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      Newsletter
      March 30, 2003
      Published by Steve Klusmeyer
      Distributed by hundred-acre-woods.com
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      Sorry, but I have no control over those who may have added your name or forwarded a copy of this newsletter to your address. I do want to thank you for taking a moment to check out this issue.

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        A Word From Our Sponsors - Why?

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      In This Issue

      • By Steve: Going a New Direction
      • Quotes to Remember: by Charles Dudley Warner, Henry Ward Beecher, and others
      • By Someone Else:
        • Grandpa's Day Out
        • The Empty Egg
        • High Gas Prices
        • Spring by Bob Smiley
      • From the Bible: Philippians 1:3-6
      • Useful Information: Credits, Subscribe/Unsubscribe, etc

      If you haven't read the Useful Information at the end of this newsletter or if it's been a while, please take a few minutes to check it out.


      By Steve

      Going a New Direction
      -by Steve Klusmeyer - 3/30/2004

      image of Arrow Shaped Signs Pointing Different Directions Teach Me to Play

      Caleb had spent the night with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Doris. They were planning a trip into town and we had arranged to meet them at a store to pick up Caleb and his stuff, which as usual included his guitar. As we transferred his stuff from one vehicle to the other, I noticed an older man in a nearby car watching and smiling. He motioned to me with his hand. At first, I thought he was just being friendly. (That's not uncommon in our part of the country. Strangers often speak to one another and even carry on entire conversations.) As we finished loading the car, I realized he wanted me to come over to his window.

      The site of Caleb with his guitar had stirred up some old memories. While serving in World War II, the man had bought an old guitar from one of his buddies. He didn't know how to play but planned to take lessons as soon as he returned home. Another service man, Louis Jones, saw the guitar and asked the man if he would like him to teach him to play. The man agreed and Louis wrote some chords down on a piece of paper.

      Over the next few weeks Louis was able to help the man begin playing. Several months later, Louis was transferred. The two men would never meet again. It wasn't until many years later, after reading an obituary, that the old man realized who had taught him to play his guitar. . . . Louis Jones had gone on to become one of country music's most beloved figures . . . Grandpa Jones.

      Good News - Bad News

      Now I'm not sure of the authenticity of the old man's tale, but he did tell it as a thought-of-as-true story. And it provides a perfect preface to the news I must share with you in this issue.

      The good news is that I have accepted a position as Administrative Assistant for Communications in my local church. This position will allow me to use many of the skills and talents that God has been developing in my life to really make an impact for Him. . . . The bad news is that because of the extra time that I will need to devote to this new position and other responsibilities, I will not be able to continue with this weekly newsletter . . . at least at this time.

      So how is the story about the old man and his guitar relevant to this change? . . . First of all, even though we are strangers and I have never met most of you personally, I feel like we have become friends. I have felt comfortable sharing my thoughts with you each week. Secondly, I doubt that I will become as well known as Grandpa Jones; but through my articles I have been asking each of you if you would like me to help you learn to "play life." Many of you have agreed and have allowed me to share a few chords with you.

      My Desire

      I began "Blessed2Bless" about four years ago using articles by other authors. Articles written by me were added in October of 2002. My desire has always been and continues to be that my writing will cause you stop and think about some of life's tough questions or, at the least, bring a smile to your face for a few moments. I know that this has been accomplished because many of you have written to share your experiences. It has been my pleasure to be able to share my thoughts with each of you . . . over 4300 subscribers.

      I hope you will visit my web site regularly, as I will continue to post articles by others and occasionally ones by myself. I would invite you to leave your name on the subscription list in the event that I am able to resume the newsletter sometime down the road.

      Thanks again for allowing me to come into your life for a few minutes each week. May God continue to richly bless each of your lives and may you allow Him to use those blessings to bless those He places in your hands (Genesis 12:1-3). -Steve

      Learn more about Grandpa Jones

      Read more writings by Steve.

      Go to the link above to read previous Writings by Steve. Photos are included with many of the writings. Follow other links in this newsletter to read additional Writings by Others, Quotes to Remember, and Pictures with a Story.


        A Word From Our Sponsors - Why?

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        Please stop by our affiliates and malls. Most are Christian, and they are all good products and companies.

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        End of A Word From Our Sponsors



      Quotes to Remember:

      What small potatoes we all are, compared with what we might be!
      -Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) USA Writer and Editor

      A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs . . . jolted by every pebble in the road.
      -Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) USA Abolitionist and Clergyman

      I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.
      -Unknown

      Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.
      -Unknown

      Read more Quotes to Remember.


      By Someone Else:

      image of Arrow Shaped Signs Pointing Different Directions Grandpa's Day Out

      A police car pulls up in front of Grandma Bessie's house, and Grandpa Morris gets out.

      The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn't find his way home.

      "Oh Morris," said Grandma. "You've been going to that park for over 30 years! So how could you get lost?"

      Leaning close to Grandma so that the policeman couldn't hear, Morris whispered, "I wasn't lost. I was just too tired to walk home."

      Received from PackyHumor.

      -from "GCFL - The Good Clean Funnies List"
      Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are! A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List: Good, clean funnies five times a week, for free ... AND NO ADS!
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        A Word From Our Sponsors - Why?

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      By Someone Else:

      image of Arrow Shaped Signs Pointing Different Directions The Empty Egg

      Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher.

      One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."

      Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to Take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?

      As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. 'Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family,' she thought. 'Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.' From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him.

      "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered, "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take your seat."

      Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming Of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"

      "Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically -- all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

      That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.

      The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arm. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too." Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine." Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My daddy helped me," he beamed.

      Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty." He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."

      Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up."

      The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the School yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away. Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.

      -Unknown

      -from "HeartWarming"
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      By Someone Else:

      image of Arrow Shaped Signs Pointing Different Directions High Gas Prices

      Think a gallon of gas is expensive? Compare the price per gallon for the following products: (Prices may vary by location.)

      • Diet Pepsi - 16oz at $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon
      • Lipton Ice Tea - 16oz at $1.19 =.$9.52 per gallon
      • Gatorade - 20oz at $1.59 = $10.17 per gallon
      • Ocean Spray - 16oz at $1.25 = $10.00 per gallon
      • Brake Fluid - 12oz at $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon
      • Vick's Nyquil - 6oz at $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon
      • Pepto Bismol - 4oz at $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon
      • Whiteout - 7oz at $1.39 = $25.42 per gallon
      • Scope - 1.5oz at $0.99 = $84.48 per gallon
      • Evian water - 9oz at $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon

      So, the next time you're filling up at the gas pump, be glad your car doesn't run on bottled water, Scope, Whiteout, or especially Pepto Bismal or Nyquil.

      -Unknown
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        A Word From Our Sponsors - Why?

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      By Someone Else:

      image of Arrow Shaped Signs Pointing Different Directions Spring
      by Bob Smiley

      Spring has finally hit here in South Texas! No more having to put on a long sleeve T-shirt before braving the 60 degree winter weather. No sir...or mam depending on who is reading this. No more making Leafmen or laying down making dirt angels. Spring has hit! A time when cactus bloom, birds chirp until they pass out from the heat and a time where love is in the air causing us to sneeze and reach for our asthma inhalers.

      Spring is also when the new fashion styles are revealed for women. "Basic Black" could suddenly be out of style and replaced by a new radical hip color such as "Really Really Dark Gray". The point is that Spring usually brings forth change!

      Growing up, each Spring my family went to the beach in Galveston, Texas. We'd swim in the crystal brown ocean water or lie in the mud along the beach working on our tans. (see: This all happened before scientists had actually proven that the "sun" was the major cause of "Sunburns".) We'd lay out for 34 hours a day until we could heat up a TV dinner just by placing it on our stomachs. In fact, my dad could heat up a home just by hugging it! I'd get so burned that a week later I could peel my entire body like a snake or a lawyer, which I did just to gross out my dad. Of course, he'd get me back by taking off his shirt while I was eating.

