Don't Want To Say No

Pastor Peter Wilkes of San Jose, California, includes President Theodore Roosevelt among his heroes, saying that Roosevelt was an interesting combination of St. Vitrus and St. Paul.  "He fired aphorisms at people:  Get action, do things, be sane, don't fritter your time away, create, act, be somebody."

Once after two sets of tennis with the French Ambassador, TR suggested jogging.  After the jogging there was an intense workout with a medicine ball.  The president, not even panting, slapped the suffering ambassador on the back and asked heartily, "What would you like to do next?"

"If it's all the same to you, Mr. President," replied the ambassador, "I would like to lie down and die."

- Robert J. Morgan, Preacher's Sourcebook Of Creative Sermon Illustrations (Thomas Nelson, 2007)