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 Louie stuttered badly.. But, NOT WANTING TO
discourage Louie, 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
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?. Louie, there's $3,200 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-th-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-here and r-r-r-r-r-read
