Emphasis Preaching Journal

The country parson was asked to visit a parishioner on his farm. He was told that the old crank had been raised in the church, but as a young man had determined to re-make himself in his own image. He was what he called a "self-made man." As he turned in to the farm, the parson saw lush meadows and well-kept pastures filled with fat cattle and surrounded by fancy fences. The barn was freshly painted and the ranch house was a veritable mansion. When he met the rancher, the parson waved a hand over the spread and said, "A lot of work has gone into this place.