Several older men were talking about the greatest liars they had ever seen. One said, “I know a boy who lied so often he had to get someone else to call his dog for him.” “That’s nothing,” said another, “I know a man who constantly lied on the golf course. He was so used to shaving points off his score that one day when he got a hole in one, he put a zero on his card out of force of habit” That’s nothing said a third, “My preacher said that last Sunday we had between four and five hundred. I told him I only counted 125. He said, ‘That’s between four and five hundred.'”

-Michael Shannon, Preaching March/April 2004


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A man saw an ad in the paper advertising a talking dog for twenty dollars. He knew it wasn’t possible, but his curiosity got the best of him. He went to the home and the owner ushered him into a side room and there was the dog. The man was left alone with the dog, so he tentatively asked, “Can you talk?” “Yes,” said the dog. The man was amazed. “Where have you been all this time?” said the inquirer. “Well,” the dog replied, “First, I was a bomb sniffing dog for thee CIA. After that I became a seeing eye dog for Stevie Wonder. Then for a time I was in the Broadway show “Annie” where I played “Sandy.” The man was amazed and went out to the owner. He said, “I have to hand it to you, that dog really does talk. But, why are you willing to get rid of him for twenty dollars?” The owner replied, “Sure, he can talk, but he is such a liar!”

-Michael Shannon, Preaching May/June 2004


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George, did you chop down the cherry tree?

No, dad.

I think you are lying.

No, no, no! I swear I did not chop down the cherry tree.

Son, I saw you out there with your ax. Your punishment will be worse if you lie. Now, tell me the truth!

Dad, I answered your question truthfully. Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions. While my answer was legally accurate, I did not volunteer information. Indeed, dad, I did cause the cherry tree to be lying on the ground. To do this was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part, for which I am solely and completely responsible.

I know my answer to you gave a false impression. I misled you, my own father. I deeply regret that. I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors – first, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct. I was also very concerned about protecting mom from this shock.

What I did, dad, was use a saw to cause the cherry tree to fall. Only after the tree was already down did I go get my ax to chop off individual branches. So I chopped off branches, but sawed down the tree. Look at the saw cut on the stump and the ax cuts on the branches. Therefore, legally, I told the truth. I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of this fallen tree and to return our attention to a solid family relationship. (Tom Geier, author from The Washington Times, 9/30/98)

-Preaching September/October 1999

 


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For
many years Sam Rayburn was a Congressman from Texas and long time speaker of
the House of Representatives. A congressional office building is named for him. 
He was widely respected for his honesty.  He once said, “I don’t remember
what I say.  I don’t have to.”  What a burden it is for the dishonest person
to have to remember what he said and to whom he said it.  Those who always speak
the truth have no such burden.

_______________

J.
Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati,
OH.


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A
man saw an ad in the paper advertising a talking dog for twenty dollars. He
knew it wasn’t possible, but his curiosity got the best of him. He went to the
home and the owner ushered him into a side room and there was the dog. The man
was left alone with the dog, so he tentatively asked, “Can you talk?”
“Yes,” said the dog. The man was amazed. “Where have you been
all this time?” said the inquirer. “Well,” the dog replied, “First,
I was a bomb sniffing dog for the CIA. After that I became a seeing eye dog
for Stevie Wonder. Then for a time I was in the Broadway show “Annie”
where I played “Sandy.” The man was amazed and went out to the owner.
He said, “I have to hand it to you, that dog really does talk. But, why
are you willing to get rid of him for twenty dollars?” The owner replied,
“Sure, he can talk, but he is such a liar!”

 

_______________
J.
Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati,
OH.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

Several
older men were talking about the greatest liars they had ever seen. One said,
“I know a boy who lied so often he had to get someone else to call his
dog for him.” “That’s nothing,” said another, “I know a
man who constantly lied on the golf course. He was so used to shaving points
off his score that one day when he got a hole in one, he put a zero on his card
out of force of habit” That’s nothing said a third, “My preacher said
that last Sunday we had between four and five hundred. I told him I only counted
125. He said, ‘That’s between four and five hundred.'”

 

_______________

J.
Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati,
OH.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

George, did you chop down the cherry tree?

No, dad.

I think you are lying.

No, no, no! I swear I did not chop down the cherry tree.

Son, I saw you out there with your ax. Your punishment will be worse if you
lie. Now, tell me the truth!

Dad, I answered your question truthfully. Still, I must take complete
responsibility for all my actions. While my answer was legally accurate, I did
not volunteer information. Indeed, dad, I did cause the cherry tree to be lying
on the ground. To do this was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in
judgment and a personal failure on my part, for which I am solely and
completely responsible.
I know my answer to you gave a false impression. I misled you, my own father. I
deeply regret that. I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors —
first, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct.
I was also very concerned about protecting mom from this shock.
What I did, dad, was use a saw to cause the cherry tree to fall. Only after the
tree was already down did I go get my ax to chop off individual branches. So I
chopped off branches, but sawed down the tree. Look at the saw cut on the stump
and the ax cuts on the branches. Therefore, legally, I told the truth. I ask
you to turn away from the spectacle of this fallen tree and to return our
attention to a solid family relationship.

______________________
Illustration by: Tom Geier, author, from The
Washington Times, 9/30/98


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.