The TWIG Contest

All right, Twig wasn't here tonight, so let's have fun with him.......

If you ask him what "Twig" stands for, more than likely he'll tell you "That Which Is Good".

I think we can do better than that. Here's the challenge-
Come up with what you think TWIG stands for.
Entries are like voting- do it early and often. Just respond to this post.
The winner gets a free meal (with seconds) any Tuesday night they want
( and maybe a real prize if I think of something)
Be creative. Be funny. Don't be too cruel. See what you can come up with.
Good Luck

Chli Today, Hot Tamale......

Tuesday Night 2/26/08

Tonight was great! We had just enough food at both stops, and even had a few sandwiches left we could leave with the night captain at the Mercy House to pass out as they head out in the morning. No Rain, either!

After all the whining and hand wringing I did on my last post about what we'd serve, tonight was a piece of cake. Robin Manning made a big pot of Chicken chili for us, along with some cookies and Brownies. We added some more chili we had frozen and made around 200 sandwiches (ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, and bologna and cheese) to go with the chili for a really good meal on a night like tonight.

We also wrapped some extra Hot Dogs we had and handed them out to people as they were leaving the first stop. We figured they could eat them tomorrow for lunch.

We had a really good, kind of stress-free time in the kitchen tonight. Just making sandwiches and Tea, some jalapeno cornbread, stirring the chili, nothing really too intense or hurried. The biggest reason for that is probably the good and nice who people come every week to give their lives away to people who don't see enough of the kingdom of God during the week. People like:
Tom
Ellen
Henry
Luann
Bryan
Theresa
Jim
Pruden
Craig
Ryan
Ayla
Eric
Candace

Twig wasn't here this week, but it was an excused absence and won't count against him.
Next week I think I want to serve Burritos. Big honking Burritos with lots of stuff in them. We'll see.

One of the cool things about Tuesday night is, while it is a First Baptist ministry kind of thing,at least 3 of the people who have showng up every week for a long time now are members of 3 other churches here in town. And only one of them is Baptist.
How they wound up here on Tuesday night is a story for another post I'll get around to. I might even let them tell you in their words. We'll see.

Prayer is needed not only for the folks we serve but for the servants as well. Several of our Tuesday night family need prayer for situations in their life and the lives of their families. Any prayers for the ministry and those involved are greatly appreciated.

g

I got nothing,



Been trying to think of something to cook tomorrow night and coming up with nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Got options. We're pretty much wide open, but as of yet nothing has grabbed me and said "Ta Da!" (And believe it or not, that does happen. I remember the first time we thought about pancakes for Tuesday night. I heard a big honkin' "Ta Da!" Same thing for Baked potatoes-"Ta Da!" ) I guess that 's what I'm hoping for now



They're calling for rain tomorrow. Lots of it. Big wind ,too. And that's probably why I'm brain-locked. Been thinking in terms of what we could do and serve in carryout boxes. Cook it and box it up in the kitchen and then just hand it out outside to whoever braves the elements. We've done that before and it works.



We've also totally disregarded the weather forecast and just did what we ususally do . Sometimes we had no rain and other times we got dumped on. When we thought we might get dumped on we set up a couple of those 10x8 e-z up Canopies and crammed under those.



It's a fine line between saying "God, hold off the rain and let us do this so we can get it to the people who need it" or "Everything I see, read and hear says we should go into storm mode and do all this special just in case stuff ".



Basically, FAITH vs. COMMON SENSE.



If it was just me out there, I'd always just go out and do it the same way and let the chips fall ( it's probably more a lack of COMMON SENSE than an abundance of FAITH). Matter of fact, the first 2 years that 's pretty much what we did. And you know what? It never rained on us. Not once. From 7:30 to 9:30, we never got rained out or did anything different. It would be raining all over town, but not on us. Then one of the hurricanes dumped on us and since then, we have had our fair share of nights where we would not have been able to stand outside and serve normally because of rain.



