The Sack Lunch

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...


As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of
plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks..'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when
applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.
I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a sandwich.
God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.


As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Sent by a Friend. God Bless our Troops.

Country Cooking

A group of country friends from the Cottonwood Baptist Church wanted to gather together on a regular basis to socialize, and play games.

The lady of the house was to prepare the meal. When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hose, Janet wanted to outdo all the others. Janet decided to have a mushroom smothered steak, but, mushrooms are expensive. She then told her husband, "No, mushrooms, they are too high!"

He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed."

She said, "No, some wild mushrooms are poisonous."

He said, "Well, I see varmints eat them and they are okay."

So, Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a bunch, washed, sliced, and diced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and gave Ole' spot a double handful.

The meal was a great success, and Janet even hired a helper lady from her town to help her serve. She had a white apron and a fancy little cap could on her head.

After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialize, and played phase 10 Mexican Train Dominoes. About then, the helper lady from town, came in and whispered in Janet's ear, Mrs. Williams, Ole' Spot just died..."

Janet went into hysterics. After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what had happened. The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quick as possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm."

Soon they could hear the sirens as the ambulance was coming down the road. The EMTs and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump.

One by one, they took each person into the bathroom gave him an enema, and pump out there stomach. After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now." Then he left.

They were all looking pretty weak sitting around the living room, about this time, the helper lady came in and said, "You know, that fellow that ran over Ole' Spot never even stopped."

Louis

This was given to me by a friend. Hope you enjoyed.

In Honor of our Soldiers

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life..
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable 'To My Country' for an amount "up to and including my life."
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Soldier Died Today

Hands

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path"

Hands!

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
Produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.

The Sower "Who is the Sower"

The Sower


Ill. One day, the master of Lukman, an Eastern fabulist, said to him, “Go into such a field, and sow barley.” Lukman sowed oats instead. At the time of harvest, his master went to the place, and, seeing the green oats springing up, asked him, “Did I not tell you to sow barley here? Why, then have you sown oats?” He answered, “I sowed oats in the hope that barley would grow up.” His master said, “What foolish idea is this? Have you ever heard of the like?” Lukman replied, “You yourself are constantly sowing in the field of the world the seeds of evil, and yet expect to reap in the resurrection-day the fruits of virtue. Therefore I thought, also, I might get barley by sowing oats.” The master was abashed at the reply, and set Lukman free. (6000 Sermon Illustrations pg.603)

A. Who is the sower

1. Christ

Matt. 13:3 Mark 4:3 Luke 8:5
Here we see mentioned that a sower went out to sow

Matt. 13:37
Here we see the one that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.

2. The child of God

Matt. 13:38

Here we see that the good seed are the children of the kingdom;

Ps. 126:6
Here we see that we are to go forth and bear precious seed then will we see reward.




II Cor. 9:10
The writer implies that not only dose God supply the seed for us to sow, but also supplies the food needed and will increases what you sow.


Ill. Mr. Chapman was born in Leominster Massachusetts in 1774 around the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Chapman, not like most men. He had a big heart. During his adult life he would go from the east in Pennsylvania and travel west planting his crops in the states of Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. When he saw travelers heading west he would give them seed to plant on the homestead that they would settle.

Mr. Chapman even when faced with the dangers of the Indians, had such a reputation of a man with a different heart, that the Indians would give him safe passage across their land.

Mr. Chapman spent 40 years of his life traveling looking over the fruit of his labor. He was an unusual man. You would often see him with a tin pot for a hat, and old cloth sacks for clothing. Many others have enjoyed the fruit of his labor, in his life and ours

Mr. Chapman later died in 1845 at Ft. Wayne Indiana. You see Mr. Johnny Chapman was his name given by his parents, but we know him as Johnny Appleseed.

His Legacy not only left for all to enjoy the fruit of his labor. But it also left us with one of this nations greatest folk hero.

As a child of God we to can leave a legacy for others to enjoy and bear the fruit of our labor.

Fruit of the Spirit Introduction

Introduction


In our daily Christian walk do others see us as Christ like? Christ instructed us that we were to be like him. We should share his love. We should be joyful, gentle, kind, longsuffering. Have a life of meekness, and temperance.


Many times we can look at things and determine what they are. You can look at a tree that has apples and immediately tell it is an apple tree. You may see a tree bearing things that look like apples but feel soft and fuzzy and tell it is a peach tree. Why is it we can tell what these things are? Is it because of what we have been taught by our family, peers, and teachers?


Can a child of God live a life that is pleasing to Him? Can the world look at us and tell that we are Christians? As we study the fruit of the spirit in the word of God, we will see how Christ, which dwells in us can produce a life full of Godly fruit.

Fruit of the Spirit (outline)

Outlines


I. The sower

A. Who is the sower
1. Christ
2. The child of God

B. The source of the sower
1. The word of God
2. The house of God
3. The man of God
4. The people of God

C. The preparation of the sower
1. Must have good seed
2. Must know his seed
3. Must prepare his seed
4. Must prepare the ground


II. The ground

A. Unprepared
1. Not tilled
2. Walked on
3. Vulnerable to attack

B. Partially prepared
1. To rocky
2. No support
3. Burns easily

C. Unkept

1. Not weeded

D. Well prepared
1. Plowed
2. Good nutrients
3. Watered as needed
4. Weeded daily
5. Produces


III The Husbandman

A. Who is the husbandman
1. The Father

B. What is His Duty
1. To remove unproductive branches
2. Prunes productive branches to produce more fruit
3. He waits for the labors of his work

C. What is his reward
1. The fruit


IV The plant

A. It’s origin

1. From the original seed or producer

B. It’s growth
1. Must be planted or die
2. Put off the old covering
3. Begins new birth



C. The root

1. The receiving room of the factory

2. The growth of a root

D. The stem or vine

1. Supported by the roots

2. Made of several layers

3. The growth rings

E. The Branches

1. Sustained by the vine

F. The leaf of leaves

1. The backdrop fro the beauty of the plant and its fruit.


V. The Fruit

A. Love

1. Agape Love

2. The character of agape love or charity


B. Joy

1. The character of Joy






C. Peace

1. Source of peace

2. How was peace brought to us

3. When is peace given


D. Longsuffering

6. Examples of longsuffering

7. Instructions regarding longsuffering


E. Gentleness

1. Examples of gentleness

2. Exhortations concerning gentleness

F. Goodness

1. Examples of goodness

G. Faith

1. Types of faith

H. Meekness

1. Types of Meekness

I. Temperance

1. Examples of temperance



2. Types of temperance

Fruit of the Spirit Blog Bible Study

I apologize for the delay in posting for the bible study. There were some unexpected events that happened in my with my family. All is OK and the Lord is working all things out.

In this blog bible study we will be looking at the "Fruit of the Spirit." This is one area of my life the the Lord so graciously dealt with me in my life. It has been a great influence in my walk with the Lord.

Many of the class members that I shared this with were very thankful for what they have learned from it also. I hope it will be a blessing to you in you life as you grow and walk with the Lord.

I will post an outline of the study as well as the complete bible study on a weekly bases. Your input is greatly appreciated and it will help me in knowing its effectiveness in the work that I am doing for the Lord.

Thank you and may God bless you in your study.

Louis