An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy
should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men his
age, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too
concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father
decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his
study table four objects.

1. A Bible.
2. A silver dollar.
3. A bottle of whiskey.
4. And a Playboy magazine.

"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself. "When
he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up."
"If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what blessing
that would be!"

"If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that would
be okay, too."

"But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and
Lord, what a shame that would be."

"And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a
skirt-chasing womanizer."

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as he
entered the house whistling and heading for his room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he
spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over
to inspect them.

Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up
the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and
took a big drink, while he admired the magazine's centerfold.

"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered. "He's gonna run
for Congress."