As New York and other states in the Northeast recover from Sandy, which has been recorded as the largest tropical system in the Atlantic Ocean, Pastor Tim Keller reminds Christians to follow the second greatest commandment in the Bible: love your neighbor.

"We have an opportunity to tangibly live out our current sermon series on generosity – to give of ourselves relationally, hospitably, and financially in life-transforming ways," said Keller, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York.

"Check in with your neighbors, friends and church members to see if they are in need." more >>

Despite the ongoing efforts to recover from the devastation Hurricane Sandy left in its wake throughout many areas of New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the annual NYC Marathon will go on as planned — but some find the idea ridiculous.

With thousands of residents still without power and many of them homeless, New Yorkers, and observers around the nation, have balked at Bloomberg's intention to carry out the 2012 NYC Marathon this Sunday.

Stephen Gordon, a Virginia resident, tweeted sarcastically, "Good to see NY/NJ back on their feet. Resources, like water and generators, can now be moved to the NYC marathon where they are needed." more >>

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Bible tells the story of Noah and his experience with the flooding of the entire Earth and how he was spared death through an ark God told him to build. But reading about something that happened thousands of years ago, or even just seven years ago in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina, could never compare to witnessing the devastation water is capable of producing in one's own backyard.

Nothing can prepare a human being for a 6-foot wave gushing down their street carrying what resembles gasoline from a tanker that could potentially burn the whole block down.

But for residents of Staten Island, N.Y., this is much of what we endured during the brunt of Hurricane Sandy this week. more >>

Hurricane Sandy has resurrected a debate about the proper role of government in disaster relief. Some argue that the disaster response proves the effectiveness of big government. Others say a federal role should be reserved for only the largest disasters, and, in some ways, federal government policy has done more harm than good.

An ideological split on the proper role of the federal government is illustrated this week in the debate over disaster relief by the editors of two of America's leading newspapers: the conservative Wall Street Journal and the liberal New York Times.

"A big storm requires big government," the NYT editors wrote Monday. They excoriated Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for suggesting in a June 2011, primary debate that state governments and private organizations could provide effective aid at a lower cost than the federal government. more >>

As much of the U.S. took part in the usual Halloween festivities last night, residents in the Northeast were still coping with the widespread damage caused by the monster storm that hit Monday. By mid-evening Wednesday, the death toll from superstorm Sandy had reached 72 people and about 6 million homes were still without power.

Financial experts predicted an estimated $20 billion in damage and $10 billion to $30 billion in business loss as a result of the storm.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared that Halloween trick-or-treating be postponed until next Monday, saying that it was too dangerous for children to participate in the tradition while floodwaters, downed electrical wires, power outages and fallen trees continued to be a problem, various news agencies reported. more >>

Pennsylvania has been mostly leaning in President Barack Obama's direction during the presidential campaign. Recent polls, though, show the race within the margin of error for Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Hurricane Sandy may have thrown an additional twist into the state's 20 Electoral College votes. The part of the state most impacted by the hurricane also happens to be one part where Obama gets much of his votes.

Pennsylvania, shaped like a rectangle, is favorable to Republicans in what is known as the "big T" -- across the top and down the middle; and, is favorable to Democrats in the two bottom corners -- the urban areas of Philadelphia to the east and Pittsburgh to the west.

Obama is leading in all the recent Pennsylvania polls, but within the margin of error. The Real Clear Politics average of five recent polls shows Obama leading by 4.6 percentage points, placing it in "toss up" category. The Philadelphia Inquirer shows Obama with the largest lead at six percentage points. Gravis Marketing shows Obama's smallest lead at three percentage points. more >>