My Words: A Reflection of My Heart

I have a pet peeve which isn’t surprising to all who really know me—I have several.  The one that bothers me the most is swear words, curse words, bad language, and filthy words. Call it whatever you want, it bothers me.  I’m not pious over this type of behavior. Curse words are not beyond my behaviors.  I can let them fly that’s for sure but I feel badly when I do.  I always try to ask for forgiveness right away.  I know that when I was living a sinful life I thought that language added “salt” to what I said.  Those words made me look worldly, mature, and tough! Now that I’m much older and much wiser and with a heart for Jesus those words sting when I hear them.  I think they sound harsh and depending on what’s going on at the time, they sound violent.

I was attending a seminar just recently.  A beautiful woman in her late forties was speaking about her life. She “peppered” her speech with words that I felt were offensive.  I lost the focus of what she had accomplished, the things that she had been through, and the injustices that she had suffered because of her language. She overcame a lifetime of problems but it was all lost to me.  It was a good lesson for me.  Watch my adjectives!

I have worked in the restaurant business for many years.  I was amazed at the old folks who came in for service.  Many used swear words as freely as they breathed air.  When I worked in a nursing home, I was shocked at the elderly who were at death’s door but used swear words almost every other word they spoke.  They were often bitter, hateful people who had many few people visiting them.  I wondered if there was a direct correlation to their words, attitude, and people who were left in their lives.

When I was the principal of a charter school and the “scholars” were referred to me because of their bad language, I would often ask them if their mother taught them to talk like that.  Did their dad teach them that language?  I remember one young man’s answer when I asked him if his grandma had taught him that kind of language.  He thought for a moment and then answered, “Well, yes!”

After using those kinds of words during my rebellious twenties and my non-conforming thirties, I decided that those kinds of words make the initiator look very uneducated.   Don’t get me wrong.  I still struggle with those words.  I find that the more I’m around others who talk like that the more those words remain on the surface of my thinking.  They’ll slip out if I’m not especially careful about what I’m going to say.  I don’t want to be caught up in that language anymore.  It’s old behavior for me and it is something that I struggle to overcome.  Most importantly, I understand that the words that are coming out of my mouth are a direct reflection of what’s going on in my heart. When I’m not spending time in prayer, when I’m not fellowshipping with other believers, when I don’t meditate on the Word, I gravitate toward the world.

Word abusers, who get caught up in using four-lettered words, are limiting their vocabulary.  My mom told me that every word that we speak is bottled up and we will give an account of those words when we stand at judgment!  Ugh! I pity everyone standing in line behind me because it’s going to take a while when it’s my turn! I don’t know if that’s scriptural or not but I want to be judged on my encouraging words; words that I used to lift up people.  Seriously, the Bible tells us in Psalm 19:14 (NIV) “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Most of us “practice” at using swear words when we first start that kind of language.  We think if we add that word here or put this word in there it will give us some authority, some respect, like we’re in control.  I believe that the things that we put into our minds can get bolded just like the “bold” key we use on the computer.  When we bold stamp those words on our brain they remain there.  I know!  I have to apologize for my language.  I ask God to help me before I speak.  I ask for forgiveness when I slip.  Most importantly, I know when I memorize scripture, when I increase my vocabulary by learning new words that are good words, when I practice thinking before I speak; I do a much better job at speaking.  That woman I told you about earlier could just have easily been me.  I don’t want to be remembered for my filthy mouth.  I want to be remembered for being positive, educated, and eloquent when I speak.  I want to reflect Jesus Christ through my language.  Proverbs 8:8 “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.” And one last thing my grandmother taught me, “Keep your words soft and sweet, because you never know when you’ll have to eat them!” God bless you!

God has NEVER failed me!

God is good!  I remember in my youth Oral Roberts was on the television weekly. His message was always the same:  “God is good!”  I love that saying even to this day because it is so true.  A life in Christ doesn’t mean that we won’t have hard times or that everything will be easy.  He’s good all the time!  There are many things that I struggle over but God is always with me.  I may not always hear from Him or feel Him but He does not abandon His own!  God is true to His promises.

