Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

I was eavesdropping. I heard my wife talking on the phone. She was talking to one of her school teaching friends whom she hadn’t talked to since the hurricane. She was giving her a blow by blow of what we have been doing since that day. (It is a common thing. We do this with each other all the time. Your hurricane story. I’ll tell you mine and you tell me yours.) We went here and stayed there and then we moved here and then there etc. etc. She was telling her friend that we were so blessed because we had fellow believers from all around the country who were helping us get back into our houses and our church. Then she said, “But I’d rather be giving it than receiving it.”

St. Paul quotes these words of Jesus as he was leaving the Ephesians. He was talking to them about how he was honored to have served them without pay and was encouraging them to treat others that same way. He concludes by saying, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Giving to those in need is an opportunity to use our resources for something good.

I guess we would rather give it than receive it if giving it means we have something to give and receiving it means we are in need. We would much rather have plenty so we can give than to have nothing and need to receive. But I’m sure that the blessedness of giving goes beyond that. Just ask anyone who gives. Then again, we probably don’t have much choice in whether we are able to be a giver or a receiver. The day will probably come when we will be enabled to be givers again. But it seems hard to learn how to be good at it, giving or receiving.

1. The Mold Krewe found Mr. Armstrong’s manuscript for a book he was writing. It will go back to him.
2. The Administrative Committee for Africa is coming down for our annual meeting. We will be meeting at our camp in Mississippi.
3. Been listening to Kid Ory on my phonograph. That’s right I saved my Jazz record collection, which had been submerged for a couple weeks. The paper covers are all messed up but the vinyl plays just fine. (New turntable) “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?” Next the Dixie Hummingbirds.
4. Got the desk y’all bought for me. It is a beauty! I can’t wait to show it to you.
5. The Coonass Circuit, also known as the Gulf Coast Circuit, (pastors from our area) meets at my place on Monday.
6. “The Word is Near” radio program, Saturday at Noon, www.wsho.com or 800 AM. Main topic, “Italian court puts Jesus on trial.”
7. Choir practice at 10:00 on Sunday, worship at 11:00.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

There was a nice congregation of people in church yesterday. We had Builders for Christ from around the country. We had Faith in Action people from around the country and we had members of Crown of Life from around the country. The Greens were in from Montgomery, the Theodore’s were in from Houston. But there was something missing. I think that Kelly was the only child there and she isn’t much of a child anymore, she is taller than her mom. I know some churches work real hard at getting things like we have them now, no children in the adult worship service. They are noisy, they cry at just the wrong time, they drop stuff on the floor, they make a mess. I miss it. How can you have a family without children?

The disciples thought that having little children come to Jesus was kind of a waste of time. They didn’t know what was going on and there were plenty of adults who needed Jesus attention. Jesus straightens them out. “Let the little children come to me.” Do you suppose little children cried then, dropped things and made a mess? (Remember the first Pampers was about 2000 years away.) And then Jesus says something that churches have been struggling with ever since, “For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” I guess if faithful babies own the kingdom of heaven, they don’t need to be in "our" church messing it up.

Sometimes a beleaguered mother would say to me after church, “Sorry for all the noise my baby made.” I know they thought I was being polite when I said, “I didn’t notice.” But usually it was true, “I didn’t notice!” I guess that doesn’t mean that someone else didn’t notice, but I didn’t. To me, if you have vibrant family, you will have some babies in it and they come equipped with noise makers. But maybe they are an annoyance because we don’t see them for what they really are, the best examples of what we should be. No, I don’t mean noisy in church, I mean quietly trusting in Jesus. Maybe we need to see them the way Jesus sees them. Maybe faithful babies who own the kingdom of heaven don't need to be worshipping with us. Maybe we need them.

News:
1. As I mentioned Greens and Theodores were in church yesterday for the first time. It was nice to have them back. Jerry’s Kids are working on their houses so they can come back permanently.
2. The Sunday School kids in Kiel WS have joined other Sunday School kids from around the synod in support of our Sunday School. “Let the little children come to me.” Pictures below.
3. We had some Masons worship with us yesterday. Randy’s brick laying crew from California. (These are not Free Masons. They are Lutheran, Really Free Masons)
4. Parade Saturday, Michael and Spice Boys (Patience, being secure in her femininity, says she doesn’t mind being included with the “boys”) are going to spice up the neutral ground around 6th and St. Charles. Endymion.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. I Peter 2:17

It happened again today. As we were introducing ourselves to the new builders, we found connections, people we knew in common. This has happened with most of the Builders for Christ and Faith in Action folks who have come to help us rebuild our church facilities and church members’ homes. Have you ever thanked God for this brotherhood of believers, not only in this country but around the world?

When you go on vacation and visit other WELS churches, you know you will find “brothers and sisters” who share your faith in God and know Jesus as their Savior. Your visit is an encouragement for them and you. It results in a sharing of ideas for both churches. I know people who plan the routes of their vacations by the location of our churches. The WELS yearbook is packed right along with the maps. If your job takes you to a new location, chances are you will find a “brotherhood of believers” nearby to share your love of the Savior with. That makes your transition into a new community so much easier. I know people whose job choices were decided by where our churches were (or were not) located.

Seeing the steady stream of dedicated volunteers coming here to New Orleans has once again made me appreciate and love our brotherhood of believers. They have not come here to see Mardi Gras, eat our food, or visit the French Quarter (although we are trying to give them a little taste of the area), but because they “love the brotherhood of believers.” Many say they are gaining more than they are giving. We of course feel the same. Thank God for our brotherhood of believers!

