Hurricane Katrina and James 2:15-16

So, just over a week ago, my 12 disc changer in the trunk of my Aveo shorted out the power lock system, so I had to get it removed and replaced. I'm still waiting for the replaced part, and have been subjected to one or the other of two driving options: Silence, or the radio.

If you know me at all, you know that I love music when I'm driving. In fact, it's one of the few times I bother to listen to music, because I'm always doing something else. So silence is just not an option.

But on the other hand, I hate the radio. You can't choose what you listen to, and I'm very picky about what I listen to. I'm not big on secular, non-Christian music, and the few things I do like are never playing when I want to hear them. The Christian stations, on the other hand (WDCX 99.5 and Joy 1250) are liable to be airing preaching shows or Christian music of the trite pop variety that grates on my ears like nails on a chalkboard. Again, only very rarely do I hear something I want to hear.

A notable exception is the Drew Marshall Show, on 1250, Saturdays from 1 to 5. He's got this cool cutting-edge, real call-in show. I'd probably enjoy the preaching shows more if they weren't Protestant, all of them. There's a few that are good anyway, but yeah.

Then you get those gems of shows, like the one I was listening to the other day, "Hope-somethingorother-Ministries" and they had an appeal ad for raising money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now, that's all well and good. Great, in fact! I'll give money to help (if I had money...). St. Andrew's is going to be raising money and sending it to the Diocese of New Orleans so that they can distribute it as they see need.

Now, the reason that this Hope Ministries, or whoever they were, bugged me, was because their appeal went thus: "For a simple donation of $20, we can put a Bible in the hands of a victim of Hurricane Katrina, as well as a devotional guide!"

You what?

More than a whole State has been devistated by a hurricane! People are out of their homes! And you want money to send them Bibles?! I mean, yeah, it's the Word of God! But seriously, let's get our priorities straight!

Here's how it's going to go down:
Hope Ministry guy: "Oh, you poor homeless person whose whole life was destroyed! Here's a Bible for you! God bless!"

Newly homeless guy, trying to rebuild his life: "Yeah, God bless you too, you asshole!"

Seriously, what is this organisation thinking?! "You can use it as an umbrella for when Hurricane Ophelia sweeps through"?!

It occurs to me that this is just what St. James was referring to when he wrote, "If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, 'I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,' without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that?" (James 2:15-16).

What good is that, indeed? Maybe Hope Ministries should read the Bible that they're giving away. And then follow it, and raise money to rebuild people's homes! Maybe then, that act of love would allow people to see and know the love of Christ! But no. When disaster strikes your life, I'll be sure you have a Bible and a study plan handy, so you can make sense of what's going on! Maybe it'll keep you warm at night.

God bless all the victims of Hurricane Katrina. You're in my prayers. I wish I could do more for you.

Enjoy your Bibles :p