All posts tagged: Hope

The Paradox of Giving

October 29, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana

An Indy policeman giving so much of himself for others

In Acts 20:35, Apostle Paul wrote – “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Many things had transpired in the past few days:

4 food pantries
4 Kindness Days
Ride along with IMPD Police Officer at one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Indy
- I’ve seen people put in jail, smoking marijuana while driving, small children in a car without car seats, theft, domestic violence, hunger, homelessness, etc.
I have shared MORE DETAILS here

Just in 10 days of seeing the hurts and the needs surrounding us, the verse above spoke to me in a deeper level. I thought of asking you rhetorical questions. Feel free to make Comments on this Blog as well.

Which one would you rather be:
- a person who has the ability to donate food and time or a person who rely on others for the next meal?
- a legally blind person living by yourself or a person who has good sets of eyes and able to help a blind person?
- a person who can help someone to do strenuous physical activities or someone who is hindered physically?
- a person who give his/her time, talent & treasure because God had graced you or a person with different circumstances who receives from you?

Keep in mind that it could be reversed. For example, by helping those who are “weak”, you realized you are strong. By giving of yourself to others without expecting anything in return, you suddenly receive blessings in unexpected ways.

I’m actually writing this to remind myself of the paradox of giving. Sometimes, I question myself, “Why am I doing all these?” It’s easy for us complain and make excuses rather than see the blessings in disguise. And, in many instances, transcendence happens in the act of giving one’s self.

In the next few weeks, ask yourself:

“Who can I bless today?”
“Where is God calling me to gather resources for others?”
“How can I see the blessing in disguise?”

God bless you!

Merlin

NOW, NOW, NOW

October 11, 2013 Merlin Gonzales KIOM, Message, Ministry, Testimony

On early Sunday morning 10/6, I was awaken by a short but vivid dream. I was looking at a piece of white bond paper. On the top of it (the Title) was written 2 words.

(I can’t remember the first word) but the second word is NOW.

There were 2 subtitles, each with a descriptive paragraph. Both of the subtitles were a single word that has NOW in the middle of it. They look like this:

____NOW____

I didn’t remember the exact words but here’s the example – ackNOWledge.

So, my dream contained 3 NOW words and all capitalized. I’m not a dream interpreter but when a same thing appeared 3 times, it means it’s happening now!

For those of you who are parents, you can appreciate this – parents want to speak to their children all the time. However, when children grow up, they are normally too busy to talk or to listen to their parents. As adults, we have crammed so much in our 24-day. Many times, we miss some intimate and sacred moments with God.

Biblically, God speaks to us in many ways, one way is through dreams. I believe that God is reminding us that the Kingdom of God is in our midst (Luke 17:21) – NOW. Where ever you are, if you are a Christian, the Kingdom is within you…NOW.

Similar to the 2 words that encapsulated the word NOW, our lives could be busy or we are just not paying attention to what God is saying to us. If you look closely in life circumstances, within a seemingly chaotic event, God is there with you. You might be traveling, doing business transaction, happy or sad…God is saying to us, “look again!”

Apply this principle with your family and friends who are in a difficult situation. Encourage them; you can actually speak life in their lives that can change their perspectives and give them hope. A simple word change a person’s eternal destiny.

Last Sunday, at a church, I shared my dream with 3 people whom I thought would be receptive to the word NOW. Although each of them are in different stage of their lives, I saw immediate change in their posture and demeanor. They were very thankful and it gave them courage and confidence that God is always there for them.

If we ackNOWledge God, we will experience more of His Kingdom manifesting in our lives. Even if you think NOWay or you are sNOWed under. He is there with you. Look again!

I know, there’s more to the dream, so I encourage you to give me feedback or let me know what you think. God bless you! Believe me He is with you right NOW.

Hunger and Crime in Our Midst

October 4, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Food Pantry, FHL Indiana, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

An example of a Missional Community

I came to the US in 1984 to work for a cruise ship based in Miami. After a year, I moved to Indianapolis with a huge dream and a pocket with just a few dollars in it. I thought I can have anything I want if I just work hard, after all, I will be a citizen in the Land of Opportunity. After 3 years, I found myself working 3 jobs and hardly sleeps. In less than 12 years, I found myself broke and depressed.

Many of us have big dreams but then, life happens. When you walk in the streets of a super power country – the United States, you will meet the new poor and a multitude of hungry people, both physically and spiritually hungry.

According to the latest US Census Bureau, the number of children living in poverty in Marion County is up 81% since 2000. This means an estimated 62,287 children under the age of 18 are living in poverty, that’s 1 out of 4 children in the county . Two of Indianapolis neighborhoods are listed in the top 25 Most Dangerous neighborhoods in the US. Yes, poverty and crime are closer than you think. You don’t need to cross the oceans to be in a mission field. They’re here!

