Celebrating

I have just received an email from Toastmasters International stating that I am now confirmed as


Advanced Communicator Gold.

Celebrating

Ambassadors

An ambassador is one who goes to speak on behalf of another, usually a government or business but you can be an ambassador for a person.

Paul wrote in second Corinthians 5:20 "So we are  ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us,"

As a Christian, following Jesus is more than having a membership in a church. Every follower of Jesus is also called to represent Jesus to others - that is to be ambassadors. That is a sacred commitment that we made at our baptism and it is part of our calling as Christians. The question is about how well we do that.

Political Yard Signs

Today is primary election day in Kentucky and there are political yard signs everywhere you look. Some people think they can stick a political sign any where they want. There is a lot of abuse because enforcement is so lax.

 

Political campaigns must have the permission of property owners to place a sign on their land. Some public lands are off limits for political signs. I am so glad that the signs will soon be down at least until November.

More on Marriage

In the American society we often find that both husband and wife are employed. The pressures of conflicting demands and too little time for each other creates stress on the relationship. With all the distractions couples can easily forget that strong, caring, and loving relationships need constant work.

 

With out constant attention to the relationship a marriage can wither without either noticing the decline. Couples can slowly and quietly drift apart.  Many couples remain married in name only and others live in a loveless relationship. At this point all kinds of events can trigger the dissolution of a marriage. The situation may seem hopeless to one or both and they start looking for comfort else where then infidelity, argumentation, alcohol or drugs take control. Anger can then come to a head and a rupture occurs.

 

There is help for the marriage. Many churches and counseling services offer ways to work through the issues and refocus the relationship. IT takes work and often more work than would be needed if the couple had worked on it all along. Meaningful communication is the key to renewal. Get help before it is too late.

Shock Lingers On

I was contacted out of the blue by a friend from long ago. Her contact reminded me of the difficult position she placed me and a lot of other people in back then. She was married to another friend and I thought they were the ideal couple. They had kids in collage and all seemed to be right with the world. Then it was discovered that she had been having an affair with his best friend and she wanted a divorce. We like many of their other fired were caught in the middle not knowing what to do.

 

Some marriages seem like they are made in heaven but take a lot of work here on earth. A marriage takes commitment, attention, care and a lot of love. Those of us on the out side can not know how a mate can drift from loyal spouse to adultery and divorce. I am still sad about that day now over twelve years ago.

Redneck Church ID

1. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if.....
The finance committee refuses to provide funds for the purchase of a 
chandelier because none of the members knows how to play one.

2. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
People ask, when they learn that Jesus fed the 5000,
whether the two fish were bass or catfish, and what bait was used to 
catch'em.

3. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
When the pastor says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the 
offering" and five guys and two women stand up.

4. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
Opening day of deer season is recognized as an official church holiday.

5. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
A member of the church requests to be buried in his
4-wheel-drive truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't 
get out of" (Love it!)

6. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if ......
The choir is known as the "OK Chorale."

7. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
In a congregation of 500 members, there are only
seven last names in the church directory.

8. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if.......
People think "rapture" is what you get when you lift something too 
heavy.

9. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if......
The baptismal pool is a #2 galvanized " Wheeling " washtub.

10. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if.........
The choir robes were donated by (and embroidered with the logo from) 
Billy Bob's Barbecue.

11. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if ........
The collection plates are really hubcaps from a'56 Chevy.

12. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if........
Instead of a bell you are called to service by a duckcall.

13. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if .......
The minister and his wife drive matching pickup trucks.

14. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if .......
The communion wine is Boone's Farm "TickledPink."

15. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if.......
"Thou shall not covet" applies to huntin' dogs, too.

16. You  know You're in a Redneck Church if .....
The final words of the benediction are, "Y'all come back now, Yahear."

God  Bless and don't fergit ta say yer prayers!

Beholder's Eye

I know an elderly couple who are just so cute together. I say that in terms of how they act to one another because Mother Nature has not been kind to either of them in the aging process. Bent and disfigured bodies that just barely get around at a slow pace are evident. It is clear that they are deeply in love with each other and have been for decades.

 

In her mind’s eye he still looks as he did when she met him at eighteen. She calls him “My good looking.” She looks at him with adoring eyes. He calls her beautiful all the time. She once looked at t a young woman and commented that she was not young an perky like that any more. He was honest and said. “No your not but you are beautiful.”

 

Well they are both beautiful!