A pastor concluded that his church was getting into very serious financial
troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several
cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed.
So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation
who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise
the desperately needed money for the church.
Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task.
The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and
were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious doubts about
Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was
embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louis stuttered badly. But, NOT
WANTING TO discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway.
He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with
bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their
door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.
Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked
Jack, 'Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?'
Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, 'Using my sales
prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on
behalf of the church.' 'Fine job, Jack!' The minister said, vigorously
shaking his hand. 'You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is
indebted to you.' Turning to Paul, 'And Paul, how many bibles did you sell
for the Church last week?' Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest,
confidently replied, 'I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on
behalf of the church, and here's $280 I collected.' The minister responded,
'That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman
and the church is indebted to you.' Apprehensively, the minister turned to
Louie and said, 'And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?'
Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope.
The minister opened it and counted the contents. 'What is this?' the
minister exclaimed. 'Louie, there's $3200 in here!
Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in
just one week?' Louie just nodded. That's impossible!' both Jack and Paul
said in unison.
'We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many
bibles as we could.' 'Yes, this does seem unlikely,' the minister!
agreed. 'I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this,
Louie.' Louie shrugged. 'I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know
f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure, ' he stammered.
Impatiently, Peter interrupted. 'For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us
what you said to them when they answered the door!' 'A-a -a-all I-I-I
s-s-said wa-wa-was,' Louis replied, 'W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like
t-t-to b-b-b-buy th- h-th-this b-b-b-b-bible F-f-for t-t-ten
b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me
t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-he re and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??' Remember
when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you And
be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several
cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed.
So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation
who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise
the desperately needed money for the church.
Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task.
The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and
were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious doubts about
Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was
embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louis stuttered badly. But, NOT
WANTING TO discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway.
He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with
bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their
door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.
Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked
Jack, 'Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?'
Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, 'Using my sales
prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on
behalf of the church.' 'Fine job, Jack!' The minister said, vigorously
shaking his hand. 'You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is
indebted to you.' Turning to Paul, 'And Paul, how many bibles did you sell
for the Church last week?' Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest,
confidently replied, 'I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on
behalf of the church, and here's $280 I collected.' The minister responded,
'That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman
and the church is indebted to you.' Apprehensively, the minister turned to
Louie and said, 'And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?'
Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope.
The minister opened it and counted the contents. 'What is this?' the
minister exclaimed. 'Louie, there's $3200 in here!
Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in
just one week?' Louie just nodded. That's impossible!' both Jack and Paul
said in unison.
'We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many
bibles as we could.' 'Yes, this does seem unlikely,' the minister!
agreed. 'I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this,
Louie.' Louie shrugged. 'I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know
f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure, ' he stammered.
Impatiently, Peter interrupted. 'For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us
what you said to them when they answered the door!' 'A-a -a-all I-I-I
s-s-said wa-wa-was,' Louis replied, 'W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like
t-t-to b-b-b-buy th- h-th-this b-b-b-b-bible F-f-for t-t-ten
b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me
t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-he re and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??' Remember
when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you And
be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
