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Broken marketplace:
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a place of redemptive suffering
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a place of righteous discipline
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a place of new life
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a word of God for us all.
Over 200 school buses in New Orleans
that were not used to evacuate people without cars or those sent to the Superdome.
Note: these buses
were under State control, not Federal.
While the blame game has been prolific
since Katrina, the most important thing is to connect with God in the
situation. What is God's word for us through Katrina? His word is not heard
in adversarial
judgment. It can only be
heard as we come before him with humility (Micah
6:8):
Our God is able to quell storms:
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Without warning, a furious storm came up
on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to
drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he
got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm (Matt
8:24-26).
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You rule over the surging sea; when its
waves mount up, you still them (Psa 89:9).
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You answer us with awesome deeds of
righteousness, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and
of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed
yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of
their waves, and the turmoil of the nations (Psalm 65:5-7).
Does our God discipline nations as well as
individuals?
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Does he who disciplines nations not
punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts
of man; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the man you discipline, O
Lord, the man you teach from your law (Psalm 94:10-12).
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Hebrews 12:4-8.
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If at any time I announce that a nation
or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I
warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the
disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or
kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and
does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for
it (Jer 18:7-10).
How does God's word relate to us through
events like Katrina?
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Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is
a disgrace to any people (Prov 14:34).
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Through the blessing of the upright a
city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed (Prov
11:11).
We are called to turn away from wickedness
and seek God's righteousness. Both in the macro, such as "Southern
Decadence", and in our daily behaviour and priorities.
So what am I going to do?
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From that time on Jesus began to preach,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near". (Matt 4:17).
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But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well (context:
Matt 6:24-34). (context:
Matt 6:24-34).
Peter Kentley
Quotes from New International Version.
Report from McComb, Mississippi
(108 miles North of New Orleans)
"What I have seen since Katrina:
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the poor and the wealthy hurt by the
storm. black, white, Hispanic, oriental and Indian all hurt by the storm
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Christian people giving, giving, giving
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churches going all out to minister in
Jesus' name
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neighbours going door to door helping one
another
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thugs and hoodlums going door to door
looking for someone vulnerable
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ice and water being fought over as police
tried to keep the peace
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people coming up from New Orleans taking
over empty houses because shelters are full
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out of town volunteers coming with food
and now staying for a week to serve it
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churches all over this part of the
country doing what Christians do in a crisis
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FEMA doing a wonderful job in getting
help to us
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the Red Cross doing a great job in the
shelters
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the Salvation Army doing a great job in
the community
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four Hundred crewman from everywhere
bringing power back to our homes, churches and businesses
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lines at service stations a block to a
mile long
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National Guardsman patrolling the streets
of McComb along with Kentucky policemen protecting us from the hoodlums and
thugs of McComb, Pike County and New Orleans (the most dangerous city in the
world before Katrina)
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drug dealers working outside shelters
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doctors, nurses and other hospital
personnel working tirelessly, even sleeping in the hospital to do the job
God called them to do".
Pastor David A. Millican.
Click here for Katrina lead story.
The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom
(Prov 9:10)
Your Vocation is Your Mission
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