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WITandWISDOM(tm) - June 24, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "A free lunch is only found in mousetraps." - John Capuzz Source: Quotes From The Masters, http://MailRoom.DailyInbox.Com/ Subjects: Gifts, Traps ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: In July 2000 at the urging of the Holy Spirit, my wife and I decided we could no longer wait until God erected a billboard with our names on it detailing exactly what He wanted us to do in the area of ministry for others. A friend had been distributing cold bottled water to homeless people for some time, and we had accompanied her once to see first hand what it was like. We decided it was a worthwhile project, but reasoned that her ministry was not ours. We needed to do something ourselves, closer to home. We decided to copy her example by taking cold water bottles to a park near our old home, a place we knew was a hangout for the homeless. We talked about it, and even though we both understood that we really didn't know how to begin or what to say or what we would actually encounter, we decided just to do it. What began with a case of bottled water and a bag of ice in a cooler has steadily grown. Within a couple weeks we added lunch sacks filled with sandwiches, fruit, and cookies. A few weeks later, as we discussed the needs of the homeless, we decided to cook an entire meal, just as if we were having a family picnic. We unloaded our picnic meal and invited the park's homeless to join us. It now takes several of the homeless to help us carry the coolers, thermoses, pots, pans, and other containers we unload from my pickup each Sunday afternoon. In less than a year our original group of about 10 to 15 has nearly doubled. On an average Sunday we cook about 20 pounds of potatoes, make a half gallon of gravy, go through several loaves of bread and a large pot of beans or other vegetables, and feed two to three dozen people. How can we afford it? Last year I would've told you that we couldn't. God, however, is faithful and has promised to repay whatever we spend to help the poor. We have claimed the promise: "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done" (Prov. 19:17). Our annual income has increased by nearly $10,000, much more than we spend in feeding the homeless. God is indeed faithful. Our lives have changed in other ways since we made the decision to begin helping the homeless. Whereas I once argued that homeless people were that way because of their own bad choices, I know now that this is not always the case. While it's true that many are homeless because of drug and alcohol addictions or because of various other wrong choices they have made in life, some have simply been victims: of abuse, divorce, poverty, and other circumstances I'll never understand. By S. R. Morris Source: Adventist Review, ISSN 0161-1119, (c) April 2002, http://www.adventistreview.org/ Submitted by Nancy Simpson Subjects: Homeless, Witnessing ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THE MUST READ BOOK LIST: Part 3 of 5 [Jun 3, 13, 24 Jul 5, 15] Turtle Racing: Eubie Quick The Housing Problem: Rufus Quick The Economy is Recovering!: Knott Quite Joe Wins at a Track Meet: C. Howie Runns Not Bogged Down In Reality: Jason Rainbows Nordic Groundskeepers: Leif Raker Measles Collision!: Kay Rash Don't Tread On Me: Amanda B. Reckonwith Too Rough: Soren Redd No: Kurt Reply Indiana Jones' Adventures: Darrin Rescue Highway Travel: Dusty Rhodes Bad Investment: Les Riches I Can Fix It: Jerry Rigg What's For Dinner?: Chuck Roast Clothes for Germ Kings: Mike Robes Playing with the Christmas Fire: Yule B. Sari The Empath: Ophelia Sadness The Telltale Heart: Stefi Scope Maritime Rules: Paula See Source: Have A Nice Day Subjects: Books, Parody ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: As part of the worship service at our church in Boring, Oregon, a children's story is included. One of our members, told about preparing to drive to a college in California to pick up her daughter at the close of school. She told how they had everything loaded in the car. Expecting to hear something about praying for a safe trip, she then asked the children, "What do we do before we start a trip?" Immediately a little girl piped up, "We go to the bathroom." By Mort Juberg, Boring, Oregon Source: Adventist Review, ISSN 0161-1119, (c) May 9, 2002, http://www.adventistreview.org/ Submitted by Nancy Simpson Subjects: Church, Prayer ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Kiel, Germany (Ananova): A German woman managed to drive off in a stranger's Mazda after agreeing to borrow her sister's Volkswagen. Police say her Volkswagen keys worked for both the door and ignition of the Mazda and the woman didn't realize her mistake until hours later. The 42-year-old was borrowing the Volkswagen from her sister in Kiel but got confused between the two. The cars were parked together and both were white. She only noticed when she got back into the car to return it to her sister later in the day. She immediately called police. The Mazda owner had reported his car stolen in the meantime. Officers say the woman, who has not been named, will not be charged. Police spokesman Wolf Schmidt said: "Of course, she apologized for her mistake." Source: WhiteBoard News for April 29, 2002, http://www.joeha.com/whiteboard Subjects: Stealing, Automobiles |