----- Original Message -----
From: cbbryant12
To: Stephanie
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 6:40 PM
Subject: Fw: To meet such a Man.
----- Original Message -----
From: Rmbillet@aol.com
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Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 10:11 PM
Subject: To meet such a Man.
>-
>Every once in a while we need to be reminded of a few simple things in
>life. Although this one has been around it has stood the test of time.
>Every once in a while we need to be reminded of a few simple things in
>life. Although this one has been around it has stood the test of time.
I have read it many times and still enjoy its message.
>
> >
> > I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant
> > just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were
> > both especially good that day.
> >
> > As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street.
> > There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all
> > his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that
> > read, "I will work for food." My heart sank.
> >
> > I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others
> > around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture
> > of sadness and disbelief.
> >
> > We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We
> > finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and
> > quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square,
> > looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful,
> > knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove
> > through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store
> > and got back in my car.
> >
> > Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't go back
> > to the office until you've at least driven once more around the
> > square."
> >
> > Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the
> > square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the
> > store front church, going through his sack.
> >
> > I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet
> > wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to
> > be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and
> > approached the town's newest visitor.
> >
> > "Looking for the pastor?" I asked.
> > "Not really," he replied, "just resting."
> > "Have you eaten today?"
> > "Oh, I ate something early this morning."
> > "Would you like to have lunch with me?"
> > "Do you have some work I could do for you?"
> > "No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I
> > would like to take you to lunch."
> > "Sure," he replied with a smile.
> >
> > As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.
> > Where you headed?"
> >
> > "St. Louis."
> > "Where you from?"
> > "Oh, all over; mostly Florida."
> > "How long you been walking?"
> > "Fourteen years," came the reply.
> >
> > I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the
> > same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly
> > beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with
> > an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his
> > jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, "Jesus is The Never
> > Ending Story."
> >
> > Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in
> > life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.
> > Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had
> > stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men
> > who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he
> > thought.
> >
> > He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival
> > services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his
> > life over to God
> >
> > "Nothing's been the same since," he said, "I felt the Lord telling me
> > to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."
> >
> > "Ever think of stopping?" I asked.
> >
> > "Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God
> > has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack.
> > I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit
> > leads."
> >
> > I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a
> > mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for
> > a moment and then I asked: "What's it like?"
> >
> > "What?"
> > "To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show
> > your sign?"
> > "Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make
> > comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a
> > gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became
> > humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change
> > people's concepts of other folks like me."
> >
> > My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his
> > things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said,
> > "Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared
> > for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty
> > you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."
> >
> > I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could you use another Bible?" I
> > asked.
> >
> > He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was
> > not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through
> > it 14 times," he said.
> >
> > "I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and
> > see" I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and
> > he seemed very grateful.
> >
> > "Where are you headed from here?" I asked.
> > "Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park
>coupon."
> > "Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"
> > "No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star
> > right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next."
> >
> > He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his
> > mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours
> > earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded
> > his things.
> >
> > "Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages
> > from folks I meet."
> >
> >
> >
> > I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had
> > touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with
> > a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you,
> > declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to
> > give you a future and a hope."
> >
> >
> >
> > "Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met and we're really just
> > strangers, but I love you."
> > "I know," I said, "I love you, too." "The Lord is good!"
> > "Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?" I asked.
> > "A long time," he replied
> > And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend
> > and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put
> > his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in
> > the New Jerusalem."
> >
> > "I'll be there!" was my reply.
> >
> > He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from
> > his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you
> > see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"
> >
> > "You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."
> > "God bless." And that was the last I saw of him.
> >
> >
> >
> > Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold
> > front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my
> > car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them...
> > a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of
> > the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if
> > his hands would stay warm that night without them.
> > Then I remembered his words: "If you see something that makes you
> > think of me, will you pray for me?"
> >
> > Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the
> > world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two
> > hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. "See you
> > in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
> >
> > If this story touched you, forward it to a friend!
> >
> > "I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or
> > any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass
> > this way again."
> >
> > My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to
> > bless and I picked you. Please pass this to four people you want to be
> > blessed.
> >
> > This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please do not
> > break this pattern. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There
> > is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one
> > another. God bless and have a nice day!
