--l----

A Precious Reminder, Enjoy. :-)

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, HE 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."

And Swimming, and Swimming...

This is such a cute picture. Well, I just found out pollen is over so there is a little something taken out of my schedule. Oh, I just took the what song are you quiz from FB, and it said I was "In Love With the 80's" by Relient K. How funny is that? I did a bunch of driver's ed today. That is the most boring class I have ever taken. The Weekend is this Friday, I hope it's fun. Last year the girls didn't get to go out to the bonfire apparently, and they lost the battle of the sex's. That won't be this year!!! They didn't have me last year;) I feel so ready for the end of the school year, and Summer vacation!!! For feeling the delicious spray of the water on my face as I sit on the rubber tube, racing across the water. I think tubing is one of my favorite things about Summer. I can be in the water and not be cold, I get to enjoy the company of my cousins. I feel so happy and carefree on the water. It takes me away.

Just Keep Swiming...

Isn't it totally true? Well sadness happened, I didn't get to go to the Hawk Nelson concert in Fresno on Sunday. I got to fold clothes instead. Yay me. But this Friday is the Weekend and I am excited about that. I didn't get to go last year because I had to go up to Sonora for my uncle's High School graduation. I have kinda been having a bad week, and I can't figure out how I sunk into this weird mood. It started last Wednesday, and I am starting to come out of it now. It's really weird. This is a busy time of the year for me, STAR testing, finishing up school, starting my more-than-likely-going-to-be-disappointed Idaho plans, and just general excitement for Summer. We watched Anne of Green Gables the Sequel today. It was really good, and now I think that I am going to read the books again. And I need some more Ted Dekker. Books are my friend again all of a sudden. And Darylyn, hurry up and finish Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring! I want to read it again, and don't you dare give it back to me until you read it!!! I have been doing a lot of writing lately, and I really like this new avenue of emotion directing. I really can't wait for church on Wednesday. I also can't wait to graduate next year. Time has been going by way to fast. I feel like Anne in the movie where she doesn't want anyone to change and grow up. I can't stop it though- regrettably. The future scares me at times, but I just have to keep relying on my Lord for the future. He knows the perfect plan and I don't, so I am going to try and not mess it up with trying to do all by myself. What a sorry story that would be. I hope everyone watched that video! I don't know about the rest of you, but I say midnight showing of Where the Wild Things Are here I come! T o bad it doesn't come out until October 16. I will have already turned 16. I don't want to turn 16! Can I just turn back the clock 5 years? That would be wonderful. To many friends are leaving me all of a sudden. I think one of my new favorite books is Mrs. Doc by Janette Oke. It was really good. I really want the CD Vota by Vota. They used to be Casting Pearls, and I saw them in concert with the Newsboys. And the movie soundtrack for Phantom of the Opera, and a bunch of Disney songs. I really wish that I could come up with a story idea that isn't already taken. But everything has been thought up before! I don't want to be a copy cat. Tomorrow I get to go to the Hickman school library, and the Modesto library. I am going to have some fun in there.

A Trailer

Watch it. Trust me, you want to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--N9klJXbjQ

Concerts

Beautiful isn't it? Not much been going on.. wait! I just thought of something! I went to the Newsboys concert Sunday night! It was so much fun, though I have to say that I am not to fond of the new singer. I've fallen in love with these songs with someone else singing them. It just doesn't sound the same. Caitlin agrees with me. There were 3 other bands before them though that were pretty good. Bread for Stone and VOTA (previously Casting Pearls) were really good, and DecembeRadio reminded me of Hawk Nelson. It was pretty funny when they broke out into Carry on Wayward Son, Cait and I turned to each other going "what's it called?!?" I figured it out pretty soon. Rock Band is awesome. I got Vota to sign my converse though, I was pretty happy about that. Caitlin didn't think that I had the guts to do it, which just made me want it all the more. This Sunday I think I am going to go to Fresno to see Hawk Nelson, Jeremy Camp, and a couple other people and bands play. $10 at the door, you can't beat that! I have STAR testing this week which isn't all that enjoyable I must say. Though I thought that there wasn't going to be anyone I knew there, but there is which comforts me. Ashley, Austin, MaKenzie, Derek, Lucas, and I feel like there is someone else, but I can't remember for some reason. I past the CAHSEE I just found out which makes me happy:) We're waiting on the flowers for pollen, it was snowing in Sonora this last weekend, and that is about all the news I can think of for right now.

