THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER
WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE
CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO
HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE
WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE
SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE
PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON
WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST." HE BEGAN.
"WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY
ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO
HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED
SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE
THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO
WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE
BEGAN,LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.
THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,
"GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO
MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO
WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE
LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A
CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE
TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE
FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED
BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE
SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR
THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S
MOUTH. "THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON
WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT
BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO
AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS..
THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE
THE SON'S FRIEND. " HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD
DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE
YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A
HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS
SERVICE." WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK
DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.
THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT
AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION
AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE
APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO
TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD M AN! 'S SIDE.
"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED
ONE OF THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC
FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES
THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD
MAN REPLIED GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE
BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT
THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS
IT? BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT
STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE
FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE... I WAS THAT
FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
I got this as an email and it made me kind of sad i'm sure i sent it to most of you but i wanted to make sure you read it, it really gives you something to think about.
Current Mood: 
sad
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
okay
restless
bitchy
drained
cheerful
gloomy
sick
drunk
cold
tired
pissed off