The Preacher and the Gun by Louis Penn IV {short story}

The Preacher and the Gun by Louis Penn IV The year was 1870, Brandon Penington strolled down the boardwalk of his new town. He had come to Travis, California to be the new pastor of the First Baptist church of Travis. The town was quaint and quiet. He was glad to see it was not as small as he had originally thought. While it only had 764 people, most of them lived within the limits of the city. As Brandon strolled down the walkway he stopped outside the printing office to pick up a newspaper. The headline startled him, War on the Horizon. Brandon had come here to get away from the war and the effects the previous one had left on him. He continued on his way until he finally reached the white church building with its neat, picket fence and beautiful steeple. He walked in and felt unworthy to think God would use him. “Mr. Pennington” a deep voice came from behind Brandon. He turned to see a huge man of what he supposed to be six feet and four inches tall and two hundred and seventy pounds of no fat to him. “Yes, and you must be Mr. Walker.” Brandon smiled. “Yes sir, I am. Glad to meet you.” Mr. Walker said as they shook hands. “I was not expecting you to be so young. How old are you?” “Twenty-five.” Brandon responded. “But God has still called me to be a preacher and through His grace I will be a pastor, as He leads me. _____ The first three months were a blast as the people had a heart to follow their new Pastor. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were ideal members. They were always there early and willing to do anything. The huge ranch Mr. Walker owned on the outside of town which was ran by his foreman, helped enable the Walkers to do so. While there were great things going on in the church, the town was scared because of the notorious Ben Calling who was roaming the area with his stickup artist sons, Jeb and Luther. One cool, Sunday morning Brandon got up as was his routine before the sun rose. He walked the fifty steps from his small house to the church. He wanted to pray for the congregation. As he started up the steps he noticed three horses tied up outside of the bank. Mr. Miller, the banker, was not a church going man. The banker had not been happy the new preacher was in town. Brandon had prayed for the man and continued to hope God would help Mr. Miller to come to the gospel. Looking again at the horses, Brandon was concerned as these were brands he did not know. Brandon was about to continue to the church when he felt lead to go to the bank. He walked up to the bank and peered into the side window. He was surprised to see Mr. Miller in his pajamas, white as a ghost and fumbling with the dial of the bank vault. Three men, whom Brandon recognized from wanted posters to be Ben, Jeb and Luther Calling, were all standing with guns drawn on the far side of the one room bank. Brandon on instinct reached for his gun, but had not worn one for he had just been going out to pray. “What a fool I have been for not packing my gun!” Brandon groaned inwardly. He then fell to his knees and prayed for a miracle. Suddenly a rush of horses sounded down the street. Brandon looked up to see Mr. Walker with

five men behind him were chasing after the herd right past the bank. The thieves inside ran for the side door, colliding right into Brandon. They stopped so suddenly that Jeb ran into Luther who dropped his gun right in front of the preacher. Brandon swiftly picked it up. “Drop your guns!” “Do like he says boys.” Ben commanded in a gravelly voice. “Guess it weren’t some posse after us, Pa.” Luther scowled. Mr. Walker and his men seeing what was happening ran to the aid of their preacher to only to find he did not need their help. The preacher had all three men gun-less and sitting on their hands like school kids in trouble. Mr. Walker laughed, “Well preacher that is one way to get men to come to church, by gunpoint!” Three days later as Brandon was sweeping the stairs of the church, Mr. Miller humbly walked up to the fence. The preacher came down the steps to greet him. “Hello Mr. Miller we don’t see you around here much. How may I help you?” Mr. Miller was silent for a few seconds and then started to weep, “Preacher, I have never needed God. I have never even thought of going to church because I have made it on my own, my entire life.” Mr. Miller entered the fence and walked up to the preacher. “But then when I was standing there with three guns on me, I was scared and have not been able to sleep since. I keep thinking of all those times you have come to my bank and told me of the love God had for me, even though I had no love for Him. Preacher I sure would like to sleep. Could you please tell me, what must I do? Preacher Pennington with tears in his eyes, rejoicing and overwhelmed with what God was doing, took Mr. Miller inside. There, on the back pew of the church, the preacher took out his Bible and shared the glorious Gospel with Mr. Miller. Brandon rejoiced as Mr. Miller then bowed his head and prayed. _____ It’s been 15 years since that Sunday morning and now as Preacher stands in his pulpit, he looks over his congregation. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are in their place as always, along with their newlywed son and daughter-in-law next to them. Brandon sees the rest of the church in their places when in walks the preacher’s faithful deacon along with two men, fresh out of prison, by his side. These two men being none other than Jeb and Luther Calling. The preacher smiled as the three men sat down. “One of these days, Mr. Miller, you will show up on time.” As the congregation laughs, Mr. Miller also laughs and thinks back to a preacher who showed up on time and cared for his eternal soul. He then smiled as he remembers the preacher and the gun. Let us all be as Preacher Pennington and pray for lost souls to be saved!