Homeless man died alone under a staircase

I was reading the Toronto Star newspaper. The headline caught my attention “Mourners remember Bill Buss – "Homeless man died alone under a staircase, but gets dignified final farewell" 

To quote the Director of Operation at the Good Neighbour’s Club regarding Bill Buss - a man many never even knew. It was said, “I can’t remember a single time when he needed anything.” It was said in the Toronto Star that Bill died curled up under a staircase on Parliament Street. He was dead three weeks before anyone found his decomposed remains.” 

The article caught my attention because I just finished publishing a series of books about four young people who lived on the Street. A different location yes. Roseway the Road that Never Ends is a fiction story. Bill Buss lived the real deal. 

I found the Star article relatable. Here the Toronto Star newspaper wrote a true story of a seventy one year old man who caught the attention of at least two dozen people who attended his funeral. One person had a nice word to say. The rest of them probably knew him from the food shelter. For many, we know nothing about him. Like so many homeless people, Bill lived an existence the average passer-bye would simply ignore. He was part of what many expect to see in the city. Homeless people, unknown to us, not relevant. They are just part of the scenery in downtown Toronto or other big cities like Vancouver or Prince George. Sounds harsh doesn't it? 

I remember visiting Toronto one wintery day. We stayed in a nice expensive hotel for the night and paid a horrendous amount of money to make ourselves feel special for a day. The next morning we walked through the slush and snow along sidewalks filled with pedestrians. We walked right over a homeless young man who was curled up in his sleeping bag over top of the underground air vent. He was trying to find warmth. He was literally lying in slush and people were walking over him to get to their destination. Some people didn't even look. They walked by him like he was part of the pavement as if it was nothing out of the usual.  My heart went out to him. I noticed him.  I could not believe my eyes. I live in the suburbs and don’t often see people lying on the ground in sleeping bags, in slush, in the middle of winter. I could not help but think of my own son who was probably the same age as that homeless young man.

Homeless people like Bill Buss live their lives unrecognized, ignored, and left out in the cold, hungry and not knowing where their next meal comes from. Bill Buss had a history, a mother and father and somewhere out there a family. He was originally from Manitoba. Who knows what happened in his life to bring him to the big TO or why he ended up homeless. I suppose it could happen to any of us. Bill Buss may not have had anyone notice him while he was alive. His death has brought some awareness. Toronto Star reporter wrote, "Good Neighbours' Club, a drop-in centre near Moss Park, told the small gathering "Sadly, we weren't able to help him when he needed us. Buss's legacy, is that we improve how we deal with our clients on the streets."

In general terms: Isn't this often the way we respond? Should have, could have, would have done . . . Why does it often take the death of someone to make positive changes or turn the lights on? A wake up call?

SNAP Georgina - The Narrow Road Series Book Launch

SNAP Georgina - The Narrow Road Series Book Launch

The Gravel Road

Funny, I just launched three fiction books in The Narrow Road Series and only yesterday, I found myself driving along a freshly gravelled road, sitting on my 1984 Yamaha motorcycle. The bike is as old as my son Kyle. I originally bought the bike to help out a friend. My husband Danny is known to have been an extreme bike-rider in his day, having survived seventeen motorcycle accidents. The thought makes me cringe.

Danny took the old bike apart piece by piece and then proceeded to put it back together again making it as good as new. After all his hard work, I had no choice but to join the Rider Training Institute Course and get my licence. I turned fifty and passed the test. Did I have a moment of insanity? After my little dirt road experience yesterday, I am questioning myself while sitting here feeling more like a seventy year old who was hit by a truck. What I really hit and slid along, was every stone on that little country road. Lesson learned, don't hit the brakes on a gravel road. Out went the bike from under me and quickly I found the skin ripping from my flesh until the bike came to a stop. My question, who put that truck on the railroad track at that exact moment when I was approaching? The timing couldn't have been more perfect. As I approached the railway track, there no warning or flashing lights, just this truck on railway wheels that suddenly appeared, crossing the track in front of me. It was either go splat like a bug on a windshield and hit the truck or hit the dirt road. So I did the slide into third base. Not exactly planned, but more my instinctual reaction of survival.

Danny stopped his bike and walked back to my rescue and picked up my broken bike while I spit the dirt out of my mouth and picked the little stones from my flesh. I had to get back on the broken motorcycle and drive it the rest of the way home. Thank the Lord that I could do that. However, today my aching body is feeling the side affects. What is the lesson in it? Sometimes in life, we have to pick ourselves up and get back on that bike or simply put, sometimes we have to get back up.

In life we get many surprises as we travel the roads of life. I guess it is part of the learning experience. I'm still thinking that there must be a less painful way of learning these life lessons.

New Series of Books released for Author - Rebecca Robinson

Saturday April 28th was the successful Launch of my new series of books. The Narrow Road Series.
I'll continue my inspirational writings soon. Keep connected. If you want information about the Book Launch see my domain.

I'll have more updates soon. http://rebecca-robinson.org

Division

Are there divisions among you?
Rebecca's thoughts about division in the church - Emphasis is “Christ’s Church”.

We all have different likes and dislikes. Some like quiet, slow music and others may enjoy fast, loud music which beats to a different drum. There are churches who are made fun of because they are very charismatic (show their excitement, vocal, emotional, speak in tongues) Then there are other churches known to be conservative. Worship is quiet, reverent and somewhat reserved. Some churches are active and feel strongly to activate their faith by the laying on of hands in prayer, by casting out demons and healing the sick in Jesus name. Other churches are more passive in their requests and lean toward a teaching, that these signs and wonders were only for certain apostles or the day of Pentacost. There are many different interpretations taught in our churches.  

In our modern day society we have different variations of churches and belief. Many seek to know God and have a relationship with the Father God through His Son (Christ Jesus, Saviour) and they eventually find what type of church fits their belief.

The other night I sat at a table of Christians, enjoying a nice community dinner. I was not from that church. I was listening in as they were having a conversation regarding the churches in my home town. In this conversation one man made the statement that there was really only one active church in that town. I happen to know that there are at least four evangelical churches in that location. I attend one of the apparent churches he claimed was not active. My radar immediately tuned in and I found myself feeling defensive to say the least. I asked him, how he came to that conclusion? Had he even attended any of these churches? He said, he had attended them all. His words felt like an attack. I myself have been in his shoes. I once made a similar statement. Years later, I found myself repenting for the judgement I made against that church or pastor. It is easy to make judgments - foolish ones I might add.
On occasion, I have gone to other denominational churches as to experience a variety of worship. At times, I have heard statements made from the pulpit and from those in speaking positions who have elevated their church by saying that their church is on a spiritually higher plain than other churches. They believe that their church has the flowing of the Holy Spirit and other churches don't. Yes, I heard these teaching again and again.  

Through experience, I have witnessed the division of some great churches who were serving God and doing amazing things to expand God's Kingdom here on earth.  People from one congregation went to a different church and experienced the Holy Spirit move in a different way from that which they experienced within their own home church. The experience changed some of these people. When they went back to their home church they desired to take that change with them because they believed it was a God change. They wanted to change their home church to be like the other church they had attended. However, because of the variations in perspective and teachings, along came the conflicting views. Some liked the church just the way it was and did not agree with changes. That caused division. The church split in two. The part of the body who did not want change, were the ones to leave that church.  The congregation who believed they were following the Holy Spirit, stayed and continued in Christ's service.
Yet, God’s body of believers should have the same HOLY SPIRIT teaching them. (My comment)

Often, congregational members try to change the church and that is where divisions begin (in-fighting within God’s church). Change should only take place by the leading of the Holy Spirit at work within those in authority. The Holy Spirit must be allowed to enter, move and lead Christ’s Church. When this happens many old traditions and beliefs may be thrown out the door or they may not. It is much like a sweeping of the house. It is crucial that decisions be bathed in prayer, especially when voting in those who will work in pastoral and elder positions. Know the people you are voting in. It is often those who are placed in authority within the churches, who influence what is being taught or allowed in the church. We must pray for all our churches  and for the body of Christ to be in Unity.

Sometimes, our eyes are on everything except the one who came to save, teach, and lead us (Jesus). I love that song: “It’s all about you”. The words penned convict us, or at least it should. It’s all about you… Jesus. All this is for you, for your mercy and your grace. It’s not about me, as if you should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender to your ways.  I’m coming back to the heart of worship. It’s all about you. It’s all about you… Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
¹⁰But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.

