God-the-Baby in His Poverty is a Dramatic Shock to the World

by

Harry Reasoner

"The basis for this tremendous annual burst of gift buying and parties and near hysteria is a quiet event that Christians believe actually happened a long time ago. You can say that in all societies there has always been a midwinter festival and that many of the trappings of our Christmas are almost violently pagan. But you come back to the central fact of the day and quietness of Christmas morning - the birth of God on earth.

"It leaves you only three ways of accepting Christmas.

"One is cynically, as a time to make money or endorse the making of it.

"One is graciously, the appropriate attitude for non-Christians, who wish their fellow citizens all the joys to which their beliefs entitle them.

"And the third, of course, is reverently. If this is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in the form of a helpless babe, then it is a very important day.

"It's a startling idea, of course. My guess is that the whole story that a virgin was selected by God to bear His Son as a way of showing His love and concern for man is not an idea that has been popular with theologians. It's a somewhat illogical idea, and theologians like logic almost as much as they like God. It's so revolutionary a thought that it probably could only come from a God that is beyond logic, and beyond theology.

"It has a magnificent appeal. Almost nobody has seen God, and almost nobody has any real idea of what He is like. And the truth is that among men the idea of seeing God suddenly and standing in a very bright light is not necessarily a completely comforting and appealing idea.

"But everyone has seen babies, and most people like them. If God wanted to be loved as well as feared he moved correctly here. If He wanted to know His people as well as rule them, He moved correctly here, for a baby growing up learns all about people. If God wanted to be intimately a part of man, He moved correctly, for the experiences of birth and familyhood are our most intimate and precious experiences.

"So it goes beyond logic. It is either all falsehood or it is the truest thing in the world. It's the story of the great innocence of God the baby - God in the form of man - and has such a dramatic shock toward the heart that if it is not true, for Christians, nothing is true.

"So, if a Christian is touched only once a year, the touching is still worth it, and maybe on some given Christmas, some final quiet morning, the touch will take."
_______________

Please take a moment to donate online to Servants of the Father of Mercy, Homeless In America’s Christmas StreetReach for the poor living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $30 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Alms for the poor filled with charity, kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

On the Teen Beat

The Fort Collins Coloradan news writer Marcy Miranda reports today on a teenager, Ben Greuel who knows what it's like sleeping in a box. "You get so little sleep," the 14-year-old said. "It's so cold, and it's not very comfortable."

For the past three years, Greuel has been among several teens who spend a night camped out in the freezing cold sleeping in boxes and tents on the front lawn of Plymouth Congregational Church to bring awareness to the growing issue of homelessness.

This past Saturday night, Greuel was among about 40 teens who spent the night braving the cold and darkness along with other members of the church's youth group. Youths from Northern Colorado Jewish Youth, Foothills Unitarian Church, and local Mennonite and Quaker groups also camped out.

The youths collected food and outdoor gear such as hats, gloves and coats to donate to the homeless. They also collected monetary donations, which are donated to the Homelessness Prevention Initiative (HPI), a local nonprofit that provides temporary assistance to people at risk of becoming homeless because of their inability to pay rent. This year, the organization prevented about 3,700 families from becoming homeless.

As an example, Kurt Kaiser, who received assistance from HPI spoke to the teens giving a face to the statistics. The last year of his life has been one of the toughest, he said. His wife left him and his three sons. Two days later, he lost his job as the director of a community college in the state of Washington.
_______________

Please take a moment to donate online to Servants of the Father of Mercy, Homeless In America’s Christmas StreetReach for the poor living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $30 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Alms for the poor filled with charity, kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Just another God-smack!

In this story - the poor, the homeless and misfits come out the winners. What’s up with that?

"When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' " Luke 14:15-24
_______________

What will you do with your Homeless in America?

VOTE – Scroll down & vote in the polls.
COMMENT – Daily insights, prayers, thanksgiving & praise.
SUBSCRIBE! –Top right column.
LIST – Yourself as a blog “Follower” middle right column.
INVITE – Friends and family to Subscribe!
http://www.homelessinamerica.blogspot.com/

Poverty and Need are at the Core of the God-Experience

“The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety.” (Isaiah 14:30)

What is your poverty? Are you weak or vulnerable in a certain way? Willing to admit it? Those who look for God in their poverty and need find themselves encountering what many have longed to encounter, but did not and many have longed to see and hear but did not. Poverty and need are at the core of the God-experience. Suffering, trials, tribulations and even death will take us to that poverty if we do not voluntarily embrace it now.

Psalm 12

For the poor who are oppressed
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
I will protect them from those who malign them.

And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.

O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people [the wicked] forever.
_______________
Please take a moment to donate online to Servants of the Father of Mercy, Homeless In America’s Christmas StreetReach for the poor living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $30 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Alms for the poor filled with charity, kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

1000s of Words in Pictures

The day after Thanksgiving was not "Black Friday" for the homeless living under bridges and in the alleyways of downtown Los Angeles. It was another day of Thanksgiving while stocking up on food, water, jackets, blankets, Gospels of John, rosaries and other supplies. Servants of the Father of Mercy "Missioners" made it out bright and early eager to serve Jesus in the poor. From artist impostors and gang graffiti to the hungry and satisfied, you'll see it all!

_______________

Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Christmas StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $50 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Why We Don't Judge the Poor, Homeless, Addict or Loser . . .

And yet it often happens that some who have been hardened, habitual sinners arrive at perfection of this work sooner than those who have never sinned grievously. God is truly wonderful in lavishing His grace on anyone He chooses; the world stands bewildered before love like this . . .

Some who are now despised and held in contempt (and who are even perhaps inveterate sinners) shall on that day reign in splendor with His saints. And perhaps some of those who have never sinned grievously and who to all appearances are pious people, venerated as “gods” by other men, shall find themselves in misery among the damned.

My point is that in this life no man may judge another as good or evil simply on the evidence of his deeds. The deeds themselves are another matter. These we may judge as good or evil, but not the person.

Excerpted from The Cloud of Unknowing – a Christian literary work written in fourteenth century Middle English by an unknown mystic.

_______________
What will you do with your Homeless in America?

VOTE – Scroll down & vote in the polls.
COMMENT – Daily insights, prayers, thanksgiving & praise.
SUBSCRIBE! –Top right column.
LIST – Yourself as a blog “Follower” middle right column.
INVITE – Friends and family to Subscribe!

"Picture This" Poll Passes

Recently a poll closed that surveyed attitudes about what many find as an awkward moment when encountering the poor. What do you do when a homeless person begs you for money? For the past six months, bloggers and readers were asked the following question in this regard . . . Picture this: You encounter a ragged, under nourished homeless person begging on a street corner. The person is asking for a $1.00. How would you respond? Here are the results:

* 57% thought they would go ahead and give the person the $1.00
* 0% said they would not give the $1.00 because they will in turn just go out and buy alcohol or drugs.
* 28% felt that they would take personal time, go to a market and come back with food/water.
* 14% were unsettled in their opinion saying, “I don't know what I would do. I'm always confused in these situations.”

Please scroll down to near the bottom of this main page and vote in all the polls. Your opinion counts!

_______________
What will you do with your Homeless in America?

COMMENT – Daily insights, prayers, thanksgiving & praise.
SUBSCRIBE! –Top right column.
LIST – Yourself as a blog “Follower” middle right column.
INVITE – Friends and family to Subscribe!