God's Command to Nations and People
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| Being a Friend to Man Being a Friend to Man by Pastor Clarence William Page July 17, 2011 Yesterday I received a telephone call from a minister informing me of a man in distress. It seems that he was stranded in a strange city (U.S. city) and was weary, frightened and unsure of what would become of him. Over the next eighteen hours I placed numerous telephone calls to that city in attempts to find a solution to what I deemed a temporary problem (better solutions, I felt, would manifest on Monday). Time after time my pleas for help for the man were met with the brick wall of "rules". Person after person hid behind various excuses: "I don't have the authority." "My supervisor is not here." "I am the intake supervisor but I am on vacation." "Our medical intake person is not here." "We don't let people stay just overnight." He was sent to one place but it was deemed to be "unsafe". Finally, after midnight, I called the city's police department and asked if they could help. They were nice enough to wake up a social worker from the city's Child Protective Service and have him call me. The social worker recommended a "safe place" for the man. I called the "safe place" and was told that the supervisor would not be in until 6:00 A.M. A few minutes after 6:00 A.M. I called and spoke with the supervisor. The result: "We don't let people stay just overnight, it's against our policy". I was appalled at the excuses. I was just asking that they accommodate the brother until things opened Monday morning. Frustrated, I finally prayed to God and told Him that, "If you give me enough money I will build places where people can stay overnight". Then, I began to remember how many cities there are in America and began to dispair of my own prayed promise. Approximately three hours ago I received a phone call telling me of another unexpected twist in this unfortunate story. More prayer was required. While reflecting on the situation my thoughts landed on a poem I learned many years ago. The poet was not thought to be a particularly "religious" man but his sentiments had always found a welcome place in my heart. Sam Walter Foss is the poet and his poem is titled, "The House by the Side of the Road" ( http://www.seacoastnh.com/Arts/Poetr...de_of_the_Road ). Courtesy Pastor Clarence William Page; Trinity Baptist Church Light To Guide Our Feet Victory Bulletin [LTGOFVB July 2011] |
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