Bill,
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it,
jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four
years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very
bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative
church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not
sure how to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in
with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt and wild hair.
The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle
looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a
seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one
says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and
when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the
carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship,
trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is
thick. About this time, the minister realizes that, from way at the back
of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the
deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair and a three-piece suit.
A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a
cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to
themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can
you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some
college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is
utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are
focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't
even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With
great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and
worships with him, so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with
emotion.
When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach,
you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never
forget."
"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will
ever read".
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today.
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