Sponsor a week's worth of foodbags!
Currently, B.A.S.I.C. hands out about 100 or so foodbags each week to people who need them in Orlando. These foodbags contain a can drink, vienna sausages, a sleeve of saltine crackers, and a little debbie snack, not much, but it something that they can eat right away, or save and eat the next day at work. Most of the homeless people I know work at least one day (%80 last time I took a survey) a week, and most of them do so to try and get a hotel room for at least a night. Shopping at Wal-Mart and sam's club (generally the best prices), we can get the things for the foodbags for about a buck a bag, depending what's on sale, or available. We usually wind up making 120 bags a week, and spending about $125-$130 on the material. That can add up pretty quickly! You can help out though with a donation to B.A.S.I.C., you'll get a thank you letter, and oval bumper sticker that says "Urban Outdoors". Just make a check out to :
Southeast Christian Church and put "For BASIC Orlando" on the Memo Line.
You can mail the check to
"B.A.S.I.C. Orlando, C/O Southeast Christian Church"
2413 S. Goldenrod Rd.
Orlando, FL. 32822
Thanks for considering a donation!
Remember there's a free sticker in it for you!
;-)
GB HOYT
-Your Positive Activist
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Soulfood Served Here.
It's important that people be fed useful things. I'm not just talking food here either. We all need a little soulfood. This last sunday, people got soulfood and physical food to meet their needs. The Living Waters Church provided some physical food in the form of hotdogs, and we also handed out our food bags, but more importantly, we all had a heaping helping of the word of God. We're studying 1 and 2nd thessalonians so we can have our faith strengthened in times of doubt. This last weekend, we covered the first couple of verses of chapter two.
Do you face opposition to the spread of the Gospel where you work, or live, or play? Sometimes, like in the middle east, this opposition is overt, and people face really hard choices about being obedient to the Gospel or to man's teaching. Paul faced similar opposition when he preached the Gospel for the first time in the city of Philippi. Listen to what Paul says:
1Th 2:1-4 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. (2) But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (3) For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, (4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. --ESV
The Christian has a different reason for doing what he does. Our theme for the book of 1 Thessalonians is "God Rewards Faithfulness" and the "Shameful treatment" of Paul at Philippi is recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 16. Take a moment to read it, and think about how God rewards Paul's faithfulness in this chapter. I'll give you a hint, someone gets jailhouse religion, and it ain't Paul and Silas! ;)
Man, it's a great story! And it displays that you really don't need to know all that much to become a christian.
I hope you will follow along in these great books as we study the fact that God rewards faithfulness!
Prayer List::
Please add these to your prayer list!
James Poynter: To help me get off the street and get a good job
Ronald Hollis: For happiness and Love in God
Tammy Hollis: For the family
Bruno Groom: Family and health
Doug Loasur: Need more prayer in my life
Felix Gonzales: Pray for myself
Mo : Pray for my Children Erin (3) and Anthony (10)
Adrian Navaro: I need God to save me
Eric Cartwright: yes, wife, kids, and granddaughter, forgiveness, freedom
Carroll Hawkins: Need to use phone to call boss
Jersey: My Grandmother
Jesse Beam: Family
Ninyo Hammon: Yes
Garrick Mitchell: Pray for my Family
Ericka Johnson: Pray for Tuesday job interview
Tony H: For a good woman
Thank you! The prayer requests are important because people read them, and sometimes that's an answer to prayers. Ronald Hollis' brother found Ron when he requested that we pray for his family! PTL...
Ya'll have a good week, also remember my family and I as we travel next weekend to Jacksonville to speak to Starrett Rd. Christian Church about the work that BASIC does in Orlando. Thanks and God Bless!
GB HOYT
Your Positive Activist.
Do you face opposition to the spread of the Gospel where you work, or live, or play? Sometimes, like in the middle east, this opposition is overt, and people face really hard choices about being obedient to the Gospel or to man's teaching. Paul faced similar opposition when he preached the Gospel for the first time in the city of Philippi. Listen to what Paul says:
1Th 2:1-4 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. (2) But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (3) For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, (4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. --ESV
The Christian has a different reason for doing what he does. Our theme for the book of 1 Thessalonians is "God Rewards Faithfulness" and the "Shameful treatment" of Paul at Philippi is recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 16. Take a moment to read it, and think about how God rewards Paul's faithfulness in this chapter. I'll give you a hint, someone gets jailhouse religion, and it ain't Paul and Silas! ;)
Man, it's a great story! And it displays that you really don't need to know all that much to become a christian.
I hope you will follow along in these great books as we study the fact that God rewards faithfulness!
Prayer List::
Please add these to your prayer list!
James Poynter: To help me get off the street and get a good job
Ronald Hollis: For happiness and Love in God
Tammy Hollis: For the family
Bruno Groom: Family and health
Doug Loasur: Need more prayer in my life
Felix Gonzales: Pray for myself
Mo : Pray for my Children Erin (3) and Anthony (10)
Adrian Navaro: I need God to save me
Eric Cartwright: yes, wife, kids, and granddaughter, forgiveness, freedom
Carroll Hawkins: Need to use phone to call boss
Jersey: My Grandmother
Jesse Beam: Family
Ninyo Hammon: Yes
Garrick Mitchell: Pray for my Family
Ericka Johnson: Pray for Tuesday job interview
Tony H: For a good woman
Thank you! The prayer requests are important because people read them, and sometimes that's an answer to prayers. Ronald Hollis' brother found Ron when he requested that we pray for his family! PTL...
Ya'll have a good week, also remember my family and I as we travel next weekend to Jacksonville to speak to Starrett Rd. Christian Church about the work that BASIC does in Orlando. Thanks and God Bless!
GB HOYT
Your Positive Activist.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Rain Rain Go Away!
We had a wet sunday!
The rain started about 10 minutes or so after we got downtown. Getting wet when you have to sleep outside is no fun. Fortunately we brought towels to hand out to people that needed them, and they came in handy. I found out that Biily Haes is in the hospital, he got hit by a car last week, and is in ORMC. Spider (see this week's "special guy" at www.basicorlando.org said he'll need a metal rod down his leg. maybe he could use a visit!
The rain started about 10 minutes or so after we got downtown. Getting wet when you have to sleep outside is no fun. Fortunately we brought towels to hand out to people that needed them, and they came in handy. I found out that Biily Haes is in the hospital, he got hit by a car last week, and is in ORMC. Spider (see this week's "special guy" at www.basicorlando.org said he'll need a metal rod down his leg. maybe he could use a visit!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Survival. Is there a chance?
Sunday the 27th, like any other Sunday in the past 2 months, has been a full Sunday.
3 weeks ago a family of four attended our Sunday fellowship. Mario, Rosalind, Michaela and Christian. They came in a blue van that made really loud noises, Michaela and Christian are the young ones in the family, ages 11 and 9 I assume, very young kids non the less.
Rosalind(the mother) is pregnant, and Mario had a surgery on his knee just recently. They used to live in a 3 room apartment where they would pay 900 dollars a month. Unfortunately Mario got injured and needed to get surgery on his knee, because of the time he needed for recuperation he was fired by his employer. Rosalind was only making 8 dollars the hour and the money wasn't enough for the rent. Consequently, bills came, they couldn't afford their place, and they couldn't afford to get to a new one. Mario has been looking for jobs that do not require physical effort since his knee is still in the process of healing, however he has been unsuccessful in doing so.
