Comments on: Never Too Late http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/03/never-too-late/ The Way Home Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: bg.dog1 http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/03/never-too-late/comment-page-1/#comment-19 bg.dog1 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:23:00 +0000 http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/never-too-late/#comment-19 In Reply To Richard Walden, I Understand Your Beliefs And Your Concerns, I Came To The Union Rescue Mission In 2003 After Losing My Job And Suffering From Substance And Alcohol Abuse, And Joined The C.L.D.P. Rehabilitation Program, Its A Christian Based Program, I Was There 2 Years, Within That Time I Too Sing Praises To To God And Thank Him For His Many Blessings, You May Have Heard Things About The U.R.M. I Was Apart Of The U.R.M. Family, And Trust Me If It Was Not For The U.R.M. I Maybe Would Not Have Reunited With My Family, And Not Just Get A Job But Retain My Job, You See Mr. Walden The Mission Offers One On one Counseling, Free Medical And Dental Services Room And Board, Whats Wrong With Singing Praises To God, Its Not Mandatory, Gods Holy Spirit Is In The U.R.M. D.Hansbrough In Reply To Richard Walden, I Understand Your Beliefs And Your Concerns, I Came To The Union Rescue Mission In 2003 After Losing My Job And Suffering From Substance And Alcohol Abuse, And Joined The C.L.D.P. Rehabilitation Program, Its A Christian Based Program, I Was There 2 Years, Within That Time I Too Sing Praises To To God And Thank Him For His Many Blessings, You May Have Heard Things About The U.R.M. I Was Apart Of The U.R.M. Family, And Trust Me If It Was Not For The U.R.M. I Maybe Would Not Have Reunited With My Family, And Not Just Get A Job But Retain My Job, You See Mr. Walden The Mission Offers One On one Counseling, Free Medical And Dental Services Room And Board, Whats Wrong With Singing Praises To God, Its Not Mandatory, Gods Holy Spirit Is In The U.R.M. D.Hansbrough

]]> By: Andy Bales http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/03/never-too-late/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Andy Bales Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:58:00 +0000 http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/never-too-late/#comment-18 Richard and Kayakotto,<br/>Thank you, for taking time to weigh in with your well thought out statements.<br/>Ray was being honest in that he just arrived in LA looking for a new start and was surprised by the adverse conditions on Skid Row.<br/>Over twenty years ago both I, leading a different Mission in Des Moines, Iowa and URM had much the same reaction to what you described as 'singing for your supper'. We decided to feed, house, and assist our guests without restriction, and invite our guests completely voluntarily to join us in chapel and hear the gospel. We found the guests to be much more engaged and open to listen when they made the choice to attend after having their needs met, and the response has been very positive. Jesus is still the focal point of our Mission and a relationship with Him is still the most dynamic cause of a changed life in our ministry.<br/>Ray decided to join our intense, holistic 1 year Christian Life Discipleship, complete with education, PE, counseling, volunteer opportunities and job training of his own choice out of a variety of opportunities. He already looked like a new man when I shook his hand and connected him with a new friend before dinner on Thursday evening before the Holiday, and I have been praying for him over the weekend.<br/>Thanks again for providing the opportunity to clear this up! Bless you both! Andy B. Richard and Kayakotto,
Thank you, for taking time to weigh in with your well thought out statements.
Ray was being honest in that he just arrived in LA looking for a new start and was surprised by the adverse conditions on Skid Row.
Over twenty years ago both I, leading a different Mission in Des Moines, Iowa and URM had much the same reaction to what you described as ‘singing for your supper’. We decided to feed, house, and assist our guests without restriction, and invite our guests completely voluntarily to join us in chapel and hear the gospel. We found the guests to be much more engaged and open to listen when they made the choice to attend after having their needs met, and the response has been very positive. Jesus is still the focal point of our Mission and a relationship with Him is still the most dynamic cause of a changed life in our ministry.
Ray decided to join our intense, holistic 1 year Christian Life Discipleship, complete with education, PE, counseling, volunteer opportunities and job training of his own choice out of a variety of opportunities. He already looked like a new man when I shook his hand and connected him with a new friend before dinner on Thursday evening before the Holiday, and I have been praying for him over the weekend.
Thanks again for providing the opportunity to clear this up! Bless you both! Andy B.

