DAY 6 IN NEW ORLEANS




Today and yesterday, I have been helping with admin work at the home of Malik Rahim, Black Panther and Green Party member from Louisiana, one of the founders of this relief. This is a busy home/office and Malik is a great guy. To get here, I have to drive through the French Quarter and take the ferry across the Mississippi River.

The other night I heard a fellow share about a big problem he was facing and my heart went out him, so I quietly prayed for him. Yesterday, when I told him I was praying for him, he thanked me and said just 3 days ago he read for the first time his Bible. Then last night while some of us were sitting around the fire outside, he came to me, asking that I pray for him right then which I did. The others became quiet and listened as well. A bit later, I gave him a small booklet that told how to find salvation through Jesus Christ and this morning, he thanked me again. While chatting, I was distressed to discover that over the past 2 years, he has buried his father, mother, wife and 2 children - please pray for this fellow.

LISTEN TO ERIC PHELPS
A very important interview yesterday with Greg Szymanski.
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Greg06.html

GOOD MORNING, NEW ORLEANS

Today, I woke to a beautiful sunrise and then the Lord spoke to me in His Word about the volunteers here in Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." This group is a mixed bag of folks who believe lots of things but they all want peace. Interestingly, Jesus Christ is called the Prince of peace.





So, after breakfast, cleanup, and the morning meeting, I went to Common Ground's House of Excellence Media Center to work a bit. Now I am at another relief organization down the road called Made in Love Grill and Cafe because their wireless connection is better.

Enjoying the journey with Jesus!

For various reasons, it has taken me all day to get today's photos online, but I wanted to share with you an encouraging message painted on a nearby house of a rescused cat.


Yesterday, while at the House of Excellence, I formatted and reproduced the House Gutting Manual for last night's Common Ground's workshop. I am glad I can help.

THE LOWER 9TH WARD





Yesterday, I went with a team to the Lower 9th ward of New Orleans to help gut houses for the residents. It looks like a bomb hit but there are homes which are salvageable. Common Ground has 1,000 homes on their list, so more volunteers are always welcome!

The problem lies in the fact that the city of New Orleans wants to bulldoze ALL the homes in the lower 9th ward by an unjust application of 'eminent domain' that is shutting many residents out of the decision making process. Many of the residents, living in shelters across the country with nowhere else to go, are not even aware of the imminent destruction of their homes.

Another group of residents are the elderly who are still living in the 9th ward without power, water, or medical treatment. Federal agents patrol these streets at night and threaten to arrest any resident that stays in this curfew area for trespassing in their own homes.

Common Ground recently set up in the 9th ward in the blue house, offering aid. And yesterday, as it happened, Governor Blanco came to the 9th ward with several political people and news crews. Some of the residents were prepared with signs and were able to share their great concerns with her one-on-one. Time will tell if the governor's promises to help will come to pass.

NOW IN NEW ORLEANS
I arrived yesterday and have been amazed by many things in the past 24 hours! This organization, Common Ground, began only 4 months ago and they are very organized and doing many things to help the community here. Everyone is friendly and each has a fascinating story on how they got here!

Today 20+ of us went to church "in the hood" with Pastor Bruce. His chuch is across the street from the largest project housing in New Orleans in which most have evacuated but not all.

Volunteers from all over the USA of all ages (mostly 20 something) live in community, sleeping in bunks, cots or tents, taking outdoor showers, and enjoying 3 free delicous meals daily. Work needs are announced each morning and teams go out daily to gut homes and decontaminate themselves when they return. This is a hard working bunch of great people!

Common Ground volunteers offer help with a smile to the local community.

During Spring break, 1000+ volunteers will be here, so I am helping in the administration department.

Two churches across the street from each other have donated their buildings and grounds for Common Ground to work. On one corner is the distribution center where the local people can find help.

BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES
Sometimes we just think too much instead of trusting God. For example, a few years ago, when I quit my job and moved to another state to go to Bible school, it made no sense to the natural mind because I was in debt for over $30,000. However, I did it because I believed this was how the Lord was leading me. Long story short, by the time I finshed school, I was debt free!

Now after living in east Germany as a missionary 3+ years, I am back in the USA. And today begins a new chapter in my life. Again I have quit my job and in a couple of hours I'm driving to New Orleans to live and work as a volunteer with Common Ground . I don't know too much about any of this yet but that's ok because I believe this is what the Lord wants me to do. Trust and obey as there is no other way to be happy in Jesus!

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

EXCEEDING WISE
Solomon wrote, "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces." (Proverbs 30:24-28)

"There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise! Take the conies who are but feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks. In other words, what the conies lack in strength they make up in wisdom! They are so weak and unprotected in themselves, so that for safety they flee to and live in the rocks. As these conies in their feebleness seek for a strong refuge and safe habitation, so you and I should do the same. Certainly we are no less feeble than the conies, especially now spiritually speaking. What defenses do we have against the forces of evil within us and outside of us? Can anyone of us of ourselves find safety from the devil and from the certain and eternal judgment of God against sin? No, we are poor, helpless creatures, doomed to perish left to ourselves - but now, says God - learn from the conies and seek refuge in a safe and secure hiding place. And surely, that place of refuge can only be in Jesus Christ where we may find a safe retreat from all evil, harm, and danger. Yes, Jesus is the Rock of ages where sinners may find salvation and security! And now our divine Guide is saying make sure you find your refuge there!" (source)

WAKE UP NEWS

Listen to Svali tell how Jesus Christ set her free from the clutches of the Illumanti family as she is interviewed by Greg Szymanski January 18, 2006: Playlists: M3U RAM (Individual MP3s: Hr1 Hr2 ) Svali excerpt from www.mindcontrolforums.com/svali_speaks.htm. "Both I and my entire family were involved in a cult group until several years ago, when we broke free. I used to be a programmer in the cult, and now I want to share the knowledge that I have to help others." Also, check out her webpage: Lion and Lamb Ministries.

