Dear Crown of Life Family:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength. Habakkuk 3:17-18

I think what Habbakkuk had a pretty good Idea of what we are feeling right now. It is my hope and prayer that you all made it safely out of the storm and are in some safe place. It looks like those of us who live in the city have lost everything, maybe even our houses. But this I know, we have what Habbakkuk knew he had, we have a Savior and eternal life is ours. Our Savior has provided for each of us a place where there will be no more storms, no more loss, no more sorrow or tears. And that, no one can take away from us, ever. Right now it might seem like we have nothing, but the fact is, we have all we need. I know that the Lord who has redeemed us and loved us will also see us all through this difficult time.

Carol and I, along with Seth, Beth, Mike Phelps and Adam Zuleger, made it up to Gary and VV Freys in Memphis. Their number is 901-386-1174. I hope that you will call me when you can to let me know where you are and how I can contact you. So far we have heard from McKinney's in Nashville, Dale Jensen in Vicksberg, Chris Dreisbach in Huntsville, Linda Hall in Baton Rouge.

The only people who were going to stay in town were the Armstrongs, Arva's husband, Jefferson were going to Peace Lake Towers, Garnet and George were staying. Margie Thomas had to work at Children's hospital but I don't know if she stayed.

I've received phone calls from our District president. He assures us that the people of the Wisconsin Synod are standing by to help us get things back in order when we finally are able to make it back home. The District plans to send in a van with supplies when that can get in.

Linda Hall has offered her home in Baton Rouge for up to 3 families and her son's house for up to three families to stay until we can make it back home. Her phone number is, 225-925-8615. We thank her for her kind offer.

I'll be trying to contact all the members of the church. If you hear from any of them or are able to contact them, will you please e-mail me or call me here at Freys. I'd like to keep track of everyone and be able to keep everyone informed about the members of our Christian family. More than ever we need to stick together, pray together and help each other out.

If you get this will you please write back and if you would like me to send this to anyone else, let me know.

Right now there are no grapes on the vine but we still have a Savior and he has given us each other.

Love:

To the scattered members of Crown of Life Lutheran Church:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:1-6

Most of us were able to run from the storm and find refuge with family and friends. It was a difficult journey for us but when we got to our destination, it was nice to be safe from the storm, the rising water and the fear of being trapped. Now we face the reality of the situation. Most of us have probably lost most of our earthly possessions. That is bad enough but many have lost their jobs, their ability to care for themselves, and face an uncertain future. But we will not fear. Now is the time for us to run to our next safe place, our next place of refuge, our God. He is the fortress that protects us, strengthens us and sees us through this. It doesn’t matter if it seems like our whole world is crumbling around us, we have a place to cling to, a God who will not fail us. I know he won’t leave us now because he has died for us, we are his children. That does not change.

So my fellow refugees, run one more place, run to our eternal place of refuge, our God. In your prayers place your life, your future and all your worries in his hands. Take a deep breath of faith and then with his strength get ready to move on.

Some news:

I talked with the Synod’s relief people. They stand ready to help us as a church and as individuals get back on our feet.

I’ve received many many calls and e-mails saying that the people of our church are praying for us.

The WELS website is letting people know and giving people an offer to help

I got my first phone call on my cell phone. We might be able to start calling one another. My number here is 901-386-1174

Michelle Schultz made it back home to Baton Rouge safely. She says that the first floor of her apartment building is flooded. The Schultzes are fine, still no electricity.

Just talked with Dale Jensen in Vicksburg. He and the children are fine. He plans to move to his brother’s place in Florida. He is confident that he still has his job.

Bob Heier was able to call in. He is fine and his house survived.

Chris Driesbach made it to Halls house. He was able to get into Covington and see that Beth’s house survived the storm.

Word is that Jeremy Wessel made it safely to a shelter in Thibadeaux.

Patience Pollet says that they made it through OK. Evelyn Baughman is staying with her mother in Baton Rouge.

Still no word about the Armstrongs, Garnet or Kris Smith who were planning to stay.

As soon as I am able, my plan is to return to Covington to stay at Beth’s house. Hopefully the time will come when I’ll be able to get into the city and look at the damage. In the meantime, write back to me if you get this and let us all know where you are and what is happening. Let us all know if you find out anything about anyone.

God is our refuge!!

To the scattered family of Crown of Life:

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentation 3:19-23 [sic - Webmaster]

Jeremiah saw the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and wandering and enslavement of the Jewish people. The whole book of Lamentation is just that, a lament about all that he and his people had lost. When you read the book it is tortuous like looking at the TV coverage of the loss of our city and our home. You can feel the pain in his words, the loss, and the sorrow. But his greatest sorrow is over the fact that his people had forsaken the Lord God and were lost forever. In the end though, he lifts up his eyes and realizes that his whole life exists because of God's love. It is that zero base that helps us. "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed." The fact that we have anything at all is because of God's love. Our sins make us worthy of God's wrath and he should just destroy us. But he doesn't. He loves us. He died for us. He forgave us. He has given us life. He has given us eternal life. From there we move on. "His compassions never fail, they are new every morning." That breaks it down into pieces we can all deal with. Today, this morning.. This morning I live in the mercy of God. And so this morning I will live my life in that mercy. I don't know what tomorrow will bring but there is one thing I can be sure of when I wake up, God's mercy will be there. "Great is his faithfulness."

News:

Heard from Wanda. She and the Baby and Michelle are with her in Tx. Some nice people just walked up to them and said, "You can come live with us." She asks for your prayers because Bill and Tabitha stayed behind and she hasn't heard from them.

Also heard from Elaine Green and Kelli. They are also fine in Texas at a hotel. I think she said Richardson at the Homestead Suites. One in their group died along the way so they must stay for now. Their plan is to join Eddie in Montgomery.

Pam Prillman, Allegra and Karen are in Carville in Pepper's apartment. She is looking to join the teaching force in Baton Rouge. Her Parents, John and Arthemise are still missing. Karen has been able to get her dialysis.

Ison's called; they are going to be getting and apartment in Marshall, Texas for the next month. They are all fine.

A special thanks to Evelyn Baughman who is master phone caller who was able to reach all these people. Her phone must be angel powered.

Bob Heier is going to pick up Madonna at the airport today. His house still has no electricity.

Chris Driesbach is staying with the Halls.

The Halls still are offering places to stay if you need one.

Just heard from Joy Feast, she and her family are in Cameron LA and OK. Tanner made it to Brookhaven in a shelter. Feasts are moving today. She will let us know.

Just heard from the Ellsworths. Willie Ann and LeRoy are safe in Texas.

Text messaging seems to be the way to get through.

We still have not heard from the Armstrongs, Horace, the Walkers, Kris Smith (Brittany says she has not heard from Kris since Monday). Does anyone have a cell phone number for the Walkers?

We are going to try to have a church service on Sunday in the Baton Rouge area. It looks like that is the best place for us to meet for now. It is my plan to make my way down to Covington in the next couple days. (A little depends on the gasoline shortage here and along the way.) If you are staying in the Houston area, we have 3 churches there: Abiding Word, 17123 Red Oak Dr. 281-444-5894, services at 8 and 10:30; Christ the Lord, 4410 S. Kirkwood Rd 281-498-2634, services at 8 and 10:30; Prince of Peace, 16650 Longenbaugh Dr., 281-859-0800, services at 8 and 10:30.