To make matters worse Rosalind is in her last months of pregnancy and it's very hard for her to keep a job, and she is also suffering from some medical conditions. Bottom line is that they have a tough cookie to chew on.
Why are they in this kind of situation? I don't really know, it could be many reasons, it could be their own fault or it could be one of those situations in which life is just not fair, but regardless of the reason why the situation is what it is, this is a family who is struggling for survival, struggling for the survival of their children whom, no matter what the situation is, are completely innocent and victims of the struggle.
That Sunday morning I got a call from them asking me at what time we would meet so they can assist, however, later in the afternoon I asked them if they were going to come but they told me that their car had broken down, they were parked at a Wal-mart. Luckily Brandon was in the area and so I gave him a call so he could give them a Hand.
The car starter was totally bad and it would not work, Brandon had to leave for BASIC, but they were still on my head. After BASIC I called them and they were still broken down at Wal-Mart, the car needed to be fixed. We were able to get them in a hotel and have the car fixed the next day, I want to thanks everyone that supports BASIC financially, because without the funds we would not able to help these people. When I took them to the Hotel I learned that Mario had found a job with a Culinary School and they would housing during his training, God has been good by giving him this opportunity and I hope he takes advantage of it and thanks God fully. The family is doing better now and we have been able to help, however there is still more people that need to be helped and reached, but we have a shortage of workers. But glory be to God through whom all things are possible.
I was supposed to publish this post like a week ago, but I have been busy... No, I have not been busy, I have been lazy, I have been careless, basically I haven't even cared that the world would know about this. And that is the reason why this is posted, the reason why people have to struggle for survival, because when somebody is in need, we bring up the excuse of being busy, when in reality we are lazy, we are careless, we just don't care.
And its sad, especially when we have such a high number of "Christian" population, and from that number I can assure that more than half have no idea that they need to go out and be like Jesus. Because their leaders have been too busy to burn into their hearts the commandment of healing and feeding, too busy breaking bread for communion with our aristocratic, political, and corporative congregations than to break bread with the hungry, the needy and the thirsty for the comfort of Salvation. We all say we are too busy... lies! we are too LAZY.
The young Christians like me are too busy to help because we spend all of our time discussing how we need to change our traditional churches because apparently they are not too effective in reaching people when in reality they are not effective in reaching people because we are too busy discussing how to reach instead of reaching. Because we converted our youth groups into a place of "chilling'" instead of our bases for planning and acting. Because we love to show how we are "radical" Christians by having the tool that killed Jesus tattooed on our arms, instead of being radical enough to actually hug somebody that is sick.
The adults, our parents, our leaders, are too busy having barbecues and chatting with other believers on how God is good and how God has blessed them, and they celebrate such joy eating and drinking, which is perfectly OK, but since they are so busy with their jobs during the week why don't they use that time for helping who is in need, why can't they use those resources to reach the lost, I guess because now its so easy to give money to charity and think you have already helped the world, how much happier we can be if we actually celebrate God's blessings by sharing them.
The church leaders, too busy to have people come to their church, instead of taking the church to the people, to busy to make sure everyone is happy and no feelings get hurt, instead of making sure that pure doctrine is taught and setting our souls on fire for the Lord, don't get me started in church leaders, they are too busy making sure the church works as efficiently as McDonalds or Walmart. Too busy embellishing the facilities instead of embellishing the body of Christ.
So in conclusion, the church needs to wake up and start running the race as if they actually care. If you follow Christ, act like you do. We are going through harsh times and help is really needed.
Take care doods.
3 weeks ago a family of four attended our Sunday fellowship. Mario, Rosalind, Michaela and Christian. They came in a blue van that made really loud noises, Michaela and Christian are the young ones in the family, ages 11 and 9 I assume, very young kids non the less.
Rosalind(the mother) is pregnant, and Mario had a surgery on his knee just recently. They used to live in a 3 room apartment where they would pay 900 dollars a month. Unfortunately Mario got injured and needed to get surgery on his knee, because of the time he needed for recuperation he was fired by his employer. Rosalind was only making 8 dollars the hour and the money wasn't enough for the rent. Consequently, bills came, they couldn't afford their place, and they couldn't afford to get to a new one. Mario has been looking for jobs that do not require physical effort since his knee is still in the process of healing, however he has been unsuccessful in doing so.
To make matters worse Rosalind is in her last months of pregnancy and it's very hard for her to keep a job, and she is also suffering from some medical conditions. Bottom line is that they have a tough cookie to chew on.
Why are they in this kind of situation? I don't really know, it could be many reasons, it could be their own fault or it could be one of those situations in which life is just not fair, but regardless of the reason why the situation is what it is, this is a family who is struggling for survival, struggling for the survival of their children whom, no matter what the situation is, are completely innocent and victims of the struggle.
That Sunday morning I got a call from them asking me at what time we would meet so they can assist, however, later in the afternoon I asked them if they were going to come but they told me that their car had broken down, they were parked at a Wal-mart. Luckily Brandon was in the area and so I gave him a call so he could give them a Hand.
The car starter was totally bad and it would not work, Brandon had to leave for BASIC, but they were still on my head. After BASIC I called them and they were still broken down at Wal-Mart, the car needed to be fixed. We were able to get them in a hotel and have the car fixed the next day, I want to thanks everyone that supports BASIC financially, because without the funds we would not able to help these people. When I took them to the Hotel I learned that Mario had found a job with a Culinary School and they would housing during his training, God has been good by giving him this opportunity and I hope he takes advantage of it and thanks God fully. The family is doing better now and we have been able to help, however there is still more people that need to be helped and reached, but we have a shortage of workers. But glory be to God through whom all things are possible.
I was supposed to publish this post like a week ago, but I have been busy... No, I have not been busy, I have been lazy, I have been careless, basically I haven't even cared that the world would know about this. And that is the reason why this is posted, the reason why people have to struggle for survival, because when somebody is in need, we bring up the excuse of being busy, when in reality we are lazy, we are careless, we just don't care.
And its sad, especially when we have such a high number of "Christian" population, and from that number I can assure that more than half have no idea that they need to go out and be like Jesus. Because their leaders have been too busy to burn into their hearts the commandment of healing and feeding, too busy breaking bread for communion with our aristocratic, political, and corporative congregations than to break bread with the hungry, the needy and the thirsty for the comfort of Salvation. We all say we are too busy... lies! we are too LAZY.
The young Christians like me are too busy to help because we spend all of our time discussing how we need to change our traditional churches because apparently they are not too effective in reaching people when in reality they are not effective in reaching people because we are too busy discussing how to reach instead of reaching. Because we converted our youth groups into a place of "chilling'" instead of our bases for planning and acting. Because we love to show how we are "radical" Christians by having the tool that killed Jesus tattooed on our arms, instead of being radical enough to actually hug somebody that is sick.
The adults, our parents, our leaders, are too busy having barbecues and chatting with other believers on how God is good and how God has blessed them, and they celebrate such joy eating and drinking, which is perfectly OK, but since they are so busy with their jobs during the week why don't they use that time for helping who is in need, why can't they use those resources to reach the lost, I guess because now its so easy to give money to charity and think you have already helped the world, how much happier we can be if we actually celebrate God's blessings by sharing them.
