And it isn’t just homes that are being raised.  Hope is being raised where much of the city still lies in ruins.  People who have property across the street from the Baptist Crossroads Project, inspired by the sound of hammers and the sight of new homes rising out of the rubble, are deciding to return and rebuild their homes.  One person told one of the members of our construction team they had decided to abandon their home; to never return but just to allow the city to eventually consume what was left of their dwelling.  But the site of people giving themselves away to bring hope through an aggressive rebuilding project has encouraged them to return to try to restore their homes and their life. 

       Make no mistake….what these people are recovering goes much deeper than brick and mortar.  They are recovering their belief in something greater than themselves. Just as those who followed Nehemiah at one point were ready to give in to the pressure of the enemy, many of the people of New Orleans were so overcome by their circumstances that all they could see was a hopeless situation.  Now, slowly but surely hope is returning as people are encouraged by the outward, tangible signs of the love of God pouring through the hammers and shovels of His people. 

       People who follow Jesus Christ must always be ready to respond to the hurt and despair of our world.  Satan is alive and well.  His goal is to spread darkness and hopelessness through despair and destruction.  The Bible says he is roaring lion prowling around, seeking whom he may devour.

       But as master of the darkness, he has no power over the light of God’s love.  Just as darkness must leave a windowless room when the light switch is thrown, Satan must surrender his despair to hope everywhere believers decide to shine.  The testimony of God’s people working to restore a destroyed city is now reaching the hearts of people who are forced to simply shake their heads in wonder at the actions of those who would give themselves away for the sake of another.  Many are beginning to believe in the power of God.  As I sit hear listening to the sound of hammers and saws and I see this army of God’s servants, the sun is shinning brightly…..or maybe that is the light of God’s love pouring out of His people.