In Horseheads, NY, there was a pastor who went to town and upon reaching <br />the town plaza, he saw that there was a contest and that the town Mayor, ins@ne d@d was <br />looking for contestants.  Seeing that the prize was &#036;100,000, the Brother Pastor <br />was suddenly eager to join.  The contest is divided into three parts:  <br />(1.)  To make the water buffalo laugh;  <br />(2.) To make the water buffalo cry; and  <br />(3.)  To make the water buffalo run fast.<br /><br />There were 3 contestants including the pastor.  The first contestant that <br />was called to try his ability was Brown Pride, a farmer from the mid-west.  <br />He tickled the water buffalo all over its body to make it laugh but to no avail. <br />Brown Pride aka Paco hit the water buffalo with a stick, but it did not cry.  <br />Then he tried hitting the water buffalo from behind with a stick but it did not run away.<br /><br />So, the next contestant, Acipcoman, who was a Veterinarian was called up. <br />He applied medication to make the water buffalo laugh but it did not work.  He took <br />another ointment and apply it on the water buffalo&#39;s eyes to make it cry but <br />it did not shed a tear.  The Veterinarian held a bundle of grass away from the water buffalo so that <br />it would run after him to eat the grass, but the water buffalo remained motionless.<br /><br />Finally, the third contestant was called and it was the Brother Pastor.  He felt alot of  <br />pressure as the crowd wase shouting and cheering for him while some others <br />mocked him, yelling if the farmer and the veterinarian who were more <br />familiar with the water buffalo and were not able to succeed how can he.<br /><br />The Brother Pastor prayed silently, and then he whispered something to the water buffalo <br />and to everyone&amp;&#39;s amazement, the water buffalo laughed with all his saliva <br />flowing in his lips.  The Brother Pastor again whispered and suddenly tears fell <br />down the water buffalo&#39;s eyes.  Lastly, the Brother Pastor <br />whispered a third time on the water buffalo&#39;s ears and immediately <br />everyone ran for safety as the water buffalo started running in every  <br />direction looking for a way out of the plaza, jumped a wall and ran away as fast as it could.<br />There was a standing ovation and cheering for the Brother.<br /><br />But before the prize was awarded to the Brother Pastor, the town Mayor, ins@ne d@d asked him <br />what he did that made the water buffalo laugh, cryd and run away that fast.  <br />Without much a do, the Brother Pastor answered, &quot;Well, first I introduced <br />myself that I am a Pastor and a typical pastor has flock and sheep dogs.  <br />Being a Pastor or a shepherd, I diligently do the tasks that I was called <br />for which to feed the sheep with the Word of God, love and pray for them, <br />heal the wounds of the injured, guard them against the wolves, guide them so <br />that they will not go astray.  I taught them to love God with all their <br />heart, love one another. The water buffalo laughed as he saw the shoes of the <br />pastor with wide open mouth as if hungry of love.<br /><br />Then, I told the water buffalo, that as pastor, I sometimes got hurt when the <br />sheep dog bark at me instead to the wolves and there are times when the <br />sheep dog and her puppy bit me.  Sometimes, there are antagonistic church <br />leaders, some criticized the pastor, some wants to make their own rules, <br />some do not support the vision and the mission of the Church instead some <br />want to put their own rules. If the pastor exposes sin, they call it <br />personal and rebel against the truth and they went church hopping. Then, I <br />told the water buffalo that I have a wife and three children to feed with a monthly <br />share of money from the Church tithes and offerings.  That my family faces <br />hardship in life, specially sending my children to school and, my family is <br />only sustained by the grace of God and the water buffalo cried.<br /><br />Then I asked the water buffalo if he wants to become a pastor.