Post by tusti on Oct 17, 2006 16:24:44 GMT -5
A pastor concluded that his church was getting into 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.
Eager 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 also
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, Paul 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 it t-to
y-y-you??"
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.
Eager 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 also
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, Paul 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 it t-to
y-y-you??"
