I have been reading again out of my “One Year Bible” that has selected readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs every day, to where if you keep up with this daily, you will have read the Bible through in a year. I’ve never been that consistent, but I’ve read it enough to make some sweeping observations about the Bible you might not see otherwise, and here is one of them. I am amazed with how much the Bible speaks about God’s concern for the poor, the oppressed, the weak, those in prison, and those who are lost and scattered. Hardly a day goes by that there isn’t some mention in these readings about caring for these people. I have also spent a good portion of my life listening to sermons on the weekend and reading Christian authors, and I must say, there is a marked absence of talk about God’s concern for the poor, the oppressed, the weak, those in prison, and those who are lost and scattered. A totally unbiased observer would want to know what’s going on. “You guys talk about how much you revere this book, but it doesn’t seem like you are getting its message. What gospel are you following? Are we reading the same book?”
For instance, today I read this: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies” (Hebrews 13:2-3 NLT).
This is serious empathy. Have you ever been inside a prison? I can’t say I have very often, but I have a very unpleasant feeling about the times that I have. It’s interesting that the writer doesn’t tell us exactly what to do except to remember and empathize. I think the assumption is that if we do this, we will end up doing something.
Maybe you might want to put this scripture together and bring a stranger or two home for Thanksgiving. It’s one thing to serve a meal on the streets (and that’s a good thing indeed) but it’s another thing to welcome someone who has no family into your home and give them the warmth of a home and a family if even for a day. We have done this on a couple of occasions and found it upgrades the event for everyone.
Hey, I don’t have a good record here at all. I’m not telling you to do as I do because I am not doing much. I am saying we have got to do more to get ourselves where God is in relation to the poor. And I don’t think it’s just a handout that is needed. Dignity is as important as a meal. It’s not only that you do something; it’s how you do it.
Maybe there are some stories here some of you can share with us that might give us some ideas for sharing our own Thanksgiving celebrations.
John Fischer The Catch 
John,
Just wanted to tell you about a man who “got it” – John Boren of Winona Lake, Indiana (my daughter’s father-in-law) went home to Jesus on Monday. He was a man who, after a rough time in his life, found himself in jail. After a turn around of his life, he became the chaplain to our county jail and served there for the last 17 years. He remembered those in prison every day and served them until cancer overtook him. We will honor his life tomorrow and praise God that He gave us such a wonderful man and celebrate his return home. I wish you could have met him.
Cathy May
Your urging us to serve those in need by offering our homes is something that I forget and this week I realized everything doesn’t have to be perfect for that to happen. I received a call about 6:00pm on Monday from a friend who cares for her husband who is on hospice care. She is saintly with his care and anytime she can get him out it is a good thing, but requires a lot of work. On this evening she had done that and called me laughing when she realized she was at the location for our Christmas potluck 3 weeks early. She had her casserole and was sitting in the car laughing about how she could get the date so wrong. As I heard her story and how she was laughing at herself all I could say was, “come over here and we’ll have a party.” I had not prepared anything for supper nor had everything in the house been picked up in that perfect home state. My heart was so overwhelmed by her reaction to what she had done that I just wanted to see her. Also, I love these two and to have an opportunity to be with them in a no stress evening was absolutely wonderful. I grabbed food from our refrigeratior and welcomed them in. It was a moment that we will not forget. Enjoy the people and forget the details.
Janet
My dear fellow Catch family member’s Cathy & Janet wanted to tell you both how much I thoroughly enjoyed reading your stories!
I’ll try to quickly share mine: when I read this part of the Catch: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies” (Hebrews 13:2-3 NLT).” Those verses so reminded me of it. What happened to me years ago, while driving into the big city of Detroit, which isn’t a thing that I enjoy doing. Anyway, as I was slowing down to almost a crawl while in traffic, waiting to merge on to a busy highway or expressway – I notice a gentleman w/ a sign that read he help needed or something like that. All of a sudden I couldn’t hardily take my eyes of him to drive on, so I stopped my car and reached into my pants pocket and took out all of the money I had in my wallet – I’m not sure to this day how much it was. No more then $20 to $25, I imagine, yet the part that stays w/ me is has a walked up to him, he looked up w/ the most biggest and most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen! And he winked @ me and gave me the biggest and one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen too – and said something like thank you my brother… As I drove off; I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind – how kind, nice and very handsome this guy was… I was a newer believer back then and a few days later while reading my devotion, and I jus happened to read the above verses and instantly thought back to that experience and thought I may have, i jus may have seen an Angel..!
PS now for the kind of spooky other part as I was driving off, I looked back in my rear view mirror to get a quick glimpse of him again – he was gone, I quickly turned my head to scan the entire area of where he once was sitting a just few minutes ago – and sure enough he was gone… the other almost remarkable part of it was no other drivers honked their horn for me to get back into my car! in fact a few folks from what i can remember did also smile @ me, which is kind of a different thing to happen in the traffic of Detroit, MI
As a “nearly” senior with no kids, no family close by, and Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, I have a tendency to feel a little (okay, a LOT) sorry for myself. I start pouting and grumbling, wondering WHY the Lord just doesn’t come back already and take me Home (notice I said ME and not US…). Of course, I realize this isn’t REALLY some great spiritual longing I have; if it were, I’d feel it this strongly all the time and I don’t. What it IS, is I just don’t like the way things are so I’m looking for an OUT. Pretty selfish attitude for the season of giving and thanksgiving, but there it is. So this year, I’m doing Thanksgiving dinner for my new tenants who can’t to afford to get to their parents’ homes for the holiday or even buy their own turkey. Now, I’m doing this for ME probably more than for them, understanding that it won’t make any of us miss our own families any less, but it might take the edge off for a while… who knows? We might even enjoy ourselves if we let us. Maybe misery loves company because it makes us feel (and act) less miserable. So while I don’t have a wonderful story of the beauty of sharing NOW, check back with me next week. There’s just no telling what God might do!
And my other good Catch buddy, Carole I’ll sincerely, hope trust & pray y’all have a blast and a whole lot of laughter during your turkey dinner w/ your new tenants! And i get a pretty good feeling God will show up and out @ the dinner too… 🙂