"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 15:13
tonight, a man named Steve sits in a car in our church parking lot. he has no house, the old buick he received as a gift from one of our 20 year olds is his only shelter. Steve has a problem, no, the problem has him. the problem with alcohol has been controlling his life for "decades" -- he finally confessed it tonight. he has lost most hope, but came to those he has learned to trust -- he says he's seen God real in his life in this little church. he said he wants to 1 serve God, 2 serve people, and 3 have a little something for himself. i told him the alcohol has reversed those priorities, and that he needed help. he agreed and we called a treatment center -- they're on the way tomorrow to pick him up and take him south to a place of help, a place of hope, instead of heading north a few blocks to jump off the bridge. Steve saw God alive in the hearts of a little church on 6th Ave --that little bit of trust provided the only ray of hope he could hold on to.
meanwhile, a man named Coleman lies in the hospital bed hospice moved into his room a few weeks ago. at 91, Coleman has seen at least 3x's the amount of joy and sorrow i've seen. 3 weeks ago tomorrow, i ate lunch with he and his wife after grim report at the doctor's office. we were eating at our monthly Caleb Club (seniors group) meeting when they told me the news--though week, he made the trip because he knew it would be his last opportunity for fellowship with the group. Coleman and his wife Eloise lived a life of serving, loving and praying -- even at their advanced age, they cooked and took meals to those who were "shut-in" or "worse off" than they were. Though any number of the ailments from cancer to leukemia to blood pressure to arthritis to Lord knows what else -- any of these would have given these two an excuse -- instead their trust in the Lord gave them a joy that overflowed as the power of the Holy Spirit carried them on. now, unable to speak, barely able to breathe, nearly unconscious -- his prayer was not for living, but peace for his family.
tomorrow, my dad will enter a not guilty plea to an awful charge against him. in today's mass media culture, he has been painted guilty in the eyes and minds of most with his picture on paper and airwaves. internet searches have led to confusion and defamation of character which only add to the pain, confusion, and loss. as dad walks through reporters to the sterile courtroom, his hope will not rest on the bench, but only in the God of hope. there's no peace in the silence that surrounds them now, only peace with the God who sent His Son, the Prince of Peace. we trust that God is true to His Word and we await the power of the Holy Spirit (the comforter, promised counselor) to guide us into all truth. our prayer is that the truth will not only set dad and mom free, but the accuser as well.
three different men, three different struggles, one answer -- the God of hope
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." ~ Romans 5:5
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Monday, April 18, 2005
then and now
for the last 11 months, i took at least 3 days a week to see Bobby. along with teaching him the Word of God, i was answering his questions. questions regarding the Bible passages he was trying to read, questions that Jehovah witnesses were raising at his door, questions that other Bible 'teachers' had raised in his life -- this 56 year old man was a babe in Christ and needed continual care and follow-up.
parents wouldn't bring a baby in the world and leave them in the delivery room and only casually meet them back there once a week to ask how they're doing. parents don't leave the doctor in charge of meeting the baby's immediate and long term needs. yet that's often what we do when we bring a friend to the altar and help them receive Christ as their Savior and enter a new birth experience. we celebrate with them there, share the new birth announcement, maybe encourage baptism -- but there they often lay, struggling at the altar floor, in need of nourishment, in need of training, in need of steadfast love.
the first time i missed seeing Bobby for more than a few days, someone was there offering him a drink. when i got to him afterwards, he was sorrowful, repentant, and begging me not to give up on him, but to pray for him. our new converts in Christ will be met with opposition and temptations that have a destructive purpose. Jesus said that satan comes to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10) and Peter compared him to a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) -- as i understand it, lions attack a herd and end up with the old, the lame, or the young.
the responsibility is on the church, the saints. new converts should not have to be expected to line up spiritual mentors to disciple them and help them handle the Word of God correctly. as the church, we need to fulfill the great commission of Christ and "make disciples...baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19, 20)
i am fortunate that one of my mentors, Kurt, took Dad aside after he had rededicated his life and discipled him before he could have any part in the youth ministry Kurt was directing. Dad in turn, took me aside on mornings to do the same for me in patterned instruction, daily Bible readings, and follow-up. Dad went on to disciple many and prepare several discipleship courses that have been used in a variety of settings.
