Baton Rouge

Who are the helpers?

(2Co 1:3-4) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

So, who are those helpers that travel long distances to uncertain surroundings, giving up some creature comforts? Who willingly spends long days in the heat, sweating, working, lifting, feeding, fixing, carrying, walking, talking, hugging, praying, sharing with people they have never seen before, and in all probability will never see again? Who does that? God's Children. That's who!

There is a fellow named Walt who drove over a thousand miles to be God's vessel carrying hope to a stranger in need. Walt spent much of his life building really, really big facilities. Walt knows how to get things done. He is one of the first people to make contact with absolute strangers, and the Holy Spirit leads his every step. Walt uses his own truck, and even following an accident that caused great damage to his favorite truck, a crow bar, hammer and a prayer allowed him to continue serving among the piles of rubble. God has answered his prayers, he will be made whole. The mission continues.

Then there is Stu. I think God made Stu very special. Meeting him is like seeing an old friend and in the first 30 seconds of shaking his Louisiana Bred hand, its is like you have known him your whole life. By the grace of God, Stu brings a uncommon calm to any situation. The master of friendly distraction, this soft talking smiling saint immediately turns a victim's mind from their troubles and moves their thoughts to hope, help, recovery, and prayer. Stu has suffered more than his share of pain and trouble in his life. The Lord blesses when He leads Stu to that soft spot in a person's heart, the spot that operates the tear glands, and suddenly, for a time, everything bad stops in its tracks and hope is poured deep into the soul. Stu is blessed and through him, the Holy Spirit double blesses those who were placed in his path by tragedy. Stu and Walt are part of a huge team of folks who are specially equipped by the Lord to deliver His light to needy hearts.

Who are the helpers? They are all born again, filled to the brim with the rich love of Jesus Christ. God made them policemen, builders, pastors, chaplains, physicians, engineers, pilots, accountants, mechanics, writers, homemakers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and just good old fashioned God fearing, Jesus loving people willing to be a part of something so much bigger than themselves. That is the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team, my friend!! They Get it done!

This was my very first disaster call out. I am hopelessly hooked. The experience, the favor of God, the movement of the Holy Spirit has changed me forever. Working along side of these wonderful selfless souls opened a door to the richness and beauty of our Lord's plan, His character, His wonder, and His compassion. People helping other people........what a Godly concept!

Have you read your Bible today?

Baton Rouge

Who are the helpers?

(2Co 1:3-4) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

So, who are those helpers that travel long distances to uncertain surroundings, giving up some creature comforts? Who willingly spends long days in the heat, sweating, working, lifting, feeding, fixing, carrying, walking, talking, hugging, praying, sharing with people they have never seen before, and in all probability will never see again? Who does that? God's Children. That's who!

There is a fellow named Walt who drove over a thousand miles to be God's vessel carrying hope to a stranger in need. Walt spent much of his life building really, really big facilities. Walt knows how to get things done. He is one of the first people to make contact with absolute strangers, and the Holy Spirit leads his every step. Walt uses his own truck, and even following an accident that caused great damage to his favorite truck, a crow bar, hammer and a prayer allowed him to continue serving among the piles of rubble. God has answered his prayers, he will be made whole. The mission continues.

Then there is Stu. I think God made Stu very special. Meeting him is like seeing an old friend and in the first 30 seconds of shaking his Louisiana Bred hand, its is like you have known him your whole life. By the grace of God, Stu brings a uncommon calm to any situation. The master of friendly distraction, this soft talking smiling saint immediately turns a victim's mind from their troubles and moves their thoughts to hope, help, recovery, and prayer. Stu has suffered more than his share of pain and trouble in his life. The Lord blesses when He leads Stu to that soft spot in a person's heart, the spot that operates the tear glands, and suddenly, for a time, everything bad stops in its tracks and hope is poured deep into the soul. Stu is blessed and through him, the Holy Spirit double blesses those who were placed in his path by tragedy. Stu and Walt are part of a huge team of folks who are specially equipped by the Lord to deliver His light to needy hearts.

Who are the helpers? They are all born again, filled to the brim with the rich love of Jesus Christ. God made them policemen, builders, pastors, chaplains, physicians, engineers, pilots, accountants, mechanics, writers, homemakers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and just good old fashioned God fearing, Jesus loving people willing to be a part of something so much bigger than themselves. That is the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Team, my friend!! They Get it done!

