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| Conviction |
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I was convicted today, I like to listen to Focus on the Family as I drive to work each day and the past two day Dr. Dobsen was interviewing a young-man who felt God wanted him to go out and be homeless. He and a friend went out for 5 months in faith and traveled to five different cities across America being homeless; one to understand what it is to be homeless, two how God would provide for him when he depended totally upon him and three how effective the Christian Church outreach to the homeless was. What struck home with me is the third point,"The Christian outreach." Not so much what we Christians do as a Church once a month by serving food and ministering to the homeless, but what we do day to day as we pass them on the street or see them on the street corners. We do not look at them, we act as if they do not exist, we look through them or past them. When we stop at intersections and see one at the corner holding a sign we check our doors to see if they're locked, roll up our windows then ignore them as they approach. He told of approaching churches before service or while they were serving a Sunday lunch and being turned away. We have become too comfortable in our own little world, insulated away from those we need to help !
25:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, What happened to this in our lives? How will we answer Jesus when we see him? When I am called home I want to able to hear him say these words to me and be astonished and not ashamed that I failed in this. I have searched myself and am found wanting, what happens next is up to me to change. |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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Amen. I went to ministry school through and worked with a ministry called Harvest House, and they reach out to ex-cons, the homeless, drug addicts, hookers, etc. We would go to the soup kitchen everyday for our lunch, as part of our ministry and I LOVED it! I'm really excited to get back into the city again for this very reason. But I think this is just something God's given me a heart for--part of my ministry. Sorta like someone may be more into teaching small children...yet I have no interests there, but I still love them (in small does--lol). |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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| Hey Zach, just ask the Lord to put people in your path that you have the means to help--"divine appointments"---and He so totally will! It's quite an adventure! |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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Be cautious when doing acts of kindness towards the homeless. There are organizations out there that take very good care of them. They don't have to ask for money or clothing or a place to live because of these organizations. I have looked the homeless in the eye and bought food for one of them on a cold day. He was standing outside of McDonald's. He wanted money for food. Knowing that many of the homeless say they want money for food, but just take it to buy alcohol to drink, I asked him to eat with me in McDonald's. I bought his food and he sat at the table with me. He talked of his life and of God. I gave him food and my time filled with compassion. When I was ready to leave, I noticed he did not eat his food. He grabbed my arm tightly and would not let me go. He asked for money with anger. Finally, he let me go. Another story about the homeless is when a young man I know was trying to help the homeless. He would take food from my house to give to a homeless man that would hang outside of a gas station in town. The young man even gave him the shoes off of his feet. I found out that this "homeless" man really had a place to live and was a deceiver. I do have a heart for the homeless. But, be careful. There are deceivers out there. I was told not to look them in the eye, by a former homeless man, because this prompts them to approach you. This "former homeless man" knows the ways of the homeless. I take his advice. Do help out soup kitchens! Do contibute to the Salvation Army and other places that help them. |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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I was just talking with a brother last night about this. He told me about a time when he saw a van pull up and several "homeless" guys got out with their signs, and in a very coordinated way split up, each going straight to a specific street corner, directly and with purpose, as though they were "assigned" to their corners. I gave a homeless guy a piece of gourmet pizza left over from a dinner out. He tossed it in the trash and complained that the homeless needed "real" help (i.e. money). A friend was once accosted by a guy asking for money, claiming his car ran out of gas and he needed money to fill it up. My friend offered to fill his tank w/gas, but he insisted on the money. Turns out he didn't own the car, and he didn't want food. It was money he was after. My advice is to find an organization set up to help them, and offer to volunteer. Don't ever hand them money. That might make your conscience feel better for a moment, but in reality accomplishes nothing of any real or lasting value. |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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| I have to add to my blog that the person being interviewed di say not to give food to the people we assist, that gift cards for food was a better option since the money they do recieve goes for their addictions; drugs or alchocol. But still we need to be diserning in what ever we do, the main feeling I got from the interview was despite our personal feelings when we see them. They are still human beings and while we might not be able to give, we need to make the eye contact and engage them as a person by noticing them. This will be the hardest thing I can do and I admit that. With the economy as it is all of us are just a few steps away from where they are and myself I know I need to stop worrying about my problems and start helping others. I need to make that step of faith and allow GOD to provide for my needs, and use whatI have to help those who don't have. In doing this I will be blessed in return, I know this is true because I have seen it happen before in my life, I just forgot it. |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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| Bless your heart, brother! |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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| August 07, 2009 |
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We have several" needy "people on the streets of Belfast but when you see their footwear (good trainers) it does make you wonder if they are genuine
We had a few weeks back several outside church as people were going in asking for money, and I believe that they declined to come in and share with the service and another week they were outside a different church |
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