 This is a very clear and precise statement. There is no gray area. It is black on white. Experience says that there is not always 100% agreement between any two people. We are all at different stages in our Christian walk. We all must agree on the foundational truth of who Christ Jesus is in our lives and in our churches. Paul is urging us to find that level ground where we agree with one another. Think about what we say, when we say it, and the way we speak to others in the church. If we know that our brother or sister believes something different, then we should seek to find the biblical truth and find agreement in the truth of common understanding. Find the common ground. It is there in scripture.  Scripture does have an answer for everything. Teach biblical truth with love, unity and without judgment and allow them the freedom to consider it. We may disagree on something and for whatever reason we may have a different opinion. It is for the Holy Spirit to teach us, in His way and in His time. I believe we are not to judge others because they may have a different spiritual spin on it. In Christ’s church we must learn to function like one body, like an army working toward the same goal and purpose as Christ. We all have a different function and a calling to serve Christ. There are many ways of doing this. We must not fight with each other. Would your arm pull off a leg because it wanted to go in a different direction than the arm is pointing? Simply, that would not happen. Nor should the body of Christ rip each other apart. God may be telling the leg to do it's job and the arm has a totally different function and purpose. In the end, it is God's purpose and calling. We must individually find out what that is and be obedient to God and His leading. It is up to each individual person to work out his or her salvation as to deepen that relationship with the one who saves.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

The Deep Well

The Deep Well

Deep within each of us there must be a little seed of faith. Sometimes it is like a deep well. The pump on the well has never been activated. So the pump is a little rusty. Perhaps the rust accumulated from years of not being used and now the pump is ceased. It is stiff and squeaky and requires a lot of strength and effort to even make that pump move again. Are you going through a trial at this time? Can you relate to the old rusty pump? Often we go through life, things are going good in our daily lives and we can cope. Then all of a sudden, all of our reserves run dry. Something flips in our lives and we desperately need to reach deep into that well and pull up that faith again. We are desperate. There seems to be nowhere that we can turn. There is no hope in the doctors. They can only do so much. We find ourselves on our knees trying to access that faith, in a hope that God will somehow miraculously send a gushing spring of water through the broken pump. I can picture it. I’ve been there, sitting on the front steps of the church whose doors were locked. Sitting there alone . . . wishing there was someone who had that special connection to God who would intercede on our behalf. On that day there was no one else. I sat on that church step and prayed for my nephew who had bacterial meningitis. Doctors gave us very little hope that he would survive. God had me in that deep well. I prayed the only way I knew how, desperately with a seed of faith not bigger than a mustard seed. The cry of my heart was real. God please heal him. God did answer my prayer and my nephew survived.

Many times God answers our prayers in ways we don’t understand. Sometimes we can even look back and say, “Boy am I ever glad God didn’t answer my prayer in the way that I prayed.” Sometimes we say, why didn't he. . .?We have to know what we ask of God. We need to know in our hearts that God knows the situation in detail. God is all knowing, loving and compassionate. Sometimes we don’t recognize these truths about God, especially during times when we have these thoughts, God let us down. He didn’t answer our prayers, therefore he does not love me or maybe he doesn’t even exist.  Is it so hard to believe that the God who created the universe does know what is best and that just maybe His plan for life and death is perfect? Often we cannot see past the temporal world and what is going on in our lives. The world can seem dark and ugly when we are in the dark well. I can vision that well gushing out living water as we cry out from the deep. That living water is not temporal, it is eternal. When we live or die in Christ we are eternal beings. Our journey here on earth, however long or short, it is a part of a divine plan. Remember, God is all knowing. He knew us before we were conceived Jeremiah 1:4-5. He knew the day we would be born and the day we would die. Psalm 139:13-16 How we live the time between those two dates is up to us. You may ask, “What about those who don’t have a choice or can’t make a choice?” For babies and young children. Mt: 19:14 Jesus said,"Let the little children come to me, and do no hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." I believe there is an age of accountability - a time in life when you know the difference. God knows the hearts and minds of mankind.

