Southernisms

A friend of mine who lives in the South read my "Well Shut My Mouth" blog and sent me a few more "Southernisms" for my collection. Not sure what all of them mean. I guess this shows that I'm not a Southerner. I 'm not really a northern either--but a "westerner" doesn't necesarrily understand them all either--but they did make me laugh. Happy day in Jesus.
TK

More Southernisms:

1. Only a true Southerner knows the difference between a hissie

fit and a conniption fit.

2. Nobody but a true Southerner knows how many fish make up a mess.

3. A true Southerner can point you in the general direction of

cattywumpus.

4. A true Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is -- as in

"Going to town, be back directly."

5. Even true 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 true Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is.

7. No true Southerner has a problem handling his (or her) "pot likker."

8. True Southerners know instinctively that the best gesture of

solace for neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken

and a big bowl of cold tater salad. (If the trouble is a real crisis,

they also know to add some hot biscuits and a nanner puddin'.)

9. True Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "pert'

near" and "a right far piece."

10. True Southerners both know and understand the differences

between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.

11. True Southerners never go snipe hunting twice.

12. No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the

flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

13. True Southerners sometimes wear long sleeves, but only if they

roll 'em up past the elbows.

14. True Southerners are born knowing that you should never loan

your tools, pickup, or gun to anybody.

15. True Southerners have always known that the South is more American

than America.

16. To this list, add: begins a friendly conversation with the phrase,

"How's mama an 'em".

17. And any Southerner knows where "over yonder" is - or just when

to insert "I reckon" into the conversation.

Thanksgiving

It is important to give thanks. We say it all the time when we are training our Operation Barnabas leaders as well as with the students entrusted to us each summer: “The mark of a mature believer in Christ is a thankful spirit.” Living in the “attitude of gratitude” is important—not just for those around us—but for our spirits as well. A thankful heart shows a dependence upon God for everything and appreciation to Him as well as people who love and help us. It is not self- centered, but God centered thinking.

We as Americans have a bad habit of relegating our thanks to only one time per year. While Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday—it really should be celebrated EVERYday. So in that spirit, here are some things, in no particular order except the first ones, for which I am thankful--the day BEFORE Thanksgiving:

Jesus, my wife, two healthy neat kids, godly parents, the rest of the family, our dog, an education from godly people, the team at CE National, our church , the guys on the elder board, Warsaw Christian School, one good knee, Fox Soccer Channel, ob leaders and teens who continue to serve and live for Jesus without recognition, youth pastors, ministry partners, our home in Warsaw/Winona Lake, the opportunity to travel far away from Warsaw/Winona Lake, our new youth pastor and his wife, health, turkey and cranberries, any kind of pie, friends.

So here is a part of my fulfillment of the command to rejoice. God is good--tomorrow and everyday.
And I am thankful.

The First ob Ministry Reunion

We decided to try something this past weekend we had never done. CE National has not sponsored an official Operation Barnabas reunion before. The reasoning, quite simply, has been that while it is fun to see everybody, the thing that ob is about is ministry. And we have not had that component before.

So thing year we gave it a shot. And did it ever pay off. There were 37 of us that were at the Urban Hope Training Center in Philly this past weekend. Some ob alums from our 2007 teams couldn't make it because of the distance of travel or previous engagements, but a significant group was there to serve in Kensington, share our faith in downtown Philly on South Street, worship together, laugh together, share together, and then worship with a black church in West Philadelphia (you can start singing along with Will Smith: "...West Philadelphia, born and raised...")

Simply put: I think this was the best weekend ministry experience I have had in the 12 years of working full time at CE National.

Usually we send the teens back home after a summer and do all we can to encourage them to continue to put Jesus first and to serve. But this time, we got to see all of them together--after three months--and enjoy watching them apply what they had learned all summer long and are continuing to do. And can they ever do it!

To read student reports and see photos of the weekend, go to www.cenational.org and look under ob Ministry Reunion under ob. It will be posted by the end of this week.

It was great ministry and an incredible confirmation that the time and energy the ob leaders, the sending churches, our family, and CE National invests is so very worth it.

Can't wait until the first weekend in November next year.