the cabinets and flooring, so part of the time will be "hurry up and wait" for delivery trucks. Here are a few before photos:

Shelley & I spent most of the weekend with four other home schooling couples in a planning retreat for Lighthouse Christain Homeschool Association. It was good spending time with other home schooling moms & dads and planning a year of events and strategies for the folks in and around Wake Forest, NC.

Dreams, dreams, dreams and more dreams.

Don't give up on a dream.

The beauty that truly matters.

He is alive!

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

The Guards' Report

¹¹While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹²When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' ¹⁴If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." ¹⁵So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

God bless those Yankee Plumbers!!

You will remember my week working in NOLA the week after Christmas 2008. I met Mrs. Gladys Philip and began to see and understand the continued devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I knew then that the plumbing in her house would need work, but did not know how much work would be needed. Upon my return to the city and the work in January, Louis and I spent two weeks working in the house. We wanted to get the master bath working so a trip was made under the house to make a plumbing survey.

I spent at least an hour looking at the mess left behind by the plumber Mrs. Philip hired and paid to fix her plumbing. He took her money, but did not fix her plumbing. He basically cut the waste lines off of her master bath and rerouted the waste line to make it easier for him, but left the work undone.

Steve from Forward Edge was working next door, I asked him to take a look. He spent 30 minutes under the master bath and returned with the same confused look on his face. We knew we could fix the mess and get the plumbing working, we also knew it would take us three to four times longer than a real live/experienced plumber. I was concerned as a good plumber is a hard thing to come through volunteer rebuild organizations.

Last week, Brian and Joe came from NY to help rebuild NOLA. They are plumbers who work in and around NY City all the time. They have seen and fixed all kinds of crazy plumbing challenges in The Big Apple. On Tuesday of last week I stopped by 1914 Law St. to see if any volunteers were working. It was then I realized the Yankee plumbers were hard at work for Mrs. Philip. Joe and Brian were both under the house cutting old waste line, adding new waste line and turning fittings in every way possible to get the master bath working. I cannot tell you how happy I was as I laid there watching them work. This was one BIG problem that had just been eliminated from the TO DO list.

On Wednesday they worked at the home of Yolanda and Larry Searls. They were able to get bubbles working for Yolanda's bath spa tub. In two days Brian and Joe used their skills to help two families I had been working for/with.

On Thursday afternoon they returned to Law St. and went through the entire plumbing system fixing any and all problems found. On Friday they were going to install a new water heater, dish washer and kitchen sink. That plan was changed when they checked the natural gas lines. They spent all day Friday finding and repairing leaks in the gas system. Friday night they told me the gas lines were leaking badly everywhere. These yankee plumbers were so determined to help Mrs. Philip they decided to stay over on Saturday and work until ALL the plumbing work was done in the entire house. The concern they had for Mrs. Philip and her house was a sign of how these two men were full of the love of God.

Gladys Philip showing pictures of Katrina's destruction to Andrew Chalmers Jan 2009.

Thank God for the "Midianites"

Virgie Holloway with her "Midianites" Karen Hoover and Mary Zimmerman.

After two days of working with Elijah Christian Ministries and Operation Nehemiah it was time to commit the rest of the week toward Mrs. Holloway and the house on Pauger St. Insulation was completed and sheet rock started by MDS last week. This week they sent another crew of hard workers to Pauger St. to continue the project. When I went by to check the job on Monday, it appeared I had gone back in time. Several ladies were there hanging sheet rock in colorful long dresses and hair bonnets, while the men were in black pants, simple shirts and suspenders. Jim the MDS crew chief and I had a conversation. I wanted to make sure that as I worked with these folks, I did not say or do anything to offend them and their lifestyle. Jim assured me that these "Old Order" Mennonites would be fine.

I introduced myself to all and we set to work. Mrs. Horning, Karen Hoover and Mary Zimmerman were in an upstairs sanding, taping and mudding. While Alvin, Bernie, Will and Ernie were working all over the downstairs. As they worked, they spoke to each other in Pennsylvania Dutch. The language is much more beautiful then German or Dutch, it has a sing-song cadence and soft air in the sound. I also had to be more careful in listening, since their accent was much more refined than to southern drawl of myself.

Mary spreading joint compound.

Will and I set out to connect the vent pipes to the three bath fan/vent/light units. A 4inch hole had to be drilled in the side of the house where each vent housing would be. The difficult part was that one was about 28 feet up in the soffit of the second story of the house. Will was a nineteen year old young man from Canada. He was one of 18 "teenagers" that were spending their week in NOLA rebuilding. He's smile was contagious and his manner quiet. I enjoyed my day with him and we accomplished our task.

From time to time, I would move through the house and check on the team. Making sure all was well. I was always met with a kind word and friendly smile. The two young ladies would look at each other and giggle as I spoke and moved from room to room.

Karen mudding and taping sheet rock seams.

