Spirituality of the King

A new book, “Graphic Elvis” not only explores the novelty of seeing Elvis in the graphic form of a superhero, which takes a look at his relatively unknown passion for hero comic books.  The project also takes a look at a side of the “king” that is often overlooked--his deep and rich spiritual side. The book features a complementary digital app which contains some never-before-seen handwritten notes from the legend himself--small summaries and thoughts about his quest for the meaning of life, which were jotted down in the margins of the many books he read . . .

 “If one can’t give what they have and share, then they will always be empty.”  Elvis Presley

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A Knife of Ice Cut Through Him

This poem strives to acknowledge the very real truth that, whilst all of us see homeless people on the streets where we live, we often pass by with little thought. We become used to their presence, but still we do not know or understand their story. Perhaps we don't even acknowledge their vulnerability. But there are homeless people everywhere, desperate; lost; cut off from society. For some people, life is about surviving, every day and in all weathers. All too often, we become used to their presence and yet do not truly notice them until they disappear:

Homeless

By Polly C.

He slept between the rubbish,

They forgot he had a name.
Beaten skin glared out through rags,
They thought it was a game.

They shut their souls to squalor,

He presumed they must be blind.
They thought he was immortal -
They misread all the signs.

His heart was weary beating

But he slept and still woke up.
He lived his life for coffee
In polystyrene cups,

A knife of ice cut through him

For the sky was not his friend.
They moaned about the weather
Then went home at the end.

He wondered what had happened,
Why salvation never came.
He buried deep his anger -
There seemed no point in blame,
Then one day he was missing

But they only saw the space -

Not the silent, screaming claws
Of tragic, human waste.
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“Be Human not God”

By Sister Ruth Burrows

It is very difficult for us humans to accept our basic condition of poverty and yet it presses upon us from all sides.  We cannot control our world; we are at the mercy of others and of what often seems a blind fate.  Even our own selves escape us.  We are not what we would like to be: inadequacies of all kinds dog us.  We are prey to physical and psychological ills.  We long to be masters of our lives, in control, strong and beautiful.  In a word, gods.  The Gospel message is good news to the poor.  “Be human, not God.”  This poverty, revolting as it is to our nature, is blessed when it is accepted because it opens us up to God and makes us realize our need for a Savior.  Aware that we can never find fulfillment in ourselves, we are drawn to look to him alone.  It is to little ones, those who accept to be thus poor, that the secrets of God are revealed.
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A Tree is Known by its Fruit

By Ignatius of Antioch

None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus which is the beginning and the end of life.  For in the beginning is faith, and at the very end is love. Now these two, being inseparably connected together, are of God, while all other things which are necessary for a holy life follow after them. No man that truly makes a profession of faith sins; nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made visible by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians will be recognized by their conduct.  At this time there is no demand for one to make a mere profession of faith, but he must be found living in the power of faith to the very end.

None of the devices of the devil will be hidden from you, if, like Paul, you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ which are the beginning and the end of life. The beginning of life is faith, and the end is love. And these two being inseparably connected together makes perfect the man of God; while all other things which are necessary to a holy life follow after them. No one making a profession of faith sins, or one possessed of love hates his brother. For He that said, “You shall love the Lord thy God,” said also, “and thy neighbor as thyself.” Those that profess themselves to be Christ’s are known not only by what they say, but by what they do. “For the tree is known by its fruit.”  From the Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter XIV—Exhortations to Faith and Love

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (b. 35 – d. 110) was bishop of Antioch.  He may have known the Apostle John directly.  En route to his martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius wrote a series of letters which have been preserved and are examples of the theology of the earliest Christians.

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Homeless but not Hopeless

In May of last year, Chicago area residents woke up to an unusual homeless news story.  In fact, many were caught off guard and unprepared for its simple message.  Some even wept.

It’s the story of a homeless man named Curtis Jackson (photo) who raised over $9000 to help a “down-on-her-luck” banker.

At one time, everything was going right for a woman known as “Sandy”.

She had a good job at a bank in the suburbs.

She and her 10-year-old son had a home.

But then the world came crashing down around the 39-year-old. She lost her job. She lost her house. And she and her son moved into her truck. When the police found her, the Department of Children Services threatened to take away her son if she didn’t find a safe place to stay.

She moved into a hotel with the help of a social worker who paid for a few nights stay with her own money.

There’s so much to learn from Jackson's story:

·        Never underestimate the good of humanity – even from those we often cast out to the margins.

·        Maybe we shouldn’t be too quick to judge the “homeless” person with a sign.

·        The best way to love our neighbor is to serve our neighbor.

·        Sow kindness and generosity.

·        We’re all going to go through our own down and out moments.

Jackson said he’s a man of faith; homeless, but not hopeless, and he’s got some words of wisdom for the people he sees bustling about by every day.

