Welcome to 10 minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life in the time it takes to get to work.

My name is Keith Simon and right now we're going through the book of

exodus. H. G. Wells was a British author who was writing in the early 1900s and

Wells wrote some really good books but he wasn't a fan of the church or Christianity.

In the New Yorker magazine, Wells told a story about an Episcopalian clergyman,

but don't get stuck on the denomination. It really doesn't matter in the story.

But in the story, the Episcopalian Bishop was the kind of man who always said pious things to people.

When people with troubles came to him, he would just ask them,

have you prayed about this?

The Bishop himself didn't pray much.

He had life wrapped up in a neat little package.

But one day his life fell in on him and he found himself overwhelmed.

It occurred to the Bishop that maybe he should take some of his own advice.

So one Saturday afternoon he entered the cathedral, to the front and knelt on the crimson rug

Then he folded his hands before the altar

Then he began to pray he said oh god and suddenly there was a voice. It was a crisp business-like voice that said,

well, what is it?

The next day when the worshipers came to send his service, they found the Bishop sprawled face down on the crimson carpet.

When they turned him over, they discovered that he was dead.

Lines of horror were etched upon his face.

What H.G. Wells was saying in this story is simply this.

There are people who talk a lot about God

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