Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Week 4 Day 3 - Providence Road Member's Comments
Editor's Note: Around 20 members of Providence Road Church of Christ in Charlotte, North Carolina met up with us to join in Team 4's effort.
This past Sunday, I heard a powerful lesson from a man named Jodi Vickry from Campus Church of Christ in Atlanta. The title of the lesson was “A Perfect Storm” and he began by telling us myths about what to do in a storm, and how they are nothing more than myths. He went on to tell us that the greatest myth about storms is that the ‘storms of life’ Build Character. He clarified this by stating that “the truth about Storms of Life is that they reveal character rather than build character”.
There have been so many different reactions from individuals down here along the gulf coast that have illustrated the point of Jodi’s lesson. We have seen and/or heard about some of the worst behavior played out in the news. We have also heard about how many opportunists have taken advantage of others in desperate need, for their own personal gain. However we have also seen the great character of some wonderful Godly people that have sacrificed so much to rebuild, and give to others that have lost everything.
I can not think of many first hand examples that I have witnessed that have impacted me more than what I have seen down here in Louisiana. The character of these people has been revealed through this storm that has literally taken everything away from them. Luke writes in chapter 3 verse 11 “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none and the one who has food should do the same”. To see neighbors that have lost so much helping one another and offering such hospitality to those of us who have come to serve them is very humbling.
-- Ryan Preston
When we were on our trip “down on the bayou,” we had the opportunity to help an elderly gentleman, Mr. Paul. The floodwaters had filled his trailer home and rendered all of his possessions useless. The contents of his home were outside, covered in a foot of mud. We had to throw everything into trash bags and haul them away. One of the things I had to throw away was his water soaked, mud caked Bible. I noticed that the Bible was opened to the end of Psalms 119 through Psalms 123. That night I read through those passages and found in Psalms 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
-- Terri Jeltrup
This past Sunday, I heard a powerful lesson from a man named Jodi Vickry from Campus Church of Christ in Atlanta. The title of the lesson was “A Perfect Storm” and he began by telling us myths about what to do in a storm, and how they are nothing more than myths. He went on to tell us that the greatest myth about storms is that the ‘storms of life’ Build Character. He clarified this by stating that “the truth about Storms of Life is that they reveal character rather than build character”.
There have been so many different reactions from individuals down here along the gulf coast that have illustrated the point of Jodi’s lesson. We have seen and/or heard about some of the worst behavior played out in the news. We have also heard about how many opportunists have taken advantage of others in desperate need, for their own personal gain. However we have also seen the great character of some wonderful Godly people that have sacrificed so much to rebuild, and give to others that have lost everything.I can not think of many first hand examples that I have witnessed that have impacted me more than what I have seen down here in Louisiana. The character of these people has been revealed through this storm that has literally taken everything away from them. Luke writes in chapter 3 verse 11 “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none and the one who has food should do the same”. To see neighbors that have lost so much helping one another and offering such hospitality to those of us who have come to serve them is very humbling.
-- Ryan Preston
When we were on our trip “down on the bayou,” we had the opportunity to help an elderly gentleman, Mr. Paul. The floodwaters had filled his trailer home and rendered all of his possessions useless. The contents of his home were outside, covered in a foot of mud. We had to throw everything into trash bags and haul them away. One of the things I had to throw away was his water soaked, mud caked Bible. I noticed that the Bible was opened to the end of Psalms 119 through Psalms 123. That night I read through those passages and found in Psalms 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.-- Terri Jeltrup
# posted by John McGuire @ 12:21 PM 
