Tropical Storm Chris is just east of Puerto Rico on this Wednesday morning. Forecasters draw a large cone to show possible directions. A major part of that has it heading straight into the Gulf. Not what we wanted to see. We’re all a little antsy around here, and figure to be for several hurricane seasons to come.

One of our pastors called Monday night asking for prayer, which I am now passing on to you. His college student son has been charged with several counts of robbery. As I got it, the son tells his father he signed a confession for whatever it was he did, then later the cops added other offences, including the use of a pistol which changes the nature of this drastically. One of our Baptist lawyers is representing them. This is a massive blow for any family, but particularly one that has lost their home and their church and congregation. We will appreciate the prayers.

In Tuesday’s news, Mayor Nagin announced that 2000 blighted properties will be given or sold cheaply to a number of companies and organizations that will be able to restore them and put on the market. Wednesday’s paper lists the organizations, most or all of them non-profits. Habitat is down for 250 of the homes. The mayor says most should bring prices in the $100,000 range. First, final notices must be sent to the owners of these properties which had lain abandoned for several years before Katrina, without the taxes being paid. Owners have 60 days to respond.

Regular readers of this blog will remember the name of Kimberly Williamson-Butler, our most recent Clerk of Criminal Court, who while going through some kind of emotional meltdown, was jailed for contempt of court for refusing to turn over her office’s records to a judge appointed to oversee the cleanup of the flooded evidence room, then ran for mayor under the “martyrdom” banner, garnering fewer than a thousand votes. She’s back in the news. It has come to light that soon after the hurricane, she sought bids to clean up the flooded Orleans Parish criminal courthouse and awarded the contract to something called Biodefense America of St. Petersburg, Florida. The company did not have the lowest bid, not by far. Worse, the Times-Picayune reveals that the company may not even exist. The address they show is a home in St. Petersburg and they own a truck parked behind a strip mall in Largo, Florida. Butler isn’t talking. Authorities admit that $200,000 has been paid to the Florida company which never did the first day’s work and which abandoned the job. Stay tuned.

Lawsuits are popping up like weeds in a Lakeview yard, all directed at Memorial Hospital and LifeCare of New Orleans after the deaths of a number of critically ill patients. LifeCare says their patients were the responsibility of the feds.

A Burger King in old Metairie advertises: “Now Hiring 15 Year Olds.” On the one hand, the unemployment rate is as high now as it was pre-Katrina, just over 7 percent. On the other hand, businesses are hurting for employees. With fast food places paying 9 and 10 dollars an hour, one hopes teenagers don’t drop out of school for this.

Two local psychiatrists say the mental health situation in this city is critical and that it will not improve anytime soon. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are seen frequently. With most mental health professionals having left the city and few available beds in psychiatric hospitals, it’s apparent we are facing a crisis.

Fats Domino’s piano is being restored. When the Lower 9th Ward was flooded, the home of this rock and roll legend was destroyed, along with all kinds of mementoes and memorabilia. The black Steinway grand has been cleaned of its mold, thanks to the patient, caring work of five conservators who put in 12 hour days for a week or more. The piano’s 4,000 parts had to be cleaned or replaced.

Acerbic columnist James Gill weighs in on Mayor Nagin under the heading: “He’s planning a party–what else?” I’ll be quiet and let you listen to a little.

“It is an outrage for the Urban Land Institute to suggest that post-Katrina New Orleans lacks leadership. If the institue had just done a little research, it could not possibly have concluded that this is ‘virtually a city without a city administration,’ as John McIlwain, its senior fellow for housing, puts it. Ray Nagin a do-nothing mayor? Come on. He has already announced plans for a three-day bash that will include a ‘masquerade gala,’ an Ambassadors of Swing talent search, an ‘exclusive food experience’ and a night of comedy to mark the anniversary of the hurricane.”

“A few killjoys have asked whether this is all a little too jolly, considering the nearly 1,600 who died a year ago, and maybe Nagin senses that a more somber finale might have been appropriate. ‘As far as fireworks is concerned, that’s not my push. I’m just going with the flow on that one,’ he said.”

“How the institute can perceive a lack of leadership is a mystery…. Now that hizzoner has been re-elected, the toughest decisions he makes seems to concern where he will head on his next out-of-town trip. Perhaps he finds it too depressing to hang around here when nothing much seems to be going on.”

Teams from the Louisiana Public Health Institute are knocking on doors in our part of the world. The state wants to know the exact population of the parishes in South Louisiana. Apparently, they refuse to take the mayor’s guesstimates. It’s uncertain where these numbers come from, but Claritas, a San Diego marketing information company, has released its own population figures as of July 1: Orleans Parish – 214,486; Jefferson Parish – 411,003; Plaquemines Parish – 19,896; and St. Bernard Parish – 15,483.

Another Katrina victim was counted this week in Eastern New Orleans. A son in some other part of the country asked authorities to break into his mother’s house and search for her. Dogs located the bones under ruined furniture in the flooded home. One wonders a lot of things: why the son took so long to inquire about his mother, and how much higher the death toll will climb.

Wednesday was our first pastors’ meeting at Good Shepherd (Spanish) Baptist Church on Wabash Street in Metairie. Host pastor Gonzalo Rodriguez called Monday night from Honduras where he was conducting a revival to assure us everything was set, that church secretary Luciana would take good care of the group, and the ladies of the church were preparing a feast. All of his assurances were on target; it was fine in every respect for the 45 or so in attendance.

