Hear my prayer, O Lord;
Let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me:
answer me speedily in the day
when I call. --Psalm 102:1-2
This is the plea of every homeless person in the middle of a cold and lonely night.
My prayer and priority before making Monday's trip was to alleviate as much suffering as I possibly could. Some people who see the homeless are apt to make judgements about them as to why they are homeless (ie. bad choices in life). This often leads them to the conclustion that they somehow "deserve" their fate. For some reason, I don't get hung-up on those issues. I simply see a person who needs a friend to talk to and a helping hand. As cold as its been lately, the nights are very difficult for people living on the streets to get through. I just wanted to help them as much as I could. Fiscal cliffs are irrelevant to these people, only right now counts!
I guess with this mindset, this trip was going to be different from all the rest. I arrived a little after noon time and started looking for folks about 12:30pm. I found Eugene and Wayne in one of the barbecue alleys, and then headed over to where Gary lives off Washington Blvd. The last couple of weeks I haven't seen him, but I did find him yesterday. I had talked with Gary before about riding around with me and showing me places on that side of Washington Blvd where I might find people I could help. Also, he had asked me to keep a look-out for tarps or a tent that he could use. So we both piled into the car and started driving around that neighborhood. I had driven down Cloud Nine alley the previous week and noticed several large tarps laying around there. My only concern was whether they would be too big and heavy, whether they would still be there and if there would be any (legal) problem in taking one. Well, when we got there, they were gone. I did see Ray there (I hadn't seen him in quite a while) and he said someone had taken them all away a few days ago. He was glad to see me. His words were, "You don't know how happy I am to see you." We didn't talk too much, but he, apparently, hadn't had anything to eat in days.
On the way over to Cloud Nine alley, Gary showed me a couple of places he knew where people needed help. One of them had a group of men there, but only one of them took the help. The others were wary of me (being Caucasian). We'll see what happens next time. I did see Becky whom I haven't seen in a couple of years. She gave me a hug. The last time I saw her, she had four dogs and a couple of cats with her. Yesterday, she was down to two dogs. One was a white shepherd/husky looking dog (named Alaska) and the other was a rottweiler/shepherd mix. Both dogs looked old and tired (and in need of grooming). Anyway, Becky explained that she had moved over to that side of town because it was easier to recycle there. I'll have to keep looking for her over there. I'm sure it must have surprised Gary to see me calling people by name on that side of town. When Gary and I first left his alley, we saw Oscar and Jose, whom I've been seeing around there for the last month or so. It's good to consider them 'regulars' now.
We drove back to Gary's spot at this point because you don't want to leave your stuff unattended for very long or it won't be there when you get back. We continued to talk for quite a while. You may recall the last time I wrote about seeing Gary, he had had questions about the battle between the flesh and the spirit. I told him yesterday the analogy of the two dogs, one representing the flesh and the other representing the spirit. Whichever dog you feed the most is the one that dominates. He said he liked that analogy because it was something he could visualize. It probably made it easier too, because we had just seen those dogs of Becky's. One other thing that came up was I told him that it is always gratifying to me when I see someone immediately eating the food that I give them. That tells me that I came "just in time" and when they really needed help. He then told me that the first time he saw me was in one of the alleys a couple of years ago. He was with Willie, Chris and Tara when I pulled up. After I had given out some sandwiches we had all gone to the back of the car so I could give out some clothes from the trunk. He told me he had stopped while the others had walked back with me and he had started eating the sandwich. He said he also turned around with his back towards us so they couldn't see him eating right away, but he was starving at the time and too embarrassed for anyone to see him eating! While we talked I noticed a pained look across Gary's face. When I asked him about it he told me he had some back pain and pointed to where it was. It was exactly where my back pain had been from my kidney stones earlier in the month, just the other side though. As we talked more about it he said he had been prescribed some Flowmax pills when he had difficulty urinating and even had some blood in his urine before too. Well, that was all I needed to know to confirm what was happening. Unfortunately, I didn't have any of my leftover meds with me or I would have given him some. He told me that to get medical help, the process involves waiting 5-8 hours at a medical clinic (just going through the process) and then you have to wait a couple of more hours to get a prescription filled. He told me he had waited 3 hours once just to get some 800 mg Tylenol (and there had only been five other people waiting). That's why you didn't always seek medical attention because it meant spending a day trying to get help. Well, I prayed for Gary a second time, this time specifically for his back pain. One other thing of note happened with him. He had asked if I had a dress type shirt, because he was going to see him mother. She lives in Compton and is in her 80's. He wanted to look nice for her. Unfortunately, I didn't have any dress shirts, but he did see a Lakers t-shirt and a Lakers windbreaker type jacket. He told me his mother was a huge Laker fan and had Laker paraphernalia all over the house. He knew if he walked into the house wearing the Laker t-shirt she would ask him if she could have it. I told him to take them both, so now he could give his mother a Christmas present. Is that cool or what? Well, I had two burgers left. Since Gary had eaten the first two I had given him right away, I gave him the final two and called it a day. Not only did we help people who were really in need, I found some new places to go with Gary's help. It was a good trip. --Until next time. John
PS. Next time turned out to be the next morning!!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve downtown/2012
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger". And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" -Luke 2:8-13 ---Just a reminder that the first people who were told of the birth of Christ worked the night shift!!!
Last year Christmas fell on a Sunday and I was able to spend a couple of hours that day with my friends downtown. This year, because it's leap year, Christmas skipped Monday and will fall on Tuesday. So after sleeping away most of Sunday, I went downtown this morning (Monday).
When I got off the freeway at Alameda I saw one of my friends, John Mellon, on the corner of the freeway exit. He waved to me and came over to the car while I was waiting at the red light. It had rained pretty hard Sunday night and into the morning hours so it was still dark, dreary and very wet out. When he came over to greet me he had me feel his sweater. It was soaked and cold. Since I hadn't gotten the food yet and since I only had moments before the light would change, I couldn't give him anything right then. I told him I'd come back by later which I did, but he wasn't there! I drove around to some of 'his spots', but never did find him. I'm sure I'll hear about it the next time I see him.
Although some of the other regulars weren't around this morning, I did get to see Don. I took his picture but couldn't seem to get it from my phone to this blog. Perhaps I'll get it posted later. He is coming along quite well with his bible reading and we got to talk for a while under the freeway on ramp where he's staying. It sure is noisy there though. You'll have to trust me, but from the picture you could see how cold it was from the way he was bundled up.
One of the pure joys of the day involved a brief encounter along 17th St and Main. It's a one-way street next to the I-10 freeway. I could only stop on the other side of the street from where "Miss Mary" was standing next to her shopping cart. She seemed busy looking at something in her hands, but she came over to the car after I got her attention. When I offered her some food I was greeted with the biggest and most beautiful smile ever! She was elderly and missing many teeth, but her gratitude and thankfulness were as pure as it gets. What a privilege and blessing to serve her.
Mark Twain was once asked if the things in the bible that he didn't understand bothered him. His response was as insightful and down-to-earth as he was. He said, "It's not the things that I don't understand that bother me, it's the things that I do understand that bother me." Throughout the bible, in the Old and New Testaments we are told to care for widows, orphans and the poor. These are people near and dear to God's heart. There are many other groups of people in need as well. The families and friends of those children lost in Connecticut a week ago, the victims of hurricane Sandy, the people who are facing their first Christmas without a spouse or child lost in the military are all near and dear to God's heart. Jesus proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Also, when Jesus began his ministry he said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor...and to set free the oppressed." Where there is hurting, God's offer of the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) is there. We as people who carry the Spirit of God with us are to be His feet, hands and speak His words to meet the needs of these people. To all I met downtown today and to all who would read this.....Merry Christmas!!! Praise God, Christ came into the world to save you and me.
PS. As I was writing this blog at another Jack in the Box near home, I told one of the guys working here who was cleaning the dining area about how the shepherds who worked the night-shift (as he and I do) were the first to hear the good news of Christ's birth. It took a minute or so for him to get the significance of the night-shift people being the first to hear since we often feel like the "forgotten ones". As he finished cleaning up the dining area and was about to go back behind the counter he said to me, "You know, that makes me feel better already!" This time it was the words of God that gave comfort. All I can say to that is Hallelujah -- Praise the Lord!!
Last year Christmas fell on a Sunday and I was able to spend a couple of hours that day with my friends downtown. This year, because it's leap year, Christmas skipped Monday and will fall on Tuesday. So after sleeping away most of Sunday, I went downtown this morning (Monday).
When I got off the freeway at Alameda I saw one of my friends, John Mellon, on the corner of the freeway exit. He waved to me and came over to the car while I was waiting at the red light. It had rained pretty hard Sunday night and into the morning hours so it was still dark, dreary and very wet out. When he came over to greet me he had me feel his sweater. It was soaked and cold. Since I hadn't gotten the food yet and since I only had moments before the light would change, I couldn't give him anything right then. I told him I'd come back by later which I did, but he wasn't there! I drove around to some of 'his spots', but never did find him. I'm sure I'll hear about it the next time I see him.
Although some of the other regulars weren't around this morning, I did get to see Don. I took his picture but couldn't seem to get it from my phone to this blog. Perhaps I'll get it posted later. He is coming along quite well with his bible reading and we got to talk for a while under the freeway on ramp where he's staying. It sure is noisy there though. You'll have to trust me, but from the picture you could see how cold it was from the way he was bundled up.
One of the pure joys of the day involved a brief encounter along 17th St and Main. It's a one-way street next to the I-10 freeway. I could only stop on the other side of the street from where "Miss Mary" was standing next to her shopping cart. She seemed busy looking at something in her hands, but she came over to the car after I got her attention. When I offered her some food I was greeted with the biggest and most beautiful smile ever! She was elderly and missing many teeth, but her gratitude and thankfulness were as pure as it gets. What a privilege and blessing to serve her.
Mark Twain was once asked if the things in the bible that he didn't understand bothered him. His response was as insightful and down-to-earth as he was. He said, "It's not the things that I don't understand that bother me, it's the things that I do understand that bother me." Throughout the bible, in the Old and New Testaments we are told to care for widows, orphans and the poor. These are people near and dear to God's heart. There are many other groups of people in need as well. The families and friends of those children lost in Connecticut a week ago, the victims of hurricane Sandy, the people who are facing their first Christmas without a spouse or child lost in the military are all near and dear to God's heart. Jesus proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Also, when Jesus began his ministry he said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor...and to set free the oppressed." Where there is hurting, God's offer of the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) is there. We as people who carry the Spirit of God with us are to be His feet, hands and speak His words to meet the needs of these people. To all I met downtown today and to all who would read this.....Merry Christmas!!! Praise God, Christ came into the world to save you and me.
PS. As I was writing this blog at another Jack in the Box near home, I told one of the guys working here who was cleaning the dining area about how the shepherds who worked the night-shift (as he and I do) were the first to hear the good news of Christ's birth. It took a minute or so for him to get the significance of the night-shift people being the first to hear since we often feel like the "forgotten ones". As he finished cleaning up the dining area and was about to go back behind the counter he said to me, "You know, that makes me feel better already!" This time it was the words of God that gave comfort. All I can say to that is Hallelujah -- Praise the Lord!!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Downtown 12/16/2012
"If any of your people become poor and unable to support themselves, you must help them, just as you are supposed to help foreigners who live among you." --Lev. 25:35
After traveling all day I finally arrived downtown at 4:30 pm. As you know, it's dark by 5 pm now, so after buying some food to give out I had less than twenty minutes of light left. It was also cold and wet. Although it really wasn't raining, it was misting steadily and the streets and sidewalks were wet. I had even thought about not even stopping since it would be dark soon and I was concerned about being able to find and/or reach people in this kind of weather. I decided God would put people in place where I could find and serve them regardless of the weather and circumstances. I prayed about the conditions and obstacles and asked for God's help in reaching His people. I left it all up to Him and would give Him the glory. Somehow, I just knew it was going to be amazing!
I left the Jack in the Box at 4:40. There had been two homeless men standing around when I arrived, but when I was ready to leave they had disappeared. I even drove around the block and back through the parking lot at the Jack in the Box, but couldn't find them. I drove through the two alleys where I've had the barbecues, but no one was there either. I found one guy near one of the alley's, his name was Albert, but that was it. I drove down a couple of the streets nearby, but still no one was around. It was now 5 pm. and completely dark out. Yes, I was beginning to wonder what was going on. When it's wet out, the homeless usually find places even more remote and hidden than usual so that they can keep dry. I decided to try under the I-10 freeway at San Pedro. I used to see people under this freeway just about every week, but in the last 3 or 4 months, no one's been there. Sunday night, there were five people huddled under this freeway overpass. First there were Antonio and Leticia and then Elsa was just a few feet away from them. They were all cold and hungry. About thirty yards down from them was another couple. They seemed to be doing better (they were under blankets at least). His name was Jay Dean (didn't get her name). What a joy to be able to help these people on a night like last night.
I found another man on 17th St named David. This street parallels the freeway. He had a jacket on, but no other possessions. I drove on over to the alley behind the Auto Zone store on Central and Washington Blvd. This is the alley where Gary lives, however, he wasn't 'home' at the time. A few weeks ago I went ahead and left some burgers for him in his make-shift home, but he told me the next week he never got them, so I didn't leave anything this time. The last time I was in this alley I had seen a couple of Latino men at the entrance to the alley. There names were Jorge and Oscar. They had that 'iconic homeless look' that I commented on and they were counting out coins at the time. Well, I had seen a guy sitting on the ground up close to the roll-up doors of a store on the other side of Washington Blvd, when I crossed the street looking for Gary. I drove back across to that man I had seen. It turned out to be Oscar, remember it was totally dark by now. He was all alone and didn't exactly have a good spot to keep dry for the night. I ended up giving him not only food and water, but some socks and a blanket too. I asked about Jorge and he told me he was close by and would be returning soon. I had given Oscar the last of the food and prayed with him. He was so thankful. I was so blessed to be able to help him. Maybe next week, I'll start at this location.
