1 of 2

"Joel, this is awesome!" Mark shouted, dipping his paddle into the water. "I love kayaking!" Joel turned to his friend. "Yeah, thought you'd like it," he shouted as he twisted his paddle expertly across the bow of his kayak and stroked it through the waves of Lost Peak River. Free equipment rentals were just one of the perks Joel enjoyed as a river guide for Outwater Expedition Specialists. The two kayaks sliced through the water as they paddled downstream. From a ledge on the cliff towering high above them, an eagle's cry echoed down into the quiet, remote gorge. But the stillness of the valley was deceiving. Only two miles away lay Chainsaw Falls.

They paddled in silence for a few minutes. Mark wasn't sure if he should bring up the subject again. But Joel was his best friend. "Hey, I'm uh, sorry about what happened at my house," Mark said. Joel paddled in silence. "I mean it." Finally Joel answered. "I just can't believe you were looking at that stuff."

Mark followed Joel between two rocks, remembering what had happened earlier that morning. Apparently his mom had told Joel to go on upstairs to Mark's bedroom. Suddenly the door swung open.

"Mark! Are you ready to go? The river won't wait forever!"

Mark fumbled for the mouse on his computer, but it was too late. Joel saw what was on the screen.

"Mark, what was that?"

He quickly logged off before answering. "Nothing … uh … Let's just get going.

"What do you mean nothing? I saw those pictures!"

"Hey, listen, it's no big deal. It doesn't hurt anybody."

"Doesn't hurt anybody! It's disgusting! It degrades women and it warps the way men look at them. Don't you remember the talk our youth pastor gave about it?"

Mark then tried to convince his friend it was the first time he'd been on that site. Joel seemed unconvinced.

Mark wove between the rocks trying to keep up with his friend. He finally managed to pull up beside him. He swallowed hard and said, "Joel, I was just spending some time online, you know, and I decided to check out a couple sites I'd heard about. But I can control it, you know. I was just curious. I know when to step back."

Joel didn't answer, but simply pointed his paddle downstream. "This it is," he said. "Chainsaw Falls. We get out here." He turned his kayak toward shore.

But Mark had another idea. What fun was it to look at a waterfall from the shore? He'd just paddle a little closer and then pull out farther downstream. He aimed his kayak into the middle of the river.

"Mark, where are you going? Get back here! The current will pull you over the falls!"

"I just want a better look! I'll meet up with you closer to the falls," he called back, edging his kayak into the current.

"Don't be an idiot! You could drown!"

Yeah, whatever, he thought. I know when to pull back.

Now the falls were only 50 feet away and the current was getting stronger.

"What's the danger of getting a little closer?" he hollered.

"Mark! The current will draw you in and it won't let go!"

But Mark could no longer hear his friend. The thunder of the waves was just too loud.

next page... |  1 of 2

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.