A visiting preacher in a small town in Kentucky was concerned when he began the first night of a revival meeting and noticed all of the men were wearing guns. Although rattled, he did the best he could with his sermon.

When finished, his anxieties heightened as several of the men approached the pulpit with their guns drawn. In panic, he turned to the chairman of the deacons, sitting next to him. The deacon calmed his fears: “Don’t you worry,” he said. “They ain’t coming after you. They’re looking for the cuss who invited you to preach.” (1)

Well, sometimes the pastor needs a place to hide after a sermon. But, at least none of you carry guns to church.

There was a tragic, but ironic story in the newspapers a few years ago. A man in Glendale, CA, named Robert Shovestall, 37 years of age, …