Waterfront Community Church

I must say I had a bit of a difficult time falling asleep last night after our count of the homeless. How many times have we’ve been approached by one begging for some spare change? We've passed them on the street; seen them huddled in doorways, scavenging through garbage, looking for food or cigarette butts. Speaking with some of them last night got me thinking. I believe it’s safe to say that Jesus was a homeless person at least some of the time. Even the people that Jesus associated with were homeless and poor. Paul, wrote “even until now we…have no certain dwelling place”. It seems to me in just these three verses, that If God made Jesus, his one and only Son, a poor and homeless person, I think it would be safe to say that God actually esteems the poor. Most people see the poor and homeless as a burden and an eyesore. There are calls from the “nice” neighborhoods to “clean up the streets” by having the police “sweep” the street people away. When a homeless person asks for some spare change, a common response might be “get a job”. In Matthew, I’m not sure what verse, Jesus explains that whenever someone feeds someone who is hungry or gives drink to the thirsty, he is actually doing so unto Jesus himself.  Gosh, even in the Old Testament God commanded his people to help if a brother was poor and had no place to live. Solomon wrote that if we have mercy on the poor we honor God. We both know it pleases God when we give to the poor. It makes we wonder If more people knew that every time we give/gave spare change to a homeless person on the street that its like we are actually giving money to Jesus himself, I think it would happen more often. Ignoring the “street people” when they ask for change is also a very common response. People sometimes don’t even acknowledge that they are there. In Proverbs 21:13 it says that when a person ignores the cries of the poor, he will cry also and not be heard. Clearly it seems that God’s attitude toward the homeless is one of mercy and love. The homeless are not people to be avoided; they are there to be loved. I remember in Sunday school I would teach the kids that they should treat other people the way they would like to be treated. Last night I thought we should be leading by example by showing mercy to the homeless in their time of need. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..“There but for the grace of God go I”.  It was an experience that I think everyone should have. It has a way of making one humble and appreciative. I closed my eyes and went to sleep last night knowing that I am truly blessed.

What a lonely world this would be without our beasty companions! Waterfront Crew walked around our community blessing the animals and their companions in honor of Francis of Assissi. Amazing Day!