Tried the signs again and got a bit reactions while sitting by the Old Navy on State St. My time holding the sign only lasted about ten minutes before interruption came around.
A middle aged guy decided to set up his microphone and speaker near where I was sitting. He started by yelling things at people like: "read your bible!", "There are no homosexuals in heaven, your gonna burn!", "You smokers can't get to heaven" and many more things that were condemning and not reflecting of the love of Christ.
I find that more I see thing like this the more it hurts my heart and annoys me. For the first time I decided to be confrontational with another believed.
Started to ask him what Christ would be saying to these people. The more he yelled, the more they ignored him.
Told him that this was not a very loving way to reach people. When he kept ignoring me and telling me off, I started to get annoyed.
I Started reading 1 Cor. 13 and spoke it loudly, loud enough to drown out the sound of his hatefulness with a mic.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, i am only a resounding gong of a clanging cymbal"
-1 Cor. 13:1
I continued on through 1 Cor. 13 about what love is.
I had a few people come up to me and thank me for what I was doing. This was not the reaction I wanted, but people were glad to have somebody trying to give a good reflection of Christ. From what they said, he was there all the time and usually very hateful.
I finished with Cor 13 and decided to try out some signs.
First sign was
-"Who are you to judge?"
Second
-"Is this what Christ would do?"
I held the signs silently across the sidewalk from him. I held the first one for 5 minutes and the second for 10. I stood and stared at him the whole time.
He finally after the 15 minutes I held the sign, packed up and left the streets.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
How I Feel 8/13/10
I think that today I will spend my time praying over the city. Prayers of blessing, security and Godly prosperity.
I am ready to go home, and even more ready to hold Molly again. Its amazing how relationship is so necessary to a person. I have felt very alone most of the week and I hate it. I love how into the wild ends with him talking about how "life is better when shared"
I am ready to go home, and even more ready to hold Molly again. Its amazing how relationship is so necessary to a person. I have felt very alone most of the week and I hate it. I love how into the wild ends with him talking about how "life is better when shared"
Friday 8/13/10
Last Full Day!
Another PGM wake up......5 a.m. Get up and put on the same nasty clothes. Sitting for 45 minutes and waiting on another crappy service to begin. Got through it. Breakfast was once again, oatmeal......I hate oatmeal! I was not in a very good mood that morning.
Left right after breakfast. Walked all the way up to the park by the library. Rested there until 9:50ish. One of the alcoholic black guys yelled at me to leave. "Wake up white boy and move out!". I didn't want to start anything with him so I moved up to borders.
Stopped at McDonalds and bought a few mcdoubles for the homeless around the area. Tried to strike up conversations but didn't get very far. One was very impressed that I would do such a thing for him, but i'm guessing that I am not the first person.
Decided to walk around and pray over the city. I wished there were more people to do it with me, but thought it would be a good idea anyway. Prayed over parts of downtown, Grant park, Lincoln park and Millenium park. Prayed for ministry to be done there, Gods work in people hearts there, and more.
After my walk around I decided to hit the library for a bible study. Got in a small study of John 17 and a daily Proverb. Went upstairs to the religion reference section and browsed. I could not find anything good about Branhamism, only two books in the library mentioned anything about it. It has been a point of study lately that I was hoping to learn more about it.
Got tired of searching through books and decided to sit along State street and people watch.
Saw a homeless person about my age sitting across the street. I decided to put up sign #5 again hoping that I could gather some money to buy her food. Sat for about 20 minutes and finally Paul came along.
Paul invited me to join him for dinner. He was on his way to Billy Elliot (a broadway production). He bought me a sandwich and bottle of water at Potbellys. We sat and talked about life and where we came from. Told him that even through these tough times God has still been good to me. He gave me $7 and some change and we parted ways. I won't forget how kind he was and realistic, he just wanted to help another person in need.
I took the water and went over to the girl I was trying to get money for. I asked her if she had dinner yet. She hadn't so I went back to Potbellys and bought her a sandwich. Got back and tried talking to her, she was very quiet and didn't want to respond. her name was Dee and she was also living on the street. We dissed on PGM for a bit, she had stayed there once and hated it. When I couldn't keep the conversation going I left. Told her that God loved her and to take care. Gave her the $3 and change from my pocket and told her to get breakfast in the morning.
