Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings Serves Homeless

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

The SoupMobile's 7th Annual Celebrate Jesus Christmas Extravaganza is now over and in the books. We took 500 homeless men and women right off the streets of Dallas and put them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel for Christmas. They all received new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love, and we held a huge banquet for them and in their honor. Most important is that when they awoke on Christmas morning it was in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt, NOT in a cardboard box under some bridge.

More than 2,000 volunteers from the community came to the Hyatt and helped us with the event. The world famous Vocal Majority Chorus came (pro-bono) and performed for our homeless guests at the mega-banquet. The Hyatt Regency put on extra staff to make sure our homeless guests got the very best of service. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings came to the banquet in his tuxedo, rolled up his sleeves, and served the top of the line food to our homeless guests.

Here are some of the comments from the event:

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said: "They (the homeless) have given me the best Christmas I could ever have had."

Volunteer Cheron A. said: "OMG, OMG, I cried!!! This will be an event that I will never forget as long as I live."

Volunteer Shana T. said: "It was the most memorable event ever."

Homeless man Richard said: "Thank you SoupMan for caring about me."

Homeless child Morgana said when she got a giant Teddy Bear as a gift: "Thank you Santa."

The SoupMan said: "Our homeless guests didn't just receive great gifts and a wonderful stay at the Hyatt - they also received a huge infusion of love, caring, and compassion."

Yes, our 7th Annual event is over and we've already started planning for the 8th Annual event for December 24--25th, 2012. You won't want to miss it. Meanwhile remember that homeless issues are year-round. Please remember to support your favorite homeless charity throughout the year with both your volunteer time and your financial support.

2,000 years ago Jesus said "Feed MY Sheep.' It was NOT a suggestion. It was a call to action. Please give prayerful consideration to joining with the SoupMan and his fabulous SoupTeam as 'together' we go about our Father's business. More details about partnering with the SoupMobile can be found at www.soupmobile.org.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

p.s. Remember, you still have time to make a Tax Deductible Donation to the SoupMobile by Dec. 31st. Won't you please give this prayerful consideration. http://soupmobile.org/donatenow.php

Cowardly Men Abuse Homeless Woman

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I bring you the following story. It's a story about a homeless woman who goes by the street name 'Susie.' She was recently abused and degraded in a horrific incident at a local Dallas barbershop. Cowardly men shaved her head and eyebrows and tormented her.

The incident was captured on video and has gone viral on the Internet. This homeless woman was made sport of by the men in the barber shop. They treated her with the utmost disrespect and were cruel in both their actions and comments that were heard on the video.

The SoupMobile has had search teams looking for Susie for the past several days. We also have an 'investigator' who has extensive experience finding homeless people out searching for Susie. Our goal is to find her and bring her in from the cold.

Susie's story may be the tip of the iceberg. Over the past several years, stories and videos of gangs of thugs assaulting homeless people have become only too common. It's a hard, dirty, and difficult life if you are homeless. It's even worse if you have to fear for your safety every day. If you are a homeless man, life is extremely difficult, but if you are a homeless woman, life is almost impossible.

I shouldn't have to say this, but it's NOT okay to abuse homeless people either verbally or physically. They are not sub-human and they are not deserving of abuse. The vast majority of the homeless are good decent people. Yes, they are down on their luck, but decent people. These are real live human beings with feelings, hopes, dreams, and a desire to get out of homelessness.

The men in the barbershop that abused Susie are NOT men. They are cowards. Real men do not abuse women---homeless or otherwise. Real men do not make sport of abusing women. Real men do not degrade any homeless person. Yes, the men in the video are cowards.

So what can we do about this problem? Frankly there are no easy answers. As horrific as the Susie story is, we were lucky it was captured on video. We have a chance to find Susie and help her. We may also be able to bring the perpetrators to justice. Unfortunately, there is much abuse of the homeless that goes unreported. You can help by reporting any suspected abuse of the homeless to the authorities.

