After devoting so much of my time, money and life to Katrina relief six years ago, obviously I am very concerned with the developing situation with soon to be Hurricane Isaac. Unless a person sees firsthand the destruction a major hurricane brings, it is impossible to understand what those faced with evacuation and the looming threat of losing their home and business face.

A few years ago I parted company with an associate over his adamant belief things like hurricanes and tornadoes are punishment from God for sin in the areas devastated. I vehemently disagree with this theology and believe it to be very narrow minded and short sighted. Good grief, if God were going to punish people, cities and regions for their sins, He would have to wipe out whole countries.

There will come a time in the future when God will destroy this present earth and usher in a new heaven and earth wherein dwells only righteousness. To say that God is going to take out His anger on selected communities because of their unrighteousness is crazy. Besides, it is impossible to manifest any compassion if you believe woes are strictly punishment for sin.

This mentality that all sickness, financial difficulties, destruction via natural disasters etc are the result of sin in people’s lives drives me up a wall. Only the self righteous believe bad things are punishment for sin in others.

I have made countless trips from St. Louis to the Gulf Coast over the years. I have sat with good Christian people who lost everything during Katrina or Rita or other natural disasters. These were not evil people practicing witchcraft or killing their children. These were normal people caught in the crosshairs of an angry enemy who is the author of all that is evil, destructive and deadly.

Millions of people are pulling their hair out this morning trying to figure out what to do with Isaac approaching. Some are being ordered to evacuate while others are being lulled into a false sense of security by forecasts greatly underestimating the potential strengthening of this storm and the corresponding devastation.

Please pray for those living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Please pray for those who must make the difficult decision on whether to evacuate or not. Please pray that those who are forecasting this storm get it right and give proper time for people to get out of harm’s way. Please pray that all of God’s people down there listen to Him and do as He tells them to do.

I am too old and have too many physical problems to jump in my van and head down to the Gulf Coast now. All I can do is pray and urge others to do the same. With some forecasters saying this could quickly develop into “Katrina #2”, I believe any of us who call ourselves Christians need to take some time today and pray for our brothers and sisters who may or may not be deeply impacted by this storm.

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