During Marine basic training at Parris Island, S.C., the drill instructor threw a pine cone among the recruits and yelled, “Grenade!” The trainees immediately
turned away and hit the ground. “Just as I suspected,” chided the drill instructor. “Not a hero among you. Didn’t anyone want to jump on that grenade to save the others?”

A little later the DI again threw another pine cone. This time, all the recruits but Mike jumped on the “grenade.” “Why,” demanded the instructor, “are you still standing there?”

“Sir,” Mike replied, “someone had to live to tell about it.”


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About The Author

Michael Duduit is the founding publisher and editor of Preaching magazine. He is also the founding Dean of the new College of Christian Studies and Professor of Christian Ministry at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. Michael is author and editor of several books, including the Handbook of Contemporary Preaching (Broadman & Holman Press), Joy in Ministry (Baker Books), Preaching With Power (Baker) and Communicate With Power (Baker). From 1996 until 2000 he served as editor of the Abingdon Preaching Annual series. His email newsletter, PreachingNow, is read each week by more than 40,000 pastors and church leaders in the U.S. and around the world. He is founder and director of the National Conference on Preaching and the International Congress on Preaching, which has been held in 1997 at Westminster Chapel in London, 2002 at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and 2007at Cambridge. He has been a pastor and associate pastor, has served a number of churches as interim pastor, and speaks regularly for churches, colleges and conferences.

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