Remembering

The calendar for 2005 and 2011 or the same.  I remember well August 27, 2005.  I was returning to New Orleans from Baton Rouge and all of the traffic was going in the opposite direction.  I made preparations all Saturday afternoon and then waited for Sunday morning to come.  I made the call to cancel morning worship but I opened the church to those who would not leave.  There were quite a few that stayed so we had worship on Sunday evening.

The storm began pounding the church building about 2 AM on Monday, August 29, 2005.  I wanted to sing the children's song:

The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

I trusted that the church was built upon the rock and we would be safe.  When transformers begin to fall and sparks were flying, we called the power company and had the power to the grid cut off.  We may have saved Algiers.  The next morning was tough but by afternoon I ventured out and surveyed the damage.  We were very fortunate.

I did finally leave the city on Wednesday and returned a week later.  When the power was restored on September 12, I returned and begin cleanup operations.  Through donations, we provided new refrigerators for about 75 homes.  We also began organizing work parties.  It was very hard.

Now here in 2011, we again witness the storm called Irene (Katrina's cousin) ripping up lives along the east coast.  I still hurt for those displaced in 2005 and now I hurt for those displaced in 2011 (on the anniversary of Katrina).

You can only prepare for the NOW so make sure your house is built upon the ROCK (JESUS).