Hazardous to Your Health

Not one person in the United States (and beyond) has been unaffected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.  From the South Alabama Coast west to New Orleans, Louisiana, thousands of lives have been forever changed by the loss of loved ones, livelihood, and personal property.

Volunteers from all over the world filled with compassion and a desire to help have entered the areas devastated by the winds and the water of Hurricane Katrina.  Many are involved in actual clean-up efforts to assist in the removal of debris and to salvage everything possible.  (Reference the link above to see how you may become involved 
in our local efforts.)

The media is filled with commentaries and pictures of the destruction caused not only by the WINDS of Katrina, but also the WATER.  Storm surges from Katrina caused flooding along the coastline and even miles inland.  Homes and businesses have been flooded from several feet of water, if not completely submerged.

Clean-up efforts in those homes and businesses have become crucial and must be done with caution because of the presence of a harmful substance: MOLD.  Homes that have been flooded but are salvageable must be "gutted.”  All of the soaked contents must be taken out of the damaged home to be discarded or dried.  Sheet rock walls and any insulation behind them must be removed, too.  Why?  Because mold can also grow in the walls.  MOLD needs moisture to grow, but it does not need light.  Thus it can grow in wall cavities and beneath carpet.

If measures are not taken to defeat the growth of MOLD, the health of the home’s occupants is endangered.  Inhalation of MOLD spores can have harmful effects, including allergic reactions, toxic effects, or infections. Areas where mold has invaded can generally be cleaned with a soap or detergent solution, followed by a beach and water solution.  Bleach kills the MOLD.

Like MOLD. . .  SIN  is also hazardous to your health.  In fact, SIN  is DEADLY - as it kills and destroys your SOUL (Romans 6:23)!  ONLY the blood of Jesus that 
He shed on the cross on our behalf is strong enough to take care of our SIN  problem.  -IF- we believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), acknowledge our SIN  in repentance and do our best to remove it from our lives (Acts 17:30-31), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27), -THEN- our sins are cleansed by His blood.  Then, as we continue to follow Jesus and seek to eradicate SIN  from our lives, Jesus will continue to forgive us when we stumble (1 John 1:7).

MOLD can be very harmful to our health, but SIN  is truly man’s greatest hazard.  Come to Jesus for cleansing today!

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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