[BBC News]

A minister posed as a tramp and gatecrashed his own service to teach churchgoers about “acceptance”.

The Reverend Derek Rigby donned a wig and some torn clothes and surrounded himself with lager cans and syringes in the church doorway on Sunday morning.

Most of the congregation at the Trinity Methodist Church in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, ignored the intruder.

The vicar said most were “embarrassed” by their behaviour when he finally revealed himself during the service.

The former police officer had told the congregation he would be late for Sunday’s service, and only informed one church member of his true plans, in case anyone decided to dial 999.

Read more here.

[From me]

Matthew 25:35-36

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.‘

I wonder if I would have stopped. Looks can be deceiving. God loves everyone yet we build churches in suburban areas to reach those who look good.  We give a dollar here and there.  But do we really want them in our church or homes?  Ouch!  That will preach.

What do you think?

[WLZB]

A 48-year old Vermont man who earns a modest daily stipend for manning a Salvation Army kettle at the local shopping center now faces eviction from a homeless shelter because of his work. A staff member at the Good Samaritan Haven in Barre, Vermont notified Paul Tucker by letter this week that it “will no longer support individuals volunteering for the Salvation Army.

We provide housing for those trying to get their lives in order,” the letter said.

Tucker has lived at the shelter for about nine months, and hasn’t had a full-time job for most of that time.  He said he now earns a $20 stipend each day from the Salvation Army, which works out to $2 per hour.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I don’t remember the Good Samaritan giving a stipulation that the man have no job or he wouldn’t help him.  Isn’t the idea of these shelters to help people get back on their feet?  All this does is make people be lazy.  The man is trying to work but it it is only $20 a day.  Who could live in the US off of that?  I give this man props for working.  Don’t take away his desire to try.  This doesn’t make much sense.

What do you think?