Christmas…

December 16, 2011 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

Merry Christmas! Keep CHRIST in Christmas! Post this if you believe that Jesus is the reason for the season! Sign this petition to keep the tree a “Christmas” tree and not a “holiday” tree!!

I feel people’s frustration, and back in my early stages as a new Christian I felt the need to shout all of these statements from the roof tops. In fact I even had the magnet for my car that said “Jesus is the reason for the season” written inside a Christmas tree with a picture of Mary and Joseph and their baby boy (I think it may still be on my fridge). I used to get into debates with my non-believing friends for hours about the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas and be very in their face about it (a fine Christian virtue?). The problem for me and my obnoxious ranting ( I wish I could say they were deep theological discussions but that would be a big lie), and that very nice magnet for my car was that with all the importance that I thought keeping Christ in Christmas meant, it seemed to disappear when I went into the mall, grocery store, got cut off by another driver, when someone stepped in front of me in line when I had really important things to do like buy another stupid gag gift for an uncle who would laugh about it on Christmas and then return it to me via a donation to Helping Hands the following year. You see that magnet didn’t keep Christ in anything but particularly not Christmas.

I guess for me, I am more frustrated with all our Christian hypocrisy at this time of the year. We want to keep CHRIST in Christmas, but the last time I read scripture, the Christmas story has no reference to spending money we don’t have to buy things for people who don’t need anything. There is no reference in any scripture to “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born!” and then yell at the person who cut you off and demand that the clerk at the counter hurry up because your time is very valuable. I don’t recall ever a time when Christ himself said “Go and make disciples of all nations, and for goodness sake please when you are celebrating my birth make sure you call those trees by the proper name!”

Don’t get me wrong I believe we need to keep Christ not only in Christmas, but in Easter, New Years, Valentines Day, Fourth of July, Canada Day, Halloween (yes even the dreadful Halloween), Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, first day of school, yesterday , today and yes EVEN tomorrow no matter what tomorrow may be. You see Christ should be kept in everything and everyday. It is what we as believers are called to do – as hard as that is for all of us. I wish this same amount of “Christian energy” was going out into putting Christ in daily encounters with people, friend’s, family, and strangers the way we were told to do it by God. You know Christians become this loud NOISE at Christmas that seems to get really quiet by Dec 26th when we all rush to get the best sale price on some stuff we really don’t need anyway, and stress out about the parking lot, the crowds and yell at each other in the process. Does Christ leave after Christmas? For some it does.

We think this holiday belongs to those who BELIEVE but we have totally got the point of the birth of Christ wrong. He came to earth to two homeless teenagers and had no material things to call his own to save us ALL – yes even those who call it a holiday tree. We say “Keep CHRIST in Christmas!’ but consume our way through the season over eating and over buying? How does that match up? Don’t get me wrong we all enjoy getting a gift and I dare say we even had SANTA come to our house – yes the evil Santa Claus who to some Christians is the evil arch enemy of Jesus. We are so silly sometimes. I guess my view of God is a little different. I believe that He would be happy with ANYTHING that encourages giving and joy at the Christmas. I mean we are so busy as BELIEVERS getting mad at the offensive idea of a holiday tree or a guy who tries to grant the wishes of children, that we have no time left to discuss the birth of love grace mercy and peace. No one would listen anyway. Those non-believers have tuned us all out anyway and besides all they have to do is wait a few weeks or months to see that we are hypocrites. We BELIEVERS do keep CHRIST in Christmas – we just put him away somewhere for the rest of the year.

Please remember the reason for the season is NOT a CHRISTMAS tree, it is actually Christ. Go and bless a family that you know may be struggling. Be patient at the store in line and in the parking lot. Be gracious merciful and kind. That is how those Holiday Tree Santa believing messed up people will know that you are a BELIEVER, especially if you can do that all year. That is how people come to know who Christ really is. Not through a CHRISTmas tree but by keeping a watchful eye on all of us at Christmas and all year long.

Merry Christmas everyone and Merry the whole rest of the year too!

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What is your gift?

November 24, 2011 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

What are your gifts? This is often the question after the question of “where should I serve?” At Helping Hands Street Mission we have had the great privilege of working with amazing volunteers. Some volunteers have been with us from the very beginning, 8 years! Some a little less than that, and some very recent. We have had volunteers come and go, but for the most part when people connect with the friends and family at HHSM, they stay because they just cant help themselves.

