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GOOD DEEDS 

With the arrival of the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, white envelopes began arriving in the mailboxes of the south-central Kansas community of Turon. 

The envelopes did not contain anything dangerous or suspicious, instead each contained a $10 bill. Markoleta Padgett found hers in the mail Wednesday, September 11. She said, “My first thought was that I had a birthday recently. But I thought, ‘Who the tar would send me something for my birthday and not put a name on it?’” 

By Thursday, September 12, 38 people had called or stopped by the post office seeking an explanation for the envelopes with no return address. The recipient’s names were typed on each envelope, but no specific street address was provided. The letters noted the addresses lived in Turon. Those receiving the free money ranged from a Baptist minister, a local retiree, and the director of the area’s friendship Meals program. Some of the recipients are not listed in the phonebook. 

Even postmaster Trudy Risley received a letter on September 11th. She says the Post Office is investigating, but notes no crime was committed. Most residents of the small Kansas town figure the anonymous giver was looking to brighten a gloomy September 11th. 

—Associated Press, September 16, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell. 

Matthew 6:2-3 NASB “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
 
 

GOOD DEEDS 

A Colorado judge ordered two teen-age girls to pay $900 to cover the distress their gift of cookies caused a neighbor. The neighbor complained that the unexpected gift of cookies, left at her house after the girls knocked on her door, had triggered an anxiety attack that sent her to the hospital the next day. 

The Denver Post reported that the girls had decided to stay home and bake cookies rather than going to a dance where they thought there would be cursing and drinking. The girls baked cookies as a surprise for several of their neighbors in rural Colorado and dropped off cookies on porches along with red or pink paper hearts and the message: "Have a great night." 

Several neighbors wrote letters testifying that they had thanked the girls for the cookies, but one neighbor said she was frightened when the girls knocked on her door around 10:30PM. This neighbor feared she might be suffering a heart attack, and went to the emergency room the next day. The judge awarded the medical costs, but not punitive damages. He said the girls had not acted maliciously, even though 10:30 was fairly late at night for them to have been out. 

—Reuters, Gift of Cookies Crumbles; Girls told to pay $900, February 5, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell. 

1 Peter 3:17 (NIV) "It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

Karma's a pitch: Bean balls, bad hits spark sports fines that fuel good works, by Bill Briggs, http://www.nbcnews.com/business/karmas-pitch-bean-balls-bad-hits-spark-sports-fines-fuel-6C10852419, Accessed August 10, 2013.

Hebrews 10:24 (CEV) We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 
 

Jason Lynch is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks football team, but he was surprised when Marshawn Lynch found and returned his wallet. Jason Lynch, who is not related to the football player, accidentally dropped his wallet outside a local gas station because he was distracted when Lynch, the player, drove up in a van. Jason Lynch wanted to ask to get a picture with the Seahawk’s player but decided not to because he was in his work clothes. Instead, Jason continued his errands, picked up his son from school and then went home. Not long after arriving home, Jason’s neighbor came over and gave him his wallet, telling him he would never believe who brought it to her. She said Marshawn Lynch and two other men were on their way to an appointment and dropped it off. She said Marshawn Lynch had found it at the gas station and since Jason’s house was on the way to an event, he dropped it by.  The neighbor also said Marshawn had declined a picture and said his only concern was that Jason got his wallet back. Jason used social media to send his thanks to Marshawn. He said, “Thank you so much for going out of your way to return my wallet! A Lynch taking care of a Lynch.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Seahawks fan says Marshawn Lynch returned his wallet, 
http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/marshawn-lynch-returns-wallet-seahawks-fan/nh9yX/?hpt=us_bn10, Accessed November 18,2014.

1 Peter 2:12 (HCSB) Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation. 

GOOD WORKS

A customer, who happened to overhear a conversation, left behind an big surprise for an eighteen-year-old waitress.  Alesha Palmer was serving a couple near the man and told them about her plans to go to college. She saw the man get up and talk with the manager, so after he left she asked if there was a problem. Her boss showed her the man’s receipt and told her that he had given her a $1,000 tip to help with school expenses. Palmer started crying when she heard the news, and that man wanted to remain anonymous.–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Man leaves anonymous $1,000 tip for college-bound waitress,

http://www.klove.com/news/2016/04/16/man-leaves-anonymous-1000-dollar-tip-for-college-bound-waitress.aspx, Accessed April 16, 2016.

Matthew 5:16 (HCSB) “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

GOOD WORKS

Authorities in New Zealand say Nintendo’s Pokeman GO smartphone game helped capture a criminal. Several young people were out hunting the virtual characters when they heard a car alarm and saw a masked man run past them. They grabbed the man and held him until police arrived, who arrested a twenty-eight-year-old man. Senior Sergeant David Sutherland said, “Capturing little Pokemon monsters isn’t just good for the players in this case it’s good for the police too, but we don’t want any good Samaritans to get hurt.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Pokemon Go hunters snare real thief in New Zealand

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nintendo-pokemon-newzealand-thief-idUSKCN1173YE, Accessed September 1, 2016.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (HCSB) “Brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

GOOD WORKS

One of Austin Hermsen’s friends posted his phone number on a Craigslist ad for a free turkey giveaway. The ad stated he had thirty turkeys to give away to whoever called him. While it started out as a prank, it quickly became a real event. After receiving 100 calls for free turkeys, his group of Hermsen’s friends saw a real need in the community and were prompted to raise money to provide for needy families. The group raised over $1,400 and used the money to provide 80 families a full Thanksgiving meal. What began as a prank led to the creation of the group Operation Give Birds, which aims to help supply meals to the less fortunate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. —Jim L. Wilson and Alex Morrison

Online prank-turned-philanthropy, ‘Operation Give Birds’ hands out 80 Thanksgiving meals, 11/22/17 https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/online-prank-turned-philanthropy-operation-give-birds-hands-out-80-thanksgiving-meals

Romans 8:28 (CSB) “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

GOOD WORKS

Over the last ten years the average price of Super bowl advertisements has doubled. Commercial time for Super Bowl LIII (53) sold for an average of $5.25 million for a 30 second ad, roughly $175,000 per second.  If every 30 seconds is that valuable, then each day is potentially worth slightly more than 15 billion dollars.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/30/how-much-it-costs-to-air-a-commercial-during-super-bowl-liii.html

Ephesians 5:15–16 (CSB)¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

GOOD WORKS

Louie was born unable to walk in a country facing political turmoil and poverty.  The boys had no feeling below the knees, so he could only move around by pushing himself with his hands and dragging his body through the dirt. People in his country often view disabilities as a curse, but Louie’s family heard about an outreach from Wheels for the World and Joni and Friends and asked if they could help Louie. The ministry was able to fit the boy with a wheelchair. The family described how the young boy smiled when received not only a wheelchair, but also a book about the life of Joni Tada in his language, and a Bible that helped him discover that he was fearfully and wonderfully made. The family said the ministry gave Louie an opportunity to find hope. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

https://gna.news/content/witness-wheelchair-haitian-boy-louie

Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.