But it's not just me out there anymore. It's upwards of ten to fifteen people, some of them youth, who are going to be affected. So, I'll probably err on the side of caution and prepare for rain. Maybe.



Meanwhile, no revelation for what to serve yet. We've gone through alot of the ol' standby's lately- hot dogs, chili (lots of chili), baked spaghetti, grilled cheese, baked potatoes, etc.



I'd make Hamburger Helper if I had a skillet that big.



I'd do fried chicken if it weren't so big a production.



Barbecue chicken in the oven--that's a thought.



Burritos could work--esp. if we need to do it in carryouts.



My friends would be shocked, but I thought about sometime in the future doing a vegetable plate night--corn, beans, potatoes, cukes and tomatoes, squash, collards, whatever. They'd probably like that.



The cool thing is I'm not worried about it. God provides. Ideawise, foodwise, processwise, whatever. It's for His Glory and for His Kingdom, which means He is in it through and through. So it'll be fine. g

...and probably Checkers, too.

Tuesday Night - 2/19/08



19 the first stop and 51 at the second for a total of 70, give or take a few I might've missed.

Breakfast for Supper!

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy with French Toast sticks at the first stop and Biscuits and sausage Gravy with regular French Toast at the Mercy House.

Cooking went well. (Ellen Liverman learned how to make French Toast and cooked all 220 pieces.) We served juice and milk instead of the usual tea or soda.

Cooks and Servers

Twig

Gary Wilcox

Tom

Bryan

Theresa

Anna

Jonathan Boggs

Ryan Carr

Ayla

Justin

Luann

Ellen

Jim

Pruden was sick and didn't make it.



We saw a few guests tonight we hadn't seen in a long time. The meal was well received and very little was left other than biscuits.(I think they multiplied in the cooler) I was about to write the weather was very nice, but then I remembered everyone having on coats and jackets, so maybe it was just me. The moon was full and looked cool tonight.



This meal was really a great example of God at work. I was thnking we hadn't done breakfast in a while and figured I'd suggest that when I called Twig. I called Twig and before I could say anything about breakfast, he said Anna had some biscuits and gravy for us to use. Then Don told me to take all the leftover breakfast stuff from the ski trip to use on Tuiesday Nights. So in the space of about 30 minutes it went from me just thinking about it , all the way to having everything we needed for the meal!

God. He's always working and thinking 3 or 4 steps ahead. I bet he's good at Chess......
g

When do y'all start, where do you meet, etc. ?

Tuesday Night Schedule*

6:00 Start cooking, making Tea, cutting desserts, making an LEC run to get supplies and tables, etc. Wash everything we can before we leave. NOTE- Not everone gets there at 6:00. People come as their schedules and commitments allow. However, the later you get there, the less chance there is you'll get to cut the onions up, or use the cool can opener!

7:30 Set up tables, begin taking food up to the courtyard.

7:45 Serve food.

8:30 Pack up for next spot. Pray before we leave.

8:45 Set up in parking lot beside Mercy House.

9:00 Serve meal to Mercy House residents.

9:30 Load up. Pray. Head back to church. Clean up and put up.

This is done downtown at the church in the kitchen.
We originally started out at the AC and then moved downtown during the AC renovation and just decided to stay. It works.
g

* The times are pretty close but everything is flexible every week.

The Super Bowl party

All kinds of conversations are held while folks are in line be served at the Mercy House. Sports is a big topic and so, whatever happens to be going on in the sports world at the time often gets brought up. One time we were talking about a game and I asked if they had been able to see it. They said yeah, they had a little TV in the Mercy House. Next time I went inside there I made it a point to look and see what their TV setup was. "Setup" is probably being generous. They've had a small 14" b&w TV. with a couple of folding chairs in front of it. It stuck in my mind and on the way back to the church i started thinking about the Super Bowl, and how everybody watches, even if you're not a fan of the teams or the sport itself, and I thought about the guys at the Mercy House. I figured they would probably like to watch it on something bigger than what they had.


