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These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. Hey, welcome back to Words of Life. Last week we launched a new series focused on our neighbors. Bernie Dake is being joined by our Mission Evangelism and Cultural Ministries Secretary, Major Sandra Pawar. Throughout this series, we're sharing practical ways we, as followers of Christ, can make a tremendous impact in the communities where we live.
After we hear from Bernie and Sandra, we'll hear from a Salvation Army pastor and volunteer who are helping neighbors during times of crisis through the Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services. To learn more about any of the resources we mentioned during this episode, check out the show notes or visit wordsoflifepodcast.org. Welcome back to Words of Life. I'm Bernie Dake, and I am so excited to welcome back to this episode, Major Sandra Poar. I'm so excited that you're here again.
Thank you. Uh You've been inspired by some reading that you're doing. and have put together some really cool Bible studies. And there's a quote from the book that encouraged you that says this: The solution to the problems in our neighborhoods aren't ultimately found in the government, police, or schools, or in getting more people to church. The solutions lie with us.
It's within our power to become good neighbors, to care for the people around us, and to be cared for by the people around us. What did that quote mean to you? Yeah, I think the part that most resonated with me for this quote was. About becoming good neighbors and to care for the people and to be cared by. And I might get a little bit emotional, but this spoke to me a lot, especially recently because my father just passed away in Australia and I went home to visit my family, and my mom was just sharing about the neighbors that they had made.
How they had cared for her and for my dad. And I was really just taken aback because I never really thought my parents were very social people. But ever since they've been in Australia for maybe 10 years now, they've really invested in their neighbors. And they would hold Christmas carols in their backyard each year. And they went from like 10 people to there was 100 people at the last one that they had.
Again, there was no agenda, it's just they wanted to know the people in their neighborhood and and do something for them, and so they created this event. Um, but then at my dad's funeral, there were some neighbors there that you know, they don't go to the salvation army, they're not Christian, they other than the fact that they live on the same street and they just had a connection to my dad and they were looking out for my mom and then they were telling me the story of how my dad fell down A few months ago, and my mom called them, and they just came and picked him up. And That's good neighboring, right? That is allowing. Other people to care for you as well, and that it's reciprocal.
You know, my mom could have called the ambulance, but she calls her neighbors. And then they came to my dad's funeral. And then they got to hear about this life that my dad had lived for Jesus. Again, no agenda, but God just continued to move and to speak into people's hearts. And so, yeah, so I think that that.
That quote speaks to me a lot because I feel like um We can. be good neighbors and we can enjoy the good neighbors that God gives us. And just that little bit of engagement for them in their community offered them an opportunity to witness and to be available for them as well. That's beautiful. Hey, you're listening to the Salvation Army's Words of Life.
We're going to take a quick ad break, and we'll be right back. Hey, this is Chris, one of the hosts of the Salvation Army's weekly podcast, Words of Life. Coming up this month, beginning April 15th, we launch a new series focused on how we as followers of Christ should be the best neighbors. I would say one of our main roles is that we just try to come alongside people as they're grieving. We have opportunity to listen to their stories.
They see that you love them and they see the compassion and they see you're listening, you're attending. I feel like God is encouraging our family to become more involved in our community and to get to know our neighbors.
Now, when we come or the Salvation Army van comes, I mean, the kids are running to us. They know that we're bringing joy and hope. Listen to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store or visit wordsoflife podcast.org. Uh I sometimes think that we might make the idea of. being a neighbor or being engaged in our community a little bit too difficult.
It can be simple, right? Yeah, it can be really simple. And I'll say I'll just give two things that our family has done that has made it a bit simpler for us, is that whenever we move into a neighborhood, we go door to door with A little gift.
So one year it was popcorn and it had a little card that said, We're just popping in to say hi, just to let them know that we moved into the neighborhood. I see what you did there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then another thing that me and my youngest have done for the last two years in our neighborhood is some of our neighbors put up Christmas lights, you know, at Christmas time. And so we kind of have this judging contest in our house and we get a gift card.
And so for the house that brings us the most joy that year, we go after Christmas and we just knock on their door and we say, hey, you won our family's competition. To s see their face. When they get that, like it's not even worth that much. And I think one year was a box of chocolates, and the next year was a gift card. And like the ladies whose house we knocked on, we didn't even know who lived behind the door.
She didn't speak a lot of English, but she was so blessed. And she just kept saying, oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Like, I can't believe it. I can't believe it. And it brang joy to my daughter.
It brings great joy to this person. And so it's very simple. Like, engaging with people can be very simple and very easy. And you just have to be creative, I think. I think that's incredibly creative.
Yeah. Yeah. But you got to be present. You have to be present. At some level, yeah.
And I think you have to be open. Absolutely. Uh Well, we hope that this series would be a time of self-reflection, not just for us, but for our listeners too. And you had come up with some questions that we could ask ourselves to identify areas that we can improve when it comes to being a good neighbor. Talk us through that.