I want to communicate how peaceful the house was with the Mennonites working. There quiet confidence and genuine love for each other was evident. By the second day they were much more friendly and we began to share a bit of our lives together. They have a deep love for their community, a deep respect for elders and an honor for all mankind. The sounds of the city were new for them, sirens, traffic noise and the general din of thousands of people living in close quarters was new for them. By the end of the week, they were ready to return to their rural lifestyle in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

On Thursday it was time for the Mennonites to meet Mrs. Holloway. She wanted to cook for the crew before they left at lunch on Friday. Thursday lunch I went to her home to pick her up and load the red beans and rice she had been cooking since early in the morning. As we arrived, we set up the make shift table in the yard and the Mennonites and a group of college students feasted on Mrs. Holloway's very fine cooking.

William framing to back bathroom for sheet rock.

Mrs. Holloway was talking and sharing her life as usual while all ate the delicious food. She could not get over the beautiful, colorful dresses and aprons the ladies were wearing. She asked them if they made them, they responded with a simple, "We make all our clothes." They did go on to explain that they make most all clothing, except shirts for the men. Shirts are cheaper to buy than they are to make due to the time involved.

Mrs. Holloway was thanking God for her "Midianites" as we packed up the food and headed for her home. Indeed, I thank God for my Mennonite brothers and sisters and all the others who are coming from far and near to help rebuild NOLA.

How about you?

Ernie framing for sheet rock.

Those nuns did a great job...

Seniors from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, IL

Sunday evening I was sitting here in my room contemplating heading to bed when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and could not figure out why Rev. Elijah would be calling me so late. I answered and he made one statement, "Jimmy, I need your help." With that one statement my week was changed. Cory Roberts had a family emergency and had to leave town Sunday afternoon, Rev. Elijah had 61 students from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, IL. Rev. Eijah asked me if I had tools, my reply was simple, "Where is the tool trailer?" Rev. Elijah explained that the trailer was with Cory and we would have to go with what I had. Well, for this trip I brought what I could in the truck, a power saw, sawz-all, gas nail gun, a drop cord and basic hand tools. They are fine for me working by myself, but not nearly enough to do rough framing much less to keep 61 students busy for a day. Having worked on the site some weeks ago with the kids from Boston I felt sure there would be plenty of work, I knew there would not be enough for 61 students.

Monday broke clear and cool as the wind was up. I drove into New Orleans Parish and went by Pauger St. The Mennonites had not arrived so I moved on to Law St. to alert Mrs. Phillip that a new work order had been let from the offices for plumbing repairs. I wanted her to know that if the team arrived, I wanted them to call me to discuss the details of the repairs needed. After a hug from Mrs. Phillip I drove back toward the Lower 9th Ward and N. Galvez. As I arrived I saw what the wind of the weekend had done to the framed walls for the house. The western side wall of the house had shifted six inches at the top from the heavy wind gusts of the weekend. I sat there and pondered the problem as the first van of students arrived and then another and another and another and another until I had 60+ students standing in front of me ready to help rebuild the house, the neighborhood and the city if time permitted.

I quickly stepped up on the house deck five feet above where they were standing and called them to order. I told the them the story of the Vincent family. A couple in their seventies who had lived in a house on this spot for over 50 years. The house was engulfed in the flood and had to be torn down. They received monies for rebuild, but all but $10k of that was stolen by thieving "contractors". They Vincents are not well and would love to be in their home. They also care for their twin grandsons who are in their early twenties and severely learning disabled.

Even girls swing hammers when they work with me...

With the story told, I pointed out the high water marks on the dilapidated house next door. They marveled as I did at the thought of the place where we stood under 10ft+ of water. With that done Rev Elijah showed up and I asked him if he would find work for about forty of the students.
With 15+ students we set to work straightening the wind blown walls. Simply, one student held the level, two students were ready with wooden braces and nails and the rest grabbed a piece of wall and pulled. With this system, I let the students work around each exterior and most of the interior walls while I read the plans to clarify the window size and spacing for the main front wall of the house. About the time I was ready to layout the wall one dozen wooden handled hammers and framing nails showed up on the site. Now, you must realize that I only had one 25' measuring tape on the truck so the one tape was in demand by all who were helping.

Many hands can do much work...

With blue prints carefully read and the students ready to go i showed them how to layout a stud wall on the top and bottom wall plate. I then had students gather studs and we started assembling the front wall. With twenty students working, driving nails, moving materials and generally helping we were able to nail the entire 35' wall together quickly. With so many hands to lift, I decided we would nail the exterior sheathing on before we lifted the wall into place. Very quickly, nine or ten sheets of 1/2 inch OSB were in place and nailed down. We than lifted the wall into place and set braces and secured the bottom plate. By the time all this was done in was moving toward 4pm. I had the students gather the tools, clean the site and we called it a day.

