HOMELESS – DAY 006
Thank God for McDonalds at the Beach!
This is where the Homeless in Jax Beach area congregate most often. I’m sure it is the 24 Hour Lobby that makes it the choice location! Bathroom when you need it. Warm inside and hot coffee if you need it, for only $1 ANY SIZE!
They are usually well behaved though, and they purchase a drink or a sandwich or whatever they can afford, so they are not freeloading.
So, I started my day off at McDonalds with a cup of coffee! And while I was on the computer at a table, somehow a conversation got started with a guy who is not homeless YET, but about to be. His name is Herbert. He is looking for work he explained to me, and said he was pretty desperate to get something going. He said he would work for $3 bucks an hour, if someone would just give a chance.
I told him there was a church that I knew, which had phone numbers for various groups that could help him, maybe even with a job, or at least something to eat, etc…
I offered to go get the information for him, so he would have numbers of places that could help him. He thanked me for taking the time to help him.
I went back to the church that had helped Chris two days earlier, to get back home to Dublin, GA. I went to the Administration building of the Beaches United Methodist Church, and I met Cheryl, a very bright spirit, and lovely both inside and out. She was all too happy to bring me a Business Card that listed some agencies for helping homeless people.
She apologized though, because apparently they only had ONE CARD LEFT!! I was hoping to get a small handfull, so I could pass them out to other homeless people when needed!
I thanked her, and then went on my way, heading back to McDonaldsso I could get the card to Herbert!
But as I was driving back, I thought: “Maybe I could stop in a few businesses on the way back, and one of them may COPY this card for me, so I could have a few extra to pass out!
So, I started looking for businesses that I knew would have a copy machine handy! 
First one I came to, and decided to try, was Vystar Credit Union. Surey they were large enough to help the Homeless with a few simple copies of that business card!
I walked in the Bank (Sorry… Credit Union – lol) and walked up to the gentleman who was at the Welcome Desk. I explained my needs, and asked whether they couldn’t do a little good, gratis, and make a few quick copies of that business card for me!
The gentleman there, basically told me: “Yeah, well, I’m sorry, but… we only use our copy-machine for Vystar-Related copies.”
I asked: “Are you sure? Because I am also Blogging about my experiences helping the homeless, and… I would have to document the rejection, just as I would if some help were offered.”
Again he said: “Sorry, that’s our policy.”
I responded: “I’m sorry too. But have a good day.”
As before, I mentioned my plight, and how I needed a few copies of the Card to pass out when needed, but.. I had NO MONEY to purchase them outright.
Ronnie, the nice guy running the business said he could help me, but asked if I could LEAVE THE CARD with him, and pick the copies up TOMORROW!! TOMORROW???
I asked if he was just really busy or something, cause surely it wouldn’t take that long to make 2 or 3 photocopies! But Ronnie was a real champ of goodheartedness, and he responded: “Well, the card is small, and what I would like to do, is scan it, so I can line them up on a single sheet… 10 cards per page, and… let me see… I have 5 sheets right here I can use, so… 50 Business Card copies for you to pass out!”
GO RONNIE!!! GO www.printing.com !!!! (The Company)
Ronnie asked me to come back tomorrow before 3pm and he would have the cards all printed, cut and ready to go!
Not only that, but… He alerted me to OTHER AGENCIES locally that could help! Such as the Clara White Mission which started a 20 Week Job Training Program for the homeless, where they can get job training, food and even clothes, as well as some job placement assistance! WOW!!! JACKPOT!! Definitely gonna check into that place, and talk to them about their programs!!
Well, now my confidence in people/business was restored quite a bit, and I let Ronnie SCAN the card, so I could take it back to Herbert, and I rushed back to McDonalds with the little Yellow Card in hand! WooHoo!!!
Turns out that Gary, is the nephew of a famous fiddler, who passed away in 2005…
Vassar Clements
Gary is the nephew of Vassar Clements! This Fiddler has had a storied career… Albums and hit songs he has played on, and famous people he has played with!
Here’s a YouTube video of Vassar:
Gary shared a story of how he was partially paralyzed and it meant he could no longer play guitar. But after ONE YEAR, when he had given up on every playing again… God healed his hand one night! He felt a SHOCK go through his hand and arm, and a tingle return to his fingers… he didn’t want to get his hopes up he said, but… HE COULD HAVE!! Because God restored his hand, and he was able to play guitar again!
So, after all this PRAISING of things God had done, from our pasts and even NOW in our present, we walked outside where it had been overcast and even POURING RAIN just seconds before… We went outside to get some fresh air, under the McDonalds Awning, and… SUDDENLY…
This is the picture I grabbed of it!
What an AMAZING day it was turning out to be!!!
But it wasn’t over yet….
So I gave the pack to Herbert, and nicely enough, he shared them with the others there as well! But Clifton… The guy in the Red Cap, wouldn’t take his attention off me, even as I went back to my mini-van.
He walked over and said: “I heard you talking about the group that helps the homeless with food and jobs, and I was wondering if I could one of those cards from you, so I can contact them.”
I told Clifton: “Oh, I’m sorry… that was my last card and I gave it to Herbe…. Woah wait… that’s right! Gary gave Herbert HIS CARD so I would have it still if anyone else needed it! Hold on… Here it is!
So I gave Clifton the Yellow Card…
Of course I asked him to hold it up, so I could get a picture though! Ha ha! I have to document all this stuff… God told me to!
Clifton took the card and tucked it in his pocket, and told me “Thank you”. But he also added: “Craig, could I ask one more favor?”
“Of course” I responded, “What do you need brother?”
He said: “My mother. Would you mind praying for her? She has alzheimers and some other problems and she has not been doing very well lately… I’m worried about her. Would you pray for her?”
I told him I would.
About this time Herbert came back over, and we talked about God and how this world sometimes, just doesn’t seem worth living without His great love pouring out on us all.
But Herbert had kept asking me whether it was 7:30pm yet or not, every 5 or 10 minutes! Finally it WAS 7:30pm and I told him so, asking: “Are you on time? Everything ok?”
Herbert said: “Everything is fine, but on Tuesday Nights my church has Bible Study, and I didn’t want to be late!”
“Wow, he’s going to church RIGHT NOW! Hmmm… It had been months since I was last in church myself!” I thought to myself.
So I asked Herbert: “Do you mind if I go with you to church?”
He said he didn’t mind, so I made room for him in the Van and we drove over to his church: “The Good Samaritan” Church!
We pulled up to a small building….
Nothing fancy about it, from the outside, that’s for sure! It was a small humble looking church, and had a long inviting walkway, leading up to the double doors, leading into the sanctuary!
As we neared the Entrance, I could see the Sign clearly, at the front of the building….
“Good Samaritan”
Life Changing Ministries
We made our way into the Sanctuary and there was a small group of members there, preparing themselves for the Bible Study…
A nice woman came over and had brought Herbert a Bible to use, so he could read along with the Scriptures himself. She noticed that I also, was in need of a Bible and asked if I would like one as well. I told her “Yes, Thank you so much!”
And she came back moments later with an extra Bible!
From the MOMENT I had walked in, I could feel God’s presence there, and I KNEW that this was a good church, whose members were true believers and who also knew how to BRING GOD into service and study, to fill the place with his spirit!
The Associate Pastor was very serious about his lesson, and he carefully took the members through each verse, one at a time, asking them to make note of certain words and phrases, and hilighting them, for those with markers.
The Lesson was on Ephesians Chapter 1, verses 3 through 14.
What was a joy to see however, was that the Associate Pastor was not just TALKING AT THE MEMBERS for this Bible Study, but… ENCOURAGING discussion and questions among the members. Everyone participated, sharing what they understood the verses to be saying, and there was dialogue back and forth, as they dug deeply into the lesson!
I felt encouraged by them, to share some of my own insights on the verses we were delving into! Apparently everyone was blessed by them, because they lifted up a bunch of “Amens” and the Main Pastor (who was there the whole time as the associate taught) even clapped aloud, praising God for the word He had delivered. Everyone else joined in, and shouted their own praises to God!
It was a real blessing to see EVERYONE getting involved in the lesson and the study of scripture TOGETHER! The Associate Pastor then spoke about… Walking the walk, to the congregation and not just TALKING the talk! He spoke of our needing a willingness to OBEY and even SACRIFICE when called upon to do so! I really felt that God had not only blessed ME during this Bible Study, but i felt just as strongly, that he wanted to ENCOURAGE the church as well, through sharing a little about what God was doing through my own journey of “Homelessness” that He had put me on! I asked if I might share a personal prayer request, when the Associate Pastor finished the lesson for the night. And he asked the Pastor whether that would be OK, and he agreed to let me share before the congregation!
When the lesson was over, they passed a collection plate, and I KNEW God wanted me to put something in there. The only problem was: All I had was ONE SINGLE $20 Dollar Bill to my name, and I was saving it, for food and gas for the next four days, especially GAS, because I had to have enough of that to get to my DJ gig this Saturday! But… I had also ALREADY told God before church, that I would be looking for a day laborer job, or some odd jobs from someone to get a little more gas money anyway!
I guess God really wanted me to TRUST him now for providing some gas and food money to me the next day, because… Now I had no choice! He wanted me to give that last Bill I had… the $20 dollars to THAT CHURCH as an offering. The Lord spoke to my heart, that if I was faithful in that offering, He would take that $20 dollars and MULTIPLY IT MANY TIMES OVER for them! I KNEW a good church like this, needed blessings like that! So, on faith, I took my last bit of money, and put it in the collection plate!
When the service was over, The Pastor reminded the Associate Pastor that “Brother Craig, had something to share with the congregation, for us to pray with him about.”
So the Associate Pastor called me up, and handed me the Microphone to address the church. I began by telling them what a BLESSING it had been to study and worship with them all, and that I could feel God very strongly in their church, and in the member’s hearts!
Then I shared how I had become Homeless for a few days, but when help was offered… God told me “No. I want you to STAY HOMELESS for a while longer! I want to show people what FAITH can do, when you live by it… I want to show the WORLD what is possible through FAITH ALONE!”
I explained how God told me to get the Domain:
And I had obeyed, and sure enough.. It had been available. I shared how I was having to WALK the WALK right now, just as the Pastor had shared in his lesson, and that “some walks are harder than others we are given” — Then somehow I was basically PREACHING to them all, sharing how the WORLD was struggling right now EVERYWHERE but that God was wanting the world to know:
“There is more than enough resources for EVERYONE! There are people with no cars, but others with several… there are people with NO HOMES but others with extra homes and extra rooms, there is enough of EVERYTHING for EVERYONE!!”, and all we needed to do was SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER and HELP ONE ANOTHER!! — I explained that God was displeased with those who HOARDED WEALTH and HOARDED RESOURCES and that JUDGMENT WAS COMING, if we did not CHANGE and begin to HELP ONE ANOTHER instead of living selfishly, and HATING ONE ANOTHER and putting politics above compassion and decency!!
I emphasized this, by reminding everyone of Jesus’ own prayer, in which he TAUGHT US… “HOW” to pray!! And that Jesus prayer was not for HOARDING WEALTH or STORING UP POSSESSIONS, but instead Jesus prayed: (Lord) Give us THIS DAY… our DAILY BREAD!!! Just our DAILY BREAD!! He did not pray: “Lord, give me weakth so I am SAFE for the next 10 years! DAILY BREAD!!! DAILY!!! — Just as the Jews were commanded NOT TO HOARD THE MANNA and save it up in baskets… God told them, He would PROVIDE NEW MANNA… DAILY… EACH DAY, providing their needs!!
“Why?? Why??” I asked, “Why does God make this SO IMPORTANT? To “TRUST” him day by day, rather than HOARDE! Because, He wants to teach us to TRUST HIM!!! TO TRUST HIM COMPLETELY!! And TRUST, is the foundation of LOVE ITSELF!!! If we are not TRUSTING GOD, then we are not LOVING GOD!!!”
The Amens were Deafening quite frankly, as everyone praised God and praised the TRUTH of those words!!
After asking them to remember me in their prayers, I handed the mic back to the Associate Pastor. As quickly as I did, the Main Pastor filled with the Spirit, grabbed the microphone and began praying loudly: “Lord God, we thank you for your word, and for your blessings and love! We thank you that you remind us, that sometimes when we invite a stranger in, who looks differently than us, we are sometimes entertaining ANGELS unaware… We thank you for Brother Craig, who is faithfully serving you and doing your will in this world!”
The Pastor began praying even more strongly, asking for my protectioon, and church members came over and laid their hands on me, and the Pastor touched my head as he prayed and then my HEART as he prayed, and… What I can tell youo, is that I LITERALLY felt an energy, a force… pass through my body! As if I had been healed of some mallady, or thye like! Amazingly enough, I had told people for several years that I feared I had a brain tumor, and maybe even blocked arteries in my heart, or an enlarged heart… But the TWO AREAS I had felt the most pain, were my BRAIN and my HEART! And these were the VERY TWO places the Pastor Himself had laid hands on me!
Yes, I gave up the last money I had, and on faith, made my offering to the church and then spoke to them, to encourage their own walk with the Lord, but… What a Blessing in RETURN!! In God’s family, blessings tend to work BOTH WAYS!!! And I truly felt ENRICHED SPIRITUALLY this night, and I KNOW that this faithful church felt the same!
GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!!!
But He is also FED UP, with the unwillingness of others… ESPECIALLY those claiming religious affiliations, TO LOVE OTHERS!!! He is upset at our SELFISHNESS and our refusal to be GUIDED BY HIS LOVE!! We covet our own ANGER by putting it ABOVE GOD, where politics are concerned, or race relations, or other religions… WITHOUT LOVE, ANYTHING WE DO IS… MEANINGLESS!!
LOVE!! LOVE!!!! GOD WANTS US TO LOVE!!!
All of humanity is ONE FAMILY!! And it is a FAMILY that MUST learn to LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!
Well, I cannot count how many times people just came up to me, again and again to shake my hand, and to hug me strongly! From young members to older members, from women to big strong men, all wrapping their arms around me, as if they had known me all my life!!
It was a joy! Such a joy, to be among TRUE believers in God, and His great and long-suffering LOVE!!!
When we departed, I couldn’t wait, to come back and SHARE ONLINE all that had happend today, on Day 006!!
But… there was one little surprise left!
When I came back to McDonalds to be able to get on the internet… Clifton came over, and… He had tears in his eyes… and they welled up in his eyes, and began falling to the ground, and he said to me through the tears…
“Hey brother Craig! I’m so happy to see you! I just had to come over and THANK YOU!! My mother is doing much better!”
I said: “Already? Really? She’s feeling better?”
He said: “I know it was your prayers! I talked to my dad before you came back just now… He said she is feeling pretty good and doing alot better! I just wanted you to know that, and to THANK YOU!”
Wow! Woooooow!!!
Is it possible that God is onto something here? Is it possible we SLEEPWALK through this life, and in doing so, miss the GLORIOUS and PROFOUND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES and LOVING RELATIONSHIPS that are… ALWAYS THERE FOR THE TAKING!!
We only have to:
1) Listen
2) Obey
I love you God! More than I love my own life even!
—– END OF DAY 006 —–
GO TO DAY 007: http://craigmaxim.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/day-007/
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Posted on November 25, 2011, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
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