I HAD A DREAM

Last week I talked about all the things that had happened to me last year.  I woke up in the middle of the night realizing that I had failed to write about my best friend for over 45 years, Sarge and his moving on up to heaven in December.  It was just another blow that the Lord is taking me through.  He is holding me in His hands.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream, not an I HAVE A DREAM, it was a nightmare.  It wasn't a dream to be interpreted so you dream interpreters can settle back down.  This dream was because of what I am doing here at SoxPlace, the people I've met, and research I'm doing on homelessness.  I dreamt that for some reason I had to leave where I am living now and go on the streets. I could only take what I could carry in/on my backpack. I was frantic, what do I take, what do I leave behind to never see again, what/how many clothes, what about money, what about my medications, how will I get access to the money I have in savings, what if someone stole my backpack with family photos and bank card, where will I go?  The fear that rose up in me was almost paralyzing.  I was feeling what so many are feeling now with homelessness.  With homelessness reaching into the ranks of the normally middle class, this is something that regular people are facing.  A new empathy settled into my spirit.
Now let me assure you that I would have places to go.  I not only have friends here in the Denver area, but I have family also.  And above all, I have the assurance of the presence of my Lord who would be with me through it all.  However, the Lord was letting me see something of what some are facing and to have more empathy for the 'less fortunate.'
A few postings ago, I told of the Thumb Sucker who came in.  Last week a young girl, of course at my age everyone is younger, this girl looked to be 13 or 14 but I know she is older. A petite and cute little girl.  She has been in before and was almost hyper as she fast walked everywhere and talked in a loud voice.  This time she seemed calmer, but what struck me was that she had a pacifier in her mouth!  She has no child and was not caring for one.  She simply walked around with it in her mouth and took it out to talk and right back in.  She walked out of SoxPlace and walked down the street sucking on that pacifier.  Again, you wonder what happened in her young life to make her seek comfort in a pacifier?
When I spoke of homelessness striking into the ranks of the middle class I wonder if you saw the FaceBook posting of a woman and her two adolescent daughters who wound up in a Rescue Mission.  She had a good job but wanted to follow her dream of teaching. She quite her job and after her internship at a school she found that there were no jobs available.  More to it but if you are interested you can find that posting on FB, I think.
Use to be that most homeless people were on the streets because of drugs, alcohol or mental illness.  We have a man coming in that had been an attorney, but something put him on the streets.  I don't know his story but he has only recently started speaking to me, not a whole conversation but some passing comments.  That has taken over 3 months.  Back to my train of thought, why people are on the streets.  More and more are on the streets because of a loss of income, sickness that has taken all their savings and friends or family are tired of letting them sleep on their sofa.  Their home has been foreclosed on, eviction from their apartment for non-payment of rent, etc.    How can the church reach out in love?  Recently I came across the verse from Jeremiah 22:16, verse 11 gives the background,  "He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  'Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the Lord."  Interesting question.
Please continue to pray for those precious souls who have no place to go at night, or in the day.  Pray for the outreaches that are attempting to meet the needs of these.  Pray for income during this time of ecomomic downturn, downturn in the world system but not in God's ecomomy, and we need to remember that, God's economy is where we need to be operating.  Pray for the children who are on the streets and have no one to hold them, comfort them, protect them, love them.  These are the "poor and needy" the Lord tells us to defend.
Think on these things.
Ya'll come see us sometime, OK?
With you in His service,
Troy

A YEAR OF CHANGE

Some years ago, Focus on the Family Ministry published a list of 10 critical stress producers. Any combination of one or more of these could cause physical and emotional problems.  Things like death of a spouse, divorce, death of a child, loss of job, relocation to another state, change of careers, and others. This past year I have experienced at least 4.  However, there were some good things also, like the birth of our first grandchild, Gage Thomas Robinson and Jeanne's getting to see and hold him over Christmas 09, and being in Denver where I get to see and hold my grandson and I get to spend time with my daughter, Chelley, my son Brian, my daughter-in-law Sarah, and Gage.

Jeanne died on Jan 15; over a period of months, I stopped all my contracts with companies I did inspections for effectively shutting down my business (no income); I resigned my position as an Associate Pastor at New Life Christian Center; I moved out of my home in less than 2 weeks; I gave away or sold most of the 'things' that had been a part of my life with Jeanne and before; I moved from Bentonville, AR to Denver, CO, from small town to the big city; I moved from a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage into 2 rooms 10x12 with bath and kitchen down the hall ( you try that some time); I became an unpaid volunteer at Sox Place Ministry;....and I changed my hairstyle that I had been use to for over 30 years!

I'm not sure about any physical problems, but emotional problems, YES!  I am really missing my partner in life.  The first part of December was especially rough, it was Gage's first birthday and Jeanne should have been there.  I could not control my emotions, I would tear up at anytime.  Let me say this before I go any further, my God has not left me, He is not mad at me, He is not only holding my hand through this but He is carrying me, He loves me and has not nor will He ever reject me (even if I am in depression).   He has given me victory over satan and He will bring me through this season of my life.  Praise the name of my Lord!

If my honesty about my life is difficult for you to hear, I'm sorry but this is the reality I am going through, with my Lord carrying me.  I truly and sincerely ask for your prayers.  You will help me get through this time with you praying for me.

On a different note, I have been asked to fill the pulpit this Sunday, tomorrow, at Denver Christian Indian Center.  While they have no official pastor, they have had different speakers come in and share the Word.   The Lord is giving me another opportunity to stand before His people and share His Word for them.  I haven't done this for about 8 years now so I am nervous.  I am going to share my favorite parable because I identify with it, the parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15.  I am going to share mainly about the love of the father, an illustration of our Heavenly Fathers love for each one of us.

In the secular military, it is estimated that to keep one soldier on the front lines, it takes at least 7 soldiers behind the lines.  That has to do with logistics, supply, communications, support of all kinds.  The same holds true in this spiritual battle we are in.  Those who have been appointed by God to be in the 'front lines' of this ongoing battle need our support and encouragement.  Will you be one of those who help keep me in the 'front lines'?  Will you support me with your prayers and encouragement?  I am not hesitant or ashamed to ask this because I know I can not do battle without you.  Together we will see the kingdom of God populated and the kingdom of darkness de-populated!

May the Lord keep you in His loving hands, and may you walk in the beauty that He has given us.

Love ya'll.
Troy