FROM THE INTRODUCTION

"New Orleans is a city with a soul. On August 29th, 2005 the soul of this jewel of a city experienced the force of a storm never before seen in this country. A great American city now lies in ruins. Much has been lost, and thousands upon thousands have felt the depth of despair. The stench, the gray dust that still covers parts of the city, and the eerie silence in once thriving neighborhoods remain as reminders of Katrina’s cruel wrath. 

FROM THE SECTION "HOPE FROM THE GRAVE"
"...Jesus knows something of this deadly stench. He is familiar with the sights, smells, and pain of death. The story of Lazarus in John 11:1–44 shows us just how touched the Lover of our souls is by the sting of death.

...Mary and Martha, who were friends of Jesus, were troubled by the severe illness of their brother Lazarus. Knowing of Jesus’ love for Lazarus, the women sent a message to Jesus to inform Him of the illness. Although He was aware of Lazarus’ sickness, Jesus stayed where He was for two full days. At the end of that time, He told His disciples that His friend Lazarus had died.Then Jesus and the disciples headed back to be with those grieving the loss. Mary and Martha were deeply troubled and in tremendous grief. The sisters had lost their brother, and they
could not understand why Jesus had not come to be with them during this difficult time. Upon His arrival, Martha went to Jesus first and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 21).

FROM THE CONCLUSION

The recent events on the Gulf Coast ought to be viewed as a fresh opportunity to reevaluate who we are as a people. The storms of our own life should be viewed as a means of renewed spiritual fervor. No one who has ever turned to God amidst disaster has found Him wanting.If you are a political leader who, perhaps, has witnessed the devastation on the Gulf Coast, and has seen in stark terms just how short the arm of government is when it comes to reaching people in their pain, maybe this is your time to see your role and your heart in a different light. Could it be that it is time to turn from a desire for selfish political power and gain to a desire for true influence and impact?If you are a husband or wife who has found yourself “at play” in the soiled sheets of a hotel bed or a “romantic hideout,” perhaps the soul storm in which you find yourself is your call to come home. Never has any man or woman found that missing part of the soul in the arms of another human being. As John Eldredge points out in his book Wild at Heart, the attempt to answer the deepest questions of a man’s heart through the pursuit of “Eve” will always turn up empty.

However severe may be the storm that rages in your heart, God is willing to respond. Have you found yourself drowning in the shallow waters of pleasure, money, and fame? Has the fulfillment of all your wildest fantasies still left you lacking? If so, perhaps it’s time to admit, along with Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, that all of this seeking after material gratification is “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Eccl. 1:14 NIV). The storm will not subside until you do. Whether you are trapped in the shackles of a selfish life or caged in the prison of poverty or social injustice, the message is the same for you and for everyone—God is able (Rom. 4:20–21). The present storm does not have to be your ultimate undoing. This can be your chance to hit a “grand slam.”

This historic storm and her devastating impact upon the Gulf Coast area have affected all of us emotionally, spiritually, and economically. How do we make sense of this calamity? How do we resolve the questions in our mind regarding life’s ultimate purpose when it is so hard to image a catastrophe like this having any purpose at all? What was Katrina’s message? What are we to learn from this storm? Where do we go from here? These and other critical questions that arise from the rubble of Hurricane Katrina, from the waters of our world’s floods, tsunamis, fires and earthquakes are the focus of this book. This is a story of disaster and yet one of hope. This is a story of soul survival. Our quest in the pages of this book is to find God amidst disaster. Along the way, we will come to see that He is the One who actually finds us." 
Soul Storm by Bruce Smith

Excerpts from Soul Storm book:

...Jesus, we are told, was deeply moved at this point, and He wept (vv. 33–35). The One who bottles all of our tears and counts each tear that falls upon our cheeks weeps with us. He is not too detached to be touched by our humanity (Heb. 4:15).
We often view God as some distant power far removed from our human realities and certainly above and beyond the concerns of our daily lives.

...Mary, Martha and the onlookers feared the stench of death. Jesus, on the other hand, recognizing the reality of the odor and its implications, stared the challenge in the face and rose to meet it head on. After looking upward to the heavens and saying a few things to God, Jesus turned His gaze to the tomb and with passion and divinely empowered unction, in a loud voice commanded, “Lazarus, come out” (v. 43). In an instant, hope sprang eternal from the grave! With grave clothes still encumbering him, Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, brother of the grieving women, came forth from the stench and darkness of death into the glorious brilliance of new life and into the light of a new day. Jesus, totally poised, yet perhaps still with tears rolling down His face, looked in the direction of the astonished onlookers and directed them, “Unbind him, and let him go” (v. 44). For anyone within sight or earshot of this wonderful event, life would never be the same again! 
Soul Storm, by Bruce Smith

Hurricane Katrina, as nasty as she was, has provided for many the route to a better life. Some of the evacuees forced to leave their homes have been given the fat pitch of new opportunity. Those who take advantage and ride the winds to a new day will thank Katrina in the end. Looking back, years from now, many will be able to give testimony to this storm’s divine ability to get them to the Promised Land. Like Louis Braille, who through a tragic accident with an awl went blind in both eyes at the age of three and went on to create the Braille system of reading for the blind, many will seize the opportunity afforded by Katrina to dream new dreams and conquer new territory. The critical issue at hand concerns America’s response to this historic “natural” disaster. What will we do with Katrina’s message? How will we view this event? Do we have the sharpness of eyes to see and the quickness of conscience to swing, and swing for the fence? This may be our fat pitch. We would do well to remember that pitches like this one don’t come very often. Is this our perfect storm? It could be. The answer
may depend on how we respond to the call.
Soul Storm, by Bruce Smithh

SOUL STORM has been read and endorsed by a wide array of people. Scholars, theologians, politicians, musicians, executives, pastors, and leaders from around the country have given SOUL STORM rousing reviews. Many have suggested this book MUST reach a wide audience and should be read by everyone. 

SOUL STORM is endorsed by Willow Creek Community Church and Willow Creek Association

Willow Creek Community Church and Willow Creek Association have recommended Soul Storm as a Ministry Resource, and have included the following endorsement of Soul Storm in the latest issue of Willow Creek Magazine:

SOUL STORM: Finding God Amidst Disaster
by Bruce Smith

A carefully crafted narrative utilizing examples from the Bible, art, literature, and history, demonstrating how different people throughout the ages and the world have used disastrous circumstances as a launching point for rebuilding their souls and reconstructing their lives.