Check Those Levees

Life Journal Entry 090605 Check Those Levees Rev 11 http://www.enewhope.org/bible/
Lord of all. Lord of Heaven and Earth; I lift up the survivors in the Gulf Coast. I pray for each worker and each gift that symbolizes faith, hope and love. I pray for the future of each child, teen and adult. I pray the spirit of prejudice and poverty will be broken in our hearts. I pray to El Shaddia - the God of all power. I pray to El Roi, the God who sees. I pray to Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. I pray to Theos Elpis, the God of all hope. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus who demonstrated the love of God in a way that gives us reason to believe. We are all New Orleans.
In a book sometimes titled, "Apocalypse;" The apostle John records, Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, "Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers." Revelation 11:1 (NLT)
The measuring that takes place here is like levees being inspected and secured. It is an assurance that the Father is watching over and protecting those who have entered into his worship. The measuring has been done, the walls are secure, the people are safe.
New Orleans had better flood protection than Sacramento has. Still it was overwhelmed. Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said, "Clearly this is a wake-up call." http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=3402159
The word John uses for "temple" is "naos." Naos refer to the inner sanctuary of the temple, not just the temple which includes its outside courts and facade. The temple is what people on the outside see. The naos is what is inside - what’s really going on inside, in the place of worship.
John is given a rod - a measuring rod - marking off from the outside from what is inside. Verse 2 continues, "But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city . . . . " What has not been inspected and approved by God is not secure. Something that should have been valued is not, the priorities are confused. People are at risk.
Like New Orleans, California’s Delta region has been sinking slowly for the past 140 years. The Delta is now 30 feet below sea level. Sacramento's risk of flooding, in short, is the greatest of any major American city, according to SAFCA http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/13498322p-14338923c.html
It’s not like New Orleans didn’t know there was a risk. They knew what was really going on and the condition of the levees. In 2002 a five part series ran in the New Orleans daily paper, The TIMES-Picayune. "It's only a matter of time before South Louisiana takes a direct hit from a major hurricane. Billions have been spent to protect us, but we grow more vulnerable every day." Hindsight makes finger pointing easy, it clarifies yesterday's priorities, it nicely frames the prophets that should not have gone unheeded.
Day two in the TIMES-Picayune series titled "The Big One," states, "A major hurricane could decimate the region, but flooding from even a moderate storm could kill thousands. It's just a matter of time." Haunting words and somebody can proudly say, "I told you so." But for people whose lives and family members are lost blame and self righteousness can only relocate the emotional pain for a time. http://www.nola.com/hurricane/?/washingaway/
Today Katrina is no longer even a whimper but in New Orleans its wreck less path warranted the adjective, "Ground Zero." The wind is not blowing but the danger is not past. Its like that in all of life, just because one storm in life is passed doesn’t mean there is not another on its way. Like the TIMES-Picayune article in ' 02 said, "Its a matter of when, not if.Eventually a major hurricane will hit New Orleans head on, instead of being just a close call. It's happened before and it'll happen again."
As I write tropical storms Ophelia and Nate are churning off the coast, with Maria having peaked as a category 3 of the coast of Bermuda. The Bible clearly says, "Today is the day of salvation." It means get your act together today, tomorrow you may not have the opportunity. When a storm hits its too late for some to evaluate priorities. Today is a good day to check your spiritual levees.
Everyone of us live knowing, "My number could come up any minute." I know that if my life were required today there are some things I will have wished I spent yesterday doing. Too often our priorities don’t change until we see the storm threatening. I have to remember not all storms show themselves as life threatening. It doesn’t take a hurricane.
You may have seen that Gilligan (Bob Denver) died. It wasn’t because he was in the Gulf Coast, it was a long time coming. Bob had heart surgery earlier this year. That did not kill him either. Denver died from cancer. His wife Dreama, and his children Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin were with him when he died.
Listen to what Bob Denver's wife said, "He was my everything and I will love him forever." I have a feeling how she lived beside Bob those last days was different. I have a feeling priorities changed, communication happened. I think she too knew she was loved.
Who is your everything, who do you love? Do they know? Do you live like it? Take a measuring stick and see if things are as they should be. What's really going on in your naos? It’s a good day to check your levees.
Glad to be with You in the Word. Pastor Art
"Whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (Proverbs 14:31, NIV).
Did you know Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is the third largest relief organization in the nation? Did you know Southern Baptist Disaster Relief provides support for Red Cross and Salvation Army? Did you know your donation marked "Katrina" given to SBC Disaster Relief goes 100% to the field? Want an idea for something you can do? Scroll down.


Louisiana Family Food Basket Project
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is coordinating collection and distribution of food boxes for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Follow the instructions below to purchase food and assemble the boxes. Check back on this page for information on pick-up locations and additional information.
Directions
Use only a U-Haul “small box” (16 3/8 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 = 1.5 cubic feet). These boxes are available at any moving and storage company or neighborhood packing and shipping store. Same size boxes will help facilitate both bulk packing and transportation.
Pack the items by quantity list below.
Stand baking mix, tea, flour, and rice on one side of box. Stand the 4 boxes of Tony Chachere mixes, corn meal, and grits on other side. Noodles and 4 packs of beans in middle line standing.
Next layer as follows: Sugar on top of Tony Chachere mix boxes—lay flat, canned sausage on corn meal and grits, instant milk on baking mix and tea (not pictured), 2 coffees on the flour, 2 packages beans on each side of coffee (as pictured).
Stand salt and Kool-aid in middle along with cans of tuna. Pack hot peppers beside sugar and Creole Seasoning on top of that.
Securely tape the bottom and top of the box.