The church leaders, too busy to have people come to their church, instead of taking the church to the people, to busy to make sure everyone is happy and no feelings get hurt, instead of making sure that pure doctrine is taught and setting our souls on fire for the Lord, don't get me started in church leaders, they are too busy making sure the church works as efficiently as McDonalds or Walmart. Too busy embellishing the facilities instead of embellishing the body of Christ.
So in conclusion, the church needs to wake up and start running the race as if they actually care. If you follow Christ, act like you do. We are going through harsh times and help is really needed.
Take care doods.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Whaddaya Mean REAL FOOD?!?!
I want to focus a few minutes on a passage of scripture that makes me think everytime I read it.
The text is John 6:26-64.
I know that's a HUGE chunk of scripture for most people who are used to 20 minute sermons, and singing the invitation hymn on the way out of the building, but it's a great passage, and it teaches some important things about Christian Living. Every week we gather at a special place as Christians. We call it communion, or the Lord's Supper. Some strange people call it the Eucharist. I believe this passage specifically refers to this event. I want to look at a few details in this passage. Maybe you'll see what I see!
First of all, Jesus Draws attention to himself. That's not what we would expect from the classic selfless Jesus. Yet he does this crazy stuff all the time. Now he's offering his own flesh and blood for food and drink. What does this mean to us? Short answer: It's a spiritual question.
Joh 6:61-63 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? (62) Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? (63) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
So when he offers us to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he's calling us to a spiritual food and drink. Sometimes it's hard for us to understand that physical actions carry spiritual consequences, but that is the case! There is more that could be said about that. Think about it. If physical actions carry spiritual consequences, what are the effects (spiritually) of sin? Of righteous deeds? Of anything?
That's something to think about!
WEEKLY UPDATE:
here is your BASIC update!
Last night we served about 85 people, handed out all our foodbags and had some good fellowship. Our helpers were "Team Camo" from Southeast Christian church, and some of the youth as well. We handed out a lot of pants thanks to Team Camo, but we always need more!
Prayer List:
Donald Riddle; To get back on my feet.
Ell Estill: Job and to see a music producer.
Paul Sharper : I'm Soaked and someone stole my clothes last night.
Steve: God Bless
Phillip King: Prayer for sstady work and place to live.
Jessie Beam: Clutch for Kia ( for his car)
Ronald Hollis: Prayer for Brandon
Cheryl Corbett: Mom (Barbara Logan) and Car fixed.
Jeremiah Danels: Job.
Baby Ruth Dean: $50.
Krystal Coleman: peace
Claudia (See the Picture on the right!): Safe travel back to Kansas City Kansas to see her grandchildren. She also has some heart and blood pressure problems that make her susectible to having a stroke.
Thanks everyone! Have a good week!
GB HOYT
PS:
Do you need an uplifting sermon to listen to? Is your Church life suffering? Check out Marshall McCrickard's "Count On Me" Series. He's the minister at Port St. Lucie Christian Church, and an all around groovy guy!
The text is John 6:26-64.
I know that's a HUGE chunk of scripture for most people who are used to 20 minute sermons, and singing the invitation hymn on the way out of the building, but it's a great passage, and it teaches some important things about Christian Living. Every week we gather at a special place as Christians. We call it communion, or the Lord's Supper. Some strange people call it the Eucharist. I believe this passage specifically refers to this event. I want to look at a few details in this passage. Maybe you'll see what I see!
First of all, Jesus Draws attention to himself. That's not what we would expect from the classic selfless Jesus. Yet he does this crazy stuff all the time. Now he's offering his own flesh and blood for food and drink. What does this mean to us? Short answer: It's a spiritual question.
Joh 6:61-63 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? (62) Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? (63) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
So when he offers us to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he's calling us to a spiritual food and drink. Sometimes it's hard for us to understand that physical actions carry spiritual consequences, but that is the case! There is more that could be said about that. Think about it. If physical actions carry spiritual consequences, what are the effects (spiritually) of sin? Of righteous deeds? Of anything?
That's something to think about!
WEEKLY UPDATE:
here is your BASIC update!
Last night we served about 85 people, handed out all our foodbags and had some good fellowship. Our helpers were "Team Camo" from Southeast Christian church, and some of the youth as well. We handed out a lot of pants thanks to Team Camo, but we always need more!
Prayer List:
Donald Riddle; To get back on my feet.
Ell Estill: Job and to see a music producer.
Paul Sharper : I'm Soaked and someone stole my clothes last night.
Steve: God Bless
Phillip King: Prayer for sstady work and place to live.
Jessie Beam: Clutch for Kia ( for his car)
Ronald Hollis: Prayer for Brandon
Cheryl Corbett: Mom (Barbara Logan) and Car fixed.
Jeremiah Danels: Job.
Baby Ruth Dean: $50.
Krystal Coleman: peace
Claudia (See the Picture on the right!): Safe travel back to Kansas City Kansas to see her grandchildren. She also has some heart and blood pressure problems that make her susectible to having a stroke.
Thanks everyone! Have a good week!
GB HOYT
PS:
Do you need an uplifting sermon to listen to? Is your Church life suffering? Check out Marshall McCrickard's "Count On Me" Series. He's the minister at Port St. Lucie Christian Church, and an all around groovy guy!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Wool is Cool... Make sure you are a Sheep... Don't be a fool.
Hey folks, here I present to you the Prayer List.
It was a good day Sunday. We had more than 60 people that got a chance to listen to the word of God, and eat some good hot dogs provided by Living Waters Church. We arrived a little late, but Living Waters already had the people organized. After the people ate I preached about how we are to enter God's sheep pen, by the only gate there is, God's Son Jesus Christ. And how Christ is also the good shepherd and how we need to listen to Him, that he said that His sheep listen to Him, and we need to obey because since he is the Good Shepherd he cares much about our salvation. Its something very simple and it may seem not to deep, but it doesn't need to be deep, Christ's Truth is very simple and it has to, because salvation is for all, so it needs to be understood by all. Interesting thing is that Christ explains it 2 times showing us the urgency that we need to have to make sure people understand.
You can find it on John Chapter 10, pretty awesome read, as anything else that comes from the Bible.
Christ is the Only Way, the Only Gate, if you try to jump through the fence you WILL be considered a thieve and a robber, and those get thrown out where the wolves are, very very hungry puppies.
Here is the list.
Tony: For a Job and a good woman
Alphonso Ellis: I truly need you to pray that God will save me.
Joey L. Rojas: Pray God opens door. Job, home, church, family
Terry Christy: Please pray that I can keep steady work for my place to stay
Donald Riddle: Pray for me and my family
Joseph Pereira: Pray for all the prophets to bring back the lost sheep
James Massey: Food, a real place to live no jail.
David Osteen: Job
Jay Benniefiel: That I get home and see my son.
Derrick: for my dad.
Anthony Goyers: I need my own place so I can be with my kids.
Larry Martin: People breaking in line.
James Macow: Pray for healing of spirit, soul and body and for Him to establish and settle me.
Hey folks, here I present to you the Prayer List.
