[Kelly]

This is another email story, but it really touched me and I wanted to share it with you guys. This story just goes to show that no sacrifice is too much for the call of God.

IHPL, Kelly


AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, 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 SERVICETHAT 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 HE WOULD 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 THREWOUT 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
MAN'S SIDE. THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED
ONE OF THE BOYS, "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."


[Edited by Kelly on 02-12-2001 at 08:27 AM]

[stillgrowin']

Hey Kelly, do you know if that is a true story? It really touched me. Thanks for sharing.

[Kelly]

Well, I'm not 100% sure if it's true, but according to the email I received, it is. It really touched me too. I thought it was an awesome story! I'm sure I'll get more stories to share with you guys too since I'm always getting good emails with these type of stories.

Peace...
IHPL,
Kelly

[ian-campbell]

It's sort of like the Brigde story