Recently I said this statement while in a meeting of a large number of church leaders… and one friend, a leader in the UM Church pulled me aside and said,

Glenn,  Are you aware of what you just said?   You wan’t to be homeless again…

I had to explain it to him in detail how important it is to listen to words – and understand the meaning behind them.

Sometimes I miss being homeless, I stated… not that I want to be homeless again.

As a homeless kid (yes kid) I had to lean on God and not on my own understanding… I had to depend upon the generosity of others – mainly the Church (the people), the Salvation Army, and others.   In highschool I had a teacher (Mr. Michael Button) that would on a weekly basis buy me a lunch in school.  He took me to the office one day and said “He should be getting free lunch… “  they stated “his parents make to much…”   I had not seen my parents for at least 6+ months – and was paying rent $50/weekly in a boarding house… Mr Button took it upon his own heart to feed me…

I know he lives in Ocean City, retired – and am grateful to him for all the blessings he gave me during that time of my life.   While living on the street I believe I met many people who were in God’s Army.   They kept me safe and gave me a sense of comfort.  Just like Mr. Button I met many people that are able to bless you and remind you it is not about YOU.

Now – with the comforts of a home, a family, a wife… I sometimes forget this simple fact…

This afternoon I sat in what is going to rapidly become a new church movement here in Ohio.   A small denomination called Church of Christ in Christian Union here in Ohio purchased an old school – and… held their first service there today.  140 people in attendance on a Cold Sunday afternoon with snow flurries in the air, snow on the ground … and God being Glorified inside… The story of Jesus being Born, Dying and Rising again – His blood saving mankind from our sin …  As I sat there and took the time to discuss with a few people who walked in the door about their lives I came back to that same thought…

Sometimes I miss being homeless

I learned recently that In this community I make at least 3x the average of any family in the county… AND… we struggle to make ends meet.  Perhaps Kathie, the kids and I still need to learn to lean on God and not on all of these other comforts of life we have purchased… and now have to pay to support.

I came home and a friend Tweeted (which made it to his facebook) an awesome link from ragamuffinsoul.com A homeless man named Danny comes up and while Carlos Whittaker was recording a new music video – kneeled down and began singing and Glorifying God.

At the end he said something that is so Awesome – So True – and something I learned while I was homeless…Carlos said “Keep trying to make it… ” to which Danny responds,

“Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.

While I am fortunate not to be in the Valley of homelessness -  I am grateful for the time that I was, when I came to Christ and became Born Again.

Watch this video and listen where Danny sings – Hallelujah is the Highest Praise – One Jah, One Father, One Creator…   When is the last time you thought about being stripped from EVERYTHING down to just having One Jah, one Father, One Creator… One way to heaven… One who took your place born of a Virgin to Die for your sins…

sometimes being out of the Valley … allows us to Forget the blessings we have from Our Heavenly Father.

I miss the wisdom of many of those Brothers and Sisters who are Making it… living in the Valley, in the Shadows.   Many of us would have just written Danny off – as someone w/o a purpose in life…  But here is a man – a beautiful creation of God – with next to nothing except his Life and he is able to Glorify God with what he has…  His Body and Soul.

One last note -  I love the words of this song…

Save us from these comforts.
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You