This was my very first disaster call out. I am hopelessly hooked. The experience, the favor of God, the movement of the Holy Spirit has changed me forever. Working along side of these wonderful selfless souls opened a door to the richness and beauty of our Lord's plan, His character, His wonder, and His compassion. People helping other people........what a Godly concept!

Have you read your Bible today?

Baton Rouge

Out of chaos comes a message

(Gen 7:10) It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.

The sunrise today was especially beautiful as it triggered a vision in my mind and a joy in my heart. The ball of the sun was just beginning to show, sky reflecting a baby blue over which were horizontal layers, more like ripples colored in reds, oranges and silver. From these wave type clouds came feathered see through clouds. Like veils they seemed to drape from the heavens reaching to the earth all around the sunrise. I was mindful that these veils were like angels. Angels descending from above, gathering near the ground as if to be meeting, to be coordinating their over watch duties this day. Prayerfully, I whispered that all of Baton Rouge could see and understand the same as I. From the chaos and tragedy comes a peace, that our God is with us. As difficult as times may be today, refreshment from on high awaits just over that beautiful horizon.

Despite the chaos, the damage, the scope of this horror, only a small number precious souls perished. It could have been so much worse. Instead, the wrath was taken out on the MATERIAL. The things that so many people gauge their personal success or failure with. In so many instances, it is the material that gets in between us and God. Some even worship the material, placing it position-ally above all else. That my friend is a dangerous position to be in. I think God has gotten our attention on this event!

The sermon delivered Sunday morning in the Florida First Baptist Church, our headquarters in Baton Rouge, delivered a strong message that we should all work hard to convey. The time is now to move away from the material and start fresh in storing up the spiritual. The clock is ticking. Each one of us must see this event and other recent global events in the context of where we are in relation to scripture and the end times. Now, this minute, this hour is the time to share the Gospel to all who will hear.

We have been assisting families in conducting mini funerals for the material representatives of those treasures that are stored in the heart. Saying goodbye is the first forward step in the grieving process. Losing these keepsakes, these mementos of memories past is not unlike a death in the family. Now, it all lies in heaps and piles, sitting by the road, never to return. The message: store your treasures in heaven.

(Mat 6:19-20) "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, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.

Baton Rouge has certainly seen its share of violence and turmoil, this year, but it was the flood, the chaos, the destruction on a huge scale that opened the door to brotherly love and neighbor helping neighbor. Suddenly, in near equal measure, everybody has about the same amount of stuff. The rest is at the curb. Color and race, no longer important. A helping hand is just that, a helping hand!

A young black man and the team prayed together yesterday afternoon. Just one of so many. We were on board at his home assessing the family's needs. He looked at us with a tear in his eyes saying that just before the flood, he was right smack in the middle of all the hate, violence and demonstrations downtown. He was full of rage and anger. Today he finds himself with white guys praying, hugging, and wishing so hard that the spirit of love that resulted from the chaos and destruction, could stay behind. He said “I just can't figure it out, one day its like we hate each other and the next, you are on my property hugging me”. It is the Holy Spirit my friend. The Team left but Jesus, He stayed behind.

Father, we pray that what has given to us from so many on these missions will be shared with all those who will listen. We pray Father, that Your love that has been delivered through us to others in this crisis, will also serve to convict them to share what they received to those who will hear them. Father, fill all of us with your pure sweet love. Fill us to overflowing so that we are compelled to share that same love with all we come into contact with. we ask this Father God in the name of Your precious Son, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Have you read your Bible today?

Baton Rouge

Out of chaos comes a message

(Gen 7:10) It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.

The sunrise today was especially beautiful as it triggered a vision in my mind and a joy in my heart. The ball of the sun was just beginning to show, sky reflecting a baby blue over which were horizontal layers, more like ripples colored in reds, oranges and silver. From these wave type clouds came feathered see through clouds. Like veils they seemed to drape from the heavens reaching to the earth all around the sunrise. I was mindful that these veils were like angels. Angels descending from above, gathering near the ground as if to be meeting, to be coordinating their over watch duties this day. Prayerfully, I whispered that all of Baton Rouge could see and understand the same as I. From the chaos and tragedy comes a peace, that our God is with us. As difficult as times may be today, refreshment from on high awaits just over that beautiful horizon.

