How Do You Deal With Beggars on the Street Asking for Money?

A Pre-Thanksgiving Meditation...

eddie

Hello World,

I’m just going to go ahead and say or rather write what is impolite to say and or write. So beggars get on my nerves. I know they shouldn’t because I’m a Christian and all and what Jesus would do is love everyone, particularly beggars on the street asking for money….but I’m not Jesus…I’m despicably human…But Jesus must be convicting me to change my stance on beggars because I swear for the last month beggars been coming out of the woodwork asking me for money EVERYWHERE I go…like God put a beggar hit on me or something…

It (my month-long encounter with beggars everywhere I go that is) all started one night about two weekends before Halloween. I was heading out to a restaurant on Marietta Street to meet some friends as my friends and I were celebrating a friend’s brand new phase in her life that will be unidentified in this public forum…So it’s about 9 p.m. or so and I was a little lost. I drove into the driveway of an apartment complex so that I could turn my car around and go in a different direction. Just as I was about to cross the threshold of the driveway, a woman whose clothes were disheveled and hair was askew rolled toward my window in an electric wheelchair. Being the defensive driver that I am and knowing what she was about to do, I pretended to think that she merely wanted to cross in front of me so I quickly backed up my car as far as I could. That meant that she was forced to either keep rolling or maneuver her wheelchair all the way back to where I was in the driveway waiting for her to do the right thing – keep it moving and let me be on my way without having to consider her solicitation. I chuckled as I recounted the story to my girls a few minutes later. I told them that I didn’t think she was all that needy. I mean she was in an electric wheelchair! They chuckled along with me. But they also told me an electric wheelchair is pretty standard these days so she really could have been in need and I was acting awfully privileged…

So the friend who was being celebrated texted me a few days later about a woman at a gas station asking her for money. Rather than avoid the woman as I did a few days earlier, she allowed the woman to at least pitch her. She told my friend that she was living in her car, but my friend, who was skeptical, politely declined her request. However, as my friend made her way back to her car, she noticed the woman in her car. She was crying and her car seemed to be filled with all of her earthly belongings. My friend went up to the woman’s car, apologized for her initial response and gave her some money. She told me that since this happened a few days after our conversation, she felt it meant something. I agreed especially since I’m supposed to be Christian and all. Instead of shunning beggars on the street asking for money, I would have “good will” toward everybody.

That lasted until a few days later when a beggar in Panda Express asked me for money. Although I had a hole in my stomach, I stopped when the man walked up to me and said he and his son were hungry and could I spare a few dollars. Since we were actually still in the restaurant, I offered to buy him and his son some food at the restaurant. The man told me he son DIDN’T LIKE Chinese food and that money was his preferred method of benevolence. Okay, he didn’t use those words, but that is what he was saying. I was incensed and hungry. I was like, You know what dude, that’s all I have to offer because I have no cash on me – which I didn’t. Obviously, I went back to my original stance. Don’t start none, won’t be none. If I think you’re about to beg for money, I’m going in the opposite direction.

So every Sunday as I go to church, I stop at the corner of Greenbriar Parkway because there is a stoplight there. For a few years now, there are people who are selling copies of the AJC on one side of the intersection, but for the last several months, I noticed a beggar has set up shop on the opposite corner where he asks for money every Sunday morning. I cannot help but think this man has strategically positioned himself on the opposing corner because many people stop there to get their Sunday newspaper which is the issue to get because it is chock full of coupons but I digress…I’m thinking if you can show up to beg every Sunday, why can’t you ask to get a job selling newspapers with the dudes on the other side of the street or show up somewhere else on the regular and work?

