JOSHUA TIME 411

Take my Son>>>>>>>>>>>>Likely the greatest e-mail I've ever received...>>>>>>>>>>>> Take my Son>>>>>>>> A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They>>>> had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would>>>> often sit together and admire the great works of art.>>>>>>>>>>>> When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very>>>> courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The>>>> father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.>>>>>>>> About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the>>>> door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.>>>>>>>> He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your>>>> son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me>>>> to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.>>>> He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held>>>> out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great>>>> artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.">>>>>>>> The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted>>>> by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured>>>> the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to>>>> the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young>>>> man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never>>>> repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.">>>>>>>>>>>> The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors>>>> came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he>>>> showed them any of the other great works he had collected.>>>>>>>>>>>> The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of>>>> his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the>>>> great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their>>>> collection.>>>>>>>> On the platform sat the painting of the son The auctioneer pounded>>>> his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who>>>> will bid for this picture?">>>>>>>> There was silence.>>>>>>>> Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the>>>> famous paintings. Skip this one.">>>>>>>>>>>> But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting.>>>> Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?">>>>>>>> Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came>>>> to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!">>>>>>>>>>>> But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take>>>> the son?">>>>>>>> Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the>>>> longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the>>>> painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.>>>>>>>> "We have $10, who will bid $20?">>>>>>>> "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.">>>>>>>> "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?">>>>>>>>>>>> The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the>>>> son.>>>>>>>> They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.>>>>>>>> The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!">>>>>>>> A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the>>>> collection!">>>>>>>>>>>> The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over.">>>>>>>> "What about the paintings?">>>>>>>> "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of>>>> a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that>>>> stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be>>>> auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire>>>> estate, including the paintings.>>>>>>>> The man who took the son gets everything!">>>>>>>> God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the>>>> auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the>>>> son?">>>>>>>> Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.>>>>>>>> FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER>>>> BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE>>>>>>>> Please send this to ten people and back to the one who sent it to>>>> you.>>>>>>>>>>>> Do whatever you like, but remember that maybe "one" of the people you>>>> might have taken the time to send this to, may be just the person who>>>> needs to hear this message. You have a choice to make.">>>>>>>> God Bless.