A Bum.

A bum came to church that Sunday morning. Everyone knew he was a bum because of his clothing, shaggy hair and his body odor. Although everyone noticed this about the man, no one mad any mention of it or tried to steer clear of the man. Instead, all the congregation, including the children and the youth, came up to the man and introduced themselves, giving him a warm welcome. The man, on the other hand, was a bit skeptical, thinking that he'd never seen such kindness out of so many people.
He sat in the back row, by himself, pretty much minding his own. The congregation stood to sing praise and worship songs, but the man still sat, even though he was very alert and in-tune to the words and his surroundings. After praise and worship, and tithes & offering, the Pastor stood to begin his sermon. This particular Sunday he preached on salvation and how much your life changes once you become a child of God, and start your walk with Him.
After the sermon, the pastor ad an altar call. The bum was reluctant at first, but the Holy Spirit had gotten a tight hold on him, and the bum walked up to the altar. He told the pastor that he would like to be saved, washed in the blood, and begin his walk with Christ. The pastor and elders of the church, along with the older of those in the congregation surrounded the man. Everyone was praying for him. The bum had tears running down his face. He gave the pastor a hug and tanked him, then turned to go back to his seat. On his way back to his seat, a young couple, somewhere in their late 20's early 30's, stopped the man. They asked him if he had any plans after the service and offered to take him to lunch and get to know him. The man agreed to go with the young couple.
At the lunch, the young couple got to know quite a bit about the man, and visa versa. Somewhere during the conversation, they had made arrangements to let the man stay at there home, under the exception that the man get a job.
Low and behold, after just a week of staying with the young couple, the man had a job, was clean shaven, in clean clothes, had a nice home cooked meal everyday and became a member of the church and very involved.

So now, anytime a 'bum' comes into the church, this man takes a particular interest in them, and he now does the same for those people that the young couple did for him. He helps them. That was God's calling for him. He helps get people of the street, and into God's word, and there life will never be the same.

:)