That's my good friend John. I've known him for nearly 15 years... not sure how many years he's been on the streets... I've written about him a number of times. He's one of the many in the heart of our city who claims to have chosen homelessness as a life style. It becomes a running and very open debate among us: I don't buy it. The poverty these men and women live through is brutal and the daily dangers they face life threatening... a priest may take on a vow of poverty to grow spiritually but I have a tough time imagining someone embracing it as a lifestyle choice. John's a smart, talented and funny individual with an interesting history and high hopes for the future... he's still dreaming of becoming a rock star... even though we're both in our 50's... he's holding on to the dream. Standing in our line Sunday nights he'll tell me he and his band have recorded a new song somewhere and then at some point during the month I'll get an email from him- no clue where he sends his email from or where they record, or practice -with a link to some free Internet music sharing site where one his songs is posted. Last week's number is titled: "I Love Sandra Bullock." You can listen to it here. After he emailed me the link last week, I jumped through the hoops and registered on the web site so I could upload a photo and sign on as one of John's "fan's." When he came through line this week you'd of thought I gave him a million bucks. He hugged me and said: "Thanks for the support Eric." Our support systems- we take them for granted and it's what so many of the homeless are living without... it's why they're labeled "homeless" and not "houseless." Pray for John. He told me he's wanting to write a series of "spiritual songs." God's touching his heart. Jesus was a friend to the woman at the well and so many others... I know He's a "fan" of John's.

Women in poverty- in Los Angeles and around the world -face threats and fear that men may never understand. Our line is 90% men week in and week out- though women and children are by far and away the fastest growing groups added to the statistics of those who live on our streets each night. The streets of skid row can be dangerous in the daytime and at night they carry their own special brand of darkness that's not for the uninitiated. Many of the homeless do their best to find a place as far from skid row as possible - well before the sun sets - hoping to find some hours of rest and sleep. The women who live on skid row know that they're taking a risk walking to our line for a meal in the darkness... even still they come... knowing that many in the community- even the skidrow community -will assume that they're prostitutes, on the street so late at night in such a dark area. Then there are the people who prey on the poor, driving in from wealthier areas, hoping to exploit the heartbreak of others for $20-. It's a scary world. We have a friend in line who's a pretty private person. She stays to herself- with the exception of her own personal community of support -people who will help her if she's harassed while walking to or even standing in our line. She's recently taken a pretty bold step- trying to rebuild a hope and a future, she's signed up for some workshops offered free for the women of skidrow. When you're living in wealth and security, this sound's like a no brainer, why wouldn't everyone do it? But when you've been knocked down until you're living at the bottom of societies food chain- sometimes the last thing you want is hope... it's been ripped away or surrendered too many times and it's easy to feel like it would be impossible to hold up under the weight of it's loss again. Easier to live without it... but without it... what is life? Last Sunday night our friend showed real signs of hope- she asked me to pray for her this week... In the middle of the darkness, when all else is gone, someone extends their hand, offers a class, stands by their side, prays... and the seedling of hope breaks through the tough crust of despair that's been holding it down. Pray for our friend this week. That's not her in the picture... the gal in the picture wants me to click a shot every week... she needs your prayers too... the one who requested prayer is one of the many who turn away from any pictures. I believe hope is waiting on the horizon. I believe our prayers can be a powerful ally for our friend on the street and for women who've men held down in fear and poverty around the world. Join me in praying for all those waiting to be safe today.

"Just another old drunk." I'm guessing that's how much of the world views JoJo. A long time regular in our line, we're well aware of his problem, he's given us more grief across the years then I care to remember... but we cut JoJo lot's of slack... he's a retired US Marine who, on his best nights, salutes us and tells stories of his time in the service. He's one of the many who've "walked the wall" so we could sleep well at night. Today, he's living in the desperate poverty of skidrow and desperately needs someone to walk the wall for him... no clue how he's lasted so long in his disease, on the streets... some nights so angry he's cursing and swinging at anything that moves... other nights a sloppy drunk, hugging us and telling us how we've helped save his life. I think of all the ball games that start with the national anthem... of all the little cities that celebrate 4th of July parades... of the images of so many presidents laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier... of my uncle Doyle, who's country marked our family's loss beautifully in the Punch Bowl on Oahu... of my mom and dad- buried in Riverside National Cemetery because of dad's service in WWII... and I'm thankful and yet my patriotism rings just a tad hollow as long as we've left a soldier- not unknown... not lost in battle... but a soldier who came home, one who brought the demons of war with him and doesn't know how to deal with it walks among us, in poverty, hungry and on the streets. Too many of the homeless are veterans. Some statistics claim that the majority of men living on the streets have served their nation. In line, it always humbles me to serve them. I'll spend Memorial Day in Mexico building a home for abandoned infants. Jackets for Jesus will still be on the streets- like we are every Sunday night -and our workers will go out of their way to be gracious, even when cursed, threatened or ignored... pray for them... part of what we do in giving a shirt, a sandwich, a jacket, a cup of juice, a meal is to nurture hope. Can't imagine what it must feel like for JoJo, who proudly wear's one of our backpacks from Christmas as if it were the last remnant of a uniform that was once pressed and perfect- who loves to salute me and shout out: "Semper Fi," when he's ignored, treated badly and waits until Sunday night to eat. Pray for him. Pray for all the men and women who've served our nation who're now losing homes, jobs and too many living on our streets. They served and we have the opportunity to say thanks with more than the hollow patriotism of a bumper sticker, a song at the ball park or fireworks on the 4th of July... we can remember their sacrifice and step into the fray for them- today. God's been so very good to us. He's opened doors on the streets we never imagined. He's given us the opportunity to help John dream big dreams, to rebuild hope in the hearts of women who've been held down, to lift up the spirits of those who have served- by serving them in love... it's what we do every Sunday night on skid row... and for most of us, it's one of the highlights of our weeks, we've been so very blessed to serve. The best part is- You're Invited. You're Needed. Now, more than ever.

for changing lives,

Eric M. Denton