Quote from Forum Archives on March 6, 2003, 11:58 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

~**~The Sinking Ship ~**~

In the winter of 1995, a fishing boat began to sink in the rough, cold waters off Vancouver Island, west of British Columbia, Canada. The two men on board quickly moved to a life raft that was tied to the sinking boat by a nylon rope. Unfortunately, the rope was tied so tightly, they could not untie it.

 

As the fishing vessel began to list and take on more and more water, the men knew they couldn't reboard it. At the same time, neither had brought a knife onto the life raft with which to cut the raft free from the sinking ship. Both men knew that if the boat went down, it would pull the life raft under the water, and them along with it! They were in severe danger of drowning unless they could find a way to cut the rope.

 

The two men began chewing the rope, alternating as each man's jaw became exhausted. One of the men lost a tooth in the process. They worked steadily and feverishly for more than an hour, and minutes before the fishing boat sank completely, they chewed through the rope!  They survived to be rescued later by another fishing vessel.

Many times in life we allow circumstances to drag us down like a sinking ship. Praise God our lives do not have to succumb to adverse conditions. We have the ultimate escape plan through trusting our Father in Heaven. The shepherd-turned-king David knew adverse circumstances. He had committed adultery in his own life, and his life at one point was in danger from both friends and foes alike. However, in the midst of his trials, he understood the escape and the protection that was from the Lord.
Psalm 23:4 records David's trust in God, stating: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

 

Today, take confidence in the protection and grace of God and don't give up, even if you feel you're on a sinking ship.

 

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

 

~**~ God Allows U Turns ~**~

 

"Thanks for inviting me to go to church with you next Sunday, Uncle Al."

 

Tim and his uncle were on their way to Bonny Lake. They had heard the
fishing there was great. "I don't want to hurt your feelings,"
continued Tim, "but I'm not sure I want to get into this
religious stuff. Besides, Mom and Dad don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh?" asked Uncle Al in surprise. "I thought you said that your parents
wouldn't mind if you went with me. You sounded quite interested last week.

You even said the Gospel was beginning to make sense to you."

 

"Yeah, but since then I've done a lot of thinking," Tim said slowly. "I
don't think I feel like getting 'saved' right now. The crowd I hang around
with at school wouldn't understand, and I like being with them. Someday I'll
start going to church, but I think I'll just go on the way I am for a while.
I know I'm not perfect, but I'm not so bad, either."

 

Tim's uncle drove on silently for a few minutes. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed as
they passed a road sign. "I was so intent on our conversation that I missed
the turnoff! We should have gotten off this road five miles back!"
"Guess we'll have to turn around and go back now, huh?" asked Tim.
But Uncle Al shook his head. "I don't feel like turning around right now,"
he said. "I guess we'll just keep going this way. I kind of like this road,
and the scenery is nice."

 

Tim looked at his uncle in amazement. "But we have to turn around to get to
Bonny Lake," he protested, "and the longer we keep going this way, the
longer it will take to get back. If we wait too long to turn around, we
might not even get there in time to fish."

 

Uncle Al smiled at Tim as he slowed down for the next turn. "You're right,"
he said, "and what you said just now is exactly what I've been trying to
tell you about spiritual life . . . that when you're traveling down the
wrong road, the sooner you turn around, the better. If you wait too long,
you might never get to your goal: Heaven."

 

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

 

~**~ Don’t Find Fault ~**~

 

Pray don’t find fault with the man who limps

 

Or stumbles along the road,

 

Unless you have worn the shoes that he wears,

 

Or struggled beneath his load.

 

There may be tacks in the shoes that hurt,

 

Though hidden away from view,

 

Or burdens he bears, placed on your back

 

Might cause you to stumble too.

Don’t sneer at the man who’s down today

 

Unless you have felt the blow

 

That caused his fall, or felt the same

 

That only the fallen know.

 

You may be strong but yet the blow

 

That was his, if dealt to you

 

In the selfsame way, or at the selfsame time,

 

Might cause you to stagger too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins,

 

Or pelt him with words or stones,

 

Unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,

 

That you have no sins of your own.

 

For you know, perhaps, if the tempters voice

 

Should whisper as soft to you

 

As it did to him when he went astray

 

It would cause you to falter too.

 

Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara

 

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