> >
> > "Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies
> > reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and
> > power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very
> > moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where
> > there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace,
> > In Jesus' precious Name Amen."
> >
> > I sent this to more than four, but this story is so touching I felt
> > each of you would enjoy it greatly.
> >
> > GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
> >
> >
>
> >
> > I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant
> > just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were
> > both especially good that day.
> >
> > As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street.
> > There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all
> > his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that
> > read, "I will work for food." My heart sank.
> >
> > I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others
> > around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture
> > of sadness and disbelief.
> >
> > We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We
> > finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and
> > quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square,
> > looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful,
> > knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove
> > through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store
> > and got back in my car.
> >
> > Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't go back
> > to the office until you've at least driven once more around the
> > square."
> >
> > Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the
> > square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the
> > store front church, going through his sack.
> >
> > I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet
> > wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to
> > be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and
> > approached the town's newest visitor.
> >
> > "Looking for the pastor?" I asked.
> > "Not really," he replied, "just resting."
> > "Have you eaten today?"
> > "Oh, I ate something early this morning."
> > "Would you like to have lunch with me?"
> > "Do you have some work I could do for you?"
> > "No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I
> > would like to take you to lunch."
> > "Sure," he replied with a smile.
> >
> > As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.
> > Where you headed?"
> >
> > "St. Louis."
> > "Where you from?"
> > "Oh, all over; mostly Florida."
> > "How long you been walking?"
> > "Fourteen years," came the reply.
> >
> > I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the
> > same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly
> > beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with
> > an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his
> > jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, "Jesus is The Never
> > Ending Story."
> >
> > Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in
> > life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.
> > Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had
> > stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men
> > who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he
> > thought.
> >
> > He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival
> > services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his
> > life over to God
> >
> > "Nothing's been the same since," he said, "I felt the Lord telling me
> > to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."
> >
> > "Ever think of stopping?" I asked.
> >
> > "Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God
> > has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack.
> > I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit
> > leads."
> >
> > I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a
> > mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for
> > a moment and then I asked: "What's it like?"
> >
> > "What?"
> > "To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show
> > your sign?"
> > "Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make
> > comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a
> > gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became
> > humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change
> > people's concepts of other folks like me."
> >
> > My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his
> > things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said,
> > "Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared
> > for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty
> > you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."
> >
> > I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could you use another Bible?" I
> > asked.
> >
> > He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was
> > not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through
> > it 14 times," he said.
> >
> > "I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and
> > see" I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and
> > he seemed very grateful.
> >
> > "Where are you headed from here?" I asked.
> > "Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park
>coupon."
> > "Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"
> > "No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star
> > right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next."
> >
> > He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his
> > mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours
> > earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded
> > his things.
> >
> > "Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages
> > from folks I meet."
> >
> >
> >
> > I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had
> > touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with
> > a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you,
> > declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to
> > give you a future and a hope."
> >
> >
> >
> > "Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met and we're really just
> > strangers, but I love you."
> > "I know," I said, "I love you, too." "The Lord is good!"
> > "Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?" I asked.
> > "A long time," he replied
> > And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend
> > and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put
> > his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in
> > the New Jerusalem."
> >
> > "I'll be there!" was my reply.
> >
> > He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from
> > his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you
> > see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"
> >
> > "You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."
> > "God bless." And that was the last I saw of him.
> >
> >
> >
> > Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold
> > front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my
> > car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them...
> > a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of
> > the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if
> > his hands would stay warm that night without them.
> > Then I remembered his words: "If you see something that makes you
> > think of me, will you pray for me?"
> >
> > Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the
> > world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two
> > hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. "See you
> > in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
> >
> > If this story touched you, forward it to a friend!
> >
> > "I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or
> > any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass
> > this way again."
> >
> > My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to
> > bless and I picked you. Please pass this to four people you want to be
> > blessed.
> >
> > This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please do not
> > break this pattern. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There
> > is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one
> > another. God bless and have a nice day!
> >
> > "Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies
> > reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and
> > power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very
> > moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where
> > there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace,
> > In Jesus' precious Name Amen."
> >
> > I sent this to more than four, but this story is so touching I felt
> > each of you would enjoy it greatly.
> >
> > GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
> >
> >
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