I'd starve if not for y'all

If most of us miss lunch by dinner time we say, "I'm starving." One look at me and it's easy to see I haven't missed many meals. I don't know what it's like to starve. I understand not having much funds for food, but starving? Nope.

One of the ministries we put a lot time and resources in here at Love In Action is our food ministry. In Dothan, 1-in-6 are food insecure. That stat surprises folks. With all of the restaurants in Dothan, and most are packed, you'd think everyone was bellying up to the buffet. One might also think how in the world do grocery stores stay in business with everyone eating out?

The truth is there are thousands of people in Dothan who often go without food ... children and adults. It's not just the homeless. Hunger knows no age or skin color. It's here and it's in most cities and communities.

Between serving meals in our coffee house three days a week and taking our mobile kitchen out two-to-three times a week, we serve more than 500 plates of hot food every week. That's on pace for 25,000 meals this year. I think it will increase even more.

The reasons why people are without food are as varied as the people themselves. Are these meals important? You better believe it. One older woman who lives at a local hotel told me, "I'd starve if not for y'all."

The first time we met her was during our inaugural LIA Mobile Kitchen outreach. She was shaking because she was so hungry. The second the plate touched her hands she started eating ... shoveling food in her mouth. We gave her a second plate and some groceries.

A homeless man I'd never met before, who would pass for a skinny Santa Claus, walked up to me, smiling and holding his plate of food. He said, "I love you, man," as he hugged me. He was so thankful for something to eat.

Through our food pantry, we help 300-plus individuals and families every month. Families living on the brink of homelessness come needing food. Single mothers working to make ends meet, can't make them meet. Individuals struggling to make it on minimum wage salaries need groceries. The needs are real.

The main reason for our food ministry is to plant and water seeds of the Gospel. Jesus used five loaves of bread and two fishes to miraculously feed 5,000. Imagine how many of those hungry folks decided to follow Jesus after seeing that.

Jesus understands our need for food. He walked in our shoes. He ate. God fed the Israelites manna from Heaven. There's a lot about food in the Bible.

We also understand what Jesus says in Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Food is important. We need it to physically live, but Jesus is most important. We need Him to live forever.

When you see our mobile kitchen throughout the city parked along side a hotel, the library or other places, please pray. Ask God to touch the lives of those we're serving. Even stop and say hello like Misty from The JoyFM did one day. She saw us, honked her horn, then pulled over. She just wanted to hug and encourage us. We all need that, especially those who don't know where their next meal is coming from. At least now many know when they see our mobile kitchen pull up, it means a good hot meal is about to be served.

Suffer and rejoice together

In this walk with Jesus we learn to live like the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

In other words, we are a family. We hurt when a member of our family hurts and celebrate together when something good happens. I experienced both extremes yesterday at Love In Action.

A homeless couple we have known for a couple of months have been struggling living in hotels and in a tent. They are regulars at Love In Action. If our doors are open they are there. We love them and help them anyway we can. They love Jesus. They are a sweet couple. Dan calls them the "Love Birds."

Yesterday, the husband walked up to me smiling from ear to ear, like a kid just polishing off a double dip chocolate ice cream cone with sprinkles. He said, "I have the best news." I had a pretty good idea what it was, because we have prayed and talked about housing for a while. But, I didn't want to spoil his moment, so I asked, "What?" With a smile a country mile long, he said, "We've got a house. We move in Friday."

We both raised our arms in praise to Jesus and then gave each other one of the biggest bear hugs in recorded history. We're both pretty big fellas. They are both so excited, as am I. They are grateful to LIA for the help they've received. It's another example of what a hand up, not a hand out, will do. To God be the glory! That's something to rejoice about.

The suffering came when I heard the news about a young man I led to the Lord and baptized about eight years ago. He made some very bad decisions, which will probably keep him in prison the rest of his life. My heart hurts. Tears flow.

When I first met him, he was troubled and incarcerated. He was an inmate at Houston County Work Release. We would get him and some other guys out for church, Bible study and to serve at Love In Action.

He was eager to learn about Christ. He asked questions, and smiled as he learned more about Jesus's love for him. His smile. Oh, that smile. It was an infectious smile. You couldn't help but smile back no matter what kind of day you were having.

I'll never forget the expression on his face when he came up out of the water when I baptized him. A friend caught it on camera. His smile was as bright as the sun on that beautiful Saturday afternoon at Chattahoochee State Park. About 10 people followed Jesus in baptism that day.

