Truth is of God....

Truth can be found everywhere, including the streets. Some people are on a different, deeper level spiritually than others. The different levels are everywhere; at school, at work, at church, on the streets and even in your home. It seems as though on the streets there's a different realm of spiritually awareness. There are a few people we meet on the streets that seem keenly aware of the evilness that is around them. I feel, the presence of evil is more dominant on the streets than it is in our "normal rat race lives". I think this is true because our lives are filled with distractions and schedules that are crammed packed with activities. We don't have time to realize the war around us. There's something that happens when you're stripped down to your bear essentials and you truly rely on God for everything. Everything such as protection whether it be from other people or the weather, the next meal you eat and where you're going to lay your head for the night. You become quickly aware of the war when you're right in the middle of the battle field.

We had a lot of good conversations last night with some old friends and some new ones. We met a man that we knew of, but had never personally met before. We were down by the Union Gospel looking for people and we found two men lying down on the sidewalk for the night. We stopped and asked if they would like some crackers and water and they said yes. We jumped out of the truck and started getting all of our stuff out and Stephen walked over to the man that was in his sleeping bag. The first night Stephen and Layci went with us our friend Duane gave him a necklace made by a local homeless man named Kenneth Green. Scottie and I got ours as Christmas gifts about a month earlier. As a matter of fact Duane had given me a bracelet and Scottie another necklace earlier that day when we were at Austin Street. Anyway, as Stephen was handing this man his crackers he saw Stephen’s necklace and said "Hey, where did you get that necklace? That's my work." We finally ran into Kenneth Green. We talked with him for about 20-30 mins about his jewelry and showed him all the pieces we had of his work. He got off into a deep conversation about faith and spiritual dimensions and how God reveals our purpose to us a little at a time and we may not get it until years later. Kenneth is one of those people that are on a way deeper level than most. If you listened to him with an open mind and an open heart then you could pick up most of what he was putting down. If you didn't have an open mind and just believe in what you have experienced and that all you know is all you believe, no more or no less is true, then you would think everything he said was crazy talk. That's where truth comes in. If you open your mind to truth then more than likely you will find truth somewhere you weren't expecting to. Truth is everywhere.....

Layci, Stephen, Kenneth and Scottie

Another man we talked to for a good while was right down the road. Jerry is his name. He actually saw us talking with Kenneth and he came down there to make sure we were going to come down the street. We had met him a few weeks before on the same street. His main purpose for getting us down there is always for other people. There was a man down there that needed to take his medicine but he didn't have anything to drink. When we first met him he wanted us to come down there because there was a lady down there that needed blankets. He's a super nice man, always full of hospitality when we go down to his street. Always very thankful for everything and always telling us how much of a blessing we are to them. He points out that he realizes we only bring basic necessities of life, such as water, but it's such a blessing. Jerry dropped out of school in the 9th grade. Ever since then he said he's been attending God's University, learning lessons the hard way. He admits that living on the streets isn't easy "The evil is so thick out here you could cut it with a knife." Jerry is 57 years old and he said living out there has made him more determined to change some things and "get up out of here". He said he is always trying to look at things in a positive light and not blame God for the situation he's in. He just tries to take it in as another lesson learned in GU (God's University).
He left us with a parting thought; he said "We're made to praise God and to have faith in him always. We need to walk through life with the staff of Moses, not beating people over the head with it saying I'm coming through and God's with me, but rather letting God lead the way with the staff. In this life we must have faith. I want to go to heaven! How can I praise God in the grave? I can't. That's why we must do it now, in this life. After we die we don't get a second chance." Truth is everywhere....

Jerry's Street, this is right down the street from the Union Gospel.

Jerry and Britney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ep9sR-qkkk

Go to the above website to watch a video of Jerry trying to sing but getting interrupted by someone behind us. Listen carefully to the guy in the background. Hilarious!

And of course we finished the night off by going to the church downtown and hanging out with Tom, Jennifer, Jody, Tami and Greg. Scottie rolled down the windows and turned up the music and we all sat on the footsteps of the church. We talked, listened to music and Jennifer's jokes and laughed as she danced and pestered Jody. We all had a great time enjoying each other.
Tom is struggling with some demons of his own and he asked us to be in prayer for him as he tries to fight these demons and temptations. He and Jennifer are trying to get back on their feet and Satan is attacking them aggressively, especially since Tom has a job and some cash flow coming in. Please be in prayer for Tom as he is in the battle field, God knows what he's dealing with.

Sitting on the steps of the church.

These stories are just a few highlights of the day. We have so many friends at Austin Street as well. People we've grown to know and love. A few guys asked for prayers so we prayed right there. Some of the guys share their stories of progress with us because they know we care. Willie got a job with Borden about a month ago and he said he's going to save his money for 3 more months and he's off the streets. You can see the joy beaming from his eyes as those words leave his lips. Michael is getting a job at the VA office and the VA is paying a years worth of rent so he can get back on his feet. He should be off the streets in about 2 weeks. These are the reports you long to hear. These are the stories of hope.

Terry, Scottie and Donald at Austin Street

On the streets you see so many emotions. Some hidden, some not. Sometimes you see a smile that is desperately trying to conceal brokenness and sometimes the brokenness just can't be concealed. Through it all, the brokenness, the loneliness, the confusion, the struggles, you can still see hope. You can see light in the darkness.

This is "Tent City". Yesterday was our first time down there. It's literally a city of card board boxes and make shift tents. I know it's hard to see, it was dark under there. I will try to get a better picture next time.


Please join us in praying for those on the streets to let down their guard and let God into their lives. For them to let go of whatever it is they hang on to and let God deal with it. Pray for their wisdom, understanding and strength.

Find truth everywhere,

Britney & Scottie

Scrap Iron and Britney