A minister told his congregation, „Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.”

The following Sunday, the minister asked for a show of hands from those who read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, „Mark has only sixteen chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”

A hat was passed around a church congregation to take up an offering for the visiting minister. Presently it was returned to him… embarrassingly empty.

Slowly the parson inverted the hat and shook it meaningfully. Then raising his eyes heavenward, he exclaimed, „I thank you, Lord, that I got my hat back from this congregation.”