Homeless in Baltimore 12/21

Back from our street ministry in Baltimore and once again God has blessed me beyond words.  To be used as His hands and feet always brings me to a place of indescribable ecstasy - a privilege undeserved and yet never to be taken for granted. And once again I come home with a new question of "why?"

In the past there have been questions of "why the misery?; why the addictions?; why the pain?; why do some have and some don't?; why, Lord, why?"  This time was no different - but it was different.

Stanley is a black man probably in his 50's although it's hard to tell when someone has been out in the elements for any length of time.  His family has produced four preachers and while Stanley did not profess to be one of them, he could quote scripture and tell us Bible stories better than many preachers out there.  So of course I assumed Stanley was a true believer, disciple, follower of Jesus - and in his heart that may be the truth.  But Stanley told us he is a sinner (response: we ALL are, Stanley).  No, we didn't understand.  Stanley is a HUGE sinner who knows better but can't or refuses to clean up his act.  And Stanley had another secret - he cannot understand why him.  Why, God, why him?  Why is he homeless?  Why is his life meaningless?  What is the purpose of his suffering, sin and feelings of hopelessness?  Why doesn't God just change it when He's so powerful and could do it in an instant?  Why?  Our question was why couldn't Stanley accept grace?

After inadequately making attempt after attempt to answer his questions, Kristina and I began to realize sometimes you just can't answer all questions.  Sometimes, as humans, we don't have the answers and we are being dishonest to try and act like we do.  Sometimes God doesn't give us the answers.  He has His reasons and He doesn't always share those reasons.  Maybe because we don't need to know; maybe because we couldn't handle it if we knew; maybe we just wouldn't understand.

Then my daughter, my very insightful daughter, asked Stanley a question (this, by the way, is a time proven way of answering someone's question).  She asked him if he took these questions to God - to which Stanley said "oh yes, all the time, I ask and tell God all the time how I feel."  And Kristina told Stanley to keep doing that - to keep talking to God, asking Him why, telling Him how he feels.  What great advice to give him. The Old Testament is riddled with people who cried to God, complained to God, shouted to God and questioned God.  What did they all have in common?  Belief.  They believed in God Almighty or they wouldn't be crying, complaining, shouting or questioning Him.  And through it all He grew their faith.

Stanley said he would definitely keep wrestling with God because, afterall, He is his Father.  And there it was - confirmation that despite all the pain, all the disappointment, all the disgrace, there was belief.  God can and will deal with Stanley's doubts as long as he keeps taking it to Him.  And I thank God for yet another lesson showing me I don't have all the answers but He does.  Praise Him for taking the time to grow us, teach us, mold us and love us.  Amen.


Click here to read a great article by Philip Yancey on Faith and Doubt.

A Mission Story

It was a sunny, cool morning - perfect weather for what we were about to do.  My daughter and I had packed our backpacks the night before and were laughing over the fact they weighed around 50 pounds each.  Add to that another tote bag full of CD players and Bibles and we were wondering if we'd even be able to walk!  We woke early, had breakfast and drove down to the train station.  We had started our adventure - the one God had been calling me to do for the past year or so.  And He had blessed us with beautiful weather.

Arriving in Philadelphia about 50 minutes later we paused in the train station to pray about our mission that day -  ministering to the street homeless.  We had 16 survivor kits, 10 CD players with the CD The Invitation, and 8 New Testaments.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ had contributed in so many ways - finances, materials and prayers.  We asked God to guide us, give us a boldness, soften hearts, keep us humble and most of all, give all the glory to Him.  We were excited!!

The first homeless man we came across was playing a guitar while sitting on the sidewalk, leaning against a building.  No one was paying attention to him.  We approached, I bent down and asked him if he could use a kit.  He nodded, stopped playing and started talking. It took me about a minute or so to realize he was rambling and making no sense whatsoever.  Just disjointed words racing from his mouth.  It broke my heart.  In fact, the next couple of homeless were the same.  They all had lost their minds.  We tried to talk to them about Jesus, but it was difficult.  One said he knew Jesus and then went on to tell us how Jesus had a steel plate in his head.  Another one told us Jesus lived next door to him.  All we could do is love them and pray for them. 

Perhaps God was testing us - or maybe preparing us to be bold.  Because after that He put homeless in our paths that were coherent.  There were also some that were asleep so we would leave a pile next to them of the kit, CD player and Bible.  Wonder what they thought when they woke up!  There were a couple of men that told us we were the second ones that day to give them something - that others had given them some tracts about Jesus.  Of course we smiled and told them God must be trying to reach them!  Praise the Lord!

My daughter and I started walking down one street and I spotted a homeless guy with a cardboard sign up ahead.  He was sitting on the sidewalk leaning against the building.  We also saw a family of tourists coming the other way.  As they passed the homeless man, they all looked at him and his sign, then the mother actually made a face of distaste and rolled her eyes.  It could have been something right out of a movie it was so surreal.  We stopped to talk to him and give him our goodies - he was so excited!  He stood up and thanked us.  We asked him his name (Bobby) and could we pray for him.  He seemed apprehensive but excited at the same time and said yes.  So we held hands and prayed for him.  Will you keep Bobby in your prayers, too? 

By noon we had given away all of our stuff and decided to make a stop at the bookstore before going home.  Instead of looking at a map I figured I had been in Philly enough to wing it, so we just started walking.  I wasn't sure of the streets, I just knew the general direction to head in.   But God knew - and He took us down a street we had been down earlier, unbeknownst to us.  There had been a homeless man earlier, sleeping on a grate, that we left one of our piles with.  Next thing we know, we are passing him again. And lo and behold, he was sitting up listening to The Invitation CD we had left him!!!  We were so thrilled and knew God took us there to show us and use it to encourage us.  Thank you, Lord.

By the end of our adventure, I could hardly walk - literally.  My calves hurt so bad I was limping. And the next day my pain wasn't much better and my daughter was hurting, too!  But it was worth those pains - they are minor in comparison to the pain of being eternally seperated from God.  And we can't wait to do it again.  I pray this will become a regular mission for us.  God is good - all the time!  I know the weather may not be so beautiful the next time we do this - I think God was generous our first time out - but that's okay because I'm blessed to have a roof over my head while these street people do not.  God bless them.

Please pray for all the homeless.  Pray for their safety; pray they will be fed and clothed; most of all pray they will come to know Jesus.  One last note -  my daughter and I wondered how the mentally diminished will be able to accept the Lord in their lives when they can't understand what we are saying to them.  Well God reminded me that with Him all things are possible - could He not give them lucid moments?  Perhaps when they are listening to The Invitation or reading a passage in the Bible.  So we need to witness to everyone - everywhere - all the time. 

May all the glory and praise go to Him.   

Sharing, Giving, Sacrificing

By this we know love, that he laid down his life

for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for

the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods

and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart

against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but

in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18

Rock Concert

 I don't know if you are familiar with HALO - it's a local Christian ministry for the homeless.  They do great work - serving meals 365 days a year, offering shelter for homeless women and children and even taking meals to homeless on the streets.  Our church, Harvest Baptist, is organizing a Christian concert on June 11 to benefit HALO and we're looking for sponsors to help with the cost.  We have booked a Christian rock band - JJ Weeks -  from Georgia who has opened for groups like Mercy Me and are really good.  Our goal is to get sponsors to completely pay for the concert so ALL the proceeds and donations can go directly to HALO. If you are interested in being a sponsor or just coming to enjoy a good concert (there will be food, face painting, bake sale), check out Becky's blog:

Concert of Hope: A Hand Up For Homelessness

Thanks and God bless!!