I walked two blocks south and tried my second Social experiment (Will post write up soon)
It started to rain, so I sat at the cultural center for a bit. I ran up to a McDonalds to use the bathroom and almost got lost along the way. When the rain let up I found a dry spot along the side of a buildings to sleep.
(On the way to McDonalds I got lost. I asked a guy for directions and he was very helpful, but quite a strange fellow. He asked me to repeat after him " The grass was green, in the valley, where my foot get cut off and there were two coneheads, in the vision I had from Jesus" Weird!)
Another PGM wake up......5 a.m. Get up and put on the same nasty clothes. Sitting for 45 minutes and waiting on another crappy service to begin. Got through it. Breakfast was once again, oatmeal......I hate oatmeal! I was not in a very good mood that morning.
Left right after breakfast. Walked all the way up to the park by the library. Rested there until 9:50ish. One of the alcoholic black guys yelled at me to leave. "Wake up white boy and move out!". I didn't want to start anything with him so I moved up to borders.
Stopped at McDonalds and bought a few mcdoubles for the homeless around the area. Tried to strike up conversations but didn't get very far. One was very impressed that I would do such a thing for him, but i'm guessing that I am not the first person.
Decided to walk around and pray over the city. I wished there were more people to do it with me, but thought it would be a good idea anyway. Prayed over parts of downtown, Grant park, Lincoln park and Millenium park. Prayed for ministry to be done there, Gods work in people hearts there, and more.
After my walk around I decided to hit the library for a bible study. Got in a small study of John 17 and a daily Proverb. Went upstairs to the religion reference section and browsed. I could not find anything good about Branhamism, only two books in the library mentioned anything about it. It has been a point of study lately that I was hoping to learn more about it.
Got tired of searching through books and decided to sit along State street and people watch.
Saw a homeless person about my age sitting across the street. I decided to put up sign #5 again hoping that I could gather some money to buy her food. Sat for about 20 minutes and finally Paul came along.
Paul invited me to join him for dinner. He was on his way to Billy Elliot (a broadway production). He bought me a sandwich and bottle of water at Potbellys. We sat and talked about life and where we came from. Told him that even through these tough times God has still been good to me. He gave me $7 and some change and we parted ways. I won't forget how kind he was and realistic, he just wanted to help another person in need.
I took the water and went over to the girl I was trying to get money for. I asked her if she had dinner yet. She hadn't so I went back to Potbellys and bought her a sandwich. Got back and tried talking to her, she was very quiet and didn't want to respond. her name was Dee and she was also living on the street. We dissed on PGM for a bit, she had stayed there once and hated it. When I couldn't keep the conversation going I left. Told her that God loved her and to take care. Gave her the $3 and change from my pocket and told her to get breakfast in the morning.
I walked two blocks south and tried my second Social experiment (Will post write up soon)
It started to rain, so I sat at the cultural center for a bit. I ran up to a McDonalds to use the bathroom and almost got lost along the way. When the rain let up I found a dry spot along the side of a buildings to sleep.
(On the way to McDonalds I got lost. I asked a guy for directions and he was very helpful, but quite a strange fellow. He asked me to repeat after him " The grass was green, in the valley, where my foot get cut off and there were two coneheads, in the vision I had from Jesus" Weird!)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Posts
I have 2 more days worth of blogs for you guys.
Thank you for your interest. I will try to have the rest of my journals up soon.
I would love for any questions. you can send them to me at: blackb3n@gmail.com
Thank you
-Ben
Thank you for your interest. I will try to have the rest of my journals up soon.
I would love for any questions. you can send them to me at: blackb3n@gmail.com
Thank you
-Ben
Person Profile: Sawyer
Still not sure what to think of Sawyer. She was eager to get home but I found her 2 days later a few blocks from where we parted. I gave her a good amount of money, more than she said she needed, and she still was trying for more.
Sounds like she was raised in an unstable house. She and her brother learned the ways of a squatter when they were young. she was starting as a squatter/hitchhiker at the age of 10. Lived in the foster care system on and off by the age of 14. Lived with a Morman family that loved her even though she made their life rough.
Was placed in rehab at age 14 for heroine and meth. During this time learned her real mother had terminal (and soon to be fatal). While in rehab, one of her care givers started talking to her about Christ. Sounds like he made an impact on her life and opinion of Christians.