At one time in my life, I hadn’t “heard” from God.  I thought He left me!  I felt that since I had been such a sinner, He just had given up on me.  I thought a great deal about my life as a sinner and my new life as a Christian.  I knew that my worse day as a Christian was by far better than my best day as a sinner. I made up my mind that if I never felt God again, I was going to serve Him.  I sought godly counsel about not feeling God.  The man of God I spoke to asked me one question and then said something that I will never forget.  He asked me if God had ever failed me.  I immediately answered that God had never failed me!  The man then said to me that if God failed me today, it would be the first time! What a profound statement!  God had never failed me!  He is good all the time.  He may not answer my prayers the way I want them answered but there was an answer.  He may have withheld things that I thought I couldn’t live without but it was for my own good.  God had never failed me!  He is good all the time!

How about you?  How has your life been?  Have you made a decision to accept Jesus as your savior?  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  God loves you no matter what you’ve done in your life.  He sent his son as a sacrifice for your sins.  The plan of salvation is simple as ABC.  Accept!  Believe!  Confess!  Acknowledge Jesus as you Savior by accepting him into your heart.  Believe that he rose from the dead.  Then confess your new found Savior to someone else!

Please contact us at our web site if you made a decision to change your life today.  I’ll answer you and we will send you some literature on your new life in Christ.  We will also be glad to refer you to a church near you for discipleship.  God bless you!

Absolutes

Nothing ever changes!  This never works!  No one ever listens! You never change.   My computer never works.  This printer never prints! You’re never in your office!  Every time I call, you’re on the phone!  Everything is always the same.  Nothing changes. I have been acutely aware of people speaking in absolutes.  The absolutes can be about people, machinery, equipment, even situations which I’m sure you can come up with more to add to my list.

I have been keenly sensitive to my own absolutes.  Mine sound much like those that I’ve been hearing.  I have spent some time pondering the “absolute” attitude or even mind-set.  I use the words “mind-set” because when I ask staff to not speak in an absolute, to speak specifically of the problem; most of them take a few minutes before they grasp the idea of my instructions.  Some don’t ever understand what I’m getting at.

When I looked up the word “absolute”, I was surprised to find that outside of the absolute alcohol definition; most of the bullet points for the word were positive, not negative.  (By the way, absolute alcohol means pure and unadulterated which may fit in with what I’m thinking as well.)  The definitions included free from imperfection; complete; perfect as in absolute liberty. Another meant free from restriction or limitation, not limited in any way as in absolute command or absolute freedom. This definition even uses the word positive:  positive, certain as in absolute in opinion or absolute evidence. However the definition that best fits what I’m hearing and thinking is complete, outright as in an absolute lie or in absolute denial.  If I use the Thesaurus to look up synonyms, I find words like total, complete, utter, fixed, unquestionable, unconditional, conclusive, firm, resolved, definite, unmovable, final, and unchangeable.

Persons speaking in absolutes are most often frustrated by situations that they have no control over; even equipment that they don’t understand or have no control over.  They have no hope that the problem can be changed.  I’ve spoken to many parents and spouses who use absolutes when they’re talking about their loved ones.  He can’t change!

From my own experience, I know that I can’t see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and begin to spout off absolutes:  This never changes!  We’re always out of money!  Everything is always broken! I’ve found myself with an attitude of superstition not wanting to say: What next?  Can any anything else go wrong? I feel that if I’m absolutely sure that there will be the next thing that happens and that anything else will certainly be happening within the next few minutes.  Absolute thinking comes from frustrations to situations or people.  Absolute thinking in this case is always linked to something negative event, situation, or behavior.  Knowing how to solve problems can help with the absolute mind-set.  Many times the problem exists based on my own perception or from the fact that I’m not getting my way.  I don’t have control!  I often feel “under the gun”, stressed, and very short for time when I begin to think in absolutes.  I know that I can solidify that thinking by allowing it to continue.  Then it becomes a mind-set for me.

The steps to problem solving include:

1)  Do I understand why the problem exists or do I even need to understand why the problem exists?  If I do understand why the problem exists, I’ll have a better time resolving it.  Defining the root cause of the problem will help me to logically think it out or to be ready to explain the problem when I’m seeking help.

• What can I see that causes me to think there’s a problem?
• Where is it happening?
• How is it happening?
• When is it happening?
• With whom is it happening? (As a director, I need to address issues more than people.)
• Why is it happening?
• I can write down a five-sentence description of the problem.

2)  I should try to clearly identify the problem and any obstacles that it presents.  Often I’m seeing many problems that are a result of one problem.  The computer doesn’t work.  I never can get to do what I want.  The screen is always dark.

