Last week, the Journey gathered at The Creme Coffee House in downtown Owensboro. We had a great time visiting, drinking coffee, and discussing the Bible together. You should join us at a gathering sometime . . . it’s fun . . . really.

Anyway, as we were leaving, Graham noticed what looked like a $100 bill in the “fishbowl” tip jar on the counter. So he said, “Is that a hundred dollar bill?” The barista immediately fished it out of the bowl, only to discover that it was a fake. But not just a fake bill . . . a Christian evangelistic tract dressed up as a $100 bill. How disgusting!

It was such a poor fake you knew it almost instantly. Then it opened to reveal it’s real purpose—to influence its reader to become a Christian. And get this . . . the first word on the inside of the fake bill asks: “Disappointed?” Well, duh . . . who wouldn’t be?

What kind of knucklehead would leave this in the tip bowl? Did he/she think it was amusing? Did he/she really think this was the way to make people impressed with Christianity? What world are they living in? Wouldn’t a real $50 (or a $20, or a $10, or even a $5, for that matter) be a more effective witness, than a fake $100?

Here I am, a follower of Jesus, standing at the counter when the barista opens the fake bill. I feel for her. I’m thinking, this sucks! Suddenly I’m embarrassed to call myself a Christian, to be associated (if only in name) with this sham artist.

There’s got to be a better way to tell people about the love of God than to stiff them on their tip with a fake $100 bill!

[And I secretly wish there were a way to turn the tables on this "counterfeiting Christian" . . . let him/her know what a jerk he/she is. Any ideas?]