When I got back in my car and started driving towards the freeway entrance, I noticed it was 5:18 pm. After a slow start, this all happened in less than 40 minutes and the first 10 minutes I didn't even see anyone. All praise and honor goes to Him. I just knew it was going to be amazing! --Until next week. -John
After traveling all day I finally arrived downtown at 4:30 pm. As you know, it's dark by 5 pm now, so after buying some food to give out I had less than twenty minutes of light left. It was also cold and wet. Although it really wasn't raining, it was misting steadily and the streets and sidewalks were wet. I had even thought about not even stopping since it would be dark soon and I was concerned about being able to find and/or reach people in this kind of weather. I decided God would put people in place where I could find and serve them regardless of the weather and circumstances. I prayed about the conditions and obstacles and asked for God's help in reaching His people. I left it all up to Him and would give Him the glory. Somehow, I just knew it was going to be amazing!
I left the Jack in the Box at 4:40. There had been two homeless men standing around when I arrived, but when I was ready to leave they had disappeared. I even drove around the block and back through the parking lot at the Jack in the Box, but couldn't find them. I drove through the two alleys where I've had the barbecues, but no one was there either. I found one guy near one of the alley's, his name was Albert, but that was it. I drove down a couple of the streets nearby, but still no one was around. It was now 5 pm. and completely dark out. Yes, I was beginning to wonder what was going on. When it's wet out, the homeless usually find places even more remote and hidden than usual so that they can keep dry. I decided to try under the I-10 freeway at San Pedro. I used to see people under this freeway just about every week, but in the last 3 or 4 months, no one's been there. Sunday night, there were five people huddled under this freeway overpass. First there were Antonio and Leticia and then Elsa was just a few feet away from them. They were all cold and hungry. About thirty yards down from them was another couple. They seemed to be doing better (they were under blankets at least). His name was Jay Dean (didn't get her name). What a joy to be able to help these people on a night like last night.
I found another man on 17th St named David. This street parallels the freeway. He had a jacket on, but no other possessions. I drove on over to the alley behind the Auto Zone store on Central and Washington Blvd. This is the alley where Gary lives, however, he wasn't 'home' at the time. A few weeks ago I went ahead and left some burgers for him in his make-shift home, but he told me the next week he never got them, so I didn't leave anything this time. The last time I was in this alley I had seen a couple of Latino men at the entrance to the alley. There names were Jorge and Oscar. They had that 'iconic homeless look' that I commented on and they were counting out coins at the time. Well, I had seen a guy sitting on the ground up close to the roll-up doors of a store on the other side of Washington Blvd, when I crossed the street looking for Gary. I drove back across to that man I had seen. It turned out to be Oscar, remember it was totally dark by now. He was all alone and didn't exactly have a good spot to keep dry for the night. I ended up giving him not only food and water, but some socks and a blanket too. I asked about Jorge and he told me he was close by and would be returning soon. I had given Oscar the last of the food and prayed with him. He was so thankful. I was so blessed to be able to help him. Maybe next week, I'll start at this location.
When I got back in my car and started driving towards the freeway entrance, I noticed it was 5:18 pm. After a slow start, this all happened in less than 40 minutes and the first 10 minutes I didn't even see anyone. All praise and honor goes to Him. I just knew it was going to be amazing! --Until next week. -John
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday night 12/2/2012
"Jesus asked a second time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you!' 'Then take care of my sheep,' Jesus told him." --John 21:16
After a very difficult week health-wise I decided to go ahead and make a trip downtown. It has been raining off an on for the last 4 or 5 days and although it was raining a little when I left, I felt it was better to go ahead and go Sunday than wait and go during the week. My health issues had interrupted my sleep schedule as well as my work schedule for the last 4 days also. So I wasn't feeling great, but at least I wasn't hurting when I left. I could only pray that God would lead me to those he wanted me to reach because there also wasn't going to be a lot of daylight time left either.
You may remember a couple of weeks ago I wrote about an encounter with Gary. He asked me for a bible and I ended up giving him a New Testament. I didn't see him last week, but yesterday I did. He told me he had been reading Galations 4 and 5 and was caught up in the struggle between the flesh and the spirit that chapter 5 (vs. 16-26) talks about. Wow. Talk about getting right to the heart of the matter, huh? We must have talked about this for 15 or 20 minutes. One of the things he pointed out to me was the attitude he gets or at least feels he gets from people. For example, if he goes into a store with only a few coins and is counting out the change he gets very self-conscious that people are irritated waiting on him. If he isn't dressed very well, he feels self-conscious about that when he is out having to deal with the public. These types of things put him mentally in a very defensive position when it come to coping with the outside world. When I pulled up to his spot in this alley, he told me he had just put on his shoes so he could go looking in the trash behind some medical clinic on the other side of Washington Blvd. He told me that the women who work there throw out their food/lunches that they don't eat. But then he realized it was Sunday and they were closed, so there wouldn't be any food there. And then I drove up right then and called out to him! He said what a great time of rejoicing that was. Well, I must have spent a good half hour with Gary. I ended up giving him some shirts a pair a shoes and a blanket. He also said he'd be more than happy to ride with me and point out some of the spots where the homeless on that side of Washington Blvd live. I'm looking forward to it. It's amazing how this relationship with Gary has grown in the last month.
Just before I pulled into the alley where Gary lives, I saw a couple of homeless men on the other side of Central. I kept them in mind after leaving Gary and found them in a parking lot at the end of Gary's alley. I don't know what your mental picture of homeless people is, but as I passed by these two latino men, I saw a pretty much iconic sight. Both men were unshaven and carrying bags. One man was counting out coins in his hand and the other was watching. I don't know if they were pooling their meager rescources or not. I pulled up and asked if they needed some 'comida'. Their names were Jorge and Oscar and they responded like anyone who is hungry would respond. After giving them some food and water I said, "Dios, la bendiga." You remember I learned how to say that in Spanish about a week ago. I put it into practice immediately and they responded warmly. I hope I see them again soon. At least for a while, I'll probably be spending more time in this area.
Last week I met a man named Caseem and his wife (Brenda it turns out). There was another man with them this week whose name was Louis and he is Caseem's brother. When I pulled up Caseem said, "You came back! You did what you said you would do!" It makes you wonder how many promises Caseem has heard that didn't come through. By now it was completely dark. Brenda looked around in the back for clothes they could use and Louis and Caseem and I talked. Louis had actually dealt with the health issue (kidney stones) that I had been dealing with this week. He told me what worked for him (drinking tea) and, in fact, they gave me a couple of bags of tea. Not being a tea drinker, I was somewhat amused by the name of the tea....Jerusalem Tea (no I'm not kidding).
Just down the street from them was a sight that always discourages me. On the sidewalk was someone with only a blanket over them. It turned out to be a woman whose name was Mary. She was somewhat small in build and probably somewhere around 35-40 years old. It's hard to tell a person's age on the street and even more so with women. One has to be very careful dealing with women alone on the street, so I called out to her when I saw her blanket moving. I asked if she needed some food. She kind of struggled to get up, but made it over to the car and got the food. She had socks on, but no shoes. I don't know that she didn't have any shoes, but she didn't have any on. I kept the encounter brief, I'm sure this was probably more of a risk for her than she wanted to take, but she was willing to do it if she was hungry enough.
There were a couple others that I was able to help last night, but due to my own health concerns and the weather I didn't venture down to prayer-walk on skid row. We'll have to do that next week. Until then. --John
After a very difficult week health-wise I decided to go ahead and make a trip downtown. It has been raining off an on for the last 4 or 5 days and although it was raining a little when I left, I felt it was better to go ahead and go Sunday than wait and go during the week. My health issues had interrupted my sleep schedule as well as my work schedule for the last 4 days also. So I wasn't feeling great, but at least I wasn't hurting when I left. I could only pray that God would lead me to those he wanted me to reach because there also wasn't going to be a lot of daylight time left either.
You may remember a couple of weeks ago I wrote about an encounter with Gary. He asked me for a bible and I ended up giving him a New Testament. I didn't see him last week, but yesterday I did. He told me he had been reading Galations 4 and 5 and was caught up in the struggle between the flesh and the spirit that chapter 5 (vs. 16-26) talks about. Wow. Talk about getting right to the heart of the matter, huh? We must have talked about this for 15 or 20 minutes. One of the things he pointed out to me was the attitude he gets or at least feels he gets from people. For example, if he goes into a store with only a few coins and is counting out the change he gets very self-conscious that people are irritated waiting on him. If he isn't dressed very well, he feels self-conscious about that when he is out having to deal with the public. These types of things put him mentally in a very defensive position when it come to coping with the outside world. When I pulled up to his spot in this alley, he told me he had just put on his shoes so he could go looking in the trash behind some medical clinic on the other side of Washington Blvd. He told me that the women who work there throw out their food/lunches that they don't eat. But then he realized it was Sunday and they were closed, so there wouldn't be any food there. And then I drove up right then and called out to him! He said what a great time of rejoicing that was. Well, I must have spent a good half hour with Gary. I ended up giving him some shirts a pair a shoes and a blanket. He also said he'd be more than happy to ride with me and point out some of the spots where the homeless on that side of Washington Blvd live. I'm looking forward to it. It's amazing how this relationship with Gary has grown in the last month.
Just before I pulled into the alley where Gary lives, I saw a couple of homeless men on the other side of Central. I kept them in mind after leaving Gary and found them in a parking lot at the end of Gary's alley. I don't know what your mental picture of homeless people is, but as I passed by these two latino men, I saw a pretty much iconic sight. Both men were unshaven and carrying bags. One man was counting out coins in his hand and the other was watching. I don't know if they were pooling their meager rescources or not. I pulled up and asked if they needed some 'comida'. Their names were Jorge and Oscar and they responded like anyone who is hungry would respond. After giving them some food and water I said, "Dios, la bendiga." You remember I learned how to say that in Spanish about a week ago. I put it into practice immediately and they responded warmly. I hope I see them again soon. At least for a while, I'll probably be spending more time in this area.
Last week I met a man named Caseem and his wife (Brenda it turns out). There was another man with them this week whose name was Louis and he is Caseem's brother. When I pulled up Caseem said, "You came back! You did what you said you would do!" It makes you wonder how many promises Caseem has heard that didn't come through. By now it was completely dark. Brenda looked around in the back for clothes they could use and Louis and Caseem and I talked. Louis had actually dealt with the health issue (kidney stones) that I had been dealing with this week. He told me what worked for him (drinking tea) and, in fact, they gave me a couple of bags of tea. Not being a tea drinker, I was somewhat amused by the name of the tea....Jerusalem Tea (no I'm not kidding).
Just down the street from them was a sight that always discourages me. On the sidewalk was someone with only a blanket over them. It turned out to be a woman whose name was Mary. She was somewhat small in build and probably somewhere around 35-40 years old. It's hard to tell a person's age on the street and even more so with women. One has to be very careful dealing with women alone on the street, so I called out to her when I saw her blanket moving. I asked if she needed some food. She kind of struggled to get up, but made it over to the car and got the food. She had socks on, but no shoes. I don't know that she didn't have any shoes, but she didn't have any on. I kept the encounter brief, I'm sure this was probably more of a risk for her than she wanted to take, but she was willing to do it if she was hungry enough.
There were a couple others that I was able to help last night, but due to my own health concerns and the weather I didn't venture down to prayer-walk on skid row. We'll have to do that next week. Until then. --John
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Downtown-Monday-11/26/2012
"What if your legacy was, thousands of people loved God because of you?" --Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California
Yesterday's specific prayer requests on the way down were, please Lord let me find one of the 'regulars' and lead me to those who need to hear from you. This has been somewhat of a regular prayer request each week lately. The thing is, each week is different and this prayer has been answered in different ways each week. Yes, in ways I didn't expect either.
One of the 'regulars' I saw yesterday was someone I actually hadn't seen in about a year. I wrote about him at length on April 11th, 2011 (you can look it up on that date) and included a picture of him too. His name is Don. I saw him yesterday in the exact spot where I found him that day a year and a half ago. He has been in and out of the hospital since then due to his diabetes. His mental outlook is so much better now than before though. When I got out of the car he brought me a bible and asked me to point out to him some scriptures for him. I thought he was looking for something specific, but instead it turned out that he has been sharing scripture with other homeless people and using the 'Bible Bingo' method of just opening it up and picking out something at random. What's amazing about that is that Don isn't very knowledgeable about the bible. For example, one of the scriptures I wanted to show him was the first verse in Luke 15. Luke 15 is the chapter which includes the parable of the prodigal son. But Don wasn't familiar with that story so, I read the story to him and we talked about what it meant. Then I briefly told him about the other two short parables in that chapter of the lost coin and the lost sheep and then pointed out the first verse which sets up the telling of these three parables. That first verse says, "Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him." This is such a valuable verse to people who are homeless because they can identify with this group of people. I suggested that Jesus couldn't have been telling them that they were sinners (which they already knew) and going to hell (which they already suspected), but He was more likely encouraging them to live better and follow God's ways and that God loves them. You see the religious leaders in that day wouldn't even talk to these people because they considered them worthless. Yet, here is Jesus not only talking to them, but they were "gathering around to hear Him". That would indicate that Jesus was engaging them and they were actually seeking him out. He wasn't condemning them (John 8:11), he was telling them they were people of value to the Father. Another verse I pointed out to him was Romans 8:38-39. This is the verse that tells us 'nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus' (my paraphrase). How often do you think this group of people feels alienated from God and that they are somehow being 'cosmicly punished' for past sins and that's why they are where they are? Now whenever you are in Romans 8 you get a chance (and an excuse) to point out some of the other great verses in that chapter like verse one and verse 28. I told Don Romans 8 is considered the 'high water mark' of the New Testament. Anyway, we talked for 40 or 45 minutes before I left. I prayed with him twice (and he prayed for me), we had an absolutely great time together. He's actually sharing with others the things I've shared with him. Amazing! I hope I see him again soon.