It was a good day Sunday. We had more than 60 people that got a chance to listen to the word of God, and eat some good hot dogs provided by Living Waters Church. We arrived a little late, but Living Waters already had the people organized. After the people ate I preached about how we are to enter God's sheep pen, by the only gate there is, God's Son Jesus Christ. And how Christ is also the good shepherd and how we need to listen to Him, that he said that His sheep listen to Him, and we need to obey because since he is the Good Shepherd he cares much about our salvation. Its something very simple and it may seem not to deep, but it doesn't need to be deep, Christ's Truth is very simple and it has to, because salvation is for all, so it needs to be understood by all. Interesting thing is that Christ explains it 2 times showing us the urgency that we need to have to make sure people understand.
You can find it on John Chapter 10, pretty awesome read, as anything else that comes from the Bible.
Christ is the Only Way, the Only Gate, if you try to jump through the fence you WILL be considered a thieve and a robber, and those get thrown out where the wolves are, very very hungry puppies.
Here is the list.
Tony: For a Job and a good woman
Alphonso Ellis: I truly need you to pray that God will save me.
Joey L. Rojas: Pray God opens door. Job, home, church, family
Terry Christy: Please pray that I can keep steady work for my place to stay
Donald Riddle: Pray for me and my family
Joseph Pereira: Pray for all the prophets to bring back the lost sheep
James Massey: Food, a real place to live no jail.
David Osteen: Job
Jay Benniefiel: That I get home and see my son.
Derrick: for my dad.
Anthony Goyers: I need my own place so I can be with my kids.
Larry Martin: People breaking in line.
James Macow: Pray for healing of spirit, soul and body and for Him to establish and settle me.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Ramblin' Man Rambles on...
Jackie Dowd draws more attention to the homeless situation all over the state. thanks for bringing YET ANOTHER law against homelessness to the forefront.
Does anyone see a pattern?
I'm beginning to think that perhaps there is a conspiracy of sorts afoot.
Of course, I'm being paranoid, but then again....
Back to serious matters:
Visited with Kelly's Uncle Don again this weekend, we talked more about faith, he looks better to me than he did two weeks ago, even if he had lost a little more weight. Rafi took Southeast Christian CHurch youth, and John Jessamore from Southside to the city's idea of a good place to feed homeless people. He'll have the full update on that.
Let's be a little more like Jesus.
It seems weird to me that in the life of Christ we see so many examples of him butting heads with society, yet he continues to do that which God purposed him for since the founding of this reality. THink about that, and post a comment about your thoughts. I'll give you mine later. Until then, I start school tomorrow.
Pray for me!
Your student activist,
G. Brandon Hoyt
Does anyone see a pattern?
I'm beginning to think that perhaps there is a conspiracy of sorts afoot.
Of course, I'm being paranoid, but then again....
Back to serious matters:
Visited with Kelly's Uncle Don again this weekend, we talked more about faith, he looks better to me than he did two weeks ago, even if he had lost a little more weight. Rafi took Southeast Christian CHurch youth, and John Jessamore from Southside to the city's idea of a good place to feed homeless people. He'll have the full update on that.
Let's be a little more like Jesus.
It seems weird to me that in the life of Christ we see so many examples of him butting heads with society, yet he continues to do that which God purposed him for since the founding of this reality. THink about that, and post a comment about your thoughts. I'll give you mine later. Until then, I start school tomorrow.
Pray for me!
Your student activist,
G. Brandon Hoyt
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
When People are Involved....
...Sometimes things go wrong!
;-)
I have forgotten my camera at a friends house, and I don't know where the prayer requests are. So I don't have a prayerlist this week yet, nor do I have a picture of this week's "Special Guy" for the website.
The one thing I can say about last sunday is that we had a TON of people to serve. 114 to be kind-of exact :)
We handed out all our foodbags, poloshirt (Time to break out the reserves!) all the tee-shirts we had with us, and even most of our largely sized pants! Not to mention socks. The only thing we came back with was underpants, and we are out of mediums (The most popular size.)
Needless to say, we need men's pants... Size 30-38 waist, size 30 and up length. PLEASE!!! We need pants. If you are in Orlando, and can donate pants, or if you can give money just for pants (about $3.00 a pair at Goodwill) please consider doing so. Almost everyone needs pants downtown.
I'll try to figure out where the prayer requests have gone, so stay tuned.
Thanks!
GB HOYT
;-)
I have forgotten my camera at a friends house, and I don't know where the prayer requests are. So I don't have a prayerlist this week yet, nor do I have a picture of this week's "Special Guy" for the website.
The one thing I can say about last sunday is that we had a TON of people to serve. 114 to be kind-of exact :)
We handed out all our foodbags, poloshirt (Time to break out the reserves!) all the tee-shirts we had with us, and even most of our largely sized pants! Not to mention socks. The only thing we came back with was underpants, and we are out of mediums (The most popular size.)
Needless to say, we need men's pants... Size 30-38 waist, size 30 and up length. PLEASE!!! We need pants. If you are in Orlando, and can donate pants, or if you can give money just for pants (about $3.00 a pair at Goodwill) please consider doing so. Almost everyone needs pants downtown.
I'll try to figure out where the prayer requests have gone, so stay tuned.
Thanks!
GB HOYT
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Remember to Pray...
Hey all,
Looks like I'll be preaching downtown to homeless people instead of to a sick guy in a hospital bed tomorrow. Kelly's Uncle Don continues to improve but he's still in the hospital, latest word is he's now fighting lung clots.
I'm home early, but I'm not sleepy. Instead I find myself thinking about what I'm going to say tomorrow. The text is Luke 12:13ff.
Luk 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." (14) But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (15) And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (16) And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, (17) and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' (18) And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' (20) But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' (21) So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
(ESV)
People get greedy all the time. Even Homeless people! Carl Ketcherside reportedly identified homeless people as being "Needy, greedy, or seedy" I think that bears out. I meet guys wit tho are greedy every week. I meet guys who would be off the streets if certain needs could be met. The seedy ones are the ones who need the most help though. They've been out there a long time. They bear sin's mark on their body as a stench of alchohol, dirt, sweat, blood, vomit.
I'm preaching this scripture because it ties in well with two other passages for the purpose of building the point that God Comes First!!!
You can be rich, I say, and you can have it all, but you will die, and what will become of your riches? That is point of sermon number one: seek first the kingdom.
Luk 12:22-31 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. (23) For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. (24) Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (25) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (26) If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? (27) Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (29) And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. (30) For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (31) Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
I'll be the first to admit that homeless people probably hear this and other passages like it far too often in sermons. What I'm hoping though, is that they make the connection between Jesus' story about the rich guy and this teaching on seeking the kingdom. We seek the kingdom because of the fragility of life. Isn't it amazing how we are born, and we die? I remember the day my daughter was born, how she was so small, and as the dr.'s massaged her oddly colored (to me) little body, I waited to hear her cry. It was so thin! Her voice barely moved air. I remember how similar the emotion of that is to watching somebody near death. How they are just as dependant and helpless as a child, but on the way to the other life, and away from this life. Sometimes, people don't get to take a long time to die...
If I'm going to be greedy, Lord let me be greedy for the Kingdom!
