By: Gen. Jim – 8/16/25
“A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out!”
This slogan was that of the Salvation Army when we worked with them (late 1970s – early 1980s). After a 6-month mission trip thru all Central America, Columbia & Venezuela, South America, we ended up at a Miami, Florida missionary facility where we stayed a week. We could not stay during the day, so we had to walk the streets with Sarah and Joshua till 6 o’clock that evening. Well, as it turned out, we were offered jobs at their large, 3-story facility where addicts/homeless/alcoholics etc. stayed. But to my point: “A Hand up not a Hand out” was put into practice. In short, try your best to help those in need, spiritually as well as naturally, but not physically alone. Present the Gospel of Christ to them. This we’ve done now for 55 years. Although we don’t get out as much as we once did, we still write articles, pass out tracts etc. & have 6 web sites for the hungry/needy to visit. Not all are plagued with Hopelessness, Helplessness, Homelessness. Some may have just one “H”, or two, maybe even three.
What Is H.H.H. Plague?
Hopelessness: without hope, causing despair, showing no sign of a favorable outcome, despondent, desperate;
Helplessness: not able to help oneself; weak, lacking protection, ineffective, powerless;
Homeless: having no home; without a permanent place of residence.
As I write this, the POTUS, D.J. Trump has ordered the clean-up / clean out of homeless camps in D.C. Mixed feelings are stirred up – naturally. We might call these people “lazy bums” or worse, but the circumstance is real in real time. If we just use the word “homeless” this may not describe those within this definition as “lazy bums”. I do not believe all are Lazy Bums. Some are in this camp because of various circumstances of life. I know there was a time when we were homeless, but not helpless or hopeless – we still had a desire to excel, to help ourselves, but circumstances beat us down.
Years ago, the Spirit of God spoke to us that there would arise an “Army of Wanderers”. This we recorded; this has come to pass. He did not say all within that Army would be addicts, have mental issues etc. He just said this Army would grow nationally. Now we have “homeless” camps all over America. Billions have been spent on this H.H.H. plague. Yes, it is a plague: anything that afflicts or troubles; calamity; scourge; physical/mental/emotional epidemic (the Bible has plenty to say about “plagues”, lit. & fig.).
Right or Left
Does not matter what camp one belongs to – or does not belong to – America has a BIG H.H.H. problem. Both Christians & non-Christians are dealing with this plague. While we (who are not of this H.H.H. camp) may have our personal opinions, the truth is, many are VICTIMS who wish they could be delivered. Feeling hopeless & helpless is AWFUL – been there myself! Still, there are many who literally love their chains, their hopelessness, hence, they rely upon drinks & drugs to see them thru each day.
Thousands – with a capital “T” – die every year in these H.H.H. camps. The latest “killer” is fentanyl. We can trace this “killer drug” back to Mexico/China. No matter where it comes from, it kills. If one does not die physically, one surely dies in soul and spirit. We now call segments of the Homeless Camp/Army “Zombies”, aka “Walking Dead”. You see them all over the streets in trancelike animation – corpse like!… listlessness, weird, satanic. Yep! demon possessed.
It is easy to curse these LOST souls; but wouldn’t a prayer be better? These camps are precursory, a harbinger of HELL!!! Do you really want to go to HELL???
While many curse Trump for his attempt to clean up / clean out these camps, wouldn’t it be better if you prayed for him to do what needs to be done? Personally, I have mixed feelings. We’ve worked with & lived among the poor, the lost, the afflicted. We also have worked among the very wealthy (in Montana, we both worked for several millionaires plus) who were calloused, lacking any pity or mercy. No one knows who among the H.H.H. may at one time have had it together. Many no doubt would rather not be among the “Walking Dead” but found themselves in the ditch of despair & darkness – “sin slaves” with a cruel master (Satan).
I know God has 2-sides to Him: mercy & judgment. He can & does redeem men/women as well as allow them to rebel-like-hell, hence, they go all the way down. Some cry out & are delivered; others would rather go to (literally) Hell as to seek God for help. Met a few of these souls also. I know this, when I was LOST & HOPELESS someone prayed for me (us). They took time to throw the rope of hope to me (us); hence, we were saved from drowning in the filthy, vile waters of the sea of iniquity.
While God at certain times in history may send hell our way (as individuals/nationally), He also sends mercies – even when we do not deserve them. There are times He instructs His servants to pray for the well-being of nations, He also instructs them to pronounce judgment! This is Gospel Truth. God desires ALL to be SAVED, ALL not to PERISH (Jn. 3:16 & 2 Pet. 3:9). Other times He will punish in order to get the sinner to repent. If they refuse, He allows them no help!