Hot Dogs for Christ???

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Did Hot Dogs even exist when Christ walked the earth 2,000 years ago? The answer is probably 'not'! In fact while the sausage concept goes back at least 500 years, the sausage in a bun (Hot Dog) concept was really an American invention by Charles Feltman, who began selling them at his hot dog stand at Coney Island in 1871.

So if hot dogs did NOT exist 2,000 years ago when Christ walked the earth, did HE know that someday we would have them? Sure, after all HE knows everything. Yeah, he knew one day we would have hot dogs! Did Jesus also know that hot dogs would be used someday to spread the love of Christ? 

What??? You say you never heard of that concept! You never heard of hot dogs being used to spread the Good News---the Gospel. No worries because I’d be glad to tell you just how it’s done!

On Friday October 18, 2013 the official Oscar Mayer WienerMobile 

came to Dallas to partner with the SoupMobile in serving 800 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs to multitudes of homeless men, women AND children.  Yes, you heard right!  The Wienermobile was right here in Dallas.  You say you don't believe it.  Well just click here to see the photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151936558124324.1073741844.72409949323&type=1&notif_t=like.

Do you see all the smiles on the faces of our volunteers that day AND the homeless we served? Those smiles weren’t there just because we were serving hot dogs. The smiles were there because we served Oscar Mayer hot dogs along with a heavy dose of the Love of Jesus. At the SoupMobile we consider serving food to the homeless as our secondary mission. Yes the food is souper important but serving the Love of Christ to our homeless friends is our Number One Mission. The SoupMobile simply used the WienerMobile as our venue to connect with our homeless friends. 

Christ did the same thing 2,000 years ago. You did hear about that time where Jesus preached the gospel and fed the 5,000 by multiplying five loaves and two fishes! They weren’t hot dogs but it was food and he was preaching the Good News—the Gospel.  All the SoupMobile did 2,000 years later was use food (hot dogs) to both feed the multitude AND give them the Love of Jesus.

Last question! Did Jesus know there would be an Oscar Mayer WienerMobile someday? For sure---remember He knows everything. And did He know the SoupMobile and the WienerMobile would partner together to spread HIS love. Absolutely, because as we all know---HE knows everything! 

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours!

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

Justice for a dog named Justice!

Dear SoupFriends,

 

Greetings from the SoupMan!

 

Something happened in Dallas back in the spring of 2012 that shocked the community. A group of young men doused a puppy with lighter fluid and then set the 4-month lab terrier afire. The dog was called Justice and suffered third-degree burns over most of his body. In spite of intensive efforts to save the dog, it died several days later.

 

There was a huge uproar in the local community. It didn't matter whether you were an animal lover or not. The sense of outrage was felt by everyone. Rewards were posted to try to bring the young men to justice. Slowly but surely the wheels of justice started to turn. The assailants were finally identified, arrests were made and court dates set. 17 long months later we have some closure.

 

As reported in the Dallas Morning News on Saturday August 24, 2013, the ringleader of the group was sentenced to 5 years in Huntsville prison. Another one of the group received 2 years in jail and the final two men got 15 month jail sentences.  

 

So what are we to think about all of this. Is a puppy's life more important than a human beings? Not exactly. What I am saying is that how we treat animals can be a 'sign' of the human condition. Clearly these 4 young men crossed the line with their depraved act. And they are paying a heavy price. 5 years in prison for the ringleader is not just a slap on the wrist. I'm grateful that the prosecutor and judge felt it was important to give these men more than just a stern warning and probation.

 

For me its not about vengeance, its about accountability. We can't just look the other way when things like this happen. As a society we need to send a message out loud and clear that animal abuse is NOT okay. And while I'm no psychologist, I think on a deeper level that bringing these four young men to justice for killing a puppy in this cruel and inhumane way may just one day prevent them from doing something worse. Hopefully these jail sentences will also discourage others from doing anything remotely like this criminal act committed by these 4 young men.

 

I took no joy in hearing that these 4 young men were finally sentenced for this awful crime. I did not smile when I read that the ringleader received 5 years in Huntsville prison. What I did feel was sadness. Both for a puppy named Justice that suffered a cruel death and for four young men who somehow seem to be on the fast track to no where. We've all made mistakes in life but for these 4 young men, it will be a long time before this mistake fades into the past.

 

I pray for these young men and I pray for us all. Thankfully we serve a God that believes in redemption. At one time or another in life we all need redemption but for these 4 young men, maybe right now they need it more than most.

 

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours,

 

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

 

The Indomitable Human Spirit

Dear SoupFriends, 

Sometimes life can throw us a curve-ball. And if you live in Texas or Oklahoma, lately those curve-balls may seem more wicked than ever. In April the City of West had a massive fertilizer plant explosion which resulted in loss of life and property damage in the millions of dollars. A month later tornadoes roared thru Granbury/Cleburne/Ennis Texas leaving a wake of destruction and loss of life. And just when you thought things could not get any worse, a Stage 5 tornado roared thru Moore, Oklahoma leaving unbelievable carnage and many more lives lost.  

Frankly, there’s no way to sugarcoat what’s been happening. It’s been a rough go for a lot of people. Home’s literally leveled down to the foundations, cars tossed around like toys, schools destroyed and lives lost---many of them children. So is there any ray of sunshine in the midst of this incredibly dark cloud. I would humbly submit that there is!

