Easter E-mail from Uncle John

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 FOR THE 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 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
>     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 THEM,
>     "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."
>
>     Take 60 seconds & give this a shot!
>     Let's see if Satan can stop this one!
>     All you do is simply:
>
>
>     Say this small prayer for the person who sent you this,
>
>     Father, God bless this E-mail sender in whatever it is
>     that you know he or she may be needing this day! Amen