Rain and more rain! Ain't it great!

There is an old joke about three men who died and were waiting at the pearly gates for their judgement.

They asked the receptionist, "What is GOD like?"

"First of all, SHE is black", the receptionist responded.

Of the three men waiting, one was a doctor, one was a lawyer, and the last was a farmer. They were all quite nervous as they sat waiting to be summoned to judgment. Finally the phone toned and the receptionist told the doctor to go on back.

When the doctor arrived in the back office, GOD was looking over his file. "Sit down", GOD told him. The doctor complied.

Finally GOD looked up and asked, "Are you ready for my decision?"

"I suppose", said the doctor.

GOD leaned up in his chair and told the doctor, "You can't enter in. You are going the other way. There were times your bedside manner was quite lacking, you weren't compassionate to patients and their families, and at times you didn't do all you could."

The doctor leaned up prepared to argue, but thought better of it. He decided to try another tactic. "O.K., I'm not going to argue. Everyone has their price. What is yours?", the doctor asked.

GOD looked at him and said, "A million dollars!"

The doctor wrote him a check and handed it across the big desk.

"Enter in", GOD said, and showed the doctor to the door!

The phone in the waiting room toned again and the receptionist told the lawyer to go on back. The lawyer settled in as GOD looked through his file. Finally GOD sat the file folder down and turned to the lawyer.

"I can't let you in" GOD said, "You represented clients you knew were guilty, you worked along the fringe of the law, right on the verge of breaking it. I'm sorry, but you're going down!"

The lawyer was very accustomed to negotiations and looked at GOD and said, "Everyone has their price, what's yours?"

God responded, "One million dollars!"

The lawyer wrote a check and slid it across the desk.

"Enter in", GOD said and showed him to the door.

The phone toned again in the waiting room and the receptionist told the farmer to go on back.

When the farmer entered, he walked slowly to his chair as GOD mulled over his file on the farmer's life.

Finally GOD sat down the folder and turned to the farmer. "I can't let you in" GOD responded, "You were never happy with what I did! It was always too hot or too cold, or it was too dry or too wet! I couldn't please you! So no, you can't enter in, you are going down!"

The farmer sat quietly as GOD's voice reverberated through the room. Finally he looked at GOD and said, "Everyone has their price, what's yours?"

"A million dollars", GOD said.

The farmer responded, "Where do I sign?"

Those of you who have farm back grounds will realize the relevance of the farmer's statement. Contrary to what many people think, most farmers put it all on the line every year to go another round. They place equipment, inventory, and even land up as collateral for operating loans, so it is a joke among farmers, "Where do I sign?"

I don't want anyone to think I am foolish enough to think that GOD can and could be bought either. This is offered up in humor.

What made me think about this old joke is that I am beginning to hear grumblings about too much rain and I began to smile and think of the farmer's excesses.

I for one am profoundly grateful that their is not a dollar price admission to enter through the pearly gates! I also confess readily my daily battle to "toe" GOD"S line and attempt to live "Christ like". Most days I fail miserably. Thankfully, I am the recipient of GOD"S unfailing, unending love and his bountiful grace, through which my hope abounds.

I hope you had a laugh, and I hope your day is a good one, filled with HIM!

FATHER, YOU are my all in all.