There were several others, in need yesteday, that I was able to help with food and water until I came up to a man and a woman on a small street on the east side of Alameda. They turned out to be a married couple and were sitting at a make-shift table with all their possessions on the sidewalk around them. As I pulled up I asked if they needed any food. The man said yes they did and they both then came over to the car and I passed some food and water through the window to them. He said "God bless you" and I took the opportunity to tell them that I had just read that morning that "Dios, la bendiga" means "God bless you" in Spanish. After all this time I had no idea. Most all of the latino speaking people who accept food from me know the equivalent in English, yet I didn't know how to say it in Spanish until that morning. I prayed for them through the window and then asked them if they needed any socks. Caseem, (that was his name) said they did, so I pulled over to the curb and got out and opened the trunk. It was at this point that Caseem said something that kind of floored me. I've actually heard it a few times from folks living on the street, but it always points out a truth worth remembering. He said, you can tell the people who really care are the ones who actually get out of their car and talk to you, instead of just giving out food and saying "God bless you" and driving away! This truth points to the giver, but even more so to the needs of the ones receiving. They need to be acknowledged as a person of worth and not just something to be fed. Well, we talked for a while. It turned out that Caseem was from New Jersey and had come from a very religious background, including a long line of pastors. He had rebelled from that upbringing and had gotten involved in the drug culture and had spent time in prison over it. I told him I knew exactly what he was talking about because that culture had dogged me for quite awhile too in my twenties. He then told me that his wife had just had a miscarriage due to being beaten up while he was locked up. I guess it had happened quite recently while she was living on the street. They now were looking for an inexpensive place to live and he was looking for work. I told him that he might look around at the truckers coming into the warehouses around those streets. Sometimes they are looking for someone to unload their trailers and will pay 'lumpers' to unload them. I prayed again for them, especially for God to heal the hurts inside them as well as providing for their needs. It was an honor to intercede for them.
Well, after just these two encounters that I've written about (there were a half dozen other people I met), do you think God answered my prayer on the way down there? Until next time. John
Yesterday's specific prayer requests on the way down were, please Lord let me find one of the 'regulars' and lead me to those who need to hear from you. This has been somewhat of a regular prayer request each week lately. The thing is, each week is different and this prayer has been answered in different ways each week. Yes, in ways I didn't expect either.
One of the 'regulars' I saw yesterday was someone I actually hadn't seen in about a year. I wrote about him at length on April 11th, 2011 (you can look it up on that date) and included a picture of him too. His name is Don. I saw him yesterday in the exact spot where I found him that day a year and a half ago. He has been in and out of the hospital since then due to his diabetes. His mental outlook is so much better now than before though. When I got out of the car he brought me a bible and asked me to point out to him some scriptures for him. I thought he was looking for something specific, but instead it turned out that he has been sharing scripture with other homeless people and using the 'Bible Bingo' method of just opening it up and picking out something at random. What's amazing about that is that Don isn't very knowledgeable about the bible. For example, one of the scriptures I wanted to show him was the first verse in Luke 15. Luke 15 is the chapter which includes the parable of the prodigal son. But Don wasn't familiar with that story so, I read the story to him and we talked about what it meant. Then I briefly told him about the other two short parables in that chapter of the lost coin and the lost sheep and then pointed out the first verse which sets up the telling of these three parables. That first verse says, "Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him." This is such a valuable verse to people who are homeless because they can identify with this group of people. I suggested that Jesus couldn't have been telling them that they were sinners (which they already knew) and going to hell (which they already suspected), but He was more likely encouraging them to live better and follow God's ways and that God loves them. You see the religious leaders in that day wouldn't even talk to these people because they considered them worthless. Yet, here is Jesus not only talking to them, but they were "gathering around to hear Him". That would indicate that Jesus was engaging them and they were actually seeking him out. He wasn't condemning them (John 8:11), he was telling them they were people of value to the Father. Another verse I pointed out to him was Romans 8:38-39. This is the verse that tells us 'nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus' (my paraphrase). How often do you think this group of people feels alienated from God and that they are somehow being 'cosmicly punished' for past sins and that's why they are where they are? Now whenever you are in Romans 8 you get a chance (and an excuse) to point out some of the other great verses in that chapter like verse one and verse 28. I told Don Romans 8 is considered the 'high water mark' of the New Testament. Anyway, we talked for 40 or 45 minutes before I left. I prayed with him twice (and he prayed for me), we had an absolutely great time together. He's actually sharing with others the things I've shared with him. Amazing! I hope I see him again soon.
There were several others, in need yesteday, that I was able to help with food and water until I came up to a man and a woman on a small street on the east side of Alameda. They turned out to be a married couple and were sitting at a make-shift table with all their possessions on the sidewalk around them. As I pulled up I asked if they needed any food. The man said yes they did and they both then came over to the car and I passed some food and water through the window to them. He said "God bless you" and I took the opportunity to tell them that I had just read that morning that "Dios, la bendiga" means "God bless you" in Spanish. After all this time I had no idea. Most all of the latino speaking people who accept food from me know the equivalent in English, yet I didn't know how to say it in Spanish until that morning. I prayed for them through the window and then asked them if they needed any socks. Caseem, (that was his name) said they did, so I pulled over to the curb and got out and opened the trunk. It was at this point that Caseem said something that kind of floored me. I've actually heard it a few times from folks living on the street, but it always points out a truth worth remembering. He said, you can tell the people who really care are the ones who actually get out of their car and talk to you, instead of just giving out food and saying "God bless you" and driving away! This truth points to the giver, but even more so to the needs of the ones receiving. They need to be acknowledged as a person of worth and not just something to be fed. Well, we talked for a while. It turned out that Caseem was from New Jersey and had come from a very religious background, including a long line of pastors. He had rebelled from that upbringing and had gotten involved in the drug culture and had spent time in prison over it. I told him I knew exactly what he was talking about because that culture had dogged me for quite awhile too in my twenties. He then told me that his wife had just had a miscarriage due to being beaten up while he was locked up. I guess it had happened quite recently while she was living on the street. They now were looking for an inexpensive place to live and he was looking for work. I told him that he might look around at the truckers coming into the warehouses around those streets. Sometimes they are looking for someone to unload their trailers and will pay 'lumpers' to unload them. I prayed again for them, especially for God to heal the hurts inside them as well as providing for their needs. It was an honor to intercede for them.
Well, after just these two encounters that I've written about (there were a half dozen other people I met), do you think God answered my prayer on the way down there? Until next time. John
Monday, November 19, 2012
Downtown 11/18/2012
"Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are." 1 John 3:1a
This was the last weekend of my vacation from work. I was looking forward to this trip and had been praying for a deeper relationship with some of the new people I've been meeting. The old 'regulars' are around (at least that's what I'm hearing from people), but I just haven't seen too many. So it's time to take my relationship with people that I have been seeing these last few weeks to another level. I have to remember that answered prayer rarely ends up looking like what you expected. I was expecting to see people from the vacant lot adjacent to one of the barbecue alleys, but no one was in those alleys (again) and although there were still make-shift shelters on the vacant lot, I didn't see anyone 'home' there. I drove around to some of the spots where I normally find people, but found no one. It had been raining off an on this week, so some of the people may have found other places to ride out the weather.
Down on skid row I saw a large crowd of people and a lot of cars on the block just west of the police station on 6th. Something was obviously going on there so after parking I walked over and asked around to see what was up. It turned out that some church group had pulled up with a lot of supplies to give out. These supplies included food, a bag of hygiene stuff and a sleeping bag. Remember, this is the start of the winter months out here and the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it was good timing for the people living on the street.
In case you ever wondered, I rarely give out food down on skid row. Instead, I go to areas a couple of miles away from there. The various missions provide countless meals for the people who live on the street in the skid row area. Occasionally, church groups show up with food and supplies like the one above. I can't help the numbers of people that they can help. In fact, I don't look at what I do as a 'relief ministry' anyway. Instead, I go to the surrounding areas and pray with people and use the food and supplies as a means to gain access to talking (and praying) with them. Also, the surrounding areas give me more of an opportunity to be one on one with people. This enables me to get to know them by name and find out about them on a personal level. Therein, is the uniqueness of this ministry, one on one relationships. So, my prayer at the beginning of this blog was to get to know the 'new' people in a deeper way. A week or so ago, I referred to one of the guys at the vacant lot as Terrance. I wasn't sure if that was his name or not, but I thought it might be (I knew someone down there in the area where I go with that name). I asked him yesterday what his name was and it's Eugene. Eugene also has a wife and they both live on the street around the Jack in the Box area. Yesterday, Eugene found me as I was coming out of the Jack in the Box with the food I had just bought. I going to have to get to know his wife. I do have a lot of clothes for women I could give her.
My most memorable encounter yesterday was with Gary. Gary is the guy living in the alley behind the auto parts store on the other side of Washington Blvd. He was the one who gave me permission to wake him up if he was sleeping. I found out he was originally from Galveston, Texas, but has been out here for 30 years or so. When I pulled into the alley, I was met with the biggest smile you can imagine. He told me he had been watching for me every time someone pulled into the alley Sunday. I noticed he had a small barbecue grill. He told me he had found a hunk of beef in a grocery bag in some trash heap and thought he was going to eat well that night. He had rummaged around in the area looking for some wood to start a fire in the grill, but now he was thinking the meat was too old and spoiled. He showed me the meat and I confirmed that it was no good. I can only imagine if I hadn't have come by, that eventually he would have tried to cook and eat that meat when his hunger pains got worse. I asked Gary if he needed some socks and he said yes, somewhat incredulously. I got out and opened the back of the car and gave him a couple of pairs. He lifted his pant legs and showed me he didn't have any socks. By the way, there were at least three large pools of rain water in the alley right by where his shelter was. He asked if I had some pants, but I didn't have any. I did give him some shirts and a sweater. Also, I had a double thick knit cap he could wear. He had been coughing quite a bit and told me he thought he either had the flu or a cold. I told him if his bones ached, it was the flu. He said they ached. Well, he had asked me to pray for him already, which I did, but now I felt the need to pray for him again, so I lifted my hands up and asked for a special blessing on him for relief from the flu and continued provision during the week. I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and God loved him too. Then he asked me if I had a bible I could give him! I told him I didn't have a whole bible, but I did have a New Testament and then I dug around in the back of the car and found one of those "Daily Bread" devotional books and gave him that too. He felt blessed....and I did too. I told him I probably wouldn't be able to make it there next Sunday, but would probably be by the day after on Monday. (I didn't want him to be looking for me again all day on Sunday and be discouraged) Anyway, I guess that's the one who God wanted me to develop a deeper relationship with. We talked a bit about some of the other homeless people around the area. I think I'm going to ask Gary if he would ride in the car with me and show me where some of the other folks are on that side of Washington Blvd. This could get really good, don't you think? Don't you just love it when God answers prayer like this? --Until next time. John
This was the last weekend of my vacation from work. I was looking forward to this trip and had been praying for a deeper relationship with some of the new people I've been meeting. The old 'regulars' are around (at least that's what I'm hearing from people), but I just haven't seen too many. So it's time to take my relationship with people that I have been seeing these last few weeks to another level. I have to remember that answered prayer rarely ends up looking like what you expected. I was expecting to see people from the vacant lot adjacent to one of the barbecue alleys, but no one was in those alleys (again) and although there were still make-shift shelters on the vacant lot, I didn't see anyone 'home' there. I drove around to some of the spots where I normally find people, but found no one. It had been raining off an on this week, so some of the people may have found other places to ride out the weather.
Down on skid row I saw a large crowd of people and a lot of cars on the block just west of the police station on 6th. Something was obviously going on there so after parking I walked over and asked around to see what was up. It turned out that some church group had pulled up with a lot of supplies to give out. These supplies included food, a bag of hygiene stuff and a sleeping bag. Remember, this is the start of the winter months out here and the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it was good timing for the people living on the street.
In case you ever wondered, I rarely give out food down on skid row. Instead, I go to areas a couple of miles away from there. The various missions provide countless meals for the people who live on the street in the skid row area. Occasionally, church groups show up with food and supplies like the one above. I can't help the numbers of people that they can help. In fact, I don't look at what I do as a 'relief ministry' anyway. Instead, I go to the surrounding areas and pray with people and use the food and supplies as a means to gain access to talking (and praying) with them. Also, the surrounding areas give me more of an opportunity to be one on one with people. This enables me to get to know them by name and find out about them on a personal level. Therein, is the uniqueness of this ministry, one on one relationships. So, my prayer at the beginning of this blog was to get to know the 'new' people in a deeper way. A week or so ago, I referred to one of the guys at the vacant lot as Terrance. I wasn't sure if that was his name or not, but I thought it might be (I knew someone down there in the area where I go with that name). I asked him yesterday what his name was and it's Eugene. Eugene also has a wife and they both live on the street around the Jack in the Box area. Yesterday, Eugene found me as I was coming out of the Jack in the Box with the food I had just bought. I going to have to get to know his wife. I do have a lot of clothes for women I could give her.
