New jersey trip- 2015-16

NEW JERSEY- 2015/16

I made these videos on my N.J./NYC trip for 2015.

Some of you have seen them- but I figured I would put them all together here at the end.

I teach on some of these [St. Patrick’s, Danny- Work of art- etc.] so I added the links at the bottom to my word-press site for download.

Some of my North Bergen friends- who don’t live in the hometown anymore [like me] might enjoy some of the footage from the old town.

I did a little experiment on my first week back-

I lived in the car for about a week.

I did not stay/go to my mom’s home until the week was done.

I did this so I could identify with some of my homeless friends- who have done this for years.

You can see it on the first week of videos.

God bless.

1st day back.

https://youtu.be/rib65Yb2acc . Rick- 12-22-15

Day 2.

https://youtu.be/UTHu_8ZG91U  Danny- 12-23-15

These 2 [Jerome- St. Patrick’s] were taken in NYC

https://youtu.be/IckgCiOiGxg   Jerome- 12-23-15

Jerome is the first homeless man I ever interviewed- he was unique

https://youtu.be/UDwUNXDrHlc  St. Patrick’s cathedral- NYC. 12-23-15

I taught on the steps of St. Patrick’s cathedral- in the beginning you see a few seconds of the actual mass at the historic church.

Staying in the car overnight does have problems- see it on ‘Woke up’.

Day 3.

https://youtu.be/o4MzcvuEVzY  12-24-15 Woke up

12-24-15 I already made 3 videos- this morning. I kid about the accents and stuff- but to be honest-

The language problem [people not being able to speak English] is a major problem here-

We often downplay it- because it’s not politically correct to say ‘we all need a common language [English] spoken- so people can understand each other’.

But it is a huge issue here- no joke.

See it on ‘gas trouble’ ‘Can’t pay’.

https://youtu.be/Ah5aRiGDcFM  12-24-15 Gas trouble-

https://youtu.be/HDCCTOvtm1g 12-24-15 Can’t pay

 Today [Thursday] I taught some- ran into most of the guys- and hope to get a video of Nick playing the guitar.

Up till now- I have been staying in the car at night [rented motel for 1 night] and using free wifi at Dunkin Donuts [McDonalds- etc.]

Very difficult to upload videos- takes real long.

Not sure how long I will do it- but it’s sort of an interesting experience- many of my friends have either been homeless- or lived in their cars for years.

So- in a way- I’m seeing some of the stuff they deal with on a regular basis [where to shower? Where can you park- or sit- without people thinking your up to something] all in all- it’s a good experience at this point.

https://youtu.be/vK5d7FsVjj4  Bob- 12-24-15

https://youtu.be/Jr__T9QHwtI Danny- me teaching 12-24-15

I teach some physics on this one [Danny, Me teaching]

https://youtu.be/5jwMW85eUl8  Work of art 12-24-15

I teach some ecclesiology on this one [Work of art]

https://youtu.be/mF6UD8ySw0k  Mike 12-24-15

Good view of NYC from North Bergen [Christmas eve- Incarnation]

https://youtu.be/kzCmgKqJ_Q4  12-24- 15 Christmas eve- Incarnation

ON VIDEO- [I’m typing from the parking lot of McDonalds- on Christmas eve- trying to upload videos on free WiFi]

.Reductionism

.Is heaven the goal?

.Altar call?

.Charles Finney

.Cursed- for God

.Kingdom of God

.NT Wright

12-25-15- FRIDAY [Merry Christmas all]

https://youtu.be/5EaQPvs1D1U  12-25-15 Christmas morning

5:00 am- Did another full day ‘on the streets’- spent the night in the car and just woke up and made the video.

I’m kind of experimenting with the idea of identifying somewhat with the homeless.

I have had many friends over the years that have been on the streets- or lived in cars.

And it’s obviously inconvenient- but you don’t realize it until you try it.

On the last 2 videos I talk about God becoming man in the person of Christ- and how this identifying with humanity- gave to us a ‘high priest’ who can be touched with the ‘feelings of our infirmities’ [Hebrews]

So- in a sense- when we take upon us the same experiences that others have gone thru- we can identify better with them.

ON VIDEO-

3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord andmy God. John 20:28

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews

FRIDAY MORNING

- I used some restaurant  bathrooms to change and shave.

I realized if you find a bathroom with a door that locks you can change fast.

I did have clean clothes with me- and as long as you keep the dirty separated from the clean- it works ok.

I realized I can shave in the car as long as I have some water.

These are things you learn along the way.

It would have been easier if it were not Christmas day- lots of the spots are closed.

BAD NEWS?

Just checked my account- the motel charge went thru- I have 150 bucks till payday [some other payments went thru].

That’s still much more than many of my friends who have done this- but the shower option [renting room for 1 night] is out.

I look at the balance because of gas- if I don’t have enough to just go- then I find myself occupying time till payday [last day of month].

Gas is cheap- but I also have direct payments that come out of my account each month-

So if I were on the road- and the card stopped working [debit card] then I would be stuck.

I did get to do my walk around the lake today- Hudson county park.

But Burger king and White castle are closed- those are the spots where I run into most of the guys-

I do want to do a video from the GW bridge one day-

So if no one is around- I might do it today.

GARY-  I teach some on this video [too much?] but wanted you to hear Gary.

https://youtu.be/2XJ6ZKp28AA  Gary

Today I did not think I would run into any friends- I went to Blvd. diner for wifi- and sure enough Gary walked in.

We made this video and they offered to pay for my coffee [I should have accepted the offer].

But I tried to pay with the card [debit] and they have a 10 dollar minimum.

So I used their ‘ancient’ ATM machine-

It took 15 minutes- and said transaction approved [for 20 dollars].

I hit ‘no receipt’ to speed it up- and no cash came out.

I went to the car and go some change- but I think I just got robbed for 20.

I really cannot afford it right now.

Marie- Gary’s lady friend met me the day before- Danny introduced us- but Gary was not there.

I told Marie ‘I’m doing a little experiment- living in the car for now- but didn’t want the guys to know’.

I think they know- Marie said she wanted to ask the other day ‘are you staying in your car’.

So- it’s no big deal- but I guess they could tell.

But hope you enjoy the video.

SURPISE  ENCOUNTER- AGAIN.

[you can read the rest here- https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/nyc-new-jersey-trip-2015/  ]