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Form of Sound Words (2 Tim 1:13)
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Bird with the Broken Wing
Now Playing: Have our wings been mended by the Saviour ?
Topic: Stories

A century ago Peter Bilhorn, an American evangelist and singer, was mightily used of God in his country. About the year 1900 he received from a friend a clipping from the Youth's Companion, containing the poem, "The Bird with the Broken Wing," which was written by Hezekiah Butterworth.

The message of the poem, in brief, was that the wounded bird was the most tragic of sights; that it served mainly as a warning; that its powers of achievement were practically finished. "For the bird with the broken pinion Never soars as high again." Peter's friend suggested that here was something worth setting to music, and, after some effort, the singer prepared a musical score for the words, and placed it in his portfolio. Some weeks later, Bilhorn was invited to conduct a gospel meeting in the Iowa State Prison at Fort Madison. Just before the close of the meeting the chaplain said, "Sing us one more song, Peter," and, without thinking where he was, or how it would sound, the missionary picked up the sheet of the new song, seated himself at the organ, and sang it to the prisoners. When he had finished, a strange thing happened.

A convict, a young man down in the center, sprang to his feet, and, holding on to the seat in front of him, said: "Chaplain, Chaplain, is that true? If what he has been singing is true, there is no hope for me or a lot of us here." And he dropped back into his seat with a sob. Mr. Bilhorn at once realized the dreadful blunder which he had made, but it was too late to explain or apologize. "And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of the report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe" (1 Thess.2:13).

 Peter Bilhorn went back to Chicago saying: "It's not true. There must be another verse added to that song." A few days later he wrote: But the soul that comes to Jesus Is saved from every sin And the heart that fully trusts Him Shall a crown of glory win. Then come to the dear Redeemer He will cleanse you from every stain; By the grace that He freely gives you, You shall higher soar again. Then he sat down and wrote to the chaplain asking for the privilege of a return visit to the prison for another service.

Three weeks later he was there. During the service he made his apology, and sang the song with the new verse added. But that is not the end of the story. In May, 1918, nearly twenty years afterwards, Mr. Bilhorn was at a camp m Illinois, singing for the Y.M.C.A. On a Sunday morning, at the close of a meeting in the Tabernacle, a tall, splendid-looking officer in a colonel's uniform came down the aisle to the platform, put out his hand, and said, "Hello, Bilhorn. You don¹t remember me, but I do you. You visited Fort Medicine prison eighteen years ago, and sang about The Bird with the Broken Wing." "Yes," said Peter, "and every time I think of it I am filled with shame."

"Well" said the colonel, "I am the man who asked if the song was true; and when you came back weeks later and gave your testimony, and then sang the new verse, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. I was able to rise. I am now the colonel of a regiment of infantry preparing to go overseas. By God¹s grace one can higher soar again." (selected) Site Meter


Posted by dondegr8 at 2:54 PM EST
Updated: Saturday, November 11, 2006 3:40 PM EST
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
I found Jesus there
Now Playing: Has Jesus found a home in your heart ?
Topic: Stories
The Heart

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,
"I'll open up your heart..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..."

"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there," said the boy.

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."

The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:," here he paused, "death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered and said, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be.

Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for He has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."

The surgeon wept. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"

"Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the
surgeon.

Author Unknown

Posted by dondegr8 at 11:16 AM EST

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