Dear Scattered family members:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Yesterday, along with your phone calls and calls from concerned people all around the synod, I received a phone call from the editor of the "Forward in Christ" magazine. (That's our synod's newspaper, the one we get in church) He asked me if I would write an article for the magazine with the topic, "How I will celebrate Thanksgiving this year." So let me pass that on to you. How will you celebrate thanksgiving this year? Will it be different? Will it be better? I guess it seems too far away to really think about. But thanksgiving is not something that we celebrate on a day of the year, not if you believe St. Paul in the passage above.

What you have there is a solution to worry and anxiety. There is certainly plenty of that to go around. Some of us are anxious about our loved ones. Some anxious about our homes and our possessions. Some of us are anxious about our jobs and the future of this church of ours. God is saying, "Don't sit around and be anxious, bring it to me." Notice the absolutes here, "Anything," "Everything." Don't be anxious about "anything," no matter what it is. In "everything" with thanksgiving bring your requests to God. Is it possible to give thanks about everything? That is our challenge, isn't it?

So all you scattered family members, take your anxiety to God in prayer and petition. See what we have to be thankful for. We have God's promise that when we do that, his peace will descend upon us and guard our hearts and minds. May God give you that peace today.

News:

Church Service will be at Halls on Sunday 11:00. If you need directions or a ride please let us know. Linda can give better directions 225-925-8615. I think it is important for us to get together.

Got a call from Beverly Boczon. She is fine and hoping to return to inspect her home if there is one left. She has had good reports about the houses in Venetian Isles.

Of course we are saddened by the death of Lydia. I don't know the details. Please pray for the Jeffersons and George. They are together and heading for a shelter in Lake Charles. I was talking with someone who said, "At least Lydia was spared the ordeal." Indeed!

Walkers and Brunette Macklin are safe in Shreveport.

Chris Smith is safe and being taken to La Place. Michelle Schultz is going there to pick him up.

I'm trying to make plans to return to Covington tomorrow, Saturday. Gas shortages here in Memphis might make this difficult.

We went to the NOAA web site and looked at the church from outer space. The buildings are clearly standing. Some houses have roof damage but ours seems to be OK. There is obviously water still standing but it is unclear how deep it is now and how deep it was. To find the maps, after getting on the NOAA web site, click on the link 350 aerial photos.

Dear Scattered family members:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

I've been watching the great efforts being made by the federal government to help get the city of New Orleans back and working again. Of course those efforts are never enough and never fast enough. We want the suffering to end, the pain to stop. But we know that even if we put all of mankind's resources together we will still need a different kind of strength, we need the kind of strength that only God can give. Today Carol, Seth and I are planning to head down to Covington to stay at Beth's house. Itdoes not have electricity, but it survived the storm. Tomorrow we are planning a church service at Halls in Baton Rouge. It is my plan for the next week to try to find and visit our members who are in shelters in the area. I wish I could just go to each one of them and with the power of my touch make things all better for them. But I don't have the power either. The only one who has that power is God. We can tap into that power by relying on him, and trusting in his care. I hope to see many of you soon. "Be strong in the Lord."

Love:
Pastor

News:

Pastor Greenlee called. He received a call from Kim Bechet who is in a shelter in Baton Rouge. I called there and they said she was there but would have to call me back. She hasn't yet. The shelter's number is 225-766-7000.

The members of Baton Rouge and Abita Springs would like us to know that we are invited to attend their services and they are willing to help us in any way.

I've also received many calls from people and congregations around the synod, offering places to stay and help for our members. We thank God for his people.

We want to worship together on Sunday at Hall's at 11 AM. Directions to their place are: I10 to I12 east, North on Airline Hwy to Old Hammond Hwy, turn left, go 3 or 4 lights to Dove Hollow turn left, 3rd house on the right. 2238 Dove Hollow Dr. 225-925-8615 Hope to see you there. I'd like to make some plans for our future. First will be finding and securing our family members.

Kris Smith is fine. We thank God.

Tanner and family are in Brookhaven. We thank God that she also is safe.

I'm not sure I'll be able to keep these going since the phone service is pretty bad down there. But I'll try. We have two cell phone numbers 504-259-2069, 504-259-9862

Dear members of the scattered family of Crown of Life

For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

Should we rebuild the city of New Orleans? I?ve heard that question debated lately. Is the city of New Orleans going to last forever? No! is any city going to last forever? No! We all know we have a home in heaven. We are strangers and sojourners here. So we understand that we will live in no city here forever. This hurric! ane and our great loss is only a reminder that our treasure is elsewhere. Today we had 32 people of the scattered (diaspora) members of Crown of Life. It was an emotional and joyful reunion. I know that ya?ll made a special effort to be there, it wasn?t easy. But I think it helped. I know it helped me. We listened to many heart wrenching stories. We listened as George told of hold his wife as the water rose until he could hold her no more. We listened to Job ask why and learned that there are some questions that God keeps for himself. But we should never, ever doubt the love o! f God. We thanked God for his bl essings in Lydia's life and for taking her to life everlasting.

There are no enduring cities here, that is true. But New Orleans is an amazing city with some amazing people. We have build with the help of God a good church. It is my hope that we can all work together to do what seems impossible, keep our church together. Some day we will be together in a city that will never flood. I?ll be happy to be there with you.

News: We had a nice worship service in Baton Rouge at the Halls house. They even provided an excellent dinner. Does church get any better than that?

Chris was ready to play all those songs we love to sing in our liturgy. What a gift he is to our family!

One of our lost ones, Dr. Dion Armstrong called. He is in the civic center in Houston. Looking forward to going to meet with his friends in New Jersey.

Kim Bechet and her family were blessed with a house to stay in in Baton Rouge. Got keeps answering our prayer.

I talked with Robin Pourciau and she really wants to get back to Louisiana. She might be coming to stay with Evelyn and her Mom. What a blessing!

Gretchen McKinney called. She will be coming back home to Slidell on Wednesday. We are seeing if she would be able to pick up Katherine Jefferson on the way. Word is that Mr. Jefferson is OK in a shelter in Lufkin Tx. We thank God for that.

Thanks to Halls who allowed us to have church in their house and provided the Pastor with a rare commodity, gasoline.

It looks like Mr. Armstrong will go out to live with his son, George in California. He needs a quiet place with his family. It is clear that he is struggling. Who can blame him.

Carol, Seth and I are in Covington. Thanks to cell phones and generators, we are able to get this message out.

We are planning for another worship service next Sunday at the Halls at 11:00 AM. Everyone said they wanted to do it. We need each other even more than we did before. It is my dream to have all of us back together again some day.

Love:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-20

I guess it is not just the moths and rust that destroy, it could be wind and water but the point is still the same. We have things, they have been given to us by God, so they are important things, things to take care of. But they should never be our treasure. The Bible says that where your treasure is, that is where you heart will be. We sometimes have to be reminded that we should not place our heart on things, they should never be our treasure. Our treasure is Jesus. Our treasure is the life He died to give us. If we place our heart on that, then it is something that we can never lose. There are many of us who have lost a lot in the last week. But we haven't lost our treasure.

But I don't want to minimize it. There is sometimes a temptation to say, "Well, those things are only possessions," as if to say we should get over it. But when Jesus taught his disciple to pray, one of the things he told us to pray for was daily bread. We all know that includes all that we need for life. There are many of us who have to depend on the kindness of others to get our "Daily Bread." It isn't wrong to want these things. It isn't wrong to miss these things. It is wrong to treasure these things. We have only one treasure, Jesus. The house, the car, the job can be gone but we still have our treasure. Be strong my friends.

Love:
Pastor Dave

News:

We had a church service on Sunday. About 35 people there. A few tears. Thanks to the Halls.

Bechet's plans for a house fell through. They will be staying with Evelyn's Mom. Thanks.