Who is a good candidate for volunteering at HHSM? What gifts do you need? The answer is anyone and everyone. Whatever greatness God has put in you, we will use it! We are all given greatness, and sometimes we are searching for some amazing gift or waiting for it to show up, and we forget we are already filled with the Holy Spirit. A wonderful friend of mine Becky who volunteers as the Barton Salon Hair dresser thought her talent was simple and rather boring – she cuts hair. She didn’t realize what a world she would open up by coming down to the mission to cut hair for free for 6 hours a month (she also goes out on Friday nights with her husband to serve on our street outreach team). Her “simple” gift allows her to speak into peoples lives while she has them in the chair and show them how special they are by making them look fantastic with a great shampoo, cut and blow dry. Just a hair cut? Not when you ask someone like Murray who came in to get a hair cut, and left standing a little taller than he did when he came to visit. Becky uses her “simple” gift to change lives.

What is your gift? I can’t cut hair to save my life, and my “talents” are pretty minimal, but I know how to talk. Yep that’s it. I know how to speak to people, listen, and have a great conversation – that’s all. But what these gifts really boil down to is someone’s ability to give love to someone else, whether that’s a hair cut, cup of coffee and conversation, sharing their artistic abilities or cooking talent. Anything that you have inside you that is used for the glory of God is necessary and needed down at HHSM.

As the mission grows the need for more volunteers becomes necessary, and recruiting people can be a challenge sometimes. We are busy. Life is crazy and the only down time you have may not lead you to want to hang out at the Barton Boutique, Hair Salon, Café, Jimmy’s Place, Mama’s Place or street level with our outreach. I understand that. Your time is valuable – actually more valuable than you may even realize. It is a resource that God has given all of us, and like money, we are expected to tithe our time and invest it into the kingdom. If you think this is turning into a recruitment plea you would be correct.

I am pleading with you to invest your time into something that no monetary investment can even come close to giving you the same rate of return. 3 hours of your time per week, 12 hours of your time per month, 144 hours per year can change your life in ways that no other investment can. How much time do you spend watching TV a week? Shopping? On the computer? Driving your car from group to group? Numerous bible studies? Yes even bible studies. You can attend 2 or more a week and they won’t harm you, but why not try living out what the scripture you are studying is teaching? How about taking the time it takes to watch TV (something I am guilty of doing in my down time too much) and investing time into someone else’s life by having a cup of coffee with them, playing darts, laughing, sharing memories, lending an ear, learning a craft, helping them to look better, feel better, teaching them about Jesus by seeing Jesus in them. Why not decide that your new year’s resolution this year will be to invest your time in a great place like HHSM where you can laugh, cry, love, be loved and just share this incredible mess we call life together? What if you gave yourself one year as a challenge to devote 3 hours a week, 12 hours a month, 144 hours a year into the kingdom in a way that will change your life forever?

I dare you to try it. If you are still the same after one year than you don’t ever have to volunteer again with us. Challenge yourself. We have lots of friends and family waiting to see you. Come on down.

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No more Christians PLEASE!!

October 16, 2011 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

“We don’t need more Christians we need more disciples”

When I heard this quote from Dr. John Perkins at a faith and social justice conference last month, I was so relieved and excited! One of the questions I get asked the most when I speak at churches about Helping Hands Street Mission is “how many people have come to know the Lord?” When people ask this, most often they equate our success or failure based on how many Christians we have “made” down on Barton Street and it frustrates me A LOT. There are several reasons why.

First of all let’s state the obvious, God is in control of HHSM and all things that happen there, so to suggest that WE are able to “convert” people is ridiculous. We believe we play a part in the kingdom, but have no control over a person’s choice to open their heart to Jesus.

Second, our goal is NOT to make more Christians in the world because quite frankly a majority of Christians talk the talk and know the scriptures, but do nothing about it. Becoming a Christian for some is simply a way to separate themselves from “those people” in the world who commit those really big sins that they would NEVER do. It can also simply be a way to ensure salvation and to comfortably do the right things in life and pray from afar for those who are lost. The reality for me has always been that until Christians realize that WE are apart of that messed up group but just hide it better we will continue to grow “Christians” saving ourselves and our communities but not actually following Gods purpose and plan for his Kingdom here on earth. God doesn’t just save us, he chooses to work through us even though he doesn’t have to. He chooses to need broken people – like me and you – in the bigger plan for redeeming the world.

Thirdly, Jesus’ ministry was to make disciples NOT “Christians”. Throughout his ministry he stopped and talked to, healed and loved many people on their own, without any group to see what he was doing. He was not making people “Christians” so they could simply say they were believers. He made disciples ensuring to leave instructions on how to live and to “GO” and make more DISCIPLES. I love that his example for us is to “GO“. Not go and count how many you make into “Voice-only” believers, but disciples who know what they are getting into when they take the job. He had authentic relationships with people, broken people like you and me.

