A certain preacher named Pastor Bungle was a bit “humor impaired,” but he really wanted to learn how to successfully tell a joke that came out right and everyone laughed. All his attempts had turned out poorly, as he would tell things in the wrong order or mess up the punch line.
He decided to attend a conference where pastors could learn better communication skills and public speaking tips. One speaker’s topic was “Using Humor Effectively.” Pastor Bungle paid close attention. The speaker began his talk with some humor to get the crowd’s attention. He opened by saying, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” The crowd was shocked! He followed up by saying, “And that woman was my mother!” – The crowd burst into laughter and the speaker then delivered the rest of his talk, which went over quite well.
The next week, Pastor Bungle decided he would give this humor thing a try, by starting out with the same attention-getting joke he had heard at the conference. Before the service he kept rehearsing the joke in his head. He was nervous.
Stepping up to the microphone he began confidently, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” The congregation inhaled half the air in the room! Pastor Bungle was so shaken up by their reaction that he stood there frozen in silence for several seconds, trying to recall the second half of the joke.
He started over. “Yes friends, the best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” … Long pause … “And for the life of me, I can’t remember who she was!”
Oops!
Today’s True Story … A new feature about the many people I have met, events I have witnessed, and stories I have heard.
In 2009, I became the host of a national radio program called “The Healing Touch,” which aired on XM & Sirius Satellite Radio, from midnight to 2:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. For the next few years, I spent over 1,000 hours on the air, chatting with people about growing in faith and praying with them about life’s problems. People in our world are so hungry for help from someone who will listen and give them wise biblical answers. The following is a true story from listeners who called in to the live talk show.
TRUCK EXCHANGE
Bubba and Alma received a word from the Lord to find a new trucking job. They were owner-drivers making long hauls. They were told that turning in their truck at the company office would cost them a lot of money, because there was presently no one to take it over. According to their contract, they would have to pay it off in full. But they felt the Lord’s hand in this, as they would get to mentor several people in their hometown, hold a home Bible study, and be a more regular part of their church.
After some prayer and assurance, they went to the office and turned in their keys. They were told to wait for information in the mail about how to pay off their truck. On their way out of the office they met a man coming in who asked if they were the ones with the truck outside. He wanted it! Thank you, Lord. Perfect timing. The company had told them they could lose a lot of money. But God sent the seller and the buyer on the same day at the same time and sold their truck for them before they got out the door! Interestingly, about the man they signed the truck over to … guess his name … hmmm … it was Bubba.
Have a good weekend, including rest, family, and worship,
Chaplain Mark