We HOPE guys were walking downtown one evening when we ran into one of our regular Day Shelter guests, Eddie. As we walked up to greet him, it became clear that he had been badly beaten up. He had a bandaged-up, bloodied eye and scrapes on both arms. He told us his ribs were sore too. A gang of young guys had jumped him and taken all he had: $2 and a cell phone. I was saddened to see Eddie’s scars but maybe more upset by his bruised spirit.
I remember watching the HOPE video before coming here. It began with some homeless folks holding up cardboard signs with words describing homelessness: exhausting, embarrassing, miserable, etc. One of the words stuck out to me though: dangerous. I didn’t really get it at first. Now I get it. Over the months here at Jeff. St., I’ve heard of frequent muggings, people getting hit by cars, tents being burned down, guys getting violent at their campsites after having too much alcohol, and more. This is not to mention the health problems that come from overexertion, neglect, and exposure to the elements.
All the more reasons why the homeless, as well as the rest of us, need to find refuge in the Prince of Peace and the God of all comfort. All the more reasons why the people of God need to be ministering to the homeless.
July 21, 2009
July 12, 2009
Dreams
I had dinner tonight with several of my teammates and a few of their friends who I just met today. These are college kids so much of the discussion was about “what are you studying?” and “what do you hope to do after school?” It’s always fun to hear the diversity in people’s interests and dreams. Unfortunately, dreams don’t always come true.
I sometimes think about our homeless guests; what were their dreams? I’ve never heard of anyone dreaming of being homeless or going to jail or gaining an addiction. These things come by an assortment of bad decisions and bad circumstances, which literally could befall any of us. This is the fallen world in which we live.
Sadly, it seems the further down people fall, the smaller their dreams become. It becomes a dream just to get their own apartment. Just to get back in the workforce. Just to be reunited with family. We all want a place to call our own. We all want a purpose to fulfill. We all want to have peace within our family. We see these as the basics. It is sad when they become dreams.
Even if we have unfulfilled dreams, if we have these essentials, we should be extremely grateful. God has been good to us. The ability to chase our higher dreams is just an added blessing.
Fortunately, beyond all of this, there remains the hope of a place where “there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). This is the hope of the Gospel. This hope exceeds our wildest dreams.
I sometimes think about our homeless guests; what were their dreams? I’ve never heard of anyone dreaming of being homeless or going to jail or gaining an addiction. These things come by an assortment of bad decisions and bad circumstances, which literally could befall any of us. This is the fallen world in which we live.
Sadly, it seems the further down people fall, the smaller their dreams become. It becomes a dream just to get their own apartment. Just to get back in the workforce. Just to be reunited with family. We all want a place to call our own. We all want a purpose to fulfill. We all want to have peace within our family. We see these as the basics. It is sad when they become dreams.
Even if we have unfulfilled dreams, if we have these essentials, we should be extremely grateful. God has been good to us. The ability to chase our higher dreams is just an added blessing.
Fortunately, beyond all of this, there remains the hope of a place where “there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). This is the hope of the Gospel. This hope exceeds our wildest dreams.
July 5, 2009
July HOPE Newsletter
Greetings friends and family!
Occasionally I still stop and think about the fact that I live in a homeless shelter. It’s weird because it’s not weird anymore. I remember about a year ago when I was mulling over the decision to come here. At that time, I could have listed numerous reasons why it would be weird to live in a homeless shelter. And I guess in comparison to some people’s lives, my shelter-dwelling lifestyle is abnormal. But who says being abnormal is a bad thing?
When I made the peculiar decision to move here last summer, it was largely because I knew I wanted and needed to love the poor and needy. The Lord has placed that desire in my heart (and in His word). But I have learned from experience that I’m not very good at demonstrating my love to the poor from a distance. I’m far too easily distracted and not nearly passionate enough. But I didn’t want to be one of those people Mother Teresa was thinking about when she said, “It is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not so fashionable to talk to the poor.”
Recently we HOPE guys were talking with one of our staff members who is the head of one of our resident programs. He told us that, in his opinion, just being here is the best thing we do. He told us how some of the residents talk about us behind our backs (mostly in complementary ways). One guy, he says, is still trying to figure us out: “What are these guys doing here? Bunch of morons.” He’s not a believer and he finds it ridiculous that young guys would stop their education, give up their summer, or in my case, give up unemployment to come live and work at a homeless shelter for very little pay. According to this staff member, this is that particular resident’s way of paying us a compliment. So apparently our mere presence is a witness to our residents.
Pridefully, I’d like to think I’ve done something better than just “being here.” I’d rather be considered a bold evangelist or a humble servant. But when I think about it, it makes a lot of sense. It is often by just being somewhere, “at the right place at the right time” as we say, that we have the greatest impact.
Just by being here, I get to listen to, council, and pray with residents who knock on our apartment door to share about struggles they’re going through. Just by being here, I get to help guys with small tasks and errands they might struggle to accomplish on their own. Just by being here, I’m able to befriend some people who are considered outcasts by society. Just by being here, I’m able to learn a lot of the names of people who are usually overlooked and passed by on the streets. I could go on.
Now, all this is not meant to guilt you into uprooting and moving into the poorest community you can find. That’s not my point. The challenge is, as martyred missionary Jim Elliott said, “Wherever you are – be all there.” Whoever your neighbors are, be determined to love them practically, not just in theory.