Yeah, I think it's just um some self-reflection. One of the questions is, in what ways do we try to justify avoiding loving our literal neighbors? And what are the excuses that we give? And then, who are the neighbors that we overlook or avoid? Do we have any people that we Hmm.
Definitely like drive into the garage straight away and don't wait too. Maybe the last question is, what would you change if every Christ follower took the commandment of Matthew 22 literally? What do you think could happen? Wow.
Well challenge to our listeners. Maybe hit the rewind button. Hear those questions one more time and ask them of yourself. What are some practical steps you think we could do this month to become better neighbors? There's some simple things that we could do.
One is to learn the names of the neighbors that are around you or on your street. You don't have to try and do the whole block. At least try and learn the name of six new neighbors on your street. And one of the things that I would do is, I would, if they introduce themselves to me, I would put it on my phone, you know, house number and the name, just so that I wouldn't forget later on. That helped me a lot.
Pray uh We can always pray. And so pray for each household by name. And then, number three is just think of the neighbors that you have and. Any needs that you might see, and then ask the Lord to show you how you might be able to meet that need. We pray that you're enjoying and being blessed by this conversation.
Uh We're going to take one more ad break and we'll be right back. Hey, this is Chris, one of the hosts of the Salvation Army's weekly podcast, Words of Life. Coming up this month, beginning April 15th, we launch a new series focused on how we as followers of Christ should be the best neighbors. I would say one of our main roles is that we just try to come alongside people as they're grieving. We have opportunity to listen to their stories.
They see that you love them and they see the compassion and they see you're listening, you're attending. I feel like God is encouraging our family to become more involved in our community and to get to know our neighbors.
Now, when we come or the Salvation Army band comes, I mean, the kids are running to us. They know that we're bringing joy and hope. Listen to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store, or visit wordsoflifepodcast.org. Yeah. I'm a volunteer, a disaster volunteer, and I'm working with the emotional spiritual care team that's been deployed here in Kerrville.
Emotional spiritual care. I would say one of our main roles is that we just try to come alongside people. Uh As they're grieving, we have opportunity to listen to their stories and pray. Yesterday, toward the end of the day, a lady came up and she. Lives in one of the areas along the river that Had substantial damage.
Her mobile home or her RV was okay. Her neighbor lost hers and. She was concerned about all the first responders that are working in her area and She said they keep recovering uh missing people and I asked her if if she witnessed that first hand. and she said yes, she had just seen someone being pulled from the pickup track yesterday. And uh, you know, her heart was really heavy.
So Uh we just talked for a while. Uh we talked about maybe some things that she might feel uh later on. when things are quiet and calm down weeks from now and and of what she's witnessed and saw and then had an opportunity to pray with her. Oh.
So Captain Von Vomez, I'm the commanding officer for the Salvation Army in Texarkana. and I'm currently deployed as emotional spiritual care.
So, the Salvation Army is here providing services directly to our first responders. This area has not opened up yet to residents as it's still being surveyed and they're still looking for search and rescue. And so, a lot of vehicles that are passing by, these are first responders. We do have some residents that have come in, and so we do have some hygiene clips and cleanup kits that we're providing to them as well. But our services here directly are to the first responders.
I have the opportunity to not only offer a cup of Cold water or PowerAid or a hot meal, but also to pray. And so we've had that opportunity. And there have been a lot of volunteers and first responders that have come and taken advantage of that opportunity. They're just grateful for the fact that we're here and that the Salvation Army is willing to come in and support this community. Many of them, and this is where I'm proudful to be able to stand next to the Red Shield, have acknowledged that the Salvation Army did not come into this community, but it was already in this community.
And so that's something that I've been able to hear from a couple of different people. As a Corps Officer of the Salvation Army, I get to represent the Salvation Army Shield during these times of disaster, but as somebody who has lived through natural disasters. and seeing those firsthand, I have the opportunity to stand on the other side of the table with this. And so I am prideful and very happy. There's a level of joy and excitement that comes with me being able to serve these people, understanding that what they are receiving is not only the opportunity for them to receive a warm plate of food or a cold drink or a shoulder to cry on, but an opportunity for them to be called into service in the future, much like I was.
The Salvation Army's mission, doing the most good, means helping people with material and spiritual needs. You become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army. Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to offer your support. You can subscribe to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store or visit SalvationArmysoundcast.org. Join us next time for the Salvation Army's Words of Life.
These are the These are the words of life. These are the words. These are the words. These are the words of life. These are the words of life.
These are the words of life. Thanks so much for listening to Words of Life. We want to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the show. Visit lifeaudio.com where you'll find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They have shows about prayer, Bible studying, parenting, and more.
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The Historical Jesus Podcast is the sweeping saga of the life and times of Galilean Jesus of Nazareth, as well as the faith, religion, and church founded to honor and disseminate his acts and teachings. Join me, Mark Vinette, on this fascinating journey through time, exploring the many great works of Christian theology, literature, architecture, music, and art inspired by the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.