There is another way you can help. Christmas is just around the corner. Let this Christmas season be a time that you reach out in love and kindness to a homeless person. Maybe you volunteer at a charity that works with homeless people. Maybe you make a donation to a homeless cause. Maybe you pray for the homeless. Whatever you do, please know that homeless people need our help. I pray for a day when Susie stories will be a thing of the past. Let's all do our part to help make that prayer become a reality.

p.s. This video from Channel 11 is about the Susie story. Fair warning that some of the incidents in the video may make it difficult to watch.



May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

WINTER WONDERLAND!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

In 1934, songwriter Felix Bernard wrote one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. It was titled ‘Winter Wonderland’ and in the decades since, more than 150 different artists have recorded the song. It’s a song of fun, laughter, joy, and a celebration of winter.

And for some of us winter is indeed a time of merriment and good cheer. And why shouldn't it be? We live in nice homes or apartments, drive decent cars, have family and friends, and even if it gets a little cold outside we have the luxury of heat in our homes, cars, and offices. Ah yes, for most of us it’s truly a Winter Wonderland. But there's the rub----'For most of us'.

It seems a few people have fallen through the cracks. Actually, more than a few! In the Dallas area there are more than 10,000 homeless people. The lucky ones get to stay in shelters. However, there are thousands that are not so lucky. They spend their days on the streets and their nights sleeping in cardboard boxes, behind dumpsters, in abandoned buildings, and in the woods. For them it’s not a Winter Wonderland. It’s really more of a Winter Nightmare.

Oh you might be thinking that's too strong a statement---Winter Nightmare! But let’s look at it from the perspective of a homeless person. It’s the first week of December in Dallas and temperatures are hovering close to freezing. Making matters worse is that it’s been raining. Cold weather plus freezing rain is not just a little uncomfortable for a homeless person---it’s life threatening. Just imagine that tonight you go outside and stand in your backyard and get soaked in the freezing rain. Then imagine crawling in a cardboard box and trying to get dry and warm. Then imagine waking up in the freezing dawn with stiff limbs and damp clothes and no prospects for it getting any better. Then imagine doing it all winter.

Winter Wonderland for the homeless? I don't think so. Christmas is fast approaching. And while our nation has gone thru some tough economic times the last couple of years, most of us are doing okay. Maybe not great for everyone, but for most we are doing okay. What are your plans for Christmas? Are you giving or receiving? If you are going to be experiencing a fun Winter Wonderland, might you consider helping others?

In a Christmas event called CELEBRATE JESUS, the SoupMobile is taking 500 homeless right off the streets this Christmas and putting them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel. They will all get new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love, and we will throw a huge banquet for them and in their honor. Most important is that when the wake up on Christmas morning it will be in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt---NOT in a cardboard box under a bridge. Would you like a piece of this action??? Maybe you would like to volunteer with us at the Hyatt? Maybe you can't volunteer but would like to donate for the event? Can you do something to help? Most people can. It doesn't have to be a Million Dollars---but it could be. Maybe its $5. Only you know best how much of your Winter Wonderland you can share.

By the way, we practice what we preach. My wife Shana, a.k.a. The SoupGirl, and I make a pact every Christmas. We do NOT buy each other gifts. We take the money we would have spent and donate for the homeless at Christmas. We don't have a million to share but it’s more than $5. We are sharing of our Winter Wonderland. Won't you give prayerful consideration to doing the same? For more details on how you can volunteer or help financially, go to www.soupmobile.org and click on CELEBRATE JESUS.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Bah Humbug!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote a novel titled: A Christmas Carol. It features Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold hearted, tight fisted and greedy man who despises Christmas. Scrooges's catchphrase was 'Bah Humbug', which he used to express his disgust for Christmas.

Fast forward 168 years to 2011 and it's almost time for Christmas. However it seems that for many this holiday has turned into something even worse than 'Bah Humbug.' It's become so commercialized that many stores will be putting on Christmas sales in November. For many the holiday is all about what they are getting. Even worse Christmas has fallen into the politically correct category. Merry Christmas has become 'Happy Holidays' for fear we will offend someone.

