Gotta Love the South

If you live in the South you will understand all of these. If you don't ... find someone you can call, quick!

1. Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them
2.Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
3. Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
4. Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, ... as in: "Going to town, be back directly"
5. Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
6. All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
7. Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
8. Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
9. Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
10. No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
11. A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
11. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and when we're "in line," ... we talk to everybody!
13. Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
14. In the South, y'all is singular, ... all y'all is plural.
15. Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
16. Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
17. When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
18. Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
19. And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her heart" ... and go your own way.
20. To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
21. And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, ... bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
22. And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

Shared by Jackie Matthews

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day un-rushed.
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects overtime; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh. (SOUND like someone you know?)
28. Laugh some more! (SOUND like someone else you know?)
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Shared with me by Jackie Matthews

Suppressing Joy?

In our Small Group last night we were looking at 2 Corinthians 3 where Paul unveils some personal insight. Of course, our conversations took on some personal insights of their own.

A comment was made about the spontaneous clapping that started during one particular part of the 10:30 assembly at Antioch and a question was asked about how could anyone object to that, but there was a couple of people that did by their actions. That took off with some additional comments about people and children that were spontaneous and that it just seemed so natural and appropriate. There was some that was displeased with the clapping and its timing. Although, we clap a lot, we clap with many of our frequently sung songs. But yesterday was different for some reason and I guess it was because the clapping occurred during the communion portion of assembly. There were people who sat down, or was heard saying, "if this is going to happen, I'm not coming back."

God gives us so many gifts and talents. But it seems to me that we suppress those gifts and talents because of Puritan traditions that we have accepted as part of religious history. But it hit me - How would God look at us (at me) for suppressing someones talents, joy and the Spirit? The Spirit is a gift as a child of God and part of the joy of being a child of God and a talent that God has given us. Why would we ever consider suppressing that? Wouldn't that be like someone giving you a car and you telling them thank you, I'll take the car but I don't want the engine, or a wheel or two, or maybe the steering wheel. Whoa ....... You wouldn't ever do anything like that, so why do we do that with God? If God was the person giving you a car, none of us would say that we didn't want the whole thing. Yet, in a generalized way, are we doing that?

Where the Heart is Determines What the Eyes See

I was reading Mike's blog and his latest top ten. It occurred to me that where the heart is has a lot to do with what you see (or want to see). Most of us have family situation where we see the same situation differently, or jobs where we see the same situations differently. I know you have had those job situations and asked what in the world is the boss doing? Don't he/she know that will never work? I have. I was looking at it from where I was and what I know and they were looking at it from where they were and what they knew. Or, have you have had those situations where you made decisions based on your experience and things that may have happened to you in the past? Sure you have, we all do it every day. We base what we see, the understanding we have and the decisions we make about them on our viewpoints and past experiences.

We base religious understand and religious decisions on those same foundations. But, in growing in Christ, in studying, listening to God speak through the word, we have the opportunity to grow beyond the limitations of basing decisions only on an earthly viewpoint. By developing our relationship with God and changing our viewpoint to one of love, grace and mercy we change and begin to see things through our heart. So, where the heart is now determines what our eyes see.

Sam’s Good News

Sam had his follow up with Dr. Kest yesterday (7/24) and to get the pathology report from his laser surgery.

It was Stage I throat cancer. The pathology report showed that all margins were free of cancer cells and that all of the cancer was removed by the surgery. It was Squamous Cell cancer which grew outward and allowed the doctor to remove all of the cells. The treatment is close surveillance with follow up to begin every 2 months for a while and then stretch out to every 3 months and them to every 6 months.

Thank you God for answering all of the prayers and healing Sam.

A Wonderful Surprise

I had such a wonderful surprise Sunday. Kathy Rose got a birthday cake for Sylvia Wilson and me. We share the same birthday. I had committed to help with the Charles Davis Foundation dinners Sunday through Tuesday and wasn't able to be at our Small Group meeting. Well to shorten the story, when we got home from the first CDF dinner, Kathy and Don had brought the birthday cake home and left it for me with birthday cards and everything! WOW! A wonderful surprise and how thoughtful is that Kathy .... I can't say enough about how we love and appreciate Kathy and that whole group of people that have truly become FAMILY!

Happy 50th birthday, Curt!

Today the love of my life turned 50 years old! He doesn't look 50, he doesn't think 50, and he certainly doesn't act 50! We treated him to a nice dinner at Outback with a beautiful birthday cake. Ora Kay and Patty helped us celebrate. It really is nice being close to family at times like this. I hope I get to see Curt celebrate his next 50 years! Inez