Discipleship can take place in a group -- but its best one-to-one. Discipleship is the patterning of our lives after Christ, not that we learn about Christ, but learn to be like Him in his conduct and character. discipleship is not simply an external process of passing on knowledge or changing outward conduct ("but how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" from Romans 10:14-15). but discipleship is also an internal transformation of the character of the individual by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit -- Paul and Peter both testify to this in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and 1 Peter 1:2. as God's word is passed on into the life of a new believer by mature and loving believer(s), the new convert matures and Jesus becomes the Lord of their life. Jesus prayed in John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth, Your Word is truth".
at Bobby's funeral this week, i shared his testimony, and the relationship we developed together through those visits. i talked about his desire and crying out for mercy, the steadfast loving relationship of someone in his life to lead to positive change. i shared how we were all in need of that kind of mercy and offered a time of response, so that others in the room could cry out for mercy. and i encouraged immediate follow-up, for them to talk to a pastor or older Christian in the room.
three responded. a nephew who talked to one of Bobby's brothers, the one who had given him the Bible i had found in his apartment 11 months ago. a neice, who talked to her mother, Bobby's sister, who introduced her to their pastor. and Bobby's brother-in-law, the man who was sitting on Bobby's porch the day i showed up looking for him to help Eddy. Bobby's brother-in-law asked me after the funeral if i would mind visiting him like i did Bobby -- so, the follow-up will continue...
parents wouldn't bring a baby in the world and leave them in the delivery room and only casually meet them back there once a week to ask how they're doing. parents don't leave the doctor in charge of meeting the baby's immediate and long term needs. yet that's often what we do when we bring a friend to the altar and help them receive Christ as their Savior and enter a new birth experience. we celebrate with them there, share the new birth announcement, maybe encourage baptism -- but there they often lay, struggling at the altar floor, in need of nourishment, in need of training, in need of steadfast love.
the first time i missed seeing Bobby for more than a few days, someone was there offering him a drink. when i got to him afterwards, he was sorrowful, repentant, and begging me not to give up on him, but to pray for him. our new converts in Christ will be met with opposition and temptations that have a destructive purpose. Jesus said that satan comes to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10) and Peter compared him to a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) -- as i understand it, lions attack a herd and end up with the old, the lame, or the young.
the responsibility is on the church, the saints. new converts should not have to be expected to line up spiritual mentors to disciple them and help them handle the Word of God correctly. as the church, we need to fulfill the great commission of Christ and "make disciples...baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19, 20)
i am fortunate that one of my mentors, Kurt, took Dad aside after he had rededicated his life and discipled him before he could have any part in the youth ministry Kurt was directing. Dad in turn, took me aside on mornings to do the same for me in patterned instruction, daily Bible readings, and follow-up. Dad went on to disciple many and prepare several discipleship courses that have been used in a variety of settings.
Discipleship can take place in a group -- but its best one-to-one. Discipleship is the patterning of our lives after Christ, not that we learn about Christ, but learn to be like Him in his conduct and character. discipleship is not simply an external process of passing on knowledge or changing outward conduct ("but how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" from Romans 10:14-15). but discipleship is also an internal transformation of the character of the individual by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit -- Paul and Peter both testify to this in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and 1 Peter 1:2. as God's word is passed on into the life of a new believer by mature and loving believer(s), the new convert matures and Jesus becomes the Lord of their life. Jesus prayed in John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth, Your Word is truth".
at Bobby's funeral this week, i shared his testimony, and the relationship we developed together through those visits. i talked about his desire and crying out for mercy, the steadfast loving relationship of someone in his life to lead to positive change. i shared how we were all in need of that kind of mercy and offered a time of response, so that others in the room could cry out for mercy. and i encouraged immediate follow-up, for them to talk to a pastor or older Christian in the room.
three responded. a nephew who talked to one of Bobby's brothers, the one who had given him the Bible i had found in his apartment 11 months ago. a neice, who talked to her mother, Bobby's sister, who introduced her to their pastor. and Bobby's brother-in-law, the man who was sitting on Bobby's porch the day i showed up looking for him to help Eddy. Bobby's brother-in-law asked me after the funeral if i would mind visiting him like i did Bobby -- so, the follow-up will continue...