To all of this modern day stuff the SoupMan says 'Bah Humbug.'

Bah Humbug to the commercialization of Christmas and Bah Humbug to 'Happy Holidays.'

For me Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus 2,000 years ago. More than that its about honoring his wishes. In the Bible Jesus talked about loving your fellowman. He did NOT talk about getting great gifts or being politically correct.

At the SoupMobile Christmas is all about giving a MERRY CHRISTMAS to 500 homeless men and women. (Yep, I said Merry Christmas). Don't get me started on that Happy Holidays stuff.

On December 24--25th the SoupMobile will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with its:

7th Annual Celebrate Jesus Christmas Extravaganza

In honor of Jesus and celebrating his birth 2,000 years ago the SoupMobile will be taking 500 homeless men and women right off the streets and put them up at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel for Christmas. They will all receive new clothes, fabulous gifts, lots of love and we hold a huge banquet for them and in their honor. Most important is that when they wake up on Christmas morning it’s in a warm safe bed at the Hyatt---NOT in a cardboard box under some bridge.

In Charles Dickens 1843 novel, Scrooge repents at the end, changes his ways and becomes a model of generosity and kindness. So what's Christmas going to look like for you this year? Are you getting or giving? If you are leaning towards the giving side, I might have just the thing for you. How about you come and volunteer with the SoupMan & his fabulous SoupTeam at the Hyatt Regency this December 24--25th as together we make 'Room at the Inn' for 500 homeless men and women and give them the most MERRY CHRISTMAS of their lives.

And guess what? As you give these 500 homeless men and women a MERRY CHRISTMAS you will experience the most MERRY CHRISTMAS of your own life. When you see the tears in their eyes and the smiles on their faces, your heart will be touched in ways it has never been before. Click on this link for more details - SoupMobile.org

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Every month I write a Blog on issues relating to the SoupMobile, Homelessness and helping the less fortunate in our community. This month I'm going to break out of that mold and write about something totally different.

On October 18th I will be celebrating my 3rd Wedding Anniversary with my amazing wife Shana. It's been three terrific, fantastic, glorious, blissful, dazzling, marvelous, splendid, off the chain, wondrous and groovy years.


Some say I lucked out when Shana showed up on the SoupMobile's doorstep many years ago. Those who say that would be absolutely right. I lucked out big time. More accurately God blessed me big time! Shana is a bouncing ball of love and kindness. She wears her heart on her sleeve and loves both people and animals. She volunteers at the SoupMobile helping the homeless and is also active in animal rescues. I often joke that her passion for helping others makes me look like a slacker but I think it's absolutely true!

When Shana agreed to marry me and said 'I Do' I felt like the most blessed man on the planet. And with our 3rd Wedding Anniversary coming up, I still feel the same way.

So how does Shana feel about me? Hmm, well you will have to ask her yourself but I'm thinking I must be doing okay because she hasn't sent me back yet under the Free Look Provision in our marriage contract. Oh yeah, I've been on Triple Secret Probation right from the get go! However, for whatever reason she seems to love me. She even says she 'digs' me!

A more realistic view may come from a quote by Judith Viorst in Redbook Magazine in 1975. She said,

"INFATUATION is when she thinks he's as sexy as Robert Redford, as smart as Henry Kissinger, as noble as Ralph Nader, as funny as Woody Allen, and as athletic as Jimmy Connors.

LOVE is when she realizes that you are as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic as Henry Kissinger and nothing like Robert Redford---but she will still take you anyway!"

I'm not sure which side of the fence Shana falls on---INFATUATION or LOVE---but I'm not going to quibble. I'm pretty sure I come off Triple Secret Probation on this upcoming 3rd Anniversary. From then on it's all gravy as I graduate to Double Secret Probation!!!

