Re: Fw: story,,,religious

[Guest guest]

Angie that was a good story i loved it.

Love Kimi

[Guest guest]

wow.. that is unreal..... makes you think.love CArol

storyAFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLYSTOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THEEVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THATEVENING.IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUESTMINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TOHAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BEAPPROPRIATE 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 PACIFICCOAST," HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GETBACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WASAN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERESWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERSWHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHATINTERESTED IN HIS STORY.THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THEFATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOYWOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE- LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKETHE DECISION.THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'SFRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THETORRENT OF WAVES.AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!', HE THREW OUT THE LIFELINE TOHIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THECAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THEBLACK 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'SMOUTH. "THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITYWITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPINGINTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVETHE SON'S FRIEND. HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAMEFOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULDBE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OFTHE LIFELINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCEFILLED THE ROOM.THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMONWITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLDMAN'S SIDE."THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK ITWAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THATTHE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.""WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED GLANCING DOWN AT HISWORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UPAT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT I'M STANDINGHERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVEBEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE... I WAS THAT FATHERAND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies