Two Days in New Orleans

I am writing this from my room at the Providence Guest House across the street from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I am here visiting a friend, Kevin, whom I have not seen since the week after Katrina. While Amber and I have been back several times since the storm, it is still hard to process all that I have seen. The window in my room looks out over Gentilly Blvd. This was once a busy street with cars, city buses, and people. Now there are far fewer people. In the two days I have been here, I have only seen two city buses pass by the school. You would normally have seen at least four during any given hour. There are still houses and apartments that bear the scars of the storm. Several that I passed on thway in have holes in the roof where people had to climb out. One building still has the word “Help” on the roof. The other striking feature is the silence. It is hard to believe that a city that was once so full of life now hardly makes a sound. I don’t know how anyone could live in survival mode for almost two years. I can’t return to the place I called “Home” for four years without crying. To say that in some places it still looks like it happened yesterday is an understatement. And unless you see it with your own eyes it’s hard to understand. Please remember the city in your prayers. Also remember all of those you work and minister in New Orleans. Pray for the seminary and that God will continue to use them as a beacon of hope in city that in many places is still without hope. I love the city and I am thankful for my time here. May continue to bless all of those who come to help.

First Blog

This is the first of hopefully many entries. The main purpose of this blog is to help edify the members of East Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. Hopefully the things found hear will encourage spiritual development as I share things like what I am reading or things that I have learned. There are two books that I would like to mention today. The first is John Wyclif: Myth & Reality. This biography of Wyclif did not start like I thought it would. The author does an outstanding job of describing what it would have been like to be a student at Oxford in the 14th century. The insights are amazing. This is a good book that will help you understand not only the man but also the times in which he lived. The book is a valuable resourece for studying Wyclif. Reading Christian biographies is a habit that we should seek to develop. The other book I have recently finished is The Path of Celtic Prayer:An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy. This is the newest book by one of my favorite authors Calvin Miller. Two of the best chapters are Trinity Prayer and Lorica Prayer. Miller points out that in most our prayers we leave the big stuff to God, the day-to-day stuff to Christ and the Holy Spirit gets an honorable mention. He reminds the reader of those who have gone before us and how their prayers included all three members of the Trinity. The Lorica prayer is praying for God to for protection. These prayers are unselfish and include prayer that God will allow me to live to complete the dream I have for you, let me live until my season of worship is complete, and let me live long enough to bear a saving word to those outside of Your grace. Miller shows how the ancient Celtics way of prayer can bring a breath of fresh air to our daily prayer life. You can find these books online as well as at LifeWay. Enjoy the books.

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