August 13, 2000

THE LIFESAVING STATION

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut and there was only one boat but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time, money and effort for the support of the work, New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew.

Some of the members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building, The newly decorated and exquisitely furnished lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, a sort of clubhouse. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do their work. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in the club's decoration, however, and there was a liturgical lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.

About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in the boat loads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people, They were dirty and sick, and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin, They dripped water on the rug and water-stained the furniture in the beautiful new club. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving staton. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast They did.

As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.

I can't help but think of the church and the  commission that we have been charged With: 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and Is baptzed w ill be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.' (Mark 16:15-16)

Smithville, TN bdlebn, by Tim Woodward

Bits & Pieces

We never graduate from the school of experience a long as we live.

A kind word picks a man up when trouble lets him down.

To believe is easy;
       To scoff is simple;
             To have faith is harder

Louis L'amour

If students went to school like some people go to church (when they feel like it), they would fail.

If an employee went about his work like some people go about teaching others (indifferently), they would be fired.

If a person ate meals like some partake of the Lord' Supper (irregularly), they would starve to death

If one paid bills like some support  the church (only, occasionally), they would have very bad credit.

If one neglected his family like some do the Lord, they would be charged with desertion.

If one spoke to others as seldom as some pray to God they would be branded as anti-social.

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