Nathan Chitty Weblog

Google Search and remembering Bill

I did a Google search on my web log this morning and saw something I had not seen before. it was a reference to web log entry I did three years ago about a homeless man named Bill. I had done that entry and an entry of a youtube video (3,800 hits) mindmap of Bill's telling me about his life. Bill had AIDS and has passed away but he was bright soul and I appreciated knowing him.

Bill

This entry originally in July, 2007

I was sitting on the last row of seats at church this morning next to a homeless man named Bill. Here is his picture.

Bill was there because he had met someone from our church in the last week who helped him and Bill had promised to come to church on Sunday. Bill said he looked around but could not find him. I said that maybe God had me there in his place. We sat there talking. Bill was born and raised in Dothan Alabama which is in the southeast corner of Alabama. He was raised there and attended school thru 8th grade. He is now 58 years old born in 1949. I asked him if he needed anything and he paused not answering. I asked him, do you need some money? He said he wanted to stay at the Salavation Army place and it was $9 a day. I said I would help him out. I had left my wallet in my golf bag from yesterday and we walked back to my car. We were talking all the way. He walked with a limp having suffered a stroke a year ago. He showed me his left foot, it was crooked turning to the outside. He said it had been that way since the stroke and caused him to "walk funny." Anyway we got to the car and I opened up the trunk which had my golf clubs. He asked if I was a professional golfer, I smiled and said no. We got my ATM card and proceeded to walk 3 blocks west to the old Church Street Exchange complex me getting to know him a bit and his life. We got to the ATM and I gave him $100 and I asked him if I could take his picture to remember him. He was so thankful. He gave me a big hug and immediately began telling me what he was going to do with the money. "I am going to buy a new pair of shoes from the Salvation Army Thrift Shop, get something to eat and have a place to stay all week. Thank you Jesus." Before we left, I wished him well and went back home.

One more thing, I asked him to tell me his last name again and he said "Feagins" rolling up is right sleeve to show a tatoo with his name. He said "I got this in Cambodia" and I replied: "you were in Vietnam?" and he said yes. With his birth year in 1949, he would have been 18 years old in 1967, that is about right. I did not ask him why he said Cambodia. I wonder what his war life was like and if it contributed to his current life.

Bill and a Mind Map

This entry originally in July, 2007

I went to early church this morning, parked my car about a block west of church and was walking across the street. Bill came riding up quickly and stopped his bike with his shoes (the brakes don't work). He was glad to see me and I was glad to see him. I spent about an hour with him taking him to breakfast and listening about the last two weeks since I last saw him in church. I men Bill almost a month ago.

When I got home there was so much that we talked about, I did not know how I could efficiently and effectively write about it so I decided to use the Inspiration Software I downloaded last night to create a Mind Map of the conversation as much as I could remember. This mind map on the left below is made using the "rapid fire" feature and the thoughts are not connected. The mind map on the right has the thoughts connected to themes and is not in chronological order (click each image to read detail):

 

I don't see a clear path to how I can help Bill but I want to find a way. He is a gifted human being and a kind person who should be helped. Let me end with entry with a "youtube" video of my conversation with Bill this morning by narrating the mind map. If you want to follow along the youtube video with the topics, click the image above on the right and print that mind map.

Bill recites the Lord's Prayer

This entry originally in July, 2007

I went to early church this week and sat with Bill, a homeless guy I met last week at church (see picture and entry from June 29th).

Bill is a gentle soul, 58 years old, a vietnam veteran and disabled from a stroke. I spent about 30 minutes after the service talking with him, asking about his week. It was very touching, he said he appreciated me talking with him and listening to him.

He had on the "new" shoes on that he bought from last week and a clean shirt. He was able to stay in the Salvation Army shelter during the week until last night when he slept under a bridge. I gave him the cash I had, about $75, which mainly came from the "Trunkslammers" winnings. An approporiate use for it.

During the service, there was a time for the Lord's Prayer. He recited it by heart using the "trespasses" wording instead of the more current "forgive our debts" which I thought was interesting. Bill is a very spiritual person, he expresses a lot of faith in Jesus and faith that his life will improve.

Bill says he wants to start a lawn business and wants to save up for a lawn mower and weed eater. I really don't think that is practical with his stoke injury but I am going to find out how to help someone like this. He is a good person.

