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 before in this church).

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 them-
selves 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 reach
the boy. 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."