The Cracked Pot

Greetings from the SoupMan!

I'd like to share with you all the Chinese Fable of 'The Cracked Pot.'

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream...

"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path..

Every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

So what's the SoupMan's take on this fable? Well to me it sounds a lot like Jesus. HE knows we are all flawed in some way---by the way put me at the top of that flawed list. But even though we are flawed HE still loves us unconditionally. Then HE proceeds to find a way to use our flaws for the greater good. Just like the 'Cracked Pot' helping flowers to bloom, the Lord knows just how to best turn our flaws into blessings.

So the next time you look in the mirror and see your own flaws---just smile and be at peace, because God will surely find a way to make the flowers bloom in your own life. God is pretty amazing, don't you think!!!

May the Lord Bless and Keep You.

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

Executive Director---SoupMobile Inc.

Jesus is on the move!

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Well once again Jesus is on the move! What can that mean you say? Let me explain. When the SoupMobile was founded in 2003 our primary mission was Feeding the Homeless. In that first year we served 5,000 meals. At the time we thought it was a lot. Now we serve more than 200,000 meals per year. In 2009 we decided to expand our mission and start sheltering the homeless through a venture called SOUPMOBILE VILLAGE. The Village would consist of a series of group homes located all over the Dallas area. Each home specifically designed to take a homeless person right off the streets, clean them up, put a roof over their heads, get them a job and help them get back on their feet as productive members of their community.

For a small charity like the SoupMobile housing the homeless was a huge leap of faith. Yes, we had gotten pretty good at Feeding the Homeless but we knew nothing about sheltering the homeless. To make matters even more dicey we really weren't ready financially to start a housing program for the homeless. But no matter because Jesus was on the move! In the Bible Jesus says,

"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."---Matthew 19:26

So with a lot of prayers and trusting that 'with God all things are possible,' the SoupMobile opened its Men's Home in SoupMobile Village on October 7, 2009. Yes, Jesus was on the move! Then six short months later we opened our Women's Home on April 1, 2010. Once again, Jesus was on the move! I'm pleased to announce that the third home in the Village officially opened on July 9, 2010.

This 3rd home has been designated as a 'Family Home'. The purpose of the Family Home is to take homeless families off the streets, clean them up, put a roof over their heads, get them jobs and help them become productive members of their community.

In nine short months the SoupMobile has opened a Men's Home; a Women's Home; and now a Family Home. An amazing feat for any charity, let alone the baby SoupMobile. So who gets the credit? Well Jesus of course. He said, "Feed MY Sheep," and the SoupMobile is doing just that with food, love, caring, compassion AND shelter. Bottom line---when Jesus gives you a task, he gives you the means to complete that task. He is indeed on the move!

On a personal note I want to thank Roger & Joy Beless and Rick & Linda Graf for making this Family Home a reality. There was no 'Room at the Inn' 2,000 years ago for baby Jesus. With the Lord's guidance and leading we are making sure there is room at the inn for the homeless in the Dallas area. I am grateful to the Beless & Graf families and the entire SoupTeam for your unwavering support of SoupMobile Village. You are the heart and soul of our mission. I am truly privileged to be able to partner with you as we go about our Father's business.

p.s. How about you? Care to be part of the SoupMobile's amazing mission to 'Feed HIS Sheep.' Call or email the SoupMan for more details on how you can join him and his fabulous SoupTeam as we reach out to the ones Jesus called the 'least of these.'

Email the SoupMan at: david@soupmobile.org or call him at 1-800-375-5022.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You.

Signed, David Timothy, a.k.a. The SoupMan Executive Director---SoupMobile Inc.