stock option movie posterSo like two Sundays ago, the pastor speaks about the rich man and Lazarus the beggar and how the rich man even refused to give Lazarus the beggar the crumbs from his table and how the rich man went to Hell and Lazarus the beggar (Why is the rich man not named and Lazarus was named…) went to Heaven…I’m like, Okay, Lord, I hear you but I was trying to give a man some food from Panda Express not crumbs and he turned me down. And then like a week later, I was flipping through channels and came across this sweet movie “Stock Option” on TV One. In this movie, which is set in Atlanta, a model ends up falling in love with this homeless guy who used to beg her for money after he saved her from an attack one night. The homeless guy was actually a former stockbroker who made one bad decision and ended up being on the street as a result. So between Lazarus the beggar and the hot, homeless, former stockbroker guy, I’m like, Okay, Lord, I will be nice to all of your children even the ones begging me for money.

But dang it, if I didn’t have two more encounters with beggars on the street asking me for money that canceled out Lazarus and the hot, homeless stockbroker…On Saturday, I went to an Atlanta Association of Black Journalists meeting where food was served. I wasn’t hungry, but I wrapped up a few of the roll-up sandwiches and took them with me for later. Well, later, I still wasn’t particularly hungry and I didn’t want to leave them in my car so I took them with me as I walked around Little Five Points trying to find some cowry shell earrings. I figured if I saw someone who looked hungry, I could offer my sandwiches. Well, within five minutes of leaving my car, a man sitting on some concrete blocks asks me for money. I told him I didn’t have any cash, but I had these sandwiches if he was hungry. Dude said, and I’m quoting here, “I’m good on food.” Smh…And then on Monday, as I was getting ready to go into a courthouse, man, who was color-coordinated in red from head to toe although his lips were curiously dry and his eyes were wild, asked me for money. I didn’t even listen to his sob story because I’ve been so inundated with beggars lately, I just pulled out my wallet and gave him a dollar. I know that’s not a lot of money but that is a long way from backing up my car as fast as I can to avoid a beggar in an electric wheelchair. So the chapped-lipped and crazy-eyed man said, “Thank you” BEFORE telling me he noticed I had other dollars in my wallet. I’m not playing. I nearly lost my religion.

I say alladat to say, how do you deal with beggars on the street asking for money? Because I can’t deal. But I don’t want to go to Hell.

Help!

Any thoughts?

Grammy Award-Winner Tasha Cobbs & More Perform at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church for One Place Live Tour! (PHOTOS)

Tasha Cobbs

Tasha Cobbs

Hello World,

Last night, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was rocking as Grammy Award Winner Tasha Cobbs brought her sold out, multi-city One Place Live tour to the church!

The Atlanta tour stop featured gospel artists Kierra Sheard, William Murphy and Vaughn Phoenix. Special invited guests in attendance included: BET Sunday Best Winner Dathan Thigpen, BET Sunday Best contestant Zebulon Ellis, Isaac Carree, Ted Winn, Lawrence Flowers, BMI’s Catherine Brewton and more. The sold-out tour also included a live remote from Atlanta’s Stellar Award Winning gospel radio station, Praise 102.5. Cobbs’ latest album, ‘One Place Live,’ is available in stores and online now! See photos from last night below!

Tasha Cobbs

Tasha Cobbs

Tasha Cobb

Tasha Cobbs

 Kierra Sheard

Kierra Sheard

 Kierra Sheard

Kierra Sheard

Kierra got so crunk, she lost her wig for a second! WOW!

But you can’t keep a child of God down, her “wigologist” was there to save the day…

William Murphy

William Murphy

William Murphy

William Murphy

A packed house

A packed house

Praise and worship

Praise and worship

If you did not make last night, you still have more opportunities to check out the One Place Live tour!!! See the flyer below!!!

oneplace

For tickets to the One Place Live tour, go to eventbrite.com!

Any thoughts?

