In the Wake of Katrina: For Mature Christians Only!

One reason the rescue and relief effort regarding327,717 Protestant churches and 19,863 Catholic
Katrina has been handled the way we're seeing it ischurches. We refer to our church buildings as
because of the Spirit of Confusion that has settledsanctuaries. So, with that in mind, if every American
over that region. As you know, we battle not againstchurch just took one family, we could take care of
flesh and blood (Eph, 6:12). But we cannot expect the347,580 entire families who have been displaced. Our
government and law enforcement agencies tolarge Sunday School and family centers with kitchens
understand this. Heck, most Christians don't evenand shower facilities only get used one half a day a
have a handle on this truth.Over the centuries, there'sweek. These can EASILY be converted in order to
been a whole lot of witchcraft practiced down in theshelter families. Let's think outside the box! We were
Gulf Coast, not to mention the mockery of what isborn for such a time as this.Individually, we need to
commonly referred to as "Carnival," a word meaning,all be asking right now what we have that could help
"to remove flesh" which has actually come to standsomebody else. Many things we no longer use -
for sowing TO the flesh. In other words, during theclothes, tools, vehicles, attics, basements, closets and
week before Lent - a time intended for self-sacrificecabinets full of duplicate household and toiletry items
and abstaining from carnal pleasures - many will- can make a big difference in the lives of those who
celebrate with a Carnival, a time of non-stopare now in desperate need. But like I told the kid
pleasure-seeking.In my research, I discovered thiswho told me he felt God wanted him to be a
product on a Voodoo Doll website. The caption gavemissionary, my response was that the call to serve is
this definition of the "Spirit of Carnival Doll": In Newactually a call to PREPARE. So, get a passport, kid,
Orleans, we know that the Spirit of carnival is a living,and learn something about the culture...then come
breathing thing. It completely takes over, lifts andwith me one Saturday and knock on doors in your
enlivens you until you're dancin' to the music of theneighborhood. If your church wants to be used this
St. Aug band and literally grovelin' for more Endymionway, it's time for the congregation to bring its stuff
& Bacchus Krewe beads. Like the Spirit of Carnivalup to the church, get some beds, towels, old
itself, our doll is cloaked in mystery and charged updressers, and THEN go pick somebody up or send
with plenty of great energy to get YOU in the Spirit.them bus tickets through some benevolent
Have your best carnival Time ever. Blessings be withorganization or Houston or Dallas church. When they
you always.Blessings? The demonic principalities thatarrive, help them find work. You'll have a Member for
have ben invited to rule and reign over that part oflife, in most cases.HERE'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!
the U.S desire to cause as much death andBoston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife
destruction to mankind as possible. That's theirShonda paid to fly a New Orleans family of nine to
agenda. As we resist these regional devils, we doBoston and pledged to provide them with housing for
NOT need to attempt to "bind" them as some area year. The Fields family, with seven children
teaching (request my booklet "The Battle of Caelumbetween the ages of 5 and 12, fled New Orleans just
Moor" to read a firsthand account of what REALbefore Hurricane Katrina struck.
spiritual warfare is all about). Two reasons: 1) Jesus"When we realized how many people had nowhere
never taught us to do so, and 2) the unnecessaryto go, we didn't just want to make a donation,"
backlash upon well-meaning Christians only burdensShonda Schilling told The Boston Globe. "We decided
the Church all the more. We DO need to pray forwe wanted to bring an entire family here and put
great clarity and energy to be given to those whothem up."The families connected through a Web site,
are coordinating and participating in the lifesavingOpenYourHome.com, which matches displaced
efforts. In addition, we must pray for focus andfamilies with people willing to house them. The
energy to rebuild that entire region. This is importantSchillings registered Friday and on Saturday
for the country as a whole.When the United Statesanonymously arranged for the family to fly to
defeated Japan in World War 2, General DouglasBoston. You, or someone you know, can do the
MacArthur encouraged America's Church to sendsame.Likewise, the American Red Cross has set up a
battleships full of missionaries to that nation. We didsite where individuals may volunteer their homes or
not, and missed a golden opportunity to show arequest a place to stay. That site is located at
defeated people that the gods they served wereKatrinaHousing.org. Check it out. Tell others. Someone
powerless to help them. What a time to have shownyou may know needs this outlet for the burden
them the love of Jesus! Likewise, in this dark hour,they're now carrying. To Christians everywhere, we
just a little bit of light will shine all the brighter. Themust ask ourselves the question, if we do not take
church needs to gear up to help the Gulf Coast andthese displaced families in, taking advantage of the
we can do so in many ways.One of these is byopportunity to make disciples dangling right before
loving the refugees and restoring them. According toour eyes, who will?Let's give 'em Heaven!
recent statistics, in the United States alone, there are