Robin and family will also be coming home. They also will stay with Evelyn's Mom. Thanks again.

Mr. Armstrong will probably be going to live with his son in California. We will miss him. But he could stand a good rest.

Carol and I checked out our fishing camp in Ms. It stands!. It is on stilts and yet had water up to one foot from the ceiling. That means the water was probably 25 feet deep. It isn't very far away so we hope we can get it fixed up and live there.

Heard from Garnet. She and her family are in Dallas. Trying to get them set up with a church.

Katherine and her husband have been reunited in Lake Charles. They are staying with her brother.

Chris Driesbach checked out his place in Kenner. He only had 3 inches of water in his house. Thank God.

Gretchen and Lee are heading home. Gretchen called her house and got an answering machine. Could it be??? Michael Walker who is also living in Slidell is not so blessed. He got a generator from the South Atlantic District Emergency trailer, and a chain saw.

No electricity here in Covington but we had to stop at a stop light yesterday.

I'm meeting the WELS committee on relief and the Kingdom Workers guy on Wednesday in Abita Springs. They are going to try to begin the process of trying to coordinate their relief effort. I think we are going to get some serious help from the people of WELS. It looks like we will need it.

Someone said the water is going down in New Orleans East.

I got an e-mail from a Pastor who said he would move out of the parsonage and live with one of the members so that one of our members could have a place to stay.

I got word from another man who heard our choir sing in Pardeeville who said that someone could live in his house all winter since he has a Motor home.

God's people are amazing, aren't they?

Evelyn is putting together a comprehensive list of our members. Thanks.

To the scattered members of Crown of Life:

Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:26 [sic - Webmaster]

I guess if this was spoken by anyone else you might say, “He can talk smart but he doesn’t know what it is like to be without shelter, or worry about where his next meal is coming from or his clothes.” But Jesus knew what he was talking about. Even after being wiped out by a hurricane I still have more things than Jesus ever did. And we know it is true. God knows you need these things and he will provide. Kim was saying on Sunday that they escaped with very little but people had provided them with plenty of clothes to wear. Pastor Vallesky who helped out at a shelter in Texas says that they have volunteers just sorting the clothes for the refugees who come in. People provide? God provides. Last Sunday when I was getting ready for church I discovered that I hadn’t brought any socks with me. I found some of my daughters that had Saints written on them. I guess saints socks are good to wear to church.

Now don’t send me clothes. When Wal-Mart opens, I’ll get plenty. But my point is that some of these things we never even think about. How blessed we are that God has taken care of us so well that we very seldom ever even think about them.

It also helps us keep things in perspective. For example, yesterday the garbage men came down the street for the first time. There was much rejoicing.

Jesus said, “Don’t worry, God knows you need those things.” If you read on you find out what you should do instead of worrying. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Be strong:
Pastor

News:

1. I’m going to meet with the WELS relief team today. They want to look at the long range needs. I have a list.

2. Dan Hawkins and his dad are safe in Dallas. Another one found.

3. Beverly Moran is in a Hotel in Jacksonville, Fl. (And her family) Crown of Life’s P.I. Evelyn found them.

4. The house for Bechets didn’t work out. They are now staying with Mrs. Kivy. Thanks to Tyrone who helped them move.

5. Our camp in Waveland amazingly survived. It is a camp on stilts and the water rose to within one foot of the ceiling. About 25 feet. We are hoping that we can get it fixed up so we can live there for awhile.

6. The Lutheran High School in Watertown WI is offering a free ride to victims.

7. A pastor in Michigan offered to move out of the parsonage and live with members so that someone could live in his house.

8. We have many such offers. None of our people should be without a place to live.

9. Gretchen and Lee return to their house today in Slidell. We pray all is well.

10. Went over to visit Pastor Dietrich yesterday. The parsonage had some tree damage but their power is back on. He sends his greetings. (He makes pretty good fish too)

Dear Scattered Member of the Crown of Life Family:

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

Is it easier to live for the Lord or Die for the Lord? I guess I don’t know since, so far, I’ve only been asked to do one of them. But it certainly does seem like one is a much longer commitment than the other. The challenge we are facing right now is living for the Lord.

I guess St. Paul gives us the two extremes, living and dying, representing the greatest change we experience. At one time we are here walking around on earth and the next moment we are walking around in heaven. That is a big change, I’m told. But living itself has plenty of changes. As a matter of fact that is all life is is a constant change. We are committed to living for the Lord in all of the circumstances of life, good days and bad. Sometimes the changes just sort of creep up on you. A person who hasn’t seen you for awhile might say, “Getting a little gray, huh?” It just kind of creeps up on you one hair at a time. And sometimes the change comes all at once. In one day, everything in your life is changed. Nothing remains the same. Our challenge is to continue living for the Lord no matter how things change. Now I will admit, that getting a few more gray hairs doesn’t make it more difficult to live for the Lord, but not having a home might. Or it might not. Did you notice in the passage above the one thing that never changes? The Lord. What was true a week ago is exactly the same today. We are living for the Lord, whose love and salvation is exactly the same.

News:

Found: Bill Theodore is with Wanda now and Tabitha is OK. Thank God!
Lynn Gividen is in Jacksonville, Florida recovering from surgery, but OK.
We are still looking for Horace, Thomasas, the Mercadels, and Connienaice Coleman
Tanner is in Dallas at long term hotel.
Lee and Gretchen returned to their home in Slidell and found it with some damage but in good shape. We thank God for that.
At this point we have only two people staying in short term hotels. Beverly Moran and Dale Jensen.
Dale reports that his job is secure, good news. And his apartment had some flooding.

The WELS Committee on Relief and the WELS Kingdom Workers along with Synod President Pastor Karl Gurgel, came and met with the pastors of the three churches in our area. Some things that came out of it:

1. They will be sending people to work in the congregations to help people fill out the FEMA forms etc.
2. They will be helping those on the north shore as soon as possible to get things back in shape, this includes helping me get my camp in Mississippi habitable so that I have a place to live for the months ahead.

3. When we are able to get into New Orleans they will do the best they can to help us get some work done on our houses if that is possible. We all know that this is overwhelming but they are committed to doing whatever they are able to do to help us get on our feet again.

4. They had a camera man there and will be doing some kind of web cast so I think if you go on WELS.net sometime next week, you might see our pictures (if you really want to).

We will be meeting at the Halls again on Sunday at 11:00 AM. We hope to be able to have a meeting after church to plan some things for the future. Jeremy: bring the check book. Please plan to come and bring a friend. The best thing we have to offer is the comfort of Jesus.

If anyone needs food or clothes or a place to stay let me know. Right now we are all safe and dry.

If you have news or information, please share it. And if you have words of encouragement, pass them around.

Keep living for the Lord

Dear Scattered members of Crown of Life:

...in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:7-10

I was talking with one of the diaspora of Crown of Life. She said, “Pastor we were just getting it all together. We were working hard and taking care of business, but now we have nothing. We are homeless.” Helpless? Most of the members have the same story they know what it is like to pull themselves out of poverty and build a life with hard work and perseverance. But if you looked at them now you would see them depending on the good will of others.

Yesterday the WELS Committee on Relief, President Gurgel and Kingdom Workers came and met with us. They asked me a question I’m not sure anyone has ever asked me before, at least like this, “What do you need?” I realized that at the time I didn’t even have socks yet. (I’m going to buy socks today.) But is that who I am, a sockless person? Am I homeless and helpless? No! Thanks to Jesus what I look like is not who I am. It just so happens that I’m a child of the King. And thanks to Jesus and what he has made me and given me, what St. Paul says about himself is also true of me….and you. “Dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

News:

Tanner and Family are in Dallas. So are Garnet and Dan Hawkins. I’m getting them hooked up with our church there. The church has said they are willing to help.

Glenda is flying with Charmaine to Colorado to begin school. Michael is staying at their home in Slidell. Their home received little damage, but they still don’t have electricity.

We are still looking for Mercadels, Horace, Connienaice, Margie.

Beth will be returning home on Sunday.

Sunday service will be at 11:00 AM on Sunday. Please plan to be there and bring a friend. Directions: If you are heading on I-10 West take I-12 East, North on Airline Hwy to Old Hammond Hwy, left. After three or 4 lights turn left on Dove Hollow Dr. Halls house is the third house on the right. 2238 Dove Hollow Dr, Baton Rouge, 225-925-8615.

If you need help filling out forms please call Ramona. She has offered her expertise in this. 225-751-8752

The people of WELS have been great! They are praying and sending help. Thanks.

Dear scattered members of the family:

Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

I guess the best example was the Manna in the Old testament. While the children of Israel were out in the wilderness, it was hard for them to find food. So the Lord does what he does, he provided it for them. Every day this bread from heaven fell on the earth and they could eat it. But it was only good for a day. If they tried to save it up, it would get rotten. So they were forced to trust God for food tomorrow just as they had today. They then could pray, give us today our daily bread.

Insurance is a good thing, but sometimes an insurance agent will make you think that you don't have to trust God for daily bread as long as you are insured properly. I guess we do it too. We have freezers that keep food so that we can save it up and eat it later. (That was a mistake, I don't really want to think about the food in my freezer) And even though I don't know any of the Crown of Life Diaspora who is wanting for food it is a reminder isn't it. There were times where even if you had money, you couldn't get food, you had to rely on God to provide. And he did, sometimes through a friend or a total stranger. Now consider that fact that daily bread in the Lord's prayer is all our physical needs: our house, our car, our job, our shoes, our socks. (I got socks yesterday.) The Lord has promised that he will provide our daily needs. Listening to some of your stories I'll bet you wondered some days if God was going to provide your needs.

What if God just provided the very things we needed for that day. If I needed a car, it would be there in the driveway in the morning. My closet would only contain the clothes that I was going to need to wear today. I guess it would teach us better the truth of praying, "Give us this day our daily bread." To my knowlege [sic - Webmaster], all of our scattered family members have shelter, food, clothes for today. We don't have any assurances for next year, next month or even tomorrow. But we do have assurances for today, from God, day by day.

News:

Got a chance to spend some time with Pam and her whole family. They are living in the same apartment complex in Baton Rouge. They have some stories to tell.

Also spent some time with the Bechets in Baton Rouge. They are busy seeking employment. Things look good.

Seth got a job as a security guard for part time work while he is at school.

Karen Woodard and Katherine Jefferson are having health problems. Please put them in your prayers.

Lee and Gretchen will be heading back to Houston to visit Trent. On the way they are going to try to find Joy and see if she needs anything. Her address is 116 Carter Rd, Cameron LA 70631

We still don't have electricity but it looks like it is getting closer.

They said the city will be pumped out in 30 days instead of 80. That's good.

Faith Kionka called. She wanted to know when she could go to her house. It will be a few weeks to get into Jefferson Parish.

We worship at Halls on Sunday at 11:00 2238 Dove Hollow Dr. Baton Rouge LA. See you there.

My friends, be strong in the Lord.

Dear Scattered Family Members of Crown of Life:

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14

One man, and we would assume he is of sound mind, jumped in his truck and came down from someplace in Illinois. He didn’t have a place to stay and he didn’t know exactly what he’d be doing. He brought chain saws, but the last time I checked he was using his electrician skills to help people with their electrical problems. It is kind of a nutty thing to do if you think about it.

In the mail came a check for $1000.00. “Spend it on whatever you need,” they said. People don’t just part with $1000.00.

Over and over people have said, “Have your people come and live with us. It usually isn’t a very wise idea to invite complete strangers into your house.

Sunday School classes color a bunch of “Get well soon” cards and send them to us. I know little kids like to do things like this but if you read them, you can tell that they are truly moved.

Why all this “odd” behavior? Because there are a lot of people in the Wisconsin Synod these days with itchy feet. They have to do something. They apparently see the need of the people of our congregation and they just want to do something.

They do that because they know that they have a Savior with “itchy” feet. When he saw our need for forgiveness, love and life, he couldn’t just stand there, he had to do something. That “something” was everything. He gave his life on the cross for us.

And now we people find ourselves there too. For the “Love of Christ compels us.” Now we are the ones with itchy feet.

In a couple of weeks, I’ll be heading up to Milwaukee for the Board for World Missions meeting. Unfortunately, we will have to cut more missionaries. Our synod, you see, is experiencing financial problems. But I’m heartened by what I’ve seen the last few weeks since the hurricane. There are still a lot of people in our synod with “itchy” feet.

News:

1. We found Maurice and Kathy Mercadel in Atlanta. I’m trying to get them in touch with the pastor Piepenbrink. Their truck broke down along the highway. They are safe in the Wingate Hotel. I’m hoping we can get some help their way.
2. Beth is back in Covington. They arrived yesterday afternoon. She begins work today.
3. Lee and Gretchen are going to try to contact Joy Feast in Cameron LA on their way to Houston.
4. Ill: Jesse, Katherine, Karen Woodard. Keep them in your prayers.
5. Still missing: Horace, Connienaice and Christien, Margie and we just realized that none of us have talked with Arva since the hurricane. Keep praying.
6. 29 people in church yesterday. Some new faces and new stories. Communion next week.
7. The water is going down faster in the city than they said at first.
8. Family Day is set for Oct 16th. We’ll miss Mr. Ison’s band and many other people, but a family doesn’t stop being a family just because we aren’t all together, right?
9. Yesterday we set up a partner system where people volunteered to keep in touch with those who were dispersed. Keep us all informed.
10. A church in Michigan is sending down 4 semi trucks, loaded with food and other items to Cross of Glory in Baton Rouge. Pastor Greenlee asked if any of us would be willing to come over on Friday to help unload them. (To the church in Baton Rouge) Also if you or anyone you know is in need, plan to go and pick some things up. Cross of Glory is planning to give these things away in the community. If you can help, call Pastor Greenlee at 225-752-7894 for arrival times and other information. More “itchy” feet in Michigan.

Be strong in the Lord

Dear Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Yesterday the power came on at Beth’s house where we are staying, and there was much rejoicing. Now it isn’t like we didn’t have power before. We had a generator that we ran a couple hours a day to charge batteries and such. During that time you could run most electric things, but you couldn’t run them all together. And of course it wasn’t powerful enough to run the air conditioner which still is a pretty important thing in Louisiana in September. Now we have a choice of power. We could either go back to the generator or keep the power company power. I think if I would suggest that we go back to the generator power, someone in this house would throw something at me.

St. Paul says that when we are weak, then are we strong. That might sound like typical St. Paul double talk, but he is saying that it all really depends on your source of power. You have a choice. You can rely on your power or on God’s power. Now it isn’t that we human beings don’t have any power, at least apparent power. You see people all the time relying on their own power and doing quite nicely, thank you. But there are certain times that force even those people to reject their own power and depend on the power of God. These are such times.

In these times we are reminded of how dependant we are on God everyday even when we don’t realize that we are. When you lose so much you realize how powerless you are. St. Paul says that his weaknesses really make him strong because they help him realize his weakness and depend on God and that makes him strong.

It depends on where you get your power. I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to plug into our weakness when we could instead plug into God’s strength. Then you might even look weak, but you’ll be strong.

