Throughout the year, Street Life Ministries organized community-building events and launched “Street Life Live,” a monthly live podcast streamed on Facebook, providing an interactive platform to share stories and encouragement. Our success and impact in 2023 were made possible through the ongoing partnership and commitment of supporters who contributed through prayers, volunteerism, and financial support. Looking ahead, we continue to support our mission of extending the love of Christ to those in need, recognizing the transformative power of collective efforts in making a meaningful difference in the community.

Hey there folks, remember me? Yeah, looks like I’m back for a while. Turns out I had more to say, I guess. So with that said, my folks know the drill – top off that coffee, find a comfortable spot, and let’s go for a ride, shall we?

First off, I’m very glad that January is in the rear view. January sucked like an airplane toilet. My mother died on January 8th, and it was a rough thing to deal with. We had just recently (3 or 4 years ago) began talking again after a decade of not speaking to each other. I’m not going to get into why we weren’t speaking, as that’s between me and her, but the fact that we didn’t get to come to any kind of resolution certainly messed me up a bit.

I wish that this was the only thing that happened in January, but unfortunately, there’s quite a bit more.

The day after my mom died, my buddy Jonny was in a real bad bicycle crash. Some idiot delivery guy, parked on the wrong side, and in the wrong direction of traffic, cut Jonny off as he barrelled down Farm Hill Blvd at 35 miles an hour (that’s pretty fast on a bicycle). Jonny had to choose between hitting the idiot delivery guy’s moving vehicle, or hit a parked car. Jonny chose the parked car, and ended up going through the windshield. 12 staples in his skull, and a couple broken ribs. He’s doing better, but recovery seems a long way off when you’re in the middle of it.

2 weeks after my mom died, before her memorial service, I was at work. Just another Monday evening Street Life, when a friend came back to me after saying goodbye to tell me he’d just been assaulted by a guy over in front of Rise City Church. I told him to stay at the Lot, and went over to confront the guy. The guy was obviously high, and before I got 5 words out, he spun around (He’d had his back to me) and kept making X motions with his hand in front of me. At first I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but as I backed up, the streetlights glinted off the razorblade in the boxcutter he was trying to stab me with. Well, everytime he tried to cut me, I doused him with pepper spray until finally he seemed to realize he wasn’t going to win. He started to walk off when David Shearin arrived and asked if I was okay. I said call 911 – that dude tried to cut me. David called right away, and the dude tried to take off before he could get arrested. Unbeknownst to me at the time, our Monday driver Davin Cole, who is a retired SF cop, was following the suspect as well, and that’s how the RCPD was led right to the guy. When they arrested him, they found the boxcutter, and drugs. So yeah, I go to court Feb 27th to testify against this idiot.

Like I said before, I’m real glad January is in the rear view ‘cuz it sucked. February, I hope, is a much better month. It’s got to be, as it is both my daughter’s and my birthday month. I’ve got my fingers crossed, no matter what.

Lord, usually I’d ask You to keep all my friends safe, but this time I’m going to ask You to take good care of my mother. There may be times You might think she’s a little extra – and You’d probably be right, but she’s a good lady overall, and I miss her a great deal. Take care of her, Lord. Show her there’s no need for her to be scared or afraid because she is with You. I ask this through Your Son Jesus’ Name. Amen.

See you on the streets.