Bob Riley—former Governor of Alabama said, “Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.” I would submit to you that these recent hard times have brought out the hero in many people. How about those firemen in the City of West who rushed in as First Responders without any thought to their own lives. They were trying to save a town and lost their lives doing it. They were heroes in my eyes! Are how about those school teachers in Oklahoma who literally covered the children with their own bodies to shield them from the tornado—heroes to be sure! What about the Fathers & Mothers who pushed their own children to safety without any thought of their own safety---heroes, you bet! 

Beyond the heroes was a whole mass of people stepping up to the plate to help. People opened their hearts, their wallets and their homes to assist the ones hurt the most. Donations poured in from all points North, East, South & West. In a world where there seems to be too much hate, too much anger and too much war, the goodness of people rose to the top. We got to see our fellowman at their very best. Jesus said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We actually got to see this come true in both Texas and Oklahoma as people of all races, creeds and faiths stepped up to the plate to help those hit hardest by recent events.

Hard times are indeed difficult. I’m not sure anyone gets through this life without going thru some hard times.  But in the midst of it all we get to see the very best in the human spirit. There is no denying the hurt, sorrow and pain of hard times. Thankfully there is also no denying the good in people as they rise to the occasion to reach out to their fellowman in help, love, caring and compassion. 

Life isn’t always easy but in the midst of the hard times we get to see the very best in people. And for that I am humbled and most grateful.

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours,

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

Explosion Rips City of West

Dear SoupFriends,

April 17, 2013 will be a day that will long live in the memories of all Texans. The Texas City of West was hit by a massive Fertilizer Plant explosion. An explosion of such intensity that homes & businesses were destroyed in the blink of an eye. The city’s infrastructure took a huge hit. Most devastating were the lives lost in the blast. 14 people are known to have lost their lives. Countless others suffered injuries. In a town of 2,800 residents, it was a miracle that more lives were not lost. Parts of the town were literally leveled. 

The SoupMobile’s main missions are ‘Feeding & Sheltering’ the homeless. However in 2011 the SoupMobile formed an Emergency Response Team. Its purpose was to respond to natural and man-made disasters in Texas. Since its formation we have responded to a whole host of emergencies including apartment fires, tornadoes in Lancaster and now most recently the disaster in West.

Since the explosion the SoupMobile has delivered more than 4 tons of food, blankets and supplies to West. Then on Monday April 29^th we did something very special for the city of West. The SoupMobile Emergency Response Team set up camp in a Chevron Gas Station in West. We gave out $10,000 of Gas Money to pump FREE gas in the cars of 500 West residents, volunteers and first responders. As a special act of kindness we also washed the windshields of every car that received gas.  The response was overwhelming! The number of cars was astonishing as they were lined up down the street and around the block. More telling were the tears in their eyes and the smiles on the faces of the West residents as they received their free gas and sparkling clean windshields. Hearts were touched as we blessed the residents with the love of Jesus. We believe that if Jesus were walking the earth today, HE would have been right there pumping gas and washing windshields.

CBS DFW Channel 11 also made the trip down to cover the FREE gas event - http://youtu.be/QhqOQyggK5g 

Go here for our Facebook Album of the day - http://on.fb.me/12XWLeb

Special thanks to our SoupMobile friends, donors, supporters and Prayer Warriors for helping make this all possible. Without YOU, we could not feed 200,000 meals a year; shelter the homeless in our 7 group homes; give 500 homeless a magical Christmas every year and run the SoupMobile Emergency Response Team. YOU are the heart and soul of what we do. Please accept my grateful thanks for helping make it all happen. ‘Together’ we are serving Christ by serving the ones HE called the ‘least of these.’

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours.

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

Real Men Don’t Hit Women!

Dear SoupFriends, 

Greetings from the SoupMan!

Generally my blog is about homeless issues, but NOT today!!!

Today I am writing about an issue that all too often gets swept under the rug---Domestic Violence!

In some countries 70% of the women suffer violence by a man sometime in their lifetime. In the United States the figure is lower but still alarmingly high. 1 in 5 women in the States will suffer violence by a man sometime in their lifetime. Are you hearing me? One in Five! And for many of these women it’s not just a one-time incident. It can be years of abuse!

On Saturday March 23, 2013 Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings will lead a 10,000 man rally at Dallas City Hall against Domestic Violence. 

The SoupMobile not only will be there, but we are drawing our own line in the sand against abuse of women. Yes, ‘Feeding & Sheltering’ the homeless is our core mission, but we feel this issue of women being abused by men deserves our highest attention.

What do I think about men who abuse women? I think they are bullies and cowards. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says, "You can call a guy that hits a woman a lot of things. You cannot call him a man." I could not agree more!

It’s time we all draw a line in the sand on this issue. We need to say no to domestic violence. We need to say no to songs that have lyrics talking about hurting women. Even more we have to give up the old boy mentality of sweeping domestic abuse under the rug. Men need to hold other men accountable. A real man has the courage to speak up against domestic violence. A real man holds other guys accountable, doesn’t look the other way and doesn’t keep quiet when it comes to abuse of women. 

The SoupMobile, its Board of Directors and its staff are drawing a line in the sand. It’s NOT okay to abuse women---EVER!!!

May the Lord Bless & Keep You & Yours.

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