Well, the youth group always has a Super Bowl party and that's fun. But they have it at different people's homes and I didn't see taking the guys to that as workable option. Then it hit me. If the youth are at someone's home for the party, nobody would be using the youth room downtown....and guess what's in there? A BIG HONKING TV! The exact opposite of what the Mercy House had! So....Super Bowl Party for the Homeless at the Church! WHOOO-HOOOOO!



I got permission from Jim to have it at the church in the youth room. I got permission from the Mercy House staff to pick them up in the small church bus and bring them back when it was over. The only concern was they would get back late and some guys would already be asleep, so they were going to have to be very quiet when they got back. On the Tuesday before the game we told the guys what we were going to do . Several said they would come.



We had a ton of food for them that night. We had some ribs and we cooked burgers and people brought appetizer stuff- we had too much but it was good. We wound up with about 20 guys in there watching the game. Most of them were very quiet, even when I tried to get loud and show them it was all right to yell and scream for their team.



Helping was Bryan Campbell, Jim Morgan, Laine and Gary Mcknight, Tammy Pruden, Robin Barrington, me and somebody else I can't think of right now. It might've been Craig.

It turned out to be a great time. The guys were very appreciative of it. We did the same thing for the NCAA basketball final a few months later. had about 20 guys show up and just dialed back on the heavy food.

A couple of times over the summer and fall some of the guys started asking if we were going to do it again this year. We said sure and they started talking about it to the other guys and saying how much they liked it last year. We got permission again from the church and the Mercy House again to do it.

This year's Super Bowl was even better than last years. First of all, the game was better. Secondly, we adjusted on the food and had less, but just as good. We had a big pot of "This time Only Chili"( cause I never remember how I made it last time), cornbread, chips and dips, and Weiners wrapped in Bacon with Brown Sugar. ( Next year that might be the only thing we serve. Laine made a pretty good sized batch this year and the were gone before everyone got through the line. They're so good it's not even funny. They're even good when I make 'em)

And thirdly, we had about 30 guys show up and they were louder and more into it this year. Between them and the folks helping, the room was comfortably full. There were more Giants fans than there were Patriots fans, though. That struck me as odd for some reason.

We'll do it again for this year's NCAA Championship basketball game. Anyone who wants to come watch it with us is welcome. Heck, there's not all that much to do as far as helping, so you'll get to watch the game.

Tom Hodges and I have even talked about watching a NASCAR race one Sunday with them. That'd be kinda cool.

I'm done. I just wanted to give testimony about a couple of things that happened below the radar that glorified God and His Kingdom.

g

Top 5 Things You'll NEVER Hear on Tuesday Nights

#5 - Gary said we don't need the Texas Pete with us tonight.

#4 - This tea has too much sugar in it.

#3 - Of course I measured it before I put it in

#2 - Let's check the recipe.

#1 - I wish Jim Morgan would be quiet and let someone else talk.

g

A peek behind the curtain........

We say we start at 6:00 on Tuesdays but that's just when we tell people to show up. There are alot of things that happen before we "start at 6:00".

Usually Twig and I will talk on Tuesday about we could serve the following week. If we come to a conclusion, great. That's what we'll shoot for. Quite often, however, it comes down to this on Monday night:
"What do you want to do tomorrow night?
" I don't know. What're you thinkin'?"
"It don't matter to me."

Sometimes we say"You know, we haven't had XXXXXX in awhile".

Or "You know, they always love it when we make ZZZZZZZZZ".

And then comes the real determining factor-
"What've we got in the freezer?"

And sometimes we pick something based on who's going to be helping. If we know there won't be many folks coming to help or if a couple of the adults won't be there, we'll go with something simple. If we know there will be a bunch of youth, we'll pick something very hands-on that requires alot of prep work so they're involved from start to finish, or we'll pick something that requires lots of people behind the table actively involved in the serving process. Sometimes we'll get a call from someone who had a party and has a large amount of leftovers and we'll take it and add something to it . Usually we try to serve the same thing at both stops, but sometimes it works out so we have just enough of one thing for one stop and just enough of something else for the other and we go with that.