Next time you want to know the success or failure of a ministry, try immerse yourself into it. Get dirty in what they are doing for Christ. Expect frustration, pain and trials – that’s the good stuff of discipleship. See if relationships are being built. Authentic relationships whose only agenda should be to love, build up leadership within the community and move on. That’s what Jesus did, and that’s who I hope I can be. That’s my prayer for Helping Hands Street Mission. We have NEVER had a moment in 8 years where anyone has committed their life to Christ – I secretly love that because if we were waiting around for that to happen we would have missed out on getting dirty in discipleship, and I know we are all better for that.

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Slushy Money

September 13, 2011 in People | 1 comment

It was 15 minutes before we closed on Friday, and a family of three walked by and then turned around and came in. We had just run out of coffee but we had cookies and water to offer them. They asked for a pot to cook with, but we didn’t have one left. Almost everything they asked for we couldn’t provide, although they did get a pair of pants for their 3 year old son. The mother started to tell her husband about her day at work as they sat down with a look of relief on their faces – I think they travelled far to get here. She works full time at Tim Horton’s while the dad stays home with their son. She was exhausted today because it was her day to clean the bathrooms and someone had decided to wipe their feces all over the walls in the woman’s washroom. She didn’t seem to be complaining about it. It sounded like a regular occurrence. Dad said his day went well because they went to the park, and now promised their little boy a treat from the dollar store next to the mission. He wanted a slushy, so they counted their change while they were sitting to see that they had enough for 2 so they could all share. The little boy was excited to hold the money.

It was time to close so they got up and gave me the pants so I could put them in a bag for them. I apologized again for not having the items they needed, but told them to come back whenever they can and ask again. As they went to leave the dad put some pennies in the donation jar. His son was upset because he wanted to give to the jar also, so his dad put the jar in front of him and he put all their change inside. I thanked them but also told them it wasn’t necessary to leave anything, reminding them the pants were free. The mother just smiled and they all walked out. I watched as they passed the dollar store with no complaints from their little boy who gave away his treat money. He wouldn’t get his slushy today.

I was immediately convicted by what just happened in front of me. A family whose extra $3 was not easily earned, but was easily given away as a blessing even though we did not have what they asked for and really needed. They gave anyway. When I give to my church do I base it on what I get back from it? Programs, childcare, a nice place to sit or recognition? I want to be like that family who gave because they wanted to say thanks, even though what they thought they needed that day wasn’t given to them. They were grateful for the blessing they did receive in a space to relax for a few minutes, a cookie and some water. God gives me the place I need to relax in his presence, wherever I am, and all the water and nourishment I need In His word. So why does it sometimes seem so hard to drop something beyond our pennies in the plate? Especially when we aren’t getting what we think we should from our church community. Isn’t God’s kingdom worth our slushy money too?

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The Facelift

August 10, 2011 in People | 3 comments

The mission received a “facelift “of sorts this week. Fresh paint, reorganized shelves, new chairs, new desk, cleaned from top to bottom, new pictures hung and even a fancy new pen for that new desk. The space seems bigger, cleaner easier to move in. I couldn’t wait to open the doors today for all our friends excited to hear what they had to say about all the “newness” of it.

As we prayed before we opened, I asked God something like, “I hope they love and appreciate it as much as we do”. When we unlocked the door, I waited for the ooooohs and aaaaahs of the first to enter the space, but it didn’t happen. Instead Phyllis was helped to the front and into the door to be sure she was first. In her hand was a card that read “To Helen and Staff” on the envelope. I honestly did not know why she was handing us a card, but as soon as I opened it I did. The inside of the card read

“To Helen and Staff. Congratulations on your grand opening. Thanks for all your help and understanding. Keep up the good work. ~ Phyllis”

It was also surrounded by the signatures of our friends who also stood in line with her.

I said, “You didn’t have to do this Phyllis.” She said, “We all missed you guys so much, and you do more for us than you sometimes know.”

Another friend said, “You can be good to us when we’re not so good”

“We really feel it when your not here”

In that moment today of opening the mission with the facelift, I realized how foolish it was for me to wrap up all God has done down on Barton with a pretty space. I wanted all our friends to love the new space, but the new paint didn’t make it lovelier to them. They taught me that the beauty they see in the space is the people who are in it.

We can do whatever we want to look better for the world but we can’t hide our ugliness from God. Yet he sees the beauty in all our broken and comes to be with us no matter what “facelift” we need.

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