Despite the chaos, the damage, the scope of this horror, only a small number precious souls perished. It could have been so much worse. Instead, the wrath was taken out on the MATERIAL. The things that so many people gauge their personal success or failure with. In so many instances, it is the material that gets in between us and God. Some even worship the material, placing it position-ally above all else. That my friend is a dangerous position to be in. I think God has gotten our attention on this event!

The sermon delivered Sunday morning in the Florida First Baptist Church, our headquarters in Baton Rouge, delivered a strong message that we should all work hard to convey. The time is now to move away from the material and start fresh in storing up the spiritual. The clock is ticking. Each one of us must see this event and other recent global events in the context of where we are in relation to scripture and the end times. Now, this minute, this hour is the time to share the Gospel to all who will hear.

We have been assisting families in conducting mini funerals for the material representatives of those treasures that are stored in the heart. Saying goodbye is the first forward step in the grieving process. Losing these keepsakes, these mementos of memories past is not unlike a death in the family. Now, it all lies in heaps and piles, sitting by the road, never to return. The message: store your treasures in heaven.

(Mat 6:19-20) "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, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.

Baton Rouge has certainly seen its share of violence and turmoil, this year, but it was the flood, the chaos, the destruction on a huge scale that opened the door to brotherly love and neighbor helping neighbor. Suddenly, in near equal measure, everybody has about the same amount of stuff. The rest is at the curb. Color and race, no longer important. A helping hand is just that, a helping hand!

A young black man and the team prayed together yesterday afternoon. Just one of so many. We were on board at his home assessing the family's needs. He looked at us with a tear in his eyes saying that just before the flood, he was right smack in the middle of all the hate, violence and demonstrations downtown. He was full of rage and anger. Today he finds himself with white guys praying, hugging, and wishing so hard that the spirit of love that resulted from the chaos and destruction, could stay behind. He said “I just can't figure it out, one day its like we hate each other and the next, you are on my property hugging me”. It is the Holy Spirit my friend. The Team left but Jesus, He stayed behind.

Father, we pray that what has given to us from so many on these missions will be shared with all those who will listen. We pray Father, that Your love that has been delivered through us to others in this crisis, will also serve to convict them to share what they received to those who will hear them. Father, fill all of us with your pure sweet love. Fill us to overflowing so that we are compelled to share that same love with all we come into contact with. we ask this Father God in the name of Your precious Son, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Have you read your Bible today?

Baton Rouge—How do you begin to heal?

(Jer 33:6) 'Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.

We are just one of many Southern Baptist Disaster Teams operating in and around Baton Rouge in the aftermath of horrific flooding. It is the Holy Spirit that draws us to this task, this mission. The best of God's humanity seems to flourish during such tragedy. Wouldn't it be great if this wondrous spirit and character could be present at all times?

Our team consists of two Assessors, (specially skilled in structural issues and remediation), and one or two Chaplains (specially gifted in spiritual issues and spiritual remediation). Our job is to make the initial visit with the victims, asses the damage, make recommendations and schedule methods of intervention and remediation. While the Assessors inspect the structure, the chaplains asses the spiritual health and intervene with hugs, prayers, more hugs, more prayers and share moments of tearful joy in learning that they are not alone. Help is here.

Our day begins at 5:30 a.m.; Prayer, devotions, insuring that we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, as we ask our Lord for His direction, His will, not ours. Breakfast at seven, on the road usually by eight. Here are a few snap shots of how the Lord delivers His love to His creation:

---Family of three, Dad, Mom and Son. Water mark inside the house is 38 inches. By themselves they have removed a great deal of sheet rock, but struggle with the wooden floors, all of the appliances, personal possessions, and are exhausted because of the heat, the humidity. Mold is everywhere! Their neighbors suffer the same. The assessment is completed, and a schedule is made for another team to come and help them complete the job to a point where the home repair and renewal can start. As we pray with the family of three, they all three, in unison, hand in hand, pray asking Jesus to come into their hearts, to forgive them, and they confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord. There was not a dry eye in our team.