My most memorable encounter yesterday was with Gary. Gary is the guy living in the alley behind the auto parts store on the other side of Washington Blvd. He was the one who gave me permission to wake him up if he was sleeping. I found out he was originally from Galveston, Texas, but has been out here for 30 years or so. When I pulled into the alley, I was met with the biggest smile you can imagine. He told me he had been watching for me every time someone pulled into the alley Sunday. I noticed he had a small barbecue grill. He told me he had found a hunk of beef in a grocery bag in some trash heap and thought he was going to eat well that night. He had rummaged around in the area looking for some wood to start a fire in the grill, but now he was thinking the meat was too old and spoiled. He showed me the meat and I confirmed that it was no good. I can only imagine if I hadn't have come by, that eventually he would have tried to cook and eat that meat when his hunger pains got worse. I asked Gary if he needed some socks and he said yes, somewhat incredulously. I got out and opened the back of the car and gave him a couple of pairs. He lifted his pant legs and showed me he didn't have any socks. By the way, there were at least three large pools of rain water in the alley right by where his shelter was. He asked if I had some pants, but I didn't have any. I did give him some shirts and a sweater. Also, I had a double thick knit cap he could wear. He had been coughing quite a bit and told me he thought he either had the flu or a cold. I told him if his bones ached, it was the flu. He said they ached. Well, he had asked me to pray for him already, which I did, but now I felt the need to pray for him again, so I lifted my hands up and asked for a special blessing on him for relief from the flu and continued provision during the week. I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and God loved him too. Then he asked me if I had a bible I could give him! I told him I didn't have a whole bible, but I did have a New Testament and then I dug around in the back of the car and found one of those "Daily Bread" devotional books and gave him that too. He felt blessed....and I did too. I told him I probably wouldn't be able to make it there next Sunday, but would probably be by the day after on Monday. (I didn't want him to be looking for me again all day on Sunday and be discouraged) Anyway, I guess that's the one who God wanted me to develop a deeper relationship with. We talked a bit about some of the other homeless people around the area. I think I'm going to ask Gary if he would ride in the car with me and show me where some of the other folks are on that side of Washington Blvd. This could get really good, don't you think? Don't you just love it when God answers prayer like this? --Until next time. John
Monday, November 12, 2012
Downtown 11/11/2012
"Some people pray for the things we take for granted." --a quote I ran across the other day on facebook.
This could be said about every person I met downtown last night, from the first couple, huddled under a jacket together, to the last man I met crossing Olive Street. This morning when I woke up and got out from under my warm covers at 6 am, I thought about how these folks spent their night. At least they didn't go to sleep hungry. I keep thinking how incredibly difficult it must be trying to sleep on a concrete sidewalk when it's so cold outside. This may be Southern California, but it does get cold at night this time of year and it will only get colder over the next few months.
Once again, I spent time in the 'barbecue area' looking for people I knew, but to no avail. I looked again where last week Terrance told me some of those people had migrated to on the other side of Washington Blvd. I think I told you that I found a couple of people sleeping over there last week, but since I didn't recognize them, and since it was late, I didn't want to wake them up. Well, yesterday it was still daylight and the one man I did see there was still awake (and hungry). His name was Gary and he knew me from the other location. I told him I had been by the week before, but he had been asleep. He gave me permission to wake him up next time! I was able to go down there late Sunday afternoon (I arrived about 4:15) because I took a vacation day from work on Saturday night. I was hoping to see some of my regulars, but it just didn't happen. What it means is that the new people you meet aren't quite as open and talkative as the ones you know. However, I still prayed with just about everyone since it was a Sunday and things are a little slower and casual on the weekend.
The vacant lot from last week, where I met Helen was still occupied, but Helen and her companion weren't there at the time. Instead, I met a woman named Jackie in one of the other shelters. There was someone in there with her too, but I didn't see them. The woman who was sick from last week, wasn't there either, but her stuff was still there. I left some extra food with Jackie to give to some of the others when they came back. I don't know if it will get to them, but I know it won't go uneaten. The couple, huddled up, that I mentioned in the beginnnig, was sitting across the street on the sidewalk from this lot. His name was Danny, but I couldn't hear the woman, when she said her name. Danny said they had been moving around a lot lately. I think they are recently homeless. They had almost no possesions.
After giving out some burgers to various homeless people in the immediate area, I drove over to the other side of town and down Olive St. I back-tracked up one street parallel to Olive and then came east, back towards Olive. I had two burgers left when I saw this man crossing Olive St. It was almost dark at the time. Maybe it was because he was shuffling across the street kind of slow, but I knew that look in his face and eyes. I've seen it hundreds of times by now. He had no shopping cart, just the clothes on his back. I had the window down when I called out to him and asked if he was hungry. In almost desparation, he said he was. "Como te llama?" I asked as he came over to the car. "Carlos" he replied. I gave him the last of the food, a bottle of water and prayed for him through the window. "Thank you, and God bless you senor", he said as I drove away.
I ended the trip prayer-walking on skid row. I couldn't count the number of times while walking around down there I've heard people shouting angry and vile things (not at me, but at other people). I know the lifestyle of the homeless is cause for great frustraion and the spirit of oppression is palpable down there. Part of what I pray for when I walk around down there is that the Spirit of Light would permeate the area and push away the spirit of oppression. As I continued praying this while walking, those shouting at others either stopped or walked away before I got to where they were. Don't ask me to explain it, I'm just telling you what happened.
This morning, before writing this I watched online the service at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson was speaking (I really like him). His message today (Sunday morning) was all about serving the poor, and feeding the hungry! One of the scriptures he shared was from Isaiah 58:10 which says, "If you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon." Wow. Like I said, I'm only telling you what I saw happen. --Until next time. John
PS. When I was leaving downtown last night, the thing most on my mind was, "I wish I had more to give out. Lord there were so many more people to help, but I don't have anything left to give." It was disappointing.
This could be said about every person I met downtown last night, from the first couple, huddled under a jacket together, to the last man I met crossing Olive Street. This morning when I woke up and got out from under my warm covers at 6 am, I thought about how these folks spent their night. At least they didn't go to sleep hungry. I keep thinking how incredibly difficult it must be trying to sleep on a concrete sidewalk when it's so cold outside. This may be Southern California, but it does get cold at night this time of year and it will only get colder over the next few months.
Once again, I spent time in the 'barbecue area' looking for people I knew, but to no avail. I looked again where last week Terrance told me some of those people had migrated to on the other side of Washington Blvd. I think I told you that I found a couple of people sleeping over there last week, but since I didn't recognize them, and since it was late, I didn't want to wake them up. Well, yesterday it was still daylight and the one man I did see there was still awake (and hungry). His name was Gary and he knew me from the other location. I told him I had been by the week before, but he had been asleep. He gave me permission to wake him up next time! I was able to go down there late Sunday afternoon (I arrived about 4:15) because I took a vacation day from work on Saturday night. I was hoping to see some of my regulars, but it just didn't happen. What it means is that the new people you meet aren't quite as open and talkative as the ones you know. However, I still prayed with just about everyone since it was a Sunday and things are a little slower and casual on the weekend.
The vacant lot from last week, where I met Helen was still occupied, but Helen and her companion weren't there at the time. Instead, I met a woman named Jackie in one of the other shelters. There was someone in there with her too, but I didn't see them. The woman who was sick from last week, wasn't there either, but her stuff was still there. I left some extra food with Jackie to give to some of the others when they came back. I don't know if it will get to them, but I know it won't go uneaten. The couple, huddled up, that I mentioned in the beginnnig, was sitting across the street on the sidewalk from this lot. His name was Danny, but I couldn't hear the woman, when she said her name. Danny said they had been moving around a lot lately. I think they are recently homeless. They had almost no possesions.
After giving out some burgers to various homeless people in the immediate area, I drove over to the other side of town and down Olive St. I back-tracked up one street parallel to Olive and then came east, back towards Olive. I had two burgers left when I saw this man crossing Olive St. It was almost dark at the time. Maybe it was because he was shuffling across the street kind of slow, but I knew that look in his face and eyes. I've seen it hundreds of times by now. He had no shopping cart, just the clothes on his back. I had the window down when I called out to him and asked if he was hungry. In almost desparation, he said he was. "Como te llama?" I asked as he came over to the car. "Carlos" he replied. I gave him the last of the food, a bottle of water and prayed for him through the window. "Thank you, and God bless you senor", he said as I drove away.
I ended the trip prayer-walking on skid row. I couldn't count the number of times while walking around down there I've heard people shouting angry and vile things (not at me, but at other people). I know the lifestyle of the homeless is cause for great frustraion and the spirit of oppression is palpable down there. Part of what I pray for when I walk around down there is that the Spirit of Light would permeate the area and push away the spirit of oppression. As I continued praying this while walking, those shouting at others either stopped or walked away before I got to where they were. Don't ask me to explain it, I'm just telling you what happened.
This morning, before writing this I watched online the service at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bill Johnson was speaking (I really like him). His message today (Sunday morning) was all about serving the poor, and feeding the hungry! One of the scriptures he shared was from Isaiah 58:10 which says, "If you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon." Wow. Like I said, I'm only telling you what I saw happen. --Until next time. John
PS. When I was leaving downtown last night, the thing most on my mind was, "I wish I had more to give out. Lord there were so many more people to help, but I don't have anything left to give." It was disappointing.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Downtown 11/5/2012/Monday night
"....a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses before it is confirmed." --Deut. 19:15.
Due to the time change over the weekend, I couldn't get downtown until it was completely dark last night. I had been praying that God would not only lead me to those who needed help , but grant me contact with some of my "regulars" whom I haven't seen since the barbecue in September.
After picking up a bunch of burgers I drove over to the two alleys where I've held the barbecues. Both alleys are still vacant. However, I did see some make-shift homeless shelters set up in a fenced vacant lot between two buildings by one of the alleys. I decided to park the car and walk over and see if anyone I knew was living in there. When I called into the first shelter I was greeted by a woman named Helen. I hadn't met her before. It turned out she was from Arkansas, a place where my parents and grandparents had lived. I asked her who else was living in the other spots in there and she said Dave lived in one of them, but he wasn't there at that time. I told Helen, Dave was from the mid-west area too. She then told me that there was another person in her shelter so I went back to my car and got some more food and water. When I got back there another man had showed up that I did know. I think his name is Terrance, but I'm not sure. He did recognize me and said he was "sooo glad to see me and that all of our mutual friends had been worried that something had happened to me!" He told me he had just left Willie on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box and then told me where Willie and some of the others had been staying on the other side of Washington Blvd. While talking to Helen and Terrance I noticed what appeared to be a woman sleeping on some milk crates a sort distance from where we were standing. Helen said she was sick with the flu. I left some food for her and Dave. Before leaving I prayed with Helen and Terrance. Terrance reminded me that he still wanted to go to church with me sometime down in that area. What a blessing this encounter was and an answer to prayer too.
After leaving them I drove over to the area off Washington Blvd where Terrance said Willie had been staying. I had driven by the Jack in the Box, but I didn't see him there. I thought perhaps that Tara Lee might be there if Willie wasn't back yet. I did see some homeless folks sleeping in an alley directly behind Washington, but since I didn't recognize them and they were asleep, I decided not to wake them. At this point I drove back over to the Jack in the Box area to see if Willie might be there. I still didn't see him, but I did see John Mellon riding his bike into a recycler there. While waiting for him to finish his business there I saw a man sitting by the end of a truck with his shoe off. He was massaging his left foot. I finally asked him if he needed a new pair of socks. It turned out a 10-lb piece of metal had fallen on his foot and it was still hurting pretty badly. I gave him some food and water and in a little while some friends of his, a man and a woman, pulled up in a van. Later, as John Mellon was going through the clothes in the back of the car these folks came over too. Wouldn't you know, the guy with the hurt foot ended up with a new pair of socks (which he had declined earlier). The most memorable thing about this encounter was a statement John made to me as I was leaving. First he told me to save a seat for him in heaven if I got there before him or he would if he gets there before me. Keep in mind, that John, who was one of my first acquaintances when I started going downtown three and a half years ago, and didn't want me praying for him way back then. He's come a long way, huh? Then he followed that up with this stunner. He said, "God 'arranged' for us to meet tonight". "I know it couldn't be Satan-he wouldn't want us to meet- it had to be God!" Remember my prayer on my way down there? I had asked God for some contact with my regulars. Here it was, full on night time, by now it was almost 8 p.m. I had met Terrance who just "happened" to walk through a vacant lot that I had just "happened" to venture into looking to help who ever was there. Then I just "happened" to see John Mellon riding his bike into the recycler on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box. How many coincidences do we need to see God's hand in this? Before leaving I drove over to Olive St (the other side of town) and gave out the last of the burgers to a couple of men sitting on the side walk. I think they would have gone to sleep without eating if I hadn't come by (another "coincidence" related to my prayer to meet those who needed help that night). Both men were Latinos who didn't speak much English. Before leaving I prayed for them. When I finished and looked up, both men had their heads bowed. Even though they couldn't understand me they knew I was praying for them. It gets me every time that happens.
The verse in Deuteronomy that began this blog says, "a matter is established or confirmed by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses." Well I had at least three 'coincidences' as confirmation that |God listens to prayer last night. Do those count? ---Until next week. John
Due to the time change over the weekend, I couldn't get downtown until it was completely dark last night. I had been praying that God would not only lead me to those who needed help , but grant me contact with some of my "regulars" whom I haven't seen since the barbecue in September.
