What a Convention! Pray for Louisiana.

Two verses from today's reading from Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans, Verses 12:12 and 12:13, standout as a postscript to last week's Democratic Convention and a plan for this week's possible hit on New Orleans by Hurricane Gustav.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

These are the by-words for the first week of September.

Rejoice in hope. There was much rejoicing, much hope, in the aftermath of the nomination of Barack Obama. Be patient in suffering. My first presidential election saw Ronald Reagan elected to the White House. Our country has been in the grips of a destructive force calling not just for less taxes, but the elimination of the government as we knew it. And they've almost succeeded. We've been patient; we've suffered. Persevere in prayer. Always asking why not rather than why; always knowing that the best days are ahead. And always willing to work, fight, and pray for the future.

Contribute to the needs of the saints. We all have saints in our lives, whether they be parents, siblings, children, or friends. The best thing we can do for them is support them if they are in need. Need isn't always financial - it may be volunteering at Little League or reading to a child. Extend hospitality to strangers. Should New Orleans be evacuated, there is a possibility that some of those folks will end up here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River near Milepost 606. This is an opportunity.

Happy Labor Day, tomorrow.

Today is the birthday of two interesting journalists. Nationally, Daniel Schorr is 92. Locally Cary Stemle is much, much younger. Happy Birthday to both.