Comments on: Manna Bags http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: guest http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4253 guest Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:38:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4253 I do this already.  I keep granola bars in my car at all times.  Sometimes for my girls but mostly for any homeless people I see asking for food/money.  I have had them refused before and have been asked for money instead. I just tell them that isn't what I can offer.   My girls love seeing them handed out. I do this already.  I keep granola bars in my car at all times.  Sometimes for my girls but mostly for any homeless people I see asking for food/money.  I have had them refused before and have been asked for money instead. I just tell them that isn’t what I can offer.   My girls love seeing them handed out.

]]> By: Mark Merrill http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4249 Mark Merrill Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:35:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4249 Thanks Nancy for your thoughts! Thanks Nancy for your thoughts!

]]> By: Mark Merrill http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4250 Mark Merrill Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:35:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4250 Rachel, pleased you like the idea and thanks for your input! Rachel, pleased you like the idea and thanks for your input!

]]> By: Rachel http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4245 Rachel Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:48:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4245 I only give them lunch if my heart tells me too. But I would say adding a gospel track and a location for shelter and food, I would be more prepared for each individual by making these bags. They get a little bit of God and somewhere to go. All we do is quickly pass by b/c the light usually changes too fast and these baggies will work just for that purpose. Love it. I only give them lunch if my heart tells me too. But I would say adding a gospel track and a location for shelter and food, I would be more prepared for each individual by making these bags. They get a little bit of God and somewhere to go. All we do is quickly pass by b/c the light usually changes too fast and these baggies will work just for that purpose. Love it.

]]> By: Nancy Pyle Frier http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4244 Nancy Pyle Frier Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:44:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4244 Mark, This is a great idea and I've heard of it from a dear friend as well.  I have thought about the money aspect, the trash aspect, and the fact that some of the most unclean looking people are also going to be on the street corners scamming those of us that have the heart to give.  I don't have the scripture reference at hand, but the verse about God sends the rain and it rains on the deserving and undeserving.  It's an effort for our flesh to give whether folks are deserving or not, because let's face it, none of us deserve most of what we're blessed with.  It's not for us to judge what we don't know, and unless we love people right where they're at on their journey, the love of Jesus in us cannot be displayed.  He first loved us, so we must love the unloveable as we once were :)  Nancy Mark,
This is a great idea and I’ve heard of it from a dear friend as well.  I have thought about the money aspect, the trash aspect, and the fact that some of the most unclean looking people are also going to be on the street corners scamming those of us that have the heart to give.  I don’t have the scripture reference at hand, but the verse about God sends the rain and it rains on the deserving and undeserving.  It’s an effort for our flesh to give whether folks are deserving or not, because let’s face it, none of us deserve most of what we’re blessed with.  It’s not for us to judge what we don’t know, and unless we love people right where they’re at on their journey, the love of Jesus in us cannot be displayed.  He first loved us, so we must love the unloveable as we once were :)  
Nancy

]]> By: Agd_t2004 http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-4243 Agd_t2004 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:41:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-4243 the passing out of food in mr. merrill's blog was about teaching his kids to be compassionate. but safety should be the first priority and parking in areas surrounded by strangers with different survival habits is way too scary. my friends, along with their kids, regularly volunteer at food lifeline. it's a safer way to teach compassion without putting the kids in harm's way. the passing out of food in mr. merrill’s blog was about teaching his kids to be compassionate. but safety should be the first priority and parking in areas surrounded by strangers with different survival habits is way too scary. my friends, along with their kids, regularly volunteer at food lifeline. it’s a safer way to teach compassion without putting the kids in harm’s way.

]]> By: Danandesther http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-2117 Danandesther Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:22:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-2117 I think this is a wonderful ideal. I'm going to mention it to our Bible Study Group. My heart goes out to these people on the street and would love to give them something and the word will never return void. Thanks for this video. ELM I think this is a wonderful ideal. I’m going to mention it to our Bible Study Group. My heart goes out to these people on the street and would love to give them something and the word will never return void. Thanks for this video.
ELM

]]> By: dcjohnso http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-2116 dcjohnso Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:03:00 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-2116 I think this approach is better than buying them a cheeseburger and watching the fast food bags accumulate at their feet as they hold their sign "will work for food." This gives them nonperishable food to take to wherever they are staying. My concern is that if all we are doing is passing a bag of food out our car window to them we miss reaching their emotional needs. Many of these folks have not had someone just sit and listen to them in some time, showing them compassion and love by taking the time to listen and acknowledge their feelings and needs (emphasis on listening not talking). Could we not do better by parking our car, walking the bag to them and asking them to share their story or situation with us with the only agenda being to validate them as a human being and show the love of Christ. Perhaps we would find out some things that we could at least pray about with them and maybe even find a greater need that we can meet then just what is on their sign. The question is "Are we willing to take the time that may be necessary to show this kind of love?" I think this approach is better than buying them a cheeseburger and watching the fast food bags accumulate at their feet as they hold their sign “will work for food.” This gives them nonperishable food to take to wherever they are staying. My concern is that if all we are doing is passing a bag of food out our car window to them we miss reaching their emotional needs. Many of these folks have not had someone just sit and listen to them in some time, showing them compassion and love by taking the time to listen and acknowledge their feelings and needs (emphasis on listening not talking). Could we not do better by parking our car, walking the bag to them and asking them to share their story or situation with us with the only agenda being to validate them as a human being and show the love of Christ. Perhaps we would find out some things that we could at least pray about with them and maybe even find a greater need that we can meet then just what is on their sign. The question is “Are we willing to take the time that may be necessary to show this kind of love?”

]]> By: Family Time Ideas : FamilyVenue Buzz! http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-1067 Family Time Ideas : FamilyVenue Buzz! Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:55:33 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-1067 [...] in your hometown is to have a couple of manna bags in your car as shown in this video. [Check out: Manna Bags] Bike Streamer [...] [...] in your hometown is to have a couple of manna bags in your car as shown in this video. [Check out: Manna Bags] Bike Streamer [...]

]]> By: Dexter http://www.markmerrill.com/2010/06/08/manna-bags/comment-page-1/#comment-960 Dexter Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:13:40 +0000 http://www.familyminute.com/blog/?p=894#comment-960 unfortunately, some of those people don't want the bags. only money. some have refused food being handed to them, as they tend to make $100-$150/day standing on the corner in busy intersections. <br><br>i try not to encourage people to stand on the street corners by giving them anything, but instead help out in a soup kitchen, or donate the food to a shelter. unfortunately, some of those people don't want the bags. only money. some have refused food being handed to them, as they tend to make $100-$150/day standing on the corner in busy intersections.

i try not to encourage people to stand on the street corners by giving them anything, but instead help out in a soup kitchen, or donate the food to a shelter.

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