We talked about how he got to Orlando, he has been here for 9 years. He moved here with his wife but she died a few years ago from leukemia.

We walked down the street and he asked me if I would like to have a soda, I said sure. He pulled out the cash that I gave him and handed me $2. I did not refuse. He wanted to buy me something so I let him. I thought he wanted to go to a coffee shop.

I gave him a ride to the homeless shelter on Central. It is a scary looking place. I will see him next week at church.

Sermon on "Doing Life Together" by Rev. Donna McClellan

This is the summer vacation period for Dr. Swanson, the senior pastor at church so we get to hear from other staff. Today's sermon was by Rev. Donna McClellan on Romans 12.

This is a great passage of scripture. We all have different gifts to share with others. I think my gift may be more in encouragement.

I came to church today expecting to see Bill. I met him at church two weeks ago and saw him last week. He did not come this week. When I went last week I sat in the same spot on the last row in the back of the church and Bill met me there. He had promised to come back last week which he did.

Today I thought of Bill when I read Verse 16 from the Romans 12 Sermon passage "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited."

Bill appears to be like an angel in a way. He is very positive and happy despite his circumstances. I was happy to help him but he really helped me. I have been to church three weeks in a row in a long time. I feel inspired to get the family going back again regularly.

Sermon on Marriage

This week David Swanson preached on Marriage from the Ephesians 5:21-33 passage. The title of his sermon was "The Toughest Years Come After the Wedding." He provided a historical context for the role of women in the ancient world where they did not have rights. This guidance is a radical departure from conventional marriage relationships.

This passage is easy to take out of context as is true with many biblical references. It is very helpful to study within the context and language of the time. I was first exposed to this approach by Dr. Kenneth Baily in the late 1980's. He is a middle eastern scholar who lectured at our church then as a visiting Theologian in Residence. I liked his book Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes which is available on Amazon.

Ephesians 5:21-33

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—

30 for we are members of his body.

31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."   

32 This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church.

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
NIV

"United We Stand" Sermon and Habitat for Humanity

I attended the early service (8:30 am) and heard Dr. Wright preach. His scripture passage was Roman 12:1-8 and his topic was about how Christians interact with government among other things. I will post a transcript and link in a few days along with a bio of Dr. Wright.

Dr. Wright does not get a chance to preach often because that duty is done by the Sr. Minister, David Swanson. Dr. Wright did a great job with thoughtful content while being a bit nervous. I can certainly understand being nervous in front of such a crowd. He is a kind, thoughtful and sincere man.

After the sermon there was a delightful testimonial given by Johnetha. Here is a picture I took of her after church with her daughter. Johnetha gave her story of being a single mother and approaching Habitat for Humanity about building a house for she and her daughter. It was inspiring. After the service I spoke with Wally Miller about getting involved with that work. I think it would be wonderful.

Habitat was started in Orlando by my good friend Walter Pharr, a longtime member of the church a true Christian gentleman. Walter is a member of the "Greatest Generation" having been a bomber pilot in WWII and having been a builder and developer in Orlando since WII. He is now in his late 80's in retirement but not forgotten. I was speaking with a Habitat Board Member, Wally Miller, afterwards and he related to me how Walter has gotten him involved with Habitat nine years ago. I think it would be interesting to study the geneology of mentorship. Walter would have many roots.

Church was great today.

We go to First Presbyterian Church of Orlando in downtown Orlando (since 1986). I am a deacon there. It is really a satisifying job. I enjoy it a lot.

The minister is David Swanson.

Today's sermon "Share the Starter" was quite inspiring. The "Starter" refers to bread starter. The scripture today was from Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Judges 2:8-14.

Consider taking a few minutes to read the transcriptDownload 20070624_transcript_fpco.pdf or see the video .

David has a great sense of humor in part because he is does not shy away from being vulnerable with his own life and mistakes. He is a real person with a message.

Media replays of Sermons

David's sermons (and the other staff's too)  are available on in full text, audio podcast or video stream.

His message last week on Father's Day was quite touching. My father was not perfect but he was wonderful.

The content on the internet is amazing. Here is the interface. You can read a transcript, see the video or hear audio.