(pardon the caps...)
         
AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED
OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE BEGAN HIS
SERMON FOR THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED
A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE.
         
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 FRIEND OF 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
HE WOULD 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 AWAITING 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 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 AS 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 WAS MY SON'S  FRIEND."