Words cannot describe what I experienced today. It was an amazing and powerful day. I spent time in Mississippi and Louisiana. I spent some of the afternoon in the vacated streets of New Orleans….yes, within the city.
I am very tired. We arrived at 7:00 a.m. in Mississippi and got home tonight just before 8:00 p.m. We never stopped. The pain is great.
More later.
I have not forgotten you. My schedule has just been consuming. We are in one of those seasons of life and ministry where we are going from before the sun comes up until exhaustion. I am close to the latter.
Finally, yesterday afternoon I traveled to Little Rock for a High School Football Game. Yes, I was on the phone engaged in numerous conversations due to this unique season. However, I did receive a little relief from the emotional and taxing schedule that I have been under. Yet, I did not get home until almost 2:00 this morning!
The great news is today there will be some relaxation, now that prayer and study have been completed. Tonight I will be able to go see The Hogs, yes the University of Arkansas fighting Razorbacks, in their conference opener. Go Razorbacks!
Pray for me today. Pray for churches in America and the world who will meet to honor God, share the Word of God, nurture the people of God and attempt to reach people for Christ.
By the way, I had a thrilling afternoon in Siloam Springs this past Thursday as I met, conversed, and prayed with several people who are dislocated from the affects of Hurricane Katrina. Just over 500 people are still being cared for by wonderful volunteers. What stories I heard!
God wants to use all of this to tell a new great story in the lives of these people, our lives, and in our nation. We must let God tell His story. It is unfolding daily.
Remember, come to our CALL TO PRAYER FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS for the Gulf Coast of America. It begins at 6:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Springdale, Arkansas, on September 11. I will be going on Monday to the Gulf Coast to see both Mississippi and Louisiana. Pray for safety, strategy, and usefulness.
Later…
Governor Mike Huckabee is coming to our CALL TO PRAYER on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. in our Springdale Worship Center. He wants to participate with us, not only to speak for a few moments, but to join in prayer for our nation. He has done Arkansas proud in these days. Governor Huckabee is a personal friend and I thank God for his leadership.
Participate with us on Sunday night…this CALL TO PRAYER IS FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. As the word is creeping out into the region, hopefully the response will be powerful. There is no doubt that we must pray for the Gulf Coast of America and for our nation at this time.
As Christians, we need to be as committed to pray over this situation as we are to give money towards it. Please participate with us.
What a great testimony would take place through this region if 3,000 believers came together on a Sunday night to PRAY. These unprecedented days, call for unprecedented spiritual action, of which the highest of those should be prayer. God will be able to restore order to the lives of people more than human generosity ever can. Balance and the New Testament calls us to both.
Move your friends to this blog today. Send it to them. We need Sunday night to be a Living Testimony to our deep faith in God. Great prayer and great participation will do this. I have sensed God’s leadership in setting the agenda….I know it will be a blessing to all of us.
Do not forget to pray for my dear friends, Doug Sarver and Lon Vining today. These two men are coordinating the volunteers in caring for the almost 600 persons that are in Baptist Association Camp in Siloam Springs that have been displaced by the storm. Pray also for the the entire volunteer force…they need not grow weary. I look forward to going over this afternoon.
See you on Sunday night at 6:00 p.m.
Over the past week I moved my blogging experience into the depths of concern over the Gulf Coast Crisis. Without question, the concern has grown more intense and helping opportunities are being seized by many of us. Yet, life is going on in every venue.
One thing not on hold is the birth of my first grandchild, which I shared about in an early blog. I shared in that blog feelings and struggles, especially about what that child will call me. This first grandchild will be a boy…he is named…Peyton Elliott Floyd…and he is not even outside the womb! Time is ticking, Kate is in final "ready mode"…within the next two weeks…he may come forth!
I have still not arrived at a name…I need your help today! I want you to vote. Oh yes, I am aware completely that the child will call me whatever he desires regardless of my desire. Yet, Jeana is named. Don and Mona, the other grandparents are named…but not me! I have struggled.
