Along the Road, a Multitude Of One-Sentence Sermons

Mary Katherine Compton's favorite sayings are captured in the titles of her books: "Forbidden Fruit Creates Many Jams: Roadside Church Signs Across America," and "Life Is Short, Pray Hard: Forbidden Fruit II: More Roadside Church Signs Across America."

"Some are just incredibly witty and some are . . . kind of to get people to straighten themselves out," Compton said.

Occasionally, she finds the messages distasteful -- such as "Body piercing saved my life."

"I couldn't quite stomach that one," she said. "It makes sense, but it seemed to diminish what happened on the cross."

Deborah Davies, of Greenville, Tex., wrote "The Proverbial Marquee: Words to Drive By" with a friend. Davies said her book "grew out of a penance of sort." She and a friend had been working in the freelance copyright business -- some might say junk mail -- trying to persuade folks that they needed this or that product or service.

"We did a lot of work trying to sell people things they probably didn't really need," Davies said.

Ryland Sanders, a Web developer from Austin, created the "Church Sign Generator" site and posts contributions from readers. They include "Staying in bed shouting, 'Oh, God!' does not constitute going to church."

"I think they're meant to amuse and maybe to attract and maybe to a certain extent to reassure people," Sanders said.