Sermon Central
-
Can't Just Sit Around
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008 (message contributor)
CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND
The following is a true story. Larry Walters led a fairly boring normal life as a truck driver in southern California until the fateful day of July 2nd, 1982. On that day, Larry turned himself into a legend.
You see, ever since he was a boy Larry had dreamed of flying, but the US Air Force had turned him down from becoming a pilot due to his bad eyesight. After he was discharged from the military, he sat in his backyard watching jets fly overhead. It was torture to a man who felt the need to fly.
One day he could stand it no longer and so he hatched a scheme while sitting outside in his Sears lawnchair. He went out and purchased 45 weather balloons from an Army-Navy surplus store, tied them to his tethered lawnchair which he dubbed the Inspiration I. He then filled the four-foot-diameter balloons with helium. Then he strapped himself into his lawnchair with some sandwiches, a six-pack of Miller Lite, and a pellet gun. He figured he would pop a few of the many balloons when it was time to descend.
Larry's plan was to sever the anchor and lazily float up to a height of about 30 feet above his back yard, where he would enjoy a few hours of flight before coming back down. But unfortunately, Larry knew a lot more about truck driving than physics, and so things didn't work out quite as Larry planned. When his friends cut the cord anchoring the lawnchair to his Jeep, he did not float lazily up to 30 feet. Instead, he streaked into the LA sky as if shot from a cannon, pulled by the lift of 42 helium balloons holding 33 cubic feet of helium each. He didn't level off at 100 feet, nor did he level off at 1,000 feet. After climbing and climbing, he finally leveled off at 16,000 feet.
At that height he felt he couldn't risk shooting any of the balloons, lest he unbalance the load and really find himself in trouble. So he stayed there, drifting cold and frightened with his beer and sandwiches, three miles above the ground for more than 14 hours.
He crossed the primary approach corridor of LAX. Imagine the surprise of the air traffic controller when she was informed by Trans World and Delta Airlines pilots that they just passed a man floating in his lawn chair. Eventually Larry gathered the nerve to shoot a few balloons and slowly descended.
Unfortunately the hanging tethers tangled and caught in a power line, blacking out a Long Beach neighborhood for twenty minutes. But Larry finally got back on the ground, where he was arrested by waiting members of the LAPD. As he was led away in handcuffs, a reporter dispatched to cover the daring feat asked him why he had done it. Larry replied nonchalantly, "A man can't just sit around."
(Source: from a sermon by Bill Scott, "Boat Potatoes" 7/15/08, SermonCentral.com)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
There Is The Story Of A Young Man Who Applied At ... PRO
Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 23, 2004
There is the story of a young man who applied at a logging company and asked for a job. The foreman asked him if he could fell a tree with an ax. The young man walked over to a tree and felled it like an old pro. The foreman hired him. On Monday, the young man outdid everyone else on the crew. ...read more
-
A Man Had A Heart Attack And Was Rushed To The ... PRO
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005
A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He could receive little company and was to avoid excitement. While in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask ...read more
-
The Hosts Of Midian Had Come Up, And A Large ...
Contributed by Clark Tanner on Apr 23, 2004
“The hosts of Midian had come up, and a large army of about 32,000 was gathered together by Israel. But God reduced that army to a mere handful. Of the 32,000 there were only 300 whom God could trust. He knew these would stand, that they would never quit, that they would never compromise. So He ...read more
-
One Day A Boy Came To His Father And Said, "Dad, ... PRO
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jan 13, 2005
One day a boy came to his father and said, "Dad, it’s just six weeks before I will be going to college and I was wondering if you were going to give me a going-away present. If you are, I have a suggestion to make." The father smiling answered, ’What is your suggestion, son?" The boy’s eyes ...read more
-
Men Aren't Equipped PRO
Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005
MEN AREN’T EQUIPPED A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next week, the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Living In Love Or Death Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 14, 2013
We are taught here in John that we know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. Love of the brethren is a proof of sonship. People with a heart for God have a heart for people.
-
This Is No Time For Sleeping
Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Sep 21, 2022
The Christian life is a walk, it's a run, but never forget... it is a fight, and the warfare is real, and we get tired, but we cannot go to sleep. A sleeping saint is a powerless saint and is no threat to the devil.
-
You Gone Have To Work Your Faith
Contributed by Charles Jones on Dec 7, 2012
Belief in the existence of God is absolutely foundational not only to an understanding of the Bible but also to life itself. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that he who comes to God must believe that He is, that He exists and that He is a rewarded of them that di
-
Knowing Who You Are 1 Series
Contributed by Troy Campbell on Oct 20, 2011
Part 3 of 6 of the series, "Who Am I"
-
When Your Back Is Against The Wall Series
Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Oct 19, 2011
This message looks at several instances when Paul's back was against the wall, noting what he did to push through the adversity to continue God's mission for his life