GB HOYT
Looks like I'll be preaching downtown to homeless people instead of to a sick guy in a hospital bed tomorrow. Kelly's Uncle Don continues to improve but he's still in the hospital, latest word is he's now fighting lung clots.
I'm home early, but I'm not sleepy. Instead I find myself thinking about what I'm going to say tomorrow. The text is Luke 12:13ff.
Luk 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." (14) But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (15) And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (16) And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, (17) and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' (18) And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' (20) But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' (21) So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
(ESV)
People get greedy all the time. Even Homeless people! Carl Ketcherside reportedly identified homeless people as being "Needy, greedy, or seedy" I think that bears out. I meet guys wit tho are greedy every week. I meet guys who would be off the streets if certain needs could be met. The seedy ones are the ones who need the most help though. They've been out there a long time. They bear sin's mark on their body as a stench of alchohol, dirt, sweat, blood, vomit.
I'm preaching this scripture because it ties in well with two other passages for the purpose of building the point that God Comes First!!!
You can be rich, I say, and you can have it all, but you will die, and what will become of your riches? That is point of sermon number one: seek first the kingdom.
Luk 12:22-31 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. (23) For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. (24) Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (25) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (26) If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? (27) Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (29) And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. (30) For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (31) Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
I'll be the first to admit that homeless people probably hear this and other passages like it far too often in sermons. What I'm hoping though, is that they make the connection between Jesus' story about the rich guy and this teaching on seeking the kingdom. We seek the kingdom because of the fragility of life. Isn't it amazing how we are born, and we die? I remember the day my daughter was born, how she was so small, and as the dr.'s massaged her oddly colored (to me) little body, I waited to hear her cry. It was so thin! Her voice barely moved air. I remember how similar the emotion of that is to watching somebody near death. How they are just as dependant and helpless as a child, but on the way to the other life, and away from this life. Sometimes, people don't get to take a long time to die...
If I'm going to be greedy, Lord let me be greedy for the Kingdom!
GB HOYT
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Updates, Updates, Updates!!
Wow,
what a crazy week!
My wife and I got a chance to see "Uncle Don" my wife's mother's only brother. That's a mouthfull. We rode down to Naples Tuesday nite, and the situation was grim. He needed a liver stint to be put in, so he could eliminate some bile. He couldn't get one because his white blood cell count was too low for the operation. Between cancer and chemo, His body was breaking down. Starting Tuesday daytime, though, there seemed to be some improvement, enough so that he could come off the special diet he was on, and he could get out of bed, and into an easy chair.
Praise the Lord. We'd been praying for him, but Monday nite we really started praying hard. Wednesday I got to see him and talk to him about trusting God a little more each day. I hope to visit him soon so he can have his faith strengthened even more...
Pray for Don!
UPDATES ON FEEDING!!!
Thank you 13th Juror!!!! Jackie provided the information necessary for me to actually read what the new Orlando Feeding Ordinance says. It's under the agenda for 7/24/2006. Scroll down the page, and you'll see something about amendments to chapter 18A of the City code. Coupla clicks later and you can read what it says!
I still don't think it really affects us. After all, I haven't heard any bad news from the police who actually have to enforce the ordinance.
Thanks for your prayers in this regard too!!!!
GB HOYT
what a crazy week!
My wife and I got a chance to see "Uncle Don" my wife's mother's only brother. That's a mouthfull. We rode down to Naples Tuesday nite, and the situation was grim. He needed a liver stint to be put in, so he could eliminate some bile. He couldn't get one because his white blood cell count was too low for the operation. Between cancer and chemo, His body was breaking down. Starting Tuesday daytime, though, there seemed to be some improvement, enough so that he could come off the special diet he was on, and he could get out of bed, and into an easy chair.
Praise the Lord. We'd been praying for him, but Monday nite we really started praying hard. Wednesday I got to see him and talk to him about trusting God a little more each day. I hope to visit him soon so he can have his faith strengthened even more...
Pray for Don!
UPDATES ON FEEDING!!!
Thank you 13th Juror!!!! Jackie provided the information necessary for me to actually read what the new Orlando Feeding Ordinance says. It's under the agenda for 7/24/2006. Scroll down the page, and you'll see something about amendments to chapter 18A of the City code. Coupla clicks later and you can read what it says!
I still don't think it really affects us. After all, I haven't heard any bad news from the police who actually have to enforce the ordinance.
Thanks for your prayers in this regard too!!!!
GB HOYT
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Emergency Prayer Request!!!
Kelly (my wife) has an uncle with liver and pancreatic cancer. He
discovered this a couple of weeks ago, and immediately began chemo
therapy. His body is not doing well. Apparently, he needs a liver
stint to help him process bile, and if he doesn't get this soon, he'll
pass away. He has been unable to get it because of an infection. As
soon as it goes away, he can get the stint.
We're going down to Naples, FL (where he lives and is in the hospital)
today to visit with him and the rest of the family. Pray that we get
an opportunity to share with him the saving message of Jesus. He's
lived without any direct faith in Christ as savior, but this situation
is awakening him to the need. Thanks for your immediate and fervent
prayers!
GB HOYT...
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Monday, August 07, 2006
It Was A Beautiful Day...
Wow!
What an exciting Sunday! We were able to witness the death and rebirth of Cameron Madore! He was baptized because he wants to follow God and do the good things God has made him to do.
The crowd we served was a little smaller than the last few weeks, but when the Lord adds to His church, it's a great day, no matter how big or small the crowd! Between "The Living Waters" Church (based in Ocoee), Southside Christian Church, and BASIC we served about 70 people. I was glad to have the help, and especially Myranda (From Southside Christian Church) who helped the ladies get their needs lists filled out specially. Travis Jacob and John Jessamore came from Southside also, and John was able to share some of his testimony to God's goodness in his life! Not bad for a guy who needs a lung transplant! :-)
Our Prayer Requests:
Tracy Murdoch : Yes Me
Yvette Burns : Everyday be Ok, I'm sick.
Jean Yates : Yes, pray for me and my fiance Lawrence. Thanx, God Bless.
Melvin Baylor : Aartment or efficiency
Ronald Hollis : Jesus to save us all.
Yahya Abdel-Raheem : To get off of drugs and alchohol
Krystal Coleman : Peace Wellness
DJ Haes : For my wife to get better.
Baby Ruth Dean : Thank you for an appartment or room homes. and som $50.00 bill need now.
Tammy Ouellette : Us as a couple
Ronnie Rubin : That I may get closer to God.
Billy Haes : Today is by B-day
Larry : Get the either one I tested for.
Robert Clark : Prayer for me.
Robert Gray : For Protection
Jonathan "Mitch" Mitchell : Thank you for everything! God bless you!
Tony Stafford : Health
Alphonso Ellis : To be saved
Thank you for your prayers! Remember to pray a special prayer for Cameron. Also for BASIC, so that one day we can take a guy and get him off the streets right away! That's going to take a lot of resources.
Until the next time!
Believe and Serve!
GB HOYT
Saturday, August 05, 2006
A View to the Future of B.A.S.I.C.?
Kevin Tells a Good Story
The Homeless Guy tells a story about a chronically homeless person getting off the streets in his area. There are a few key things to recognize about this story, that you must understand before you will understand what makes this story so encouraging to me.
