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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 04/24/2022
The Big Lesson Dad Taught, patience
Born 1954, M, from St Louis Mo, United StatesMaybe you will think I am a bad guy, but I don’t see myself as necessarily bad, just not good. I am no different then anyone else, I have bills to pay and I like to eat. Yes, that one is no doubt clear to even the casual observer, by the protruding stomach, but if you ask me I say, it’s from all Cokes I drink.
I have followed in my father’s footsteps, perhaps not as well as he would have liked, after all I got caught and he didn’t. So I don’t wish to justify his or my actions, just make this a truth telling. Truth is not always a pretty thing and it makes enemies of the most self righteous and self serving people. Others might find the whole thing delightful to see, as things are not how people pretend they surly must be.
My father, not like me, no doubt started out with a good intent, maybe he had a real calling. I know in his youth he really cared about people. He saw a need amongst people, primarily the average income and poor people.
These were the people struggling with the burdens of life. How to pay rent, how to get from a rental home to owning one. These were people that found buying food or their kids shoes a hard to make choice. Sickness seemed always knocking at the door of these people because they could not afford doctors and trustworthy medications.
He had grown up with a charismatic father, my grandpa, one who preached hell so hot you could feel the heat. Heaven so vivid and real you could join angels as they sang. No doubt he was a man with a deep spiritual calling to proclaim hope, grace and peace.
Dad was also schooled in the conservative idealism of the day and perhaps the past. It was a time when a man that could speak a bit of what they call the unknown language between man and God, knew how to get people feeling the fire, (power), and knew when to speak with a undeniable passion and conviction could do wonders.
So when Dad realized he had the same gifts as Grandpa, he knew he could use them to help people. Now I am making honest confession so to be honest, he also knew he could make a better living than the few dollars made from some small country church.
So Dad worked several jobs, none paying well, but he was willing to use self discipline and sacrifice and save money. First he bought a old flat bed truck from a farmer he had made friends with. Dad was good at making friends, especially ones who could help him achieve his goals. So if you looked at the circle of friendship you would find some good singers and piano and guitar players.
Next he found a used Circus tent at a bargain price as it was not the big top, that would come later. He and his buddies which were good with their hands, bought some cheap lumber and created benches that were easy to assemble and disassemble. The stage was created the same way.
He managed to talk the school into selling him old instruments and a old PA System. He quit his job and bought a old school bus, and somehow convinced his closest circle of friends to quit their jobs too.
The girl who eventually became my Mom, was especially gifted at persuading people to do what she wanted. So she had lined up the use of the old Tom Boys parking lot and now empty site. It was only a couple towns from home, but they loaded in that bus and headed out.
Dad knew when that flat bed pulled into town, for a few bucks he could get all the help needed to set up that tent. People gathered just to see what was going on.
Now Dad had been a good student from grandpa, and took it even further. He taught each person, as he later taught me. There is group of mostly poor or average income people, many not very well educated. They believed in superstition and thus taught use the word supernatural a lot.
Practice how to speak that magic language, lalalalrararaododlalamoooolalalarada, and such like over and over. So it slips off the tongue easy, and know when to use it. Certain people were taught just when to stand and shout out, thus sayeth the Lord ……… he taught how to make a dead unsuspecting crowd feel excited and alive.
It’s all in how you do the kick off, know when to cry and when to raise a hand and bellow hallelujah. He had that sweet sounding singing group just as schooled on how to sing those heart ripping hymns or songs that put a natural dance into your feet.
Now he knew that black book he had in his hand, and was a wonderful leader. Was it a act or a gift from above, I think for him it was both, for me a act. I tell you momma said the tent was full every night for two weeks. Dad could bring that spiritual sword out and put the devil on the run.
The good news was, the bigger the spiritual fire and swelling emotional experiences the fuller the offering plate became. In those two weeks, people gave up a weeks pay to feel good, to buy some of that hope.
Momma had no trouble getting towns after that, winter they went to warm climates and summer to the cooler climates. Oh the souls saved was in high numbers. As Dad taught me, son he said, two things will always make money when sold right, sex and religion.
It wasn’t long till those green bills flowing in and the dreams to be bigger and more powerful won out over any calling. He decided to get into the healing business too. First you had to get people to believe you have the power, the gift.
Someone once said the way to win a persons trust was to ask them to do you a personal favor. He planted a friend and worker to allow him to do the crowd a favor, for them and for the Glory of God. He had that friend come on stage on crutches. A bit of laying on of the hands and screaming about how that demon had to flee. Those crutches went a flying. He and the friend began to leap up and down yelling hallelujah.
In moments every sick person there was lining up for a miracle. Oh, to be sure God granted a few to truly good, honest, faith filled believers. Yet, truth is most got that same feel good you get at a ball game and your team just hit a grand slam.