I'm sure there is a better wife out there than Shana---JUST NOT ON THIS PLANET!!!

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

ON FIRE FOR JESUS! (Ladies Only)

Dear Souper Ladies,

SAVE THE DATE! The first quarterly meeting of the Souper 100 has been set for:
Monday November 7, 2011 at the fabulous downtown Dallas Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Here's a short reminder of what the Souper 100 is all about. The SoupMobile's Souper 100 will be composed of 100 ladies (yes, it's ladies only) who are on fire for Christ. 100 smart, creative and out of the box thinking ladies who will use their power, influence and energy to help the SoupMobile in its mission of 'Feeding and Sheltering' the homeless.

The Souper 100 will meet quarterly at the souperRitz-Carlton Hotel for tea and crumpets. Special thanks to the Ritz-Carlton for hosting these teas for us totally pro-bono.

2,000 years ago Christ said "Go out into all the world." I don't know if he was thinking of a Souper 100 and the Ritz-Carlton when he said those words but this much I do know. Through 'Feeding & Sheltering' the homeless the SoupMobile is passionately committed to bringing the love of the Lord to the ones that Jesus called the 'least of these.'

The SoupMan & his fabulous SoupTeam are looking for 100 special ladies. Are you one of them?

Final note: Since the launch of the Souper 100, this question has come up: 'Do I really have to be on fire for Christ to be a member of the Souper 100?' I'm thinking that if you have read this far, that question has already been answered.

Okay Souper 100 ladies, the clock is ticking. Save the Date---November 7, 2011.

For more details about the Souper 100 go to www.soupmobile.org/souper100.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Souper 100 (Ladies Only)

Dear SoupFriends,

Back in the winter of 1872, Caroline Astor was the self-crowned queen of New York Society. She formed a group called Mrs. Astor’s Four Hundred. The 400 was a ‘Who’s Who’ of New York Society. These elite 400 were invited to a special gala ball at Mrs. Astor’s palatial mansion each year. There was no real purpose to the Four Hundred except that they were seen as special and above everyone else.

Now let’s fast forward 139 years to the year 2011. The SoupMan & his fabulous SoupTeam have come up with a variation of Mrs. Astor’s 400. Our idea is called the Souper 100. Unlike the 400 which had no purpose other than to lord over others, the Souper 100 will have one major focus – to support the SoupMobile’s mission of helping the ones Jesus called the ‘least of these.’

Our Souper 100 will be composed of 100 ladies (yes, it’s ladies only) who are on fire for Christ. 100 smart, creative, and out of the box thinking ladies who will be willing to use their power, influence, and energy to help the SoupMobile in its mission of ‘Feeding & Sheltering’ the homeless.

The Souper 100 will meet quarterly at the fabulous downtown Dallas Ritz-Carlton Hotel for tea and crumpets. In addition to socializing with 100 other women who are passionate for serving Christ, you will be challenged to come up with creative, imaginative, and ingenious ways to support and help the SoupMobile. If you are looking for a dull, button down, by-the-books Mrs. Astor type organization, then the Souper 100 is NOT for you. However if you are looking to be part of something that will flat out rock your world for Jesus, then you have found a home.

Souper 100 members pay a $1,000 Annual Membership Fee. For some of you, that will not be a problem. For others you may have to stretch to make it happen. Whatever your situation, I want you to know that your Annual Membership fee goes directly to our mission of ‘Feeding & Sheltering’ the homeless. For more information on the Souper 100, CLICK HERE.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.


Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

SOUPMAN'S 39TH BIRTHDAY---AGAIN!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Another year has gone by and I am turning 39 (again) on August 18th. As I get older I often ponder 'What's it all about? Why am I here on this planet? Why are we here? What's our purpose? What's the meaning of it all?'


I've lived life on this planet two ways. Early on in my younger days I lived life just for myself. I basically worried about my wants, my needs and my life. I didn't give much thought to others. It wasn't that I mistreated others or gave people a bad time. It was just that I was the main focus of my life on this planet.


