A co-worker gve me a little devotion this morning and in it was the following quote by Mark Twain which I thought was funny but also really hit home...."It's not the parts of the Bible I don't understand that bother me; It's the part I do".


One other note, I traveled to Honolulu recently (for work)and the very first night I thought of Mike Slaughters message where he talked about opening the paper and on one side was an advertisement for a BMW (I think it was a BMW?) Sedan and on the other side of the paper was a story on the Sudan with a picture of an emaciated victim. Sedan versus Sudan and it seemed to grab his attention. In the Wakiki Beach area there are alot of homeless. I dont know if there are more or less than anywhere else but it seemed like there was more than anywhere else I've traveled to. They were everywhere. The first night, after what ended up being a 17 hour travel time, I checked into the hotel and then I walked about a block to a little kind of underground food court and got a Subway sandwich. The stretch of beach my hotel was on and a street that crossed it called Lewers St (or Newers St something like that) is covered by hotels but also alot of really really high end stores such as Tiffany's, Gucci's, Louis Vittan just to name a few. Right outside these stores there are homeless just about everywhere. The few steps, and it was only a few steps, that separated these extremely high priced stores from the homeless on the street made the stark reality of it all really startling. On the way back to the hotel, I passed by a little elderly lady picking through a trash can and putting bits and peices in her mouth. I gave her my sack with the sandwich and just walked on back to my hotel. It really truly overwhelmed me. I think the contrast seemed to much. Anyway it reminded me of when Mike has spoken about seeing the picture of the famine in the Sudan on the opposite side of the picture of the Expensive Sedan. I know this story doesn't really go anywhere I just thought I would share it.

Hi Suzanne, I wonder if the homeless are drawn to those area's because they know that is where people with money are, and by contrast those are the people bent on serving themselves with their money. I think God is somewhere in that mix making a statement don't you? Well done faithful servant...you got the message. I hope someone saw you hand that women your sandwich...not so you get glory, but so that they think before they look the other way next time. When the bible speaks of the "least of these" being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, I know he was talking about children, but I also sometimes think about the possibility that when I get to heaven, some of the "least of these" that I'm observing in poverty might be princes, and princess's and even angels. That's what the Infirmary does to me...I see royalty everywhere in the midst of incredable poverty. Good to hear from you. Lisa

This is such a complex issue. I've been there watching the guy eat trash next to the fine dining place where I was eating. It's not lost on me, but it's not simple either. By giving food you get the restaurant mad because it encourages the homeless to hang out in front of their store. The homeless themselves are a question because some of them aren't interested in getting their act together. At what point are we just enabling them instead of helping them? And are we doing right by the restaurant to encourage more homeless to hang out there? The poor will always be with us, and we have an obligation to help them, but when do the poor become those who choose to remain that way? When should we help, and when would the most help be to not help?

This is such a complex issue. I've been there watching the guy eat trash next to the fine dining place where I was eating. It's not lost on me, but it's not simple either. By giving food you get the restaurant mad because it encourages the homeless to hang out in front of their store. The homeless themselves are a question because some of them aren't interested in getting their act together. At what point are we just enabling them instead of helping them? And are we doing right by the restaurant to encourage more homeless to hang out there? The poor will always be with us, and we have an obligation to help them, but when do the poor become those who choose to remain that way? When should we help, and when would the most help be to not help?

Jerry, I know your right, but I wouldn't have been able to walk by that women either. Someone recently was talking about seeing a homeless guy back when it was real cold. She went into McDonalds and got him a hot cup of coffee and something else, and he screamed at her. He didn't want her coffee he wanted some money. That's enough to make your heart hard at times. And yes, many like that lifestyle and don't want out. I think of the bible saying if you don't work you don't eat. But who can tell who's who?? I guess give money and surplus to the homeless shelters is best, and refuse to feel guilty when approached because you did what you could at the place that is serving them? I don't know. It is complicated. Your right. L

It is a fine line to tread I think. In Hawaii I met a man who said the homeless will take over a section of beach and every once in a while the authorities come in and sweep them off the beach and they just move to another. I was told there was a Beach on the west side of Hawaii that they were all residing on at that time and there was big piles of dung all over the beach. I was told it was filthy and would make me sick. It made me sick just to have him tell me, I was glad not to see it. I go to Seattle every month and I'm told there have a huge problem with the homeless there but you don't see many of them. Alot of them live in like tent cities but I don't know exactly where they are. I guess that's good in that you don't have to witness the sadness of it all but it's bad in that you don't have to "face" the problem. I was told by the same man that told me about the homeless on the beaches in Hawaii that the homeless don't have it so bad there, there are outdoor showers along the beach and there are soup kitchens but there is no place to sleep. So they just sleep all over the place. Some I think are mentally ill, I saw a man shaking his head over and over and he looked so wild, he scared me. I hesitate to help the homeless but sometimes I just feel led and so I do, my biggest worry is that I maybe getting in Gods way sometimes but I have to say if the moment strikes me when I feel I'm supposed to do something I try and follow it.
By the way Jerry, how are you feeling now?

These stupid infections. My last steroid shot was on the 9th. So far I can still breath so I'm hoping I'm done with those. The pinkeye didn't go away. I'm on my way to the Dr. in 2 min. I always thought that was an easy cure but none of these things have gone away the way they're supposed to.

That's it buddy, you and your family are right back on my prayer list!
Hang in there,
Suzanne

You know, there are so many people out there with real problems and real hurts. I don't want to take away one person from those people. I'd rather see you praying for them than me because my problems just aren't that big right now. There's a prayer shortage in this world. I don't want to use it up on my petty little stuff.

You know Jesus said that not even a sparrow fell apart from Him, I think your small problem is worth our concern and prayers. It doesn't take away from anything Jerry. And while your problem might be smaller than some, your just as valuable. We're to cast "all" our cares on him. Not the big ones..all. So relax. Receive what God has provided for you from others. Sermon over. L