After picking up a bunch of burgers I drove over to the two alleys where I've held the barbecues. Both alleys are still vacant. However, I did see some make-shift homeless shelters set up in a fenced vacant lot between two buildings by one of the alleys. I decided to park the car and walk over and see if anyone I knew was living in there. When I called into the first shelter I was greeted by a woman named Helen. I hadn't met her before. It turned out she was from Arkansas, a place where my parents and grandparents had lived. I asked her who else was living in the other spots in there and she said Dave lived in one of them, but he wasn't there at that time. I told Helen, Dave was from the mid-west area too. She then told me that there was another person in her shelter so I went back to my car and got some more food and water. When I got back there another man had showed up that I did know. I think his name is Terrance, but I'm not sure. He did recognize me and said he was "sooo glad to see me and that all of our mutual friends had been worried that something had happened to me!" He told me he had just left Willie on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box and then told me where Willie and some of the others had been staying on the other side of Washington Blvd. While talking to Helen and Terrance I noticed what appeared to be a woman sleeping on some milk crates a sort distance from where we were standing. Helen said she was sick with the flu. I left some food for her and Dave. Before leaving I prayed with Helen and Terrance. Terrance reminded me that he still wanted to go to church with me sometime down in that area. What a blessing this encounter was and an answer to prayer too.
After leaving them I drove over to the area off Washington Blvd where Terrance said Willie had been staying. I had driven by the Jack in the Box, but I didn't see him there. I thought perhaps that Tara Lee might be there if Willie wasn't back yet. I did see some homeless folks sleeping in an alley directly behind Washington, but since I didn't recognize them and they were asleep, I decided not to wake them. At this point I drove back over to the Jack in the Box area to see if Willie might be there. I still didn't see him, but I did see John Mellon riding his bike into a recycler there. While waiting for him to finish his business there I saw a man sitting by the end of a truck with his shoe off. He was massaging his left foot. I finally asked him if he needed a new pair of socks. It turned out a 10-lb piece of metal had fallen on his foot and it was still hurting pretty badly. I gave him some food and water and in a little while some friends of his, a man and a woman, pulled up in a van. Later, as John Mellon was going through the clothes in the back of the car these folks came over too. Wouldn't you know, the guy with the hurt foot ended up with a new pair of socks (which he had declined earlier). The most memorable thing about this encounter was a statement John made to me as I was leaving. First he told me to save a seat for him in heaven if I got there before him or he would if he gets there before me. Keep in mind, that John, who was one of my first acquaintances when I started going downtown three and a half years ago, and didn't want me praying for him way back then. He's come a long way, huh? Then he followed that up with this stunner. He said, "God 'arranged' for us to meet tonight". "I know it couldn't be Satan-he wouldn't want us to meet- it had to be God!" Remember my prayer on my way down there? I had asked God for some contact with my regulars. Here it was, full on night time, by now it was almost 8 p.m. I had met Terrance who just "happened" to walk through a vacant lot that I had just "happened" to venture into looking to help who ever was there. Then I just "happened" to see John Mellon riding his bike into the recycler on the other side of the block from the Jack in the Box. How many coincidences do we need to see God's hand in this? Before leaving I drove over to Olive St (the other side of town) and gave out the last of the burgers to a couple of men sitting on the side walk. I think they would have gone to sleep without eating if I hadn't come by (another "coincidence" related to my prayer to meet those who needed help that night). Both men were Latinos who didn't speak much English. Before leaving I prayed for them. When I finished and looked up, both men had their heads bowed. Even though they couldn't understand me they knew I was praying for them. It gets me every time that happens.
The verse in Deuteronomy that began this blog says, "a matter is established or confirmed by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses." Well I had at least three 'coincidences' as confirmation that |God listens to prayer last night. Do those count? ---Until next week. John
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Downtown 10/29/2012
"It's impossible to pray and have nothing happen. God is not deaf or blind." Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California.
As believers, the above statement has powerful implications for every aspect of our lives (at least those we pray about). I'm sure some theologians would raise objections about non-believers and a couple of other categories of believers living out of the will of God, but for the most part, believers striving to pursue God's will for their lives the statement is true. Of course, His timing is different from our timing and His answer may look different than what we're expecting. But the principle is intriguing. If we go forward, in faith, based on the assumption that God hears our prayers, what might we expect? Notice I didn't say, what might we see. We may see no changes or differences on the surface of things. Yesterday's trip downtown was pretty much a repeat of the week before. The places where I saw most of my homeless friends were still deserted. I only saw John Stokes, everyone else was a new face. I did go later, towards evening time and stayed until after dark. The people I helped were all alone. When you find a homeless person alone at night and just after it's dark, the chances are high that they are hungry. Such was the case last night. At least half and probably most of the people I helped were hungry. One man, who I didn't recognize, said, "You always come at just the right time." I guess he recognized me. All I know is, when I saw him pushing his cart down the middle of a small street off Alameda, in darkness, he had the most gaunt and haunting look on his face. I knew right away he needed help and needed it right then. Now I had been praying before and during the trip that I would find those who God needed me to reach. It would appear, I was also the answer to this man's private prayer too, along with a half a dozen others I was able to reach. I'll keep praying and believing He will send me to the ones needing the most help. One other man was leaning against a building down on Olive St. He was eating a piece of bread (a very small piece of bread). When I pulled up next to him (Olive is a one-way street) I saw he was eating something and I asked if he needed some "aqua". He indicated he did and then asked if I had "More bread?" Then there was a woman sitting in the darkness on the sidewalk on Wall St and 9th who was all alone, there were several others in similar situations last night too. It's always a great privilege to help those in great need. -Until next week. John
As believers, the above statement has powerful implications for every aspect of our lives (at least those we pray about). I'm sure some theologians would raise objections about non-believers and a couple of other categories of believers living out of the will of God, but for the most part, believers striving to pursue God's will for their lives the statement is true. Of course, His timing is different from our timing and His answer may look different than what we're expecting. But the principle is intriguing. If we go forward, in faith, based on the assumption that God hears our prayers, what might we expect? Notice I didn't say, what might we see. We may see no changes or differences on the surface of things. Yesterday's trip downtown was pretty much a repeat of the week before. The places where I saw most of my homeless friends were still deserted. I only saw John Stokes, everyone else was a new face. I did go later, towards evening time and stayed until after dark. The people I helped were all alone. When you find a homeless person alone at night and just after it's dark, the chances are high that they are hungry. Such was the case last night. At least half and probably most of the people I helped were hungry. One man, who I didn't recognize, said, "You always come at just the right time." I guess he recognized me. All I know is, when I saw him pushing his cart down the middle of a small street off Alameda, in darkness, he had the most gaunt and haunting look on his face. I knew right away he needed help and needed it right then. Now I had been praying before and during the trip that I would find those who God needed me to reach. It would appear, I was also the answer to this man's private prayer too, along with a half a dozen others I was able to reach. I'll keep praying and believing He will send me to the ones needing the most help. One other man was leaning against a building down on Olive St. He was eating a piece of bread (a very small piece of bread). When I pulled up next to him (Olive is a one-way street) I saw he was eating something and I asked if he needed some "aqua". He indicated he did and then asked if I had "More bread?" Then there was a woman sitting in the darkness on the sidewalk on Wall St and 9th who was all alone, there were several others in similar situations last night too. It's always a great privilege to help those in great need. -Until next week. John
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Downtown 10/23/2012
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall. --Psalm 46: 1-2
The above verse came to mind after witnessing so many of my friends shelters gone today. It was a day I won't soon forget. Richard Brown, who I met the first day I started making these trips was no longer under the I-10 freeway on Hooper St. His 65th birthday is this Friday and he had been telling me he was going to move to Mississippi as soon as he could start collecting Social Security. I was hoping to see him once more before he left. Some of the things I'll remember about him include how he always (and I mean every time) insisted on me praying with him. He was the one who, after meeting and talking with him during my very first trip, said my prayer for him was better than the food I gave him. I learned how God really does forgive every time we ask. One day I pulled up to where he was cooking on the sidewalk and I could tell he had been drinking. In an instant it hit me, "John do you really believe that God forgives repeatedly for the same offense?" His word tells us he does, but do I 'really' believe it? It was a wake-up call for me about believing what God's word tells us. I'll also, never forget that people living on the street grieve too. One day I pulled up to where he was and he showed me the program of the funeral service of his brother, Cleveland. I could tell he was really upset about it. His brother was several years younger than he was and was fairly well off, but died suddenly of a heart attack. His sister had come by to tell him. It got me to thinking about how homeless people deal with the deaths of their family members and their friends on the street. There are no 'funeral services' that they can go to, their relationship is just over...suddenly. I had a barbecue earlier in the summer and had a chance to talk with some of my friends about it. I hope it helped. Richard was always upbeat and talkative. If he had gone to bed for the night, he would always get up to talk with me. I'll miss him. I'll be praying for a successful transition to this stage of his life, he's been looking forward to it for years.
Just up the street from where Richard lived is the alley where I had the last barbecue (4 Sundays ago on Sept 30th). All of my friends there were gone. It appears the city went through and cleared everything away. There were no people and no debris left in the alley. I couldn't even find any of them in the vicinity. I'll have to try going on Sunday evening to see if anyone is around. It's hard finding some of these people on a weekday like today. I did find John Stokes at his spot under the freeway east of Alameda. All of his stuff was gone too, but he was sleeping on the ground with a couple of blankets. He told me he had gone to the Jack in the Box a week ago and when he came back everything had been taken away. This has happened 3 or 4 times that I know of in the last 3 1/2 years. I was able to give him a nice jacket with a hood and a couple of pairs of socks. He told me he was going to be turning 65 on May 3rd of next year and was going to move back to Georgia, where his family is from.
Although I will miss some of the regulars that were living in these alleys, it forces me to find and meet other people in need. My 'regulars' will turn up eventually. There's always a new influx of homeless people to the area. It's an opportunity to show them God hasn't forgotten them and cares about their well-being. I did meet some new people today. Carlos, who was sleeping in a shopping cart on a small street off Olive, Lamar who was on 14th St, Kenneth in a small alley off Alameda all were struggling to survive today. They were a little suspect of my motive initially, but gladly accepted the help. When I asked for nothing in return, I'm sure it surprised them. Next time they will probably be more responsive. I did see a man named Isaiah, who I hadn't seen in a couple of years. He was under the 4th St bridge and was digging around in a dumpster. There was another woman sleeping under a blanket in the parking lot of the Jack in the Box right in front of their dumpster. She looked lonely, tired and frustrated with life. I don't think she wanted to be woken up, but as I drove away she was already starting to eat some of the food. I'm sure all these people would have continued on with their day with hunger pains if I hadn't come by.
One final thought. One of the girls who took my order at the Jack in the Box asked if I was giving away the food to the homeless. When I said I was, she replied, "You have a big heart." I really didn't know what to say at the time. But later, I thought, God has the big heart, he just gave me a piece of his. --Until next time. John
The above verse came to mind after witnessing so many of my friends shelters gone today. It was a day I won't soon forget. Richard Brown, who I met the first day I started making these trips was no longer under the I-10 freeway on Hooper St. His 65th birthday is this Friday and he had been telling me he was going to move to Mississippi as soon as he could start collecting Social Security. I was hoping to see him once more before he left. Some of the things I'll remember about him include how he always (and I mean every time) insisted on me praying with him. He was the one who, after meeting and talking with him during my very first trip, said my prayer for him was better than the food I gave him. I learned how God really does forgive every time we ask. One day I pulled up to where he was cooking on the sidewalk and I could tell he had been drinking. In an instant it hit me, "John do you really believe that God forgives repeatedly for the same offense?" His word tells us he does, but do I 'really' believe it? It was a wake-up call for me about believing what God's word tells us. I'll also, never forget that people living on the street grieve too. One day I pulled up to where he was and he showed me the program of the funeral service of his brother, Cleveland. I could tell he was really upset about it. His brother was several years younger than he was and was fairly well off, but died suddenly of a heart attack. His sister had come by to tell him. It got me to thinking about how homeless people deal with the deaths of their family members and their friends on the street. There are no 'funeral services' that they can go to, their relationship is just over...suddenly. I had a barbecue earlier in the summer and had a chance to talk with some of my friends about it. I hope it helped. Richard was always upbeat and talkative. If he had gone to bed for the night, he would always get up to talk with me. I'll miss him. I'll be praying for a successful transition to this stage of his life, he's been looking forward to it for years.
Just up the street from where Richard lived is the alley where I had the last barbecue (4 Sundays ago on Sept 30th). All of my friends there were gone. It appears the city went through and cleared everything away. There were no people and no debris left in the alley. I couldn't even find any of them in the vicinity. I'll have to try going on Sunday evening to see if anyone is around. It's hard finding some of these people on a weekday like today. I did find John Stokes at his spot under the freeway east of Alameda. All of his stuff was gone too, but he was sleeping on the ground with a couple of blankets. He told me he had gone to the Jack in the Box a week ago and when he came back everything had been taken away. This has happened 3 or 4 times that I know of in the last 3 1/2 years. I was able to give him a nice jacket with a hood and a couple of pairs of socks. He told me he was going to be turning 65 on May 3rd of next year and was going to move back to Georgia, where his family is from.
