found online at Carroll County Times

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Tucked away in The Washington Post last week was a news story of a profound act of sacrificial love. Thomas Vander Woude, father of seven sons, was outside working in his backyard. Close by him was 20-year-old Josie, his youngest son. Josie has Down syndrome and ever since his first steps has been his father's shadow. They were seen everywhere together: church, the ball fields, school and community events. It seemed as if they were inseparable.Without warning, Josie fell through a piece of metal covering the opening in their septic tank. Josie plunged into the stinking sludge that was far deeper than his height. With a quick shout to his wife to call 911 for help, Vander Woude made his way through the opening and lowered himself into the foul, dark muck. Submerged in sewage, he felt Josie's flailing arms, grabbed him and hoisted him above his head, holding him there so Josie could breathe.A frantic 20 minutes elapsed before help arrived. Rescuers were able to grab Josie from Vander Woude's grasp, in critical condition but alive. But as they pulled Josie's father from the tank, he was dead, having drowned in the muck. He gave his life for Josie's, an act that will never be forgotten by family, friends, neighbors and especially Josie.Almost 2,000 years ago, God in his awesome love, decided to leave the glory and majestic beauty of heaven to climb into the cesspool of life on planet Earth.We humans had really messed things up. No one was living the way God had created us to live. We were all drowning in the sludge and muck of sin, rebellion, selfishness, greed, lust - and the list goes on and on. Left to our own, we would drown in the mess and die forever separated from God's love.But God came into our world through Jesus Christ, clothed in human flesh and took all our stinking mess to the cross with him. And there he died for us. All of us. There he took the punishment and penalty for the stink we have made of our lives. Even today, his strong arms hold our heads above the sludge that will certainly drown us, offering us a new life in him if we would just trust him with our lives.Last week my 7-year-old son asked "Dad, why doesn't everybody go to church?" Growing up in a pastor's home, church is a way of life for him.I quickly answered, "Some people are just too busy with their lives, others like to catch up on their sleep."
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Then I remembered the story of Vander Woude, and I thought of the cross."But I think the main reason is that many people just don't know how much God really loves them."Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."Say yes to God, and go visit a church tomorrow morning!

Vonda

This was published in a paper today! I jsut happened to run acrossed it and thought it was kind of interesting.