]]> By: kayakotto http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/03/never-too-late/comment-page-1/#comment-17 kayakotto Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000 http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/never-too-late/#comment-17 In reply to the aritcle and the comment I would like to say I support most all attempts to help the still suffering addict or alcoholic. As a CCDC I am fully aware that there are many many methods and modalities when it comes to reaching out with a helping hand. Almost all have their adherents as well as detractors. The point is these people and organizations are at least reaching out and attempting to do something positive about the situation, and I applaud them. I found a free booklet at www.stopaddiction.com called "Guide to Addiction Recovery for a Lifetime" which contains some good basic data on the subject of addiction and may be of help to anyone, regardless of methods or modalities. Not necessarily for everyone, but the more we share information and resources rather than condemn others efforts the better. In reply to the aritcle and the comment I would like to say I support most all attempts to help the still suffering addict or alcoholic. As a CCDC I am fully aware that there are many many methods and modalities when it comes to reaching out with a helping hand. Almost all have their adherents as well as detractors. The point is these people and organizations are at least reaching out and attempting to do something positive about the situation, and I applaud them. I found a free booklet at http://www.stopaddiction.com called “Guide to Addiction Recovery for a Lifetime” which contains some good basic data on the subject of addiction and may be of help to anyone, regardless of methods or modalities. Not necessarily for everyone, but the more we share information and resources rather than condemn others efforts the better.

]]> By: Richard Walden http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/03/never-too-late/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Richard Walden Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:08:00 +0000 http://www.urmblog.org/2008/07/never-too-late/#comment-16 "He said he had been homeless in Portland for 10 years and had just arrived in town."<br/><br/>That makes no sense at all.<br/><br/>And while I will not deny that UGM provides a needed service, I have problems with organizations that made people "sing for their supper", or "pray for their place".<br/><br/>The way I read the gospels (which <br/>i do, regularly) Jesus fed and healed people first, offered sermons later.<br/><br/>I may be mistaken, in which case <br/>I'm willing to be corrected, but mandatory prayer and chapel for people in need is abusive and abhorrent.<br/><br/>WWJD? I don't always know. But he certainly would not require worship before he offered succor.<br/><br/>If my understanding of your agency is correct, Jesus would condemn you as pharisees.<br/><br/>I am willing to be corrected if wrong, but UGM, Salvation Army, PRM, and City Team seem almost anti-Christian to me. Or at least, the Christianity of the Emperor Hadrian and Pope <br/>Urban rather than the Christianity of Jesus, Peter, and Paul.<br/><br/>Please tell me I'm wrong.<br/><br/>Richard Walden,<br/>from downtown Portland “He said he had been homeless in Portland for 10 years and had just arrived in town.”

That makes no sense at all.

And while I will not deny that UGM provides a needed service, I have problems with organizations that made people “sing for their supper”, or “pray for their place”.

The way I read the gospels (which
i do, regularly) Jesus fed and healed people first, offered sermons later.

I may be mistaken, in which case
I’m willing to be corrected, but mandatory prayer and chapel for people in need is abusive and abhorrent.

WWJD? I don’t always know. But he certainly would not require worship before he offered succor.

If my understanding of your agency is correct, Jesus would condemn you as pharisees.

I am willing to be corrected if wrong, but UGM, Salvation Army, PRM, and City Team seem almost anti-Christian to me. Or at least, the Christianity of the Emperor Hadrian and Pope
Urban rather than the Christianity of Jesus, Peter, and Paul.

Please tell me I’m wrong.

Richard Walden,
from downtown Portland

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