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You probably thought Jesus was a carpenter, since he was the son of a carpenter. I have long suspected that Jesus did as much farming and sheep tending as He did carpentry before He started His ministry. Nothing will call a man to ministry like farming will — especially if the farming involves the working end of a mule.
Now I find out that Jesus is dabbling in the auto parts business — tires in particular. I had heard rumors to that effect over the years; but Friday night, on the way to Halls to see the Beavers play ball, I saw it with my own eyes. The sign read:
JOE'S TIRES
JESUS IS LORD
TIRE SALE
I did not want to be late for the game, but I knew I could use some tires. I wondered what the owner of the store would say when I told him I was a preacher. Maybe this guy loved the Lord so much he would just give tires to preachers, kind of like an “employee discount.” I work for the Lord. He has the Lord working for him. Just maybe… What was I thinking! He had Jesus selling tires, not giving them away!
Jesus must have been busy because He had to send the Reverend Kendall Boutwell of Brookhaven, Mississippi to testify before the Gaming Committee of the Mississippi House of Representatives. At least that was the way the Reverend Boutwell understood it when he introduced himself to the Committee by saying, “I’m here representing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” The Mississippi Legislature is hard at work trying to get their casinos rebuilt. The hearings are being held because the casinos don’t want to rebuild on barges. They want to move onto shore, in the face of further efforts by legalized gambling, to force itself on the citizens of Mississippi. Reverend Boutwell came to testify. He informed the Committee members that gamblers are “...covetous, in violation of the 10th Commandment, and are idolaters.” When asked what all those former casino employees should do about finding a job now that hurricane Katrina has destroyed all the casinos, Boutwell said, “The Coast should create more wholesome tourist attractions like Dollywood.”
Well, there you have it. Tennessee’s own Dollywood read into the record of the Mississippi House of Representatives as an example of what is good and moral. Has it ever occurred to you that Mississippi would be a better place to live or visit if they just had a Dollywood?
Hey! If Dollywood would be good for Mississippi, why not other states as well. If every state had a Dollywood, then wholesomeness might just break out all across the country. With Dollywood taking care of society’s moral and ethical concerns, Jesus could sell tires full-time.
Joy and peace,
Ed
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