Stories

           I love stories.  Especially good stories.  Really, really good stories have an application point.  The criticism that comes my way about my preaching is that I tell too many stories.  Some have said, “he’s no preacher, he’s just a story teller.”  It used to bother me that people would say things like this.  But it dawned on me… are you ready for this?  Jesus was a story teller.  So, I’d like to say, “I’m in good company.”

I really believe stories help people connect to the point we are trying to make.  If I can tell a story good enough, people will actually personalize it and make the story about them.  So I tell stories.  I’ve been doing so long now that I think I’ll keep it up.  In fact, I collect stories.  If you hear a good one, chances are I’ve already heard it.  But just in case I haven’t, I’d be happy if you would send a good story my way.  Chances are good it will appear in a sermon in a short time from now.

So close with a cute story (at lest it’s cute to me).  A little girl, probably about five years old, said to her mother, do all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time?”  “No” said the mother, “Some begin with ‘If I get elected.’”