The news each day–radio, television, newspaper–concerns the upcoming report of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission and what they will recommend. At this point, it’s still impossible to know which neighborhoods are going to be resettled and which, if any, turned into public parks. That prevents us from knowing which churches to “bring back.” So, we clean out the churches to the studs and lock them up. And wait.

Our Wednesday pastors’ meeting at First Baptist-LaPlace was a blessing as usual. We had made no phone calls to alert everyone to the resumption of these meetings after the holiday break, but an excellent number turned out. How many? Perhaps 35. The best part is that three pastors came for the first time, only recently returned from evacuation and having learned of the weekly gathering.

Our agenda Wednesday followed the usual pattern. We stood around greeting, visiting with each other, and fixing our coffee until 9:15, then began with a concert of prayer. I talked a little as usual, called on Freddie Arnold to bring us up to speed on all the recovery work taking place throughout the city, and heard from Cornelius Tilton (Irish Channel Church) and Anthony Pierce (Evangelistic) who told of their experiences during their absence from New Orleans. Cornelius said, “Our church took some damage but we are up and running. Two other congregations have come in with us, so we now have three churches and two pastors, all meeting together.” They’re running perhaps 35 or 40, a fraction of their former attendance. Anthony’s church is still out of business and his members scattered across America.

Gary Eaton, an executive with Lifeway Christian Bookstores in Nashville, joined us. He’s been checking out the store on the campus of the Baptist Seminary and making preliminary plans for its reopening. “We had some minor damage to the building,” he said, “but the moisture got into all the stock and it was a total loss. The building is standing there empty right now.” Since some classes at the seminary will begin soon, there will be a bookstore of some kind provided for the students. The entire campus is scheduled to be in full operation this fall, so presumably the bookstore will also.

Gibbie McMillan of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention told of one of our pastors who evacuated to Texas along with some of his people and who has decided to stay and plant a church there. “We’re glad to have them and we’re trying to assist them,” he said. We teasingly pointed out that since we are exporting our crime to cities like Houston, it’s only fair to send them some pastors and churches. Gibbie told of a New Orleans family relocated to Texas that learned recently they were going to have to give up their FEMA-provided dwelling, and without any place to go, the husband killed his wife, his child, and himself. They won’t count these among the Katrina-related deaths, but what else are they?

Aaron Arledge, who schedules church groups coming to help restore our city, asked the pastors of healthy churches to open their facilities and house these guests. “We’re not allowing youth groups to work in Orleans Parish,” he said, “or for that matter, St. Bernard and Plaquemines. With all the mold and debris, it’s too dangerous.” He asked pastors in the other areas, less affected by the floodwaters and now recovered from the hurricane, to look around and see what work visiting teams could do to help restore homes and churches in their neighborhoods. Someone raised the question, “Won’t the churches that host these teams need to provide showers?” The answer is yes.

A lengthy discussion broke out over ways to hastily rig showers in church bathrooms after removing the commode. Jeff Laster, minister of adults at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth and leading a team at Highland Church in Metairie all week, volunteered, “They work well. I had a shower in one at Highland this morning.”

“The sky has not fallen and the earth has not opened up and swallowed us,” began Darryl Ferrington of the First Baptist Church of Marrero, “but we turned our church baptistry into a shower for our volunteer workers.” As everyone laughed, he continued, “It’s a logical place. You already have the tile floors, the plumbing, the connections, everything.” Then he added, “We’re finally getting some activity in the baptistry!” This brought laughter and more funny lines from all over the sanctuary, with one suggesting, “You can count all those taking showers as baptisms” and another responding, “That’s sprinkling. It has to be full immersion.”

Several wives of pastors attended the meeting, as well as the young son of Pastor Tony Bellow of the Hahnville Mission. We learned that Chas was an honor roll student whose grades slipped drastically after Katrina when he went through a succession of six teachers in a few weeks’ time. One teacher was so distraught over her own problems, she spent the class periods pouring out her grief on the children. Chas ended up bearing a witness to her that the Lord Jesus Christ is in charge and she should trust in Him.

Everyone around here has been grieving all day with our West Virginia friends over the tragic deaths of 12 of the 13 coal miners. For the families to have been given hours to rejoice over a false report that their loved ones had been found alive, then to learn the truth, that 12 were dead, compounded their grief beyond measure. At supper Wednesday night, I learned that Neil and I had heard the same report on NPR radio in which one of the local ministers reported his take on the story. Preachers come in all varieties and styles, but we were delighted that this one was excellent. He spoke well, bore a faithful witness, and obviously cared deeply about the people. “Some of them are angry right now,” he said. “I tell them, it’s all right to be mad. Even to be mad at God. He understands.”

This is a little dated, since it relates to Christmas, but it’s too good to keep. Sometime in the middle of December, Margaret was over at Neil’s house talking with Julie and the three children. At one point, Grant, age 11, said, “Mom, I need you to take me to the pet store so I can buy a gift for Beignet” (the dog). Immediately and in perfect unison, the twins burst out, “Shhhh! He’s standing right here!” We’ve laughed about that ever since. People with identical twins are continually amazed at the way they think and act alike.

Now, our little friend Beignet heard what was said, but he didn’t understand. The children were safe in saying anything in front of him. Likewise, many people hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and do not understand. I heard a worship leader say this week, “There are thousands of people here in our city who have never heard the Gospel of salvation.” I expect he’s right, but I wonder if perhaps they have heard the words but did not understand the message. We must be faithful in sharing the Gospel of Jesus, but just as faithful in praying the Father to open the eyes of their hearts to comprehend the message.

“Do you understand what you are reading?” a disciple asked a traveler reading the Bible. (Acts 8:30) The reader needed help, so Philip climbed into the chariot with him and told him about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gave the man understanding so he received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.

I hear a lot more than I understand, I suppose. But some things I get very clearly. There is a ton of love in this city these days, love between our own people and between our ministers for each other, and a deep affection for those hearty souls who travel hundreds of miles to come help us. Ask anyone and they will tell you: it’s great being loved.

Some things are easy to understand.