French Quarter survives -- with luck and a prayer (Let's hammer the Media about the slow response)

Maimi Herald ^ | Aug. 30, 2005 | ERIKA BOLSTAD

[BushCountry]

The French Quarter was damaged by Katrina, but it was not destroyed, and tourists and residents let the good times roll and wondered why they were so lucky.

By ERIKA BOLSTAD

ebolstad@herald.com

NEW ORLEANS - At the start of hurricane season, the historic St. Louis Cathedral in the heart of the French Quarter offers a short prayer in the Sunday church bulletin to Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

Each year, the city's Catholics clip out the prayer, place it on their refrigerators and repeat the entreaty whenever a tropical depression appears in the Gulf of Mexico: Spare New Orleans from a direct hit by a hurricane.

**********

Another Story the Day after the storm:

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050830/NEWS0110/508300384/1260

NEW ORLEANS — Gail Henke could think of no better way to celebrate the French Quarter's survival of Hurricane Katrina than to belly up to a bar on Bourbon Street with a vodka and cranberry juice. Call it a libation to the storm gods.

"You know what? There's a reason why we're called the Saints," the 53-year-old tour booker said Monday as she communed with 20 or so other survivors. "Because no matter what religion you are, whether you're a Catholic, whether you're voodoo, whether you're Baptist or so on, so on, and so on — we all pray. We all pray. I'm not a religious fanatic. But God has saved us."

************

Excerpt from a Tuesday morning story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/341577p-291681c.html

In New Orleans' historic French Quarter of Napoleonic-era buildings with wrought-iron balconies, water pooled in the streets from the driving rain, but the area appeared to have escaped the catastrophic flooding that forecasters had predicted.

On Jackson Square, two massive oak trees outside the 278-year-old St. Louis Cathedral came out by the roots, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and straddling a marble statue of Jesus Christ, snapping off only the thumb and forefinger of his outstretched hand.

At the hotel Le Richelieu, the winds blew open sets of balcony French doors shortly after dawn. Seventy-three-year-old Josephine Elow of New Orleans pressed her weight against the broken doors as a hotel employee tried to secure them.

"It's not life-threatening," Mrs. Elow said as rain water dripped from her face. "God's got our back."

For years, forecasters have warned of the nightmare scenario a big storm could bring to New Orleans, a bowl of a city that is up to 10 feet below sea level in spots and relies on a network of levees, canals and pumps to keep dry from the Mississippi River on one side, Lake Pontchartrain on the other.

The fear was that flooding could overrun the levees and turn New Orleans into a toxic lake filled with chemicals and petroleum from refineries, as well as waste from ruined septic systems.

Officials said a levee broke on one canal, but did not appear to cause major problems.

Blanco took little comfort in the fact that the hurricane may have spared New Orleans much worse flooding, given the still uncertain toll in surrounding parishes.

"I can't say that I feel that sense that we've escaped the worst," she said. "I think we don't know what the worst is right now."

*********

Yet another story

http://www.wsav.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSAV/MGArticle/SAV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784753009&path=!frontpage

Superdome Survives Katrina; Evacuees Finally Get to Breathe Fresh Air Associated Press Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The roof has holes and there are leaks everywhere but some people sheltering a second night at the Louisiana Superdome are thankful for one small sign of progress: a little fresh air.

As National Guardsmen watched to make sure they didn't leave, some refugees from Hurricane Katrina lined up for a stroll on the large walkway around the dome last night.

************

These buses could have been used while the flooding wasn't that bad!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050901/480/flpc21109012015

[ZOTnot]

I'm 'not going there with you' as they say.

My post says nothing about Jesus having said 'pray to my Mother'.

I said She intercedes for us through her Son, to the Father himself.

Insofar as I can discern, the Father chose her to be the Mother, it was not Jesus himself who chose.

Whether you choose to call her 'woman' or 'Mother' does not diminish the role she had in bringing her Son into the world.

[ApplegateRanch]

There were maybe hundred people on the bridge, a pickup truck could've provided relief to many.

Especially if this driver was there, to show them how it's done.

[CAWats]

I said She intercedes for us through her Son, to the Father himself.


Who told you that? Where does it say that?

Look what it says in the book of Hebrews; come boldy before God (not moaning and groaning crying and whining but boldly, confidently)

Heb 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."

Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Heb 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

[CAWats]

I said She intercedes for us through her Son, to the Father himself.


Who told you that? Where does it say that?

Look what it says in the book of Hebrews; come boldy before God (not moaning and groaning crying and whining but boldly, confidently)

Heb 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."

Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Heb 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

[CAWats]

Sorry for double post

[Auntie Toots]

BushCountry says, "It has been an amazing effort! Don't fall for the BIG LIE!!"

I too feel it has been an amazing effort. But it was extremely difficult on those trapped in the Super Dome and the Convention Center, and that made big news. The many, many positive heroic stories are not getting the same press.

[BushCountry]

bump

[wolficatZ]

I think you have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that your statement has no veracity.

[ZOTnot]

Who told me that the Father chose her to be the Mother?

I think it is rather well known that Jesus did have an earthly Mother. Most call her 'Mary'.

By what name do you call her, if in fact you dispute her existence?

[CAWats]

Who told me that the Father chose her to be the Mother? I think it is rather well known that Jesus did have an earthly Mother. Most call her 'Mary'. By what name do you call her, if in fact you dispute her existence?


I NEVER disputed her existence. Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary. Of course she existed. Can you show me where I said she never existed? Jesus did have an earthly mother. All I EVER said was we can pray directly to the Father. How can you ignore the Bible where is says "Come boldly to the Throne..." is beyond me. I repeat, Where did I say "she doesn't exist"? Don't misquote me, it's a liberal trait.

[ZOTnot]

Good. Then if you finally are able to acknowledge after the roundabout and diversionary arguments you put forth about Her RELEVANCE and do acknowledge that She exists, then back to the original post: She intercedes for us when we ask just as any Mother would for their children which is what the ORIGINAL post was all about. I consider Her Mother of the Christian church.

I believe She intercedes as the church bulletin mentions because the people know to ask Her to do so.

Does your particular belief prohibit you from asking for intercession?

And don't misquote me either, as self righteous as you might wish to appear.

Take your particular self righteousness elsewhere; it has no effect on me except to show me you are narrow and rigid and have no tolerance for the belief of people such as those in New Orleans who are attempting to cling faith and beliefs which have sustained them in the past.

[CAWats]

And don't misquote me either, as self righteous as you might wish to appear.

I have no righteous of my own. I deserved to burn in hell forever. But thank God for Jesus. He died on the cross for my sins and yours. But that's not all He did. When He took our sins from us, he clothed us with His righteousness. Therefore we are the righteous of God in Christ. Not because we earned it; He gave it to us. And because we are clothed with His righteousness, we can come directly before His throne. Again, as God tells us in the book of Hebrews: Heb 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." I am not self-righteous; I'm just clothed with His righteousness, and so are all believers.

[ZOTnot]

Call it what you will. You have taken an attitude of righteousness: that your posts are above reproach to all who would challenge them, or their true source.

Since we are agreed who Mary is, I will ask Her to INTERCEDE tonight to SOFTEN your heart regarding your disregard of the attitudes, beliefs and thoughts of OTHERS expressed here and elsewhere as opposed to your own self-proclaimed righteousness, wherever it may have come from (its source).

If you need to ask why I say this, go back through your recent posts, not only those rudely posted to me, but also the recent one about the City of N.O. and 'lowering its standards to allow minorities to qualify' for the police force.

If you will pay attention to the news, the police officers there have committed suicide, turned in their badges, or walked off the job for a variety of reasons: severe depression, hopelessness at the situation at hand, overwhelmed at the grief, trying to help people who were begging for food or water days on end, having lost their own homes to the flooding, having lost their children or spouses in the aftermath (missing or dead,) attempting to help abandoned pets, 20 hour shifts, dead friends and neighbors in their own street, not able to GET to work with the flooding.

What does THAT have to do with being a 'minority', or a police force which (allegedly) lowered its standards to admit them? Did they succumb to depression or hopelessness because they are 'minorities'?

When you boldly approach the Throne, I wonder what response you will offer for 'posts' such as these in your threads?

[CAWats]

May God bless you and keep you; may He heal all your sicknesses and bless you with more money than you can handle.

