Paul Harvey once told of a 73-year-old man who had been pinned beneath his farm tractor for four days and nights in driving rain and a terrible storm. Concerned friends went to see about him just in time. He survived the ordeal, though he lost a leg just below the knee.

Several newspapers picked up the story and focus on the amazing fact that a 73-year-old man could live after being pinned beneath a tractor for four days and nights in such terrible weather.

But what was even more amazing was the reason why his friends thought they should check on him. In the words of one of his friends: "He missed prayer meeting on Wednesday night." Just because the old farmer missed one service at church compelled his friends to go check on him.