I'm back!

I am so back!!! Being grounded from the computer for 2 weeks wasn't fun. And I think that it is the longest I have ever not blogged. Last week something happened that I really wanted to blog about, but for the life of me I can not remember what that was. I will say this though; I get to go see the Newsboys on Sunday!!! And Caitlin gets to go with me!!! I am so excited, it's going to be so much fun!!! I am really starting to get into animae pics, it's really weird. I think this picture is so great!!! I have this page from a book I am reading, and it is so true. I know of at least one of you who might recognize it.

"We all have pasts filled with mystery and murder," Dr. Francis said.
Interesting way to put it.
"In fact, it's one of the aspects of the human condition Kevin and I have discussed before."
"Oh?"
"It's one of the first things and intelligent man like Kevin, who comes to the church later in life, notices. There is a pervasive incongruity between the church's theology and the way most of us in the church live."
"Hypocrisy."
"One of its faces, yes. Hypocrisy. Saying one thing but doing another. Studying to be a priest while hiding a small cocaine addiction, for example. The world flushes this out and cries scandal. But the more ominous face isn't nearly so obvious. This is what interested Kevin the most. He was quite astute, really."
"I'm not sure I follow. What's not so obvious?"
"The evil that lies in all of us," the professor said. "Not blatant hypocrisy, but deception. Not even realizing that the sin we regularly commit is sin at all. Going about life honestly believing that we are pure when all along we are riddled with sin."
She looked at his gentle smile, taken by the simplicity of his words.
"A preacher stands against the immorality of adultery, but all the while he harbors anger toward the third parishioner from the left because the parishioner challenged one of his teachings three months ago. Is anger not as evil as adultery? Or a woman who scorns the man across the aisle for alcoholic indiscretions, while she routinely gossips about him after services. Is gossip not as evil as any vice? What's especially damaging in both cases is that neither the man who harbors anger nor the woman who gossips seriously considers the evil of their own actions. Their sins remain hidden. This is the true cancer in the church."

Rain...

Well, I didn't get to go out with Kenzie on Saturday. It made me really sad but I got to go to bass pro shops with my dad, so that was nice. Last night I had to work pollen, and I thought I would be tonight, but I just found out that I am not, so I get to go to church tonight!!!! I am really excited about that. I haven't been to church in like 2 1/2 weeks, so yea. I don't know if I am working tomorrow, but I kinda hope so. I guess it all depends on the rain. And the workers that are taking the flowers off the trees. But my life just hasn't been interesting these last couple of weeks. School, pollen, sleep, chores... isn't it exciting? I really can not think of anything else to say, but I really want to blog right now. Maybe I can talk about how much I love this picture. Or about the small amount of pollen that apparently took 5 of us to sift through. Or maybe how it's raining really hard outside, and I absolutely love the sound of rain!!! It's one of my favorite sounds I think. That and waterfalls, rivers, basically moving water. I love that sound. My 2 favorite scents are vanilla, and the air right after a good rain fall. Oh, and of course you can't forget that Idahoan air! I love the smell of redwood trees to. I guess I have a lot of favorite scents. I just opened my window so I could hear the rain better, and I tell you it is really coming down!!! All the plants and orchards are probably loving this!!!

So I have one last thing to say;

"Dance like no one is watching.
Sing like no one is listening.
Love like you've never been hurt
and live like it's heaven on earth."
-Mark Twain