[From Dww-work]… WHO’S YOUR FATHER?

Fred Cradduck is the famous professor of preaching back in the east. One time he was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He went into a little restaurant and sat down. An older man came up and said, “Hi folks. Are you having a good time? Are you here vacationing?” Fred said, “Yes, we’re having a good time and we’re vacationing.” The man said, “What do you do?” Fred Cradduck wanted to be alone and just talk to his wife so he said, “I’m a professor of homiletics.” He said he thought that would turn the guy off. The guy said, “So you’re a preacher! Let me tell you a preacher’s story.” Everybody’s got a preacher story. Before he could object, the old man had drawn up a chair to the table and started to unwind his tale.

He said, “I was born an illegitimate child. I never knew who my father was and that was very hard on me. The boys at school had names they called me and they made fun of me. When I walked down the main street of our little town I felt that the people were staring at me and asking that terrible question over and over, `I wonder who’s the father of that little boy. I wonder who his father is.’ I spent a lot of time by myself and I didn’t have any friends.

“One day a new preacher came to town and everybody was talking about how good he was. I had never gone to church before but one Sunday I thought I’d go hear him preach. He was a good preacher and I kept going back. Each time I would go late and leave early so I wouldn’t have to talk to anybody. Then one Sunday I got so caught up in the preacher’s message that I forgot to leave and before I knew what was happening he had said the benediction and the service was over. I tried to get out of church but people had already filled the aisles and I couldn’t get past them. Suddenly I felt a big heavy hand on my shoulder. When I turned around that big, tall preacher was looking down at me and asking, `What’s your name, boy? Whose son are you?’ I just shook when he asked that question. But before I could say anything he said, `I know who you are. I know who your family is. There is a distinct family resemblance. Why, you’re the son of God.’ You know, mister, those words changed my life.”

The old man got up and left. The waitress came over and asked, “Do you know who that was?” “No,” said Fred Cradduck. “That’s Ben Hooper. Two term governor of Tennessee.”

A man learned that he was a child of God and it changed his whole life. When you realize that you matter to God and that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross so that you could be acceptable and valuable and forgivable and lovable and capable you’ll never be the same.

used CMPF, 10/2002

used FPCP, 4/4/04

CRADDOCK, FRED; ACCEPTANCE; FATHERHOOD OF GOD; STORIES; TESTIMONY