My friends, the reality is this: the effects of Hurricane Ike are FAR FROM OVER! So many - by the thousands and thousands - were forced to evacuate Galveston Island, Houston, and other surrounding areas, before the peak of Hurricane Ike's intensity. The media came, and went, because they now have "more important" things to focus on (yes the sarcasm is intentional), like the upcoming presidential election and gas prices. Now before anyone goes throwing a fit, yes, those things are important, but so are all God's children who are still in the midst of their suffering after sitting through hours and hours of seemingly endless traffic, to finally come home after weeks of evacuation...to nothing. I mean, nothing - homes are destroyed, if not overcome with feet of water or impossible amounts of mold to deal with, which renders these former homes unliveable anyway.
These people, as well as those who volunteer to help them (Christ In Action is an example), are in desperate need of financial donations, prayers, and volunteers to help the thousands in need in and around Galveston and Houston.
I am blessed to have seen my wife Angie (along with her friends Cindy and Monica) answer God's calling on their hearts, and help out down in TX with Christ In Action over 8-9 days (she just got home yesterday and is understandably exhausted, but also so blessed to be used by God for doing His Work). Being a single Dad for a little over a week to my 17-year-old step-daughter and 5-month-old little girl may have been challenging and trying at times for me, but in comparison to what work God used Angie for, it's nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
How can I say this? The miracle of Christ that works in me each and every day. The Bible says in Romans 8:18 (NIV), "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.". In this case, my "sufferings" as a single Dad for 8-9 days were absolutely nothing worth comparing with the glory that God received in the Work that He accomplished through Angie and the Christ In Action team while she was gone. Homes and yards were cleaned up. Large trees fallen over were completely uprooted and removed out of the way. Thousands (yes, thousands!) of people were given hot meals daily. Faith-based consoling was given to many in pain and grief. Many were prayed over and for. The literal hands and feet of Jesus fed His lambs and took care of His flock - they gave them something to eat (see "the feeding of the 5000" in Matt 14:13-21 if you're not familiar with this story). Souls were won for Christ. Volunteers willingly died to self, and gave so much for the Glory of our Almighty God, who is to be forever praised - Amen!
The following is today's blog addition from the Christ In Action website (www.christinaction.com):
Hurricane Who?
That is something I want to discuss in this blog. The national media has taken it's attention away from this storm and back to the presidential race and the financial melt down of banks and major financial institutions. That is all well and good, we need to be aware of those things in our life. However, there are still areas in Houston, the fourth largest city in America, still without electricity this long after the hurricane. Plus Galveston just opened for residents to return six days ago. Many Christian groups have been trying to set up and start feeding these residents who have no water or electricity. To date, as far as I can determine, besides the Salvation Army, Christ In Action is the only group feeding on the island and we have fed thousands and thousands of meals. I have been told that come groups have packed up and gone home, because of the lack of finances. One organization said "the media is gone, the money is gone and so are we."
Tomorrow we have a tractor trailer of ice and water coming to our site in Galveston that we will be passing out to the residents.
I have to be honest, since the media attention has turned from this storm, our finances have dried up. We are about $20,000 in the hole here. I need some serious funds real fast. Please go to the "donations" page and make a donation. Any amount will help, $10 from enough people will make a difference. Also, get your friends to check out this blog and ask them to donate $10 or more. If everybody does a little we can get this debt paid for. There is way too much work to be done for us to pack up and go home. I want to finish strong, I don't want to pack it in because of the lack of finances.
I have a great power point filled with some awesome pictures of the devastation from Hurricane Ike and would love to e mail the power point to you. Send me an e mail requesting it at denny@christinaction.com
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