COMMON GROUND RELIEF
Here is a wonderful organization that began the first week after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. With then only 3 volunteers, they came with compassion to help the people. Their's was the first organization to open up a medical clinic in Algiers, and provide immediate assistance (food, water, supplies) to the thousands of low-income residents unable to evacuate. The recent hurricanes not only devastated much of the city of New Orleans, they exposed long-standing injustices faced by the residents of the lower income, African American communities. It is estimated that over 275,000 housing units were destroyed and efforts to clean up, repair or open livable housing has been slow. In New Orleans Parish, nearly 40% of the community earns under $20,000 per year, and more than 70% of the households are headed by a single parent. Literacy rate in New Orleans is roughly 39%. It is critical, therefore, that the immediate needs of the community are being met while long-term strategies to stabilize the community are initiated. Learn more at the Common Ground Relief website and read this recent news article, Restoring New Orleans, house by house.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:35-40)

Houston PD Running Nuclear Disaster Drills As Build-Up Of Numerous Law Enforcement Agencies Seen In Nearby Texas City
By Greg Szymanski
January 28, 2006
Army Intel Capt. Eric May warns Bush cabal days away from a nuclear strike
Texas City resident "opens up a hornet's nest" as he warns local law enforcement about the possibility of nuclear strike. Sources inside the Houston Police Department (HPD) have confirmed officers in recent weeks have been taking part in nuclear disaster drills, adding more fuel to the fire that the city is being targeted by the "enemies within" the Bush administration for a nuclear attack. "In the last week I have multi-checked with sources of mine in the Houston Police Department and confirmed that HPD has been running nuclear disaster drills," said former Army Intel Capt. Eric May, who is trying to alert Americans of a possible nuclear strike in the upcoming days, possibly to take place in the Texas City or Houston metro area... (read entire article).

LINKS
The Investigative Journal - listen to Greg Szymanski interview Eric May on January 24, 2006
http://www.arcticbeacon.com - Grey Szymanski's website
Ghost Troop - Eric May's website

THE WORDS WE SPEAK
This morning, I am reminded of what the Scriptues say about the words we speak. For example, Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:35-37) Then Paul wrote, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:29-32) And James said, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:6-10)

Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for gossipping, saying evil things, speaking out of unbelief or saying anything that may have hurt You or others. Help me to speak the truth in love by the power of Your Spirit in Jesus name I ask. Thank You, Lord God!

KEITH GREEN (1953 - 1982)
Tonight I was listening to a cd my daughter made for me which had on it a couple of songs sung by Keith Green. I was deeply touched by his music, so I thought I would share a bit about this anointed worshipper. Keith came from a Jewish background in Sheepshead Bay NY. He ran away from home as a teenager, looking for musical fame and spiritual enlightenment in the late 1960's. He married Melody and they both converted to Christ when he was 21 years old. They immediately began taking troubled people off the streets and into their home and eventually founded The Last Days Ministries, transforming a Texas ranch into a school of discipleship and evangelism. I remember when he shocked the Christian culture and music business in the 80's when he began offering his recordings for free or "whatever you can afford." Sadly, on July 28, 1982, Keith, along with his three year old son Josiah, his two year old daughter, Bethany, and ministry friends were all killed in a tragic plane crash. Melody was home with their daughter Rebekah and was pregnant with their fourth child, Rachel. Years later, Melody wrote a biography about her husband called, No Compromise. Click here to listen to some audio clips of his great music! Keith Green's passion for the Lord and for the lost was a wonderful example for each of us.

GOD'S COVENANT
Yesterday, after a very rainy morning, I saw a beautiful rainbow in the clouds on my way to work. Joy filled my heart becaused it reminded me of God's faithful promises. Later, my daughter told me that both she and Hannah also saw a rainbow yesterday morning on their way to school. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all your promises to us which are Yes and Amen!

"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Genesis 9:12-17)

WAKE UP NEWS
Commentary: "Preparing for Global Governance Crisis" by Nancy Levant

PENSACOLA BEACH
It was unusually warm today, so Hannah and I went to the beach to look for shells and have fun. While sitting on the beach, I asked Hannah to take a handful of sand. "How many grains of sand do you think you are holding?" She couldn't guess. Then I said, "Did you know that God thinks about you more than all the grains of sand on all the beaches all over the world?" Her eyes grew big as I concluded, "He thinks about us a lot, doesn't He!"

Psalm 139:17, 18 "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."

THE END OF THE SPEAR
Last night, a few of us went to see this new movie based on the true story of five missionary families who lost all their husbands in the Amazon in 1956. I was deeply touched by it and highly recommend it.

WATCH AND PRAY
Today I am reminded of the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (from Mark 13)

WAKE UP NEWS
Watch the 2004 video "The Real Face of the European Union"