Guess what? Living life just for myself was not very satisfying. And no matter how much you have, when you are living your life for yourself its never enough. Its like there is a hole in your soul that can't be filled. The Bible tells us that Jesus will fill that hole but I think we have to do our part. In my own life I knew Jesus but that didn't seem to be enough. What I had to learn was that just knowing the words of Jesus was only half the equation. The other half was living the words of Jesus.Or as spoken in SoupSpeak, 'you can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?'


In my younger years I let a lot of birthdays go by where I just 'talked the talk'. Yeah, I went to church, quoted the Bible and believed in and loved Jesus but as for actually 'living' the words of Jesus---well that was for the other guy. It was only during the long term illness of my late wife Peggy that I started to 'live' the words of Jesus. And while I don't consider myself anything special, I do consider Jesus special and worthy of my obedience.


Jesus said "Feed MY Sheep." At the SoupMobile we believe that he wasn't making a suggestion but more of a call to action. We also believe he meant more than just food. He also meant love, caring, compassion and shelter. As the SoupMan I have the deep privilege of serving the ones Jesus called the 'least of these.' That hole in my soul has been filled with a richness of caring, compassion and love.


Every year as my birthday rolls around, I am asked 'Hey SoupMan, what do you want for your birthday?' The answer is nothing. That hole in my soul has long been filled and I am in need of nothing. However if you insist on giving me something, then I would only ask this:


Give something to your fellowman. Reach out in love to those around you just like Jesus would have done. It could be something as simple as a friendly smile, putting a quarter in an expired parking meter, sending flowers to someone in a nursing home, fixing a stranded persons flat tire, volunteering at a local charity, praying for a friend, buying a meal for a homeless person, or a hundred other little things that can make a big difference in someone's life.



If you will reach out to your fellowman in love, kindness and mercy then you will have given me the best birthday gift I could ever ask for. I have lived my life both ways. Early on when it was all about me and now, where its all about 'Feeding HIS Sheep.' The latter is far more satisfying.


p.s. Yes, the SoupMan is turning 39---again!!! I will leave you with the words of one of the smartest men from the 20th Century. Albert Einstein said "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Who's Number One???

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Who's Number One! That's a question that seems to be asked all the time in our society. We are obsessed with who's the number one sports team; who's the richest man in the world; who's the top movie star; who's the best athlete; who makes the best widgets and many more Who's the....................

Recently at SoupMobile Headquarters this very question came up. The question was who's the most important person working at the SoupMobile. Here's how the question came up. We were writing a Public Relations piece involving myself and another staffer at the SoupMobile. The piece listed the other staffer first and me second in the introduction. That other staffer was my good friend Lon Ricker who is the Director of Development at the SoupMobile. He said there had been a mistake in the piece and that my name should have been first in the introduction, not his and we needed to change it.

I asked him why he thought my name should be first and not his. He said that traditionally the most important person is always listed first in a public relations piece. He went on to say that he thought I was more important than him at the SoupMobile and hence my name should be first.

I have a couple of observations about Lon's comment. First, this shows you what a humble man he is. If the SoupMobile had to name a MVP---Most Valuable Player, Lon would be high up on the list. Not only is he our Director of Development, he is the Chairman of our yearly Golf Outing and is the Chairman of our yearly Celebrate Jesus Christmas event. He is what you would call a 'go to guy.' If you need something done, call Lon. Yet in spite of all his accomplishments at the SoupMobile, he thought I was more important and that I should be listed first.

I have to tell you that I think Lon was incorrect. I am not the most important person (Number One) at the SoupMobile. For the right answer to this question of Who's Number One, we need to turn to the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 12:25 & 26 it says 'that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.'

The SoupMobile is made up of many parts. Staffers, supporters, friends, donors, volunteers, and prayer warriors. Who's Number One out of that group? Again I refer you to the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 it says 'just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body...."