Whatever deep well you find yourself in at this time, you can activate that rusty pump yourself. God desires a relationship with you. Just as Jesus sat at that well waiting for the woman at the well to draw water, he waits for you to put your hand on that pump to draw water too. When you take that step of faith, Jesus will give you living water.  Oil that pump daily with prayer. Receive that living water and in doing so you will embrace the love God the Father has for you. He is the Father who will comfort you in all your troubles 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 He carries you close when you are feeling broken hearted. Psalm 34:18 God will someday take away all the pain you have suffered on earth. Revelation 21:3-4

Someday, all your questions will be answered. I’m thinking that on that day when we stand before God the Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ, all our questions won’t even touch our lips. They won’t matter. What will matter is that we are standing in His Holy Presence, in the glory of a great and awesome God, enveloped in the Loving arms of the God of all Creation. Praise to our great and mighty God. This life is just a glimpse of the amazing splendour of life that we will have when we pass from here to there . . . for all eternity.

The Greatest Gift

Penny Darlene Wills

One year ago, I awoke excited to face the day. It was December 3, 2010. We were planning our Ladies Christmas Fellowship for that evening. We were planning an evening to bring something happy and positive into some of these ladies lives; something that would give them hope, laughter, put a new song in their heart. It is a busy time of year getting ready for Christmas. We spent months preparing for that evening, trying to put a program together that would bless the ladies hearts.

Yes, we have all heard the Christmas story, frontwards, backwards and every story in between. Some are stories which touch the heart. This time of year can be very difficult for people. Not every one's life is bright and rosy. Some people are living alone, their children are grown or even gone. Some families are coping with divorce and their family unit is split apart. Other's are mourning the death of a loved one. Some people have no home, no food.

Christmas time can bring back the memories of old. Being a child and having that anticipation of opening presents, seeing loved ones come together. Mom's home baked cookies, salads and turkey dinner.

The Christmas songs play on the radio and throughout the malls. Songs like, "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" sung by Nat King Cole. or  Elvis singing, "I'll have a Blue Christmas Without You". You are shopping and walking along in the store. A song plays loud over the speaker. You pause for a moment, thinking of the memory. Oh I miss those childhood years. For a moment, you may even feel sad because the memories remain but many of our loved ones in those memories from Christmases long ago, are gone too.

Here I am. It is December 9, 2011, a year later. We have been planning yet another Ladies Christmas Fellowship. I remember well the phone call I received on this day last year. The phone call that changed our lives. My dear younger sister Penny suddenly passed away on that day. I spent most of the day by her side, along with our mother, my niece and a few friends and family.

It puts an entirely new spin on Christmas when you lose a loved one. We had lived through it before years ago, when my sister in law Sue was suddenly killed when a drunk driver ran her down. It was two weeks before Christmas. Santa still came that year. I was nine years old. I opened Sue's present to me on that Christmas morning. She gave me a real 10kt gold ring with my initials on it. All I could do was cry. Yes it was a long time ago. You know what? I remember that Christmas like it was yesterday. Life is not all sad. We have enjoyed many Happy Christmases since.

Why am I telling you this? Do I want you to throw me a big crying towel? No. However, life can change on a dime. In the blinking of an eye your life, my life can be flipped upside down. We have all experienced these flipping moments. We survived them and maybe learned a thing or two about life, about God. We take our experiences whatever they have been and we help others who are feeling what we have felt, that sorrow, loneliness, emptiness. We reach out our strong arms and give a sincere hug, wipe a tear, give a smile, share a laugh, bring some comfort, live in peace and be a gift to others. That is what we do at Christmas because that is exactly what Jesus does for us. He does it in so many different ways. We may not even recognize these moments. Perhaps you have been entertained by an angel, unaware.

Penny now has a tomb stone which says, "Our Little Angel". Yes I did whisper in her ear a year ago today. "Penny I love you. You are going to see Jesus now" I held her little hand and kissed her cheek before I walked out of the room. I felt that I had to go and help with the Christmas Ladies Fellowship. Twenty minutes after I left her, Penny walked into the loving Arms of Jesus Christ her Saviour. She received the Greatest Gift of All, Christmas Love. Note: If you flip the m in "Christmas Love" - upside down - you get "Christ was Love".  God's Gift to us.

Merry Christmas Penny