Praise the LORD!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Close to home...
Praise the LORD!!!
I just finished reading an article at Change.org on the homeless. This one hit an area close to my heart. It was on the homeless that have come from the confines of our prison systems. You see, before the LORD found me I had just been arrested and saw that I had totally messed up my life. This is when I was blessed to accept salvation, thus my life took a 360 and has never been the same. But this isn't about me, it's about those that have served their time in prison, sans the LORD, and been released into a 'new world.' For no matter the length of sentence, their world as they'd known it has changed.
These changes range from their no longer being accepted by society as one having the rights of the normal person. They've become a lower than life form of being. No longer fit to be employed. Unable to receive many of the governments social programs. Like the young lady in this story, they become homeless, outcast of society. This even if they've changed their lifestyle or not. Many may resort to any means possible to survive. This woman chose 'pan handling', but many others will turn to illegal means to survive. This too, isn't the reason for this blog.
What is the problem with a system that takes people into it and then just turns them out without caring about whether or not it had benefited the person? Our prison systems turn out possibly thousands like this each month. Many not able to support themselves by legal means, end up right back in the system that was meant to correct their problem in the first place.There are many programs in prison to improve oneself, but no guarantee that a person will take advantage of them, let alone complete them. At one time prisons were meant to adjust a person's behavior to that of the norms of society, but that is no longer the case. Now it is more of a money game, just meant to take them out of society for a while and later on run them through again. This too is not the reason for this blog!
How is it that we as a "Christian" nation can sit back and allow our fellow man to be put through such treatment? It is bad enough that we allow a system that is truly flawed to continue to operate in such manor. Greater still that we can turn our backs on our 'neighbor' when they are treated in such manor. How is it that we as Christians can continue to vote in politicians that won't address these problems straight on, no matter what the repercussions to their political futures? How is it that we can call ourselves Christians when we allow our fellow man to be treated more like an animal then a human and not speak up or reach out to them with a hand of compassion? Have we lost sight of the very principles which made this country so great? Worse yet, have we lost sight, and touch, with the GOD that we call our LORD and SAVIOR?
I just finished reading an article at Change.org on the homeless. This one hit an area close to my heart. It was on the homeless that have come from the confines of our prison systems. You see, before the LORD found me I had just been arrested and saw that I had totally messed up my life. This is when I was blessed to accept salvation, thus my life took a 360 and has never been the same. But this isn't about me, it's about those that have served their time in prison, sans the LORD, and been released into a 'new world.' For no matter the length of sentence, their world as they'd known it has changed.
These changes range from their no longer being accepted by society as one having the rights of the normal person. They've become a lower than life form of being. No longer fit to be employed. Unable to receive many of the governments social programs. Like the young lady in this story, they become homeless, outcast of society. This even if they've changed their lifestyle or not. Many may resort to any means possible to survive. This woman chose 'pan handling', but many others will turn to illegal means to survive. This too, isn't the reason for this blog.
What is the problem with a system that takes people into it and then just turns them out without caring about whether or not it had benefited the person? Our prison systems turn out possibly thousands like this each month. Many not able to support themselves by legal means, end up right back in the system that was meant to correct their problem in the first place.There are many programs in prison to improve oneself, but no guarantee that a person will take advantage of them, let alone complete them. At one time prisons were meant to adjust a person's behavior to that of the norms of society, but that is no longer the case. Now it is more of a money game, just meant to take them out of society for a while and later on run them through again. This too is not the reason for this blog!
How is it that we as a "Christian" nation can sit back and allow our fellow man to be put through such treatment? It is bad enough that we allow a system that is truly flawed to continue to operate in such manor. Greater still that we can turn our backs on our 'neighbor' when they are treated in such manor. How is it that we as Christians can continue to vote in politicians that won't address these problems straight on, no matter what the repercussions to their political futures? How is it that we can call ourselves Christians when we allow our fellow man to be treated more like an animal then a human and not speak up or reach out to them with a hand of compassion? Have we lost sight of the very principles which made this country so great? Worse yet, have we lost sight, and touch, with the GOD that we call our LORD and SAVIOR?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Doing whatever I can...
Praise the LORD!!!
Though not able to help at this time, due to lack of funding, I'm doing whatever I can to help those in need, both physically and spiritually. Truly this should be the stance of all those that call JESUS both LORD and SAVIOR! There are thousands of organizations out there that are crying out for help. Whether through donations or physical assistance. Why is this?
Even though I can't help through donations or physically going to help, I am spending my time online drawing as much attention to their causes as possible. Through blogging, clipping and amplifying, starting up fundraisers, whatever, I'm putting the time and effort into doing it. I could be spending my time playing games or watching videos, or maybe just reading or listening to music. But I'm not!
As CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR I just can't sit back and watch the world go by. I've got to do something. I've been working on VCM now for twelve years now and am still doing it all by myself. Not one person has caught the dream and vision of a Christian helps ministry that truly brings the glory of CHRIST to the front of all they do. Not just a "self' named ministry, like so many today, but one that has CHRIST at its heart and in the center of all that it does and represents.
Years back when I first brought VCM to the internet, I began asking the big 'self' named ministries tor assistance in any way possible. Of about thirty that I contacted, only one responded with any substantial action. This ministry responded with over $300 worth of their books and teaching tapes. Not that much, but better than the rest and I'm very thankful for them, though they've been lost by the wayside through my travels. Most of the others, though considered "Mega" ministries, just offered up their prayers for the ministry and me. If I could run my Bible programs and enter this at the same time I'd give you the verses that call this a sin before GOD, but I can't. Look it up, if you even have to, but it isn't right when we can help others when they ask and don't.
In VCM's first newsletter, last months, the 'Modern day Parable' was a true story. This happened to me on my first attempted trip down here. All the events show that the church and Christians of today focus more on their own needs instead of those needs of their 'neighbors.' In the name of JESUS this has to stop!!!
Though not able to help at this time, due to lack of funding, I'm doing whatever I can to help those in need, both physically and spiritually. Truly this should be the stance of all those that call JESUS both LORD and SAVIOR! There are thousands of organizations out there that are crying out for help. Whether through donations or physical assistance. Why is this?
Even though I can't help through donations or physically going to help, I am spending my time online drawing as much attention to their causes as possible. Through blogging, clipping and amplifying, starting up fundraisers, whatever, I'm putting the time and effort into doing it. I could be spending my time playing games or watching videos, or maybe just reading or listening to music. But I'm not!
As CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR I just can't sit back and watch the world go by. I've got to do something. I've been working on VCM now for twelve years now and am still doing it all by myself. Not one person has caught the dream and vision of a Christian helps ministry that truly brings the glory of CHRIST to the front of all they do. Not just a "self' named ministry, like so many today, but one that has CHRIST at its heart and in the center of all that it does and represents.
Years back when I first brought VCM to the internet, I began asking the big 'self' named ministries tor assistance in any way possible. Of about thirty that I contacted, only one responded with any substantial action. This ministry responded with over $300 worth of their books and teaching tapes. Not that much, but better than the rest and I'm very thankful for them, though they've been lost by the wayside through my travels. Most of the others, though considered "Mega" ministries, just offered up their prayers for the ministry and me. If I could run my Bible programs and enter this at the same time I'd give you the verses that call this a sin before GOD, but I can't. Look it up, if you even have to, but it isn't right when we can help others when they ask and don't.
In VCM's first newsletter, last months, the 'Modern day Parable' was a true story. This happened to me on my first attempted trip down here. All the events show that the church and Christians of today focus more on their own needs instead of those needs of their 'neighbors.' In the name of JESUS this has to stop!!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Christian helps?
Praise the LORD!!!
Christian helps? Christian helps ministry? What exactly do these two mean? To start out we as Christian are told to "love our neighbors as we love ourselves" and "that the world will know us by our works." As Christians we are called to show the love of CHRIST to others by show them our for them, to them. How can we show a person we love them? In the same way that we show love for ourselves, by the way we take care of them. Do we place them before ourselves and aid them in their lives struggles and we would pray that others would reach out to us? Do we take the time to lend a listening ear when they've something burdening their soul? Do we give to them as we'd wish someone would give to us when we are down and out? Boy, that sure is a lot of questions isn't it?
Vine of CHRIST Ministries is trying to fulfill all of these questions in every second of the ministry's existence. During the '05' hurricane season, I had one family that was displaced by hurricane Katrina living with us, when Rita began to bear down on us (we lived at the time in Iowa, LA.) As the storm began to draw nearer to the coast, I decided to ship my friends and these people off to the north, to stay behind and ride out the storm with my dog. You see, we had a seven person van and there was five of us, plus my 100 lb. dog, and the two of them and their cat. With all the needed supplies and people, all of us going would not of worked out, so off they all went and I battened down the hatches on the little farm shanty that we were renting.
To say the least it was a very, very exciting ride! 165 to 185 mile per hour winds, torrential rain and so many tornadoes that they couldn't be counted. After nearly 24 hours of being housebound I was finally able to go outside. A once over on the shanty and off I went to survey the damage to my neighbors homes and the local infrastructure. I commandeered my neighbors riding lawnmower and off I went (I knew this would be fine, because I used it to mow theirs and our yards all the time.) There was no one else around within a half mile of the house. A good amount of structural damage to a number of the houses and a lot of tree damage. All the power was out in the area, but we were blessed to have a working city water system still functioning.
There wasn't much that could be done at the moment, so I returned to work on weatherizing our place. It was missing several metal roof panels and half of the shingles on the back side of the hose. I covered these the best I could with plastic and moved as much of the personal belongs out of harms way. At this I began to formulate a plan as to all the supplies available to me and how to ration them in the best possible manor. No one else was in the area at this time, but I began to reckon how to help anyone else that would show up.