The Top 10 Blog Posts and or Articles for Black Christian Women in October 2015

Pastor Virzola Law, Pastor Shonda Reynolds Christian and Robert Edwards, missionary

Pastor Virzola Law, Pastor Shonda Reynolds Christian and Roberta Edwards, missionary

Hello World,

I’m back with another list of  interesting blog posts and or articles for black Christian women that intrigued me as a black Christian woman ( but you don’t have be a black Christian woman to to check them out:) ! ) Let me know if you like my list! Enjoy


1. “1st Sermon for Lindenwood Christian Church’s First Black, Female Pastor” by WMCActionNews5.com Staff

Excerpt: Pastor Virzola Law had been a guest speaker at Lindenwood on several occasions before she was voted in as pastor in June of 2015. In her first sermon, Pastor Law focused on unity. “I’m just amazed you called somebody as tanned and beautiful as I am to be your pastor,” Law said. See more at: wmcactionnews5.com.

2. “Tenn. Assoc. Disfellowships Church With Female Pastor” by David Roach

Excerpt: After Greater Tabernacle called Shonda Reynolds Christian as pastor in June, “we asked them to reconsider,” Lawrence Association director of missions Mike Kemper told BP. “They took two weeks, and they called us back and said, ‘We have decided to keep our woman pastor.’ So really, they made their own decision about that, knowing the consequences and knowing what would come.” See more at: bpnews.net.

3.“For Brown Girls Who Considered Leaving the Church When the Sexism Was Too Much” by The Churched Feminist

Excerpt: Let’s break that down even further: single Black women are a large percentage of black church membership. But I have not encountered many single Black female Christians who were happy and content with the so-called “singles’ ministries” of the churches they attend. The lack of attention to this large segment of the church renders them invisible. Add to that the erasing effect stereotypes have upon Black female humanity and I think becomes clear why some brown girls have considered leaving the church when the sexism got to be too much. See more at: thechurchedfeminist.com.

4. ”Roberta’s Mission: Decatur Men Carrying on Work of American Missionary Killed in Haiti” by Catherine Godbey

Excerpt: JoJo is one of the tens of thousands of women and children Edwards reached through her 19 years of mission work in Haiti. While her children’s home housed 20 orphans, the 55-year-old Tennessee woman ran a nutrition center that fed 160 children twice a day, oversaw a sewing program for women, managed the chicken coop and distributed food to three orphanages.In a country with an illiteracy rate of 52 percent, Edwards demanded the children at SonLight learn how to read. Encouraged by Edwards’ efforts, a girl, who at one time lived on the streets, received admission into Freed-Hardeman University. Held accountable by the woman he called “mom,” a boy attended and graduated from medical school. See more at: decaturdaily.com.

5. “Pentecostal Minister Rev. Leah Daughtry Is 2016 Democratic National Convention CEO” by Faithfully Magazine Staff

Excerpt: Daughtry, 52, grew up in Brooklyn steeped in political and civil-rights activism. She’s the eldest child of the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of the House of the Lord Church, whose ministry mixes the all-in fervor of Pentecostal Christianity with doses of black liberation theology. Leah Daughtry followed in the family tradition. She is an ordained Pentecostal minister with a small congregation in Southwest Washington, a member of the fifth generation of pastors in her family. See more at: faithfullymagazine.com.

6. “Susanna Wesley, Joan of Arc, Rosa Parks and Other Ordinary-Extraordinary Women God Used to Change the World” by Nicola Menzie

Excerpt: In Seven Women, author Eric Metaxas offers up little-known details about the inspiring lives of seven women, including Susanna Wesley, mother of vastly influential Christian ministers John and Charles Wesley; Joan of Arc, the teen martyr who changed the course of a war with claims of being guided by “voices;” and Rosa Parks, whose decision to say “no” led to her becoming the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” See more at: christianpost.com.