1. If you get a chance, visit Lutherville. It is a crowded place these days. The fellowship hall is getting sheetrocked, the parsonage is having some brick work repaired, Ellsworth’s house is ready to be sheetrocked, Ison’s house is getting a new roof, Mercadel’s yard is being cleared.
2. Plans are to meet Saturday at 6th and St. Charles to see the Endymion Parade. The meat will be provided by the Spice Boys. Bring a dish to pass. First parade is at 11 AM, but plan to arrive early. Lee will be at church at 8:30 AM to lead any there who want to follow. (Forecast is for showers early in the day. Bring your umbrella.)
3. Lenten services at 7 PM on Wednesdays starting with Ash Wednesday
service March 1st. Dinner at 6 PM.
4. Duane Anderson, Synod architect, will be down on March 3rd to help us
decide on how to rebuild the church.
Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15

My arm is getting better! I know, who cares? Talk about self centered! Sorry. But I did bother all of you with news that I had this pinched nerve in my neck that was giving me lovely jolts of buzzy pain. So I thought that I should really tell you when it is getting better. It still is not back to normal but two nights is a row it didn’t wake me up. I want to thank those of you who lifted me up in prayer and the Lord who has brought me this level of healing.

But it is His fault. I mean He did invite us to call on him in the day of trouble. I guess a pinched nerve is a pretty small “trouble” as troubles go, but He said it so we asked it. You’ve heard that God answers prayers with, “yes,” “no,” and “not now.” Well for a long time (and when have we ever complained that it was a short time) it seemed like God was saying, “no.” Of course, I’m not sure if He is saying “yes” yet since it isn’t all better. It feels like maybe He is saying, “yyyeeessss.” But the one thing I don’t want to do is fail to glorify Him for his healing hand.

So Lord, I thank you for hearing me and bringing this level of healing. Please continue until it is completely healed. And thank you for all those who lifted me up in prayer. Amen. Isn’t our God great!

1. Just got a call from PBS; they want to include our church in their business news broadcast. They will be in church March 19th. National coverage? I’ll have to get a haircut.
2. No Radio Broadcast this Saturday. (Actually there will be one but it will be taped.) The French quarter is going to be blocked off for Mardi Gras and it will be too hard for me to get in and out.
3. Michael says he has the Spice Boys all cranked up for Saturday. Maybe a prayer for no rain is in order. (Day of Trouble??) 6th and St. Charles.
4. Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 PM (That is the day after Mardi Gras)

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

Is there any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5:13

Wanda sang in church on Sunday. She surprised me by coming to church from Houston. We quickly practiced with our new Builder’s Choir singing gospel music with Wanda as the lead. And sing she did. “I’m standing right here in the midst of my tears and claim Him to be the Lamb of God.” As tears ran down her cheeks they ran down mine and not a few of our members. Why?

The Lord invented music for us and maybe for Him. It is this thing that touches us on a different level. We live in one of the most musical places on earth. Ours is a culture of music: jazz, blues, gospel, rock. Music is a part of us. Of course the Lord intended that. Is there a better way of confessing our sins or expressing our joy in God’s forgiveness than in song? Can you really sing, “Were you there when the crucified my Lord,” or “Jesus thy blood and righteousness” or “I once was lost, but now I’m found,” without it moving us deep within, maybe even with a Lutheran tear.

Oh, I guess it could have been the fact that we were reminded of better times, when we sang for joy and didn’t have to think about rebuilding etc, etc. But maybe it was because we knew that He was wounded for our transgressions, the Lamb of God. Thank you for your blood.

News:
1. Looks like rain on Saturday. I hope not. The Spice boys have some good food in store.
2. Got an e-mail from Elsa Endorf, one of our first Mold Krewe people. She reports having been diagnosed with lupus. Let’s put her in our prayers.
3. Jerry’s Kids keep working on members’ houses. Got a call yesterday. One of the LCMS (Missouri synod) churches wondered if our builders would help them rebuild.
4. Taped radio show on Saturday at noon.
5. Worship at 11:00 on Sunday, Choir 10:00 (No Chris)

Be Strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16

A couple months ago, while on my way to Baton Rouge where we were holding our services at the time, Pastor Schroer of Texas asked me if I would speak to their LWMS rally in Edna, Texas. He wanted to know how you do mission work in the midst of a disaster. On the 11th of March I will be speaking to them about that very thing. How would you answer that? How do you do mission work in a disaster?

St. Paul knew what he had. He had the gospel message. His job was not an easy one. He had to take the message of Jesus Christ to people who were different than he. He had to be a missionary in a time of persecution. His job seemed difficult and it was. But he knew what he had. He had the Gospel. And with it he had the power of God unto salvation. What more do we need?

How blessed we are! We hold all this power in our hands. We have what it takes to overcome under any circumstances. We have the gospel that assures us that we are not alone even when it looks like we are. We have the gospel that tells us that our future looks bright even when we can’t see it. We have the gospel that reminds us that we are not a disaster even if we live in the middle of one. We have the gospel which is the universal “cure for what ails you.”

News:

1. Heading into town to help Jerry place his trailer on the parade rout. But the weather does not look good. 90% chance of rain tomorrow. 6th and St. Charles
2. Work continues on the fellowship hall and parsonage. I think you will like the new look of the Fellowship Hall.
3. Saturday-a-week the building committee meets with the architect to discuss the future plans for the chapel.
4. Jerry’s Kids continue to work on Ison’s and Ellsworth’s houses. The Isons were in town yesterday. The Mercadel’s on Tuesday. I missed them both.
5. March 19th PBS is planning to join us for church. Plan to be there.
6. The radio show is taped (CDed) this Saturday.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:
Lundi Gras

Some time later, God tested Abraham. Genesis 22:1

Wish you had been there. This morning, I met with the Builders, the Mold Krewe, and Jerry’s Kids. We had a devotion on Genesis 22 where the Lord tests Abraham’s faith by telling him to do an outrageous thing, offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. I asked them the question, “Can a person fail God’s test?” Someone asked me, “Do you think God is testing you in all this?” Well what do you think?