And sometimes we serve stuff cause we like it.
(Chicken and pastry. Mmmmm)

Anyway, at some point, Twig and I will divide up how we're going to get what we need for the meal. He'll get this,I'll get that,whatever. Depending on schedules and logistics, we figure out how we'll get things to the point that when folks show up at 6:00 to help, we're ready to go.

We get a very generous donation of sweets every week from Jesus Ministries. We also receive other things from them, as they have them in the warehouse- frozen meats ,canned goods, bread, etc. Kerry Taylor picks it up every week around one o'clock and brings it to the church for us. It is a huge help and he has been extremely faithful in helping with that. Even though no one on Tuesday night sees him, he's still a big part of what we do and we are very grateful for his dedication to doing it. Thanks, Mr. Taylor.

Because every week is different and the roster of help is fluid, there's no concrete routine but it usually breaks down like this :
1. People come and we try to put them to work as soon as they get there.
2. I usually make a run about 6:45 to our storage room under the LEC with a couple of kids to get our tables, plates, cups, napkins, coolers etc.
3. Twig gets stuff in the kitchen wrapped up.
4. Bryan Campbell takes the dishwasher sprayer out of my hand and says "I'll get all that" (and I let her).
5. Everybody pitches in and does whatever is needed.

We serve at 2 spots. The first one is in the courtyard out in front of the connector building. We try to get out there around 7:45 and there's usually a couple of folks out there waiting for us. We serve there until about 8:30 and then we pack up to go to our next spot. We pray before we leave to go- for our guests, for each other, for the next stop... whatever is on peoples hearts.

The next spot is the Mercy House, an overnight shelter for men. They check in between 6 and 7 p.m. and have to stay in until 6 a.m. They're allowed one break to go outside that lasts from 9 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. That's where we come in. We try to get there about 8:50 and get set up ready to go when they come out for their break. We also have guests who aren't staying in the Mercy House that come up for meals. Some are on the streets, some live nearby. We serve whoever comes and gets in line.

It's a rare night when we don't see at least 70 guests, total. 80 is our baseline number. We take at least 80 plates, at least 80, cups, etc.
For things like hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches,... we cook at least 160 - 2 per person.

The Mercy House stop is more hectic because we get a larger number all at one time wth a finite amount of time to eat. We try to keep it moving and get them through the line as fast as we can. We finish at 9:30 and once we're packed up we gather around the back of the truck and pray again. Then we head back to do whatever it is we need to wrap up- any last dishwashing, sweeping,freezing,etc. Then, me and whoever I can sucker into it, make a run to the LEC and put up the coolers and stuff.

And that's how I spend my favorite night of the week.

I have 2 mantras each week-1 for the kitchen and 1 for the street.
The kitchen mantra is "I'd rather have too much than tell somebody we don't have enough."
The street mantra is "I'd rather give it all out than take any back."

Somehow, God balances it all out.

g

2 minutes of rain .....

What a good night. The weather was great.....nice and breezy....not too chilly.....and the only time it rained around us was in between stops! Literally,we packed up the 1st stop and the bottom fell out for about 2 minutes. By the time I got out of the truck at the Mercy House it had stopped and didn't rain again as long as we were there.

We always pray at the end of the 1st stop before we head to the Mercy house and as we finished and started off I said something to the effect of 'Y'all can pray while we're heading over there for God to hold off the rain if you want to"..... and he did. I honestly believe he heard our prayers. Several people with phones much more advanced than mine said they saw a big band of rain coming for us and it would probably get us at the Mercy House. But it didn't and we thank God for that.

We did a little housecleaning tonight and thawed out some of our leftovers. We served fish chowder, Brunswick Stew, and an original creation - Baked Potato Chili (we had Baked Potatoes last week with chili and other stuff on top. We had a decent amount of chili and some whole Baked Potatoes left over, so we cut up the potatoes and threw them into the chili and froze it. Voila! Baked Potato Chili). We also cooked grilled cheese and roast pork sandwiches to go with it.
In addition to that, Robin Manning was nice enough to make a huge baked spaghetti for us that got eaten in no time. (Robin has been very good to us. Last week she gave a bunch of brownies and pound cakes that everybody loved and led the drive that got the Crosstraining Kids to collect toiletry items for our Tuesday night friends. She also donated a turkey at Thanksgiving and came down and videotaped the whole 3 ring circus that night. Ya gotta love Robin!)

