Gather and Scatter

It was good to gather for worship this weekend. People came together from across the City and across the State. We even had some visitors from out-of-state. The service was a call to take the opportunity to turn aside as Moses did at the burning bush. In our case we are being invited to turn aside and meet God in the opportunity to serve. Some people shared areas of need and some shared willingness to help in particular ways. One need that became particularly evident was the need for additional medical personnel at the shelters. One out-of-state visitor heard the call for needed medical personnel at the shelters and decided to to spend his last day in town serving. After church we received a call for assistance helping move 91 residents from a coastal nursing home from busses to wheelchairs so they could be transferred into the temporary shelter. Members of Grace and members of the LSUS baseball team shared in this opportunity. We gathered to worship and are scattered to serve.

Hurricane Gustav's approach speed has increased. Landfall is going to come much sooner than expected. Schools across the State are closed and hurricane force winds are possible in Baton Rouge which is almost 100 miles inland. As I finish this entry, my phone received a text alert from the national weather service alerting me that Shreveport is to expect tropical storm force winds, possible tornadoes, heavy rain and flash flooding.