Of course Abraham was dealing with what seems to be two conflicting promises of God. God had told Abraham not only that his descendants through Isaac would be like the sands of the seashore, he tells him that this child would be the ancestor of the Messiah. Now he was supposed to kill him. Hebrews chapter 11 tells us what Abraham was thinking. Abraham believed that if push came to shove, God would raise Isaac from the dead. “If I have to kill my own son, I know that God will raise him from the dead because of what God has said to me.” That is faith! No matter what something looks like, I know what God has said and that is what will happen. Abraham failed a few tests in his life but he didn’t fail this one.

All I know is, I hope that this is a test from God, this whole the-hurricane-broke-the-levees-and-flooded-your-homes-and-your-church thing. Because then I know we will pass it. God only gives us tests that we will pass. He wants to strengthen us. He wants good things to happen to us. Like Abraham, we know what God has said, “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” Never is still never, and no one understands the word “never” like the Eternal God.

News:

1. 87 people in church on Sunday. Luckily the Builders had used up a lot of the insulation, so there was more room.
2. Our parade got rained out on Saturday so we are on for Mardi Gras, same place, the neutral ground at 6th and St. Charles. I can smell the Spice Boys cooking way over here.
3. Isons were in church on Sunday. They were coming to look at the work Jerry’s Kids were doing on their house.
4. The Mold Krewe is working on Jefferson’s house.
5. Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 PM on Wednesday (of all days)
6. The “Really Free Masons” are finishing up their brick laying. They head back to California this week. I’ll miss their laughter.
7. Did you see the new banners one of the Builder ladies made for our church? “When you come through the waters….”
8. I was delivering some tools to a Mold Krewe off of Franklin and a family stopped and asked if our Krewe could work on their house. They said, “We have been working at this for a month. We live in Houston and can’t get in except on weekends.” The gift of the Mold Krewes ….
9. Don’t forget. (I forgot I was told that if I said, “please remember” that more people will remember) Please remember that March 19th PBS is visiting our church because they are doing a special on New Orleans East and Marywood Ct. I think they chose us because our Builders treated them so nice. Remember to come that Sunday; maybe you can star with Big Bird.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:
Ash Wednesday

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

We passed a good time on the neutral ground on St. Charles Avenue. Most walked the few blocks down to where the Zulu parade made the corner on Jackson Avenue. Some returned with coconuts. We watched the silly costumes of the people and then caught beads until we wanted no more. All the while Michael and the Spice boys were cooking on his outrageous barbecue pit: chicken, boudin, andouille, hamburgers and later fried cat fish. But now carnival is over. Of course you know that carnival means “farewell to the flesh.” So now we are supposed to stop eating all the meat if we want to say farewell to the flesh. It is my contention that at least in one sense we should be celebrating carnival all year round.

We have seen God’s mercy to us. This Ash Wednesday we begin the Lenten season in which we focus on what our God has done in order to redeem us. It was no small thing. The Bible says we have been redeemed, bought back, by the blood of Jesus. “You are not your own, you have been bought with a price.” In the passage above, St. Paul says that because we know that we are bought with a price, we should use our bodies in ways that show that we know who bought them. We should be transforming our minds to be more like the one who owns our mind. We should be becoming more spiritual, and less fleshy, less like this sinful world. Farewell to the flesh year round.

I don’t think many of us on St. Charles and 7th Street were playing the game, “Let’s have a big sinful party because we can repent tomorrow on Ash Wednesday.” But we will again this evening place our minds and hearts on the great Love that caused our Savior to do what he did for us. We will be given the best reason for celebrating carnival all year long.

News:

1. Michael and his friend Mark did an excellent job of putting pounds on all of us yesterday. You may see pictures of me wearing a blue boa but with digital photography it is very easy to fake such things.
2. The Builders and the Mold Krewe learned the nuances of “doing a parade.”
3. For some reason Jerry’s motor home, which he took down the night before was a very popular spot.
4. The PBS lady called; they won’t be in church on the 19th as promised. They will be in town that week and will be doing interviews. PBS in church? I thought that might be a stretch for them.
5. The Administrative Committee for Africa will be meeting at our camp in Mississippi from Thursday till Saturday. Once a year we get together and discuss the future of our mission work in Zambia, Malawi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mozambique and other places.
6. Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 PM tonight. Dinner at 6. All are invited.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. Acts 4:32

Last night we started with a home cooked meal. Next we handed out Mold Krewe certificates to the latest group of people who had come to gut houses. Next we had a “Best pair of Mardi Gras beads contest.” I kind of liked the one with the singing hamburger but the crowd liked Sharon’s gaudy combination. Then we settled into worshiping the Lord on Ash Wednesday closing with, “What Wondrous Love is This.” Afterward Randy showed slides of the aftermath of Mount St. Helens, showing us how in a matter of minutes layered valleys were formed that looked like a million years old. Then we sat around tables and talked and laughed. Is this a taste of heaven?

The early Christian church enjoyed their worship and their fellowship together. They shared with one another. They took care of each other. They ate and worshipped together. They enjoyed their fellowship. It almost sounds perfect. But of course it wasn’t. Some would try to cheat. The Apostles would be thrown in jail. Stephen would be killed. The church would be scattered. We know that that scattering turned out to good for the growth of the church. They couldn’t stay in Jerusalem.