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Bobby Walker Haggard, 1948-2005
Bobby Walker Haggard
Funeral for Bobby Walker Haggard, 56, of Decatur will be Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ken Oldham officiating. Burial will be in Bellview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Haggard died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at his residence. He was born Nov. 21, 1948, in Lawrence County to Otis Walker Haggard and Maggie Adell Sapp Haggard. He was a member of Oak Grove First Congregational Methodist Church. He worked for Littrell Lumber Co. He is survived by two daughters, Angie Haggard of Eva and Christy Haggard of Trinity; four brothers, John Haggard of Trinity, Dwight Haggard of Somerville, Jerry Haggard of Florence and Earl Haggard of Arab; and five sisters, Audrey Kilpatric of Decatur, Dorothy Goodwin of Eva, Flora Milligan, Joyce Haymes and Ann Waddle, all of Trinity. Pallbearers will be nephews and friends. Published in the Decatur Daily on 4/12/2005.
Funeral for Bobby Walker Haggard, 56, of Decatur will be Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ken Oldham officiating. Burial will be in Bellview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Haggard died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at his residence. He was born Nov. 21, 1948, in Lawrence County to Otis Walker Haggard and Maggie Adell Sapp Haggard. He was a member of Oak Grove First Congregational Methodist Church. He worked for Littrell Lumber Co. He is survived by two daughters, Angie Haggard of Eva and Christy Haggard of Trinity; four brothers, John Haggard of Trinity, Dwight Haggard of Somerville, Jerry Haggard of Florence and Earl Haggard of Arab; and five sisters, Audrey Kilpatric of Decatur, Dorothy Goodwin of Eva, Flora Milligan, Joyce Haymes and Ann Waddle, all of Trinity. Pallbearers will be nephews and friends. Published in the Decatur Daily on 4/12/2005.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Bobby, part 3
the next day, i pulled up in front of Bobby's house and walked up to his door. as i knocked, i could see him there, still mostly naked, still drunk, still nearly passed out on that dingy couch -- but he wasn't the big, angry man to me any more
he maustered enough strength to let me in -- he just stared at me for a few minutes as he layed back down on the couch. he extended his hand to me, and as i clasped his to shake it he said, i love you man. i knew you'd be back.
i asked if he wanted me to keep reading the Bible, he said yes and to go get it
i went and picked it up from the closet, came back and began to read and explain from John again. he asked me to pray for him, for his cancer that was in his colon and prostate, and for him to find forgiveness. i took his hands and prayed for him
as i put his Bible back, he asked if i would be back. i said yes, tomorrow. he said, i know -- i prayed for God to send someone and he sent you
and i was back each day, reading the Gospel of John and praying with Bobby. talking about forgivness and the fullness of life
after a couple of weeks, Bobby would be sitting at his table waiting for me with the Bible open. he would even put on a shirt when i came around.
after another few weeks, Bobby prayed with me for forgiveness
after another few weeks, he got rid of that couch, and began cleaning up his apartment and opening up the windows to let light in
then, 'friends' started to bring Bobby things to drink. sometimes he turned them away, sometimes they got the better of him
he would let me back in, tearfully repenting and asking me not to give up, not to stop coming, but to pray for him again. we started talking about self-control, prayer, and the Holy Spirit who could help him find victory over sin in his life. i taught him the Lord's prayer and got him a framed copy of it in his house so he could remember to pray it and to let that prayer help him pray
after a couple of months, Bobby started going to church with his family again, and one Sunday, he says he got saved "for real" by making a public confession at the altar of his church. we were so excited.
he was scheduled to be baptized shortly thereafter, and i excused myself from our church to be there, to take pictures and to be the shouting, cheering freak when he went into the water and came back out. i got him a cross plaque with John 3:16 inscribed on it to celebrate--he went home and hung it on his wall next to the Lord's prayer (and the Elvis clock someone had given him)
while i was gone this March, more friends came to bring him a drink -- he was drunk for a few days. this time, it really took its toll. though he sobered up and was clean by the time i got to him, he was at half strength. he could hardly stand, barely walk, and couldn't stop shaking.