I’ve made these statements when the computer has been unplugged or I forgot that I shut it down the last time I was on it.  My mind goes immediately to a bigger problem when I have those rambling, negative, absolute statements going through my brain.

3)  Once I’ve clearly identified the problem, I need to understand what I have control over and what I don’t.  I must try to resolve the problem within the areas of what I do have control over.  Do I have control over plugging the computer into the socket?  Sure I do!  Do I have control over the smoke that’s coming out of it?  I don’t think so!  I’ll need help!

4)  Do I have all the information I need to resolve this problem?  Solving problems is like being a detective.  I should do my investigation of the facts before I
jump to those absolutes.

5)  I should not jump to conclusions.  Once I have all the information, once I’ve analyzed it carefully, once I’ve looked at it from different vantage points, I should be as objective as possible.

6)  Now I’m ready to take action.  I’ve got a strategy in place.  Can I take care of this problem myself or do I need help?  Do I need a second opinion?  If I don’t have control over this situation, do I know someone who can help me?  Does someone else have control over it?

Simply put, problem solving includes:

1) Defining the problem.

2) Looking for potential causes of the problem.

3) Identifying alternatives for approaches to resolve the problem.

4) Selecting an approach to resolve the problems.

5) Planning the implementation of the best alternative.  Take action!

6) Re-evaluating the action plan.

7) Verifying if the problem has been resolved.

I’m praying that God will help me to be more aware of my “absolute mentality” so that I can change it.  My desire is to be a positive role model as was Jesus.  God designed me to be a problem-solver and to be a leader.  I can’t lead people when I have that negative nothing ever changes attitude.  I am in the business of change!  Finally, I’m going to instruct the other leaders of my organization to identify their absolute thinking as well.  When we are bringing a problem to the table, we will identify the root of the problem and bring possible solutions as well.  We’re a team that has a foundation built on the principles of God’s Word.  There is ABSOLUTELY nothing that we can’t handle when we ask for God’s wisdom and stay in prayer.  Absolutely!

Called to Prayer

Today in the director’s meeting we finished a devotional that we been reading in for the past few weeks, entitled Called to Pray by George O. Wood, an Assembly of God minister.  Today we read about churches being called to pray and to offer pray for the hurting.  Wood’s theory is that some churches have become little more than social clubs.

The directors and I talked about the parallel of the mission to a church.  We agreed that everything that we do at the mission must be started, end and centered in prayer.  One shelter director told me that he has instructed his staff to pray at each shift change.  At the directors’ weekly meeting we spend an hour on more studying the Word, identifying areas of need and identifying prayer requests.  At trainings, we begin with prayer.  During events, we start with prayer.  At public events we pray to open the event.  We believe in prayer being more than a ritual yet many times our staff feels beaten down emotionally by the situations that we deal with everyday.

Discouragement sets in when life keeps happening.  Clients die from relapse.  They die because their bodies are worn out or riddled with disease from their addiction.  The homeless succumb to the elements or from the environment that they live in every day.
We deal with the reality and harshness of these issues.  Death is tough.  Relapse is discouraging. Seeing clients who are not ready to change but choose to return to a life of destruction is discouraging.   During these times, we often forget the victories we see.  Many times we get caught up in only the negativity—the loss.  When discouragement hits, it’s sometimes hard to remember to pray.  Yet, our first response should be to pray.

Prayer is vital to our mission.  In our newsletter, we often request prayer from our supporters.  When we send out thank you letters, we request prayer from our donors.  Many times when staff members are making presentations, we ask for prayer. We know that there is power in prayer.  We take great comfort in knowing that people are holding the mission up in prayer.  We know that in God honors those prayers.

Crossroads Mission is very much like a church.  We struggle with real-life issues.  We are in ministry every hour of the day.  With that in mind, once again, I am requesting prayer from you, the reader.  Just as you remember your church in prayer, we need your prayers.   Thank you!

Hot, Hot, Hot in Yuma, Arizona

Does anyone think it’s miserably hot besides me?  Hot! Hot! Hot! I think the older I get, the lower my tolerance for the heat.  I’m sure that the winter visitors have the right idea by coming to the desert when it’s cooler and leaving when the sun bears down on us.  As I was hurrying from the car to the house tonight, I took a quick glance at my plants and bushes in my yard.  Wow!  They looked fairly miserable too!  I will get out there and water them this evening but the operative word here is “evening.”  I practically had to shove the dog out the door to get him to go outside.  He’s no dummy!  It’s hot outside! Ah, how comfortable my house feels!  Thank you God for air conditioning!