Some of the people who had been with us had to go back to their homes; California, Nebraska, Wisconsin. We thanked them and sent them on their way. We enjoyed our time together thanking God for it. But the day when we can all just sit together and enjoy ourselves is not here yet. We still have work to do, people who don’t know, the gospel to share. When it comes time for us to sit together in glory, the more the merrier.

News:
1. PBS will join us on Wednesday the 15th. They are especially interested in talking with our members who have been displaced. If you can possibly make it in that day it might be great for our church and the community. It will give us a chance to share our faith. They will be at our lent service at 7 PM.
2. Administrative Committee for Africa is joining us here in Mississippi for the next few days. One of the things we will be doing is calling a missionary to Cameroon.
3. Council/Building committee meeting at 10 AM on Saturday with Architect.
4. “The Word is Near” Radio Show, Saturday Noon on www.wsho.com or locally at 800 AM.
5. Choir at 10:00 and Worship at 11:00 on Sunday.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

It’s hard not to think about yourself. I live here and what happens to ME is important to ME. I went over to the parsonage today and saw the progress they are making. They have added a patio cover in my back yard and I was thinking about how nice that will be on a day like this one. Then we went and picked out ceiling fans and carpeting for part of the house and I thought about which carpeting would feel good on MY feet. It was MY birthday and MY son gave me a satsuma tree and I was thinking about how nice it will be for ME to plant that tree in MY back yard. I am so looking forward to getting back in MY house. One of the Builders told ME that I had just conducted a good Bible class. It is hard not to think about the most important person in MY life – ME.

St. Peter had just told Jesus not to go and die on the cross. He was thinking about what was good for HIM. He didn’t want Jesus to be killed. But of course the best thing for Peter was that Jesus would die on that cross. Peter was thinking about himself. But we all see how misguided he was. What was best for Peter would be Jesus dying on the cross. Apparently we can’t even be trusted to know what is best for US. So maybe we shouldn’t think this way. Jesus says, “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me.”

Is what I want for ME really best for ME? I don’t know. I don’t want to make the same stupid mistake that Peter made. So maybe what I should do is busy myself following Jesus. Let the focus of my life be on that. It is hard to think about yourself while you are following Jesus. Listen to what he says! Walk where he walks! Do you think that HE knows better what is good for ME than I do? In the end what kind of ceiling fans I have probably doesn’t matter that much.

News:

1. Jerry’s Kids are busy working on 4 houses of our members. (They miraculously squeezed another trailer in yesterday.)
2. Mudding and floating is done in the parsonage. Painting is next.
3. Air conditioners are up and running the fellowship hall.
4. Entergy called to see if we wanted the electricity hooked up on our FEMA trailer. She didn’t seem a bit surprised to hear that it was already hooked up.
5. The Mold Krewes have done over 60 houses so far. A powerful labor of love.
6. “Too many” people in church Sunday. Ran out of two trays of communion cups.
7. The Builder’s wives have been handing out “Bead Fliers.” One person came to church yesterday because of them.
8. Lenten Service this Wednesday at 7 PM will be conducted by MLC students.
9. Sorry I missed this letter on Friday this week. Meetings. I might miss one this week. I’m going to Milwaukee tomorrow to meet with the Central Africa Medical Mission Committee on Wednesday. And then on Friday I’m heading to Houston to address the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. The bad thing is that the Crown of Life Corporate Jet is down for a muffler change.
10. Every day I hear about more people coming back. I hope we are all able to if we want to.
11. Don’t forget to be in town on the 15th when PBS focuses on our church and
Marywood Court. They want to interview residents of our area.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 2 Corinthians 9:2

They come and they go. Each time I go to Lutherville I see a new face. (Sometimes I’m not sure if I met them and just forgot or if they are new people.) There are some that only come for a few days and they are gone back to their homes. Some are familiar, they have been here a long time. Of course I’m talking about all the workers who have come down to help us recover: the Builders for Christ, the Mold Krewes and Jerry’s Kids. The returnees really confuse me. There they are. I thought they left. Did I get that wrong? Oh, they’re back. OK. While they were here they did something…. Maybe they pounded a nail or put on some roofing. Maybe they carried a board or swept a floor or made a meal. They have touched us and made a difference in our future even if we don’t know it. There is the Theory of Chaos that says that every event affects every other event, or something like that. Is what we are seeing, Christian Chaos?

St. Paul is writing to the Corinthians. He had been bragging about the eagerness of the Corinthians for giving and that has apparently inspired others to do the same. Their enthusiasm to help has inspired other Christians to help. One of the ways we encourage people is not by what we say but what we do. That is why Jesus calls us salt. Wherever he scatters us we make a difference. I guess that isn’t Christian Chaos, that is God’s wise planning.

It is kind of interesting to see. Sometimes after one of these Christian helpers comes down and works here and then goes back home, we hear from someone else in that church or that town. They touch us. We touch them. They move on and touch someone else. We move on and touch someone else. Just think of all the connections we make and all the opportunities we have! Do you think in heaven we will be able to see how it all worked?