---We discover a older woman wearing a night gown digging through a huge pile of debris in front of her tiny house. She looks so lost, and over night it had rained again and she was wet head to toe. We stopped to assist. She said she was trying to save some important papers, buried somewhere in that soggy mountain of wet insulation. I came up to her and introduced myself. With tears in her eyes she grabbed hold of me and sobbed, and sobbed, and we rocked back and forth for a long time just hugging each other, both of us crying. This was her home of 28 years. All the physical representations of her life and events were in these piles. She said that until this moment, she had been unable to cry, to let it all out. We talked about how God sometimes helps us to clear out all the material stuff so that we can get back to storing our treasures up in Heaven, never to tarnish, rust, or be stolen or flooded. We shared how even in the most difficult of trials, Jesus always seems to deliver the needed rays of sunshine, right on time, right when it is needed. Our meeting that morning was not by happen-stance. The team took special care to assure her that help is here.

---A business man who owns a small restaurant just finished building his family home. Just after moving in, here comes 4 feet of water in the darkness of night. They barely escape with their lives. His wife is just weeks from delivering their first baby. He is overwhelmed, tearful, proud but in need of a helping hand. We schedule him. Help has arrived.

---A single mother struggles as she pulls wet sheet rock across the threshold to the pile that now adorns her front yard. Her 4 year old daughter rocks back and forth in a small chair, singing to herself. The young mom states she has been helping her sister who lives a few blocks away, also suffering, and her wheel chair bound mother now showing signs of advancing dementia. She and her daughter are all alone, but the mother's spirit is so bright, so positive, and a remarkable peace surrounds her. She relies heavily on her faith, and her love for Jesus. She admits that without this spiritual bond, she would not be able to survive. We pray, we hug. As we leave, I give a thumbs up and quack like a duck to her daughter. Who replies to me; “I love you”.

We do 10 to 15 of these missions each day. This is day 4 of the operation. Somehow, God provides just what is needed at the exact moment it is needed, and He does it with such beauty, power and grace. Each day brings true miracles. Godly events that we are so privileged to witness. To share. To experience directly. Truth be known, it is the Lord's mercy on us, the team members, as He teaches us His ways, His Love, His character and His Strength. He teaches us as we learn His love that is unending. Our Lord is very, very active here. God is very active where you are too. Just look! You will see.

Have you read your Bible today?

Baton Rouge—How do you begin to heal?

(Jer 33:6) 'Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.

We are just one of many Southern Baptist Disaster Teams operating in and around Baton Rouge in the aftermath of horrific flooding. It is the Holy Spirit that draws us to this task, this mission. The best of God's humanity seems to flourish during such tragedy. Wouldn't it be great if this wondrous spirit and character could be present at all times?

Our team consists of two Assessors, (specially skilled in structural issues and remediation), and one or two Chaplains (specially gifted in spiritual issues and spiritual remediation). Our job is to make the initial visit with the victims, asses the damage, make recommendations and schedule methods of intervention and remediation. While the Assessors inspect the structure, the chaplains asses the spiritual health and intervene with hugs, prayers, more hugs, more prayers and share moments of tearful joy in learning that they are not alone. Help is here.

Our day begins at 5:30 a.m.; Prayer, devotions, insuring that we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, as we ask our Lord for His direction, His will, not ours. Breakfast at seven, on the road usually by eight. Here are a few snap shots of how the Lord delivers His love to His creation:

---Family of three, Dad, Mom and Son. Water mark inside the house is 38 inches. By themselves they have removed a great deal of sheet rock, but struggle with the wooden floors, all of the appliances, personal possessions, and are exhausted because of the heat, the humidity. Mold is everywhere! Their neighbors suffer the same. The assessment is completed, and a schedule is made for another team to come and help them complete the job to a point where the home repair and renewal can start. As we pray with the family of three, they all three, in unison, hand in hand, pray asking Jesus to come into their hearts, to forgive them, and they confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord. There was not a dry eye in our team.

---We discover a older woman wearing a night gown digging through a huge pile of debris in front of her tiny house. She looks so lost, and over night it had rained again and she was wet head to toe. We stopped to assist. She said she was trying to save some important papers, buried somewhere in that soggy mountain of wet insulation. I came up to her and introduced myself. With tears in her eyes she grabbed hold of me and sobbed, and sobbed, and we rocked back and forth for a long time just hugging each other, both of us crying. This was her home of 28 years. All the physical representations of her life and events were in these piles. She said that until this moment, she had been unable to cry, to let it all out. We talked about how God sometimes helps us to clear out all the material stuff so that we can get back to storing our treasures up in Heaven, never to tarnish, rust, or be stolen or flooded. We shared how even in the most difficult of trials, Jesus always seems to deliver the needed rays of sunshine, right on time, right when it is needed. Our meeting that morning was not by happen-stance. The team took special care to assure her that help is here.