Has traveled all over the country. Calls Seattle home and stays in San Francisco often. Goes by either Damie or Sawyer. Well known by squatters and beatniks in such areas.
Believes there is a God, but not sure exactly whom. Feels that you cant dismiss an epiphany and every person should believe what they feel.
Has a brother working out of Seattle. They speak often and have a good relationship. Brother makes a good amount of money and has a nice house. They agree to disagree on each others lifestyle.
Pray for: Safety, wisdom, open heart to hear from God, Godly influences in her life, peace in her heart, and what ever else you can think to pray for.
James1:27
Sounds like she was raised in an unstable house. She and her brother learned the ways of a squatter when they were young. she was starting as a squatter/hitchhiker at the age of 10. Lived in the foster care system on and off by the age of 14. Lived with a Morman family that loved her even though she made their life rough.
Was placed in rehab at age 14 for heroine and meth. During this time learned her real mother had terminal (and soon to be fatal). While in rehab, one of her care givers started talking to her about Christ. Sounds like he made an impact on her life and opinion of Christians.
Has traveled all over the country. Calls Seattle home and stays in San Francisco often. Goes by either Damie or Sawyer. Well known by squatters and beatniks in such areas.
Believes there is a God, but not sure exactly whom. Feels that you cant dismiss an epiphany and every person should believe what they feel.
Has a brother working out of Seattle. They speak often and have a good relationship. Brother makes a good amount of money and has a nice house. They agree to disagree on each others lifestyle.
Pray for: Safety, wisdom, open heart to hear from God, Godly influences in her life, peace in her heart, and what ever else you can think to pray for.
James1:27
Social Experiment (signs 9 & 9.5)
08/12/10
Started with sign #9 and decided it was not big enough. I re-wrote the sign to make it bigger and easier to read.
When holding out sign, people would often pass by without looking. Some would not try to see and others would not look out of instinct. Children would almost always look and read my signs.
I held the sign up for 30 minutes. I had 2 people stop and stare, but did not say anything. I received 4 responses and a few people looked as they passed.
For children, who the world is still good and adventurous, a person with a sign is a sad thing. Children are not yet trained to look away. Kids seemed more open to seeing people around them.
Have we become a people blinded to things around us? Do we try our best to not see problems that surround us? With so many panhandlers lying and cheating are we inclined to ignore all of the homeless around us? have we set in our minds that they are all not worth helping?
Now sitting and writing this for all of you, I wonder; what would Christ do? Would he pass them by, or would he love them where they at?
Sign
9 & 9.5 - "Can you even see me?"
Started with sign #9 and decided it was not big enough. I re-wrote the sign to make it bigger and easier to read.
When holding out sign, people would often pass by without looking. Some would not try to see and others would not look out of instinct. Children would almost always look and read my signs.
I held the sign up for 30 minutes. I had 2 people stop and stare, but did not say anything. I received 4 responses and a few people looked as they passed.
For children, who the world is still good and adventurous, a person with a sign is a sad thing. Children are not yet trained to look away. Kids seemed more open to seeing people around them.
Have we become a people blinded to things around us? Do we try our best to not see problems that surround us? With so many panhandlers lying and cheating are we inclined to ignore all of the homeless around us? have we set in our minds that they are all not worth helping?
Now sitting and writing this for all of you, I wonder; what would Christ do? Would he pass them by, or would he love them where they at?
Sign
9 & 9.5 - "Can you even see me?"
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How I Feel 8/12/10
Have I tried hard enough to connect with others on the street? Have I missed opportunities that God had for me? what else is there for me to do? Lord, please provide more for me and lead me in your way.
Sawyer was trying to sell jokes last night. I hope she isn't out of money. I have her $80, and I thought it would be more than enough.
I am so ready to be home. My mind seems to dwell too much on how I'm going to survive until leave. I need to focus on the now.
My feet are killing me. I have walked a lot and now they hurt. I should have asked for money to buy a train ticked before walking that distance, but it is good for me.
Sawyer was trying to sell jokes last night. I hope she isn't out of money. I have her $80, and I thought it would be more than enough.
I am so ready to be home. My mind seems to dwell too much on how I'm going to survive until leave. I need to focus on the now.
My feet are killing me. I have walked a lot and now they hurt. I should have asked for money to buy a train ticked before walking that distance, but it is good for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)