[lost]

A youth came in to MFP today in suicidal crisis because he didn't know where else to go.

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THAT is the kind of agency we are.

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Thank God.

[time]

Time is neutral. It can be used either destructively or constructively. I am coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.

---- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Letter From Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963)

[rest in peace, beloved]

In honor of Sue Creed who passed away around 4pm today....

The Message version of this favorite Psalm of hers...

Psalm 91

You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you're perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

^14-16 "If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God,
"I'll get you out of any trouble.
I'll give you the best of care
if you'll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I'll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!"

Also, watch this: Jes reading the feminist version of Psalm 91.

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Peace to you in the next, Sue... be loved, beloved.

[woman at the well]

Leah posted this earlier today.

To be loved is to be known....

I.love.it.

Why wasn't I introduced to spoken word before moving to California?

[Gospel truths from a homeless kid]

[I walk onto the patio to encounter a client sitting on the ground with a book in his lap, eating fruit snacks.]

me: Oh you're reading 'The Key to a Successful Life', that sounds promising.

client: what do you mean?

me: I mean, it sounds like if you want a successful life you have to read the book.

client: Naw... that's for douchebags.

me: Why's that?

client: Because people that are successful... people that have money... they're all mad and shit.

me: What do you mean?
client: People with lots of money have problems man... I'm poor and I'm happy everyday! More money means more things to worry about.

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This is Gospel... Scripture... Truth... from the mouth of a homeless kid. Just the way Jesus likes it.