1. It was a church that helped this guy. It's OUR JOB as Christians to address social problems, not the government's.
2. They got him off the streets right away. This is similar to the Housing First approach some social groups are advocating these days. I like the idea cause it's GRACE BASED!! intentionally or not.
3. The person they helped could be classified as "Chronically Homeless". The chronically homeless consume a large percentage of social services. Getting them off the streets makes sense! Most of the services they receive do nothing to enable them off the streets. They merely survive the day.
So read, enjoy, etc.
GB HOYT
The Homeless Guy tells a story about a chronically homeless person getting off the streets in his area. There are a few key things to recognize about this story, that you must understand before you will understand what makes this story so encouraging to me.
1. It was a church that helped this guy. It's OUR JOB as Christians to address social problems, not the government's.
2. They got him off the streets right away. This is similar to the Housing First approach some social groups are advocating these days. I like the idea cause it's GRACE BASED!! intentionally or not.
3. The person they helped could be classified as "Chronically Homeless". The chronically homeless consume a large percentage of social services. Getting them off the streets makes sense! Most of the services they receive do nothing to enable them off the streets. They merely survive the day.
So read, enjoy, etc.
GB HOYT
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Getting Some Perspective...
I often wonder what street life does to change your outlook on Life in general. This radio show might be able to help me understand what's going on.
The internet changes things. Kevin in Nashville can give his thoughts, I can blog from the livingroom while watching my daughter. News is everywhere.
Strange days, I tell you what...
The internet changes things. Kevin in Nashville can give his thoughts, I can blog from the livingroom while watching my daughter. News is everywhere.
Strange days, I tell you what...
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
MARK MY WORDS (Babylonians, Friends or Foes?)
In the Book of Daniel,
King Belshazzar of the Babylonians received a message concerning the abrupt end to his kingdom and reign because of his unrighteousness. The experience is permantly recorded in Daniel chapter 5.
Of course, you knew this was going to happen because you read the book of Habakkuk.
God saw the injustice of the Babylonians, and was not willing to tolerate it.
Let's review:
There were six things that Habakkuk saw that made him question God.
God answers by saying that he would send the cruel Babylonians to punish the Israelites. The fall of Jerusalem, and divine judgement against the nation can be read in the book of 2 Kings 25. This telling history speaks a little bit of the cruelty the nation of Judah experienced at the hands of the babylonians.
Habakkuk questions God again, asking :
Hab 1:12-13 Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. (13) You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
Now God actually told ole Hab that God was going to do something unbelievable! It seems strange sometimes that God uses the unjust to punish the unjust. In the end, I believe what we see is a working together for the good of the Called (Romans 8:28, 29). God does not just let the punisher escape either. He promises destruction comes to Babylon as well in Chapter 2.
Hab 2:8-12 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. (9) "Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! (10) You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. (11) For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond. (12) "Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!
That's a summary of the destruction God brings to Babylon. I want to back up a few verses though, because God has something to say specifically to those of us who question Him, His timing, and His tolerance of injustice (specifically seen most recently as the bans on the public feeding of homeless people in Las Vegas and Orlando)
(Hab 2:1) I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
Hab readies himself to hear what God has to say. He knows and expects God to answer. This is important, because while God knows we have questions, He expects us to also be ready to give an answer.
(Hab 2:2) And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
God has an answer, and He does not want there to be any delay or mistake in getting that message out. The message still rings out today, because God wants people to know what He has to say.
(Hab 2:3) For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
"wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay" This is the crux of this message for us: We are commanded to wait, God will not delay in His justice. It will happen at just the right time. Be patient! God brings His justice, even if it seems slow.
(Hab 2:4) "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
At B.A.S.I.C. we live lives of faith. That's how God commands us to live. Paul quotes this at least twice: once in Romans 1:17, and also in Galatians 3:11. We must live by faith, because ultimately, trusting in one's own strength is the thing that God condemns the most.
We feed the hungry in faith, knowing that God will feed us spiritually through His word!
Take care!
GB HOYT
ADDENDUM:::
Interesting things I read today on Blogs:
Two Views Reviewed: "Christian Activism" - Should Christians integrate their faith in every aspect of their life, or is there some seperation that must occur? A Reformed perspective, interesting to read what other people are thinking.
Christian Carnival: A great list of things going on in the "Holy Blogosphere"
King Belshazzar of the Babylonians received a message concerning the abrupt end to his kingdom and reign because of his unrighteousness. The experience is permantly recorded in Daniel chapter 5.
Of course, you knew this was going to happen because you read the book of Habakkuk.
God saw the injustice of the Babylonians, and was not willing to tolerate it.
Let's review:
There were six things that Habakkuk saw that made him question God.
God answers by saying that he would send the cruel Babylonians to punish the Israelites. The fall of Jerusalem, and divine judgement against the nation can be read in the book of 2 Kings 25. This telling history speaks a little bit of the cruelty the nation of Judah experienced at the hands of the babylonians.
Habakkuk questions God again, asking :
Hab 1:12-13 Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. (13) You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
Now God actually told ole Hab that God was going to do something unbelievable! It seems strange sometimes that God uses the unjust to punish the unjust. In the end, I believe what we see is a working together for the good of the Called (Romans 8:28, 29). God does not just let the punisher escape either. He promises destruction comes to Babylon as well in Chapter 2.
Hab 2:8-12 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. (9) "Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! (10) You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. (11) For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond. (12) "Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!
That's a summary of the destruction God brings to Babylon. I want to back up a few verses though, because God has something to say specifically to those of us who question Him, His timing, and His tolerance of injustice (specifically seen most recently as the bans on the public feeding of homeless people in Las Vegas and Orlando)
(Hab 2:1) I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
Hab readies himself to hear what God has to say. He knows and expects God to answer. This is important, because while God knows we have questions, He expects us to also be ready to give an answer.
(Hab 2:2) And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
God has an answer, and He does not want there to be any delay or mistake in getting that message out. The message still rings out today, because God wants people to know what He has to say.
(Hab 2:3) For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
"wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay" This is the crux of this message for us: We are commanded to wait, God will not delay in His justice. It will happen at just the right time. Be patient! God brings His justice, even if it seems slow.
(Hab 2:4) "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
At B.A.S.I.C. we live lives of faith. That's how God commands us to live. Paul quotes this at least twice: once in Romans 1:17, and also in Galatians 3:11. We must live by faith, because ultimately, trusting in one's own strength is the thing that God condemns the most.
We feed the hungry in faith, knowing that God will feed us spiritually through His word!
Take care!
GB HOYT
ADDENDUM:::
Interesting things I read today on Blogs:
Two Views Reviewed: "Christian Activism" - Should Christians integrate their faith in every aspect of their life, or is there some seperation that must occur? A Reformed perspective, interesting to read what other people are thinking.
Christian Carnival: A great list of things going on in the "Holy Blogosphere"
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
the 13th juror: Outsmarted?
the 13th juror: Outsmarted?
Jacqueline notices how the Food not Bombs people continue their efforts to feed, even by trying to avoid being in the park. Of course, the law does seem to state that feeding the homeless in "Public areas" is forbidden, but I can't confirm the exact wording of the law. Nobody has published the exact wording of the law...
