An awesome story

>>>>An awesome story!>>>>>>There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a>>studious man who taught at a small college in the western United>>States.>>>>Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at >>this>>particular institution. Every student was required to take>>this course his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her>>major.>>>>Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of>>the Gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked>>upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best>>efforts, most students refused to take christianity seriously.>>>>This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was>>only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to a >>Seminary>>for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an>>imposing physical specimen. He was the starting center on the school>>football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.>>>>One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could >>talk>>with him.>>>>"How many push-ups can you do?">>>>Steve said, "I do about 200 every night.">>>>"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think >>you>>could do 300?">>>>Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.">>>>"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.>>>>"Well, I can try," said Steve.>>>>"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need>>you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work.>>Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.>>>>Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it">>>>Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me>>explain what I have in mind.">>>>Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the >>room.>>When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of Donuts. No, >>these>>weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra Fancy BIG kind,>>with cream centers and frosting swirls.>>Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and>>they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr.>>Christianson's class.>>>>Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,>>"Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?">>>>Cynthia said, "Yes.">>>>Dr Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten>>push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?">>>>"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve >>again>>sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.>>>>Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do >>you>>want a donut?">>>>Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups>>so Joe can have a donut?">>>>Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the>>first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got>>their donut.>>>>Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was >>on>>the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very >>popular>>and never lacking for female companionship.>>>>When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?">>>>Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?">>>>Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them.">>>>Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then.">>>>Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, >>would>>you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?">>>>With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.>>>>Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!">>>>Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks,>>and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.">>And he put a donut on Scott's desk.>>>>Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed >>on>>the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up >>and>>down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his>>brow.>>>>Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were>>beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do>>you want a donut?">>>>Sternly, Jenny said, "No.">>>>Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups>>so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?">>>>Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.>>>>By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students>>were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts>>on the desks.>>>>Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these>>pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of>>sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were>>beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.>>>>Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the>>class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten>>pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work >>for>>all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so>>Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.>>>>Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however,>>some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the >>steps>>along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the >>professor>>realized this, he did a quick count and saw>>that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if>>Steve would be able to make it.>>>>Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. >>Near>>the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking >>a>>lot more time to complete each set.>>>>Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on>>each one?">>>>Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups.>>You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And>>Dr. Christianson went on.>>>>A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room >>and>>was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! >>Don't>>come in! Stay out!">>>>Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said,>>"No, let him come.">>>>Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will>>have to do ten pushups for him?">>>>Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut">>>>Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the>>way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?">>>>Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he>>said, "give me a donut.">>>>"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?">>>>Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, >>bewildered,>>was handed a donut and sat down.>>>>Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those>>visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each>>push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By >>this>>time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound>>except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.>>>>The very last two students in the room were two young women, both>>cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the >>second>>to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?">>>>Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you.">>>>Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten>>push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?">>>>Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.>>>>Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want >>a>>donut?">>>>Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr.>>Christianson, why can't I help him?">>>>Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it>>alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that>>everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When >>I>>decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade >>book.>>Steve here is the only student with a perfect>>grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me>>inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player>>messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to>>my party>>unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a>>deal for your sakes.">>>>"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?">>>>As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the>>understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him,>>having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the>>floor.>>>>Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that>>our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy>>hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done>>everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life.>>And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the >>desk,>>uneaten.">>>>>>Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically>>exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.>>>>>>"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding>>"Not all sermons are preached in words.">>>>Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might>>understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy>>that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and>>Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave>>Him up for us all, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to>>accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.">>>>"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the>>desk?"