What if we start looking together for resources right here in our own backyard. What if we can connect those in need and those who have more than enough? What if our food pantries become a place where food comes second only to relationships?

In less than 3 years, Faith Hope and Love helped start and incubate 14 food pantries. The idea for these pantries are to be self-sustained in 6 months. This means that each of them should have developed a strong community that watch after each other’s back. They should have developed relationships in and around their neighborhoods so they will have a volunteer base willing to help at least once a month, build connections and active support from different organizations such as businesses, churches and other non-profits and, they have engaged their neighborhoods so they can reach out to those in need and receive assistance from those who have more than enough.

This will be the focus of FHL in the coming years, to build missional communities that work together not only to address physical hunger but also the spiritual hunger. We believe in the grassroots movement instead of the top down approach. We believe that missional communities are possible if we embrace relationship over programs. We believe that the answer to hunger and crime is not food and guns, but relationships.

In authentic relationships, you find acceptance, you will find people that work with their hearts, not with their hands and you will see a community similar to that of the Book of Acts. That’s why the volunteers at FHL are very excited to share with you the energized mission at the breakfast at Maggiano’s on 11/6 7:30a. You will find more info Here.

Authentic relationships with God and with others (The Greatest Commandment) will solve the hunger and the crime in our midst.

Harvest and sowing

September 6, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Food Pantry, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

Fresh Corn from the heart of Indiana

Early part of this year, we received a large amount of corn seed from one of our ministry partners. They are distributor of corn, soy beans and other seeds. I contacted one of our friends who farms. She agreed to plant the corn, tender and harvest them.

Today, my wife and I were so blessed to see hundreds of fresh newly harvested-corn at their farm. We went around Indianapolis to deliver the corn to 6 different organizations. We were so blessed to see the smiles and the gratitude of the recipients. It is interesting to see how happy people were when they receive the corn! The $ value of the corn was not that much but what made the recipients smile was our thoughts of them. It’s the same thing as giving away bottled water. A bottled water cost less than .50 cents but it’s the thought of giving unconditionally that count.

As the deliveries ended, I was just reminded of how a “Missional Community” would look like – similar to what I had just witnessed. Someone provided the seed, someone planted and tendered it and I was blessed to be the delivery man.

We are all distributors of God’s blessings to people around us. How cool is it to give away God’s unlimited blessings to others. As you go about this weekend or your week, keep thinking that you can be a conduit of God’s blessings to others. It may be just a smile or just giving a cold cup of water to others – just as the Bible says. You may be harvesting blessings for you and your family as you sow simple acts of kindness to others.

FHL Week 2013: Heal the Land

August 7, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Indiana, FHL Week, Kindness Weekends

We were blessed to work with Great Lakes Region INROADS Inc, for the first time to mobilize volunteers for this cleanup. INROADS sent about nine of the twelve volunteers who participated in the neighborhood cleanup. A local homeowner , who owns two homes in the area, helped with the cleanup for the first time as well.

Our thanks to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful for arranging to have a thirty yard dumpster placed in the cleanup area. This dumpster is being used to store trash collected during the cleanup until the dumpster is removed from the area.

The following areas were cleaned:

Graceland Avenue from 38th Street to 39th Street, sidewalks medians and street gutters;

West 39th Street from Boulevard Place to Capitol Avenue, sidewalks and street gutters;

Kenwood Avenue/Illinois Street alley, 38th Street to 40th Street, large items removed;

Capitol Avenue/Graceland Avenue alley, 38th Street to 40th Street, large items removed.

The dumpster provided through KIB was filled to about two thirds of the dumpster capacity with trash collected during the cleanup. Water and snacks were made available to all volunteers, who worked for about two hours to help to continue to clean this neighborhood.

There are at least two homes in this neighborhood that are being renovated.

We continue our relationship with the Tree of Life Church at 40th Street and Boulevard Place. The resident of the house that is adjacent to our meeting place came out of her home to see us and spend time with us. We are thankful to serve her and other residents of this area.

After the cleanup was finished, the area where we had worked was checked for stray tools, trash bags or piles of debris. None of these items were left behind by the cleanup crew.

It seems that I do not have have the words to adequately express my thanks to the Lord for all I have seen him do in this neighborhood. Even so, I give Him my thanks.

My THANKS!!!!!!!! to all who have supported this neighborhood through: prayer, street ministry, local congregations, cleanups, city services and home renovation.
Bill Lamb
Faith Hope and Love