Although I will miss some of the regulars that were living in these alleys, it forces me to find and meet other people in need. My 'regulars' will turn up eventually. There's always a new influx of homeless people to the area. It's an opportunity to show them God hasn't forgotten them and cares about their well-being. I did meet some new people today. Carlos, who was sleeping in a shopping cart on a small street off Olive, Lamar who was on 14th St, Kenneth in a small alley off Alameda all were struggling to survive today. They were a little suspect of my motive initially, but gladly accepted the help. When I asked for nothing in return, I'm sure it surprised them. Next time they will probably be more responsive. I did see a man named Isaiah, who I hadn't seen in a couple of years. He was under the 4th St bridge and was digging around in a dumpster. There was another woman sleeping under a blanket in the parking lot of the Jack in the Box right in front of their dumpster. She looked lonely, tired and frustrated with life. I don't think she wanted to be woken up, but as I drove away she was already starting to eat some of the food. I'm sure all these people would have continued on with their day with hunger pains if I hadn't come by.
One final thought. One of the girls who took my order at the Jack in the Box asked if I was giving away the food to the homeless. When I said I was, she replied, "You have a big heart." I really didn't know what to say at the time. But later, I thought, God has the big heart, he just gave me a piece of his. --Until next time. John
Monday, October 1, 2012
Downtown 9/30/2012--Last barbecue for the year
"Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as ....[a] sacrifice that pleases God." --Ephesians 5:1-2
My wife shared this verse with me a couple of nights ago, and it has impacted me on so many levels ever since. This is one of the verses that the older translations say, "Be imitators of God." One of the objectives of this ministry is to encourage the people that I meet to simply do better, whether it's to make better daily decisions or to live at peace with themselves and the world. We all carry baggage around with us. Some of it is ancient history from growing up and some is more recent. One of the men yesterday shared briefly about the physical abuse he endured growing up. Another shared with me some of the abuse he suffered going to a Christian school in an east coast state. Wherever and whenever these times occured, it stays with us and affects the way we look and react to current life situations. Yet Paul's advice in the verse quoted above is profoundly simple. Be like God is. Does it have to be a life-long process to overcome things that happened to us as kids. I don't know, but it probably does take a long time to retrain ourselves to being controlled by love first and not fear and anger. The best thing about having the barbecues is that I get to spend a lot of time talking to these guys while the food is cooking. Yesterday, was probably one of the best times for doing just that. I got down there shortly before 4 pm and stayed til almost 7 pm. There is a core of about 5 or 6 men who live on this alley off Hooper St and another 3 or 4 people wandered through while I was there. Everyone was fed, everyone had a good time. At the time of day that we started, it had begun to cool off and within a short time we were in the shadows of the buildings around us. Chris told me that every Friday, on the other side of the buildings directly south of where we were, someone barbecues a bunch of chickens. The smell of that barbecue reaches them and it's hard for them to endure the smell since they can't afford to go over there and 'buy' a meal. He laughingly called yesterday's barbecue, "Our revenge." As a first, I brought potato salad on ice. It was a huge hit with the guys.
Testimonies are a way of reaching peoples' hearts with real events and circumstances. Originally I began this ministry to simply be where God was working. Little did I know that the first place He starts working is on the heart of the one who's doing the ministry. I guess to be effective in ministry He has to start by preparing your heart. So here is my story. I'm not proud of it, but if it helps someone else, then it's His story. Two months ago, when I did the last barbecue, it didn't go the way I wanted it to. I had 'my agenda' and very little went right. Sure, everyone had a good time, the meal went off well and I got to pray with everyone there, but something bothered me that I only shared with 2 or 3 people afterwards. What that 'something' was, was no one down there helped me. I was cook, waiter and busboy all rolled into one. By wearing all those hats, I didn't get to talk as much with the people as I wanted. So, leading up to Sunday, I was a little concerned about how this one was going to go. After all, I'm having more difficulties lately with the physical exertion of doing these kinds of things and I knew it would be a struggle. Yet the Lord spoke to me on this manner reminding me of something. "John, are you my servant? Aren't you doing this because you're serving me? It's not your concern what they do or don't do to help you" I have always said these folks downtown are flawed people, their flaws just manifest in different ways than ours do. So here I am grumbling about it. Then it struck me right between the eyes so to speak. Jesus' words, "Remove the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother's eye!" I was immediately humbled. I had no right to complain. I asked for His forgiveness. I was still a little concerned about my ability to put on the barbecue, but so what. If it took extra time, so be it. So when I pulled up Sunday and started to get out, you wouldn't believe what happened. Dave started opening up the back door as I was getting out and started unloading everything. Chris helped me prepare and serve the food. When we were done, they both helped me load up the car! I said nothing about my 'problem' to anyone down there! It just happened!! God was so gracious to me!
As we sat around after the meal and talked Tara asked me about some of the 'things' that have happened to me during my trips downtown. So I got to share my "Muslim" story along with another story about God answering my 'desparate' prayer one Sunday afternoon when I couldn't find anyone to help. Santa Barbara said the Muslim story gave him goose bumps. Chris told me he's trying to get into a room down in the skid row area. They call them SRO's which stands for single room occupancy. He wouldn't let me leave until I prayed for him to get a room (gee, twist my arm will ya?) Dave wanted me to just, "Throw out a prayer for me." (I had asked him if there was anything special he wanted me to pray for.")
All in all, it was a great day. I got to pray for people, share scripture with my friends as well as help meet their physical needs. I have always wanted these barbecue days to be like a family picnic. Sunday was perfect. --Until next time. John
My wife shared this verse with me a couple of nights ago, and it has impacted me on so many levels ever since. This is one of the verses that the older translations say, "Be imitators of God." One of the objectives of this ministry is to encourage the people that I meet to simply do better, whether it's to make better daily decisions or to live at peace with themselves and the world. We all carry baggage around with us. Some of it is ancient history from growing up and some is more recent. One of the men yesterday shared briefly about the physical abuse he endured growing up. Another shared with me some of the abuse he suffered going to a Christian school in an east coast state. Wherever and whenever these times occured, it stays with us and affects the way we look and react to current life situations. Yet Paul's advice in the verse quoted above is profoundly simple. Be like God is. Does it have to be a life-long process to overcome things that happened to us as kids. I don't know, but it probably does take a long time to retrain ourselves to being controlled by love first and not fear and anger. The best thing about having the barbecues is that I get to spend a lot of time talking to these guys while the food is cooking. Yesterday, was probably one of the best times for doing just that. I got down there shortly before 4 pm and stayed til almost 7 pm. There is a core of about 5 or 6 men who live on this alley off Hooper St and another 3 or 4 people wandered through while I was there. Everyone was fed, everyone had a good time. At the time of day that we started, it had begun to cool off and within a short time we were in the shadows of the buildings around us. Chris told me that every Friday, on the other side of the buildings directly south of where we were, someone barbecues a bunch of chickens. The smell of that barbecue reaches them and it's hard for them to endure the smell since they can't afford to go over there and 'buy' a meal. He laughingly called yesterday's barbecue, "Our revenge." As a first, I brought potato salad on ice. It was a huge hit with the guys.
Testimonies are a way of reaching peoples' hearts with real events and circumstances. Originally I began this ministry to simply be where God was working. Little did I know that the first place He starts working is on the heart of the one who's doing the ministry. I guess to be effective in ministry He has to start by preparing your heart. So here is my story. I'm not proud of it, but if it helps someone else, then it's His story. Two months ago, when I did the last barbecue, it didn't go the way I wanted it to. I had 'my agenda' and very little went right. Sure, everyone had a good time, the meal went off well and I got to pray with everyone there, but something bothered me that I only shared with 2 or 3 people afterwards. What that 'something' was, was no one down there helped me. I was cook, waiter and busboy all rolled into one. By wearing all those hats, I didn't get to talk as much with the people as I wanted. So, leading up to Sunday, I was a little concerned about how this one was going to go. After all, I'm having more difficulties lately with the physical exertion of doing these kinds of things and I knew it would be a struggle. Yet the Lord spoke to me on this manner reminding me of something. "John, are you my servant? Aren't you doing this because you're serving me? It's not your concern what they do or don't do to help you" I have always said these folks downtown are flawed people, their flaws just manifest in different ways than ours do. So here I am grumbling about it. Then it struck me right between the eyes so to speak. Jesus' words, "Remove the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother's eye!" I was immediately humbled. I had no right to complain. I asked for His forgiveness. I was still a little concerned about my ability to put on the barbecue, but so what. If it took extra time, so be it. So when I pulled up Sunday and started to get out, you wouldn't believe what happened. Dave started opening up the back door as I was getting out and started unloading everything. Chris helped me prepare and serve the food. When we were done, they both helped me load up the car! I said nothing about my 'problem' to anyone down there! It just happened!! God was so gracious to me!
As we sat around after the meal and talked Tara asked me about some of the 'things' that have happened to me during my trips downtown. So I got to share my "Muslim" story along with another story about God answering my 'desparate' prayer one Sunday afternoon when I couldn't find anyone to help. Santa Barbara said the Muslim story gave him goose bumps. Chris told me he's trying to get into a room down in the skid row area. They call them SRO's which stands for single room occupancy. He wouldn't let me leave until I prayed for him to get a room (gee, twist my arm will ya?) Dave wanted me to just, "Throw out a prayer for me." (I had asked him if there was anything special he wanted me to pray for.")
All in all, it was a great day. I got to pray for people, share scripture with my friends as well as help meet their physical needs. I have always wanted these barbecue days to be like a family picnic. Sunday was perfect. --Until next time. John
Monday, September 24, 2012
Downtown 9/23/2012
You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. Galatians 6:2
I had other plans for Sunday that didn't come about, so I was able to make a regular trip downtown instead of just driving through. I had planned to drive through there and remind my friends about next week's barbecue, but it turned out I had more time. In essence, it was still just a reminder about next week's barbecue (one guy referred to it as a 'party'). It was really a quiet visit, not everyone was there, but Tara and Dave were there, and I did see Santa Barbara. I also made a visit around the corner to Richard Brown. Richard turns 65 next month and is eagerly looking forward to collecting social security. His sister is helping him get things set-up to start receiving his checks. This means he will finally be able to get off the streets. I've known Richard since the first time I went downtown. I think he is planning on moving to Mississippi, I believe that is where he is from originally. I'll miss him, but I'm glad he has a place to finally go to.
There really wasn't much that happened on this trip, although when I walked inside the Jack in the Box, one of the girls behind the counter called out to me, "20 big cheesburgers?" They're catching on. Please continue to pray for next week, and a bit of a break in the heat would be nice too. --Until then. John
I had other plans for Sunday that didn't come about, so I was able to make a regular trip downtown instead of just driving through. I had planned to drive through there and remind my friends about next week's barbecue, but it turned out I had more time. In essence, it was still just a reminder about next week's barbecue (one guy referred to it as a 'party'). It was really a quiet visit, not everyone was there, but Tara and Dave were there, and I did see Santa Barbara. I also made a visit around the corner to Richard Brown. Richard turns 65 next month and is eagerly looking forward to collecting social security. His sister is helping him get things set-up to start receiving his checks. This means he will finally be able to get off the streets. I've known Richard since the first time I went downtown. I think he is planning on moving to Mississippi, I believe that is where he is from originally. I'll miss him, but I'm glad he has a place to finally go to.
There really wasn't much that happened on this trip, although when I walked inside the Jack in the Box, one of the girls behind the counter called out to me, "20 big cheesburgers?" They're catching on. Please continue to pray for next week, and a bit of a break in the heat would be nice too. --Until then. John
Monday, September 17, 2012
Downtown 9/16/2012
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ---James 1:22
My own understanding of this verse is, "You don't know scripture (the word), until you are willing to be changed by it". I heard Bill Johnson, from the Bethel Church in Redding, California, speak on testimonies a couple of weeks ago. I was so taken by this message that I used some of the high points with just about everyone I met downtown yesterday. One of the points he made concerned the story in John's gospel in chapter 8. It is the story of the woman caught in adultery who is brought before Jesus as he is teaching in the temple. The people who brought her before Jesus did this, in reality, because they were only interested in testing him. This is where Jesus makes the famous statement, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." Then Jesus bends over and he starts writing in the sand and suddenly all the woman's accusers leave. Much speculation over the years has been made over what Jesus wrote in the sand, but no one really knows. Whatever it was that he did write, created such an atmosphere of grace, that everyone bound by law had to leave. So in the end, Jesus is left alone with the woman. While Jesus did not condone what the woman had done, he didn't condemn her either. He finally told her, "Go and sin no more." What Bill Johnson pointed out, and what I had never heard said about this story before, was that this was, ultimately, a 'father/daughter moment'. Jesus told his disciples, "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father." I have a daughter. If she was ever in trouble, I wouldn't care what anyone had to say about her, no matter how negative and hurtful. She is my daughter and I love and care about her as only a father can. In a circumstance as dreadful as the real life episode that this woman and Jesus were confronted with was, I would hope my daughter would "run" to the throne of grace that only a father could provide. You can see how a story like this could reach the people I see downtown every week. They are the rejected ones. The ones who feel, "outside the camp." The last man I helped last night had his mouth wired shut. I'm guessing he had a broken jaw. He couldn't eat the burgers I had and asked if I could get him a milk shake. So we drove back to the Jack in the Box and went through the drive thru window. When I took him back to the alley, he said something I'll probably never forget. He said a lot of the homeless are the way they are, in part, because of their upbringing (no real surprise there). They were told at an early age that they were no good and will never amount to anything, and unfortunately, when things get difficult in life as an adult, they begin to believe it. The bridge they have with their family is, sadly, the first one burned to the ground.
The first man I met Sunday was a man named Doug. I had never met him before. When I pulled into the parking lot at the Jack in the Box I saw him pushing a shopping cart and I waved to him (I wasn't sure if I had seen him before or not). When I parked the car he came over and asked if he could wash my car windows for some change. I told him I had just hosed my car down a couple of hours before, but I did have some cold bottled water and was going to get some burgers inside in a few minutes if he wanted to wait. He took the water and said he would wait. While I waited inside, I suddenly felt like I was supposed to invite him in to join me while I waited which I did. We had a good time talking, and got to know each other. He was from St Louis and had been out here since 2003. He told me he had spent some time in prison and was out on parole until 2014. We seemed to have an instant connection. The burgers came and I gave him two and we continued to talk together at the table. I had ordered a cup of coffee that I had now finished. I asked Doug if he wanted me to get a refill on the coffee so he could have it. He was delighted about that. When we walked outside, wouldn't you know it, but about 3 or 4 other homeless men showed up. Most of them I knew, but Doug was waving them to come over. It is interesting how a place of grace, beckons to others to come and join in. It was a wonderful time and half the food was given out before I left the parking lot. When I got to the alley, where my 'regulars' are I quickly gave out the rest of them. Prayer, burgers, chilled water and laughter were enjoyed by everyone there. A vanilla milk shake was enjoyed by one, but the trip downtown, was anything but vanilla. Until next time. --John
PS. I reminded my friends in the alley that in two weeks (Sept 30th), we'll have the next barbecue. Please be praying for this day. Pray that an afternoon of God's grace will cover the alley and their hearts. That they will be receptive to God working in their lives and this day will be a testimony they will remember always.
My own understanding of this verse is, "You don't know scripture (the word), until you are willing to be changed by it". I heard Bill Johnson, from the Bethel Church in Redding, California, speak on testimonies a couple of weeks ago. I was so taken by this message that I used some of the high points with just about everyone I met downtown yesterday. One of the points he made concerned the story in John's gospel in chapter 8. It is the story of the woman caught in adultery who is brought before Jesus as he is teaching in the temple. The people who brought her before Jesus did this, in reality, because they were only interested in testing him. This is where Jesus makes the famous statement, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." Then Jesus bends over and he starts writing in the sand and suddenly all the woman's accusers leave. Much speculation over the years has been made over what Jesus wrote in the sand, but no one really knows. Whatever it was that he did write, created such an atmosphere of grace, that everyone bound by law had to leave. So in the end, Jesus is left alone with the woman. While Jesus did not condone what the woman had done, he didn't condemn her either. He finally told her, "Go and sin no more." What Bill Johnson pointed out, and what I had never heard said about this story before, was that this was, ultimately, a 'father/daughter moment'. Jesus told his disciples, "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father." I have a daughter. If she was ever in trouble, I wouldn't care what anyone had to say about her, no matter how negative and hurtful. She is my daughter and I love and care about her as only a father can. In a circumstance as dreadful as the real life episode that this woman and Jesus were confronted with was, I would hope my daughter would "run" to the throne of grace that only a father could provide. You can see how a story like this could reach the people I see downtown every week. They are the rejected ones. The ones who feel, "outside the camp." The last man I helped last night had his mouth wired shut. I'm guessing he had a broken jaw. He couldn't eat the burgers I had and asked if I could get him a milk shake. So we drove back to the Jack in the Box and went through the drive thru window. When I took him back to the alley, he said something I'll probably never forget. He said a lot of the homeless are the way they are, in part, because of their upbringing (no real surprise there). They were told at an early age that they were no good and will never amount to anything, and unfortunately, when things get difficult in life as an adult, they begin to believe it. The bridge they have with their family is, sadly, the first one burned to the ground.
The first man I met Sunday was a man named Doug. I had never met him before. When I pulled into the parking lot at the Jack in the Box I saw him pushing a shopping cart and I waved to him (I wasn't sure if I had seen him before or not). When I parked the car he came over and asked if he could wash my car windows for some change. I told him I had just hosed my car down a couple of hours before, but I did have some cold bottled water and was going to get some burgers inside in a few minutes if he wanted to wait. He took the water and said he would wait. While I waited inside, I suddenly felt like I was supposed to invite him in to join me while I waited which I did. We had a good time talking, and got to know each other. He was from St Louis and had been out here since 2003. He told me he had spent some time in prison and was out on parole until 2014. We seemed to have an instant connection. The burgers came and I gave him two and we continued to talk together at the table. I had ordered a cup of coffee that I had now finished. I asked Doug if he wanted me to get a refill on the coffee so he could have it. He was delighted about that. When we walked outside, wouldn't you know it, but about 3 or 4 other homeless men showed up. Most of them I knew, but Doug was waving them to come over. It is interesting how a place of grace, beckons to others to come and join in. It was a wonderful time and half the food was given out before I left the parking lot. When I got to the alley, where my 'regulars' are I quickly gave out the rest of them. Prayer, burgers, chilled water and laughter were enjoyed by everyone there. A vanilla milk shake was enjoyed by one, but the trip downtown, was anything but vanilla. Until next time. --John
PS. I reminded my friends in the alley that in two weeks (Sept 30th), we'll have the next barbecue. Please be praying for this day. Pray that an afternoon of God's grace will cover the alley and their hearts. That they will be receptive to God working in their lives and this day will be a testimony they will remember always.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Downtown 9/10/2012
Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, Lord, and am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple. You do what is right and I ask you to guide me. Make your teaching clear...---Psalm 5:7-8a.
Sorry I was unable to get a blog out last week. I had to work Sunday the 2nd and ended up making the trip downtown on Monday the 3rd. With all the stuff I had to keep up with the next couple of days, I just couldn't get the blog out. Luckily, since Monday was the Labor Day holiday, it was pretty much like going down on a Sunday. Yesterday's trip (the 9th) was a good trip. I met with most of the people on the alley off Hooper St where I'll be doing the barbecue at the end of the month (the 30th). It appears as though I've hit a time or a season where my closest homeless friends have stayed in the one location and have looked forward to seeing me as much as I look forward to seeing them. Yesterday, when I showed up I ended up sitting on the hood of my car for probably 30-40 minutes just talking with everyone. I left the trunk of the car open and let them have access to whatever it was they needed; clothes, food and water. It has been so hot here lately that the cold water is one of their favorite things. So the usual gang of Tara, Willie, Dave, and Chris were there. Champagne showed up and a couple others came by but they didn't stay long. Still it was a very enjoyable and satisfying time. I told them I think I'm going to bring some potato salad to the next barbecue. I don't think any of them have had any in a long time. Willie wants me to bring the Jalapeno sausages that I brought to the one last October (he still talks about how he loved those). Please start praying for the barbecue. The plan is for it to be Sunday the 30th at 4:00pm.
Before seeing the barbecue group, I went down to skid row. As I prayer-walked the area, I was specifically looking for someone to pray with. I met Zachariah who was sitting in a wheelchair at sixth and San Julian. He was looking for a meal from me, I was looking for someone to pray with from him. Zach was a big man and said he had gout in his legs. They seemed swollen. He was wanting me to get him some fried chicken at the store he was parked in front of. We talked for a while about the recent changes there on skid row. The police don't let people camp out there on that side of the street until 6:30pm. By 7a.m. you have to be up and out of your tent or you will lose it and end up in jail. I told Zach I would come back and bring him a meal. When I returned after visiting my friends in the alley, I found Zach still waiting for me. He was thankful for the two burgers and the bottle of cold water. He got one meal, I got two opportunities to pray with him. He asked why it took me so long to come back, so I told him about some of the other places I go to to help people. I hadn't told him what I do down there when I first saw him. I'll start looking for him now, he shouldn't be too hard to spot, although he told me he was going to check into a hospital later.
Before leaving I drove by the small street off 9th and Wall St where I started the burgers and doorways ministry. I only had two burgers left and a few bottles of water. I gave them all out, but a couple of people who I had helped on previous trips on that street were a little bummed out that I was out of burgers. I gave out some cans of ravioli and spagetti, but they still seemed disappointed. I'll have to start there the next time when I have more food to give out. --Until next time. John
PS. I have been getting readers to this blog from all over the world. I would love to hear from you and how this blog is of interest. Please feel free to send a comment if you want to. Thanks John
Sorry I was unable to get a blog out last week. I had to work Sunday the 2nd and ended up making the trip downtown on Monday the 3rd. With all the stuff I had to keep up with the next couple of days, I just couldn't get the blog out. Luckily, since Monday was the Labor Day holiday, it was pretty much like going down on a Sunday. Yesterday's trip (the 9th) was a good trip. I met with most of the people on the alley off Hooper St where I'll be doing the barbecue at the end of the month (the 30th). It appears as though I've hit a time or a season where my closest homeless friends have stayed in the one location and have looked forward to seeing me as much as I look forward to seeing them. Yesterday, when I showed up I ended up sitting on the hood of my car for probably 30-40 minutes just talking with everyone. I left the trunk of the car open and let them have access to whatever it was they needed; clothes, food and water. It has been so hot here lately that the cold water is one of their favorite things. So the usual gang of Tara, Willie, Dave, and Chris were there. Champagne showed up and a couple others came by but they didn't stay long. Still it was a very enjoyable and satisfying time. I told them I think I'm going to bring some potato salad to the next barbecue. I don't think any of them have had any in a long time. Willie wants me to bring the Jalapeno sausages that I brought to the one last October (he still talks about how he loved those). Please start praying for the barbecue. The plan is for it to be Sunday the 30th at 4:00pm.
Before seeing the barbecue group, I went down to skid row. As I prayer-walked the area, I was specifically looking for someone to pray with. I met Zachariah who was sitting in a wheelchair at sixth and San Julian. He was looking for a meal from me, I was looking for someone to pray with from him. Zach was a big man and said he had gout in his legs. They seemed swollen. He was wanting me to get him some fried chicken at the store he was parked in front of. We talked for a while about the recent changes there on skid row. The police don't let people camp out there on that side of the street until 6:30pm. By 7a.m. you have to be up and out of your tent or you will lose it and end up in jail. I told Zach I would come back and bring him a meal. When I returned after visiting my friends in the alley, I found Zach still waiting for me. He was thankful for the two burgers and the bottle of cold water. He got one meal, I got two opportunities to pray with him. He asked why it took me so long to come back, so I told him about some of the other places I go to to help people. I hadn't told him what I do down there when I first saw him. I'll start looking for him now, he shouldn't be too hard to spot, although he told me he was going to check into a hospital later.
Before leaving I drove by the small street off 9th and Wall St where I started the burgers and doorways ministry. I only had two burgers left and a few bottles of water. I gave them all out, but a couple of people who I had helped on previous trips on that street were a little bummed out that I was out of burgers. I gave out some cans of ravioli and spagetti, but they still seemed disappointed. I'll have to start there the next time when I have more food to give out. --Until next time. John
PS. I have been getting readers to this blog from all over the world. I would love to hear from you and how this blog is of interest. Please feel free to send a comment if you want to. Thanks John
Monday, August 27, 2012
Downtown 8/26/2012
Rejoice in the Lord always... Always be gentle with others... Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.--Philippians 4:4-7
It is difficult to describle in words how moving this trip was. On the surface I only went down two alleys and under one freeway, yet I handed out close to twenty burgers and about the same number of chilled bottles of water. Since these trips are more a spiritual journey and stem from a desire to "be close to where God is working", the fact that I prayed with just about everyone I met with made this trip the success it was as much as anything. I also need to say that these trips also require prayer ahead of time too. I was unable to make the trip last week. I had been suffering from an abcess tooth and after taking some antibiotics for about a day and a half the pain was subsiding, but the lack of sleep the previous couple of nights had left me exhausted. I must say as I approach another birthday in a couple of months, age has a tendency to talk a little louder than it used to. I can come up with all kinds of reasons to stay home and rest. Yet, if I don't go (when I've been called) who will go in my place? Who will pray with these people and tell them God loves them? It has taken me these three plus years of going to have a place in these peoples' hearts where they not only trust me, but know I'm there to hear and listen to their troubles. Because they know I have a life that is not devoid of problems and burdens, they know I can relate to them.
One of the men Sunday, goes by the name of Santa Barbara. He was with a woman when I met them in the first alley. I was helping another man a couple of hundred yards away when he saw me and told the woman, "That's John, he'll have something for us!" They waited for me to come down to them. Santa Barbara started telling me he was recently released from the hospital where he found out he had a tumor on his kidney. He had been feeling weak and dizzy and started bleeding profusely. He ended up in a hospital for a week. They are scheduling surgery in another week or so. Knowing that he is facing an uncertain future and that that can be unsettling I told him of a recent diagnosis of my own. Then the three of us prayed as I gathered the two of them in my arms. I acknowledged "Lord we know these bodies wear-out and they have defects, but you are the Great Physician. You can heal us or you can use this as a means to draw us closer to you." I continued to pray for His presence and comfort in our lives. When I finished, Santa Barbara started praying. He thanked God for me! He thanked God for me being so faithful as to keep coming down there and ministering to them. I was so humbled. To think I almost listened to that voice that was telling me to stay home and rest, that no one will miss me down there!
I went over to the next alley and saw my friends, Willie, Tara and Dave. A couple of others came by while I talked with them. They always ask how my son is doing and are concerned for my well being. We talked about God's power over human events and how important prayer is. Just before I left them I remembered and shared with them a recent bible teacher teaching about the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. You may recall Samuel was promised and dedicated to the service of God before he was born. He grew up with Eli the High Priest in the temple. Eli had two sons who didn't care about the things of God and their jobs as priests, but cared more about the things of this world and satisfying their lustful desires. This is the environment that Samuel grew up in. This bible teacher said despite this environment, Samuel grew up favored by God because he had a praying mother! I'll always remember this example when it comes to my family and friends and I'll be praying for them!
Well, I had given out all the burgers and only had three bottles of water left. I decided to go by one of my regular stops under the I-10 freeway by San Pedro. On the way over, while waiting for a signal to change at Central, I was approached by a Latino man who held out his cap to me. I gave him some water and a can of beef ravioli. He spoke no English. I would have tried to talk with him more, but the light changed and I had to move on. Under the freeway I found a man named Charles. He was laying down on a blanket, but now the sun was down and it would be dark soon. I got out and gave him the last bottle of water and 3 cans of food. He told me he was hungry. I guess he would have gone to sleep that night without eating if I hadn't come by. I prayed with him before leaving. In fact, the only one I didn't pray with was the man on the street corner.
Well, here was another trip where I started with little energy and my passion was low. I prayed for God to intervene. He did. He multiplied what I had to give and made it cover everyone I met. All praise be to Him! --Until next week. John
It is difficult to describle in words how moving this trip was. On the surface I only went down two alleys and under one freeway, yet I handed out close to twenty burgers and about the same number of chilled bottles of water. Since these trips are more a spiritual journey and stem from a desire to "be close to where God is working", the fact that I prayed with just about everyone I met with made this trip the success it was as much as anything. I also need to say that these trips also require prayer ahead of time too. I was unable to make the trip last week. I had been suffering from an abcess tooth and after taking some antibiotics for about a day and a half the pain was subsiding, but the lack of sleep the previous couple of nights had left me exhausted. I must say as I approach another birthday in a couple of months, age has a tendency to talk a little louder than it used to. I can come up with all kinds of reasons to stay home and rest. Yet, if I don't go (when I've been called) who will go in my place? Who will pray with these people and tell them God loves them? It has taken me these three plus years of going to have a place in these peoples' hearts where they not only trust me, but know I'm there to hear and listen to their troubles. Because they know I have a life that is not devoid of problems and burdens, they know I can relate to them.
One of the men Sunday, goes by the name of Santa Barbara. He was with a woman when I met them in the first alley. I was helping another man a couple of hundred yards away when he saw me and told the woman, "That's John, he'll have something for us!" They waited for me to come down to them. Santa Barbara started telling me he was recently released from the hospital where he found out he had a tumor on his kidney. He had been feeling weak and dizzy and started bleeding profusely. He ended up in a hospital for a week. They are scheduling surgery in another week or so. Knowing that he is facing an uncertain future and that that can be unsettling I told him of a recent diagnosis of my own. Then the three of us prayed as I gathered the two of them in my arms. I acknowledged "Lord we know these bodies wear-out and they have defects, but you are the Great Physician. You can heal us or you can use this as a means to draw us closer to you." I continued to pray for His presence and comfort in our lives. When I finished, Santa Barbara started praying. He thanked God for me! He thanked God for me being so faithful as to keep coming down there and ministering to them. I was so humbled. To think I almost listened to that voice that was telling me to stay home and rest, that no one will miss me down there!
I went over to the next alley and saw my friends, Willie, Tara and Dave. A couple of others came by while I talked with them. They always ask how my son is doing and are concerned for my well being. We talked about God's power over human events and how important prayer is. Just before I left them I remembered and shared with them a recent bible teacher teaching about the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. You may recall Samuel was promised and dedicated to the service of God before he was born. He grew up with Eli the High Priest in the temple. Eli had two sons who didn't care about the things of God and their jobs as priests, but cared more about the things of this world and satisfying their lustful desires. This is the environment that Samuel grew up in. This bible teacher said despite this environment, Samuel grew up favored by God because he had a praying mother! I'll always remember this example when it comes to my family and friends and I'll be praying for them!
Well, I had given out all the burgers and only had three bottles of water left. I decided to go by one of my regular stops under the I-10 freeway by San Pedro. On the way over, while waiting for a signal to change at Central, I was approached by a Latino man who held out his cap to me. I gave him some water and a can of beef ravioli. He spoke no English. I would have tried to talk with him more, but the light changed and I had to move on. Under the freeway I found a man named Charles. He was laying down on a blanket, but now the sun was down and it would be dark soon. I got out and gave him the last bottle of water and 3 cans of food. He told me he was hungry. I guess he would have gone to sleep that night without eating if I hadn't come by. I prayed with him before leaving. In fact, the only one I didn't pray with was the man on the street corner.
Well, here was another trip where I started with little energy and my passion was low. I prayed for God to intervene. He did. He multiplied what I had to give and made it cover everyone I met. All praise be to Him! --Until next week. John
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Downtown 8/12/2012
"Some of God's best lessons can't be learned in a class, they can only be learned on a journey." Bill Johnson, from his book, 'Hosting the Presence'
I had to make a trip out of town on Sunday and didn't know if I'd feel up to stopping by downtown on my way back or not. It was going to be a long trip, three hours of driving each way. I knew it would be another hot day like it has been all week, so on the chance that I'd feel up to stopping on the way back I packed the ice chest and took 15 or so bottles of water with me. On the way back, I went ahead and bought some ice in Bakersfield and started to chill the bottles. I didn't stay too long downtown, just long enough to see some of my regular friends and hand out the cold water. Didn't have any food to give out, just the water, but all who received some were grateful. For people living day-to-day, any help is appreciated. Many times days go by for them without anything to eat or drink that's cold or hot. Receiving a cold drink on a hot day is precious. There is a story in all four gospels about the feeding of the five thousand. Usually, when we hear about it, we are told that this story is repeated four times so we understand God's ability to use underwhelming rescources to cover overwhelming needs. Yesterday, I looked at it a little differently. I was the kid with the five loaves and two fish. I gave what I had away for the Master. He can do amazing things with 15 bottles of water. --Until next week. John
I had to make a trip out of town on Sunday and didn't know if I'd feel up to stopping by downtown on my way back or not. It was going to be a long trip, three hours of driving each way. I knew it would be another hot day like it has been all week, so on the chance that I'd feel up to stopping on the way back I packed the ice chest and took 15 or so bottles of water with me. On the way back, I went ahead and bought some ice in Bakersfield and started to chill the bottles. I didn't stay too long downtown, just long enough to see some of my regular friends and hand out the cold water. Didn't have any food to give out, just the water, but all who received some were grateful. For people living day-to-day, any help is appreciated. Many times days go by for them without anything to eat or drink that's cold or hot. Receiving a cold drink on a hot day is precious. There is a story in all four gospels about the feeding of the five thousand. Usually, when we hear about it, we are told that this story is repeated four times so we understand God's ability to use underwhelming rescources to cover overwhelming needs. Yesterday, I looked at it a little differently. I was the kid with the five loaves and two fish. I gave what I had away for the Master. He can do amazing things with 15 bottles of water. --Until next week. John
Monday, August 6, 2012
Downtown 8/5/2012
"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth, sing the glory of his name, give to him glorious praise. Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds!'" Psalm 66:1-3a
I decided to go a little earlier Sunday so I could get home sooner for my daughter's birthday celebration that night. I arrived down at skid row around 1:30pm and prayer-walked the area. I had asked God to give me someone to pray with, but nothing materialized. In retrospect, there were proably a couple of opportunities that I didn't pick up on at the time. I've got to get better at listening to Him.
I had already picked-up some bottled water and ice before leaving home, but hadn't hit the "Box" yet to pick-up any food. I drove by a couple of places to see who was around and found Willie, Dave and EJ in one of the alleys. They told me Chris and Tara Lee were over on the other alley where we had the barbecue last month. I told them I'd go get some burgers and meet them over there. When I returned what unfolded was one of my most memorable times ever downtown.
As I pulled down the alley I could see these five men sitting around waiting for me. Keep in mind these are five African-American men who are all within a couple of years of my age except for Chris who is about 30 years old. So as I pulled up, with the windows down, I started singing Otis Redding's classic, "Sittin' on the dock of the bay". Wow, did their faces light up! EJ said, "Oh boy, John's singing Otis Redding!" For those of you too young to know this song, you'll have to pull it up on youtube. Suffice it to say, it's a perfect song for a lazy, hot summer afternoon. Well, I pulled over and parked and after handing out burgers and water EJ said, "John, sit down here (pointing to a milk crate) and pray for us." It was equal parts a command and a plea. What happened next was totally unplanned and unrehearsed, there was no fear and no nervousness. I simply started telling them about a couple of things from the church service I went to that morning. One of which was a short video that consisted of 7 or 8 very famous people who experienced failure early in their lives. I only spoke of two. They were Michael Jordan, who didn't make his high school basketball team and went home and cried. The other was Abraham Lincoln who had 2 failed businesses and lost eight elections before becoming president. I shared with them how I related to these people because in my 20's I led a life of recklessness and irresponsibility. I always had a job and worked hard, but could never get ahead because of my self-destructive behavior. You think maybe I had their attention by now? I went on to say that there was a verse the pastor quoted that, although I had heard it many times before, there was one word in it that jumped out at me like never before. The verse was in Hebrews 4:14. It talks about Jesus being our high priest before God, but the writer uses the adjective "great" high priest. The verse goes on to say that Jesus is able to sypathize with our weaknesses because he had been tested in every way like we have, but he was without sin. We even talked about Peter denying him 3 times (Peter's failure). Then the verse finishes with, "let's approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need [because of our 'great' high priest]." I ended by praying for us all and when I finished Tara started singing the old gospel song, "He was alone". It was really a special moment.
About four years ago after reading Hudson Taylor's biography I felt the desire to preach the gospel in non-church settings and started praying about it. I've preached the gospel in churches on Sunday mornings many times and adult bible classes too. But none of it compares to giving a short gospel message in a dusty alley downtown to five needy people who desparately wanted to hear it. I felt like George Whitfield and John Wesley must have felt when they started preaching in open fields in England to people who weren't welcome in the churches of that day because they were too poor or led 'sinful' lives. I've got news---we're all in that group. It's not every week that I get an opportunity like this, but it's memorable when these times do happen.
I must have stayed and talked with my friends for about an hour, just hanging out and talking about 'stuff'. We even tentatively scheduled the next barbecue for the last Sunday in September--before my schedule changes back to nights.
Remember when I started this blog today and asked God to "give me someone to pray with"? I said I think I missed a couple of opportunities to pray with some folks on skid row. Yet God graciously gave me this other opportunity a little while later. Luckily I didn't miss this one. Praise His name always, for He will give you the desires of your heart. ---Until next time. John
I decided to go a little earlier Sunday so I could get home sooner for my daughter's birthday celebration that night. I arrived down at skid row around 1:30pm and prayer-walked the area. I had asked God to give me someone to pray with, but nothing materialized. In retrospect, there were proably a couple of opportunities that I didn't pick up on at the time. I've got to get better at listening to Him.
I had already picked-up some bottled water and ice before leaving home, but hadn't hit the "Box" yet to pick-up any food. I drove by a couple of places to see who was around and found Willie, Dave and EJ in one of the alleys. They told me Chris and Tara Lee were over on the other alley where we had the barbecue last month. I told them I'd go get some burgers and meet them over there. When I returned what unfolded was one of my most memorable times ever downtown.
As I pulled down the alley I could see these five men sitting around waiting for me. Keep in mind these are five African-American men who are all within a couple of years of my age except for Chris who is about 30 years old. So as I pulled up, with the windows down, I started singing Otis Redding's classic, "Sittin' on the dock of the bay". Wow, did their faces light up! EJ said, "Oh boy, John's singing Otis Redding!" For those of you too young to know this song, you'll have to pull it up on youtube. Suffice it to say, it's a perfect song for a lazy, hot summer afternoon. Well, I pulled over and parked and after handing out burgers and water EJ said, "John, sit down here (pointing to a milk crate) and pray for us." It was equal parts a command and a plea. What happened next was totally unplanned and unrehearsed, there was no fear and no nervousness. I simply started telling them about a couple of things from the church service I went to that morning. One of which was a short video that consisted of 7 or 8 very famous people who experienced failure early in their lives. I only spoke of two. They were Michael Jordan, who didn't make his high school basketball team and went home and cried. The other was Abraham Lincoln who had 2 failed businesses and lost eight elections before becoming president. I shared with them how I related to these people because in my 20's I led a life of recklessness and irresponsibility. I always had a job and worked hard, but could never get ahead because of my self-destructive behavior. You think maybe I had their attention by now? I went on to say that there was a verse the pastor quoted that, although I had heard it many times before, there was one word in it that jumped out at me like never before. The verse was in Hebrews 4:14. It talks about Jesus being our high priest before God, but the writer uses the adjective "great" high priest. The verse goes on to say that Jesus is able to sypathize with our weaknesses because he had been tested in every way like we have, but he was without sin. We even talked about Peter denying him 3 times (Peter's failure). Then the verse finishes with, "let's approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need [because of our 'great' high priest]." I ended by praying for us all and when I finished Tara started singing the old gospel song, "He was alone". It was really a special moment.
About four years ago after reading Hudson Taylor's biography I felt the desire to preach the gospel in non-church settings and started praying about it. I've preached the gospel in churches on Sunday mornings many times and adult bible classes too. But none of it compares to giving a short gospel message in a dusty alley downtown to five needy people who desparately wanted to hear it. I felt like George Whitfield and John Wesley must have felt when they started preaching in open fields in England to people who weren't welcome in the churches of that day because they were too poor or led 'sinful' lives. I've got news---we're all in that group. It's not every week that I get an opportunity like this, but it's memorable when these times do happen.
I must have stayed and talked with my friends for about an hour, just hanging out and talking about 'stuff'. We even tentatively scheduled the next barbecue for the last Sunday in September--before my schedule changes back to nights.
Remember when I started this blog today and asked God to "give me someone to pray with"? I said I think I missed a couple of opportunities to pray with some folks on skid row. Yet God graciously gave me this other opportunity a little while later. Luckily I didn't miss this one. Praise His name always, for He will give you the desires of your heart. ---Until next time. John
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