A lifeline to give......

[Cameo]

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 FORTHE 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 FRIENDOF 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 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."

[JodyAnnShaw]

Wow... that gave me goosebumps!

Jodygirl

[KRIS_NC]

WOW THAT WAS NICE.I NEED TO SHARE THAT!!

[danielle]

It made me cry! Thank you Pamela!

[Cameo]

Thanks, I just reread it again and I had tears...it is a very powerful message!

[lifehouse]

Awesome Pamela! Thank you so much.

[freedom anjel]

Thanks Pamela! It's stories like this that remind us to witness whenever the opportunity arises. To know that you know that you know, is an awesome thing. While driving up north for my visit on Friday, as I was looking at the beautiful sky and clouds (God's unbelievable creation), I had tears streaming down my cheeks just knowing that I am in the place He wants me to be with the person he wants me to be with. The circumstances of prison are only that, circumstances. It's that knowledge, wisdom and understanding that keeps us looking up. He is truly in control!!

Thanks again & God bless!!

[Mrs. H]

Pamela, That was a blessing!

Thank you for posting it,
hugs
Tamara

[jbmccormick]

So, Pamela... Tell me, did you post that to see if you could jerk a tear out of my eyes? Well, it worked. Thank you and I will share this with Abby and tell her that it was posted by a dear friend. You really are special. I mean that.


Jim

[sherri13]

what a wonderful testament,a wonderful story