I have not been able to find it either...
Have fun!
GB HOYT
Jacqueline notices how the Food not Bombs people continue their efforts to feed, even by trying to avoid being in the park. Of course, the law does seem to state that feeding the homeless in "Public areas" is forbidden, but I can't confirm the exact wording of the law. Nobody has published the exact wording of the law...
I have not been able to find it either...
Have fun!
GB HOYT
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday....
Wow....
What an experience downtown.
BASIC set a new high attendance record.
Rafael and I had the pleasure of serving 94 of Orlando's homeless people. Some people will think, gee that's a lot of people, but when you consider that Orlando has between 4 and 6 THOUSAND people on the streets at night, 94 seems like a small drop in the bucket. Don't get me wrong, it still feels like a lot of people. But when you stop and think about the real need, it sticks out at you doesn't it. What is 94 compared to 4000?
We serve because we understand that God changes people. God used one man to preach the word to people way way back in time, on pentacost. You know the story most likely, Jesus ascends into heaven, telling his followers to wait in Jerusalem and they will receive a sign. The sign comes and they go away preaching, but this was a special sermon. They were speaking in other languages. It was so new to the people who were standing around, they thought the apostles were drunk! Peter stands up and corrects their thinking. You can find his sermon in Acts the second chapter. His one sermon (coupled with the witness of the apostles speaking in tongues.) lead to the salvation of over 3000 people. If the same formula holds true, our 94 people (coupled with the witness of the church around them) could reach over 282,000 people in one day. That'd be a lot of baptizing!
I know that's a pretty rough treatment of the numbers, but one of the things we do at B.A.S.I.C. is help people understand that they have a role in the church. Our efforts in concert produce light in the community to show the way along God's path. We must remember, we follow a narrow path, so we need to shine as much light on it as possible!
One way we shine light is by providing the prayer requests of the homeless every week. We publish these online so that you can follow the command of Paul to the Galatians (chapter 6:1 ff) and bear one another's burdens. There were many burdens this week to share. Everyone of them is important, but there are a few I want to highlight. The first four requests come from the same family. That's right, BASIC served a family this last week, and by family I mean, a Mother, a Father, a son, and a daughter. The kids were between eight and eleven, and the mother was pregnant. The father had a bad knee, but had recently reaquired some work.
Here are all the requests:
*Mario Durazo: Housing, Gas
*Rosalee Patton: Housing, Gas
*Michaela Williamson: Housing
*Christian Patton: Housing
Leon Stephene: Yes for a Job
P King: Lord please forgive me. And bless us all here in faith of your son's blood. thank you
Johnny A: Pray for me and my family
Krystal Coleman: Health, Peace
Michale Sal : That he continues what he started.
James Stringer: Job (*He's a landscaper if you know anyone*)
Alphonso Ellis : Salvation
John Maguire: Please help me to get home
Baby Ruth Dean: Need a place to live les than $400.00 pay $350 monthly
Melvin Baylor: Looking for a place to live for no more than $400 a month for a couple. Me and my fiance (*Baby Ruth*)
James Stafford (*?*): Shayla, Kelly, Maryssa, and Keeli
James Massey : Money to buy rundown houses to fix up to resell.
So that's this week's prayer request. The special guy this week is Mitch, don't forget to click the banner at the top of this page to find out more about him, and our pressing needs for the week.
Thanks!!
GB HOYT
What an experience downtown.
BASIC set a new high attendance record.
Rafael and I had the pleasure of serving 94 of Orlando's homeless people. Some people will think, gee that's a lot of people, but when you consider that Orlando has between 4 and 6 THOUSAND people on the streets at night, 94 seems like a small drop in the bucket. Don't get me wrong, it still feels like a lot of people. But when you stop and think about the real need, it sticks out at you doesn't it. What is 94 compared to 4000?
We serve because we understand that God changes people. God used one man to preach the word to people way way back in time, on pentacost. You know the story most likely, Jesus ascends into heaven, telling his followers to wait in Jerusalem and they will receive a sign. The sign comes and they go away preaching, but this was a special sermon. They were speaking in other languages. It was so new to the people who were standing around, they thought the apostles were drunk! Peter stands up and corrects their thinking. You can find his sermon in Acts the second chapter. His one sermon (coupled with the witness of the apostles speaking in tongues.) lead to the salvation of over 3000 people. If the same formula holds true, our 94 people (coupled with the witness of the church around them) could reach over 282,000 people in one day. That'd be a lot of baptizing!
I know that's a pretty rough treatment of the numbers, but one of the things we do at B.A.S.I.C. is help people understand that they have a role in the church. Our efforts in concert produce light in the community to show the way along God's path. We must remember, we follow a narrow path, so we need to shine as much light on it as possible!
One way we shine light is by providing the prayer requests of the homeless every week. We publish these online so that you can follow the command of Paul to the Galatians (chapter 6:1 ff) and bear one another's burdens. There were many burdens this week to share. Everyone of them is important, but there are a few I want to highlight. The first four requests come from the same family. That's right, BASIC served a family this last week, and by family I mean, a Mother, a Father, a son, and a daughter. The kids were between eight and eleven, and the mother was pregnant. The father had a bad knee, but had recently reaquired some work.
Here are all the requests:
*Mario Durazo: Housing, Gas
*Rosalee Patton: Housing, Gas
*Michaela Williamson: Housing
*Christian Patton: Housing
Leon Stephene: Yes for a Job
P King: Lord please forgive me. And bless us all here in faith of your son's blood. thank you
Johnny A: Pray for me and my family
Krystal Coleman: Health, Peace
Michale Sal : That he continues what he started.
James Stringer: Job (*He's a landscaper if you know anyone*)
Alphonso Ellis : Salvation
John Maguire: Please help me to get home
Baby Ruth Dean: Need a place to live les than $400.00 pay $350 monthly
Melvin Baylor: Looking for a place to live for no more than $400 a month for a couple. Me and my fiance (*Baby Ruth*)
James Stafford (*?*): Shayla, Kelly, Maryssa, and Keeli
James Massey : Money to buy rundown houses to fix up to resell.
So that's this week's prayer request. The special guy this week is Mitch, don't forget to click the banner at the top of this page to find out more about him, and our pressing needs for the week.
Thanks!!
GB HOYT
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
More News... And No News.... (This is good news!) ;-)
Local Six News Story about Food Not Bombs continuing the feeding of homeless people.
Then there is Channel 13's perspective...
The homeless Guy weighs in...
Lots of talk, lots of talk....
called one of Orlando's finest to get the skinny: Are we going to get this enforced on our trash: Call me if yes: No call yet! So we're still cool!!!
hehe!
Brings me to this week's study:
How do we respond when God doesn't hear our cries or He obviously is overlooking some terrible evil?
Start by reading the Book of Habakkuk. It's pretty short, and pretty, well, to the point.
Habakkuk starts by asking God about six things he notices:
Hab 1:3 Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. (ESV)
1. "Hab" sees the evil, so God should See it too.
2. God doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.
3. There is destruction
4. There is violence
5. Strife is here
6. So is contention
None of this seems to be deserved. So it seems Hab has a point.
Sometimes, things here stink. I bet you could name some things that stink in your life and in this world. The homeless downtown wonder, why is this happening to me, and will God do anything about it?
