From the 13th juror:
“If Jesus came to Jacksonville to feed the masses, he would need a city permit to hand out all those miraculous loaves and fishes.”
>> Read “Jacksonville homeless feeding ordinance challenged in federal court.”
Read more on What Would Jesus Do About Jacksonville?…
My friends Marshall (a campus ministries director) and Will (a pastor) went to court this week for a mutual friend (formerly homeless) with serious health problems that prevented him from going himself. In his blog, Marshall writes about the way that prosecutors treated those in the courtroom. The class divide was evident. Reading about it made me both angry and weary. I urge you to read it, too.
Read more on Divided By Class: A Morning In Court…
From FOXNews.com, in Crownpoint, Indiana:
“Officials cannot explain how they allowed a homeless, mentally ill man accused of stealing a soda to languish in jail for 17 months.
Edward Perez’s attorney, his court-appointed psychiatrist, the judge in his case and jail officials all apparently believed he had been released a year ago.”
Read more on Forgotten Mentally Ill, Homeless Man Left In Jail…
The Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County has released totals from January’s annual Point in Time Count of the Homeless. A total of 1,269 homeless persons were counted on January 24, 2007. This is an increase from the 2006 total of 1,108. The 2005 total was 834.
Read more on 2007 Count: 1,269 Homeless in Guilford County…
Today, the Bush administration announced $1.4 billion in funding for local homeless programs. North Carolina will receive $18.5 million. Homeless service providers in the Triad were awarded $1.28 million, which is slightly more than 2005, but less than 2004.
Read more on HUD Awards $1.28 Million To Local Homeless Service Providers…
Attacking and killing homeless people has become a sport in America, and apparently, it’s on the rise. This is an extremely disturbing trend.
“They hurled anything they could find — rocks, bricks, even Baum’s barbecue grill — and pounded the 49-year-old with a pipe and with the baseball bat he kept at his campsite for protection.
Read more on “Sport” Attacks and Killings of Homeless Rise…
It’s a common theme among Evangelicals to call for revival. But I was listening to Joyce Meyer yesterday, and she said that what the Body of Christ really needs is a revolution.
Read more on Revival or Revolution?…
Winston Salem’s City Council is set to vote tonight on amending “development ordinances to create new definitions and provisions for shelters for the homeless, temporary shelters, and emergency shelters.” Winston’s four homeless shelters are located within blocks of one other. When one of those shelters announced a bed expansion last year, it caused problems with a neighboring business. The debate led the Council to review its ordinance. One of the issues cited is the difficulty in attracting businesses and revitalizing areas with homeless shelters and services.
Read more on Winston Considers Shelter Ordinances…
[Updated with additional photo and story links.]
In a city-sponsored program, 40 homeless people in Reno were given disposable cameras to document their lives. Their photos and their personal stories will be presented to the Nevada state legislature during a hearing on funding for homeless housing and services.
Read more on Homeless: As They See It…
Until I’m further recovered from my shoulder surgery, I won’t be able to post much. It hurts to type. 
But I hope you’ll keep up with homeless news, and keep homeless people in your thoughts and prayers.
I’m recuperating from shoulder surgery, so I haven’t posted lately, but I wanted to share this passage on love. Happy Valentine’s Day. 
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
