There I was, a young Marine on deployment to Nevada. Several of my buddies decided to purchase a used car for the few weeks we’d be stationed there.

(Looked like this, but not nearly as shiney.)

It was better than walking the several miles into town.  Cheaper than all the cab fare.  I pitched in, securing driving rights to the old used Chevy.

I only used the car once.  I drove into the nearest big town, an hour away. And when I got there, the driveshaft fell off the car.  Nice!  I had to get it towed and repaired, which was tricky on my meager financial situation. I had to call my dad and have him pay for some of it with a credit card.

So imagine my surprise when I returned to base, and my “buddies” refused to pay up.  They said that since I was driving it at the time, it was my problem.  Classic.  I was, to use the phrase, “left holding the bag.”  Lesson learned: don’t get left holding the bag!

Until now.  There’s one situation where you DO want to be left holding the bag.  And that’s when you have a bag of groceries that you’re holding as you walk into our weekend gatherings in June.  Because we’re conducting a massive food drive for the local food pantries.  June is one of their lowest months for donations.  We intend to fix that.

So be sure to pick up a bag next time you’re at 13 Firstfield.  Better yet, do what the Tindle family does: pick up several bags and distribute them to neighbors who are willing to fill a bag.  Then collect all the groceries and bring them in.  Together we’ll make a difference for families suffering from food insecurity.  We’ll be left holding the bag…and that’s a good thing.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…” — Jesus

Wouldn’t it be awesome to fill the pantries to the point where they had to tell us to stop?

-Pastor Mark