Of course, my mind eventually turns toward the homeless.  I see vivid images of men sitting outside in any little scrap of shade they can find.  I see some of the homeless women standing around waiting for meal time in the shelter.  Where do they come?  Many are camped out on the desert.  Many are camped out along the Colorado River to be close to the water.

I think about the kitchen staff.  They have cooked in a little military, field kitchen for over 90 days now to make sure the hungry got fed while our kitchen is being remodeled.  That little aluminum box has been a God-send. This temporary kitchen has an AC unit on it but the constant opening and closing of the door, taking the food into the dining room, and just getting the job done certainly doesn’t keep it cool.  If it’s hot outside, it’s just as hot or even hotter in that kitchen.

When I was at the main campus this morning, I poked my head in the door of our temporary kitchen facility.  Kim, one of the cook’s, was already preparing lunch.  She was just removing the patties from the grill when I greeted her and her helpers.  I could smell the hamburger patties and they smelled delectable.  To the lay person, I’m sure it doesn’t seem to be a big deal to be cooking hamburger patties on a grill in an aluminum box.  But consider, the kitchen staff is preparing over 300 meals a day in this heat and those folks coming in to eat are hungry.  Many eat one meal a day or even one meal every couple of days.  Our kitchen staff is dedicated to making sure that the meals are served hot, nutritious, and well-balanced.  Thank God for the kitchen staff, helpers, and volunteers who work each day to put out every one of those plates.  And to all of you folks who remember the Crossroads Mission’s clients and provide donations of food and monies, especially thank God for you too!  You make this ministry possible!

By the way, it’s officially evening and I’m going to brave the heat to water my plants.

Celebrating 10 Years of Drug Court

June 4, 2009

Tonight I had the privilege of attending the Yuma County Adult Probation Office Drug Court graduation ceremony. Every drug court graduation is special but this one tonight was extra special. APO was celebrating the 39th graduation in 10 years. What a record. Retired Judge, the Honorable Tom C. Cole was the main speaker. Judge Cole was instrumental in starting drug court in Yuma County. I was thrilled to witness the 16 graduates receive their certificates of graduation. Families united; healthy looking people of all ages; tax paying citizens; and smiles indicating joy from the inside out. What a testament to change!

Crossroads Mission is proud to partner with Drug Court. Often drug court participants are court ordered to the residential program at the Mission. Once they complete the program at Crossroads, they return to the county program. The participants then complete the remaining “sentence” of the drug court program. The combined support of the residential program followed by the support of the drug court program reinforces recovery goals. Not everyone has or needs such an intensive program but the longer an individual can stay in a program, the opportunities for staying sober are increased exponentially.

Drug court programs across the United States have helped addicts deal with the disease of addiction. Learning to live with the disease or perhaps learning to live past the disease (a better way to say it) is a matter of using the tools of recovery to stay sober. Crossroads Mission philosophy is the principles of a 12-step program coupled with a spiritual “awakening” in Jesus Christ to help people move into the action stage of change. The residential program followed by the groups, accountability, and long term support of drug court provide ample support to people who might very well be dead or serving prison sentences. Please remember that prison itself is something but the prison “bars” created by the addiction itself are just as debilitating as any locked facility.

I was reminded tonight that there are several good programs in the Yuma community for the treatment of drug or alcohol abuse. Some might look at the so many programs as being competitive but when we help make healthier, safer, drug-free neighborhoods, we are united for the greater good—a better community. Drug Court in Yuma County has made a difference in this community for 10 years. Crossroads Mission has made a difference in this community for 50 years. Yuma County’s Adult Probation Drug Court collaborating with Crossroads Mission is paying dividends to this community. The Yuma County Board of Supervisors should be commended for continuing to support programs such as drug court.

We’re keeping busy at Crossroads Mission!

I haven’t blogged for several months and it is just plain procrastination.  Of course, having so many activities during our 50^th year celebration has had a great deal to do with it also.  We are focused on our capital campaign to raise funds for the new family shelter.  Having fund raisers in honor of our 50^th birthday has kept staff and volunteers very busy.  The family shelter is such a necessity.  For several years we have taken families in at the shelter who were requesting emergency shelter and just made do with what we have.  We have been over capacity for years.  Families are housed in one room and sleep on the floor.  While the shelter is crowded, we are proud to offer services that help people return to “normal” living.

