The good you don't hear about Hurricane Katrina

My friend Rick Leatherwood, who has faithfully served God for many years in very hostile places has a saying with which I heartily agree; "The media is the handmaiden of the devil." It is. There has been a tragedy of immense proportions in the United States; one which in geography, loss of life and economic impact dwarfs 9/11. And true to form, every media outlet and every reporter are salivating at the opportunities for criticism, and the hope that some even greater catastrophe will befall those who have already suffered so much. So, to counteract some of the idiocy of the media, I would like to offer the following:

These comments are derived from counseling sessions with refugees from Louisiana, which I have had over the last five days.

"Thank you so very much for what your city and state are doing".

"I am being treated very well and am so grateful".

"Praise God for Texas".

One family I met with had been robbed 3 times on interstate 10 by roving gangs of armed bandits. Their shoes, money and watches were taken. Having arrived here, they received food, clothing and temporary shelter and a chance to take a deep breath.

Another woman I met lost her 3 children in the flood. Yesterday I received news that they have been found in Mississippi. She last saw them on a bridge in Louisiana. All are safe.

Wal-Mart, Inc. has ordered its Texas store Directors to Lousiana and when all is said and done will have provided at least tens of millions of dollars in aid.

Chili's restaurants has offered to hire any employee of their chains who was displaced by the floods and hurricane.

In the Houston Astrodome, somewhere around 17,000 people are safe, sleeping on clean cots, taking hot showers and eating three square meals a day, plus ice cream. Children have a play center. The Reliant center is now a hospital complete with a 24-hour pharmacy.

At the second mile mission center in Stafford, Texas more than 3,000 refugees have been given food, water, clothing, gasoline and temporary housing since last wednesday. When the churches of Fort Bend County, Texas decided to support the relief effort, 4 - 40 foot trailers were donated to collect goods as well as 2 box trucks to deliver them. Nearly 100,000 sq.ft of warehouse space has been given free of charge.

So far, churches have been helping without trying to take credit for it!

At the Galleria Hampton Inn where I attended a medical missions symposium on satuday night, the hotel hand an excellent command center complete with a job locator and a red cross representative.

At Hope House Houston, nine families have each received a 2-bedroom house rent free for one month.

You have all undoubtedly heard similar reports - these are just the ones I have first-hand experience with. God is blessing the people of New Orleans in incredible ways. This is a great gift to them and to us - another opportunity to serve.

In a strange metaphysical way, it almost seems like God allowed this tragedy so that people who claim to be His could indeed serve. Some of us were getting lazy.

So, turn off your television and read a good book AFTER you return from helping somebody today. Don't pull the old junk out of your closet to give, go buy a package of diapers and some baby food. Better yet, find a place to serve - doesn't have to be all day, even 30 minutes will be welcome. If you see a Louisiana license plate, stop what you are doing and greet the people in the car - share the love of Jesus with them. We have been given a great opportunity to be a light in a very dark world and to help some truly needy people. Good things are being done. Could they be better? Of course - humans are involved. But there must be hosts of people and angels praising God for His goodness and mercy in a time of terrible tragedy - make sure you are one of them!