He continued to do good. Then he got out and did good for a while, but being around the wrong people he gave in and got arrested again and went back to prison. Upon his release he came to LIA seeking me. We talked and prayed and we gave him some food and clothing as he had nothing.

He landed a full-time job and kept it. He was determined, even riding his bike a few miles to work. He checked in to let me know how he was doing, but then I stopped hearing from him. I guess he got around the wrong people again and gave into peer pressure. He fell hard this time. Very hard. If proven guilty, I seriously doubt I'll ever see him outside a prison cell again.

That hurts. He, like everyone, is so full of potential. The tough part is surrounding ourselves with the right people, which is even harder when all you've ever known is wrong. Not having anywhere to go except to the your old stomping grounds. Trouble lurks around every corner. For many, the temptations are too strong.

The rapper Coolio addressed this issue in his 1995 hit song "Gangsta's Paradise." The song is about being trapped in a lifestyle that you can't seem to get out of, even though you know it's wrong. It's reality and something hard for people to understand who have never lived that life. Count yourself blessed.

So, as he sits behind prison bars,  I'm sure he regrets those bad decisions. I just pray he remembers the good ones he made, and will let Jesus fill his heart, even if he never gets out.

Suffer together and rejoice together. That's what family does.

Mornings, cats, birds, God's provision

Mornings are my most peaceful times of the day; early mornings, before the busyness of life kicks in.

One of my favorite things to do, after reading some scripture and kissing my beautiful bride good morning, is sitting on the back porch with our cats. Cotton and Oreo seem extra lovable in the mornings. Their eyes look sleepy as they yawn, stretch, and sashay over for some petting.

Cotton prefers sitting next to me. She would sit there all day if I stayed petting her. Oreo chooses to stay on the floor and walk from my hand to the little table where he rubs his head against the metal rim.

The birds flutter to and from three bird feeders. They sound joyful singing from the trees and power lines. The red breasted robins hop around what was once Gibbs' back yard. I miss Gibbs. He was the greatest wolf ever. Robins are migratory birds. I have no idea where they are going, but they are enjoying their stop in our backyard.

Cardinals, finches, and other feathered friends eat, fly away, eat and fly away. They make me tired just watching them. They also remind me of God's Word and His promises.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-26, "do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into bards, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

God does provide for the birds. You may say, "Ken, you bought the bird seed." True, but God provided the money for me to do that, so it's all God. I didn't buy the bugs or whatever those Robins are so intently looking for and eating.

Jesus knows us well. He knows we worry too much about such things as food, drink and clothes. That's why He tells us not to be anxious, trust Him, and He will take care of everything. Jesus says in verse 33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

I decided years ago to take Jesus up on this command, and you know what? Once again He's right. Through our toughest times, Martha and I have never wanted for food, drink and clothing. Even through long stretches of time not receiving a paycheck, we didn't lack anything we needed.

There are times I forget to fill the bird feeders, but unlike me, God never forgets. He keeps His promises. The birds always return, and they don't look like they've lost any weight. Why? God provides for them.

Are you worrying about your needs being met? Turn to the One who promises to meet all of our needs. Notice I wrote the word, "needs," not "wants." There's a big difference. God doesn't mention wants, only needs.

Go ahead, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Put God first in your life. As you do, He takes care of every need.

Back to the cats. Cotton wishes I'd never stop scratching her head and chin, but Oreo is over the petting and is ready to eat. I thank God for another day, give both cats one more head scratch, and pour cat food and treats into their bowls.

Now it's time to start the day. Oh, but first, it's coffee time. Something else to be thankful for.

God's grace and Birmingham

Trips to Birmingham in recent years seem to mainly revolve around hospital visits. Some for me and some for others. Through these trips I've learned more about God's grace.

The Apostle Paul records God's answer to a prayer request in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul prays three times for God to take a "thorn in the flesh" away from him. God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

The trips to Birmingham revealed God's grace and how His power is made perfect in my weaknesses.

The driving is easy enough, even with some Birmingham traffic jams. Go in with the right mindset and traffic jams don't really bother me anymore. For the most part it's beautiful scenery. Taking in God's creation is a favorite hobby. Pines and Oaks outline pastures dotted with cattle, and forest-lined roadways make for a pleasant drive. Add beautiful blue skies, majestic sunsets, or moonlit nights, and it's just hard to beat.

Reasons for the trips aren't always pleasant, though. Taking Mama to UAB for heart surgery four years ago was unsettling. Knowing they would be replacing a heart valve while hooking her up to a machine to keep her alive wasn't very comforting.