Three department directors and I attended the 96^th annual Association of Gospel Rescue Mission’s conference this past week.  Each year it is held in a major city and this year’s hosting mission was the Denver Rescue Mission in Denver, Colorado.  These conferences are structured to be informative, educational, and spiritually refreshing.  The speakers and teachers are solely selected because of their expertise in the topic, heart for mission work, and professional qualifications.  This year’s conference was exceptional.  I hesitated to attend because of the economy but it was well worth the sacrifice.  The information and knowledge that we gained will be shared with the Board of Directors, staff members, and volunteers.  I admit that prior to the conference; I was suffering from burn out.  I am amazed at how God has so wonderfully designed our bodies, that we can be rejuvenated by rest.  The conference was jammed pack with sessions during the day and late into the night but I am home—rested and ready to implement many new ideas.  Thank you, God, for the opportunity to learn, get rested, and feel spiritually renewed!

What a way to end the year!

Crossroads Mission has participated in the Downtown Christmas Party for the Poor (DCPP) for many years so it was easy to accept the lead position at the request of the DCPP committee.  Not knowing what to expect, we decided to have only one day for the celebration this year.  Christmas Day came and left like a whirl wind.  The Mission property, shelter, and kitchen were full of volunteers, staff, Board members, and our guests.  God blessed us with beautiful weather which provided an opportunity for the many planned activities.  Of course, the voucher store was open.  The homeless and needy could shop for warm clothing, coats, and blankets.  The children got to visit Santa at his booth and each received a toy.  Cha-Cha the clown was face painting and was absolutely the most colorfully dressed person there!   I can’t forget the meal..  The kitchen staff went way beyond their normal routine as we served over 3000 meals.  That’s the most meals served on location at the Mission in the history of the Mission.  The volunteers were fantastic.  We try to find jobs for everyone but usually there are more volunteers than jobs.  Many folks had an opportunity to visit with our guests and each other. 

 

At the end of our Thanksgiving and Christmas events, I feel honored to be able to serve even though it’s my job.  Seeing people coming to gather to help us help the needy is overwhelming.    With two holidays almost back-to-back that focus on giving thanks and giving -period, it has been a blessed end of the year. 

Our 3-Days of Thanksgiving!

I know that I can’t always have it my way and I was reminded of that on the second day of our 3-Days of Thanksgiving celebration.  It rained!  In the desert, where you can take chances on almost any given day that it won’t rain, it rained!  I said a silent prayer to God and told Him that it was His day and I was only here to serve.  I thought that His reasons were greater than my reasons.  We would just work around that rain and would welcome it. 

 

We had invited the homeless, had staff and over 200 volunteers standing by!  I learned a valuable lesson that day.  Even in the challenge of feeding over 750 people, God’s grace is sufficient.  We managed to move that many hungry folks through the chapel in a couple of hours. Even some of the volunteers took time to “break bread” with us.  At the end of the day, I felt good about what we had accomplished.  The volunteers got to serve, the hungry were fed and we headed into the 3^rd and final day of the event.  No rain on the last day and once again we were outside with beautiful weather.

 

The 3-Days of Thanksgiving Celebration belongs to our community.  During those 3 days, we served over 2600 meals.  While some might frown on our 3-day celebration, we use that opportunity to help the homeless and needy of Yuma County.  This year we were pleased to have several agencies and organizations join us to provide services.  Cenpatico of Arizona was there.  This is the State’s Regional Behavioral Health Authority for this area.  This professional, helpful, agency helps people find assistance for a wide range of mental health issues and support.  The Humane Society of Yuma sent a veterinarian and staff to the event to give rabies shots and to schedule appointments for spaying or neutering the homeless folk’s animals.  Yuma City and County Housing Authorities were there to help people find permanent housing.  The Veteran’s Administration was there handing out clothing, shoes, and other items to our homeless vets.  Legacy Church and Generations Church stood by to minister to those who had questions or who were seeking to change their lives spiritually.  Greg Luna of “The Barbershop” was providing haircuts.  (Greg had a waiting line of over 2 hours and he gave 17 cuts!)  A big “Thank You” to all of them for attending and serving.