      Anyway, my eight-grade year, I was out in the ocean with my homemade floaties (see: two balloons duct-taped to my arms), my water mask (see: old welding goggles that were duct- taped to my face.) and my new swimming trucks (see: last years blue-jeans) when I started to get that panicky shark feeling. I don't know if it was the murky water or my dad standing on the beach humming the JAWS theme music through his bullhorn, but I had a very eerie feeling. Then, out of nowhere, a hand suddenly shot up out of the water and grabbed my shoulder! I instantly did what any calm swimmer would do when something unknown grabs him; I screamed like a girl at a Plus One concert!

      What emerged before me was a girl in goggles. She said, "Oh, sorry! I didn't know you were a person; I thought you were a pink buoy! You really should put on some sunscreen." Her name was Donna and she lived right on the beach. We met every year after that. She'd give me tips such as, "Your dad is wrong. Rubbing meat on your body is not a good way to hide your human smell from the sharks!" We'd make sand castles together. Well, actually I made Sand Lumps while Donna made Sand Castles, Sand Malls, Sand Cities. She was good.

      When I'd forget sunscreen, she would throw water on me when my skin would burst into flames. It was a blast but the coolest thing we'd do happened right before I'd leave each year. We'd write all the things that we might worry about for the rest of the year on the beach in the sand and then watch as God's ocean would come in and wash them away; you know- much like God does when we hand our worries over to Him.

      So, as Spring is starting and things are changing, I remind you that one thing stays the same: God and His love for us. Yes indeed, love is in the air. Will you please pass me my inhaler?

      Scripture of the Month
      Matt 6:26-27 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

      Don't Worry. Be Happy. (hey...that's kind of catchy...bet it would make a good song)

      -from "Free Comedy Newsletter by Bob Smiley!"
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      Life's F.A.Qs.

      Many are asking tough questions in today's world. Maybe you have been asking a few of the same ones. Learn more about answers to some of life's tough questions.


      From the Bible:

      I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
      -Philippians 1:3-6 (NKJV)


      What is Blessed2Bless?

      Blessed2Bless contains an article that I have written using simple everyday events to illustrate qualities and ideals sought after by many in the world today. Also included are writings from other sources that I have come across (usually by e-mail or a book I am reading). I try not to send everything that comes along; but I do send those that I think would be a blessing to you . . . or at least make you think for a moment and/or bring a smile to your face for just a little while.

      Blessed2Bless is published on a round-2-it basis. Most weeks, you will receive at least one issue. Some weeks, you may receive two or three. Once in a while, you may not receive an issue for a week or two. So, whenever I get a round-to-it, you can expect to hear, "You've got mail," Yahoo," or whatever happens on your PC.

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      Check out past issues of Blessed2Bless in the archives.

      CAUTION: Please do not drink while reading the humorous stories. Doing so has caused many to snort Diet Pepsi out their noses.

      Does this newsletter have a light gray background with a red border on the left edge? Some mail programs may not display all of the colors and/or graphics correctly. However, all of the text should show up even if the colors and graphics don't. A copy of this issue and previous issues may be viewed in the archive section of my web site.

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      -Steve Klusmeyer {:o)<><

      Blessed2Bless -Genesis 12:1-3
      " . . . I will bless you; . . . and you will be a blessing. . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

      animated image of Contact Steve being painted by a Paint Brush from a Paint Can - Grapic provided by Animation Factory (edited by Steve)


      Credit Where Credit is Due

      If known, the original source of material used in Blessed2Bless will be cited, or at least the source where I obtained the material will be cited with a credit at the end of each item. If the material was obtained from an e-mail newsletter, subscription information to that newsletter will also be included. This will be done as a matter of Christian integrity to give credit where credit is due.


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      The End! Thanks for Reading.

      Give a nice day! -Acts 20:35
      -Mike Purcell, Cartoonist and active duty Navy Man




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