In the aftermath of Sandy

A quick overview of the situation at our home in Whitestone:

• No power (probably for another week or so).
• We have water but we can't use sinks, toilets, showers, or other appliances that drain water because the pumping station that serves our block lost power. So we have to minimize toilet-use or risk sewage getting backed up into our basement and bathrooms.
• Gas shortages all over the city, Queens, and Long Island. My car might have enough for Jovi to drive to work until gas stations open up again (hopefully by sometime next week).
• A bunch of ocean debris washed up onto the backyard.
• Nights and mornings are getting a lot colder.

Anyways, what I really appreciated was last night's joint CG praise and prayer night. Some words of prayer that stuck with me,

"Father God, I know wickedness and evil love the darkness and hate the light. We need the glory of your grace to shine in a world bent on abusing and taking advantage of each other. We pray for those left in the darkness, the men, women, and children living in fear, the elderly and sick who are unable to leave even if they wanted to, and for the vulnerable and suffering that are living and sleeping out in the cold. We pray for your Spirit to work in us and in the relief efforts, so that this time and place can become a better place, a more kingdom-like place, a shalom place."