New Orleans

We spent a week in New Orleans with Mission Lab at New Orleans Baptist Seminary.  The Friday before we left, a spot opened and Karen was able to go with us.  So, we dropped the kids off with the grandparents in SC and off we went.  Mission Lab is like a missions camp(an idea we Wesleyan would be wise to “steal”).  The first day we helped a lady where water was pooling in her backyard.  Her house had been renovated(after much hassle and theft), but the yard needed work.  On day two we cleared a lot and Wednesday thru Friday we worked at Mattie’s Little Angels day care.  We had prepared a VBS type program, but went with the flow, singing songs, playing games, using puppets(which wears the inexperienced arm out quickly), and just loved the children.  I connected with a boy named Kameron who I believe is autistic.  He doesn’t speak much and generally kept to himself.  You could hear the ladies repeatedly call his name for him to sit down and quit running around.  Somehow, we started doing pat a cake together and this bonded us somehow.  I did find out that he gets personal tutoring everyday.  You have these 30 or so kids and the 4 or 5 women who work with them.  They have no place to play outside(unless you consider blacktop in the LA heat with debris and a rusted fence safe) and so it can get a little crazy inside.  On the flip side, the city has several beautiful dog parks for dogs to play in.  This is, indeed, a city turned upside down.  The people who have down little or nothing to help themselves have received the most government aid and assistance while Heather(the woman from Monday) has received no government help(or volunteer help until we arrived), but got her house rebuilt.  I know it’s easy to blast those who don’t help themselves and families who have relied totally on government help for generations.  I can’t carry anger in my heart for these people because what does Jesus see when he looks at me?  Someone who abuses the grace and mercy given to me and someone totally incapable of helping himself in regards to having my sins cleansed.  God has called us to help and serve everyone no matter their circumstances.  Rob Wilton spoke three nights at the seminary and the Andrew Ogea band led worship.  All were tremendous.  Rob’s dad is Don Wilton of North Spartanburg Baptist who I’ve enjoyed on tv occasionally with my mom.  Here’s how I was challenged this week:

To love Batman less and Jesus more.

To be able to quote more scripture and fewer sports statistics.

To do the things I’m good at more effectively while empowering those who do the things I’m not good at.

To be God’s ambassador instead of Heath’s ambassador

To go out on a limb for God because He made the whole stinking tree

This week I’ll be responding to some posts I’ve been reading on “once saved, always saved.”  It’s not what you expect, but hopefully another perspective.  Peace to all of you.