Well,
Crazy things happening sometimes need crazy solutions:
God sends the Babylonians!
Stay tuned for our next exiciting installment:
"Babylonians: Friend and Foe?"
Then there is Channel 13's perspective...
The homeless Guy weighs in...
Lots of talk, lots of talk....
called one of Orlando's finest to get the skinny: Are we going to get this enforced on our trash: Call me if yes: No call yet! So we're still cool!!!
hehe!
Brings me to this week's study:
How do we respond when God doesn't hear our cries or He obviously is overlooking some terrible evil?
Start by reading the Book of Habakkuk. It's pretty short, and pretty, well, to the point.
Habakkuk starts by asking God about six things he notices:
Hab 1:3 Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. (ESV)
1. "Hab" sees the evil, so God should See it too.
2. God doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.
3. There is destruction
4. There is violence
5. Strife is here
6. So is contention
None of this seems to be deserved. So it seems Hab has a point.
Sometimes, things here stink. I bet you could name some things that stink in your life and in this world. The homeless downtown wonder, why is this happening to me, and will God do anything about it?
Well,
Crazy things happening sometimes need crazy solutions:
God sends the Babylonians!
Stay tuned for our next exiciting installment:
"Babylonians: Friend and Foe?"
De Debil is in De Details...
UmmmmmHummm ma chere... Bee dun seem dat de home-uh-luss and de help-uh-luss be at de shawt end o de pee-roux stick again!
It's official! Now it seems like we could be up a creek... None to worry! We are out of site, out mind, and we got a fishmobile (albeit, she's a little sickly these days)
This guy gets it.
We keep preaching that homelessness is about spiritual issues, and you find these issues everywhere. Every person I meet has spiritual issues. It's strange to see them spill out into the legislation.
Patty Sheehan, Read Habbukkuk sometime!
Injustice does not go unseen, from the loneliest jungles of Ecuador to the brightest lights of Las Vegas. The plight continues. Will until Judgement day.
Er'rybody be safe now!
GB HOYT
www.basicorlando.org
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Sunday is like Funday, but with and S instead of an F
Hello Folks,
I am going to be your poster for today.
First allow me to introduce myself. I'm Rafael... yeah.
I don't have much to say about myself cause I'm not that interesting, really. Just that I was born in Ecuador and moved to the US when I turned 15, I am now 19 (not a fun age to be, no kidding).
I started to get involved with BASIC back in February I think...or March, I'm not really sure, all I know is that I felt that I wasn't doing anything for Christ so I looked for something to do and I found BASIC and decided to help, after that God made everything else happen.
I gotta tell you about the first time I helped in BASIC, I just came back from my country where there is lots of poverty, crime and corruption, so I had this picture in my head, of all the poor kids I saw begging for money, and all the people that I saw suffering. When I arrived at downtown Orlando and look at the group of homeless people my first impression was: "Is this a Joke? You are calling this people homeless and needy? Look at them!, wearing shoes, clean clothes!!! Why are we helping them"
I just came back from a place full of extreme poverty, and when I saw this I was a tad troubled. The problem is, that I had missed the point. Later in the day after listening to them I realized what it really means to be homeless, and why we are having such a big "homelessness" problem in the US, and the same reason applies to my country. You can dress them, feed them, give them shelter, but all of those efforts won't mean anything unless you give them food for their souls and that is the truth and the gift of Jesus Christ. Yes, homeless people here are dressed better than people down there. However, the only reason why we have that difference is the overall economy and the quality of life. The problem remains the same (just better dressed for the happy tourists).
I realized that not only are they homeless physically, they are also homeless spiritually. They have no where to go and sometimes they feel that they have no meaning.
After I realized that, two truths came to my mind. Material help will never solve the problem, and that the same effort we put on charities, donations, and the things we give, that same effort(and even more, lots lots more) should be used to teach people about Christ. When they come to realize that they have a savior, a father, a friend, a lord that will hold them, they will certainly feel that they have a home, and they will feel safe. God will provide them with the oportunity of getting off the streets, living a better life all thanks to him, and most certainly they will live their life FOR him.
I learned that "we" the believers have no excuse for not serving others, because everywhere in the world the same problem remains, spiritually homeless people, and we are commanded to reach them and show them the way to that great mansion that is the kingdom of God.
Right now I'm not able to help the people from my country, but I know that God requires from me to help the people I am able to help, regardless of their condition.
The field is HUGE but the workers are few.
So, last Sunday, Brandon was extremely evil and had me lead BASIC all alone :-), and as it always happens with me, things become chaotic. I had a lil trouble getting people to help out that day, but Brandon redeem himself and found some people that could help out. I think we served around 87 people this Sunday and we did it with the help from Living Waters Church of Ocoee, they are pretty cool guys and even though our plan for joining forces that day was very rushed, we performed our duties very well. People was fed and the word was preached, the skies wanted to let some rain out and a few guys were getting grumpy but the water stopped. After we were done I wrapped things up and i had big surprise....
!!!!THE FISHMOBILE WOULD NOT TURN ON!!!!!!
After checking stuff we determined it was the battery (Mitch Mitchell was a great help).
We got the battery jumped and we were on our way back. It was a mighty LONG Sunday. So since I made it alive here I present to you:
THE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Marilyn Lucas: For Kids
Jose Larios: Health
Julia Geiger: Social Security.
Leon Stephene: Yes, Job
James Massey: Some one to help me buy run down build to fix up and resell.
Chicago: Good day, work and my kids and my girl.
Larry D. Binns: Get job either with Orlando or Maitland.
John: Staying with God
Dan McMillan: Yes.
Steven Arp: My sons
George Graham Jr.: Strength and Courage
James: Yes
John Huovinen: I am in need of work to buy a Bas TxT to mols.
Ms. Jucques Davis: Yes, that the homeless, All, be blessed. To come off the streets of the United States of America.
Ron Hollis: Baby Hollis
Thomas Tugman: For a Home
Kathleen Parks: Not at this time except prayer for all.
Greg James: Tomorrow you are not where I am today.
Scott Christensen: Help me to do it myself.
Claudia: So one to keep their promise.
Michael: Same as Claudia
Johnny Thompson: I would love for Jesus to take alcohol and drugs out of my system and life forever.
Dayton Tompkins: Yes
Samantha Howell: Get off the streets.
Roosevelt Greene: That God will protect and continue to provide for me upon this path
Sheryl Dickson: To have a place next month.
Thanks for reading and thanks for all your support. Have a great week folks.
JUST TO ADD TO WHAT RAFI SAID!!!!
Our "special guy" this week is George Graham. Click the BASIC banner at the top of the screen to find out more about his struggle on the streets.
ALSO:
Recent News not withstanding... BASIC will continue feeding downtown. I wasn't worried about the original legislation, seemed like it continued to allow feeding where BASIC meets now. This law, however, seems to be worded differently. Namely the "2 Mile" part I don't understand.... What's that about?
Does it apply to us?
Cant say now. We'll still go downtown Sunday, we'll still feed people. We'll beg forgiveness before we ask permission to do the right thing. We'll smile and differ, and continue preaching the Gospel.
So pray for us!
Love in Christ,
GB HOYT- Positive Activist
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