[CAWats]

What does THAT have to do with being a 'minority', or a police force which (allegedly) lowered its standards to admit them? Did they succumb to depression or hopelessness because they are 'minorities'?

allegedly? There is nothing allegedly about it!
http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/cops_others/len_davis/6.html?sect=18 Thus was the stage set for the scenario that was to follow. In order to beef up the rapidly dwindling numbers of NOPD, the department was forced to lower its acceptance standards. Recruits with criminal records, DWIs, unfavorable employment records and dishonorable discharges from the Armed Forces were allowed to enter the Police Academy, whereas they had previously been excluded. A number of these new recruits had been charged with violent crimes as serious as armed robbery and rape. Some were openly recruited from the projects and off the street with no prior experience with the law, other than being on the receiving end of its consequences. Their records were expunged and, on completion of their training, they were issued badges, guns and patrol cars and turned loose on the street.<><> In so doing, many of these new officers were expected to suddenly straighten up and begin enforcing the laws they had not-so-long-ago been breaking. They were expected to arrest those suspected of crimes, even if those accused had once been their street buddies. But this was an unrealistic expectation. Old loyalties and old habits die hard. Some of these new officers remained loyal to those who had been their partners in crime and they continued their old ways and associations. And, given the level of corruption to which the department had already descended by this time, the ground was well-seeded to breed further corruption.

[CAWats]

When you to boldly approach the Throne, I wonder what response you will offer for 'posts' such as these in your threads?


And when you refuse to boldly approach the Throne, tell God that the Blood of Jesus isn't good enough for you. It isn't good enough to cleanse you of all unrighteousness like He said in the bible. Tell Mary, His mother, that the blood of her Son isn't good enough so you gotta go to her.

[ZOTnot]

Once again, in post 56, as in post 55 and post 52, the cloak of righteousness has verily thrown a mantle of protection around you, hasn't it? You can throw any un-CHRISTIAN 'flame' you wish under the guise of 'righteousness' and believe you are above reproach for having done so.

Seems to suit you well.

The Father, His Son, and His Mother, Mary, will undoubtedly congratulate you for having 'set me straight' regarding the 'true meaning' of'righteousness'as found in post # 56!

By the way, you DODGED the point about discriminating against minorities QUITE WELL!

You never really addressed the personal side of the horrors these first responders experienced in their personal lives once Katrina devastated their lives except to generalize them as being both minorities and as having come originally from the criminal element.

That's a real Christian response to human suffering isn't it?????

While you boldly approach the Throne next time, since you believe I am not capable myself of doing so, maybe you can ask what the words 'CHRISTIAN COMPASSION' might happen to mean,

....and whether it applies to minorities who happened to have their lives devastated....

[CAWats]

Once again, in post 56, as in post 55 and post 52, the cloak of righteousness has verily thrown a mantle of protection around you, hasn't it?


The bible says in the book of Romans that no one is righteous:

Rom 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"


Then, in Romans 4:20, the bible is talking about Abraham:

Rom 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"

Rom 4:21 "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."

Rom 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."

It states here that because Abraham was fully persuaded, it was imputed to him for righteousness. Abraham was not righteous but it was credited to him as though he were.

Rom 4:23 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;"

Rom 4:24 "But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"

then in the next two verses, this righteousness was not just for him but for all who believe.

And finally, 1st John 1:9 very simply:
1Joh 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Our unrighteousness is erased.

[ZOTnot]

AGAIN, as I said, and I see more clearly,now, your 'game':

Still wrapping yourself in the 'cloak of righteousness' which suits you QUITE WELL as something to hide behind for your insensitivities....

1)Care to respond in any way to your disparaging comments about minorities? (of course not! Hasn't happened yet!)

2)Or your callousness/ total disregard in this post about the personal losses suffered by the first responders? (of course not! Hasn't happened yet!)

Those comments regarding # 1 above, or lack of comments in # 2 above, by you, 'sort of' negate or diminish the message in 1 John 1:9, wouldn't you say????

Just asking.... But then, perhaps I shouldn't ask.

Because you have now a clear pattern of DODGING issues, which when brought to your attention, sear your conscience, and render you incapable of responding to them directly.

[CAWats]

Let's start over. One Issue at a time.
Which one do you want to take first?

1. Righteousness

2. My racism

3. Add your own.

I do not care what you think. God cares what you think. I care what God thinks. Oops, more self-righteousness.

One issue at a time. Tell where to start.