"Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that
brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness,
how will people taste godliness?" — Jesus  (Matt 5:13, The Message)

Amy has mentioned several times that believes that all that this moment is the coming hope for New Orleans. I think she is the one bringing the hope. The hope in Christ. She and others like her are helping those who’ve lost their hope because of Katrina taste and experience the God-flavors and God-colors of this earth.

Isn’t that so cool! We — us crazy, broken, messed-up, freaked-out, crazy followers of Jesus can help others taste and see that God is good, even in the midst of such trauma and tragedy.

Only a God so rooted and grounded in His own strong sense of identity, and so convinced of our worth and value and talent and passion would do such an outlandish thing. If I were God I wouldn’t let any of my creations near such a task. I’d do all the bringing of hope and God-flavors and God-colors myself. I wouldn’t trust my creation to get it right. I wouldn’t have faith in my own creation to do me "justice".  I’m so glad I’m not God!!

He has such faith in us! Much more than we have in ourselves — and truckloads more than we have in Him.

Go Amy! Go Joe! Go Wendy and Conna and Kat and Leticia and Ron and Niza and Larry and Los and all you other barbarian-followers of Jesus. He has faith in you. The God of all creation has faith in you!  Go be hope-bringers and salt-seasoning to a whole world full of hurting, broken people. Jesus is with you!

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God
is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as
a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now
that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand–shine! Keep
open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others,
you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in
heaven.