At the SoupMobile we are all 'one body.' We are joined together in our common mission of helping the ones Jesus called the 'least of these.' So is the SoupMan the most important person (Number One) at the SoupMobile? No, not by a long shot. Is it that humble guy Lon? He would definitely tell you it's not him. Perhaps it's Stanley--our dishwasher; or Thomas--our Head Chef; or maybe Angel--who mops our floors; or Charine--our Office Manager? In my eyes we are all equally important. Not one of us better than the other; not one of us more important and not one of us Number One!

Yet in our fast paced modern society we seem to be enamored with the question of Who's Number One? So okay, if I absolutely have to, I will pick the Number One player at the SoupMobile. Its one of our more humble people; a guy with a flair for out of the box thinking; a knack for getting things done; a selfless spirit and a willingness to give his very life for you. His name---Jesus! HE's the answer to the question---Who's Number One at the SoupMobile. HE's our star player. HE's our mountain mover. HE's our Number One.

As Executive Director of the SoupMobile I am one part of the body. No more important---no less important than anyone else here. I am blessed to be surrounded by an army of men and women who share my commitment and passion for 'Feeding and Sheltering' the homeless. So if you must---go ahead and call me the most important person at the SoupMobile. However, no matter how long or how loud you say it---you will be incorrect. The answer will always be the same: Our Number One is Jesus!

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

Baby, It's Hot Outside!!!

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Have you noticed its been pretty hot in Dallas lately. We've had a whole stream of 100 degree days with no end in sight. I mean like, its smoking out there. Well, no real worries! We've got this thing called Air Conditioning (A/C). Oh yeah, good old A/C. Yep, we've got A/C in our homes, our cars, our offices, at church, in movie theaters, at the mall and gee whiz---just about anyplace we go.

So no worries. It's cool (all puns intended). Just like every summer in Texas we know it's gonna be a hot one. It's totally cool because most of us simply leave our A/C homes, get into our A/C cars and then arrive at our A/C offices. Just a few steps in between to feel the heat. Just enough so we can tell everyone we meet just how hot it is out there. And for our local TV Weather People its a huge talking point every night. But that's about the extent of it---it's just a talking point. After all in this modern day culture we all have A/C, don't we?

Oh wait, lets back up the A/C truth train for a moment. Hmm, on second thought I guess we don't all have A/C. In fact now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure there is a huge segment of the population who gets little or no A/C.

A little birdie told me that we have more that 10,000 homeless people living right here in the Dallas area. For most of them A/C is only a dream. There is no A/C if you are living in a cardboard box under a bridge; no A/C if you're home is a lean-to shack in the woods; no A/C if the place you lay your head each night is an abandoned building and interestingly enough no A/C in some of our homeless shelters. Our homeless friends have to suffer the entire summer in the sweltering heat. They face heat related problems like sunstroke, heatstroke and dehydration. All life threatening conditions. They face not just the general discomfort of the heat blast we get going from our house to our car to our office but a constant heat blast that can exceed 100 degrees in the day and stay in the 80's even at night. And with their limited access to water and fluids the situation can be downright dangerous.

So do we really care? We've got A/C and they (the homeless) don't. Does is really matter? Well I'm thinking it would matter to a guy who walked the earth about 2,000 years ago. Yeah, that Jesus fellow. He talked about reaching out to the ones HE called the 'least of these.' I think he would care. I know I care. I know my fabulous SoupTeam cares. I'm thinking that you care to. But caring is not enough if you're not doing. Yes, when Jesus talked about reaching out to those in need HE wasn't making a suggestion---HE was calling us all to action. In SoupSpeak, it means 'put up or shut up'. By gosh, its hot outside---do something. Don't just talk about the heat---do something!

