Stories

I was just remembering today some things I heard when I was growing up that have stuck in my memory and which I often recall. My family went to a small baptist church up north for about 13 years, and among other things, they'd sometimes have a time in the service where the person leading would say "turn to someone and welcome them" and everyone would get up and hug practically everyone else and start chatting away, with the poor person up the front having to try and get everyone sitting down again. It was that kind of welcoming place. Anyway, most of the people who led the services were middle-aged farmers and they all made a habit of sharing stories. I can remember three, and they're really good! So here they are.

There was a flood coming and the town had to be evacuated. Eventually, everyone reluctantly left, except for one guy who said "I have faith in God and he will rescue me." So the water rose, until his house was flooded. A rescue squad came to get him, but he wouldn't leave, repeating the same thing. The water kept rising and a rescue boat came for him, but he'd moved up to the roof and refused to leave, saying "God will rescue me." When the water rose higher, a helicopter came to save him, but he refused to leave, saying "God will rescue me." Eventually, he drowned. He got to Heaven and asked God, "what's going on? Why didn't you save me?" And God replied, "I send you two rescue crews and a helicopter, but you didn't seem to notice."

A guy drove a schoolbus packed full of kids everyday. One day as he was driving the bus down a hill, the brakes failed. He knew that if he kept going straight ahead, the bus would plough into the ocean and the children most likely would be killed. But his own house was approaching on the left, and he knew that if he turned sharply into his own driveway, the bus would come to a stop and the kids and himself would be saved. He decided on this course of action. As he got closer he remembered that his son waited everyday at the end of the driveway to wave to him. This guy was a Christian and he knew that his son was too. If he turned sharply into his driveway, his own son would be killed. If he kept going, his son would live but the whole busload of children would die. If they weren't saved, he would be condemning them. At the bottom of the hill, he turned into his driveway.

A man, his son and one of his son's mates were fishing out at sea. A storm came up and a wave threw the son and his friend into the sea. The man grabbed hold of the life ring. Both cried out for him to save them. He thought to himself.. he knew his son was saved, but his friend wasn't. By throwing the life ring to his son, he could hold onto him for several more decades. But by throwing it to his son's friend, he could offer him another chance at eternity. Life is precious, but not for the reasons some people think; family, friends, happiness. There is a choice to be made. The man and his son were assured eternity, but the son's friend wouldn't be, unless he was given one more chance.