12/6/11 - These guys do this sort of thing every year. Get up early, brave the cold, even the rain, or ice. You know them, Lord. They come from a church that financially supports RCM in a big way. Two are RCM board members. One used to be. Three are elders together at that church. One who used to lead our food pantry ministry just started a daycare in the church's building which employs several people and ministers to parents and children. Another gathers ladies to make cakes for our monthly birthday celebration which includes the homeless getting to blow out the candles. One serves on the board of a Christian school as do two who teach kids and another who is a librarian there. Another is a dental hygienist who got the toothbrushes and toothpaste donated for the backpacks. Several support RCM financially besides what the church does. This bunch comes to RCM monthly to host a BBQ outside on the grounds for the poor and homeless. They always have good bluesy Gospel music.

They are, Lord, involved. And, they love the poor.

So, last Saturday, to no one's surprise, which has become an annual affair, they loaded up coats, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, backpacks full of goodies including a cool New Testament and info on RCM they had gathered throughout the year, stopped by to get fresh donuts to go with the hot chocolate they would serve and headed out on a mini mission trip to bless the people who sleep under bridges, behind bushes, and in the alleys next to the dumpsters.

They went in Your Name. For Your glory. To the benefit of others, and not themselves.

I went along, for the second or third year, can't remember, just to get the blessing of watching these children of Yours, Lord, bless others because you have blessed them. And I got blessed when we stopped under the Broadway bridge.

I got to see the people I pray with every day and minister to regularly. I saw them like I usually don't get to—crawling out from secluded places, sleep still in their eyes, shaking off the cold, some shivering a bit.

I got to connect with some I hadn't seen in awhile, and encourage several we had immersed or restored. I enjoyed a great random experience just mingling around with my homeless friends. So this writing could get a bit random, mostly because I enjoyed so many randoms in a very short time.

Kevin and Tamara were restored back into relationship with You as they nursed hot chocolate. James said he'd come by soon to be immersed. So many said, "thank you," or "praise God," in appreciation.

Charles also came over to say thanks. We just immersed his girlfriend two weeks ago. They plan to marry and he assures me that they are staying pure. I believe him. When I asked him, "So Charles, how's your walk with the Lord going?" He smiled and shot back pretty quickly, "Pretty damn good bro. Anth ... uh ... well, uh, I mean ... pretty dog gone good!" Silence. Awkward. Smiles. Finally, "I really need to change that, don't I bro. Anthony?" I grinned, "Yep, you do." We laughed. Charles. Saved. Still being perfected.

Those things, well, are to be expected, Lord. It's the joy of watching our people mature over time that inspires me, Lord, because I know that You do the same with me, even though, I know Lord, I'm slow on some things in my growth. I'm not any different than our people because I know I've got spiritual arrested development too--things that happened early in my life that stunted or stopped my spiritual growth. I've got it. Just ask my wife. I warned You, Lord, this would be random.

Jerry, no coat on, walked towards us up from the bank along the river in bare feet to say, "Somebody stole the shoes right off my feet last night!" Yeah, I know, first reactions—"was he drinking? What was he on, what drug?" He was knocked out because of his mental health medication. Hmmmmmmm. We went to RCM and found him a size 13 pair of shoes. Smiles and thankfulness.

Some of the church ladies doubted that a particular bright, pinkish purple blanket would be taken by anyone. They were homemade, and good blankets, but this one burned the eyes if you looked at it too long. When almost everything was gone, except that blanket and a couple of other random items, a extremely destitute looking guy rushed over with hope in his eyes to get anything that was left, looked in the box, grabbed the bright, pinkish purple blanket and said, "This is just the one I want, thank you! Now maybe they'll see this, and I won't get hit by a car crossing the street!"

Ok Lord, we got the message. And, we heard his thankfulness. Praises go to You, O Lord.

All the backpacks were handed out, as were the winter gear items. There were no donuts left and everyone had plenty of hot chocolate.

I know a lot of people want to give at the holiday season. They are inspired to bless another out of true care and concern for those less fortunate. It's good thing. It's always right and good to bless. Benevolence is not a location we travel to. Mercy is not locked up in a church building where the poor can't get to. It's going where the people who Jesus said, "When you did to the least of these, you did it to me."

... God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work ... You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and ... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2C orinthians 9:8, 11, NIV