Tuesday morning broke sunny and warmer as I headed toward the lumber yard. The students were not going to be at N. Galvez until close to 10am so I had time to gather more lumber and spend time in the house site planning the day. I stepped on to the house deck and rolled out the plans seeing where the rest of the interior partition walls were to be placed. As the students arrived I had them unload the truck, set up the generator and gather the tools. Still only armed with one measuring tape, I knew we could accomplish my set tasks for the day. Two young men had really helped on Monday, Gary and Cody returned so I gave them instructions and we set off to complete the wall framing. Lumber was cut, nails were driven, walls were stood, laughs echoed and we left at 3:30 having finished the walls for the Vincent house.

I love working with students. They have boundless energy, a desire to work and hearts wanting to help those in need. Over the past few weeks I have worked with high school students from MA and IL. I would glady host any and all of them again as we work together to rebuild NOLA.
The students from Marquette were on their senior trip. Instead of spending time on the beaches of Florida, these students gave their lives to the people of NOLA. The school administration and the parents of these kids should be very proud of them, I know I am.

A beautiful day rebuilding NOLA.
Front wall standing...students admiring.

Just a quickie.....

While I write about some of the things that have happened this week, I wanted to remind you why I left business, church, family, home and possibly going flat busted broke to come here to NOLA and rebuild homes. As Steve Harvey says...He really needs no introduction.

Gumbo Friday

Nancy, Mrs. Phillip and Louis on the front porch of 1914 Law St.

Friday morning Nancy and Louis packed the van and headed home to Marietta, GA. N & L's grandson Sean had his pinewood derby race at church on Friday night. Louis and Sean have always built and raced their cars together, so even NOLA could not keep N & L from missing this very important event.

As I loaded tools in my truck I had my day planned. I would go to Pauger St and install the vent tubes for the three van/vent/light kits in Mrs. Holloway's three bathrooms and then drive to her apartment and help here transport gumbo and all the fixins to feed the volunteer team that was working at her home. As I was walking toward the truck to leave my phone rang.

Mrs. Holloway had been up since 4am and was busy prepping the ingredients for the gumbo. She had forgotten a few items and needed me to run to the closest natural food store and purchase the things needed and then take them to her apartment. In one phone call, my plans of working for the morning evaporated and I became the official grocery deliverymen for Operation Pauger St. Gumbo Feed. I drove across St. Bernard Parish and into NOLA, from there through the Garden District. With the short list purchased I made my way down Magazine St. to Mrs. Holloway's apartment.

Once there preparations were underway. Shrimp/Chicken stock was warming with a few tomatoes and salt. A large skillet was heating to make the rue. Onion and celery had been chopped, shrimp cleaned, crab broken and boiled, crawfish and lump crab meat thawed and tons of garlic ready to be crushed.

Virgie Holloway telling stories and cooking gumbo.

Mrs. Holloway talks constantly. In her presence it is hard too have your voice or opinions heard, as she is always saying something. By 10am I saw the morning had changed, so I sat down to spend the day with Mrs. Holloway. As she cooked she talked about her life, her children, her neighborhood, how she found her church, etc... She chopped and talked, she stirred and talked, she simmered and talked, she cleaned dishes and talked. During this time I listened and learned much. The horrors of her life and the neighborhood on Pauger St poured out in the hours I sat at her table. Only by God's grace and mercy has she survived to be in the place she is in at this moment. Mrs. Holloway has had a very tough life, yet she possesses a very simple faith and trust in God. She has not become bitter, but has become a person of generosity.

Seafood File' Gumbo cooked by Virgie Holloway.

Watching her cook the gumbo was amazing, she used great care in each step she took and she was always praying over each thing she did. She truly wanted all who ate her pot of gumbo to experience the presence of God as they ate her food. She also made a fruit punch from scratch using only the best organic juices. Her preparation took more time than expected, but by 1:15pm we were headed for her house on Pauger St.

The team of Mennonites were working diligently when we arrived. We quickly took to small scaffold benches and sat a sheet of plywood across them. With a table cloth Mrs. Holloway had brought along and large picnic table was created.

Virgie Holloway setting the table for the feast.

The food Mrs. Holloway prepared for us was delicious. The gumbo was full of flavor and there were generous amounts of chicken, shrimp, crab in the shell, crab meat, crawfish, oysters and okra. It was filling and healing all in one bowl. She invited her neighbors and other members of volunteer teams that showed up ate well.

After the feast we loaded the things into the bed of the truck and headed back toward Mrs. Holloway's apartment. She was tired from her log day of cooking for and loving on the volunteers that were working on her house. Her selfless act on Friday shows how grateful she is to God for bringing folks to NOLA to help her and thousands of her neighbors. May the volunteers and the rebuilding continue and may many folks like Mrs. Holloway heat up their gumbo pots.

Virgie telling her Katrina story to two Mennonite volunteers.
Martin the Mennonite resting after a long day and belly full of gumbo.