I walked into the local Lifeway Christian bookstore in search of Wayne Grudem's book, "Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know". I was greeted at the front door by a nice young man that asked me if he could help me find anything. I told him what I was looking for and we we were off.I followed him past multiple customers and an abundance of shelves filled with thousands of Christian texts. We arrived in the "Theology" section that already had a customer perusing the available books.
The clerk pulled the book I was looking for off of the shelf, made a positive comment about Grudem and then handed me the book. He then asked if there was anything else he could help me find. Seeing an opportunity for humor, with a dead-serious facial expression, I responded, "Oh, yeah. I'm also looking for that one book by Joel Osteen. I think it's called, "My"...um, or "Your Best Life Now".
The man literally stared it me for a moment; it seemed like eternity. With the most sincere and serious face, he retorted, "We don't carry any of Osteen's materials, sir." Still attempting to not bust out in laughter, I responded, "Well, why not?"
He glanced down at the book he had just handed me and then our eyes met, "I think you know why, sir."
[Do YOU know why?]
I could contain myself no longer, especially considering his reaction. I busted out in laughter and let him off the hook. He smiled, I thanked him for his help and he went on his way. I paid for the items and left the store...smiling the whole way home.