News:

1. Talked with George Armstrong. He is talking about coming back and rebuilding. Still just talking but he says “Hi” to us all.
2. Garnet, George and Myraja are planning to return the end of May.
3. Dana Greenspon called. PBS will be here Wednesday a week all day. They want to feature our neighborhood and our church. They would especially like to interview some of our members who live in the area. They will be at our Lenten service at 7 PM.
4. Lenten Service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM conducted by the Mold Krewe.
5. Guest preacher on Sunday, Pastor Mark Lindner from the Committee on Relief. Speaking of the Committee on Relief they inform us that we have enough money to rebuild the Chapel.
6. Did you see the new design of the Fellowship Hall? Looks pretty good.
7. Worship on Sunday 11:00 Choir Practice at 10:00

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. Genesis 1:31-2:1

We lived our lives in a different way, didn't we? Not a better way but a different way. Lynn showed me about a quart of picked crawfish. She didn't know exactly what she was going to do with them. It is hard to spread that few among all those builders. But I was thinking, "A little heavy cream, some pasta....." Well, you know. I am reminded of those differences when I make these trips. Just passing through airports you get the impression. In Memphis there is some of this lilt of life, but by the time you get to Milwaukee, it is pretty clear that these are people who get things done. The people at the car rental are quick, business-like and friendly. You can tell that they have been properly trained in being all three. Not that they aren't normally friendly, but this is business, you know. And there are still a couple of feet of snow on the ground and when it is cold, moving faster helps.

The passage above reminds us that God created this world and it was good. It also reminds us of its vast array, the tremendous variety in which our God made this world. There are thousands of varieties of animals, plants and insects. From ocean sides to mountaintops, from high plains to river valleys. But what was not evident at the time (I don't think) was the vast array in which God had created his people. God created them with ingenuity, creativity and curiosity. It would only be a matter of time and they would add to the vast array that was the good earth. It was going to be a good thing. God created us with a love for the vast array. But sin came into the world and spoiled all that was good. Humans, being sinful would sometimes look down on those whose "array" was a little too "vast." People who were different would no longer be "good" but "bad."

One of the fears I have heard expressed is that if we have social engineers come in to redesign our city after the flood, that they would make it into a Disney version of ourselves. A shotgun with plastic walls. I hope that doesn't happen. I could do without the crime and the corruption, but I hope we can get back the sway, the gentle grace and the funkiness of our home. I think it is a good part of God's "vast array."

News:

1. As you can tell I'm on a plane heading up to a Central Africa Medical Mission meeting in Jackson, WI. (If you want to get a look at God's vast array spend a little time in Jackson, MS and Jackson, WI.)
2. Lenten Services conducted by the Martin Luther College students, tonight at seven.
3. Carol gave more of the Builders a tour of our town.
4. Whoa, our plane seems to be struggling a bit with staying in the air. We are going down fast; I hope it is planned.
5. That's better.
6. Friday Carol and I are heading over to Houston to a Lutheran Women's Missionary Society meeting. They want to know how you are doing. I'll tell them.
7. Choir practice on Sunday at ten. Worship at eleven. Guest speaker: Mark Lindner. (You won't have to listen to my farm stories this week.)

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

What follows is a guest devotion written by our Web Master from California. Enjoy!

Dear Brothers in Christ:

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

While helping Crown of Life last October I met Pastor Dave. We have stayed in touch and he honored by asking me to write a letter to you all. I have no Gulf Coast analogies to offer you, but will relay the news of the passing of Henry Morris. For those how don’t know, Dr. Morris founded Institute of Creation Research.

There are more stars than you or I could count in our lifetimes, but God has named them all. They say each star is a sun not unlike our own. Pastor Dave asked on the Word is Near, “What do you see in nature that convinces you that there is a God?” I answered, “My cup of coffee, the morning paper, and the sunrise.”

I never stir the cream into my coffee. The convection of heat causes the coffee to roll. That and entropy (everything gets more mixed up – not less) are all I need to stir my coffee. The consistency of convection and entropy clearly demonstrate the ordered hand of God. There will always be transfer from energy to heat, heat back to energy. Some would say it’s physics, but I know it’s God’s sense of order. Evolutionists will say the sun ultimately came from the Big Bang, but how can that much heat come from no, or very little, energy? We know it is God.

And what of the morning paper? I’ll let you “read up” on Guttenberg and movable type.

Help and Love one another:

Michael Eaton
Santee, CA

News:

1. Looks like we will have quite a few people in next Wednesday. Should be a good Lenten Service.
2. Did you notice that the population of the city is now 230,000, up from 130,000.
3. Council meeting tonight at 7:00 PM
4. They are painting the parsonage today. We have chosen Mardi Gras colors.
5. Wanda’s roof will be finished today.
6. A lady called me to thank us for gutting her house. She will be sending a donation to MLC. She raved about the attitude and spirit of the students working. Let you light shine. She says she will come to church.
7. Choir practice on Sunday 10:00 Worship at 11:00. Guest preacher Mark Lindner. Thanks.
8. Carol and I are heading for Houston tomorrow for the LWMS rally there. Will be back on Saturday.
9. Chris will be taking the radio show in my absence. Call him and give him a hard time.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:22

The tide was coming up in the bayou. We were leaving for New Orleans to deliver our pop-up camper to Seth for a place to live and planning to attend the council meeting at church. It was a combination of high tide and a strong south wind and the tide was rising, coming up out of the ditch and beginning to get on the road. By the time we got back home it was down. Until I lived here, I never realized how important the tide is, at least to this part of the world. It is that approximate 12-hour pulse that is responsible for so much of the marine life here. The shrimp depend on the tide for transportation into the marsh to spawn and back out into the gulf again. Of course along the way they are subject to being eaten by any number of fish and caught be fishermen. The weather is beginning to warm up and the grass is beginning to turn green. Some of the deciduous trees are getting leaves. That is another pulse – the change of seasons. Day after day, year after year…. It is a pulse, like our own.

After the flood that destroyed the world, God wanted to assure mankind that it would never happen again. He promises that this pulse of the earth would continue, “seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter will never cease.” Through all the changes, all the ups and downs, that steady pulse will continue. God has promised.