When we look at the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), we see that Jesus defines our “neighbor” as the people we stumble upon as we stroll through life. In this story, we do NOT see love defined as a warm, fuzzy emotion. Instead, love is an inconvenient, messy, sacrificial, hands-on undertaking.
Ultimately, Jesus, not the Good Samaritan, is our example in how to show love. After all, He inconveniently came an infinite distance to get messy and to sacrifice His life out of His great love for us. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Are we going to follow Jesus’ example or not?
*********************************************************************************
* Please pray for my teammates and me to finish strong as we complete our term in mid-August.
* Please pray that the Lord will bring fruit from the seeds that we’re planting.
* Please pray for God’s direction as to what He has for me next.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. God bless!
Occasionally I still stop and think about the fact that I live in a homeless shelter. It’s weird because it’s not weird anymore. I remember about a year ago when I was mulling over the decision to come here. At that time, I could have listed numerous reasons why it would be weird to live in a homeless shelter. And I guess in comparison to some people’s lives, my shelter-dwelling lifestyle is abnormal. But who says being abnormal is a bad thing?
When I made the peculiar decision to move here last summer, it was largely because I knew I wanted and needed to love the poor and needy. The Lord has placed that desire in my heart (and in His word). But I have learned from experience that I’m not very good at demonstrating my love to the poor from a distance. I’m far too easily distracted and not nearly passionate enough. But I didn’t want to be one of those people Mother Teresa was thinking about when she said, “It is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not so fashionable to talk to the poor.”
Recently we HOPE guys were talking with one of our staff members who is the head of one of our resident programs. He told us that, in his opinion, just being here is the best thing we do. He told us how some of the residents talk about us behind our backs (mostly in complementary ways). One guy, he says, is still trying to figure us out: “What are these guys doing here? Bunch of morons.” He’s not a believer and he finds it ridiculous that young guys would stop their education, give up their summer, or in my case, give up unemployment to come live and work at a homeless shelter for very little pay. According to this staff member, this is that particular resident’s way of paying us a compliment. So apparently our mere presence is a witness to our residents.
Pridefully, I’d like to think I’ve done something better than just “being here.” I’d rather be considered a bold evangelist or a humble servant. But when I think about it, it makes a lot of sense. It is often by just being somewhere, “at the right place at the right time” as we say, that we have the greatest impact.
Just by being here, I get to listen to, council, and pray with residents who knock on our apartment door to share about struggles they’re going through. Just by being here, I get to help guys with small tasks and errands they might struggle to accomplish on their own. Just by being here, I’m able to befriend some people who are considered outcasts by society. Just by being here, I’m able to learn a lot of the names of people who are usually overlooked and passed by on the streets. I could go on.
Now, all this is not meant to guilt you into uprooting and moving into the poorest community you can find. That’s not my point. The challenge is, as martyred missionary Jim Elliott said, “Wherever you are – be all there.” Whoever your neighbors are, be determined to love them practically, not just in theory.
When we look at the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), we see that Jesus defines our “neighbor” as the people we stumble upon as we stroll through life. In this story, we do NOT see love defined as a warm, fuzzy emotion. Instead, love is an inconvenient, messy, sacrificial, hands-on undertaking.
Ultimately, Jesus, not the Good Samaritan, is our example in how to show love. After all, He inconveniently came an infinite distance to get messy and to sacrifice His life out of His great love for us. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Are we going to follow Jesus’ example or not?
*********************************************************************************
* Please pray for my teammates and me to finish strong as we complete our term in mid-August.
* Please pray that the Lord will bring fruit from the seeds that we’re planting.
* Please pray for God’s direction as to what He has for me next.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. God bless!
July 2, 2009
Do not sound a trumpet
It’s difficult to live your life for Jesus. To REALLY live for Jesus is complicated. I say that because it’s about more than just our words and actions. Living for Christ is about our heart. And matters of the heart are complex.
A good friend was recently confessing their pridefulness is certain areas. Pride is a matter of the heart. My friend was telling me about how they sometimes do good things for bad reason, prideful reasons. Their confession got me thinking about my own pride.
In Matthew 6:1-4, we read Jesus’ words: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Thus to truly follow Christ, we not only have to do the right things, but we have to do them for the right reasons. Above all, we have to do good deeds for the Lord - not for ourselves, not for others. Instead of trying to impress others or make ourselves feel good, our motive must be to please and honor the Lord in our actions. Our heart must be right before Him. Thank goodness that the Lord has given us a new heart. Otherwise, our task would be impossible. As it is, it’s just really difficult. Lord help us.
A good friend was recently confessing their pridefulness is certain areas. Pride is a matter of the heart. My friend was telling me about how they sometimes do good things for bad reason, prideful reasons. Their confession got me thinking about my own pride.
In Matthew 6:1-4, we read Jesus’ words: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Thus to truly follow Christ, we not only have to do the right things, but we have to do them for the right reasons. Above all, we have to do good deeds for the Lord - not for ourselves, not for others. Instead of trying to impress others or make ourselves feel good, our motive must be to please and honor the Lord in our actions. Our heart must be right before Him. Thank goodness that the Lord has given us a new heart. Otherwise, our task would be impossible. As it is, it’s just really difficult. Lord help us.
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