HUMOR IN THE PEW
“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22a, NIV)
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The inventor of the hokey pokey
By Joe McKeever
As the director of missions for 135 churches and missions in greater New Orleans, I frequently remind pastors to be aware of their congregation, that “you never know” who might be present today.
Doyle Bailey served our state convention as director of stewardship for many years and loved to begin his presentations with a funny story. His favorite went like this:
“Did you hear that the inventor of the ‘hokey pokey' died. (No?) Yes, and it took three days to bury him. They'd put his right foot in, he'd take it out and shake it all about. Then they'd put his left foot in ….”
One day he was addressing a group of senior citizens in Monroe. He greeted them and said, “Oh, by the way, did you hear that the inventor of the hokey pokey died?” At that moment, a little blue-haired lady on the front row spoke up. “Mr. Crenshaw died?” He said, “What's that, ma'am?” “Mr. Crenshaw, the inventor of the hokey pokey, was our next door neighbor in Shreveport. I didn't even know he had been sick.”
I guarantee pastors that if they tell a funny story about handicapped people or another ethnic group or any identifiable minority, someone from that sector will be sitting in your congregation at that moment. I said in a revival sermon, “Suppose some Muslims walked into your church and watched you worship. What would they learn about your faith, and what would they decide about Jesus?” After the service, a staff member said, “Joe, we had a group of 10 Muslim young people in our service tonight. They attend our English class and stayed for the revival.”
You never know. (Oh, I don't actually know the name of the man who invented the hokey pokey. I made up Crenshaw.)
Joe McKeever is director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.