"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the 'gods' I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great." - Psalm 138:1-5

I wish with all my heart that I could expose each of you to the scene I witnessed last night as I headed back to New Orleans from a staff meeting in Covington on the north shore. As I passed the Causeway toll booth and entered the 26 mile bridge across Lake Ponchartrain I was greeted by the most amazing sunset and as I looked southeast I could see perfectly my most beloved city.

I get chills almost every time I see the skyline on the horizon and yesterday it was wrapped in purple and blue and pink and orange and the view was more clear than I have ever seen. As I got closer I could see the lights on the Crescent City Bridge as they beckoned me home. Oh how I wish I could express the feelings that rush through me when I see my city. It never ceases to be new and fresh and amazing and I pray with all my heart that it never will because in the broken and corrupt city I have seen grace, and peace, and forgiveness, and restoration, and reconciliation, and love, and faithfulness, and generosity and hope.

I have experienced God in ways I never have before. I have found a renewed hunger for his word. I was so thrilled to have staff meeting this Monday be a time of prayer for our city, our ministry and each other. To be in such a place is beyond words. To work with such amazing, godly people is a blessing. To see lives transformed for the kingdom is life transforming. I pray my love of this city never dies and I pray I am able to share what God is doing here in a way that will encourage others in their faith and their walks with the Lord.

In a totally unrelated note, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have returned to New Orleans to work on a new project. I guess Pitt has given $5 million toward the project that will help build 100 homes in the lower 9th ward which was hit hardest by Katrina. These pink Monopolyesqe homes have been put up for now to represent all the new homes. I tell you what, it is pretty crazy to drive over the Claiborne Bridge and see a sea of bright pink. It is a trip to drive through them as well. There's always something going on in this great city!