It wasn't until the third day that neighbors began to return to their homes and this was because there were police barricades on the major roads into the area. I had marked the house with spray paint before the storm, so officials would know how many had stayed behind. It wasn't until this third day that I saw any of the local police or emergency workers, but I was managing fine. As neighbors began to show up, I'd stop in and check on them, telling them that I was available when they needed any help and at all. Things began to progress quickly, trees that had fallen were cut up and moved. Debris was piled up out of the way and anything that was displaced was either returned to its location or put where it could be found.
Shortly people began to venture out towards Lake Charles, working to find needed supplies of whatever kind they could. One day we had 580 lbs. of some fine Cajun smoked sausage given to us, because it had been in a local store's fridges which had lost power, so it couldn't be sold. I was riding around still on the mower giving out trash bags full of this stuff, it didn't need refrigeration, so it could be cooked or eaten anyway you could think of. The people in this area pulled together and though the damage was widespread they worked together to help out each other until the job was done and everyone's lives return something close to normal.
In this most of those questions were answered. Christian helps and a helps ministry gets out there and does whatever it takes to help people in their time of need. It doesn't matter if its a major storm like these, or just an everyday problem. Its Christians reaching out to others to show that the care about them and love them as CHRIST loves us!!!
Christian helps? Christian helps ministry? What exactly do these two mean? To start out we as Christian are told to "love our neighbors as we love ourselves" and "that the world will know us by our works." As Christians we are called to show the love of CHRIST to others by show them our for them, to them. How can we show a person we love them? In the same way that we show love for ourselves, by the way we take care of them. Do we place them before ourselves and aid them in their lives struggles and we would pray that others would reach out to us? Do we take the time to lend a listening ear when they've something burdening their soul? Do we give to them as we'd wish someone would give to us when we are down and out? Boy, that sure is a lot of questions isn't it?
Vine of CHRIST Ministries is trying to fulfill all of these questions in every second of the ministry's existence. During the '05' hurricane season, I had one family that was displaced by hurricane Katrina living with us, when Rita began to bear down on us (we lived at the time in Iowa, LA.) As the storm began to draw nearer to the coast, I decided to ship my friends and these people off to the north, to stay behind and ride out the storm with my dog. You see, we had a seven person van and there was five of us, plus my 100 lb. dog, and the two of them and their cat. With all the needed supplies and people, all of us going would not of worked out, so off they all went and I battened down the hatches on the little farm shanty that we were renting.
To say the least it was a very, very exciting ride! 165 to 185 mile per hour winds, torrential rain and so many tornadoes that they couldn't be counted. After nearly 24 hours of being housebound I was finally able to go outside. A once over on the shanty and off I went to survey the damage to my neighbors homes and the local infrastructure. I commandeered my neighbors riding lawnmower and off I went (I knew this would be fine, because I used it to mow theirs and our yards all the time.) There was no one else around within a half mile of the house. A good amount of structural damage to a number of the houses and a lot of tree damage. All the power was out in the area, but we were blessed to have a working city water system still functioning.
There wasn't much that could be done at the moment, so I returned to work on weatherizing our place. It was missing several metal roof panels and half of the shingles on the back side of the hose. I covered these the best I could with plastic and moved as much of the personal belongs out of harms way. At this I began to formulate a plan as to all the supplies available to me and how to ration them in the best possible manor. No one else was in the area at this time, but I began to reckon how to help anyone else that would show up.
It wasn't until the third day that neighbors began to return to their homes and this was because there were police barricades on the major roads into the area. I had marked the house with spray paint before the storm, so officials would know how many had stayed behind. It wasn't until this third day that I saw any of the local police or emergency workers, but I was managing fine. As neighbors began to show up, I'd stop in and check on them, telling them that I was available when they needed any help and at all. Things began to progress quickly, trees that had fallen were cut up and moved. Debris was piled up out of the way and anything that was displaced was either returned to its location or put where it could be found.
Shortly people began to venture out towards Lake Charles, working to find needed supplies of whatever kind they could. One day we had 580 lbs. of some fine Cajun smoked sausage given to us, because it had been in a local store's fridges which had lost power, so it couldn't be sold. I was riding around still on the mower giving out trash bags full of this stuff, it didn't need refrigeration, so it could be cooked or eaten anyway you could think of. The people in this area pulled together and though the damage was widespread they worked together to help out each other until the job was done and everyone's lives return something close to normal.
In this most of those questions were answered. Christian helps and a helps ministry gets out there and does whatever it takes to help people in their time of need. It doesn't matter if its a major storm like these, or just an everyday problem. Its Christians reaching out to others to show that the care about them and love them as CHRIST loves us!!!
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