 

Also, during the event, Crossroads staff members are working to find those individual needs of the folks attending.  Case managers complete a survey that helps them  understand the individual needs of the homeless.  They are able to provide referrals for needed services or tell them how to go about receiving programs or services at Crossroads, The voucher store is open to provide clothing, shoes, household items, blankets and coats to folks who need these items.  This year over 21, 000 items were given out.  This was a record breaker!

 

If you missed serving, come see us next year or perhaps you would like to come down to visit us on Christmas Day.  We expect close to 3,000 that day for the Downtown Christmas Party for the Poor and Crossroads Mission’s Christmas Day activities.    Please don’t be worried about the rain or any bad weather!  God is doing His job and we will continue to do ours!

Homelessness as choice?

Of course my interest peaked, as I heard the “teaser” on television.  That channel’s investigative reporter had a startling headline story that Homelessness was Sometimes a Choice.  Being my cynical self, I could almost write the script on what the “big” story was about.  The reporter would be diligent to “uncover the truth,” and I knew it was unlikely that the truth would have revealed at all.  When a reporter seeks out someone who chooses to be homeless they must be careful to choose a person who has the mental capacity to make a sound decision.  The homeless are a vulnerable group and should be treated with respect and dignity. Anyone interviewing a homeless person should consider if the interviewee really understands the question.  Most importantly, does the interviewer understand their question?

 

After working at the Mission nine years, I don’t believe people make a choice to be homeless.  They are thrown into situations that force them into homelessness.  Loss of a job, divorce, domestic violence, loss of a home or any number of reasons that cause homelessness force the person into homelessness.  They learn to survive in their homeless state and then the choice is made to be homeless.  They really didn’t have a choice in the beginning.  There hasn’t been one homeless person I’ve interviewed that was sitting at home watching television and started thinking “I’m going to give up my job, my home, and my family, because I want to be homeless.”

 

Many homeless have low levels of motivation due to years of depression or mental illness.  They may be hiding from society because of anxiety from socializing with other people.  They may be hiding from the law.  Most of those I’ve talked to who tell me that are running from the law are paranoid.  Many of the homeless have been abused, neglected, or had a moment in their lives that something mental just broke.  I see many talking to themselves, even hitting themselves, or simply being by themselves in a world that has rejected them.    

 

There’s a man who I’ve seen walking the streets of Yuma.  Not once have I seen him at the Mission.  He’s very dirty.  His hair hasn’t been washed in months; maybe years.  His clothes are dirty and ragged.  His shoes are two sizes too big for him.  He’s usually deep in a conversation with some invisible person.  Recently, very early in the morning, I was entering a building for a meeting.  I had to climb up a flight of steep stairs.  As I turned the corner to climb up the stairs I noticed that he was sitting on the steps about ¾ of the way up in my direct path.  I hesitated for one a split second because I wasn’t sure what to do.  He looks fairly rugged.  I took the first step and he saw me.  I wondered if he felt the same way about me as I had when I first saw him because he quickly scrambled up the rest of the way.   I continued my flight up the stairs and heard him talking somewhere down the way.   He was crouched down behind the block wall by the entrance to the elevator.  I still hesitated because the man had not made eye contact and was talking rapidly now.  As I walked by him I kept an ever-watchful eye on him.  He was talking about spies, and subversive activities taking place somewhere in his mind.  He talked about government infiltration.    Was he a Veteran?  Did his family know where he was located?  Did he have any one who cared for him?

 

I also thought of the day that Jesus was getting out of the boat and a demon-possessed man approached him.  In Mark 5:1-9, we learn that this man lived in the tombs and cut himself with the stones.  He had been bound hand and foot but couldn’t even be held with chains.  Jesus was compassionate towards the man but unmerciful to the demons that possessed the man.  That man was homeless. 

 

I thought of the man on the stairway as the reporter would make her story line real to the listening audience.  Did she hurt our cause?  Does the average citizen really understand the homeless?   I believe that God intends for us to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves.  The majority of the homeless can’t take care of themselves just as the man in the tombs could not take care of himself during Jesus’ day.    

 

My message to the reporter:  get all the facts; you can call the Mission for information;  you can come visit the Mission and learn much about the homeless and the addicted.    I’m calling the reporter and inviting her to lunch.  Maybe she can get the big picture for her next story.