God's grace was indeed sufficient as our family gathered. We prayed and ate together, and let each other know when we found a spot where we could get a cell signal within the massive hospital.

Following surgery, Mama was in ICU. Visits were short, but with each visit we saw improvements. Even on those visits during non-visiting hours when the nurses understood a son just has to see his Mama, I saw that  in my weakness, God was strong.

The grace of God brought Mama and all of us through that surgery and her recovery.

I was the patient on another trip. A prostate biopsy needed to be performed. The "C" word, cancer, is one nobody wants to hear. It's taken too many of my family out. When the doctor first told me I had it, I freaked out for about five minutes. That wasn't part of the plan. My brother and I agreed in prayer cancer wouldn't take any more of us after Daddy died.

Anger, disbelief, fear all hit me at once. Then, God's grace washed over me. Whose plan was I living by, mine or God's? A diagnosis doesn't mean God is finished with me. Trust God. Fear has no place. In my weakness, He is strong.

Subsequent trips for MRIs and PSA tests revealed God's grace and healing. No longer am I hesitant to drive to Birmingham once a year for tests.

I've driven friends to hospitals in the Steel City. One of those trips was a nightmare. I'll leave out the details, but nobody wants to see a friend or anyone else suffer like that. Through the agony and horrific moments, God's grace was sufficient.

Thursday's trip to take a friend to the Magic City for surgery was much more peaceful. God's grace is just as evident during peaceful times. We need God's grace at all times. The moment we think we can do it on our own, that's the moment we fall apart.

God's grace is sufficient. Ask Him to wash over you with His grace, soak every area. I've learned to be like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

A sweet week at Love In Action

Mama Tuck and Virginia served up some delicious food inside Love In Action’s
Connected Coffee Cafe this past Thursday.

As I write this blog post, I’m sitting in a Birmingham hospital cafeteria wishing I hadn’t eaten that bacon, egg and cheese croissant. I’m not much on burnt croissant with paper-thin bacon. Where’s the real, thick bacon?

I look to my right and see a gentleman sitting at the table next to me looking like he is enjoying his biscuits and gravy. I should have ordered biscuits with gravy.  I wish I would have ordered some gravy to bury this croissant.

My friend, my young brother in the Lord, is in surgery as I sit here sipping my hot coffee beverage watching the cool rain bounce off the pavement outside and water what looks like would be the perfect Christmas tree growing just outside the cafeteria windows.

As I wait, watch the rain and watch people meandering through the cafeteria line, I find myself thinking about this past week of ministry at Love In Action. It was one of the busiest weeks we’ve had. The needs in Dothan are many, and I’m thankful God blesses us to help.

In three days, we served 440 plates of food; helped 140 individuals and families with food, hygiene items and clothes (around 200 people total); and took care of 16 patients at the Samaritan Clinic. Martha, Pamela and Dan will serve more food today as our friend and LIA volunteer Stan Sullivan hooks up our mobile kitchen to his Chevy Silverado and drives to sites where people are hungry.

We’ve encountered some knuckleheads during the week as usual, but who hasn’t been a knucklehead in their lives? I know I have, and I’m still not immune to being a bonehead. God loves us all, no matter if we’re knuckleheads, boneheads, hard heads, or act like a nincompoop.

Through all of our imperfections, God has worked mightily through our staff and volunteers this week. We saw a young homeless woman, who is new to Dothan, come to Jesus this week. She wasn’t sure if she would go to Heaven when she dies and wanted to know without a doubt. We are praying and encouraging her to take the next steps now of becoming a disciple of Jesus.

We met another homeless woman who is also new to Dothan. Her husband just landed a good job, but an old Buick with faded and flaking paint is still their home. As happens often, a promise of a good paying construction job with benefits brought them to Dothan. It never materialized. With no home to return to, they didn’t have much choice but to stay in Dothan and make the best of it.

While her husband started his new job yesterday, she sat out to find food, gas money, direction ... any help available to get them through this tough stretch. With tear-soaked eyes and a look of frustration and defeat, she walked into Love In Action.

She left smiling with hope for her and her husband. She was hungry, we gave her plates of fried chicken, butter beans, turnip greens and cornbread. She was thirsty and we gave her water. She needed clothes, so she was able to pick out some nice clothes. Kind of sounds like Matthew 25:35-40, doesn’t it. That’s the scripture Love In Action was founded on 19 years ago, and we will always obey God’s call to help and love the “least of these.”