7. What Leaders Can Learn From Black Churches About Keeping Team Members Engaged” by Tara-Nicholle Nelson

Excerpt: Black churches have their own issues, to be sure. But one thing many of them do well is foster a culture of conversation. Here’s an anthropological experiment for you: If you’ve never attended a black church, take two hours this Sunday and do so. You’ll learn, quickly, that a black church service is not a spectator sport. Black pastors are notorious for engaging their audiences in a two-way conversation. They look for, expect and sometimes flat out demand audience participation from the first note of the first song to the closing benediction. It’s not for nothing that the saying “Can I get an amen?” has penetrated the larger lexicon. See more at: entrepreneur.com.

salt

8. “‘Salt’: New Talk Show For Black Christian Millennials Hits YouTube” by Hello Beautiful Staff

Excerpt: Hosted by Michelle Jenkins, Yeira De Leon, J. Jones, and L.A. Bonds, Salt will engage in no-holds-barred conversations ranging from news of the day to beauty, fashion and colorism in the Black community. The four outspoken women will also keep it real about their own personal relationships. Whether married, single or somewhere in between (think Netflix and Chill), Salt wants to add its flavor to your Sundays. With a focus on faith and Christianity, Salt’s goal is not just to entertain. According to a statement released exclusively to Newsone, the women also want to “win back the lost.” See more at: hellobeautiful.com.

9.”Joy105.com CEO Crystal Smith on the Black church and Min. Farrakhan” by Mo Barnes

Excerpt: Is there room for his message in the Black church? This is a decision that lies on every pastor individually. I have known of Minister Farrakhan speaking in churches and I have heard leaders state they would never have him in their church. I often shake at the phrase “black church.” I am a firm believer in the Holy Bible and it speaks in Eph. 5:27 of a “glorious church” that God is coming back for. I didn’t see a color associated with it; therefore, I choose to be a part of the one He is coming back for. Minister Farrakhan is a voice to the Black community, like him or not. See more at: rollingout.com.

10. ”Empire’ Takes Spiritual Warfare Of Good Versus Evil To New Level by Oretha Winston

Excerpt: Andre chose to be baptized and invited his father. Luscious showed up, but was repulsed by the scene as it forced him to recall ugly memories. This is a classic case of  evil co-opting a good experience and tainting it. Luscious could not see the beauty of his son’s redemption because it was ruined by the memory of abuse.  He is one of the-nonbelievers in our spaces who can drag spiritual baggage into your presence. Many who  are dragging spiritual baggage are left in bondage. Luscious is left chained. The writers chose to dive deeply into the theological realm of walking demons. You saw  the spirit of sensuality, seduction, selfishness and arrogance all make an appearance. Romans 12:21 Paul tells us to defeat evil with good.  It is the fulfilling of  ‘You reap that which you sow.’ See more at: elev8.hellobeautiful.com.

These pieces didn’t make my “Top 10” list, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.

Honorable Mentions:

“Black-ish Recap: Say Yes to the Blessed” by Nichole Perkins

Excerpt: Although Bow and Dre decide that neither church is the one for them, they both agree they like attending some kind of service, and decide to look for something that suits them and their family. Bow reveals she likes being connected to something bigger than herself. There are jokes about the length of service and about how many people end up on the “sick and shut-in” list, but there is also recognition of the significance of black churches in America. Dre points out how instrumental black churches have been as places of community and solidarity, from slavery through the civil-rights movement and beyond. See more at: vulture.com.

“York churches celebrate merger 50 years later” by Caitlin Kerfin

Excerpt: Fifty years ago this December, Faith Presbyterian and First Presbyterian churches in York merged. It was one of a few such religious mergings of its kind in the country, with a white and black church coming together, congregation member Virginia Hunter said. She was born and raised in the Faith Presbyterian Church. John Noble, Hunter’s great-grandfather, was one of the founders of Faith Presbyterian in the 1890s. In the 1960s, the congregation was predominately African-American with less than 100 members. Their building was small and in need of some repairs, but the church wasn’t in a very good financial situation. They weren’t able to support a full-time minister. See more at: ydr.com.

So how did you like my best articles and blog posts for black Christian women October roundup? Did I miss anything?

Any thoughts?