News:

1. The pastor from Atlanta was able to get in touch with the Mercadels and help them with their car repair. They are looking to come back to the New Orleans area but at the time have no place to stay. If you have ideas, let me know.
2. Chris Driesbach is staying with McKinneys now. McKinneys are coming back from Texas today. Looking for a report on Joy and family.
3. Seth has been activated and reported to Belle Chasse yesterday.
4. If you get a chance go to the WELSnet.com and read and hear the report of those who came down here last week. They are supposed to be coming back here this week.
5. Try to contact your partner.
6. Still Missing: Connienaice, Horace, Margie Thomas, Arva

To the Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (This is part of the OT reading for Sunday.)

I guess if I were going to do this, I’d do it differently. I’d make sure, if I were God, that the pastor of the Lutheran church on Morrison Road wouldn’t have any losses in this flood. No wait, that wouldn’t be right. OK, OK, I’d make sure that none of the members of that church suffered any losses in this hurricane. But wait, what about all the other Christians in the city, why should they have to suffer? OK, OK all the Christians wouldn’t be affected by the hurricane, only the unbelievers. But wait, unbelievers aren’t equipped as well to suffer the loss of property. They don’t have any assurances from God. OK, OK, I guess I’d just have the hurricane hit somewhere else….. OK, OK I’d just ban all hurricanes….

It’s tough being God. At least it is tough for me, knowing what I know. Do you think it is tough for God to be God? I don’t think so because his thoughts are higher than our thoughts, as high as the heaven is above the earth. That’s a big distance because the earth isn’t high at all.

Do you know what is interesting about this passage? It is usually used just the way I did, to explain why we can’t figure out what God is doing. But if you read the passage you see that God is using it in connection with forgiveness. He says to the unbeliever, turn from your evil ways and repent and I will forgive you. The truly amazing thing about the thoughts of God is the way he forgives….. the way he forgives us. There really is no logic in it. He tells us that it is because he loves us, but he gives no reason for him to love us. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

Hurricanes, forgiveness, why some people die young, why some people have good health and others don’t, why some are rich and others are poor, rests in the heaven-high thoughts of our God. But so does the fact that he loves us.

News:

Found: Arva Moore. She called this morning. Odie also made it out safely. They are staying with relatives in Shreveport. She can be reached at 318-424-1930. (Actually she found us.)

Leola Legaux is at the Houma Civic Center 346 Civic Center Blvd. Houma LA. 70360 Phone: 985-850-4657. This was reported by one of our field investigation teams, the McKinneys. I don’t know how they found her but we are glad they did.

Talked with Joy yesterday. She is anxious to get back. But the kids are enjoying school. She reports that people have been treating them well. She doesn’t need a car since everything is close by. I said, Jjust around the corner.” She said, “Not around the corner, there aren’t even any corners, just down the street.”

Don’t forget about the food and stuff coming into Baton Rouge on Friday. Cross of Glory would like help unloading it. And if you have need of anything or know of people who do, you can pick some things up. Call Pastor Greenlee for times. 225-752-7894.

The bad news is that Odie reports that the water came up to the roof on their house and they live pretty close to the church.

WELS Kingdom Workers are setting up a staging area from which they can begin helping people and churches. It looks like we probably won’t be able to get into New Orleans until about the middle of October. But they want to be ready. Their plan right now is to get my camp in Waveland up and running so that I have a place to stay. It looks like the members who live in Jefferson Parish will be allowed in next. So they may be able to help with projects there before they get into New Orleans.

Dear Scattered members of Crown of Life Lutheran Church:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:1 ff.

Have you ever put a pot of rice on to cook and turned away for a couple of minutes and all at once it is starting to overflow and there just isn’t much you can do about it? In a much more serious way, we had an overwhelming overflow problem in our city a couple weeks ago. Nobody could stop it. But there are other things that overflow too. In the passage above, St. Paul talks about the Suffering of Jesus overflowing on us. Obviously St. Paul is using imagery here. Jesus suffering for he sins of the world does not overflow on us in the sense that we also have to suffer the sins of the world. But it is more like what we said himself on the way to the cross. “If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry.” If they do these kinds of things to the master how will the servants fare. Jesus suffering overflows on us. I’m not sure if hurricanes fit in here. I guess it would in the sense that we are God’s people living in a sinful world. But I’d really like to focus on the overflowing of comfort, which is what we need now.

I receive messages from people all over the United States. They are WELS people who want to do something. It is the “Itchy feet” syndrome that I wrote about before. It is the rice boiling over on the stove. They have been comforted by Jesus and their comforting just can’t stay put. They don’t want to come down here to visit the French Quarter or to hear good music. They don’t want to come down here because they like cleaning out moldy homes. They want to come down here and help us because they have been comforted and it is overflowing on us. And it is true we do need a little comforting these days.

I just spent the day with two Kingdom Workers who helped me clean the flood sludge from my cabin in Mississippi. It was dirty, muddy, stinky, and hot. But in a strange sort of way, I think they had fun. One thing I know about them is that these are people who have been comforted because it was overflowing all over the place.

When this is all over just think what a comforting people we are going to be.

News:

1. Still can’t find a few. Horace, Connienaice, Margie. Gretchen found Leola in a shelter on line. I’m glad she is OK.
2. Don’t forget to come out to Cross of Glory on Friday, Tomorrow. 5 Semis are coming and they want us to help unload them. This is part of the overflowing comfort coming from our WELS members. It should also give you and yours a chance to restock on some of the things you might need.
3. I’ve had numerous offers for lodging and help around the synod. Let me know if you are interested.
4. Isons are getting closer, they are in Bossier City.
5. Lee and Gretchen were able to visit with Joy and the Jeffersons as they passed through on their way from Huston to New Orleans. Everyone is OK.
6. The WELS congregation in Atlanta has found an apartment for the Mercadels. We thank them for their kindness.
7. Robin called today. Carol said she was in good spirits.
8. The water is going down faster than predicted. (Except by me)
9. Remember our service on Sunday at Halls. I think Rev. Richard Warneke will be around to talk to us about WELS relief and the Kingdom workers. (It’s holy communion Sunday. I’ve got the wafers and cups, Linda is getting the wine, right)

Dear Scattered members of Crown of Life:

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:1-5

If a tree falls on your house, does that mean that you are a bigger sinner than the people whose houses were not struck by trees? Some kind of judgment from God? The wind of the hurricane hadn’t died down yet when people started saying, “Well, the Lord is trying to clean up the city of New Orleans.” Well, there were certainly many things about the city of New Orleans that needed cleaning up. Most people associate our city with the things they see on the news. Quiet communities with church going people don’t make for good TV viewing these days. So they show the things. But the Lord was trying to clean up the city of New Orleans before the hurricane, just like he is trying to clean up the cities of Miami, Memphis and Milwaukee. Did New Orleans deserve a hurricane? Yes! Did New Orleans deserve a hurricane more than Miami, Memphis or Milwaukee? No! I think I can honestly say that Miami, Memphis and Milwaukee also deserve hurricanes. That is Jesus’ point.

So what is the lesson here? “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” If you look at this hurricane, or any other disaster like that, and conclude God must be punishing them because they have been bad, you are missing the point. It should lead you to say, “I deserve that and far worse.” And then go to God and ask him to forgive you for Jesus sake. It can be one of the first good things to come out of the disaster for a lot of people.