“I have God. I’m one of the richest men on this earth, ’cause I have God,” he said. “Money is not my master. That’s what’s wrong with this world: money is its master.”

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Have you ever given money to a homeless person?

There are a myriad of reasons why many Americans prefer not give money to the homeless.  For instance, we’ve all heard the hard luck stories about someone needing a bus ticket back to Alabama or the pregnant woman who says her boyfriend just ran out of gas and needs $5 to fill up a gas can.  The bottom line, no one likes to be duped, so giving money is usually out of the question in these situations.

However, about a year ago, we set out to poll our bloggers and readers if they have ever given money to a homeless person.  Compassion lives!  Just about 96% of the participants have given and do give money to the homeless.  Surprisingly, 52% of the respondents have given $10 or more to a homeless person.  The “No, I don't believe in giving money” group was only 6%.  The “I've given $1 - $5” group was 34% and “I've given $5 - $10” group was 8%.

Thank you for participating in the polls.  Please scroll down to near the bottom of this main page and participate in the others.

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Despise not the Weak

By Clement of Rome

Let our whole body, then, be preserved in, Christ Jesus; and let everyone be subject to his neighbor, according to the special gifts bestowed upon him. Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong. Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because He hath given him one by whom his need may be supplied. Let the wise man display his wisdom, not by mere words, but through good deeds. Let the humble not bear testimony to himself, but leave witness to be borne to him by another.  Let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it, and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of temperance and moderation. Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made,—who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulcher, and from utter darkness. He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world. Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought for everything to give Him thanks; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinithians)

St. Clement was the bishop of Rome and third in succession from St. Peter.  Around the year 95 AD, a letter was written by the Church of Rome to the Church at Corinth that is attributed to Saint Clement.  This document is the earliest Christian writing besides the New Testament documents.  The Gospel of John is likely written around the same time as the epistle to the Corinthians.

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The Bread and Water Diet

By Hermas

 I said to him, "Sir, I do not see the meaning of these similitudes, nor am I able to comprehend them, unless you explain them to me." "I will explain them all to you," he said, "and whatever I shall mention in the course of our conversations I will show you. [Keep the commandments of the Lord, and you will be approved, and inscribed amongst the number of those who observe His commands.] And if you do any good beyond what is commanded by God, you will gain for yourself more abundant glory, and will be more honored by God than you would otherwise be. If, therefore, in keeping the commandments of God, you do, in addition, these services, you will have joy if you observe them according to my command." I said to him, "Sir, whatsoever you enjoin upon me I will observe, for I know that you are with me." "I will be with you," he replied, "because you have such a desire for doing good; and I will be with all those," he added, "who have such a desire.

 "Fasting," he continued, "is very good, provided the commandments of the Lord be observed. Thus, then, shall you observe . . .   First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be perfect. And you will do also as follows.  Having fulfilled what is written, in the day on which you fast you will taste nothing but bread and water; and having reckoned up the price of the dishes of that day which you intended to have eaten, you will give it to a widow, or an orphan, or to some person in want, and thus you will exhibit humility of mind, so that he who has received benefit from your humility may fill his own soul, and pray for you to the Lord. If you observe fasting, as I have commanded you, your sacrifice will be acceptable to God, and this fasting will be written down; and the service thus performed is noble, and sacred, and acceptable to the Lord. These things, therefore, shall you thus observe with your children and all of your house, and in observing them you will be blessed; and as many as hear these words and observe them shall be blessed; and whatsoever they ask of the Lord they shall receive." (The Fifth Similitude, chapter 3)

A second century author; Hermas is known only through the autobiographical details given in his work titled “The Shepherd”.  A Christian slave who was given his freedom, he became a wealthy merchant, lost his property, and did penance for past sins.

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Bourgeois in America

About a year ago, Homeless In America bloggers and readers began to respond to a poll that was posted at the bottom of this main page to assess their opinions about the Christian church in America today.  In the Protestant sector, since the time of James Henley and his debate with Charles Hodge in about 1860, there has been discussion and research showing that church attendance correlates with income and “familistic and bourgeois values.”  There has been further thought over the years that many, especially suburban churches might even be inhospitable to working-class, minorities and poor folks. There may be a lot of truth here in this debate, but is it really new news?  After all, divisions between rich and poor in the church go back at least to the church at Corinth and of course the Letter of James greatly deals with the issue too.  Bottom line, the bourgeois bulge appears to be ancient and well documented and now somewhat substantiated by HIA readers and bloggers.

Homeless In America asked the following question daily since July of 2011:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, lead the grassroots Christian resistance against Nazism. He believed the mainstream church had become bourgeois - ineffective in standing up to Hitler. In your opinion, where are we as a church in America now, grassroots or bourgeois?

Here is how everyone responded:

Grassroots - 0%

Bourgeois - 82%
None of the above - 17%

Thank you for participating in this and all the polls.  Please scroll down to near the bottom of the main page and vote.  There are many other polls still open for voting.

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