After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. The guest speaker that night was an elderly minister. He quietly 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. So, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us."

The elderly minister's eyes passed over the congregation and then he 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. "But isn't that exactly what God did for us?"

The boy answered, "Yeah, but that was God. I can't believe a man would do that."

The old minister's face darkened and he said, "I can.. You see.. I was the other boy."

Adapted from unknown source

Oh The Love Of God.

My dear friend, make no mistake about it. God loves you. He loves so much that He gave his Son for you. Don't think it was easy for the Father. It is never easy to see someone love and cherish suffer, hurt.. die. My friend that is love.

Listen to me.. that love is reaching out to you right now. It is touching your heart and it is calling you to turn to God. It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are doing.. God loves you. God wants to take away the pain and hurt and give you a brand new life. You can have it right now.

How? Simple follow the way shown in Romans 10:9. Romans 10:9 says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected by the Father? Will you confess Him as Lord? That means asking Jesus to become Lord of your life. How do you do it?

Prayer this simple prayer.."Jesus I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. Forgive me of all my sin. I want to start again. So come into my heart as my Lord. I accept you, Jesus, as my Savior, as the risen Son of God. My life is yours."

And with a simple prayer like that.. God comes in and cleanses you from all sin. Now go and call someone and tell them what you have done. E-mail us and we will send you a book to help you on your way in this new walk with God.

Remember, It is love.. God's great love that has made the way.