"A Million Dollar Mistake"

I have been writing checks for my dad for several years, as the first trustee of his living trust. He calls me on Friday morning from time to time and tells me that he needs some money so I run through a drive-thru window and cash a check. The ladies at the window of that bank, which is not my bank, know me and that I am authorized to write checks on that account. Yesterday, when I cashed a check for one hundred dollars, the "new" teller looked at the check and said "Morning, Charles," to which I replied, "No, Charles was born in 1919. I may look bad, but not that bad." Well, me not being Charles, started a discussion that ended with me going into the bank to finish my transaction.

That reminded me of the old story of John Barrier who pulled his old pickup truck into the U.S. Bank of Washington parking lot one day in Spokane, Washington. Dressed in his usual shabby clothes, he paid a quick visit to his broker, which was located in the building, and went back outside to drive away. The parking lot attendant informed Barrier that a new 60 cent parking fee has just been instituted, but that the parking was free if he could get his ticket validated from someone in the bank. Now, Barrier had been a customer there for several years, so he ran back inside to get his ticket stamped. Inside, the teller took one look at Barrier's grubby clothes, made an assumption, and refused to stamp his ticket. She said the bank could only validate a ticket when the customers made a transaction. After being directed to a fairly new vice-president Barrier was basically told the same thing.

"Fine," Barrier said. "I'll make a transaction!" He then proceeded to withdraw all his money - slightly more than a million dollars - and took it to a bank a block away. That is, after he got his parking ticket stamped!

The Hebrew writer says, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." (Heb. 13:2) Nearly every time the church assembles visitors are present. How do we receive them? Let's be friendly and cordial with everyone.