Setting Prisoners Free

I have chosen to speak about the prophet Elisha, because, just like us, he could look around and see so much suffering, violence and poverty. I have chosen Elisha because he didn't fall into depression because of what he saw, instead he brought light and good news into his neighborhood. I have chosen Elisha, because his story encourages us to live out the words found in Romans 8:36-37;  "'For your sake we are being killed all day long: we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered!'  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Elisha was someone who wasn't swayed or controlled by the "powers that be". He submitted to the politics of God, rather than the politics of people. Elisha, as we shall see, "walked the walk", was known as the "man of God" and was compassionate and loving to those who were weak and suffering. Elisha inspires me, because he took what God gave him and he ran with it!  ...

Romans 8:37 says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!" (NASB) This verse inspires me; because I believe, that through Jesus, we don't have to settle. Through Him who loved us, we are able to do more than we can imagine! I work and live among people experiencing homelessness. I love my job and consider a big part of my responsibility is to help people move forward; to take their God-given talents and use them. Part of my job is to help people realize they have something to offer the world, they are not useless and they don't need to settle. I want people to realize they can conquer their fears, their obstacles, their addictions, their anxieties and what seems impossible! They can, through Christ, become "more than conquerors"! I want everyone who comes into Cornerstone to have hope! Hope that they can move into housing, they don't have to settle and stay homeless. Hope that they won't be controll...

What irks me a lot is knowing that my homeless brothers and sisters get ticketed, arrested and land in jail a lot more than most Uptown citizens. It irks me, because more often than not, many of their "offenses" are just what a lot of Uptown's public does, resulting in highly different consequences.  It irks me, because some arrests, convictions and punishments are the direct result of having no home, being visible and being seen as an eyesore.  It irks me, because their lack of money means they're unable to post bail and hire a lawyer, resulting in longer jail time, convictions and harsher sentences. It irks me, because I know all this causes increased debt and growing rap sheets, making it harder to climb out of the holes they're in and eventually find housing!  It irks me, because I know too many folk who've been arrested for not having an ID, while also knowing many who've had their ID's callously tossed down drains by vindict...