Monday, September 24, 2012

A Gift of Shoes Shocks Us All

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”

-- Mathew 25:34-36

The story was remarkable and that, in itself, was amazing. We don’t see sacrificial kindness to strangers and it stood out before us all.

A city bus driver said he’d asked God that morning to show him who he should help or show a kindness to. It wasn’t an unusual request for him, though I do wonder how many Christians would ever think of making a similar request of God.

As the bus driver drove his regular route he noticed a homeless man who was barefoot. He’d seen the man a day or so before and had noticed the man’s lack of shoes. It just so happened that the light was red and the bus driver was able to stop the bus safely, put on its flashers and exit the bus. He told a reporter that he asked the homeless man that if he had a pair of shoes, would he wear them. The man said yes. So the bus driver took off the shoes on his own feet and game them to the homeless man. And then he got back on the bus and continued his route.

Some might have criticized him for leaving his bus unattended. Others would chastise him for giving to a homeless person without checking the man out first. But the bus driver followed God’s call and did what he could, where he could.

We are a people who have a lot of stuff. We put stuff in storage so we can fill our homes with more stuff. We hold on to our stuff. Do you want to see a big fight? Mess with our stuff. We’re obsessed with it.

The only time we’re willing to give it away is when we’re done, it’s worn out, or we’re looking for a tax write-off. We don’t tend to follow that Biblical instruction to, if we have two coats, give one away to someone who doesn’t have one. After all, we might need it tomorrow.

How much nicer our world would be, how much kinder, if we’d all just do good things where we are rather than waiting for someone else -- the government, the church (that’s us, by the way!), or local charities -- to step up and do it. We don’t want to get involved. We don’t want to see the less fortunate. We don’t want to get dirty.

Please understand I’m not advocating giving money to every person standing at the end of a freeway ramp with a sign. Nor am I am suggesting that you ever put yourself in danger. But I do believe that we should all be aware of the people around us, those who are hurting, those who are in need, and follow God’s call even if it makes us squirm. Life isn’t always pretty but we are always Jesus’ representatives here on earth. It’s way past time we started acting like it.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Crazy Excited To Serve Jesus

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. -- Proverbs 31:8-9

She was “crazy excited,” she said. She and her husband, along with their two children, were headed to a large city for a new assignment. They were going to be working with the homeless.

Wow, I thought. That would be an awesome ministry. Reaching out to help people who truly are in need. Challenging, of course. But also so very rewarding.

This young woman has spent the last several years serving as a youth pastor. Her husband was a pastor at a church an hour away. Now they’ll be serving together and reaching a needy population. I sense a church mission trip heading her way.

Missions, you see, aren’t just for other people. And they don’t always involve going to another country, living in rustic accommodations and communicating with people in a different language. Oh, those types of missions take place and are worthy and wonderful.

But each of us have mission opportunities right where we are. I spoke to this delightful young woman at the site of a yard sale to benefit missions. The youth were helping set up. I was delivering donations. All proceeds go to missions projects. Everyone who donated items, volunteered their time or purchased items (and maybe gave a little extra) helped missions.

So do those who collect food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other items for the elderly in our area. Or those who visit the lonely. Or the sick. Or the shut-ins. Those who collect school supplies for children. Those who prepare meals for the unemployed. I could go on and on.

Recently one church began another church -- in a park. Because some people won’t come into a building and sometimes they’re the ones who need Jesus the most. Of course, we all do, but you know what I mean. When you are lost, hurting, addicted, without hope. Jesus is your hope. But first you need someone to tell you that.

Jesus called us all to reach out to those around us. He did. Jesus always made time for those who came to Him for help or those He happened upon who needed help. That’s what missions are all about. Reaching beyond ourselves and touching the lives of others.

So give yourself a little “crazy excitement” today and give something of yourself to someone else who needs a large dose of Jesus in his or her life.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Feeding Bodies Nourishes Souls

Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” -- Luke 24:41

They were not expecting to see Jesus. They were discussing His horrible death and all that had happened as they walked toward Emmaus. Jesus was dead. They knew He was. But there He was, in front of them. How could that be?

They doubted. Of course, they doubted. Jesus was dead. How could He be alive? And, yet, their Lord talked with them. He showed them His hands and feet. And then He asked them for food and He ate. He wasn’t a ghost. He was real. Jesus was alive.

Jesus taught His disciples and other followers. He quoted the Scriptures and told them parables to help them understand. But Jesus also cared for their bodies. His first recorded miracle was to turn water into wine. He fed the masses with fish and bread.

It’s far easier sometimes to focus on the spiritual. Truly. Because we can quote Scripture, pray and be on our way. But that wasn’t how Jesus showed us we should live. He cared about the spiritual, of course. But Jesus also cared about our physical needs. So should we.

Many years ago I observed an organization geared to helping homeless teens. The vans would head out shortly after dark, patrolling a seedy area filled with prostitution and drugs. The workers offered free sandwiches and a beverage. No strings attached.

It was a good thing. Most of these kids were hiding. One young man told me the streets were safer than his “home.” Many of the others had similar stories. Oh, sure. I’m certain that a few runaways came from wonderful homes. But most left horrible situations. Authorities would merely try to reunite the family, even if that meant more harm to the teen.

So this organization met the teens where they were. They understood that someone hungry, someone afraid, someone who learned early not to trust adults, wouldn’t respond to a sermon. At least not at first. So they fed their bodies and gave them a friendly smile and encouraging word.

