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Posts tagged Homeless

Punk-ass Kid Punches Helpless Homeless Man

Nov07
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

Some things really piss me off.  This is one of them.

Teen Punches Homeless Man on Red Line While Friends Videotape the Attack: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

You know that feeling you get when you’re temper reaches boiling point? That feeling like your blood all just ran to your head, as your hands begin to tremble?

That’s what I get when I watch this.

I’m not sure what pisses me off the most. The fact that some kid punched this homeless dude for what appears to be no reason at all, or the fact that in a place as busy as this, only ONE person would bother to try and check on or help this guy.

Both are extremely disgusting, and indicative of the self-absorbed society we live in.

Shame on us. Shame on us as people.

Sometimes “eye for an eye” really seems like a great way to handle some folks’ actions.

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(Rated R) Occupy Wall Street: Calm the F#^K Down!!

Oct18
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

Yep…..my thoughts exactly….

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I Killed a Cat

Sep05
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

Well, kinda.  Not really….but kinda.

Most that know me, know that I really don’t like cats.  It’s only right that I go ahead and clear that up at the beginning of this post.  I really, really don’t like cats.

It was pouring down rain a few days ago and I was on my way to run some errands, in no hurry mind you.  When I came a across a tiny little kitten that was struggling and flopping as it tried to get across 4 lanes of traffic in the rain.

My heart said, “You need to get that cat and take it somewhere before it gets killed.”

My mind said, “You hate cats, let somebody else deal with it.”

I drove about another block and realized that I was NOT doing the right thing here.  So I turned around and mashed on the gas to try and get back to this vulnerable kitten.

As I got back to it and was about to jump out and get it, I saw a car run over it.  Needless to say, the kitten was killed instantly.

I wanted to throw up.

Why didn’t I just stop and do what was right the very second the opportunity was presented to me?

All of the emotions that I felt this past January when I should have checked back on a homeless neighbor and didn’t only to find that he froze to death a few days later, came rushing back over me.  Yeah, you can read about that disastrous inaction on my part HERE.

The window we have to do what we know we need to is very small, and doesn’t last long.  At all.

Hesitation and distraction can be the difference between life and death.  For animals, and for humans.

I pray that one day I’m mature enough to do right for others, instinctively.  Without hesitation.  Without contemplation.  Without blowing it, again.

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I Don’t Want to Go to Heaven Either

Aug29
2011 1 Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

I Deny the Resurrection from Peter Rollins on Vimeo.

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I Really Want to Die…….Like George

Jul08
2011 1 Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

I’m sure everybody has some ideal scenario in which they think they will exit this life.  It never happens like we envision it, but it happens nonetheless.

A friend of mine said once, “I want to die empty, because I gave everything away.”

I loved that.  But I wondered many times what that would actually look like.  This week it became real to me when my very dear friend George died.

George died empty.  George died with nothing.  George leaves nothing behind, that we can touch anyway.

But what he did leave behind is a beautiful example of that statement.

I met George about 4-5 years ago when I took a position at the Union Rescue Mission.  George basically served as the gatekeeper for the men’s homeless shelter.  He was a staple.  He had been there for MANY years.  He began serving soon after he had come into the shelter himself, when it was on the north side of the river.

I grew fond of George very quickly as we would talk and he would share stories of his life and the previous years of the Mission.  I really looked at him almost like he was grandpa.  I guess in a way I kind of wished he was.

We had fun times and hard times.  Head-butting and hugging.  He was a stubborned old man so set in his ways that you just had to work around it sometimes.  But he as faithful, and completely selfless.

He served the men in that shelter for well over a decade, I know.  He did it for free.  Seven days a week.  365 days a year.  Whatever was needed, he was willing to take it on…or at least give it a serious shot!

All of this, without EVER expecting or even asking for anything in return.  Nothing.  He didn’t want anything.  He just wanted to serve, and be a part of helping the dudes that came in that door.

We all knew that Wednesday would happen someday.  We all knew that George would be there, working and serving, until his heart quit beating.  That’s exactly what happened.

George died, and nobody even realized it.  You won’t see him on the TV.  Or in the paper.  You won’t hear about it on the radio.  For you, it will be like nothing even happened.   Another nobody, who had nothing, goes on.

That’s just how George wanted to go.  Quietly.  Unnoticed.  He just wanted to serve and take care of his friends until it was his time.

I can’t think of a more beautiful ending to a life.  Going out with nothing, because you gave everything.