Anthony Pierce, pastor of Evangelistic Church and now living in Lafayette, told how he recently spent four days in a hospital as a result of an accident while working on his church. “I was baptized in insulation,” he said, referring to the “blown” powdery kind in the church attic which poured upon him when he tampered with a dropped ceiling. “It took hours to get all that out of my system,” he said. Apparently, he breathed in a lot of it. Several days later, he began having pain in his legs, high fever, and high blood pressure. A bacterial infection had settled into his legs as a result of the insulation.

Jose Mathews of Discipleship Church said, “This will be my last pastors meeting. I’ve been called to become pastor of Circle Baptist Church in Baker, Louisiana, a suburb of Baton Rouge.” This is a mixed congregation and Jose is only the second African-American pastor they’ve had. “In the 11 Sundays I’ve preached there,” he said, “we have baptized one and had 14 join.”

Rob Marus, Washington bureau chief for Associated Baptist Press, audited our meeting today. When he invited pastors to share their stories with him, he got more than he bargained for. Looking around, I felt that each person in the room was worthy of a news story. Rob interviewed right on through lunch and afterward.

Jeffery Friend of Suburban Church said, “I tell pastors don’t come back if you don’t intend to stay and help us rebuild this city. Make sure God wants you here.”

Jerry Darby, One Faith, said, “These days I’m living about 30 minutes from Houston. But I still come here each week for this meeting and to minister to my scattered people. God wants me here; that’s why I make this drive. New Orleans is in my DNA. I love these people.”

David Lema, Emmanuel, told how his church is focused on reaching the construction workers, Mexican and Brazilian.

Freddie Arnold announced that Gentilly Church now has power. The Arkansans bunking in that building will be so grateful; on these hot days and nights, they’ve had no air conditioning at all. Freddie told of one Arkansas couple surrendering to the call for full-time missions. They’re selling their business back home. Recently, when they returned to New Orleans, they agreed that it now feels like home to them. The terrific Arkansas Baptists have shipped us 200 gallons of mold-killer, which we are making available to the pastors.

Freddie told how an electrician with the Missouri Baptists came down with colitis, a bacterial infection he picked up from working here; he’s been an MSC missionary for 20 years. Freddie reported that we’ve put a portable building at the Port Sulphur church, alongside the tent where they’re worshiping. All it needs now is water and sewer hookups.

Cherry Blackwell reports that the Redfish Rodeo is coming soon and she will be needing volunteers to help in her “Lagniappe” resort ministry. One aspect is a children’s fishing tournament for needy children.

Thomas Glover, New Covenant, told how his father was making a trip up to St. Francisville recently and Thomas felt a strong urging to accompany him. He arranged for his associate minister to preach in his place. While there, he led a longtime family friend to Christ, a 74-year-old man who said no one had ever shared the gospel with him. He told Thomas that all people would tell him was the things he had to stop doing, and since he was unable to quit them in his own strength, he figured there was no way he could ever come to the Lord.

Some people need to go back and figure out what it is about the gospel of Jesus Christ that makes it good news.

Philip Russell told how he and Craig Ratliff had dropped in on Camp Katrina, a relief center in St. Bernard Parish, the other day. A lady who works there kept telling them, “I can’t believe all the love the Baptists have shown us.” She told how people had cleaned up her ruined home and ministered to her in other ways. When a Mormon man came by and asked her, “Wouldn’t you say our group has helped the parish more than any other?” she answered, “No, the Baptists have.” Oddly, the man repeated that same question two more times, with her answering the same each time. Philip told the woman, “We might have done it as Baptists, but we do it out of love for Christ.”

Tobey Pitman, Operation NOAH Rebuild, reminded the pastors that “we are here to serve you; let us know what you need.” He urged everyone to send their volunteers to stay at the Volunteer Village. It has been decided that no one younger than having-completed-ninth-grade will be able to stay at the V.V. “The reason is simple. The elevators in a 30 story building can be mighty attractive to children.” He added, “We want to be good neighbors.” The V.V. is not just for Baptists, but for all faith groups who share our basic goals. Tobey said Habitat for Humanity is housing their groups there. (Phone number to inquire about reservations in the V.V. – 504/362-4604.)

Jerry Darby changed the subject. “I’m concerned about the multiple killings in New Orleans recently. We need to get serious in praying, folks.”

Kimberly Monaghan called for churches to adopt college interns and announced that training classes would soon be held at FBC Kenner for everyone wishing to learn how to teach “English as a Second Language.”

Marshall Truehill had the last word. “Before Katrina, we had six different church groups meeting in our building.” Their church is appropriately named “First United Baptist Church.” These days, most of those groups are still scattered. “Friends from all over the country have been here helping us rebuild,” he said. “With a small congregation, we could never do it by ourselves.”

If it was said once today, we heard it five or six times: “We’re so grateful for God’s people called Baptists. The SBC, the LBC, BAGNO–they’ve really been there for us.”

No one is sitting around yet with ears glued to the radio, eyes to the TV set, charting the progress of Chris in the Caribbean. Everyone is going about his business, working his job, rebuilding his life. But let Mr. Chris head in our direction and you will see this city empty out in nothing flat.

Dillard University has announced it will not begin classes for the Fall term until late September. They do not want to take a chance on starting up, then have to evacuate before a storm and start over later. August and September seem to be the favored months for hurricane visits to this city. Maybe we all ought to do as our European friends do: take a couple of months off for vacation. See you after Hurricane season.

Sounds good to me. Maybe the idea will catch on.