News:

1. Chris Driesbach was able to return to his home in Kenner. The rest of Jefferson Parish is closed.
2. I ate at Burger King yesterday. They said we couldn’t have it our way but it was like Noah sending out the raven.
3. The news is that the city is drying out faster than predicted.
4. We haven’t found anyone new today, so far.
5. Mercadels are looking for an apartment in our area. Any ideas?
6. I continue to get many calls and e-mails offering help. Jesus is moving the hearts of people.
7. Later today we are gathering at Cross of Glory in Baton Rouge to unload 5 semis full of relief supplies sent by one of our congregations in Michigan. The church is located at 5500 Stumberg Ln, Baton Rouge. For arrival times call Pastor Greenlee at 225-752-5503
8. Church service on Sunday at 11:00 at Hall’s house.
9. Family day is planned for Oct 16th in Baton Rouge.

Be strong in the Lord

Dear Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." Exodus 36:6

I never realized how big a semi was until last night. At about 9:30 the first of two trucks from Michigan arrived at Cross of Glory Lutheran church in Baton Rouge LA. They were filled with food and clothing from some people in Michigan. All in all 4 semis filled with goods were sent down. The plan is to give out these supplies to anyone who needs them today. There were probably 40 of us there. Most of them from Cross of Glory but a few from Crown of Life. After a couple hours of hauling box after box, there was a part of me that wished the people in Michigan hadn't been so generous. (My feet, new shoes + old feet=blisters) It reminded me of what happened to Moses. He put out a call to the people to make offering to build the new tabernacle and they ended up with too much. Now get this. Here is a church leader who actually asked his people to stop giving. (I kind of think that was the last time that ever happened.)

Now what does this show us? Well, the Lord has told us that he will supply our need. He has even said, "Packed down, and running over" he will provide. I'll bet at least one of the people who generously gave was someone who normally wouldn't give you the time of day, much less a pair of shoes. (I got a nice pair.) But the Lord moved him to supply our need.

We shook our heads and unloaded the boxes. Not one person there last night would ever wonder again if God can't open the storehouse of heaven.

1. Church service tomorrow at 11:00 Halls house. Rev. Richard Warneke and Ed? will join us for awhile. They have an "interesting" video to show us.

2. Got a letter from Pastor Koelpin which I will copy next:
Pastor Sternhagen,

Thank you for the e-mails (they have come through Mr. Becker to my e-mail
address). I have printed them and shared them with your members here in
Dallas.

Since I did not see their names in any of the e-mails, I thought you might
like to know that they are OK and give you a brief update on their
circumstances.

At present, the Edwards family has found an apartment just blocks away from
our church. We meet and visit with them every day when they drop off their
daughter at our school here at Calvary. Though the process is sometimes slow
(understandably), we have been helping the Edwards file reports and make
arrangements through the various agencies and insurances that have offered
to help these families.

Tanner Feast and her family are also in Dallas, staying at an ExtendedStay
America not far from church. Their application for housing vouchers hit a
snag, but we are hoping they will be moving to more permanent housing soon.
We keep in daily contact with them to make sure they have everything they
need. Also, Fox Valley Lutheran High School has "adopted" the Feast family
and will be sending supplies or gift cards for them to begin to replace the
many earthly needs that they lost.

We invited both families to worship and also lunch after services last
Sunday. Both families were happy to see one another. Above all, we give
thanks that we were able to share the Word of God with them, comforting them
with the sure promises of God's peace and protection.

If you have specific questions or information about these families, just let
me know.

It continues to be our pleasure to serve these families - sharing with them
our earthly goods and encouraging them with the eternal Gospel.

Galatians 6:10 - Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

In Christ,

Pastor John M. Koelpin
Calvary Lutheran Church and School
Dallas, TX

3. Lee and Gretchen will be seeing some of our members on their way to Houston. I think they loaded their truck with some of the fine stuff from the Semis last night.

4. I sent out a list of names and addresses of our Family. Please let me know if there are any questions.

5. Carol and I are moving again. A nice WELS guy from Alaska sent a trailer for us to live in until we get something more permanent. What a nice gift!

6. Seth is in the Air National Guard and was activated last week. He was able to pass by the church, fellowship hall and parsonage. He said there was no real damage other than the water which got up about 4 feet high at its highest. That is good news indeed. (He also reported that my boat was nowhere to be found. I hope someone used it for rescuing people.)

Be strong in the Lord:

Pastor

p.s.

Good news. We found Horace Noland. Angel called. He is living on the West Bank. He was not allowed to leaves because he works for the sewerage and water board. Anel plans to have her new baby baptized on Oct 16 in Baton Rouge.

We thank God.

Dear Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of our righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

They had a whole pick up truck full of goods they had taken from the parking lot of Cross of Glory Lutheran church in Baton Rouge. No they weren’t looters, they had come there by invitation. Some folks in Michigan had sent down 4 semi truck loads of food and supplies for the members of Cross of Glory to distribute to the hurricane victims of the area. (There were some or our members there too.) Within a few hours it was all gone. I guess I was wondering if they really needed to pack their “garish” pickup full of stuff as I loaded my “modest” box of stuff into the back of my car. Of course I needed all the stuff that I had picked out, but did they really need that whole case of Hawaiian Punch? But what I didn’t see is what was really happening here. According to the passage above, God was supplying the needs of people. And for the first time in my life most of the people I know are needy, at least by American standards.

But look at what the passage above is saying. It is saying that God gives plenty to some people so that they can give to those without so much. God actually chooses to distribute things to the needy through other people. Why doesn’t he avoid the middle man? Why doesn’t he just give it to the needy to begin with?

Well, it occurs to me that God does a lot of things that way. St. Paul says that God has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. He says that God has given us the amazing message to distribute to others, the message of God’s love in Christ Jesus. God could do that himself too. Could God do a better job? Undoubtedly! So why does God include us? Could it be that he wants us to have the joy of being part of the great things that He does? Could it be that he knows we want to be a part of it?

So, on that hot parking lot the people in Michigan were giving to the needy of Louisiana through the WELS church members in the area. That’s what it looked like. But actually it went a step further. God was distributing his goods to the people of Louisiana through WELS people in Michigan and WELS people here. I guess some people needed a box full and some people needed a pickup truck full. I thank God that he provided everyone’s needs. Besides I don’t like Hawaiian Punch that much anyway.

News:

1. As I reported earlier, we found Horace Noland. He is fine, staying on the West bank. We thank God.

2. 33 people in church yesterday. Some were there for the first time. It was nice to have them back. Had some hymnals, thanks to the folks in Mobile.

3. WELS Kingdom Worker, Richard Warneke was in church. He assured our family that the people of WELS wanted to help and that they would do the best they could.

4. It sounds like the city is pretty much pumped dry. Now we wait for them to allow us back in. Everyone is hoping that we can save our houses.

5. Don’t forget Oct 16th is Family Day.

6. Still missing: Connienaice, Margie

Be strong in the Lord

Dear Scattered Family Members of Crown of Life:

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Colossians 4:15

Larry was an alphabetical friend. You know how it is when you go to school, they divide you alphabetically. So when it came time to deciding who shared a locker with whom, they did it alphabetically: Stolzman and Sternhagen were “forced” together. We also shared many of the same classes and so we became friends. I spent some time with his family on their pig farm and he spent some time with my family at our dairy farm. But you know how it is when you graduate. I went on to become a pastor and he went on to become an accountant. And over the past 30 years we have run into each other now and then, sent Christmas cards etc. But I think we have talked more in the last 2 weeks than we have for the previous 30 years combined. (He was one of the many who offered to share his home with someone.)

If you look at St. Paul’s letters, like the one above, you will discover that almost all of them have a greeting section, where St. Paul sends greetings to people in the congregations. It might be that he was just being polite, but I don’t think so. These were his Christian friends and the miles between didn’t change that.

