It would probably shock you if you volunteered and recognized a homeless person. That has happened more than once. Some volunteers have recognized individuals that they had known when they were younger. One volunteer in particular recognized his best friend when he was in high school. Another, last Tuesday, recognized a previous supervisor. She reported to him at her job and now she served him as a homeless person. We all agree that in this tough economy many individuals and families are just one pay check away from homelessness, but it really becomes a reality when you see someone that you know. These individuals seem to have become another layer of homeless on the street.Every Tuesday night, Paul will ask the audience why we come downtown. His answer is always the same, for the Gospel. So the most important time is the study of God’s Word. Currently Paul is walking through the book of James. Last Tuesday, he taught on James 1:20-25. These passages focus on not only being a hearer but also a doer of the Word. Many people who go to church and hear the Word may deceive themselves thinking they are a doer because they attend services. When you allow yourself to think along those lines, you are like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and then goes away forgetting what he looks like. In the same way, a man can read or hear the perfect law of liberty (Bible) and not recognize how it should change not only his thinking and but also his behavior. Paul gave a personal testimony how when he was first saved that he would read the Bible, then he would meditate on the passage, and then look for a way to carry it out as he came in contact with people during the day. So he starts by reading (a hearer) and then thinking about what he reads (meditation) and then finding a way to apply it in his life with someone (a doer).
We had a good crowd last Tuesday night. We served 72 meals with the assistance of 18 volunteers. A special thanks to Tim's daughter who provided baked bread and fresh vegetables for our meal. She did this for a Girl Scout project.
~Marc