yesterday, my phone rang and i saw the caller id as Bobby's neighbor Mildred who we had also begun to serve and love. she said pastor ken, you need to get over here, Bobby's just died.
i couldn't believe it--i didn't want to, but i knew it was true.
i got there and saw many of the community outside his door or their own as the red and blue lights of a patrol car flashed. Mildred was on her porch and gave me a half smile. Bobby's friends and 'friends' sat outside of his door as police looked through his place. they let me in to fill in some blanks, and to help search for his identification. during the search, i saw him--like i had first saw him. lying mostly naked on the floor next to his bed --not Bobby, but the shell of the man i once knew.
Bobby's sisters came once i went back outside. i greeted them with a hug, his brothers with a handshake. they called me again last night to ask me to preach his funeral. it will be an honor above any i've held
one year ago, Bobby cried out for mercy. God heard that prayer, and he sent me. now i trust Bobby is in far better care with much better follow-up than i could ever give. this former contractor may get the bid on my mansion, if not, i hope i'm a neighbor
he maustered enough strength to let me in -- he just stared at me for a few minutes as he layed back down on the couch. he extended his hand to me, and as i clasped his to shake it he said, i love you man. i knew you'd be back.
i asked if he wanted me to keep reading the Bible, he said yes and to go get it
i went and picked it up from the closet, came back and began to read and explain from John again. he asked me to pray for him, for his cancer that was in his colon and prostate, and for him to find forgiveness. i took his hands and prayed for him
as i put his Bible back, he asked if i would be back. i said yes, tomorrow. he said, i know -- i prayed for God to send someone and he sent you
and i was back each day, reading the Gospel of John and praying with Bobby. talking about forgivness and the fullness of life
after a couple of weeks, Bobby would be sitting at his table waiting for me with the Bible open. he would even put on a shirt when i came around.
after another few weeks, Bobby prayed with me for forgiveness
after another few weeks, he got rid of that couch, and began cleaning up his apartment and opening up the windows to let light in
then, 'friends' started to bring Bobby things to drink. sometimes he turned them away, sometimes they got the better of him
he would let me back in, tearfully repenting and asking me not to give up, not to stop coming, but to pray for him again. we started talking about self-control, prayer, and the Holy Spirit who could help him find victory over sin in his life. i taught him the Lord's prayer and got him a framed copy of it in his house so he could remember to pray it and to let that prayer help him pray
after a couple of months, Bobby started going to church with his family again, and one Sunday, he says he got saved "for real" by making a public confession at the altar of his church. we were so excited.
he was scheduled to be baptized shortly thereafter, and i excused myself from our church to be there, to take pictures and to be the shouting, cheering freak when he went into the water and came back out. i got him a cross plaque with John 3:16 inscribed on it to celebrate--he went home and hung it on his wall next to the Lord's prayer (and the Elvis clock someone had given him)
while i was gone this March, more friends came to bring him a drink -- he was drunk for a few days. this time, it really took its toll. though he sobered up and was clean by the time i got to him, he was at half strength. he could hardly stand, barely walk, and couldn't stop shaking.
yesterday, my phone rang and i saw the caller id as Bobby's neighbor Mildred who we had also begun to serve and love. she said pastor ken, you need to get over here, Bobby's just died.
i couldn't believe it--i didn't want to, but i knew it was true.
i got there and saw many of the community outside his door or their own as the red and blue lights of a patrol car flashed. Mildred was on her porch and gave me a half smile. Bobby's friends and 'friends' sat outside of his door as police looked through his place. they let me in to fill in some blanks, and to help search for his identification. during the search, i saw him--like i had first saw him. lying mostly naked on the floor next to his bed --not Bobby, but the shell of the man i once knew.
Bobby's sisters came once i went back outside. i greeted them with a hug, his brothers with a handshake. they called me again last night to ask me to preach his funeral. it will be an honor above any i've held
one year ago, Bobby cried out for mercy. God heard that prayer, and he sent me. now i trust Bobby is in far better care with much better follow-up than i could ever give. this former contractor may get the bid on my mansion, if not, i hope i'm a neighbor
Bobby, part 2
we pulled up to Bobby's house and there was another man, also drunk, on Bobby's front porch. he told me that i better not let Bobby see Eddie, but i would have to knock on the door because Bobby was passed out on the couch.
as i peered through the storm door into the dark apartment, i could see the large, mostly naked drunk man lying on a couch three feet from the door. the apartment was dingy, covered in beer cans, whiskey bottles, and cigarrette packaging. There were dishes of leftover food on anything that could hold them, and the odor from the apartment was coming through the door almost visibly like something off a cartoon.
i knocked on the door. then again. he moved slightly. i knocked louder and called out Bobby, i need to speak with you. he opened one eye and looked at me. he mumbled something then went back to sleep.
i knocked again, harder and said Bobby i'm not going away until you help me.
help you?, he cursed at me and sat up. then he saw Eddie and really began to curse -- get that man off my property.
you want me to leave i asked?
yes and take that <<>> with you?
okay, after you help me help him
i told you i'm not helping that guy get off my porch
i'm not leaving until you help me
Bobby jumped up and charged at the door with his fist in the air as the storm door flew open i stepped back in time for it to fly by and hit the guy sitting on the porch. as Bobby's bloodshot eyes and red face approached my own in a furious rage, i said my name is pastor ken, i'm the pastor of sixth avenue church of God where Eddie has been coming. i need your help
as soon as i said pastor, Bobby froze. pastor? well, i fear God and i love people but i'm not helping that man.
we argued at the door for a couple of minutes and then Bobby said come on in i'm tired of standing at this door. as he sat down on his couch i stepped into his dark apartment. Eddie came in and made himself at home by taking a cigarette and lightin' up. i asked Bobby for permission to sit down in a chair next to the couch. he looked me confused, and i said Bobby this is your home, you invite me to sit down or i won't. he nodded with approval.
i continued, if this man has stolen from you i'll pay it back. whatever it takes, i need your help
no, i don't want your money Bobby said
then what? if i don't help Eddie, he's gonna die, and i'm not gonna let that happen--to help Eddie, i need you to acknowledge that he's stayed in your house overnight.
no way
by this time, Eddie's on his third cigarette and i'm running out of hope.
then Bobby said i know what i want
what? anything tell me
you
my mind began to race if i had said anything about love in a way that could be misinterpreted, i looked at the door and for another exit as i began to feel very uncomfortable in the home of a (very large, mostly naked, beligerent drunk man) what do you mean Bobby, what do you want from me?
you--i want you to come back and teach me the Bible
okay, i'll be back tomorrow
NO--TODAY--i want you to teach me the Bible today
okay--sure, do you have a Bible?
yes, around there
where Bobby, why don't you get it?
no, i can't touch it -- i got a demon in me and i can't touch it
amazed at this man's reverence, i slowly stood up--do you want me to get it?
yes, it's around there
i slowly moved further into the dark apartment, and there, around the corner was a small closet with a large, black leather Bible case, with the name Bobby Haggard engraved in golden letters on the Bible. i picked it up and went back toward Bobby, who was now beginning to cry. Bobby, this is a beautiful Bible, i said as i slowly sat down and unzipped it. what do you want Bobby, what do you want me to read?
then he said the words that echo in my heart
mercy--i want the same mercy you're showing to that guy (pointing to Eddie)--i want that kind of mercy
the Bible fell open to a card placed in John 3, how about John 3:16 Bobby. as i read it, he wept. we got to verse 19 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil". i said Bobby, Eddie has so much darkness in him that if he doesn't get help, he's gonna die--will you help me help Eddie?
on one condition--you have to come back
okay
everyday
okay
if you don't i'll find you -- there aren't a lot of people in this town that look like you
i know -- i'll be back
Bobby signed the paper, and we began to get Eddie help. Eddie would walk away from that help, but i would continue to walk into Bobby's house
as i peered through the storm door into the dark apartment, i could see the large, mostly naked drunk man lying on a couch three feet from the door. the apartment was dingy, covered in beer cans, whiskey bottles, and cigarrette packaging. There were dishes of leftover food on anything that could hold them, and the odor from the apartment was coming through the door almost visibly like something off a cartoon.