I guess you could call it God’s heartbeat, at least the heartbeat that he lets us see. His pulse. Sometimes things happen in your life that make you think that your world can never be the same. But in the background, if we are paying attention, is the steady heart beat of our God, “cold and heat, summer and winter”, the rising and falling tides, reminding us that he is here with his steady promises and faithful love.

News:

1. So many of those in Lutherville told me what a fine job the MLC students did with the Lenten service last Wednesday.
2. Thanks to Michael from California for his Diaspora letter yesterday.
3. Herbert Wing stopped by the church yesterday. (He was a member of Mr. Ison’s band.) He had gotten one of our bead door hangers.
4. Color paint on the walls of the parsonage.
5. “Bubbles” has the air conditioners working in all three buildings. (“Bubbles” sounds like the name of a night club dancer, but believe me he isn’t.)
6. As soon as I get this sent out, Carol and I will be heading for Houston to the LWMS rally. We’ll be back on Saturday. (Can’t miss church.)
7. Elaine asks for prayers for her brother and cousin. They both have their special medical problems. Put them in your prayers, please.
8. Ronnie Land’s sister died. “Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of his saints.” May the Lord comfort Ronnie and her family.
9. Choir practice at 10:00 AM. Service at 11:00.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience.” (Solomon, Proverbs 19:11) “If you must pull a tooth, pull it quickly.” (Me)

Dale from the Builder’s For Christ let us know that they were committed to finishing the Chapel next year. It looks like it will be in April some time before they are able to finish the parsonage and the fellowship hall. Some of the Builders have other jobs to go to and some just want to go home after their long stay among us. I was hoping that there would be enough of them who were willing to stay so that we could finish building the Chapel this spring instead of next year. I asked them to stay and some might. But why the impatience? As long as it will be built next year why not wait?

There are quite a few passages in the Bible that talk about patience. Proverbs has a few of them. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, says that wisdom gives a man patience. I guess that would explain why I’m impatient. Of course you also have to understand what Solomon means by wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, he says. So you could see how that kind of wisdom could make you patient. True wisdom comes from the knowledge that God is in charge of all things, will take care of things perfectly and will do it at just the right time. So if you have asked the Lord to take care of a problem and he hasn’t, you can be sure that it isn’t the right time. Impatience comes from thinking that something should be happening and it isn’t. Wisdom allows us to wait in faith for our Lord to do things at exactly the right time.

When it comes to getting order back in your life, it can’t seem to happen fast enough. (Pulling a tooth is always better if it is pulled quickly.) I want live back in my house, grow plants in my garden, and walk over to church on Sunday morning for Bible Class. Sing songs with my friends, worship and pray with my fellow members. AND I WANT IT NOW! But I’m working on the wisdom part.

News:

1. Don’t forget (please remember) that PBS will be hanging around with us on Wednesday. I’d like to introduce them to some of the members who are trying to come back.
2. Lenten Service on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Dinner at 6:00 PM (before service.)
3. Did you notice Bell South putting new fiber optics under the street at the church?
4. Passed by Adam Zuleger’s house today. It was in sight of where the 17th Street canal broke. Not much left in that house.
5. Good attendance on Sunday. Some visitors from town.
6. Saturday 1-3 pm Secret pal luncheon at church
7. Radio Show 12 noon on Saturday WSHO.com

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:16

It is one of those mysteries. Two years ago when our choir went on tour, the churches we were going to visit asked how much we would charge to sing. We said, “nothing.” We didn’t even ask for a free will offering. We had been given the money to go and we just wanted to sing. We came back with as much as we left with, because some took an offering and some people gave us money. Could they have gone to a concert put on by a professional choir for the same money? Yes. But it isn’t about that is it. When our church, fellowship hall and parsonage flooded, without asking, people overflowed us with gifts, prayers, kindnesses. We will be able to rebuild all our facilities with the money given and the labor given by people who don’t even know us. If we had tried to sell our Choir CDs to those same people and given them a good value for their money, would we have “made” as much? But it isn’t about that is it.

I was reading the gospel lesson for Sunday. We have a Bible Class on the readings for the next Sunday with the Builders during the week. It is the story of how Jesus cleansed the temple. “How dare your turn my father’s house into a market,” Jesus said. Churches can always use the money, you know, to defray expenses. So why did Jesus chase them out? … twice? I guess it just doesn’t seem right to be buying and selling in a place where God gives us everything for free. God gives for free and he holds nothing back.

Maybe it has nothing to do with value, bang for the buck, or defraying expenses. Maybe the key word is “free.” Getting us to flip the “free” switch in our giving. How did Jesus say that? “Freely you have received, freely give.”

News:

1. Arva says that her neighbor renovated their flooded house and is living in it. They even beat me in.
2. Big PR day tomorrow. I’m hoping that our church can be a force for inviting people back into our neighborhood. We can be leaders in the community.
3. Some of the Builders are putting together a collection to buy the clock in our new, “Bell Tower.” (someone flipped their “free” switch)
4. Lenten Service tomorrow night at 7:00. We eat at 6:00 if you would like to join. LeRoy Ellsworth is cooking jambalaya.
5. Looks like we’ll have quite a few of our scattered folks back here on Wednesday. That will be fun.
6. Worship on Sunday at 11:00 Choir at 10:00

Be strong in the Lord

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:10 “Home, home on the range where the deer and the antelope play. Where never was heard a discouraging word….”

It was a good service last night. There were probably 80 people there for our Lenten Service. Mr. Ison played my cornet (it had never sounded so good). LeRoy made some of his “Mama slapping” jambalaya. Wanda sang, “I don’t have closet religion.” The PBS folks recorded the service that I’m sure will not be in their segment. (I mentioned the “J” word a few times.) It was the first time we had so many of our far flung (diaspora) members in church. There was real excitement in the air. “I can’t wait to get back home.” “I miss my church so much; it is nice to be here.” “When we come back we are going to start a business.” And even after the Builders had gone back to their tin homes, they hung around in the chapel, laughed and told stories. It was like old times. It didn’t even matter that the walls were just studs. I preached on Jesus’ words from the cross to his mother, “The power of a kind word.”

