Friday, February 15, 2008

The New Neighborliness

A man was going down from Chicago to Urbana, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a theologian was going down on that road on the way to an SBL meeting, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Humanities major headed to a peace rally also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Christian small business owner, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him in his own car, and brought him to an ICU and took care of him. On the next day he took out $800 and gave it to the hospital and said, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you."

The Humanities major ran for Congress, won, and introduced a bill to triple the small businessman's taxes, using the money to establish an enormous and expensive Federal bureaucracy to patrol the roadways looking for travelers in distress. For this action, the Congressman received the Nobel Peace Prize. The small businessman went bankrupt.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Br. Barber, come now ..."pouring oil and wine on them,"? Certainly not a business owner serving as a trustee for a Southern Baptist board. 8-)

I did enjoy the story however. I has a familiar ring to it ...

I have enjoyed reading your posts and thanks for letting me stop by.
WesInTex

Bart Barber said...

Wes in Tex,

My brother, thanks for being a part of the PGBB community. As I'm sure you know, virtually all Southern Baptists affirm the responsible medicinal use of alcohol.

Dave Miller said...

I enjoyed the post, but one thing is killing me: what is the SBL?

I know the SBC, the CBF, I know ABC, CBS and NBC. I know how to send a letter ASAP and how to handle something PDQ.

But other than a local high school, I can't imagine what the SBL is.

Bob Cleveland said...

Ah but per a speech I heard a well-known seminary executive give once, buying wine to pour on the wounds would be supporting the beverage alcohol industry. I believe the exec suggested that, if the local pastor stomped the grapes in his swimming pool and made the wine himself, then one glass with dinner might be acceptable.

SO .. I'm guessing the businessowner had a swimming pool and purple feet. Otherwise he would have had to buy the vile liquid OTC, and run the risk of being seen by disguised Baptist Deacons.

:)

Bart Barber said...

Bob,

If your doctor so prescribes, you can obtain any number of alcohol-based remedies from your local pharmacist.

Bart Barber said...

Dave,

Society of
Biblical
Literature.

SBL.

Debbie Kaufman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Debbie Kaufman said...

Have you looked at a Nyqil or Listerine bottle lately? Whiskey used to be the pain killer used.