the old man and the sea...

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 that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."

-- Author Unknown

BRING THOSE BABIES TO CHURCH

BRING THOSE BABIES TO CHURCH

My heart goes out to the parents of small children. I know first hand the
kind of problems they face. Training up a toddler in the way he should go
is a constant job, a continuous battle, seven-day-a- week task, not to
mention an awesome responsibility. After six days of their whining chorus
at home and three hours of embarrassment while shopping, the last thing some
young mothers want to face is an hour of agony and humiliation at church.
Many young mothers have asked herself, “Why do I keep bringing them to
church?” As she enters the auditorium she utters a silent prayer that the
kids will be good and the sermon short. The service begins. While mother is
picking up toys, drying eyes, wiping noses, swatting, scolding, trying to
sing, listen, and pray, the toddler is pouring juice on her dress. To the
toddler, church is an exciting adventure. Songbooks are a challenge to
take, stuffed toys make great missiles to launch over four or five rows, and
the collection plate would make a great hat. Young parents take heart! Let
me assure you of this:

1. Your children do not disturb others nearly as much as you think they do.

2. If people without children are determined to sit at the back of the
church, then they deserve any distraction they get.

3. Most people really do understand your plight and remember back to the
days when their children were infants and toddlers.

4. Remember that you are both wanted and needed in the worship service.

5. Have faith that the hand, which now hurls crayons, will one day spread
the seeds of the Kingdom.

-- Author Unknown