I watched a panhandler begin her work day

[Don Quixote]

Whenever I see a panhandler/homeless person I do what a lot of people here do. Give them some food instead of money. I also send them towards my church, which is known to help people who are in need. If people are in need, and are ready for help they can recieve it. Just like so many of us have quoted previously, "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in..." Matthew 25:35.

Yes .... that's exactly it. I think Jesus was teaching something more involved, and risky, than merely giving the homeless person a little $$. As God as given his children a home (read 1 Peter again), we are to extend our charity and "homes" to the homeless. Yes, it is difficult and cuts against our nature. But it is actually worse to throw a little $$ at them and tell them to go away. Also, I did not know you were a Christian. I'm happy that you have some compassion for these people.

[AlamoSpursFan]

I got slapped down for my "mental illness" remarks. Mentally ill people are perfectly capable of getting jobs, so there!

I didn't slap you down...I just pointed out that I was kidding. And then you edited your post to make me look like a re . WTF?

[ashbeeigh]

People concerned about Christianity and homelessness should read The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne. I'm not done with it yet, I'm ont a big reader, but it's good so far.

[Don Quixote]

Okay, I will look for it. And I would recommend "Ministries of Mercy."

We actually have a pretty fair mercy ministry going on in New Orleans.

[Extra Stout]

Good post ... except I should take issue about the SBC seminaries. My training in this particular area (mercy ministry) was actually conducted at SWBTS in Ft. Worth, and NOBTS is likewise very much supportive of these endeavors. If there is resistance, it is from the churches in the field, not so much the seminaries.

That was a swipe against your post earlier. It struck a nerve, and my response was snide and unfair. I do get tired of these megachurches, frequently Baptist but not always, who quote some guy who has statistics saying these homeless people are just lazy, and that it's better for churches to just sit on their hands until they come up with a more thorough "plan," when everyone knows they have no intention of ever doing anything. Their bathrooms do have silver toilets, however (and bonus points if you know which church father I'm alluding to there).

[ashbeeigh]

Yes .... that's exactly it. I think Jesus was teaching something more involved, and risky, than merely giving the homeless person a little $$. As God as given his children a home (read 1 Peter again), we are to extend our charity and "homes" to the homeless. Yes, it is difficult and cuts against our nature. But it is actually worse to throw a little $$ at them and tell them to go away. Also, I did not know you were a Christian. I'm happy that you have some compassion for these people.

You should have seen me last year at this time. all I talked about was Christianity. People wanted to beat me up.

The way I see it, and it's very cliche, is from Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " It may make people unhappy to hear the answer is just a bottle of water or some Wendy's or 36 cents, but it's what is in their plan. It may seem that things are pretty darn crappy, and they are, but there is a reason for it. It may be touching the soul of the person who gave you water, or it could be someone who they share a meal with every couple of weeks. It just all depends on what the plan is. There is no way for us to know, only God knows, and that is what prayer is for.

[Extra Stout]

You should have seen me last year at this time. all I talked about was Christianity. People wanted to beat me up.

The way I see it, and it's very cliche, is from Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " It may make people unhappy to hear the answer is just a bottle of water or some Wendy's or 36 cents, but it's what is in their plan. It may seem that things are pretty darn crappy, and they are, but there is a reason for it. It may be touching the soul of the person who gave you water, or it could be someone who they share a meal with every couple of weeks. It just all depends on what the plan is. There is no way for us to know, only God knows, and that is what prayer is for.

That verse is misused. He's not saying that he has a plan for YOU singular, ashbeeigh, he's saying he has a plan for YOU plural, Israel, his people.

[ashbeeigh]

That verse is misused. He's not saying that he has a plan for YOU singular, ashbeeigh, he's saying he has a plan for YOU plural, Israel, his people.

In context, of course. But let's not turn this into a biblical argument.

[Extra Stout]

In context, of course. But let's not turn this into a biblical argument.

Sorry, that's what I do.