Dad taught me that was ok, they gave so much money, and he made them feel good. That seemed to make sense to me, after all isn’t it just to feel good, that fills a ball stadium? Isn’t it just to feel good why you go to a movie, to a Circus, a Carnival or even out to some Ritz restaurant for a anniversary? So where was the wrong in that?
When Mom got pregnant, he married her, it could of been a half dozen others, singers and workers, but she was the lucky one. Money poured in. His name became well known, other pastors lined the stage when he came to town. He made each one feel super close and important, another lesson he taught me,
Then came a time he realized he was missing the really deep pockets. Those people, better educated and holding professional jobs went to those big conservative church’s. So he began to mix a great deal of their religious ideas into his sermons. He began to accuse those sinners.
In the 1970's he saw a opening and jumped on abortion. Started having those fancy conservative Pastors on front roll stage seats. The bigger the church, the more attention was given to the pastor, a testimony to the crowd, your choir singing, being made a part of anything pulls you in till your married to the cause.
Then that subject of homosexuals, along with abortion, why he had to buy a bigger tent. Soon he was being asked to come and do revivals at those big church’s. People had to only hear his name and the building would be full and the offering plates overrunning. So paying him a big fee was excellent for him and the church.
So the tent was sold, and he became a roving Evangelist. Soon he discovered he was just not making as much as his potential. He already owned a fine estate and fancy cars, but he lusted for more.
So he bought time on TV, everyone had a TV, to get into their living rooms, have them touch the screen and get healed. Now his friends were writing books using his name, what if he gave away books with big donations?
He built a fine temple in a well know city, the money was so good, the temple was his studio. Those who could not visit him in his temple could by watching tv. He soon became the preacher others wanted to be. The competition were always trying to find a fault they could crucify him with.
Dad was smart, of course he was not faithful to one woman, perhaps that sin would have destroyed his empire. Dad only picked women that believed in him, loyal to him and the brain washed Christ he taught.
I blame my failure on him. It was him that taught people a Christ of judgment and condemnation. He sowed more hate than love. He taught people to accuse and demoralize anyone that did not agree with him. He started doing that thing now called prosperity preaching.
It worked, he was the one to prosper while poor people took out loans and sent him the funds. Helping the poor had somehow becomes twisted into making him rich was helping them.
Always looking for ways to make money, he found the golden calf. It started out small, home Bible training classes, it grew into a full college. I cannot even tell you how filthy rich he was when he died. I wanted what he had, money, power, influence, invitations to the White House, meet with kings. I wanted it all so I obediently followed his steps.
I confess I never had a calling, if God ever spoke to me, I wouldn’t know it because Dad and his temple and college were my God. Between our TV and Radio and Temple and college, books we sold, cd's with our music. Coffee cups and cross necklaces, even our own Bible, money was pouring in.
We had won that self righteous group called evangelistic to jump to our tune. To say how easy it was to lead them down the road of give till it hurts and your giving to God, well, it was ridiculous. The smart ones, that really have something real in their hearts knew we were a group of phony hypocrites, but those are few.
You can’t give to God by giving to preachers or churches, do people really think God needs their moneys? Giving to God is when you give to help one in need. Oh we pushed a need, when I took over, I pushed our missionaries and the work they do. For every dollar given perhaps a nickel went to the cause.
We were a business and a very wealthy business. My own wife and family were being schooled in the same wealth building mythology. Trouble is, my own self discipline was not as good as Dad's.
See I got caught when a Photographer caught me on film in a less than Christian mode. I tried to buy him off, but he was zealous for a true Christlike leaders. Now I ask was his destroying me, my work and all the good I did was that following his Jesus?
Did we not sell you hope, faith, and a promise (even if not quite the truthful way) of a better world? Did we not entertain you, make you feel good? Admit it you enjoyed screaming names at people that tried to tell you your candidate was of Satan?
I guess you have to decide did my father and I make this a better world or lead it to a quicker destruction? I lost my position, my name became mud, but hey, fools I am still the rich guy, and I will find a new way to pick your pockets. So I am teaching you Dads most important lesson, patience!
Note: I personally believe in a great God of love, and I know many that live lives of good fruits. Sadly we also have now and have had many charlatans. Who is or isn’t is not for me to say. In my youth I used to help set up the tent for a then well know Evangelist. I even sit on one of those prize seats of one of the most famous amongst them, he used my Bible that night. I have worked as a minister through Pastors of many faiths, took the necessary training to meet the ordination requirements of four of those faiths. So I speak from a seat of knowing what I have witnessed first hand, this story won’t effect a one of them gone on or at present. It won’t effect you, unless you are willing to look closer at who you decide to follow. Faith is a personal thing and should be, yet faith and money is like a head on crash during rush hour,
The Big Lesson Dad Taught, patience(Rich Puckett)
Maybe you will think I am a bad guy, but I don’t see myself as necessarily bad, just not good. I am no different then anyone else, I have bills to pay and I like to eat. Yes, that one is no doubt clear to even the casual observer, by the protruding stomach, but if you ask me I say, it’s from all Cokes I drink.
