DanThis is a funny story about our adminisrator who became a living computer virus.
One day as I was returning from lunch in one of my previous churches, the receptionist asked me to call the church administrator. He informed me that he had received a forwarded email that contained a warning about a serious virus file that had been popping up on computers. The email included instructions on how to locate and delete the infected file.
Our administrator had checked three computers and discovered the file on all three. He was growing concerned that the virus had spread across our entire network. He asked if I had time to help him get the file off of all of our computers. I grinned and I told him to relax. The email was a hoax designed to trick people into deleting system files. Luckily this email identified a mostly useless Microsoft system file, and he didn’t do any damage by deleting them.
The forwarded email turned our church administrator into a living computer virus! He really was a virus… he was spreading from computer to computer deleting system files as he went. I gave him a hard time about this for months. This story reemphasizes the need to verify email forwards before acting on them!
That is my most favorite email hoax story. I just had to share that with you after writing about hoaxes earlier. This could be a sermon illustration to help demonstrate the need to have a working knowledge of the Bible and theology in order to identify a hoax when it comes along. Otherwise, we would risk becoming a virus to the faith.
The best way to verify emails is by visiting snopes.com. Enter in some of the text of your email and do a search. Chances are that you will find out that the email is a hoax.
I should not dare to interrupt your more weighty affairs with a letter of mine, did I not hold you to be a disciple of Him who would not have the smoking flax quenched nor the bruised reed broken. But since I am entirely convinced of this, I beg of you that in your prayers and the prayers of the Church that sojourns with you, I may be commended to God, to be instructed in true poverty of spirit, in gentleness, in faith, and love of God and my neighbor. And, whenever you have a little leisure, do not disdain to offer to God this short prayer, which I have heard frequently offered by your brethren at Savannah (would they were mine also!):
Then the dauntless mind
Which, to Jesus joined,
Neither life nor treasure prizes,
And all fleshly lusts despises,
Grant him, Highest Good,
Through Thy precious blood.
God’s most humble servant, I remain,
John Wesley
Looks like the Reverend John Wesley has paid you a visit, too! He’s been making the rounds among the Methobloggers over the past several weeks!