[Don Quixote]

That was a swipe against your post earlier. It struck a nerve, and my response was snide and unfair. I do get tired of these megachurches, frequently Baptist but not always, who quote some guy who has statistics saying these homeless people are just lazy, and that it's better for churches to just sit on their hands until they come up with a more thorough "plan," when everyone knows they have no intention of ever doing anything. Their bathrooms do have silver toilets, however (and bonus points if you know which church father I'm alluding to there).

That's okay. I get alot of "snide and unfair" stuff all the time, but I have a ton of respect for you and I'm sure you didn't mean it. As for your post, it may be true that alot of the homeless are indeed lazy (or have some mental or medical problem that the church can't directly deal with), but we can't use that as an excuse to not try and reach out to people.

On the other hand, it's easier for the larger churches to actually do something with the problem. First New Orleans (who gutted my house after Katrina) has done alot of great work, as have Metairie, Vieux Carre, and Edgewater (which took 6' of water). It's actually the smaller churches who have more problems with doing anything new or innovative. At least in my experience.

And ... silver toilets ... (without Googling) ... Tertullian.

[Don Quixote]

You should have seen me last year at this time. all I talked about was Christianity. People wanted to beat me up.

Well, remember that the Lord wants faithfulness from you, not so much someone who is "on fire." But we're here to help.

[Extra Stout]

And ... silver toilets ... (without Googling) ... Tertullian.

Chrysostom.

[E20]

Your too young to be filled with such cynicism

I've seen your future it is murder...

Are you saying I'm gonan go berserk and kill a bunch of people, because I'm not homeless and can't panhandle?

[Sunshine]

I didn't slap you down...I just pointed out that I was kidding. And then you edited your post to make me look like a re . WTF?

Exactly. You made a joke out of mental illness.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

ing Dateline/ABC did an expose on the homeless and they said some NOT ALL but a small amount of homeless make bank in major cities in huge metropolitan areas. So you ing failed.

I believe that is probably true.



A reporter in my town, which is not a "richer" city by any stretch of the imagination, stood on a freeway offramp one friday holding a sign and averaged about $25/hour in donations received.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Some of us (Americans) may have become "immune" to the panhandlers because in some cities, they are literally EVERYWHERE. But a lot of the callous comments you saw were, IMO, directed toward panhandlers, not homeless people. Not all the panhandlers that are encountered are homeless. They live in homes, apartments etc and CHOOSE to stand on the street and beg for money.

The problem with the shelters that are set up for homeless is that the majority of the people who NEED to be there won't avail themselves because it means strict limitations such as no alcohol, no fighting, no drugs etc. and a lot of the homeless people are alcoholics and druggies. They offer job training and job placement but it means getting up early and going to training and following rules etc. that they just aren't willing to do.

In a perfect world, there would be no homelessness or need to beg for money or food. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.

Sure, fair response.

Viva - STFU. If you'd bothered to actually read what I wrote you'd see that I said Australia has a homeless problem, but it is orders of magnitude lower than what the States has. I have traveled extensively in the US and everywhere I went there were homeless people living in boxes or out of shopping carts. You just don't see anything like that here.

ashbeigh - I think buying food for someone who says they are hungry is the right response. I do the same thing.

E20 - no, not epic fail. Do you honestly believe that ? C'mon pal, $100/hour for 10 hours. No ing way.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I believe that is probably true.



A reporter in my town, which is not a "richer" city by any stretch of the imagination, stood on a freeway offramp one friday holding a sign and averaged about $25/hour in donations received.

Ed, his original post said "some make $700-1000 a day".

To make $700 in a day at $25/hr, you'd need to work a 28 hour day.

I can believe $25/hr for an 8 hour day, which is $200 - big difference between that and $700-1000.

[E20]

Ed, his original post said "some make $700-1000 a day".

To make $700 in a day at $25/hr, you'd need to work a 28 hour day.

I can believe $25/hr for an 8 hour day, which is $200 - big difference between that and $700-1000.

Homeless people not person, it is like a syndicate of homelss people working together.