| One reason the rescue and relief effort regarding | | | | and 19,863 Catholic churches. We refer to our church |
| Katrina has been handled the way we're seeing it is | | | | buildings as sanctuaries. So, with that in mind, if every |
| because of the Spirit of Confusion that has settled | | | | American church just took one family, we could take |
| over that region. As you know, we battle not against | | | | care of 347,580 entire families who have been |
| flesh and blood (Eph, 6:12). But we cannot expect the | | | | displaced. Our large Sunday School and family centers |
| government and law enforcement agencies to | | | | with kitchens and shower facilities only get used one |
| understand this. Heck, most Christians don't even have | | | | half a day a week. These can EASILY be converted |
| a handle on this truth. | | | | in order to shelter families. Let's think outside the box! |
| Over the centuries, there's been a whole lot of | | | | We were born for such a time as this. |
| witchcraft practiced down in the Gulf Coast, not to | | | | Individually, we need to all be asking right now what we |
| mention the mockery of what is commonly referred to | | | | have that could help somebody else. Many things we |
| as "Carnival," a word meaning, "to remove flesh" which | | | | no longer use - clothes, tools, vehicles, attics, |
| has actually come to stand for sowing TO the flesh. In | | | | basements, closets and cabinets full of duplicate |
| other words, during the week before Lent - a time | | | | household and toiletry items - can make a big |
| intended for self-sacrifice and abstaining from carnal | | | | difference in the lives of those who are now in |
| pleasures - many will celebrate with a Carnival, a time | | | | desperate need. But like I told the kid who told me he |
| of non-stop pleasure-seeking. | | | | felt God wanted him to be a missionary, my response |
| In my research, I discovered this product on a Voodoo | | | | was that the call to serve is actually a call to |
| Doll website. The caption gave this definition of the | | | | PREPARE. So, get a passport, kid, and learn |
| "Spirit of Carnival Doll": In New Orleans, we know that | | | | something about the culture...then come with me one |
| the Spirit of carnival is a living, breathing thing. It | | | | Saturday and knock on doors in your neighborhood. If |
| completely takes over, lifts and enlivens you until you're | | | | your church wants to be used this way, it's time for |
| dancin' to the music of the St. Aug band and literally | | | | the congregation to bring its stuff up to the church, get |
| grovelin' for more Endymion & Bacchus Krewe | | | | some beds, towels, old dressers, and THEN go pick |
| beads. Like the Spirit of Carnival itself, our doll is | | | | somebody up or send them bus tickets through some |
| cloaked in mystery and charged up with plenty of | | | | benevolent organization or Houston or Dallas church. |
| great energy to get YOU in the Spirit. Have your best | | | | When they arrive, help them find work. You'll have a |
| carnival Time ever. Blessings be with you always. | | | | Member for life, in most cases. |
| Blessings? The demonic principalities that have ben | | | | HERE'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT! |
| invited to rule and reign over that part of the U.S desire | | | | Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife |
| to cause as much death and destruction to mankind | | | | Shonda paid to fly a New Orleans family of nine to |
| as possible. That's their agenda. As we resist these | | | | Boston and pledged to provide them with housing for a |
| regional devils, we do NOT need to attempt to "bind" | | | | year. The Fields family, with seven children between |
| them as some are teaching (request my booklet "The | | | | the ages of 5 and 12, fled New Orleans just before |
| Battle of Caelum Moor" to read a firsthand account of | | | | Hurricane Katrina struck. |
| what REAL spiritual warfare is all about). Two | | | | "When we realized how many people had nowhere to |
| reasons: 1) Jesus never taught us to do so, and 2) the | | | | go, we didn't just want to make a donation," Shonda |
| unnecessary backlash upon well-meaning Christians | | | | Schilling told The Boston Globe. "We decided we |
| only burdens the Church all the more. We DO need to | | | | wanted to bring an entire family here and put them up." |
| pray for great clarity and energy to be given to those | | | | The families connected through a Web site, |
| who are coordinating and participating in the lifesaving | | | | OpenYourHome.com, which matches displaced |
| efforts. In addition, we must pray for focus and energy | | | | families with people willing to house them. The Schillings |
| to rebuild that entire region. This is important for the | | | | registered Friday and on Saturday anonymously |
| country as a whole. | | | | arranged for the family to fly to Boston. You, or |
| When the United States defeated Japan in World War | | | | someone you know, can do the same. |
| 2, General Douglas MacArthur encouraged America's | | | | Likewise, the American Red Cross has set up a site |
| Church to send battleships full of missionaries to that | | | | where individuals may volunteer their homes or |
| nation. We did not, and missed a golden opportunity to | | | | request a place to stay. That site is located at |
| show a defeated people that the gods they served | | | | KatrinaHousing.org. Check it out. Tell others. Someone |
| were powerless to help them. What a time to have | | | | you may know needs this outlet for the burden they're |
| shown them the love of Jesus! Likewise, in this dark | | | | now carrying. To Christians everywhere, we must ask |
| hour, just a little bit of light will shine all the brighter. The | | | | ourselves the question, if we do not take these |
| church needs to gear up to help the Gulf Coast and | | | | displaced families in, taking advantage of the |
| we can do so in many ways. | | | | opportunity to make disciples dangling right before our |
| One of these is by loving the refugees and restoring | | | | eyes, who will? |
| them. According to recent statistics, in the United | | | | Let's give 'em Heaven! |
| States alone, there are 327,717 Protestant churches | | | | |