James talks a lot about the tongue and how important it is to keep in control. Because we are sinful, we do a lot of harm with our tongues. We hurt people, slander and gossip with our words. That is why where the deer and the antelope play there are no discouraging words, because there are no people. But the same thing has the ability to do so much good, to encourage and lift people up. Add to that the fact that our Lord has chosen to carry the message of his salvation through the spoken word and you can see how important it is. It is a great power! Use it wisely!

So we encouraged one another with the word, spoken from the Bible and in song. I didn’t hear one discouraging word. We used our mouths for good things last night and it felt good.

News:

1. The PBS special will air April 10th. They are taking three days worth of pictures and will condense it to 6 minutes so if you look close you might see someone you know.
2. Saw Cathleen Johnson and the girls yesterday. They are doing fine but tired of sleeping on the floor. Actually Cathleen’s husband is doing better since his stroke. They want to get back in their house. She plans to get her building permit today.
3. I saw some fish jump in the canal this morning. Later this afternoon, I’m going to take my birthday present (fishing pole) and see if I can catch a bass.
4. Saturday at noon, “The Word is Near” Radio Show, www.wsho.com or 800 AM.
5. Ladies Secret Pal Party at church, Saturday, 1-3 PM.
6. Choir practice at 10:00, Worship at 11:00, Sunday.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Personally, I think we should celebrate St. Patrick’s day in our churches. It is celebrated all over this country and I’m sure in Ireland. As you know we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in our own unique New Orleans way, with our own version of a St. Patrick’s Day parade. For those reading this who don’t know, besides the floats throwing beads like Mardi Gras, they also through cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes etc. All the things needed to make Irish stew. Of course some people also celebrate it like they do elsewhere by getting smashed on green beer. But St. Patrick never drank green beer (I don’t think) and I’m not sure if he ever ate Irish stew. St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish, he was English. He had every reason to hate the Irish since he was carried off into slavery to Ireland. After he escaped from Ireland he went back home, became an missionary, went back to Ireland and “single handedly” converted the whole area to Christianity.

Jesus told his disciples that they were to be his witnesses. They would get power from the Holy Spirit and they were to carry this good news to people starting at Jerusalem on out to the ends of the earth. At Jesus’ time and at St. Patrick’s time (5th century) Ireland was the “ends of the earth.” Driven by his love for his Savior and love for the people who enslaved him, St. Patrick brought people from empty paganism into the riches of Jesus Christ. It shows the difference one person can make with God on his side. What a difference you can make?

Maybe we should celebrate St. Patrick’s day not by getting drunk on green beer or catching cabbage from a float. Maybe the best way to remember St. Patrick would be to tell someone about Jesus like St. Patrick did.

News:
1. The roof on the fellowship hall is nearly complete. (New Metal roof. No more leaks we hope.)
2. Big group of high school kids coming in this tomorrow. I think there are 25 coming. That will be the Mother of all Mold Krewes. Got a couple more requests for guttings this week.
3. Didn’t catch any fish yesterday but I did get some bites. (Gnats) What’s with the gnats this year? I’ve never seen them like this.
4. Radio Show tomorrow at Noon WSHO.com.
5. PBS says the segment they are filming here will be on April 10th
6. Worship Sunday at 11:00 Choir 10:00

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Luke 15:4-6

It was probably a record attendance yesterday, somewhere in the 90s. Some of the numbers were because we had an especially large group of Mold Krewe people in. But we had a few visitors as well. One was a WELS member whose church attendance had sort of lapsed because he lived pretty far from a WELS church. Now he moved to New Orleans. I met his mother in Houston (I’m sure she had been praying about this) who gave me his phone number. I called it and invited him to church and yesterday, there he was, happy and excited to be there. (Less than 15 minutes from the church.) Another young man was there who is from California, came to college in New Orleans, evacuated the storm to Milwaukee (of all places), became a member of one of our WELS churches there. Next Sunday we will “Welcome him to the family.” It is nice to report that the parsonage is fully painted now, but this is even better news.
The old Pharisees and teachers of the law were upset that Jesus was hanging around with “sinners.” (Actually they probably didn’t care that much what Jesus did, they were just looking for things to criticize him about.) Jesus tells them the parable of the lost sheep. Like most parables it is best to take one solid meaning from this one. Jesus is showing us how much he loves the lost and the lengths to which he will go in order to save them. That he will do what it takes should not be a surprise as we stand beneath the cross. We probably shouldn’t draw too many conclusions about the 99 left in the open country. But we can probably say that the 99 might have to put up with some things so that Jesus can rescue that one lost sheep. Actually the 99 should be happy to “suffer” a little for the sake of that one lost sheep and should rejoice when Jesus brings him home.
It would be arrogant to think that the Lord needs our church to rescue these “lost” sheep. But we do know that the Good Shepherd will do almost anything to bring in the lost. Would he use a hurricane to bring in one lost sheep? It sounds like he might. When I think that way, there is a part of me that wishes, if it were true, that Jesus would have found a less painful (for us) way of doing it. His love for the lost is so much greater than mine. There is a part of me that is so glad that it is.

