Last night I had one of those interesting experiences that come with living at a homeless shelter. One of our newest residents, Carl, was suspended for breaking our alcohol policy his first night here. Late last night he came in anyway asking to get into his room. He was sloppy drunk, having trouble speaking and walking. Due to his suspension we couldn't let him into his room and told him he'd have to leave. Because of his drunken state and the fact that the temperature was around freezing I decided to give him a ride to where he was staying: an abandoned building, or in his words an "abandominium."
On the drive there, Matt and I asked him about his life and his addiction. He told us he had no plan and no hope. We tried to share that the only true hope is found in Jesus Christ. Carl told us he doesn't believe in Jesus as God's son, but he does believe in God. We challenged him to pray to God and ask him to reveal the truth to him. We also pray for him before we dropped him off at his abandominium. He was very appreciative of the ride and our prayers. I guess the rest is in God's hands.
January 25, 2009
January 23, 2009
A new perspective
It might go without saying that living and working at a homeless shelter is giving me a new perspective on a lot of things. This was evidenced during a recent trip to the mall. I went to return a sweater I got for Christmas. I was most delighted to receive the $26 simply for giving back a gift. This caused me to think of some homeless friends who go to great lengths to make a buck. Some begin standing in line at the temp agencies at
I've also started looking at mall employees, none of whose jobs I've ever envied before, as having it pretty well. Many of the folks we serve at
And even my perception of the mall patrons has changed. Somehow I now marvel at how all these folks have the money to spend at these overpriced stores. I now see them, and myself, as privileged. Or maybe I should say blessed. Yes, I am truly blessed. This new perspective helps me to recognize that truth all the more.
January 11, 2009
January newsletter
Greetings friends and family!
Sometimes I feel pretty sure that God chose the wrong man for this job. Serving and ministering to the homeless takes compassion, selflessness, patience, boldness, wisdom, and endurance. Therefore, I don’t qualify. Not even close.
Recently in the Day Shelter I was working at the front desk when a drunk guy named Eddie kept coming around. I was getting annoyed by his drunken behavior. I did not show him compassion, I was not seeking to boldly share God’s truth with him, and my patience was wearing thin. I just wished he’d leave, or go take a nap, or something – so I could peacefully get on with my work. Unexpectedly, Eddie somehow brought up the subject of church. It turns out that we each are a part of the same church community (Sojourn). I was quite shocked. Turns out that Eddie had once been panhandling between services when he met one of the deacons who managed to initiate a relationship with him. Now Eddie is a regular on Sunday mornings. Based on our conversation, it appears to me that he is more than just a church-goer. Our dialogue, in the course of his drunkenness, gave evidence that Eddie is a genuine Christian.
This encounter shamed me and encouraged me all at the same time. I was ashamed because I chose not to bother witnessing to this man because of his inebriated state. I had judged him solely because of his outward appearance and behavior. Yet I was immensely encouraged because even despite my lack of effort, God brought about a meaningful conversation between me and Eddie.
Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India from 1901-1951 (without a furlough), once said, “Don’t imagine that by crossing the sea and landing on a foreign shore and learning a foreign lingo you ‘burst the bonds of outer sin and hatch yourself a cherubim.’” In other words, just because one becomes a missionary, pastor, or whatever type of minister, that doesn’t mean they “have arrived.” Neither does becoming a Christian mean that an alcoholic will automatically and immediately overcome their addiction. Though Eddie seems to believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, he apparently still struggles with alcohol. Likewise, though I live and minister in a homeless shelter, I certainly have not gained any special status, nor have I gained any amazing abilities. I’m no cherubim.
The Apostle Paul called himself the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners. He also wrote, “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:18). I definitely can relate to Paul’s sense of inadequacy. On my own, I would certainly fail miserably as a minister. I acknowledge that it truly is only by God’s grace that I am able to do any good here at Jeff. St. By His grace I have many meaningful interactions with people like Eddie.
It was also Paul who wrote, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong . . .” (1 Cor. 1:26-27). When I read this I think, “Maybe God has called the right man after all.”
Please pray for us:
• that the Lord would cause us “to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people” (1 Thess. 3:12).
• that we would “make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).
As always, thanks so much for your prayers and support of our ministry here at Jeff. St. I am blessed to be serving the Lord here.
Sometimes I feel pretty sure that God chose the wrong man for this job. Serving and ministering to the homeless takes compassion, selflessness, patience, boldness, wisdom, and endurance. Therefore, I don’t qualify. Not even close.
Recently in the Day Shelter I was working at the front desk when a drunk guy named Eddie kept coming around. I was getting annoyed by his drunken behavior. I did not show him compassion, I was not seeking to boldly share God’s truth with him, and my patience was wearing thin. I just wished he’d leave, or go take a nap, or something – so I could peacefully get on with my work. Unexpectedly, Eddie somehow brought up the subject of church. It turns out that we each are a part of the same church community (Sojourn). I was quite shocked. Turns out that Eddie had once been panhandling between services when he met one of the deacons who managed to initiate a relationship with him. Now Eddie is a regular on Sunday mornings. Based on our conversation, it appears to me that he is more than just a church-goer. Our dialogue, in the course of his drunkenness, gave evidence that Eddie is a genuine Christian.