I have followed in my father’s footsteps, perhaps not as well as he would have liked, after all I got caught and he didn’t. So I don’t wish to justify his or my actions, just make this a truth telling. Truth is not always a pretty thing and it makes enemies of the most self righteous and self serving people. Others might find the whole thing delightful to see, as things are not how people pretend they surly must be.
My father, not like me, no doubt started out with a good intent, maybe he had a real calling. I know in his youth he really cared about people. He saw a need amongst people, primarily the average income and poor people.
These were the people struggling with the burdens of life. How to pay rent, how to get from a rental home to owning one. These were people that found buying food or their kids shoes a hard to make choice. Sickness seemed always knocking at the door of these people because they could not afford doctors and trustworthy medications.
He had grown up with a charismatic father, my grandpa, one who preached hell so hot you could feel the heat. Heaven so vivid and real you could join angels as they sang. No doubt he was a man with a deep spiritual calling to proclaim hope, grace and peace.
Dad was also schooled in the conservative idealism of the day and perhaps the past. It was a time when a man that could speak a bit of what they call the unknown language between man and God, knew how to get people feeling the fire, (power), and knew when to speak with a undeniable passion and conviction could do wonders.
So when Dad realized he had the same gifts as Grandpa, he knew he could use them to help people. Now I am making honest confession so to be honest, he also knew he could make a better living than the few dollars made from some small country church.
So Dad worked several jobs, none paying well, but he was willing to use self discipline and sacrifice and save money. First he bought a old flat bed truck from a farmer he had made friends with. Dad was good at making friends, especially ones who could help him achieve his goals. So if you looked at the circle of friendship you would find some good singers and piano and guitar players.
Next he found a used Circus tent at a bargain price as it was not the big top, that would come later. He and his buddies which were good with their hands, bought some cheap lumber and created benches that were easy to assemble and disassemble. The stage was created the same way.
He managed to talk the school into selling him old instruments and a old PA System. He quit his job and bought a old school bus, and somehow convinced his closest circle of friends to quit their jobs too.
The girl who eventually became my Mom, was especially gifted at persuading people to do what she wanted. So she had lined up the use of the old Tom Boys parking lot and now empty site. It was only a couple towns from home, but they loaded in that bus and headed out.
Dad knew when that flat bed pulled into town, for a few bucks he could get all the help needed to set up that tent. People gathered just to see what was going on.
Now Dad had been a good student from grandpa, and took it even further. He taught each person, as he later taught me. There is group of mostly poor or average income people, many not very well educated. They believed in superstition and thus taught use the word supernatural a lot.
Practice how to speak that magic language, lalalalrararaododlalamoooolalalarada, and such like over and over. So it slips off the tongue easy, and know when to use it. Certain people were taught just when to stand and shout out, thus sayeth the Lord ……… he taught how to make a dead unsuspecting crowd feel excited and alive.
It’s all in how you do the kick off, know when to cry and when to raise a hand and bellow hallelujah. He had that sweet sounding singing group just as schooled on how to sing those heart ripping hymns or songs that put a natural dance into your feet.
Now he knew that black book he had in his hand, and was a wonderful leader. Was it a act or a gift from above, I think for him it was both, for me a act. I tell you momma said the tent was full every night for two weeks. Dad could bring that spiritual sword out and put the devil on the run.
The good news was, the bigger the spiritual fire and swelling emotional experiences the fuller the offering plate became. In those two weeks, people gave up a weeks pay to feel good, to buy some of that hope.
Momma had no trouble getting towns after that, winter they went to warm climates and summer to the cooler climates. Oh the souls saved was in high numbers. As Dad taught me, son he said, two things will always make money when sold right, sex and religion.
It wasn’t long till those green bills flowing in and the dreams to be bigger and more powerful won out over any calling. He decided to get into the healing business too. First you had to get people to believe you have the power, the gift.
Someone once said the way to win a persons trust was to ask them to do you a personal favor. He planted a friend and worker to allow him to do the crowd a favor, for them and for the Glory of God. He had that friend come on stage on crutches. A bit of laying on of the hands and screaming about how that demon had to flee. Those crutches went a flying. He and the friend began to leap up and down yelling hallelujah.
In moments every sick person there was lining up for a miracle. Oh, to be sure God granted a few to truly good, honest, faith filled believers. Yet, truth is most got that same feel good you get at a ball game and your team just hit a grand slam.
Dad taught me that was ok, they gave so much money, and he made them feel good. That seemed to make sense to me, after all isn’t it just to feel good, that fills a ball stadium? Isn’t it just to feel good why you go to a movie, to a Circus, a Carnival or even out to some Ritz restaurant for a anniversary? So where was the wrong in that?