Okay, I want something really cool, not cute…something he will call me gladly when he is not just a baby or toddler, but 18 years of age when he is at the field house with the guys and I walk up. Thus far, these are my choices. I am settled on one of these two, so I need your input on one of these or name me yourself (be nice!)
Here are the choices…choose one of these two…or give one for my consideration! Ready….Neither is in a particular order, but I want to tell you the name and why I like it.
*You can choose one, or name your own.
Alright, be nice and register your vote. I will consider all. Perhaps we will share the ultimate outcome soon.
I BELIEVE GOD IS ISSUING A CALL TO PRAYER FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS OVER THE GULF COAST CRISIS ON SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 11, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE WORSHIP CENTER OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPRINGDALE. This past Wednesday night and Thursday morning I really began to sense God’s leadership towards this. Join me in this effort. We will engage in praying over the entire Gulf Coast Crisis and its national impact. Please come.
Help me get the word out to all of Northwest Arkansas and beyond: Anyone is welcome to attend. Encourage other Christians and churches to engage in this effort with us by coming here to pray as the Body of Christ. Leaders of our region who are serving daily in the administration of helping people through the Gulf Coast Crisis are embracing this effort. I need you to help me get the word out.
Bring some of the people who have suffered personally in this crisis that are now in our region. Bring volunteers serving. Bring politicians trying to help. Bring, bring, and bring more people from all walks of life. Bring anyone from your workplace or relationships in your life who has demonstrated a tear, a heart, a concern over this crisis. The only agenda on this evening will be to pray.
This crisis reminds us there is only one ultimate thing we can do: PRAY. We are overwhelmed. We need direction. We need discernment. WE NEED GOD.
Send this blog or refer people to it all week to engage in this CALL TO PRAYER. It is time to pray.
Today, take a moment and become informed and educated by reading my article to our people concerning information and actions to national disaster…
www.churchph.com or www.fbcs.net
I think you will be blessed….
Tomorrow is the day we worship across the world. Attend a church tomorrow that believes the Bible, is into ministry, and involved in an intentional effort to reach people for Christ. Find a church like this. Just any old church will not do.
Few Sundays in American history should be like tomorrow. Faithful pastors to God’s Word will not make accusations about the region of our nation destroyed this week, but will expound the entire Word of God faithfully. We need to leave what God is doing in His hands. There is no other Law Giver or Judge, other than Jesus Christ.
All of our emotions are somewhat wrenched at this time, but we must lay what we have left and what we need for the days to come at the altar of God in churches all over America. God wants to display His works through all of this, even through our lives. I am praying for His wondrous works.
Be blessed. Attend church. Worship God. Trust God for great and wondrous things.
Last night I met some of them…people from New Orleans…some of the first 50 people who will be housed here in Northwest Arkansas. They were kind, hurting, and very appreciative; You know, normal, just like you and me. I am told that by the end of the weekend there may be an additional 150 people arriving here. We are working and we are strategizing, willing to do what we need to do to make a little difference.
The North American Mission Board is mobilizing the 3rd largest Disaster Relief Unit in America. It is our denomination’s entity. The only groups larger are FEMA and THE RED CROSS. In the past 12 hours I have communicated with NAMB’s President via email and its Chief Operating Officer via telephone. It is obvious by all discussed, this is America’s Tsunami. We have never faced anything like it in all of North America.
My dear friend, Dr. Keith Thomas, Senior Pastor of The Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, returned my calls last evening. He was in South Florida during Hurricane Andrew. He said it was narrow in its destruction, but Katrina was broad and powerful, much more powerful in destruction. While he and his family have had no power for days, the church received power yesterday, and is already being used in many capacities for relief. This large membership church will rise up as a bright light over the course of the next few months in its community. As he talked to me last night he was driving through the city, no traffic lights, taking his life in his own hands. In his words, he was driving by "a greasy chicken restaurant," and there were at least 100 cars awaiting service. Yes, these are unprecedented days in America. Keith also said, "30 minutes west of us is complete destruction!"
We are preparing to mobilize our staff and people on a weekly basis. Our hearts go out to everyone. This is a time for action. This is a time for prayer.