I’d like you to think about the friends you have made over the years: family friends, work friends, church friends and alphabetical friends. Now because of this storm, we have been forced away from them. In some cases we don’t even know where they are. You might think that this would drive us further apart, but it doesn’t. I think you see that it actually brings us closer together. I can see it in our church. Our friendship may have grown because of a common disaster but it was a friendship built on a common Savior and that is who will keep us close.

So in the spirit of St. Paul let me send my greetings to all you brothers and sisters and to Linda and the church in her house.

News:

1. Leola Legaux checked out of the shelter according to the records. The only address she gave was her son’s place in New Orleans, so I doubt if she is there. It sounds like she is OK.

2. Today Carol and I will be setting out to make a visit on our far flung members. The trouble is that some of them seem to be in the path of this next storm. I hope they don’t have to evacuate from their evacuation.

3. Beverly Boczon reports that her home in Venetian Isles is almost entirely washed away.

4. Kim Bechet started a new job. She asks for your prayers.

5. Michelle Schultz has gotten some classes in Houston since Tulane closed down.

6. Dan Hawkins is staying with the Schultz’s.

7. Service at 11:00 on Sunday

8. Give your church buddy a call.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

“Pastor, I just can’t sleep at night.” “I wake up and I’ve got all these things on my mind.” “Pastor when I close my eyes all I see is water.” “I’m having a hard time concentrating on things.” I guess they call this post traumatic stress disorder. Not being a psychiatrist it seems to me that it affects different people in different ways. Some people walk around with this sort of dazed look on their faces. Some have a hard time concentrating. Has it affected me? ……. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, post traumatic stress disorder. Long before they gave it a name, people where suffering from it. You can’t lose your house, your job and most of your possessions and go live in another part of the country without it bothering you. Most of us are probably affected in one way or another.

But there are some things that you can do. God has invited us to give our anxiety to him. That isn’t so easy to do since it is the very nature of anxiety to want to keep it. “It’s my life and I’m going to worry about it, thank you.” “If I don’t worry about my life who is going to?” Ah, now that I have an answer for. Long before you were born God “worried” about your life. He was holding you close long before your mother did. He “worried” so much about what was going to happen to you that he sent his son to die for you to give you eternal life.” St. Peter’s huge understatement, “for he cares for you” reminds us that we can trust God with our lives. We can give our lives back to the one who created it and has “worried” about it all these years. If you do, I think you will sleep better. And here is the good part, we can ask God to help us do it.

News:

1. Carol and I are in Lake Charles on a round of visits. We will make it to Houston today to see some of our members there. A hundred years ago they called such pastors circuit riders. One of them, while riding his horse from town to town divided the Bible into the verses we have today. But he didn’t have to drive his horse, it knew where to go. It is a good thing he didn’t have to wrestle a motor home between the semis on I10 or we’d have only chapters in the Bible.

2. The water seems to be pumped out of the city now. Hopefully we will be able to go in soon and start the long process of getting things back in order.

3. Reports are that Kim is enjoying her new job. Glenn started school. Ryan is looking for a job, keep him in mind. Karen had successful surgery. Robin and Tianna and families are in their new apartments in Houston.

Dear Scattered members of the Family of Crown of Life:

By faith he (Abraham) made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country: He lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

It was a great trip. Carol and I got to visit with some of our far flung members in Louisiana and Texas. We had to cut it short because of Rita in the Gulf taking aim at that part of the country. Besides we were in a mobile home and you know how storms like to hit them. But one thing was obvious from the people we visited. There were plastic bags and cardboard boxes stacked up with their possessions. Mattresses were on the floor, not much furniture, a folding table. You don’t buy furniture if you are going to be moving on soon. We laughed and talked about it. “We’ve lived in 4 places in two weeks” “That’s nothing….”

The King James Bible had a good word for this. They called it sojourning - living temporarily in this place. The writer to the Hebrews makes a big point of the fact that even though Abraham moved to the Promised Land, he still lived in a tent. It was an expression of his faith that this was not his home, that he was “looking forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” I guess that would do it. Tents don’t have sheet rock and carpeting so if they got wet all you have to do is dry them out. If they get blown over you just have to put them back up. So maybe we should all just live in tents. It would be a good expression of our faith and we could just move it when we wanted to. Of course you’d still want to have your Lazy Boy and your big screen TV, that antique dinette of your mother’s. And where would you put your heater and air conditioner? Well, maybe it’s not such a good idea. Maybe the key isn’t living in a tent, but living as if you were, looking forward to a home built by God. It, after all, is the only permanent home we will ever have, or need.

News:

1. Joy and family will have to evacuate again from this hurricane. Jordan and Elijah are enjoying football at their schools. They won’t be able to move into their place in Metairie even though it was on the second floor. The roof of their apartment was damaged.

2. It looks like Evelyn the PI has found Kay. She is in a nursing home in Houma. They were spelling her name wrong.

3. Kionkas are back. They had some water in their house. We were about to go help them rip out their carpeting when they closed the Causeway again.

4. Wanda and family are looking at moving into an apartment. She is writing a song about this whole experience. I can’t wait to hear it.

5. Robin and Dewey moved into an apartment north of Houston. Brendan and Talia are enrolled in a Lutheran School in the area. Tianna is working; her company transferred her. Dewey’s employer is saving his job for him.

Dear Scattered Members of Crown of Life:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Yesterday I helped a man throw his furniture and carpeting out the door. He looked at some of his favorite books. He kept some and threw the others away. “A time to keep and a time to throw away.” Two days ago I visited one of the family members who had evacuated New Orleans for Cameron LA. They were just getting settled in. Now Rita had its sights on Cameron. They would have to flee again. “A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.” A few minutes ago I watched pictures of the water running over the repaired levee flooding the lower 9th Ward AGAIN. I don’t think any of our houses are there but we all know people who have houses there. “A time to weep and a time to laugh.” The Lord says there is a time for everything. And I guess we are all at different times right now. I’m not sure what time I’m in. I think I might be in the time to keep silent.

News:

Ellsworths evacuated Houston sitting on that parking lot called 45, to Buffalo, Texas.

Pourciaus evacuated Houston for Dallas. They were running out of gas when they called this morning at 4 AM. They planned to stop and stay at Wal Mart.

Joy and her family evacuated Cameron to Alexandria, LA. and are staying at the Casino. I called Pastor Esmay of our church there. He was busy sand bagging. He said he would look in on them.

Jeffersons evacuated Lake Charles and headed for a relatives house in Centreville, Mississippi.

Pastor Dietrich and his family needed a break. They went up to Michigan. Former Pastor Ed Frey is down filling in at Abita Springs.

Kionkas moved back into their house. They began the big clean up. They had about a foot of water in their house.

Remember to call your partners.

Dear Scattered Family Members of Crown of Life Lutheran Church:

Anyone who is among the living has hope – even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! Ecclesiastes 9:4

We’ve all heard about the wealthy or the retired who just pack up, leave their homes and jobs behind and go traveling for several months. It seemed like a nice thing. “Wouldn’t it be nice to take a leave of absence from the rat race we are in?” Well, there have been quite a few of us who have left our homes and work behind and have been traveling about the country for the last month or so. But for some reason it doesn’t really feel the same. It doesn’t exactly seem like a vacation. We may have left the old “Rat Race” behind but now we have a new “Rat Race.” So far everyone I’ve talked to would like to have the old “Rat Race” back. Even those of us who still are working our jobs and living in our homes have discovered that it isn’t the same. Our work is different, our lives are different and there is no end in sight. And lurking in the back of our minds is the fear that it will never, ever be the same.