---A business man who owns a small restaurant just finished building his family home. Just after moving in, here comes 4 feet of water in the darkness of night. They barely escape with their lives. His wife is just weeks from delivering their first baby. He is overwhelmed, tearful, proud but in need of a helping hand. We schedule him. Help has arrived.

---A single mother struggles as she pulls wet sheet rock across the threshold to the pile that now adorns her front yard. Her 4 year old daughter rocks back and forth in a small chair, singing to herself. The young mom states she has been helping her sister who lives a few blocks away, also suffering, and her wheel chair bound mother now showing signs of advancing dementia. She and her daughter are all alone, but the mother's spirit is so bright, so positive, and a remarkable peace surrounds her. She relies heavily on her faith, and her love for Jesus. She admits that without this spiritual bond, she would not be able to survive. We pray, we hug. As we leave, I give a thumbs up and quack like a duck to her daughter. Who replies to me; “I love you”.

We do 10 to 15 of these missions each day. This is day 4 of the operation. Somehow, God provides just what is needed at the exact moment it is needed, and He does it with such beauty, power and grace. Each day brings true miracles. Godly events that we are so privileged to witness. To share. To experience directly. Truth be known, it is the Lord's mercy on us, the team members, as He teaches us His ways, His Love, His character and His Strength. He teaches us as we learn His love that is unending. Our Lord is very, very active here. God is very active where you are too. Just look! You will see.

Have you read your Bible today?

The night Baton Rouge cried

(Deu 32:2) "Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass And as the showers on the herb.

No words, no photos or videos can begin to describe what the power of rain and unleashed waters can do to what man has made. A call came for help and by the very grace of God, my heart was filled by the Holy Spirit to answer.

The Southern Baptist Convention's Florida Disaster Relief Chapter arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana August 23^rd, 2016, finding ground zero in a flood of epic proportions.

Many of the 400,000 precious souls directly impacted; 600,000 indirectly, had little to no warning of just how severe and wide spread the waters would be. It was as if everyone was taken by complete surprise. The scope of the damage, and personal carnage far surpasses that which took place in New Orleans in the after math of hurricane Katrina. Neighborhood after neighborhood, block after block, piles of wet, soggy, steamy, smelly material lines both sides of the streets. Some piles ten feet tall.

The smell, oh my, is terrible. Rotting food, household trash, dead animals, furniture, saturated pink insulation, carpet, moldy clothing, books and appliances. Virtually everything and anything you would find in any home, all piled by the road.

It is so easy to look at these piles of debris and discount that somewhere buried in that mass of nastiness, lies the physical memories and keepsakes from a family wedding, a death, a birth, a high school graduation, a deed to a home, a photo of a loved one. All this mish-mashed in a soggy stinky blob never to be seen again. For those who went from having these normal personal, and in many cases, treasured items and keepsakes, to being eye witness of their destruction is very much a grieving event. A death.

Black, white, Mexican, Vietnamese, labels that have no meaning anymore, as people open their hearts to each other. These are God's creation grieving, crying, wondering how, if ever, they will survive this catastrophe. The quiet but ever so powerful invasion of their lives now demands an even more powerful response of healing and compassion.

How do you help when you yourself are absolutely helpless? Through the power and strength of Jesus.

Over the last several days, I have prayed for and prayed with so many hurting and grieving people. Overwhelmed souls, begging to hear that God is present, that He is active, is moving, is healing, right before their very eyes. Not a single person has turned away from receiving prayer; hearing the healing words of Jesus Himself through the Holy Spirit spoken and shared through his servants. Just the simple acknowledgment that prayers are indeed being answered brings peace, hope and comfort to so many hurting hearts.

When you READ YOUR BIBLE tonight, pray hard for the thousands in Baton Rouge who carry a tremendous burden as they begin again, start over, and grieve that which has been lost, but praise that which has been gained through the power of prayer. Pray also for the hundreds who have answered the call to share the love of Jesus with the broken hearted.