Okay, I can hear you scratching you head and saying, "SoupMan, you got any ideas." Well as a matter of fact I do. How about something as simple as buying some bottled water for the homeless. You can buy a case of water for about four bucks. Way less than a double mocha spritzer carmel sprinkled foamed latte coffee at Starbucks. Buy a case of water and pass it out to the homeless. Can't do that you say. Okay, then buy it and bring it to the SoupMobile and we will pass out to the homeless. Can't do that you say. Okay, then go online at www.soupmobile.org and donate the money and we will buy the water and pass it out to the homeless.

Maybe one day you spring for the ice cream dessert for our 600 homeless lunchtime meals. Maybe you help us sponsor a homeless residence in SoupMobile Village (our homes have A/C). Maybe you come with us at lunchtime and help us serve the 600 meals in the 100 degree heat and show our homeless friends you're in it (the heat) with them.

Bottom line: Do something! Don't let the rest of the summer go by as you go from your A/C home to your A/C car and to your A/C office. Do something meaningful to help the ones Jesus called the 'least of these.' Still don't know what to do. Then call the SoupMan at 1-800-375-5022. He will give you some ideas. But if you call him, be prepared to think out of the box and push the envelope in a big way. The homeless have big problems that require big solutions. But no worries about that either because we serve a Big God!!!

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan

THE STATE OF THE UNION

Dear SoupFriends,

Greetings from the SoupMan!

The State of the Union is an Annual Address given by the President of the United States to the country every January. The President essentially reports on how he sees things going in our great country.

Well, it’s June and as Executive Director of the SoupMobile I thought you might be interested in a State of the Union address about the SoupMobile. The SoupMobile's Mission Statement is three simple words spoken by Jesus himself, "Feed MY Sheep." We do that in three separate distinct ways.

1. Feeding: We serve more than 200,000 meals per year to the homeless in the Dallas area.

2. Shelter: We shelter the homeless in our group housing called SoupMobile Village.

3. Christmas: Every year at Christmas we take 500 homeless men and women right off the streets and put them up for a magical Christmas at the downtown Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel in our event called Celebrate Jesus.

Most recently, on May 1^st we opened the 4th & 5th group homes in SoupMobile Village. So if you are paying attention you will see that I'm throwing a lot of numbers at you, i.e. 200,000 meals; 500 homeless; 5 group homes. Numbers! Numbers! Numbers! And by any measure some fairly substantial numbers!

But numbers are not what this State of the SoupMobile Union address is all about. We are NOT just about the numbers. We are about the people; the less fortunate people that Jesus called the 'least of these.' Oh sure, it’s nice to say that we serve an amazing 200,000 meals this year, and it’s exciting to let you know that in 18 short months we now have 5 groups homes up and operating in SoupMobile Village. And oh yeah, taking 500 homeless to the Hyatt for Christmas every year is pretty cool, but that's all numbers. At the SoupMobile I'd like to think we are all about the people not the numbers. People like:

• Jennifer G. When we found Jennifer she was going to be sleeping in her car with her beloved dog. After only two months in SoupMobile Village she had obtained a job and her own housing.

• Thomas W. We found him a year ago living in an abandoned building. He had no hope and no prospects. Now he's a resident in SoupMobile Village, holds down a full time job as Head Chef at the SoupMobile, and is a shining beacon of light to those still out in the cold.

• Susan G. She was 48 hours from being evicted from her apartment. After just over a month in our group housing she got a job as a Nurses Aid with live in housing.

• Todd R. Living hand to mouth on the streets and sometimes staying in seedy motels he found housing in SoupMobile Village. Within 6 weeks he had been promoted to Annex Manager at the SoupMobile.

These people are NOT numbers or statistics. They are real live human beings; people who fell on hard times and needed a 'Hand Up' not a 'Hand Out.' The SoupMobile is all about the people. I think that's just the way Jesus would want us to be.

How about you? Are you about the numbers or about the people? I suspect if you are reading this blog it means you are all about the people.

P.S. How about you? Would you like to be part of a charity that is focused on people, not numbers? If so, simply go to www.soupmobile.org for more details. It will be life changing both for you and the people that you help.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You All.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan