That was the moment for me when my faith that God would actually do what I asked Him to do outweighed my doubt that He wouldn't". --Darren Wilson describing the circumstances surrounding the decision to film inside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem as the ending to his "Father of Lights" movie in 2011.
I'm learning that major breakthroughs happen after lengthy periods of nothing happening and/or big obstacles being overcome. I have been praying and investing time in two seemingly impossible situations. One is the burned-out church at 27th and Paloma and the other is bringing the Kingdom to a group of people living in an alley near 25th and San Pedro. As with many things in this life, lengthy periods of time go by before a discernible change is observed. And....I really don't have a problem with that. Somehow, I feel these two situations are related, though I'm not sure how.
Sunday on my drive into downtown I was praying about this group of people living in the alley. By now you've read about the many trips lately I've made to see them. Their numbers are growing. Last Sunday night there were probably fifteen people actually living there. There are a couple of people living there that are confined to wheelchairs. One person, in particular, it seems that no matter what I do for this person, it's always met with a "What else you got?" kind of mentality. Not exactly the type of response one expects from a homeless person. Never a thank you or even a smile. More an attitude of expectation and entitlement than anything. I specifically prayed for this person on my way down there Sunday. Well this last Sunday I bought some burgers for them along with bottled water. It was the first time I brought food in a couple of months. I didn't have a lot of food, basically just one burger for everyone, but it was received well. Wouldn't you know, I got a "Thank-you John" from the one in the wheelchair and even a smile. One of the other guys there asked me to pray for everyone. Now at this point I was at one end of this alley community and we all gathered around to pray, about 10 of us at that point. So here we are arms around each others shoulders others holding hands and I prayed for peace and safety to come down here. Pretty much a typical prayer I would pray for these folks. Everything was fine, people were smiling and happy. The guy that had told everyone to gather around, he and I went back to talking to each other. Then about five minutes later, the person in the wheelchair that had been so uncharacteristically pleasant to me, started getting into it with a few of the others to the point where blows were exchanged! This initial fight was broken up, but a few minutes later another person got into it with the wheel chair person. I kept praying for peace during this time and momentarily things would quiet down and then flair up again. Carmen told me it happens every night. I'm not sure what to make of it. I know if the Kingdom is making en roads into a community, the Enemy will come to fight over the territory. Perhaps, that is an acknowledgement that something there is worth fighting for (spiritually speaking ). I walked away during one of the lulls in the fighting and walked back towards my car. Becky had come back and she and I talked for a while before I left. It was a strange and yet troubling trip. I had experienced quite a high when the person in the wheelchair was so thankful towards me and when we had all gathered around to pray together. Remember I didn't even ask them to gather for prayer, they asked me! But then the reality of too many people living so close to one another and the difficulties of living in so much need sparked anger and bitterness flared up. Side by side, the tares and the wheat grow up together. I'll keep praying and fighting (spiritually) for their souls. I'm committed to interceding for them.
When I left them, it was well into the night. The burned-out church had not changed any since the last week. I prayer-walked the neighborhood before leaving. I am reminded of Paul's admonition to the Ephesian church where in Chapter 6:12 he writes, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." There are several descriptions in the New Testament of Paul entering a city and initially everything was going well and then all of the sudden it was as if a switch was turned and people became hostile to his message. I didn't experience hostility towards me, but hostilities definitely broke out. It was disturbing, but I recognize it for what it is and will keep working the area. I will not be deterred. --Until next time. John
Thursday, October 15, 2015
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