<< Mar. 15, 2003 >>

A Living Bible

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, wearing 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 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".

<< Mar. 15, 2003 >>