It is sometimes a little hard to quote Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is true that he says some profound things and offers the kind of quirky wisdom that you see in the passage above. But he is easy to take out of context. What Solomon does is looks to find the meaning of life the way most people search for it. He searches for the meaning of life in all the typical places: wealth, work, power, fun etc. And like most people he tries to find it without God. What he discovers is what we knew he would, that without God everything is meaningless. That is why a live dog is better than a dead lion. Without God there is no hope in death. With God, the opposite is true. (Not of lions and dogs but of human beings.) St. Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Those who die washed in the blood of Jesus are so much better off than we who are living. (We have received a bunch of “Get Well” cards from WELS children. One of them said, “Don’t worry about those who have died, they are in heaven having fun.”) But without Jesus, there isn’t much meaning in life or in death.

Now think of those people without Jesus Christ who have been forced to switch “Rat Races” like we have. It is bad enough trying to find the meaning of life without Jesus when things around you are normal, can you imagine what it must be for them now? This is a big opportunity for us. As we see people walking around with that big question mark pasted on their faces, we might be able to give them the answer.

New:

1. Nice church service on Sunday. 33 in attendance. The plan is to get the choir going again. Those of you who have copies of the “music” we used, please bring them so we can get started.

2. Dan is going to see if he can get us some help putting out our Choir CD. It is a daunting task for us to do even in normal times.

3. Maurice called last night. They are in Atlanta and doing fine. They have hooked up with one of the WELS churches there. They went to the church picnic and had a good time.

4. Robin and them made it do Dallas and will return to Houston after the power comes back on.

5. Just four days ago Carol and I drove past that little stand of houses on the Gulf called Holly Beach. It was a beautiful picturesque place. I saw on TV that there is nothing there at all now.

6. Some of you have asked if our church got reflooded in this last hurricane. I don’t believe it was. It was the lower 9th Ward that flooded. We are in the other part of the 9th ward. (For some reason I don’t think there is an “upper” 9th Ward.)

7. They are going to begin letting people into the city at least to look at their property according to zip code. I don’t think our area of town will be among the first areas let in.

Be strong in the Lord:

Dear Scattered Members of the Family of Crown of Life:

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

I guess it is like being pregnant. I say, “I guess” since I’ve never been pregnant, but I think this is true. My daughter and my daughter in law are both expecting babies and that is what got me to thinking about this. I’ve never met a woman in her ninth month who says, “I wish this pregnancy would last another month or so.” Usually they say, “I’m ready to have this baby.” (Often in a much more graphic way.) I think it is because there gets to be a point where the pregnancy simply takes over their lives. Every step they take, every move they make is affected by the new life within her. It is hard for her to plan anything or really to think about much else, until the baby is born.

I sense that same kind of urgency in those of us who are still displaced. It’s not that we don’t trust God. It’s not that we don’t know that He is with us. And it certainly is not that we are looking forward to the rebuilding process. But we would just like to get on with it. Not being able to get back in the city and start the work that is before us, is difficult. It is hard to make plans to even think about other things, to think beyond. This disaster has taken over our lives. And there are certain times when it seems like it has become our lives.

King David in the psalm above talks about the watchman waiting for the morning, longing for the light to come so that his shift is over. But it seems to take so long, waiting and waiting. “More than the watchman waits for the morning, more than the watchman waits for the morning.” But what King David is waiting for is the Lord’s forgiveness. He is confident that the Lord will forgive him and the people of Israel. He is confident because God has promised, “In his word I put my hope.”

When we sin we long to know that we are forgiven. Not being right with our God is not a very comfortable feeling. But we are confident that He forgives, so we place our trust in Him and wait. If we can trust him to forgive our sins, then we can trust him for all these other things. Right now it seems like this disaster has taken over our lives. But let’s use this time to focus more closely on the Lord and his word. Let’s use this time of waiting for something good.

News:

1. The Kingdom Workers spent the day at my camp in Mississippi beginning the clean up process. These are people who volunteer their time and effort to help out our fellow Christians. They are committed to a long stay with us.

2. I have some forms for you to fill out to get a grant from Thrivent. I’ll be giving the forms to those I see during the week and on Sunday. I’m thinking that we can use our partnership program to help our scattered members to fill them out.

3. Chris Smith is coming back from Atlanta on Saturday. He is going to help coordinate the return effort. I think we can do a needs assessment of all the members and see if there is some help we can give.

4. While I’m in Baton Rouge today, Carol and Seth are going by the church to see if we can salvage a few things.

5. Joy is moving to a relatives house in Atlanta.

6. Linda Hall and her parents are planning to help the Kionka’s do some cleaning, since they have been able to get into their house. Chris Driesbach is planning to help.

Be strong in the Lord.

Dear Scattered Family Members of Crown of Life:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

You’ve heard the old story. They say that if you try to throw a frog in hot water he will just jump right out. But if you put him in cold water on the stove and gradually heat him up he will sit right there until he dies. I don’t know if that is true or not and please don’t try it to let me know unless you plan to eat the frog. I’ve heard that example used in a lot of different ways but in a way it applies to change. Just think about the changes that a person goes through in life, from the time he is born to the time he dies. In a way that is what our lives are all about, change.

Some we look forward to: getting off on our own, making a life for ourselves, maybe having a family, owning a home, having a career. Some changes gradually overtake us that we are not happy with: losing your hair, losing your memory. Some we are just so happy about: being born again, being washed in Jesus blood, going from this life to life in heaven.

But what is difficult is when we get thrown into the hot water of change all at once. Then change becomes the enemy. I know that is what has happened to many of you in the last month. For many of you it might seem like nothing is the same.

Even though life is a series of changes, gradual or catastrophic, we know that one thing never changes, our God. He is the same yesterday today and forever. So if we build our lives on the unchanging rock of ages, it doesn’t matter if things change and crumble around us, our foundation rests secure. How does that song go? “Change and decay in all around I see. Oh thou who changes not, abide with me.”

News:

1. I got a nice e-mail on one of the devotions a couple of days ago. I’ll share it with you.
"And lurking in the back of our minds is the fear that it will never, ever be the same."

My family and I went through Hurricane Andrew 13 years ago and the sentence above perfectly describes what was on my mind during the aftermath of Andrew. Especially hard is that the losses seem to go on and on as you sort through soaked photo albums and say goodbye to long-time friends who decide that they can't stay to rebuild. To the extent that you will always have this experience in your background, your fear is correct, things will never be the same.

But on a more reassuring note, things will return to a comfortable normalcy. The muck will be shoveled out, stores reopened and homes rebuilt. Many of our members in Miami rebuilt even better than what they had before thanks to the overwhelming generosity of others. The church will also be put back in good order.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your members,
Kathy Saracione

2. Carol and Seth got into the church yesterday. She was able to rescue the communion ware, and our orders of service. They didn’t have much time because they were told that someone had compromised one of the levees and the water was coming back in. It was rising quickly in the canal, but I didn’t hear about any flooding. She was also able to rescue my old Bible. It is now wearing a hair shirt of mold. I’ll try to resuscitate it tomorrow. She also got the Choir CD Master and it works. Some of the CDs she brought back worked and some received some strange damage and didn’t work.

3. Linda Hall, her parents and Chris went over the help the Kionkas clean up and dry out. Thanks! We hope their insurance will pay for their repairs.

4. Robin called, they have moved back to Houston after Rita. They have been suffering with illness lately. Keep them in your prayers.

5. Rumor has it that we will be allowed to go back and visit our houses next week. At least you should be able to get some of the valuables out if they survived.

Be strong in the Lord: