Everything You Think You Know About Panhandlers Is Wrong | ThinkProgress

Everything You Think You Know About Panhandlers Is Wrong | ThinkProgress

FYI

You Never Know

The other day I was downtown in traffic court.

No, it was not for me!

I was sitting in the lobby and there came Sharron passing me by.

Sharron is one of the neighbors that lives across the street from Northminster.

I wrote about her back in May.

I caught her attention and we chatted for a bit.

It turns out she works for the court system.

It was great to run into her when you least expect it!

You never know who you will see where?

The Other Day I Became a Rat

I looked up the definition of a rat on Wikipedia.

"It is a term (noun and verb) in criminal slang for an informant - ""to rat on someone"" is to betray them by informing the authorities of a crime or misdeed they committed."

So here's my story:

One day I was having breakfast in Highland Park and I noticed someone across the street.

The man looked familiar to me. 

I stared a little more and noticed that it was one of the men from Charles' house.

Two things occurred to me.

First off, this was not the place to be hanging out. 

It happens to be a place to drink or do drugs.

Secondly was I going to rat this guy out to Charles.

I decided the best thing to do was to call Charles.

When I spoke with him, he said he was going to do a drive by.

This means that Charles wanted this individual to know that he saw him and what he was doing.

Not long after that, Charles took the man to detox.

He was in such bad shape the man spent the day in the emergency room. He was very unstable.

He eventually ended up in a rehab facility.

Charles explained to me that ratting him out saved his life.

As Charles would say "That's what we do, we save lives!"

If being a rat saves a life, I'll be a rat!

The Grip and Grab

When I bought the "Grip &Grab" I had no idea what impact it would have.

God has used it as a tool to guide me on my walk.

I have used it as a tool for picking up trash.

I have used it as a gift to give away to a new friend.

Willie at the barber shop across the street from my house approached me one day and said:

"I will pick up the trash in front of the shop."

I was thrilled to know that someone else cared. 

He assured me that he had that place covered.

The other day I went by to give Willie a present.

A Grip and Grab!

Willie was so excited about his new tool he was smiling from ear to ear!

Now let's see what impact that tool will have in his life.

New Math!

Last night I went to hear Mark Batterson speak.

He is the author of the book "The Circle Maker".

This book influenced my walk with God in the single greatest way in my entire life of 54 years.

Prayer!

Sounds simple, but is amazing if we add faith to the equation.

Here are some quotes from last night.

"Give generously, pray regularly and watch what God will do."

"We ask God to reveal the second step before we take the first step."

"What step of faith do you need to take?"

"Sometimes God shows up and sometimes He shows off."

It's all about seeking God first, and not about seeking what we want first and then asking God for it.

I am not saying you can't ask God for what's on your heart.

I am saying if we seek Him first, he will place things on your heart to pray for.

Often we have to take the first step of faith in Him, for Him to answer our prayers.

It's not of our power but His, that prayers get answered.

Prayers + Faith = Awesome Relationship with God!