This is a great story! Later- Bessie > <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< > > THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA > > After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once > again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief > introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped > up to the pulpit 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 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." > > 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. He continued, "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 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 the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend > back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging > swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered." > > By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, > waiting for the next words to come out of the old man'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. How > great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, > the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the > room. > > Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the > old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the > boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up > his 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, and 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 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 the son's friend." > > -- Author Unknown > > <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< > _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
