Elementary School Student Doubts President’s Identity
On March 11, 1991, eight-year-old Anthony Henderson upset the distinguished leader of our nation, President George Bush. President Bush was visiting Anthony’s school and had sat down beside Anthony to read him a book. Suddenly in the midst of the reading Anthony Henderson queried, "Are you really the President?" Mr. Bush was quite surprised by the question and even moreso as he saw the serious look on the lad’s face. President Bush responded, "Yeah, you mean you didn’t know that?" "Did you think I was a pretend guy or something?" Mr. Bush then muttered, "how can I prove it to you?" Our president of the United States then proceeded to pull out identification from his wallet. "Let’s see now, here is my driver’s license; see it says B-U-S-H, Bush." "My name is George Herbert Walker Bush". Anthony didn’t seem convinced. President Bush then pulled out a series of identification items he thought would persuade the child of the truth. "Here is my American Express Card; here is a picture of my grandchild and here is one of my grandsons playing baseball". Finally Mr. Bush said, "I guess that is all I have to show you unless you will accept that black limousine out there; or maybe I’ll give you an autograph". "Oh no", replied Anthony. "The teacher said we can’t take autographs". There is a picture in the March issue of USA Today of Anthony Henderson sitting with a puzzled President examining his American Express Card. Don’t leave home without it. But even that didn’t help George Herbert Walker Bush with Anthony Henderson.
Listen church, it is getting harder and harder to get sinners to come to your church. Do you know why? Its because the world is looking for proof that we are what we say we are. Just because you sit in the church house every Sunday will not convince the world you’re a bonafide Christian anymore than a driver’s license convinced Anthony Henderson of our President’s identity. What is it going to take? Jesus gave us that answer in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".
From a sermon by Tim Adams, Friends for Christ’s Sake, 12/1/2009