and the rains came down...(brisbane floods)

"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  And oh, the rain is falling. And falling. And falling.


The Brisbane area of northeast Australia is currently facing torrential rains and flooding at an unprecedented level. Areas throughout the northeast have been inundated by monsoonal rains that have continued for weeks, and have sent water levels to new highs.  Many cities and communities have been ravaged by raging floodwaters, with much loss of life and property.  As I write, the waters are now bearing down on the city of Brisbane  (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8194723/instant-inland-tsunami-kills-four).  The water catchment dam built outside the city in 1974 (following massive flooding then) is at 140% of capacity, and if rains don't subside quickly, disaster will continue to escalate.

This is the part of Australia with which we have a partnership, both through our missionary (Daun Slauson) and our Global Outreach (GO!) Teams that have been going there since 2003.  The Ann Street Church of Christ with whom we work is in the downtown area and may be in the path of the floodwaters, should they come.  Many our friends are being directly impacted by these events, and need our prayers.  Will you pray for their safety, and for the rains to abate?  But will you also pray for a spirit of brokenness to sweep over the Australian people, and that they will turn their hearts to God?  This is a country that has been spiritually dry for many years and needs to understand its need for the Lord.  Ask God to reveal his mercy and grace in the midst of great suffering and sorrow.  And that the rain of his love will fall upon a wonderful people in a fresh way.  


Note: here is part of our latest update from Daun, received 01/11: I have spoken to Tim (Ann Street Church elder)...they evacuated everyone out of Brisbane City at about midday today...and told people not to come back unless they absolutely need to. He spoke with his dad re: Ann St (his parents have been around Ann St. for many years) and he feels that we will be safe from the flooding. Though the church is not too far from the river, it is higher up. Let's hope he is right. 

     So, the reason for the higher amount of flooding tomorrow is because they have had to open the gates to the Wivenho Dam, and now that water, along with the rain and flood waters from other areas is coming down river... and tomorrow at 3pm there will be a King Tide... so water rising from the sea and coming in mixed with all the water coming down... all suburbs near the river have been warned to evacuate. They are estimating that a minimum of 7,000 properties will be wiped out.. with another 16,000 affected. 

a golden voice, a golden chance

Last week we heard the story of Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice, "discovered" outside Columbus, Ohio (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40944077/ns/today-today_people/).  It was a great story of redemption.  Of second chances. Of extended grace.


 I loved hearing the tale and the way it played out: a local newscaster decided to shoot a video of Williams, a beggar on the side of the road with a sign saying he had a golden voice for radio but needed another chance. The newscaster's hope was that someone would see the video and respond.  And respond they did. The vid went viral, being seen by millions, and job offers came pouring in. Overnight Ted went from nothing to over-the-top possibilities...and a new start.


There were a few things that stood out to me as I read and watched the stories that unfolded.  I was impressed with the motivation of the man who made the video.  He had nothing to gain from this act, except the knowledge that he did something good for someone in need. And I thought how much better our world would be if more of us determined to do good to those in need, not for personal profit, but simply because it's the right thing to do.


Then there was the remark Williams made to Matt Lauer, when asked what he would tell us about the homeless.  He told him that we shouldn't assume the worst about the homeless, but should discover their stories, because everyone has a story and it needs to be told.  And we need to listen.


Finally, in the outpouring of support people offered, many claimed that Williams deserved a second chance.  Evidently, the fact that he had a gifted voice made people think he was entitled to another shot.  Truth is, he deserved to be exactly where he was. Williams was an alcoholic and drug addict, had run afoul of the law, was a public nuisance, and was estranged from his family.  His lifestyle and poor choices had run his life aground, and he ended up where he deserved. Did he deserve more than the next guy because he had a great set of pipes? What if he had no special gift, but was simply "ordinary?" Would he deserve less?  No, the story isn't about being deserving, but rather about giving grace. And grace is a gift given freely, not to the deserving, but to those who don't deserve. That's life's story for us, as we stand before God, isn't it? What He gives us is a gift- His grace. And that grace- favor granted to those who don't deserve it- is the difference-maker in our lives.


Does Ted Williams deserve another chance? Hardly, since deserving is what you get for what you do. But should he be given the grace to have another opportunity do right, to be right? Absolutely. Our culture is built on that kind of thinking.  More importantly, that's the way God chose to deal with us, granting us grace for another chance even though we deserved less. Much, much less. 


I'm happy for Ted.  Happy for us.  Because with grace, everyone wins. And that sounds great, doesn't it?