As I was wondering what to write about for this week’s blog, a moment from the past month came to mind. This “moment” actually began at OIM’s Christmas meal back in early January. I was volunteering as a server, and a man wearing sunglasses (I will call him “Mark”) sat down at the table assigned to me. I served him his turkey dinner and some juice, and since the initial rush of diners had slowed, I sat down to talk with him. Mark kept his sunglasses on at first, apologizing a

Three weeks ago, a long-time street friend of OIM came to the Thursday Winter Wear Program. I knew this gentleman and spent time chatting with him, listening to his latest thinking about the problems in the world. During the conversation, he shared a pressing need that he had – the need for another pair of rubber overshoes. It was then that I looked at what he was wearing on his feet. He did have rubber overshoes, but they were being held together with duct tape, and even wit

As the post-Christmas ‘Blahs’ set in and we trudge through January and February towards an eventual spring thaw and Easter Resurrection of hope and redemption, I am reminded of how difficult it is to bear up and to maintain ones’ good cheer and good spirits in the face of the ongoing onslaught of freezing cold temperatures, snow, and the perennial litany of bad news which emanates from the media. But that said, ORH continues to keep its head above water with the provision of

When we think about hospitality, we often think about inviting friends and families into our homes to share food and drink, enjoying one another’s company. A good host offers a comfortable, clean home, is quick to take the guest’s jacket and offers snacks and a drink. There are also certain unsaid expectations of the guest: don’t arrive empty-handed, take off your shoes, don’t put your feet on the couch, etc. Most of us have come to believe that hospitality is good for some p

We often place pressure on ourselves to master the "perfect" way to evangelize. We buy and read the latest evangelism book, rehearse elevator pitches, or search for the ultimate strategy to lead someone to Christ. While these resources are valuable, we frequently forget to think about or involve the Holy Spirit. It’s easy to feel that if we stumble over a word or miss a step in the evangelism strategy, our efforts feel less effective. I’ve certainly been there. But the Hol