KATRINA, THE PROPHESIED CATASTROPHE

Following devastating hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans and Louisiana on 29 August 2005, the USA is in a state of shock, and a huge region has been devastated. "The multi-cultural metropolis New Orleans stood for lust, swing, paddle boats and Mardi Gras. Now it stands for suffering, lawlessness and death," writes German news magazine Focus. For years, scientists have been warning about a potential catastrophe in New Orleans, which is about 5 meters under sea level. It was not only scientists who predicted the catastrophe; a number of prophets also saw it coming. Rick Joyner mentions that in 1998, his Movement received a prophecy that "New Orleans will look like an estuary." In his commentary about the catas-trophe, Joyner writes "Over the next few years a great move of God will spread over that region, and many who have lost all of their possessions will gain something far better - eternal life... There is a lot of witchcraft coming from New Orleans and it wants to cause as much death as possible." On 29th August 2004, one year to the day before the catastrophe, Chuck Pierce (www.glory-of-zion.org) prophesied: "The wind and water will rise in the midst of New Orleans. Many from the south will come north for refuge. Prepare. Prepare now for winds and water that will surprise you... Prepare!... The wind is coming on Louisiana and it will shake the entire State... The south purifying wind of My holiness will sweep across Louisiana." According to Friday Fax editor Wolfgang Simson, "God provides an early warning system for all catastrophes yet to come: the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Those who listen will be prepared and have answers in a time when many people will have questions about God." http://www.bufton.net/fridayfax KATRINA'S CLOUD HAD A SILVER LINING "You've heard about the corpses in the streets, the cars stuck in trees, the people trapped in attics, and the looting in New Orleans. But did you hear about the man who was healed of deafness when a volunteer counsellor prayed for him at a refugee shelter in Dallas two weeks ago?" asks J Lee Grady, editor of Charisma Magazine. "Most news broadcasts about the storm have been depressing. But a thousand small miracles have occurred since people of faith rushed to help homeless evacuees and stranded survivors. Churches and Christian relief organizations have sent millions of dollars in aid to the Gulf Coast and to evacuees nation-wide. Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing and hundreds of lesser-known charities have partnered with local Churches to provide what will be remembered as the biggest demonstration of Christian kindness in American history." A 100-member congregation in Pascagoula, Mississippi, who lost their building in the storm is feeding 3 000 people a day from their parking lot. A Missouri Church is covering the monthly payroll of a Church in Slidell, Louisiana, that was flooded. A Maryland Church is offering to put 25 displaced families into homes and is chartering a jet to fly the evacuees to Baltimore. And a Church in Sri Lanka that funneled American aid to tsunami victims, recently sent a $10,000 cheque to Convoy of Hope to help Katrina survivors. Trey Miller, youth pastor at Life Center, took a team of 25 teenagers to Pascagoula, Mississippi, last weekend to help elderly people repair their water-logged homes. Explained Miller: "One old man kept asking, 'How much are you charging?' I told him, 'We aren't charging you anything.' He walked around in amazement all day, and he wouldn't let go of my hand when it was time to leave." http://www.charismanow.com