I’ve never known a more humble (and sometimes stubborned) old man than George, and I’m going to miss him every day.  I pray that I will one day be mature enough to let go of everything, and give all I have until my “Wednesday” comes.

Much love, George.  The impact you had on many men is immeasurable.

 

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Please Stop Giving Things to ALL Other Humans!!!!

Jun28
2011 13 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

This has gone on long enough and the risk is just too high to continue giving things to people. It’s just not worth the risk anymore. Especially not in “this” economy.

The only thing we can do at this point is to just stop.

Stop giving Christmas gifts. Stop giving birthday gifts. Stop helping your kids with their first car. And certainly stop helping them pay for college!! Just stop it!!

Stop giving your teenagers lunch money. Stop giving people directions. Stop giving things to people! I can’t stress it enough!!

Because the risk is very high and chances are that those Christmas or birthday gifts may be sold, returned or even RE-GIFTED!!!

There’s a good chance that after you buy your kid a car, they’re going to break the speed limit with that gift! They could even get a ticket! And if we’re really honest, they’re probably gonna have sex in it!!! OMG!!!

And college? Don’t you know what happens there? I’m not going to help somebody pay for college if they’re gonna go to drinking parties and maybe even be exposed to marijuana or something like that! What if they tried it! I’m not contributing to that!

And that lunch money you’re giving your kids? Probably buying baseball cards or maybe even a buddy’s dad’s old Playboy magazine that buddy stole!! I’ll have no part of that. They can find a way to get food on their own!!

And for the sake of all that is good and holy, what about those HOMELESS people?!?!?!

What if God decided to never give me another blessing that He knew I would turn around and use for something I shouldn’t??  Or maybe He just suspected that I MIGHT use it for something I shouldn’t?

But He gives to me still. Abundantly. Knowing that with most of the blessings He has given me in my life I will turn around and break His heart with in some way or another. I’m glad He never stops giving. Never.

Who are we to determine the condition of someone’s heart when giving? How are we even justified in calling it a gift if we attach strings and conditions?

Jesus says to “give to anyone who asks.”

I don’t think He was joking.

And I don’t think He gave us a right to give based on our perception (or prediction) of one’s heart and/or actions.

“Give to anyone who asks.” – Jesus in Luke 6:30

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Talking About the Latest Homeless Count with KATV Channel 7

Jun17
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

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It’s Not a New Problem. It’s Not a New Solution….

May10
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

…..but it’s a problem that has no solution being offered at this time. 

These are the problems I want to attack.  I don’t want to do what you’re doing.  I don’t want to do what they’re doing.  I want to do what’s not being done. 

I used to think that I needed to correct everything.  I still catch myself acting that way sometimes.  But overall I’m learning that this is a complete waste of my life.  It’s a pride issue that makes me think that I can do things better than those doing it.  God let me know a while back that this mentality is very far from where He wants me living. 

So, for the last few months I’ve been attacking the things that I think need done, that nobody else is doing.  It seems to be working.  People are much more receptive.  Much more grateful.  Much more supportive.  And much more encouraged. 

And me?  Well, I’m much more happy.  More motivated.  More alive.  More grateful.  More inspired.  More loving. 

No, not every day.  I can still be a very prideful asshole.  A lot. 

But at the end of the day it’s greatly reduced and I’m able to help a greater number of people in much greater ways when I ignore what others are doing, and just do what I can do that’s not being done. 

Hope that somehow inspires you to play chicken with your life’s freight train as well…..

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I’ll Always be an Advocate. I’ll Just Never be a Great One.

Apr12
2011 1 Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

You know those kinds of people that you either love or hate?  No in-between…

I often hear that I’m one of them. 

When I was much younger this always bothered me.  These days, I’m learning to embrace it. 

You see, the only things that I’m really good at are driving and seeing.  I don’t mind telling you that I’m the best driver in the history of the universe.  Just ask my wife!  ;)   And I can see like a hawk.  Even at night. 

Fact is, I’m too fat to fit in a NASCAR….and nobody pays you to see things.  That I know of. 

So the next best thing is to find something I’m really passionate about, and run my mouth about it.  If you know anything about me, you know that this is what I enjoy. 

I advocate and run my big fat mouth about homelessness.

Advocacy takes that.  Running the mouth.  Shouting what others won’t.  Screaming what others ignore.  It means sometimes pissing people off.  Making people cheer for you or want to punch you.  It’s polarizing.  It makes people love you….or hate you….

So if that’s already going on……capitalize!! 

I advocate.  I run my mouth.  I don’t plan to stop. 

The problem is that I’ll never really be great at it.  I take it too seriously.  I believe in the things that I advocate for….to the point that I get angry.  Sometimes I get so mad that my hands shake or my eyes cry. 

I’m too rough around the edges and passionate to be diplomatic or bureaucratic.  And I won’t waste my time trying to be.  That’s probably why Dr. Phil edited half of my time on his show!!  I figure it’s for the same reason that Ellen still hasn’t called! ;)

With that, comes the fact that I’ll never be the next Ghandi.  Or MLK.  Or one of the “greats”.  But I’ll never stop regardless.

I guess my point in this seemingly pointless rant, is that there is too much pain and too much ignorance coinciding in our world to tip-toe around the issues. 

There isn’t enough time in the day to quietly and carelessly see the needs and hope they’re better tomorrow.  And there isn’t enough time to quietly and passively sit and try to convince others that these horrific injustices exist. 

The kicker, is that there isn’t enough evidence to convince me that Jesus wants us to shut up and stop fighting for others. 

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(PG-13) What The Crap Are You Looking At??

Apr11
2011 4 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

I just love a good, clever church sign.  You know, one that makes everybody want to come to that church….

Like this one I saw the other day:  “Our church is like fudge.  Sweet with a few nuts.”

Now isn’t that just cute? 

But the best one I’ve seen so far this year, is actually being displayed on at least 4 church signs around here now!!  You’re gonna love it!!  It says:

“Focused on Heaven, in 2011″

Now isn’t that one just brilliant?!?!  I knew you’d love it as much as I do. 

I love it because it’s true!!  And we all love us some truth, right?? 

I know it’s true because I encounter people from churches all over our community daily.  They really are focused on heaven.  Really. 

I know it’s true because there is a point in each conversation where I make them really uncomfortable.  I do so by taking the conversation to a place they’ve clearly not been lately. 

That place is a foreign reality.  It’s a reality never visited, and grossly ignored by most. 

That place is where…..

Single moms live in cars with their kids

Dads live in tents while thier kids live with their mom, who is strung out

Women who are pregnant live in tents because their baby-daddy is doing dope again

Some women choose between freezing to death or giving a blowjob for the $7 it takes to stay another night in the Christian homeless shelters

Need I keep going???

See why our conversations get so awkward?  See why they quickly end the conversations when I point these things out?  If they’re that focused on heaven, they don’t want to hear about these things, believe these things, or do a damn thing about these things.

Oh, Aaron….you’re just jaded and hate The Church……

Me?  Jaded?  Hell yeah I am…..

Me?  Hate The Church?  No way.  I hate imposters.  I hate when people just want to “have” church and not “be” church. 

What I do just loooooove about them though, is how they brand us the liberals, emergents, heretics, false-teachers…..etc…

I don’t hate The Church.  I love her. 

What I do hate is the psuedo-Church that hides behind the bible, all the while ignoring the very teachings of Christ and the instructions that He has given us. 

So……what the crap are you looking at in 2011??

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There’s No Place Like…..

Apr06
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Aaron Reddin

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Of Course “God” Wants Marines to Kill Muslims Who Help the Homeless!!

Mar04
2011 3 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

Now, I’m not one to let the stupiditity of those who worship “America” in the name of “God” get me all pissed off.  You know that.

So why would a group of American flag draped neo-nazis screaming about God to a group of Muslims who want to help their homeless neighbors, get me worked up?  Seriously. 

Because THIS is not my God.  THIS is not my Jesus.  And THIS is not my country. 

THIS is abhorent, disgusting, hatred. 

THIS is embarrasing.  THIS makes it hard to do what Christ commanded and actually love these “brothers and sisters”. 

THIS makes me confused as I try to figure out how I can do anything other than hate those who breed this much hate. 

What say you?

 

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I Bet a Homeless Pastor Would Rape Every Kid in Town

Feb23
2011 6 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

Everybody knows that all the crime in the world is caused by those without homes.

For instance, the 7 year old girl that was raped in the bathroom of a restaurant on Cantrell. The server who did that was clearly homeless.

And break-ins. Every single time somebody’s house is broken into, the goods are always found under bridges, in tents and even in shelters.

And kidnapping. What about all those kids that are kidnapped, only to be found days or weeks later in the basement of some homeless persons tent??

Yep, you can bet money that if a crime has been committed, it was done by one of those people who don’t have a home.

Every drunk driver?  Homeless!

Every serial killer?  Homeless! 

Every bank robber?  Homeless! 

Every wife-beater?  Homeless!

You see, last night I sat in a zoning committee meeting because one city director seems to think that having the OFFICES of a non-profit that serves our homeless neighbors in the same neighborhood as a school is a safety threat. 

We’re not talking about a shelter, a mental health clinic, a detox unit, etc….

We’re talking about offices, and a small warehouse. 

Is there any logic to this absurd mentality that homeless people are generally bad people who are preying on those who do have homes??

Complete ignorance. 

The same people who want to fight these services which are the work of Christ, had the audacity to brag about some local churches banding together to defeat services to the impoverished in our area. 

Look around people!  Christians!

How many “pastors” or “ministers” are in the news for child molestation and the like?

How many people without homes are in there for the same things? 

How foolish to tout Christianity in fighting services to the homeless by generalizing all homeless as pedophiles, while there’s more of a problem with it in our Church leadership than there ever has been out on the streets. 

Just yesterday a local “pastor” was sentenced to a year in prison for having sex with a 15 year old boy.  Tally them all up.  There’s more than you can count. 

So, when you want to plant another church…..

You better not do it by a school!!  Because all those pastors are going to be putting everybody’s kids at risk!! 

And should one of those pastors become homeless?  Oh shit!! 

Wake up “Christianity”….

This crap is so far from the teachings of Christ.

What a sad, and embarrassing state of Christianity we have found ourselves in when our biggest battle is defending the work of the gospel against those who claim it so recklessly….

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A High School Teacher Sells Her Body, While an 8th Grade Boy Gets the Shaft

Feb21
2011 14 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

This is the world in which we live.  This is the media coverage by which we are fed.  This is our sad reality. 

All weekend long here in central Arkansas, local news media seemed turned on driven by the story of a high school teacher who had taken on interesting after-school activities.  I believe the PC term to be prostitution….

It’s made clear at the same time that an 8th grader mobilizing his peers to raise money to support homeless veterans is far from newsworthy.  Bull.  Wanna know why I think so?  Because when I was in 8th grade I began doing drugs.  I never had a single thought about doing something for somebody else. 

Well, I may not have that big of a platform.  But I’m damn sure going to share the news that this happened this weekend.  A remarkable young man named Ethan Graham organized a touch-football tournament amongst his peers to benefit the homeless veterans that reside at the St. Francis House. 

Though the world was unaware and there wasn’t a Super Bowl sized turn out, in just a few short hours this young man raised enough money to feed lunch to 40+ homeless veterans for a week. 

Meet Ethan.  He’s newsworthy.  His efforts are newsworthy.  He is a hero.   

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“10,000 homeless veterans could be left without housing”

Feb18
2011 2 Comments Written by Aaron Reddin

The following is an email that I received yesterday from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.  It’s worth a look if you give a rip about veterans, homelessness or politics. 

What I want to know is how many of these House voters touted their “patriotism” in their campaigning, only to turn around and screw those who have given just about all they had….

House Set to Eliminate HUD-VASH Vouchers
10,000 homeless veterans could be left without housing

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2011 – The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, which would eliminate $75 million for approximately 10,000 new permanent supportive housing vouchers for homeless veterans.

These HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers represent a collaboration between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to help chronically ill veterans who are not able to obtain and maintain housing without assistance. A vote on this bill is expected by the end of the day.

The vouchers in question were approved by both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in the 111th Congress, and would bring the HUD-VASH program to the 40,000 voucher level. That would represent two-thirds of the number of vouchers most experts and federal officials agree are needed to end chronic veteran homelessness.

This morning at a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing, Ranking Member Bob Filner (D-CA) expressed shock over the elimination of these vouchers, which would provide housing and services to approximately 10,000 veterans who are homeless today.

Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) said he was less concerned about the cuts because he has been told about 11,000 of the 30,000 vouchers authorized since 2008 are not yet being used.

The VASH program is one of the most critical elements of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness among veterans by 2015. Last year, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan told Congress that a total of 60,000 vouchers would be needed to end veteran homelessness.

VA had included funding for program expansion in its FY 2011 budget, and the Senate Appropriations Committee inserted funding for 10,000 new vouchers in its HUD funding bill. Both actions spurred hope that the number of homeless veterans – estimated at 107,000 – would continue to decline.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) urges all homeless veteran service providers to contact their senators and representatives this afternoon to strongly object to any move that would eliminate approved HUD-VASH program funding for new vouchers.

To contact your representative, click here.

To contact your senator, click here.

You may also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative or senator’s office.

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