She also received a full tank of gas. While that’s not in Matthew 25, it was a vital need for them.

We saw a homeless man reconnected, and we pray restored, to his family. He gave his life to Jesus last week, and when he talked to his dad this week, his dad told him to come home. He should have just pulled out of the Dothan Greyhound bus station, a.k.a. Flying J, heading home. What a fast restoration story! Nothing is impossible for God.

Those are only a few of many stories from this week. To God be the glory! I thank God for my wife and ministry partner, and for Pamela and Dan. They are awesome people to do ministry with. I thank God for all of our wonderful volunteers. They are all truly incredible people.

I’m so thankful for everyone who donates financially to Love In Action. Without people’s generosity, these stories coulnd’t be told. And, to those who donate items we need such as beanie weannies, Vienna sausages, tents, socks and underwear, to name a handful of items, thank you.

It’s amazing seeing how God brings people together from many different walks of life, and in different ways, to make an eternal difference in the lives of the homeless in Dothan, Alabama. Our God is truly awesome!

Well, the rain has stopped for now. I guess I need to get up from behind this keyboard and throw the burnt remains of my croissant away. Oh, three women are now sitting at the table next to me with a big King Cake. I wonder if they will share? Another woman has a brownie. Where was that when I ordered breakfast? Dessert for breakfast? Sure, why not?

The brownie looks sweet, but not as sweet as this week at Love In Action.

An encouraging start to 2019

This little guy tugged on my shirt after an awesome service at The Harbor last Saturday
night and said, "I want to be saved." Jesus says we must come to Him like a child. Amen!

This year is off to a fast start. I can't believe we are over halfway through February. It's been pretty much non-stop, but it's been a year that's brought much encouragement as we share Jesus with our homeless friends and our friends who live in poverty here in Dothan.

The most exciting and encouraging part is seeing people come to Jesus, and so far 12 have made decisions for Jesus at Love In Action this year. Praise God! That's why we do this ministry. Providing food and clothes is great, but giving people Jesus is the greatest thing we can do for anyone.

The ministry continues to expand, especially the food ministry. We are now serving 400-plus plates of food each week to our friends, and that will only increase as we expand our mobile kitchen outreaches.

To accommodate, we are upgrading our kitchen. Thanks to local businesses, we are able to expand our food ministry. We have added two more commercial ovens, thanks to Cracker Barrel donating two ovens to us. We just have to do a little work on them and they will be ready to cook. We've added three stainless steel tables in the kitchen thanks to Bill Dorminy and Goldfingers. That helps make our serving of food and preparing plates for the mobile kitchen much more efficient. CAE USA of Dothan has doubled the amount of food they cook for us daily to 80 plates.

Talk about encouraging. To have local businesses involved in helping the "least of these" in our community is awesome. We truly live in the most caring city in the world.

More encouragement comes from our friends we serve. They have commented over and over how much they enjoy the coffee house where we serve all of the meals now. There is more room and more of a relaxing feel. It also gives us better opportunities to sit down and talk with our friends and pray with them.

Those we serve with the mobile kitchen are encouraging. For example, last Friday a homeless man we had never met before got a plate of food from our mobile kitchen. He then walked over to me and said, "I love you, man," as he hugged me. That was genuine appreciation.

The unity between ministries is very encouraging. We are doing more and more with The Ark and The Harbor. The more we do together, the more souls are saved and more needs are met.

We have only had to open the warming shelter once this year,  but when we did a man made a decision for Jesus. That was ministry collaboration between First Baptist Church (host of the warming shelter) and The Harbor and Love In Action.

This past Saturday, I was invited to preach at The Harbor's Saturday night service. It was an awesome night as we all ministered together. The result? An altar overflowing with people responding to Jesus. I saw 10-12 come to altar, and then the flood gates opened and many more came forward. Some needed to give their lives to Jesus. Others needed prayer to be set free from different things, and some wanted more of Jesus in their lives.

After an extended time of worship, a little boy, who had been patiently waiting to talk to me, walked over and tugged on my shirt. He looked at me and said, "I want to be saved." Wow! How awesome is that? Jesus tells us we must come to Him like a child. I asked him questions while explaining salvation to make sure he understood, and he did. I pray God works through him to reach is whole family and his friends.

I believe this is only the beginning of what God wants to do in Dothan. The more we show people Jesus, and the more we, as the Body of Christ, show unity in reaching others, we will see greater things happen.

Encouraging? You better believe it. I am encouraged and excited about everything God has planned for the rest of 2019.