We had almost all the regulars and several new folks helping and that made it fun. The first stop is usually the less attended of the 2 we do, so the opportunity for fellowship, both with our guests and with each other, is good.

Wow. You know what? I just counted up how many folks were here tonight to help and it came up to be 20! 20 people felt led to come be a part of what we did tonight. That absolutely blows me away.
And I didn't even become fully aware of it until now. I saw 'em all....and I spoke to 'em all... but 20 people? I'll say it again. Wow. That's a long way from just me and Gary McKnight handing out Hot Dogs on Market St. back in the day.

It's all God's doing. I'm a horrible poster child for this thing. When asked about it I never feel like I do a good job explaining it. I haven't even been able to come up with a decent name for it, never mind a cool one. Something like Hezekiah 9:6(look it up) or Heaven's Food basket Ministries. I just always refer to it as "Tuesday night" or "the homeless thing." So believe me, people showing up and giving their time and lives away on Tuesday is all about the Holy Spirit leading them there, not anything on our part. (There are some cool stories about how some of the people that come every week wound up there. Later on about those...)

Next post I'll tell you what the schedule usually is and what a typical night is for us. Meanwhile, if you read this and want to pray for what God does on Tuesday nights, thank you. He has been faithful to us the entire time we've been doing this and we pray and believe he will continue to do so.

g

P.S. Most importantly, you can pray for the people we serve. There were several tonight who were worse off than we normally see and very much in need of God's mercy and protection. Lift them up if you get the chance this week and pray that God will continue to go ahead of us each week and prepare their hearts and ours for the blessings he provides for us on Tuesday nights.

4 years later.....

I probably should've been doing this all along but I never got around to it. Not that it wasn't important, I just didn't. As time goes on, though, I've become convicted that what we do on Tuesday nights needs to be documented and told. Here it goes....

For the past 4 years there's been a ministry that meets on Tuesday nights to cook and feed people. Mostly feeding Homeless people, but we don't really ask and it wouldn't matter. It was originally me and four 10th grade guys passing out Hot chocolate on Market Street. Which, now that I look at it, is a much cooler title than Tuesday Nights( Hot Chocolate on Market Street...oh well...) The details of how it began is a story for another time and I'll get to it in another post, just give me a little time to get this rolling. It has become something altogether unlike anything else I've ever been a part of.

There's a core group of adults and youth that has grown slowly but providentially over time. We have an constantly changing group of folks who come in and help as schedules allow, as interests get piqued and as the Spirit leads. (Part of what I'd like to do over time is introduce you to some of the core group that put up with me every week and are vital and indispensable partners in this.) Different mid-week youth Bible studies pick a Tuesday and help. Varied community groups have given money...school clubs have come and volunteered .... People I had never met before in my life have showed up out of the blue and now come every single week. We even have a Sunday School class that collects money every week from its members to help us.

And it all happens because God is in it. Because God is good and he provides. Because God blesses every sandwich and every scoop of whatever it is we're slinging that night. How else do you explain 6,000 lbs. of Pork? Strangers putting crazy amounts of money in my hand? Somebody named Twig?

I'm writing this on Tuesday afternoon before we start for the night. My intent from now on is to post after we finish on Tuesdays to let you know stuff- what we served, who was there, what might have occured (because miraculous and wonderful things occur on Tuesday nights) and to give God glory and praise for what he enabled us to do to help others see and feel His Kingdom.

I'm also writing this now to invite anyone reading this to come be a part of it.
No skills needed, no requirements, no long term contracts or obligations.

Because it's not a Tuesday night club...It's a Tuesday night ministry.

And we can always use more ministers. g