A purpose and to be of Value

I spent two and a half hours tonight at a meeting at the Sedona Public Library.

The meeting was sponsored by SAHA the Sedona Area Homeless Alliance, a group of individuals dedicated to helping the Homeless lift themselves up and find value in their life.

SAHA has a very different view of helping this community, instead of the typical structured approach of establishing a shelter that uses a rigid structure of a 12 step based program and a system of no trust and setting up the participants to fail in the long term, SAHA is focused on a shelter for all who need it when temperatures are 45 or below at night.  

The problem with providing shelter year round is that for much of the year in Arizona the temperature is warm enough that many can survive by sleeping out, and many of the homeless in Sedona do not want a shelter year round.

The issues that SAHA is working toward is having a Day center where people can come for 3 meals a day, a place to shower, get clean clothes, have an address so they can find work, get a hair cut and have access to bathrooms and 
computers to find work.  This is a short list of the things that are primary.

A point brought up in the meeting is that there are many in the homeless communities that are families, who struggle to survive.  Many try to stay below the radar because there is fear that if you have children and are homeless, that your children will be taken from you.  In Sedona this is not the case.

Families are homeless because they came here, and issues occured where they may have lost jobs, gone through their money and found themselves with no place to go.  So they do what they can to survive.  When they find a place to camp they may be several miles from the main city, with no means of transit in many cases they have to walk to where they work.

These people need a place to stay to get themselves clean so they can work.

The homeless are not the stereotype we think of, they are more.  They are our brothers and sisters, some may be our fathers or mothers.

They are not disposable people, they are those who are struggling to start over and find a purpose and a sense of value.

Something to be considered.

A purpose and to be of value

A very Powerful Movie

Last night I watched a movie that I was very curious about, the movie is titled "MILK" and it is about the life of County Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was a Gay activist and member of the San Francisco City Council.  He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated on November 27th, 1978 in the San Francisco City Hall.

Sean Penn was cast as Harvey Milk and did a stellar job portraying this man, he is unrecognizable as Sean Penn and becomes Harvey Milk so believably you forget you are watching a movie.

The movie begins in New York in 1970 with Milk turning 40 years old, he realizes that in his forty years he has accomplished nothing that he was proud of, that he has been simply going through the motions.

It is then he decides to move to San Francisco and start his life over again.  

He finds himself in a district in San Francisco, where the Police harass, beat and brutalize anyone who is Gay without reason, just because of who they are.

The fuse is lit and Harvey Milk finds himself becoming involved in politics.  Soon he realizes that although the Gay community is being singled out, this is just part of a larger problem; senior citizens are not receiving fair representation, they are struggling to pay for meds and meals, and the American Worker is being abandoned by having his and her job exported out of the country.

He begins to fight the Machine for all, but in 1977 the fight does become personal, because of how laws that had been passed to give Gay citizens fair representation in housing and work, were overturned.

The movie is relevant for today because so many aspects touched in this film are still current issues now.

You may choose to avoid this film, because of your spiritual path, or personal belief, but do take a chance it is well worth the time, just from the historic perspective.

*****

Something for the whole family

Although this movie came out nearly two years ago, I just had the opportunity to see this movie this past Friday, May 19th.

I have followed Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang since I was six years old, and for the better part of my life, I felt I really was Charlie Brown.  I mean 'Kite eating trees, and never having the courage to approach and talk with the little red haired girl.'

 Always have I watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "It's Christmas Charlie Brown"  Not once have I ever missed seeing these specials.

The one thing I kept waiting for in every strip in the newspaper, in every special aired, was for Charlie Brown to win, just once.  Every time he came close to victory it would be pulled away, like Lucy with the football.

"The Peanut's Movie", provides all of us die hard fans with several victories, for both Charlie Brown and Snoopy.  You have to see the movie to find out what they are.

So if you have not seen this movie, or even if you have, rent it, or better still buy it and enjoy it.  You will be doing the Snoopy dance several times and will be smiling and laughing, two things we need to do more often.

****

A to Z Challenge, My favorite Christian music starting with O.

Well I am back, after taking a day off with some great music.  So let's get started.

This first piece was a contemporary song when I first began my spiritual journey in 1982.  The song is"On Eagles Wings"  This version of this song is sung by Michael Crawford, who was The Phantom of the Opera in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical pf The Phantom of the Opera.

This next piece is a traditional hymn that is still sung today, it is "Old Rugged Cross" Sung by Johnny and June Carter Cash.

This next song is not a Christian song but carries a very strong theme, it was composed and originally appeared on Pink Floyd's most recent album, The Division Bell, the song is "On the turning away and should be sung in every Christian Church,"  This version is sung by scattered people.\

A to Z Challenge My favorite Christian Music N

Hello again, well it is Monday and I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend.

Today we are at Christian Music that begins with N, this first piece is a new piece I have only recently discovered, but it is one that is very uplifting.  I hope you will enjoy this song, it is titled Name above all Names and is sung by The Newsboys, please note that there are several songs with this title.

This next song is by Tommy Walker and it simply titled Nearer.

This next song is an older hymn which still touches the heart and is sung in many churches.  The song is Nearer my God to thee, 

This next song is another classic that we all know and have sung many times.  The song is "Nothing but the Blood, and is sung by School of worship.

This next to last song is one that is remarkable and keeps us focused on how God can bring anything about.  The song is  "Nothing is impossible" and sung by Life Way Mission.

My final song is similar in its message and over all theme, yet this is something we should always remember when times see hard in our life, this song is "Nothing shakes the Hope." by Utica Baptist Church.

A to Z Challenge My favorite Christian Music beginning with M

Hello, well we start today with a new song to me, but it is one that I have come to love in just the first hearing of the song.  It is titled Magnificat and no it has nothing to do with kitties.

This next song by Matthew West is one that always helps me see past the moment I am in and makes me aware that God is always with me and working to make things better.  The song, "Mended"

Now another song that is a great song that every time I hear it, I just feel so positive as if nothing can or will stop me from achieving things.  The song  is "More than I can imagine."

The last song is one many of heard in the 1960's but some of us were unaware that it was a classic hymn.  The song, "Morning has Broken." and is sung by Cat Stevens.

A to Z Challenge My favorite Christian Music L

Well I missed a day. So this is ketchup with no mustard and relish.  So let's begin with one of my all time favorite Christian songs, titled "The Lion and the Lamb"

This is a new version of the song, I have heard Big Daddy Weave' s version exclusively.  This is Bryan Johnson singing this powerful song.

This next song is called Lamb of God the traditional song we have come to know in service.

Lazarus Come Forth performed by the Bishops a song about rising from the dead, spiritually and beyond.  Great song.

This is another classic Hymn we have all heard and sung many time, Let My People Go.

This is a great song that I have heard many times and is very uplifting and joyful, it is performed by Hawk Nelson and is titled  "Live like you're Loved."

No better song to end on than this great song simply titled, "Lord I Lift your name on High,