Everyone Knew He Was A Gambler

He had long blond hair and a mustache,
Booked himself a room at the town hotel.
He wore a large-brimmed hat and a golden vest
With a silver dollar pinned to his lapel.
Everyone knew he was a gambler,
An evil man, taken to sinful ways.
So the citizens gathered together
And told the Mayor to ask him not to stay.

Came Sunday morning, services were held as usual,
Half past nine.
On the church hung a sign saying
“Everyone welcome in God’s House, anytime.”
But, when in walked the gambler,
The good people of the town turned their heads.
He walked up to the pulpit, knelt to pray,
And then he said:

Lord, please forgive them,
For they know not what they do.
They have sinned today, unknowingly.
Father, help them through.
A man should show mercy
For those who’ve lost their way.
Dear father, please forgive them.
In Jesus name I pray.
In Jesus name I pray.

He slowly rose and left the church,
Within the trees and bushes he disappeared.
And a silence fell over the church,
Everyone’s eyes were filled with tears.
Never again did they see the gambler.
Never again, since that very day.
Now, beside the sign hanging on the church
There’s a poster with these words that say:

Lord, please forgive them,
For they know not what they do.
They have sinned today, unknowingly.
Father, help them through.
A man should show mercy
For those who’ve lost their way.
Dear father, please forgive them.
In Jesus name I pray.
In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.