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HUMAN 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, 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 walk to the front. 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."
LORD help me to be as accepting of others as you are of me.
You
accept
me no matter how I am dressed or what I have done. Open my heart
to
accept others as quickly and fully in Love! Lord forgive my sins
like
I forgive other's sins against me. Help me to become more like
Christ.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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