i knocked on the door. then again. he moved slightly. i knocked louder and called out Bobby, i need to speak with you. he opened one eye and looked at me. he mumbled something then went back to sleep.
i knocked again, harder and said Bobby i'm not going away until you help me.
help you?, he cursed at me and sat up. then he saw Eddie and really began to curse -- get that man off my property.
you want me to leave i asked?
yes and take that <<>> with you?
okay, after you help me help him
i told you i'm not helping that guy get off my porch
i'm not leaving until you help me
Bobby jumped up and charged at the door with his fist in the air as the storm door flew open i stepped back in time for it to fly by and hit the guy sitting on the porch. as Bobby's bloodshot eyes and red face approached my own in a furious rage, i said my name is pastor ken, i'm the pastor of sixth avenue church of God where Eddie has been coming. i need your help
as soon as i said pastor, Bobby froze. pastor? well, i fear God and i love people but i'm not helping that man.
we argued at the door for a couple of minutes and then Bobby said come on in i'm tired of standing at this door. as he sat down on his couch i stepped into his dark apartment. Eddie came in and made himself at home by taking a cigarette and lightin' up. i asked Bobby for permission to sit down in a chair next to the couch. he looked me confused, and i said Bobby this is your home, you invite me to sit down or i won't. he nodded with approval.
i continued, if this man has stolen from you i'll pay it back. whatever it takes, i need your help
no, i don't want your money Bobby said
then what? if i don't help Eddie, he's gonna die, and i'm not gonna let that happen--to help Eddie, i need you to acknowledge that he's stayed in your house overnight.
no way
by this time, Eddie's on his third cigarette and i'm running out of hope.
then Bobby said i know what i want
what? anything tell me
you
my mind began to race if i had said anything about love in a way that could be misinterpreted, i looked at the door and for another exit as i began to feel very uncomfortable in the home of a (very large, mostly naked, beligerent drunk man) what do you mean Bobby, what do you want from me?
you--i want you to come back and teach me the Bible
okay, i'll be back tomorrow
NO--TODAY--i want you to teach me the Bible today
okay--sure, do you have a Bible?
yes, around there
where Bobby, why don't you get it?
no, i can't touch it -- i got a demon in me and i can't touch it
amazed at this man's reverence, i slowly stood up--do you want me to get it?
yes, it's around there
i slowly moved further into the dark apartment, and there, around the corner was a small closet with a large, black leather Bible case, with the name Bobby Haggard engraved in golden letters on the Bible. i picked it up and went back toward Bobby, who was now beginning to cry. Bobby, this is a beautiful Bible, i said as i slowly sat down and unzipped it. what do you want Bobby, what do you want me to read?
then he said the words that echo in my heart
mercy--i want the same mercy you're showing to that guy (pointing to Eddie)--i want that kind of mercy
the Bible fell open to a card placed in John 3, how about John 3:16 Bobby. as i read it, he wept. we got to verse 19 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil". i said Bobby, Eddie has so much darkness in him that if he doesn't get help, he's gonna die--will you help me help Eddie?
on one condition--you have to come back
okay
everyday
okay
if you don't i'll find you -- there aren't a lot of people in this town that look like you
i know -- i'll be back
Bobby signed the paper, and we began to get Eddie help. Eddie would walk away from that help, but i would continue to walk into Bobby's house
how i met Bobby
one year ago, a man named Bobby lay in a depressed, drunken stupor calling out for God to have mercy on his life. at 57 years old, he was pleading for God to send someone, anyone to help him out of the pit he had found himself in
across town, a young pastor was trying to help a homeless man who had come to church looking for a handout -- instead, he found warm hands welcoming him in each week. some took him to dinner, others prayed intently for him and with him. Eddie was 47, an alcoholic, and more scrawny than i am. Eddie disappeared for two weeks -- we looked for him, called the police station to see if he had been picked up, even read obituaries from the area -- no Eddie.