When Mom got pregnant, he married her, it could of been a half dozen others, singers and workers, but she was the lucky one. Money poured in. His name became well known, other pastors lined the stage when he came to town. He made each one feel super close and important, another lesson he taught me,
Then came a time he realized he was missing the really deep pockets. Those people, better educated and holding professional jobs went to those big conservative church’s. So he began to mix a great deal of their religious ideas into his sermons. He began to accuse those sinners.
In the 1970's he saw a opening and jumped on abortion. Started having those fancy conservative Pastors on front roll stage seats. The bigger the church, the more attention was given to the pastor, a testimony to the crowd, your choir singing, being made a part of anything pulls you in till your married to the cause.
Then that subject of homosexuals, along with abortion, why he had to buy a bigger tent. Soon he was being asked to come and do revivals at those big church’s. People had to only hear his name and the building would be full and the offering plates overrunning. So paying him a big fee was excellent for him and the church.
So the tent was sold, and he became a roving Evangelist. Soon he discovered he was just not making as much as his potential. He already owned a fine estate and fancy cars, but he lusted for more.
So he bought time on TV, everyone had a TV, to get into their living rooms, have them touch the screen and get healed. Now his friends were writing books using his name, what if he gave away books with big donations?
He built a fine temple in a well know city, the money was so good, the temple was his studio. Those who could not visit him in his temple could by watching tv. He soon became the preacher others wanted to be. The competition were always trying to find a fault they could crucify him with.
Dad was smart, of course he was not faithful to one woman, perhaps that sin would have destroyed his empire. Dad only picked women that believed in him, loyal to him and the brain washed Christ he taught.
I blame my failure on him. It was him that taught people a Christ of judgment and condemnation. He sowed more hate than love. He taught people to accuse and demoralize anyone that did not agree with him. He started doing that thing now called prosperity preaching.
It worked, he was the one to prosper while poor people took out loans and sent him the funds. Helping the poor had somehow becomes twisted into making him rich was helping them.
Always looking for ways to make money, he found the golden calf. It started out small, home Bible training classes, it grew into a full college. I cannot even tell you how filthy rich he was when he died. I wanted what he had, money, power, influence, invitations to the White House, meet with kings. I wanted it all so I obediently followed his steps.
I confess I never had a calling, if God ever spoke to me, I wouldn’t know it because Dad and his temple and college were my God. Between our TV and Radio and Temple and college, books we sold, cd's with our music. Coffee cups and cross necklaces, even our own Bible, money was pouring in.
We had won that self righteous group called evangelistic to jump to our tune. To say how easy it was to lead them down the road of give till it hurts and your giving to God, well, it was ridiculous. The smart ones, that really have something real in their hearts knew we were a group of phony hypocrites, but those are few.
You can’t give to God by giving to preachers or churches, do people really think God needs their moneys? Giving to God is when you give to help one in need. Oh we pushed a need, when I took over, I pushed our missionaries and the work they do. For every dollar given perhaps a nickel went to the cause.
We were a business and a very wealthy business. My own wife and family were being schooled in the same wealth building mythology. Trouble is, my own self discipline was not as good as Dad's.
See I got caught when a Photographer caught me on film in a less than Christian mode. I tried to buy him off, but he was zealous for a true Christlike leaders. Now I ask was his destroying me, my work and all the good I did was that following his Jesus?
Did we not sell you hope, faith, and a promise (even if not quite the truthful way) of a better world? Did we not entertain you, make you feel good? Admit it you enjoyed screaming names at people that tried to tell you your candidate was of Satan?
I guess you have to decide did my father and I make this a better world or lead it to a quicker destruction? I lost my position, my name became mud, but hey, fools I am still the rich guy, and I will find a new way to pick your pockets. So I am teaching you Dads most important lesson, patience!
Note: I personally believe in a great God of love, and I know many that live lives of good fruits. Sadly we also have now and have had many charlatans. Who is or isn’t is not for me to say. In my youth I used to help set up the tent for a then well know Evangelist. I even sit on one of those prize seats of one of the most famous amongst them, he used my Bible that night. I have worked as a minister through Pastors of many faiths, took the necessary training to meet the ordination requirements of four of those faiths. So I speak from a seat of knowing what I have witnessed first hand, this story won’t effect a one of them gone on or at present. It won’t effect you, unless you are willing to look closer at who you decide to follow. Faith is a personal thing and should be, yet faith and money is like a head on crash during rush hour,
Gail Moore
04/24/2022A great story, I am very glad it's only fiction a
Though never a truer word said.
Prosperity preaching is despicable :-)
The only good I see in it is, if a man believes the good lord will see him go to heaven he will treat his family with kindness and the respect they deserve :-)
Well written piece :-)
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