<TITLE>03. Par 12-16</TITLE>L-12 A few moments ago coming in, somebody said they took up a love offering for me. I didn't come for a love offering, friends; I come just to be your brother. But I shore--sure appreciate that love offering. I'm a poor man. I could've been a millionaire if I'd took... I never took a offering in my life, never. I'm twenty-seven years in the ministry, never took an offering in my life.
I keep looking at my wife. I... Every time I get to that part, she (thinking about an offering), I--she always gives me that once'd over. I'm going to tell it, honey, anyhow.

L-13 I was one time really up against it; you know, when you get to that place where you just can't make ends meet. And I was working as game warden here in Indiana. And so they... I said to my wife, "I'm going over tonight and take up an offering. I just can't owe this any longer; I'm..."
She said, "I'm going over to watch you do it." We lived just across from the Tabernacle. Now, those people would do it. My, they'd sell their property, give it to me; but I was able to work. Wished I could do it now and wouldn't have to even take a penny.

L-14 But I--I went over, and I said (we didn't even have an offering plate); I said, "Folks I've met a little, oh, just a little place," I said, "I need a little money. I wonder if you people would feel bad at me if I took up a little offering; each one of you here drop in a little something." I said, "Brother Wisehart, will you get my hat?" And he reached to get my hat, started off. And I looked setting down here in front, a little old lady. How many remembers them women used to wear them little aprons and turned the pocket on the inside? Carry their pocketbook and... I... A real prayer warrior reached in and got one of these little pocketbooks that snaps on the top, begin to reach down there for those little nickels, honest, I--I couldn't do it. "Oh," I said, "I was just teasing. I didn't mean that." So I didn't go through with the ordeal.

L-15 You know, there used to be an old man ride down from up in here somewhere, had long hair and beard; his name was John Ryan. I don't know whether you ever knew him or not. He... How many ever knew John Ryan from this country? All right. God rest his gallant soul.
He rode a bicycle down there to my house one day and gave it to me. And it'd been setting out there a long time, and I went down to ten cent store and got some red paint, painted that old bicycle up and sold it for five dollars, and paid the debt anyhow, and didn't have to take up the offering. So I come almost that time a doing it.

L-16 So I will assure you, friends, my expenses runs me about a hundred dollars a day, my office and my upkeep, just about a hundred a day. Now, that's... Know it sounds like a whole lot, but it isn't. What do you think Brother Roberts runs a day? I think the last report I had was seven thousand a day. Billy Graham's runs sometimes a thousand dollars a minute in his broadcast. That's not his television, broadcast worldwide.
So you see, that's very small comparing with that. So if... I thank you for your offering. And by the grace of God, every penny, that I'll spend it to the Kingdom of God the best that I know how. Someday in heaven may that--you receive your reward, if not here on earth. Now, we're going to read some of His blessed Word.


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