Setting Prisoners Free

For a while now I've been involved with a ministry on Chicago's West Side; it's called The Bridge. They work primarily with men and women who have "come home" from prison and often struggle with the ongoing plights of poverty, homelessness, addiction and mental illness.  The catchphrase on their  website is:  from the streets  to the Bridge to the church The wonderful people who run it have asked me to come to their Tuesday night services and preach about once a month about a specific topic or question; we also collaborate together to help meet some of their needs. I go into more detail about their ministry on this page: The Bridge: Messages (you'll also find the sermons I wrote and delivered) Recently they asked me to be involved with another aspect of their ministry; it's called BridgeBox; an online Church service. Every month, they pick a specific topic and use multimedia to bring sermons, music, bible studies and devotionals to those w...

Every day, this certain guy used to sit on a crate out on Wilson Avenue. He loved to preach. I used to sit down and chat with him from time to time and soak in some of his wisdom. He went to a local church and loved to share his pastor's "catch phrase" with me.  One day, he said something that has stuck with me until this very day. It's fairly simple, it  goes like this:  "Don't let nobody live rent-free in your head!"   I have used this "saying" countless times. I've said it to people in conflict, I've said it to people at the shelter, I've said it to people who are brewing over some issue and when someone and something is making me mad, I'll say it to myself. Let me repeat it:  "Don't let nobody live rent-free in your head!"  I use it because I've seen guys let small things mushroom into massive things. I'm talking about people wanting to fight or kill one another over small ...

I believe tonight's question or topic spans well beyond just our children. I believe this topic challenges us all in different ways. If we love anybody, if we care about anybody, tonight's question is very relevant to us. It is relevant if we are surrounded by families, friends and co-workers! This topic is relevant because we're all surrounded by people who love us and we love them. Because of this Love, we'll be faced, time and time again, with the daunting task of having to have "hard conversations" with people we love dearly. These conversations are never easy, in fact, they're often downright stressful and difficult, but they need to be spoken. On a personal note, I don't like to initiate these "hard conversations" and I certainly don't like being on the receiving end of them either. Yet, because I help run a homeless shelter and I love the folks we work with, I find myself constantly having to have these "hard convers...

How does a "chronically homeless person", someone who is hiding from the world, too ashamed to be seen in public and too scared to ask for help, eventually achieve their goal and obtain a place to live? We need to throw away all the myths that exclaim that most homeless people are flamboyant extroverts, who bounce up to any random stranger, tell extravagant fibs, while begging mercilessly for a "little something" to overcome their mysterious hurdles. We also need to toss away the misconceptions that all homeless people will confidently and frequently flood social services agencies, homeless shelters and their local governmental authorities crying "HELP". Some will, BUT let me tell you, and trust me when I tell you, most WON'T and DON'T!  The majority of homeless people hide in the cracks, wanting to rise, wanting help and assistance, but they're unable or unsure of how to navigate through our very complicated system that has di...

This last weekend, our family went on a very long drive to attend a picnic in Harrison, Ohio! But it wasn't just any picnic, it was the annual Helping Hands Midwest get-together; an event that gives families with upper body limb differences the opportunity to come together and meet other families who have similar differences. Beth and I wanted Muriwai to meet other kids and adults who also have their own "special arms". This was the first time we attended this picnic, and it definitely won't be the last! Every time we attend events like these, we are struck by the confidence, strength, courage and joy that radiates throughout this community. Waiwai exudes that energy, and she never stopped smiling and chatting throughout the whole weekend. That's how much she loved it! Big brother Cyrus thoroughly enjoyed the weekend also. The weekend consisted of 3 events; an early afternoon picnic in a beautiful park, an evening Tony Memmel concert in a local hall and ...