The teens were offered a spot in the group’s shelter. They certainly had people to pray with them and for them. But mostly they learned about Jesus from the hands and feet of those who fed their bodies.

We’d rather turn our time and attention to something that’s easy. I doubt riding in a van throughout the night, looking for runaway teens in seedy areas of town was easy. But those folks showed many, many teens the face of Jesus as they provided nourishment for souls by first feeding bodies.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Don’t Give Up On Anyone

“And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” -- Matthew 15:40

The tweet was plain and simple, much like I imagine the man. Denver Moore died peacefully in his sleep and was now with Miss Debbie in heaven. Two lives forever entwined because one woman refused to give up on a man who had already given up on himself.

One of the best books I’ve ever read is titled Same Kind of Different As Me. Denver Moore and Ron Hall, Debbie’s husband, wrote it. The book alternates between Denver’s story and Debbie and Ron’s story. Of course, they all come together. It’s one of those things that happen when someone dares to step out in faith and follow where God leads.

How often do we do that? Probably not nearly as often as we should. We’re full of excuses and easily discouraged. But God never said following Him would be easy.

Debbie Hall found her way to a place helping the homeless. And she refused to give up on a man everyone else had said was too hard, too far gone, to help. Denver Moore was a tough case but she touched his life, and his heart, with her unfailing gift for sharing Jesus’ love with someone others wouldn’t have bothered with.

We get so caught up in our own lives, our own desires, our own issues, that we can’t see beyond them. We want to do good. We know we’re supposed to care for others. We’re okay with that so long as it’s convenient, doesn’t cost any money, and we don’t have to get dirty. Caring for someone who is homeless is all those things and more.

I am amazed sometimes at all of us. We don’t won’t to forgive people who have made mistakes. We blame them because they can’t get past those mistakes when the truth is we’re equally to blame because we can’t get past their mistakes either. We keep expecting them to fail. We forget that God can change anyone. And God never, ever gives up on His children.

At our church we have a new program titled Celebrate Recovery. It is a fabulous outreach that has brought some wonderful people into our congregation. People who probably wouldn’t have joined us without this program. It is our goal, our responsibility, to always make them feel welcome and wanted. To help where we can, to accept, to care.

One of the hardest things in the world is to look beyond ourselves and see those who are alone and hurting in the world. Whatever the reason for where they are at, God tells us to reach out and love them as He does. In whatever way we can, for however long it takes.

Because Debbie Hall didn’t give up, Denver Moore is with her and Jesus in heaven right now. And that was worth it all.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Help Others Where You Are

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.” -- Matthew 25:35

A number of years ago a coworker walked into the office declaring that she’d be unpopular that day. She explained that she’d left a homeless man sitting in the back of her truck while he ate breakfast. She figured no one would appreciate passing a homeless person as they walked from their vehicles to the office. She was right.

She’d hadn’t planned to do it. She was buying herself breakfast from a food cart when she noticed him. He was hungry. What was she to do? She bought him breakfast.

Of course, many were quick to criticize her precedent. He should get out and get a job, is always a popular complaint. It’s his own fault, others added. Those more compassionate noted that there were food banks and soup kitchens for people like that. Some wondered how she could possibly help by buying him one meal. What would he do for lunch or dinner? Where would he sleep that night? And what about his long-term prospects for a job and housing?

She just shook her head. She wasn’t trying to save the world or even this man. She saw a need and she could help so she did. It really was that simple.

I wonder how different our world would be if every person who checks that “Christian” box simply did what he or she could where he or she saw a need. We don’t. It’s always somebody else’s problem -- the pastor, local charities, the government. Anybody but us.

It’s not that we don’t do anything. We write a check. We volunteer when there’s a group need, like after a storm or during a “work day” organized by our church or local civic club. But we don’t really want to get dirty in the day-to-day work of helping others. We don’t want to give away our hard-earned money to people we don’t think deserve it. We don’t want to take time we’d rather spend on our own activities and give it to a needy stranger.

And yet we claim to be Christians. We say that Jesus lives inside of us. We tell ourselves and others that we want to live a good life, a Christian life, a life like Jesus. Without the sacrifices.

That last part stings doesn’t it? Because Jesus wouldn’t walk past someone who is hungry, telling Himself it was someone else’s problem. And Jesus wouldn’t ignore that elderly neighbor down the street who is just so lonely. And Jesus certainly wouldn’t look the other way when someone else’s child desperately needed extra help with homework.

We don’t need to save the world. We don’t need to make the large contribution, the big commitment, the huge effort. We just need to do what we can, where we are. One person at a time. One meal at a time. One smile. One kind word. One step toward doing what Jesus would

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Jesus Welcomed Everyone

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

-- Luke 15:1-2

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you do welcome sinners. Jesus reached out to those others looked down on with contempt. Jesus saw the good in people the religious leaders had forsaken. Jesus offered Himself for everyone.

A young woman attending a Christmas service recently remarked on the stench of a homeless man who sat beside her. She is an honest woman and she admitted struggling not to grimace or change seats. The man had come to join others as they celebrated Jesus' birthday. How could she reject or hurt him in any way? She couldn't.

Other people aren't so kind. Other people aren't so determined to live their faith. They want people to fit into their cookie cutter view of who and what a Christian is. They welcome people like them. They turn a cold shoulder to those who are different -- the hurting, the homeless, the sick, the sinners.

Oh, that's right. We're all sinners. All of us. Some may cover their stench was soap and perfume but the stench is there just the same. Jesus welcomed everyone. What about you?