Likewise.marksiwel wrote:thanks for sharing your thoughtsThe Annoyed Man wrote:marksiwel wrote:Dogs beg, Men dont. End of story
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Return to “Austin Panhandlers”
- Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:52 am
- Forum: Never Again!!
- Topic: Austin Panhandlers
- Replies: 75
- Views: 12065
Re: Austin Panhandlers
- Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:43 pm
- Forum: Never Again!!
- Topic: Austin Panhandlers
- Replies: 75
- Views: 12065
Re: Austin Panhandlers
marksiwel wrote:Dogs beg, Men dont. End of story
- Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:46 pm
- Forum: Never Again!!
- Topic: Austin Panhandlers
- Replies: 75
- Views: 12065
Re: Austin Panhandlers
FWIW, I've probably got the unpopular opinion in the matter...
I used to lead worship for a homeless ministry back in California. I will state right up front that I am fully aware that many of them are liars, and the rest are crazy. And they nearly all smell bad and have lice. God loves them anyway, so I try very hard not to let my personal inclinations get in the way of responding to them; and not always successfully, by the way, because I scare just as easily as the next guy. But that said, MY Jesus said:
So... when I am approached by a homeless person I try very hard to pick up on whether or not the person is an actual threat to me. I don't believe that God expects us to spend our lives recklessly on the insane or possessed if there is a genuine danger to our lives and/or health, but I do believe that He holds us responsible for how we treat with the downtrodden. So, even if I suspect that the panhandler is merely a con-artist with a phony story, I choose to err on the side of spiritual caution and give them a little something, or offer to buy them a meal.
I have definitely been burned and given money to people who turned out to be fakers, but I also know that I have been able to make a difference in the lives of a homeless single mother and her little daughter who were panhandling outside a Vons market by taking them inside and buying them a significant amount of food.
In the event where a panhandler was threatening in approach to me, I would say loudly enough to make sure that I am heard by both him and any potential witness that I have nothing for them, and then do whatever is necessary to keep my distance from them, including to retreat while I open up that space that will give me time to access my weapon if I needed to. In any case, there are very few homeless people hanging around in Grapevine, if any, and I haven't really had to deal with any of this stuff since I stopped working down in Dallas in 2007, so I freely admit that perhaps my outlook would be of little use to someone who had to deal with it all the time.
I used to lead worship for a homeless ministry back in California. I will state right up front that I am fully aware that many of them are liars, and the rest are crazy. And they nearly all smell bad and have lice. God loves them anyway, so I try very hard not to let my personal inclinations get in the way of responding to them; and not always successfully, by the way, because I scare just as easily as the next guy. But that said, MY Jesus said:
That doesn't leave me much wiggle room....'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:40
So... when I am approached by a homeless person I try very hard to pick up on whether or not the person is an actual threat to me. I don't believe that God expects us to spend our lives recklessly on the insane or possessed if there is a genuine danger to our lives and/or health, but I do believe that He holds us responsible for how we treat with the downtrodden. So, even if I suspect that the panhandler is merely a con-artist with a phony story, I choose to err on the side of spiritual caution and give them a little something, or offer to buy them a meal.
I have definitely been burned and given money to people who turned out to be fakers, but I also know that I have been able to make a difference in the lives of a homeless single mother and her little daughter who were panhandling outside a Vons market by taking them inside and buying them a significant amount of food.
In the event where a panhandler was threatening in approach to me, I would say loudly enough to make sure that I am heard by both him and any potential witness that I have nothing for them, and then do whatever is necessary to keep my distance from them, including to retreat while I open up that space that will give me time to access my weapon if I needed to. In any case, there are very few homeless people hanging around in Grapevine, if any, and I haven't really had to deal with any of this stuff since I stopped working down in Dallas in 2007, so I freely admit that perhaps my outlook would be of little use to someone who had to deal with it all the time.