|
From
the Raging Waters
On
Sunday night, April 11, 2010, James and Janet Hogan
and their 40-year-old son, Tim, were traveling in a
vehicle in
Walnut Creek
,
California
, when they lost control of their vehicle on a
rain-soaked road, went through a fence, and landed in
the rushing waters of a creek.
An emergency crew later found Tim’s lifeless
body trapped in the car.
His parents had somehow gotten out of the
vehicle but were uncontrollably swept downstream.
California
Highway Patrol Officer Shaun Bouyea responded to the
crash in a rescue helicopter.
He was called to where Janet had been spotted
bobbing up and down in the choppy current, three miles
from the crash site.
When Janet could not grab hold
of a clinch collar device that he had lowered to her
from the helicopter, Bouyea signaled to Contra Costa
Fire District rescue swimmer, Dave Manzeck, and
lowered
the collar to him.
As
Bouyea lowered Manzeck to the raging waters where
Janet was floundering, Manzeck later reported that he
saw her disappear underwater for 15 to 20 seconds.
“She was about to die if somebody didn’t get
her,” Bouyea later said.
After
initially being blown under the water himself by a
downdraft, Manzeck was finally able to grab hold of
Janet, who was unconscious.
Both of them were pulled from the water and
lowered to paramedics waiting on the shore.
Janet was revived by the paramedics and taken
to the local hospital.
Manzeck was also admitted to the hospital, in a
room three doors down from Janet, due to injuries he
sustained in the successful rescue attempt.
Janet
Hogan unfortunately lost her son and her husband
(whose lifeless body was found last Wednesday night),
but she was rescued from the raging waters
through
the heroic efforts of Bouyea, Manzeck, and a team of
rescue workers.
Her
rescue reminds us of another critical rescue mission
that involves YOU and ME…
Due
to OUR wrong choices – SIN – WE are being swept
downstream to certain destruction (Romans 6:23).
But God loves us so much that He sent His Son
to our rescue. In
order to save us from the depths of sin’s
punishment, Jesus was not only injured, but gave His
life as payment for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).
Because HE died on our behalf, WE can be saved
IF we will accept His offer of salvation.
We
accept Jesus’ offer of salvation by: placing our
faith and
trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of our sins
(Acts 2:38).
“I
was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am
I.
Love lifted me!” (James
Rowe)
Jesus
will save you from the raging waters of destruction,
if you will take His hand in trusting obedience.
Won’t
YOU?
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
*
Information gleaned from www.insidebayarea.com
To
Subscribe to "Living Water"
send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net
TEXT version: subscribe-livingwater-text@lyris.dundee.net
Follow
this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com
Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website
at: www.creekwoodcc.org
|