This encounter shamed me and encouraged me all at the same time. I was ashamed because I chose not to bother witnessing to this man because of his inebriated state. I had judged him solely because of his outward appearance and behavior. Yet I was immensely encouraged because even despite my lack of effort, God brought about a meaningful conversation between me and Eddie.
Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India from 1901-1951 (without a furlough), once said, “Don’t imagine that by crossing the sea and landing on a foreign shore and learning a foreign lingo you ‘burst the bonds of outer sin and hatch yourself a cherubim.’” In other words, just because one becomes a missionary, pastor, or whatever type of minister, that doesn’t mean they “have arrived.” Neither does becoming a Christian mean that an alcoholic will automatically and immediately overcome their addiction. Though Eddie seems to believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, he apparently still struggles with alcohol. Likewise, though I live and minister in a homeless shelter, I certainly have not gained any special status, nor have I gained any amazing abilities. I’m no cherubim.
The Apostle Paul called himself the least of the apostles and the chief of sinners. He also wrote, “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:18). I definitely can relate to Paul’s sense of inadequacy. On my own, I would certainly fail miserably as a minister. I acknowledge that it truly is only by God’s grace that I am able to do any good here at Jeff. St. By His grace I have many meaningful interactions with people like Eddie.
It was also Paul who wrote, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong . . .” (1 Cor. 1:26-27). When I read this I think, “Maybe God has called the right man after all.”
Please pray for us:
• that the Lord would cause us “to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people” (1 Thess. 3:12).
• that we would “make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).
As always, thanks so much for your prayers and support of our ministry here at Jeff. St. I am blessed to be serving the Lord here.
January 4, 2009
The eternal significance of caring
Matthew 25 describes an awesome and terrifying scene. Jesus, the Son of Man, in all His glory, is seated on His throne, surrounded by the angels. From there He separates the people of all nations, “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (vs. 31-33). The separation, of course, is between the righteous - who inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God - and the condemned - who inherit eternal punishment in the eternal fire.
Now I am a firm believer that salvation is through faith and by God’s grace. We don’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has bought our deliverance from the eternal punishment that we deserve. Now we need only trust in Him and repent from our sins in order to gain eternal life in His kingdom. That is my understanding of the Gospel. And that is why this passage in Matthew 25 puzzles, and sometimes, scares me.
In this passage, Jesus bases the separation of the righteous and the condemned on how they treated the needy. Those who fed the hungry, welcomed the strangers, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned were counted as righteous. Those who neglected the same . . . “went away into eternal punishment” (vs. 46). And what is even scarier, neither the righteous nor the condemned realized the importance of these encounters with the needy.
I have not changed my understanding of salvation based on this passage, but it does raise some vital questions. What is clear to me is that this passage illustrates the weighty importance of caring for the needy. Apparently the giving of drinks, meals, clothes, and visits can be of eternal significance. Some may find this out too late, but we must consider ourselves warned. As Christians, TODAY, we need to consider with extreme seriousness how we are loving our neighbors, especially the needy.
I will close with some words from the Apostle Paul on the subject: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
((for those who might be interested, a far from exhaustive list of verses on the importance of caring for the needy: Luke 10:25-27, Proverbs 14:21, 31, Matt. 6:2-4, Proverbs 28:17))
Now I am a firm believer that salvation is through faith and by God’s grace. We don’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has bought our deliverance from the eternal punishment that we deserve. Now we need only trust in Him and repent from our sins in order to gain eternal life in His kingdom. That is my understanding of the Gospel. And that is why this passage in Matthew 25 puzzles, and sometimes, scares me.
In this passage, Jesus bases the separation of the righteous and the condemned on how they treated the needy. Those who fed the hungry, welcomed the strangers, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned were counted as righteous. Those who neglected the same . . . “went away into eternal punishment” (vs. 46). And what is even scarier, neither the righteous nor the condemned realized the importance of these encounters with the needy.
I have not changed my understanding of salvation based on this passage, but it does raise some vital questions. What is clear to me is that this passage illustrates the weighty importance of caring for the needy. Apparently the giving of drinks, meals, clothes, and visits can be of eternal significance. Some may find this out too late, but we must consider ourselves warned. As Christians, TODAY, we need to consider with extreme seriousness how we are loving our neighbors, especially the needy.
I will close with some words from the Apostle Paul on the subject: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
((for those who might be interested, a far from exhaustive list of verses on the importance of caring for the needy: Luke 10:25-27, Proverbs 14:21, 31, Matt. 6:2-4, Proverbs 28:17))
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