The preacher had just been re-assigned to the then small community of Waldorf, Maryland. Now, although he wasn't always a ranter or pulpit-banger, he did occasionally get worked up during a sermon, voice raised, etc.
On this, his first Sunday in the pulpit of his new church, he was preaching on the evils of tobacco. In one of the front pews was a farmers wife and her new baby. As the preacher's voice began booming out, the baby began to fuss. The mother jiggled it, she put it up on her shoulder patting its back, she tried rocking it -- but nothing would calm this infant, its cries getting louder and louder
Finally the mother picked up her belongings, and with baby over one shoulder, she got up, started walking up the aisle. My father-in-law looked down from the pulpit and exclaimed,
"Ma'am, the little feller isn't bothering me, you don't have to leave."
The mother stopped, turned around, and replied,
"Well Brother, he isn't bothering you, but you sure are bothering him ..."