News:

1. Thanks to the Halls our new chairs should be coming in this week. We can use them.
2. Remember Adam Zuleger? He had joined our church just before the storm. He evacuated with Carol and me. His parents are down helping us rebuild. We caught a lot of vegetables at the parade yesterday.
3. Devotions with the Builders, Jerry’s kids, and the Mold Krewe this morning at 7:30.
4. Lenten Services on Wednesday at 7:00 Join us for dinner at 6:00 PM
5. There were a few other visitors in church on Sunday from the neighborhood.

Be strong it the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Romans 8:36

Borne on a strong south wind, the tide came up on Bayou Philip today. It kept rising until it covered the road, and about half of the yard. I got to thinking about what happened about 6 months ago when the water rose to over 20 feet right here. Are we living on the edge here or what? Maybe we always live on the edge.

St. Paul looked at himself and his fellow Christians and understood that they looked like losers. It looked like they didn’t have a chance in this world. But the opposite is the case. Without Christ, people are losers. St. Paul goes on to say that because we have Jesus we are, “More than conquerors through him who loved us.” Here they were living as conquerors in a world full of losers. Could that lead to “edgy” living?

How edgy is this life of ours anyway? We live as strangers here. We live as sojourners. We don’t belong here, at least not anymore. We have a home in heaven and we are waiting to get there. Some days it is more noticeable than others but we see that we don’t really fit in here. We know that at any minute the Lord will come and take us all to be with him, so we live differently. We live this “edgy” life and that’s OK. Maybe living on the edge isn’t so dangerous as long as we have our Lord holding us up.

News:

1. Did you hear the Mayor last night? He said that everyone who wants to rebuild will be allowed to. No areas will be bulldozed for green space.
2. Carol helped to get the fellowship hall ready.
3. The tile should be finished in Ellsworth’s house today.
4. Lenten Service Wednesday evening at 7:00 “A Word of Absolute Anguish” will be the theme.
5. If you know of a house that needs gutting call Kristopher.
6. Saturday “The Word Is Near” Radio Show Noon www.wsho.com or 800 AM locally.
7. Worship at 11:00 AM on Sunday. Choir Practice at 10:00 AM.

Be strong in the Lord

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Yesterday afternoon, Carol and I took the canoe up Bayou Philip. It has been a long time since we did that. It was nice to see the green coming back into the marsh. Nature beat itself up pretty bad in the hurricane, but it is coming back. Some kind of fish would wait until the canoe got up next to them and would slap the water and go under. There were turtles on just about every log, the sun was shining. And the surest sign of spring - we came around the corner and a nice alligator slid from his sunning spot back into the water. I know our world isn’t what it is supposed to be and we aren’t supposed to get too attached to it, but when you can paddle your canoe with someone you love and look at the wonders of God’s creation…. Well it was one of those days that make you want to stay here a little longer.

St. Paul is encouraging the Romans by reminding them that the things they were suffering (And they were considerable) are nothing compared to the glory that God has in store for us. The thinking here is that we can put up with some temporary suffering knowing that “this too shall pass.” God has such wonders in store for us that this life pales by comparison. There is no reason for us to cling to this life when we have something so much better in store.

I know this world is messed up, not what the Lord wants it to be. Still God gives us some pretty nice days in it, doesn’t he? It is true, nature can turn on us now. (I guess there were huge snow storms in some parts of the country yesterday) But our God really has filled our days, even here, with so many good things. Like all such gifts from God the key is not to love the gift but the giver and be thankful to Him for it. As good as a good day is here, it is still nothing compared to what he has in store for us. I can't imagine what such a day would be like, but it is fun trying.

News:

1. Lenten Services tonight at 7:00 PM Dinner at 6:00 PM “A word of anguish.”
2. The Mayor has a plan to use some of the federal money to provide low cost rental housing. That’s important for those who want to move back.
3. 4 more schools opened up in Orleans Parish. Still none in our part of town.
4. The Builders plan to be finished by the end of the month with the Fellowship hall and the parsonage. (I don’t think they are going to make it) The fellowship hall got painted yesterday.
5. Worship service at 11:00 on Sunday. Choir Practice at 10:00
6. Monday Morning Bible Study 7:30 AM.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Well, it happened. Last night Tommy Picket came to church. This is now the third or fourth time. He is Leroy and Willie’s neighbor. He's been watching Jerry’s kids rebuild their house. Last night he said, “I wanted to come to this church because I see what these people are doing and it is obvious that they are doing this because they care.” Jesus was right. Are we surprised?

Jesus is reminding the people that as God’s people have been chosen to make a difference here on earth. That difference is not intended to solve all the social ills here. It is not to gain for themselves praise and certainly not to gain salvation. It has a far higher purpose -- that our actions might lead people to “Praise our Father in heaven.” It isn’t just gutting a home, fixing the sheet rock, and pounding nails. It is evangelism in its most basic and least controversial form. It is pretty hard to criticize Jesus when his people are loving. It is also pretty hard to miss the point.

Some wise guy once said, “People reject Christianity either because they have never met a Christian or they have.” People are really watching. They are really listening. What we do makes a difference, sometimes an eternal difference. Sometimes we see it and sometimes we don’t. I hope Jerry’s Kids, the Mold Krewes and the Builders see it and it makes them feel good.

News:
1. Cold snap at Camp David. Low this morning in the 40s. I thought this was spring?
2. Ed and Carol Nelson were in town again. They were some of the first people to come to help us, way back in September. Some of the other long timers are saying how much things are changing since they came.
3. Floors are down in the parsonage. We are waiting for the doors to come along with the bathroom partitions in the Fellowship hall and the doors. Say a prayer.
4. Kingdom Worker big shots are coming down next week to check on their “Lights.”
5. Choir practice 10:00. Worship 11:00 Sunday.
6. Monday morning Bible Class at 7:30
7. Wednesday Lenten service 7:00

Be strong in the Lord