then, the Tuesday after Mother's Day 2004, Eddie showed up at the church. Eddie usually looked rough -- but now he looked roughed up with scars, bruises, and fresh stitches. i asked him who did this? his reply, he did. he said he had passed out on the street and the police took him to the hospital. he had wanted to get out and make it home to see his mother in a nursing home on Mother's day, but a few more drinks before he left, left him passed out in a local gas station's bathroom. that's where he woke up, discouraged and at the bottom of life. Eddie pleaded for help, for treatment, for a change.
we arranged for a ministry that would keep him after he was medically cleared to go -- he was toxic at the time and first needed medical help to come down. we knew we would need his ID -- so we had to go get his wallet from his friend Bobby's house.
that was my first trip into East Acres -- a low income housing project blocks from our church. we pulled up in front of Bobby's unit -- Eddie told me to wait because Bobby may be drunk and he didn't like strangers. Eddie went to the door which was eventually answered by a large, mostly naked, beligerent drunk man. The man began to curse and threaten Eddie. As i thought about getting out to intercede, Eddie ducked under the man's arm and retrieved his wallet, sidestepping the drunk man trying to catch him as he ran back out the door and into my car.
i asked Eddie if that was his friend, Bobby? he said yes. i said, no, that man's no friend -- you're never coming back here again.
God had other plans. Eddie was homeless and all the programs we were trying to get help from required proof of residency. that's hard for a homeless person -- you need help to get a home, but you can't get help because you have no home. Eddie had given up and asked to be dropped off somewhere so he could lay down and die. finally, at my insistence for another way, one agency said that if we could provide a letter from someone who had let him stay the night, they would count that as proof of residency.
there was only one house where he had stayed the night -- Bobby's. i looked at the agency representative and said we'll be right back. i took Eddie back to the church to make a letter and to pray. Eddie said, i thought you said i could never go back. i did, but this time i'm going with you and we're gonna get Bobby's help. We printed a letter, we prayed for Divine favor, and we drove back to Bobby's
across town, a young pastor was trying to help a homeless man who had come to church looking for a handout -- instead, he found warm hands welcoming him in each week. some took him to dinner, others prayed intently for him and with him. Eddie was 47, an alcoholic, and more scrawny than i am. Eddie disappeared for two weeks -- we looked for him, called the police station to see if he had been picked up, even read obituaries from the area -- no Eddie.
then, the Tuesday after Mother's Day 2004, Eddie showed up at the church. Eddie usually looked rough -- but now he looked roughed up with scars, bruises, and fresh stitches. i asked him who did this? his reply, he did. he said he had passed out on the street and the police took him to the hospital. he had wanted to get out and make it home to see his mother in a nursing home on Mother's day, but a few more drinks before he left, left him passed out in a local gas station's bathroom. that's where he woke up, discouraged and at the bottom of life. Eddie pleaded for help, for treatment, for a change.
we arranged for a ministry that would keep him after he was medically cleared to go -- he was toxic at the time and first needed medical help to come down. we knew we would need his ID -- so we had to go get his wallet from his friend Bobby's house.
that was my first trip into East Acres -- a low income housing project blocks from our church. we pulled up in front of Bobby's unit -- Eddie told me to wait because Bobby may be drunk and he didn't like strangers. Eddie went to the door which was eventually answered by a large, mostly naked, beligerent drunk man. The man began to curse and threaten Eddie. As i thought about getting out to intercede, Eddie ducked under the man's arm and retrieved his wallet, sidestepping the drunk man trying to catch him as he ran back out the door and into my car.
i asked Eddie if that was his friend, Bobby? he said yes. i said, no, that man's no friend -- you're never coming back here again.
God had other plans. Eddie was homeless and all the programs we were trying to get help from required proof of residency. that's hard for a homeless person -- you need help to get a home, but you can't get help because you have no home. Eddie had given up and asked to be dropped off somewhere so he could lay down and die. finally, at my insistence for another way, one agency said that if we could provide a letter from someone who had let him stay the night, they would count that as proof of residency.
there was only one house where he had stayed the night -- Bobby's. i looked at the agency representative and said we'll be right back. i took Eddie back to the church to make a letter and to pray. Eddie said, i thought you said i could never go back. i did, but this time i'm going with you and we're gonna get Bobby's help. We printed a letter, we prayed for Divine favor, and we drove back to Bobby's
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