The Captain's Son

There was a shocker on tonight's episode of American Idol - one of the hot favourites to win the singing competition ended up at the bottom of the pile. According to the rules, he was supposed to pack his back and go home. But surprise, surprise - the judges used their one and only chance in the whole competition to save him so that he could sing again in the following week. It was classic TV drama - the stunned look on his face. His mouth opened but no words came out; and when he could finally say something, he said to the judges 'I will make you proud, I promise you'. 


This reminded me of this story that I told in the sermon I preached in church this month (March) ... The story asks the question - what would you say if you met your Saviour?

The Captain's Son

Imagine that you are shipwrecked on a desert island. You have absolutely no way of getting off the island. Slowly but surely, you are dying of hunger and thirst. Just as you are about to give-up, you see a beautiful ship on the horizon.



The Captain of the ship is rich and powerful. He sails the seven seas with His son on a quest. His son is a handsome, well mannered and well dressed man. As the ship passes by, the Captain announces  "The radar has picked up signals of a person marooned on the desert island over there."

There is absolutely no need for the son to do what he does next. On hearing his father, he immediately pulls off his fine clothes and without hesitation, he leaps into the sea. He braves gigantic waves and shark infested waters; and swims to bring you cool, refreshing water - water that will quench your thirst and save your life.


When he finally gets to land, the son says "Here, I bring you living water - will you accept it?". 


You eye the bottle of ice cold water. Small droplets are condensing on its surface like chains of pearls. You cannot take your eyes off it and you start drooling for that first taste. "Yes!" you say, "Yes! Of course!" as you grab the proffered bottle and swallow every single drop of the precious liquid. 


Finally, finally, you are refreshed and alive once more - your eyes focus on the figure before you - your saviour. What will you say to him?


Will you say "Who are you? Why? Why did you do this for me? Why did you brave the shark infested waters, the gruelling swim to bring this water to me? Yes, yes, of course, I will go with you - let me do you proud!"

Or would you say "You know, water is fine for a while but what I really crave for is a nice cool can of coke. Would you mind swimming back to your ship to get me a can? And by the way, since you're going back to the ship, do you mind asking your Father, whom I know is rich and powerful, to come and build me a nice hotel here on the island so that I can live here in comfort?"


What would you say if you believed that Jesus really died for your sins on the cross and gave you a new life to live? Would you live to do Him proud? Or would you live to please yourself? 


How will you live? How will you live?

The End

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ...¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:3, 15-16

(Images from Microsoft Office and  Bible Passage from BibleGateway.com)

Interesting Blogs

I realised it's going to take me a while to fill this blog with stories. It's taking time just to finish another one. In the interim, I thought it might be interesting to share some other interesting blogs related to story telling.

I've added a section with links to blogs I find interesting. The first one - Storied Theology is based on a similar concept as mine - that the Gospel is fundamentally a series of stories that speak to our lives - what we see, feel and experience.

I believe the Gospel is able to explain everything in our lives - and ultimately that the meaning of life is found in what Christ has done for us - He showed his love for us by dying for our sins on the cross.

My next story is going to be a science fiction - hope it can be completed in the next 1 - 2 weeks. Look out for it!

The King's Soap

I wrote this first story sometime in 2007 when I was asked to tell a story for Easter at a Church Sunday School I was teaching in at that time...

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a King who had to leave on a long journey. He loved the subjects of his Kingdom very much and was concerned that they would not be ready for him when he returned. So he reminded them many times before he left “It is my soap that will wash you clean. Remember that”.

And so the King began his journey and the kingdom waited for His return. While they waited, some people said the King had not really gone away. If you believed in your heart and listened very carefully, you will still hear the King speaking to you. Those who did not believe called this ‘Rubbish!’ and said that the King had left because He did not love them anymore. They said that the King would never return.

The days became weeks, and the weeks months. So the years went by and people went on with their daily lives - going to school, working, going out, staying in – all the same things that you and I would do.

And then one day – there was a stunning announcement. “The King is coming! The King is coming! Get yourselves ready to meet the king!” The Kingdom was stunned at the news at first but it quickly turned to joy and excitement. People busied themselves cleaning their houses and their shops. Soon beautiful and colourful decorations were put up. Banners were hung that declared “Welcome to the King of kings”

It was during this time of busyness that an old man appeared in the middle of the town. Some said that he looked very much like the King himself but many were too busy to bother. The old man had with him a big pile of bright red soap. To those who would stop and listen he said, “Soap! Soap! Soap to make you clean for the King.”, and for many days He stood there shouting these words as the people hurried by.

He offered the soap to a woman dressed in the most beautiful clothes and jewelry. She turned her nose up at it immediately. “Me? Do I look like I am dirty? Do I need your ugly soap? Look at my beautiful clothes and jewelry. The King is sure to want to meet me the minute He sees me in these.” And she rushed off to buy another beautiful dress – just in case.

Next the old man offered the soap to a man who thought he did everything right. The man asked “What is this?” .“This” said the old man, “is soap made from the very blood of my own son. Only this will make you clean for the King.” .The man replied “What? Soap from blood? Soap & blood will not make you clean. Bathing in milk everyday is what makes you clean. To be really clean, in fact, you need to bathe in chocolate milk. That is what I do everyday. When the King returns, I am sure he will want to see me because I have done what is right.” And he rushed off to buy another bottle of chocolate milk just in case.

The third person who passed the old man was a rich man who had worked hard all his life. He asked the old man “How much does this soap cost?” “The soap is free!” the old man said. “Free!? Free!!?? Free things are not good,” the rich man said,” I have worked hard all my life to earn lots of money. The King will want to see me once he sees the expensive gifts that I have bought for him.” And he rushed off to buy another expensive present just in case.

Finally, there appeared before the old man a boy and a girl. “Sir,” they said, “we are poor and have nothing to offer; and we are dirty. We will not be fit to meet the King unless we wash ourselves. We beg you for a small bit of your soap.” And the old man looked upon them and loved them dearly. He said “My dear children, the soap is free – as you have asked, take it and use it and you will be ready for the King.” With great joy the children received their gifts and washed themselves clean; and not only the two children but all others who saw that they had nothing to offer the King, received the soap with gladness and washed themselves clean.

 Amidst the flurry of activities, the old man suddenly shouted loudly “Stop! It is finished! I have returned!” Before the eyes of all the people he disappeared and before them stood the King. At once, every one bowed down on their knees and worshipped the King.

And the King asked “Who is fit to come live with me in the castle?”

The woman, the “right” man and the rich man all shouted “Me! Me! I am the one who is fit – I have the beautiful clothes, I have done the right things, I have the money and the expensive gifts.”

And the King said “Fools! These will not make you fit for me. Have I not said before I left? It is only soap that will make you clean. It is those who have washed with soap that are fit to come with me.”

He looked kindly upon those who had used the soap and He opened his arms to them “These are the ones who are fit.”. With great joy, they went with Him and lived with Him in His Castle happily ever after.

 The End

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16