I am from a small town outside of Houston.

Let me tell you what we have experienced over the last 3wks particullary over the last weekend, I’ll try to be brief.

1. My town of 5,000 exploded to close to over 20,000 of hot, tired, frustrated out of gas people in bumper to bumper traffic.
Some whom had not even moved an inch in 17 hours.

2. All gas in my town became unavailable. Lines of 1,000 deep formed at one gas station alone

3. A police officer retold the story of a young hispanic woman that was 9 months pregnant standing in the heat with her other small children eating the last thing they had—ham, and someone nearby in this group of stranded Americans started yelling out “Who will give me $20 for this loaf of bread”

4. My husband and a friend walked the streets and were handing out “backroad directions” that I was printing for hours to relieve the conjestion/bottleneck in this area so that people would be able to get to San Antonio/Austin.

5. Most people would cry with tears of thankfulness when given the directions. We also used this as a ministry opportunity to print under the map “Spiritual Directions” on how all of us need to repent, give our life to Jesus, and live holy lives.

6. Grocery shelves have been and continue to be empty of all the basics (milk,bread,eggs,meat,formula) we had to borrow milk from a friend for my own baby.

7. Worst of all, most of the leadership in the churches in this community were unprepared, unresponsive, and unwelcoming to the catastrophe that had hit this sleepy town. The standard reason given when they were called “Well, we can’t help everyone, and we have to be careful b/c of the LIABILITY!!
8. The “spirit filled” churches were an embarrasment to this spirit filled believer. One did not even open, the other opened the “small” youth building not the large sanctuary, and only women/chilren were allowed and a few elderly men. The men were consigned to the parking lot. The lot was full of over 700 cars. This was just one church.
9. My best friend opened her home to house and feed and allow them to shower—these were total strangers and her mother did as well, to me this is what a good samaritan really is and is one of the bright moments in all of the dark ones.

My husband and his friend worked all through the night to help these hurting and fearful people. That was just last weekend. Katrina brought evacuees to our town that we have been helping with providing clothing, furniture, food and $$. This has been a collaborative effort of many christians and non-christians.

Every church in town is now talking about the need for “disaster relief ministry” and to start a new building program to house people and put showers on the outside for people to use. Go figure.

Instead of a building program the church and particularly the leadership needs to go back to teaching on the importance of building the character of Christ into our lives. To walk the talk and stop playing church.

So, when I give a serious answer to a flippant question regarding “Is the Apocalypse now upon us” please give me a little understanding about why I am so passionate to why I believe “YES I DO!!” I have my reasons as mentioned above, I know some will not take them seriously, but as for me and my house I will stand for Israel and bless Israel because I want to be blessed. Yes, God does rain on the just and unjust but I can gaurantee you one thing, if you hold the opinion that it was o.k. for Gaza to be given to the terrorists, than don’t be surprised if your house is given away to some kind of catastrophic natural disaster.

That is all I will say.

No, I’m not bitter about last weekend.

Brad