Many years ago when I was growing up, after BRO Sparling retired they hired a new Preacher, very young, married with a baby. Pay was not great so he took another job with the city, 350 people. He was to read the water meters around town, collect overdue bills, and turn water off to those way behind and refusing to attempt to pay.
BIG John owed 6 mo and refused to pay anything. A lot of folks were afraid of him, big and could get mean. The new Preacher was a little feller. He turned big johns water off after talking to him several times.
Big John was not real smart, but caught the Preacher in the café drinking a coke. He picked the Preacher up by the neck with one hand and said, you shouldn't have done that, now I gotta hurt you. Preacher said, now hold on John, lets go outside, I'd hate to see Maries nice floor get all bloody. John says OK but it won't save your butt.
As soon as they got out the door John grabs him, Preacher says hold on John, I'd like to say a prayer first. OK, but I'm still gonna hurt ya.
Preacher pulls out a knife and kneels down by the curb and starts whetting the blade on the concrete as he prayed.
LAWD LAWD, I know ya forgave me for killing that guy in Nashville and that other boy in Memphis, but you KNOW they had it coming to them. LAWD LAWD I'm afraid I'm gonna need you to forgive me one more time, cause I'm afraid I'm gonna have to kill this boy too. Preacher stood up and all he could see was Johns elbows and butt as he ran away. YES, Big John paid his bill and behaved much better after the Preacher stood up to him. This was told to me by my Uncle Woodrow.