Cat Got Your Blog?

No blogs for a few days ... what's wrong with me! I have just been in a blog slump. I sit down to blog, but nothing comes to mind. Occasionally that happens in the pulpit, but that's another story. I've been very busy doing this and that, but it's been a few days of potpourri ... nothing really great, nothing really grand. So does a faithful blog writer write about these mundane things? Yes, of course they do. Jon Henson has been here for six weeks. If you have called the Central Church of Christ during that time, it is likely that you talked to John. This tall Texan with a ready smile worked diligently during his time here. He made phone calls to update work requests, answered the phone, kept up with keys, talked with people who needed help, organized files, and a lot more. His manner and willingness to serve relieved the pressure on all of us who take turns at the reception table. Jon does have a wife and a home in Texas, so he must return home. He is taking one of the young men who is staying at the building with him. When we first met Jeff we saw a young man who had been beaten by a string of circumstances that just couldn't be overcome. In the few weeks he has been around, he has proven himself to be an outstanding worker and a source of joy and laughter. Jon and Jeff will head out Monday morning. We will miss them both. Margaret and I enjoyed spending some time with all three Kilberns tonight, as well as Jon Henson. David tells me that all of the appliances we now have in our possession have been promised. We are out of sheetrock. And we need some funding to continue on with the relief effort. There will still be plenty for workers to do ...and I believe that the needed supplies will come through for us. God has not let us down yet! Of course there is much talk about the approaching Hurricane Season here on the Coast. What can you do at this point but think and talk and pray? Only eight months and a few days ago we were watching this monster hurricane swing into the Gulf and move slowly enough to gain an incredible amount of power. The weather commentators did what they always do - take an item like the weather ... doesn't everyone talk about the weather ... and try to sensationalize it. But this time was different. It is 11:15 on April 29th as I type this. I just went back in time on the blog and read the comments left for me on August 30. What a wonderful circle of friends God has placed in my life. Many of you who said you wanted to come did indeed come. I know the prayers were flowing. Do not let them stop. Eight months of carrying this heavy burden has left most of us burned out, stressed out, not stopping to pay attention to ourselves ... I can see it. I can feel it as I talk with people. They act in ways that are not consistent with their character. Three famlies came in this week who had not done anything to their house yet. The psychological defenses we have built in that allow us to avoid reality are powerful. And we deal with these kinds of things in the church. Pray for our church. So many people have worn themselves to a frazzle. It is so easy for us to say things that hurt, when we didn't want to do that. Who can anticipate what happens next? I can't. We know we ought to help others, but there's always so much to do for ourselves. Tomorrow we will have a meeting of the church members to try to answer questions, address unmet needs, give reassurances, and work very hard to let God's will work in us and through us. We get much encouragement from those who come to see us ... and we are thankful for that, really. Behind closed doors, though, we are a church comprised of human beings who have suffered an astounding disaster. We have our good days and bad days. And they've got this preacher ... who just doesn't always have it together. So pray for us as we limp along doing all we can....that we will practice grace with one another through our individual storms. For the first time since the storm, we are taking a week off. We are accepting no workers, our kitchen will be providing no meals, and there will be no work orders accepted. Just what the doctor ordered! The next week we will get back to it. Thanks for reading, and for your prayers, and your calls, and your concern. You are a blessing to me.