Well, I heard summer arrived, last week. When we, Southerners, hear talk about the first day of summer, well, we just shake our sweaty heads and mumble angrily to ourselves. Summer arrived, down here, before all the Easter chocolate had even been eaten. Basically, it's the same reaction we have when we hear them announce the arrival of fall with cocoa and wool sweaters on TV and we still have mosquitos buzzing around our heads and have soaked through our clothes.

Yeah, we've been having summer for quite a while now, thank you. We have to get about 7 miles down the road before the car A/C can even think about overcoming the heat in its climate control battle. And we don't think about parking in the sun unless there's no other choice available....or we have some foil wrapped potatoes in there we want to cook for supper. After turning off the car in the parking lot, we've had approximately 4.6 seconds to exit the vehicle before anguish ensues, so preparation is always the key. We know how to get our things and get out.

There's been a fly buzzing around in each of our houses since early May. They almost always hang around in the kitchen if they know company is coming. Each housefly is assigned a home to torment until it falls victim to the swatter, at which time, his replacement is sent. Mosquitos will take you apart faster than a school of piranhas if you stay out near any accumulation of water, in the shade, or just about anywhere if it's close to sundown. Wasps, horseflies, gnats, all of hell's other winged messengers, have been unleashed for months now. And we don't open the doors at night unless we want to hear beetles banging their heads on our lampshades for hours on end.

Snakes are crawling and we've been watching our steps since Valentine's Day, when we were told they were up and at 'em already. Down here, we like to share postmortem pictures of venomous snakes that we kill in our yards on social media and that's been going on for weeks now. We enjoy a good game of 'What Kind of Snake Is This?' more than anybody. Snake posts have been on the rise, this year, so we must continue to step with extreme caution.

Our glasses are fogging up when we get out of our cool cars. Everyone looks like Marcie from Peanuts and Little Orphan Annie staggering around in the parking lot for a couple of minutes. Tis the season for sunburn and razor burn and sand burn and chafing. And depending on our hair's texture, it's either frizzed up like Kaepernick or flat to our heads like Pee Wee Herman. Neither, a good look. We can leave home all fresh and clean and, an hour later, look like we're on the highway crew and are just getting off work. Sweat's rolling down our backs and our necks and our red faces and we are just not a pretty people, right now.
We can comfortably enjoy our decks and patios and porches between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. and we find solace in knowing that. The hot, humid air is as thick as our Mamas' pie filling and as heavy as a bad biscuit. It's hard to breathe and even harder to want to. The will to live is in its most tested season.    

Upon entering any building, we've been using our proper summertime etiquette. Our first greeting to those inside is always a reference to the oppressive heat- just in case they are unaware. This is expected whether we are arriving at the bank, a store, the salon, or the funeral home. Rain chances are also a popular choice, this time of year. If you mention impending rain possibilities, it gives hope to all who hear.

We don't usually bother trying to take someone ice cream or a milkshake like I did, yesterday, unless we want to be handing them a glass of chocolate milk when we get there. We try not to be tempted by those pre-July 4 watermelons, down here. Our patience will be rewarded in another week or two. And when those flowers on our patios start looking distressed, about now, we just let them go. They want to go over the rainbow bridge or whatever it's called for flowers and we give them our blessing to go. We know we wouldn't want to have to sit out there and try to look pretty in all this.

So, everybody, go ahead and celebrate the first of summer. While y'all are marking that sweet milestone, we're down here just trying to survive our first trimester of summer. We are hot and we are irritable and we are not ok.

Try to stay cool out there, people.  

         

Well, it's that time of year again when churches on every corner are promoting their Vacation Bible Schools. Your church bulletin has likely been pleading for VBS volunteers for a while now and I'd say that those who step forward to answer the call are among the most resolute and courageous of the entire church membership. I'd even take it a step further to say they'd be the Christian church's equivalent to SEAL Team 6 or Delta Force. Their bravery immeasurable. Their fortitude unflinching.

Most of the churches around here go all out for Bible school with elaborate decorations, choreographed music, themed snacks, very involved crafts, and over the top props. The kids just love it and how could they not? I can't help but think, though, how very different it is now than it was when I was in Bible School.
Back then, there were 3 kids, who were selected to hold the American Flag, the Christian Flag, and the Bible. They were the big dogs for the day. As the pianist played a "marching in" song, everyone would file in behind the chosen three. Of course, while not nearly as important as the Holy Trinity, these three had climbed to the highest rung of the VBS hierarchy. We'd march in behind them and say all of our pledges. Then, I remember sitting down on the hard, creaky pews with my legs sticking to the varnished wood. Bible school was one of the few occasions when we could wear shorts to church, so it was beyond a treat. 

Anyway, there were no palm trees made from paper mache or larger than life jungle animals cut out of plywood or two story rocket ships made of foam core board like there are today. I don't recall any twinkly lights, large boulders fashioned from crumbled Kraft paper or beach scenes on the stage complete with an umbrella, Adirondack chairs, and wave sound effects. No, as I remember, there were the preacher, the music minister, and the podium and, on a really exciting day, the slide or film projector might be brought in. If you saw one of those as you took your seat, you knew good times were ahead.

Just below the chosen three were the six kids, who were picked, each day, to take up the offering (aka the change we found in the vinyl seats of the Chrysler and in the bottom of our Mamas' purses that morning). These offering takers were the kids, who were runners-up to the flag holders in the complex Bible school pecking order. I, myself, never submitted my name to be considered for any of these spots. I was shy, back then, and wanted to stay as far away from the front of the room as possible. I'm certainly not shy anymore, but the front of the room is still a location I try to avoid.

Anyway, after we said our pledges, sang our songs, and took up the mission offering, it was off to our classroom. We headed down the hall and there was no grassy pathway cut from indoor/outdoor carpeting leading to the rooms and our names weren't perfectly penned on laminated, themed shapes hanging from the ceiling. There were no freshly cut stumps to sit on and no real tents set up in the room in which to have our lesson by lantern light. No, we walked in and the teacher was like......"You see those brown, folding chairs set up in a semi-circle facing the bulletin board? Go sit in those.....and don't run." Oh, those metal chairs were so cold on your bare legs and so you'd put your hands under them until your seat warmed up. 

We never pretended like we were all on safari riding in a jeep and we didn't sit around a faux campfire made with real logs and tissue paper flames, while we had our lesson. The teacher wasn't wearing a cowboy hat, didn't use a black light, and didn't bring in any live amphibians for us to pet. There were no stuffed monkeys hanging from the ceiling and no thoroughbred horses out in the parking lot for us to sit on. No, she just sat there in the brown folding chair with her Bible in her lap and those old Bible pictures that she'd pin to the bulletin board behind her when the time was just right. Something like these might have, very well, been your only visual for the whole day, so you had to glean the most from it.
 
After we finished our story, it was time for crafts. Not the kind of crafts they do today. No, there was no going to another decorated room, where supplies were laid out for some HGTV- worthy craft....like building a coffee table or glass blowing a vase or something. Back then, it was "Ok, now pick up your chair and take them back over to the tables, where we will have our craft. Don't slide the chairs, because we don't want to disturb the class below us!"

Davis and I have always attended traditional Baptist churches. We both grew up in very similar church settings and so did our kids. We now attend First Baptist Church in our city and it's just what you'd expect in its appearance. The downtown church is red brick with large white columns and beautiful dental molding. A steeple shoots upward from the high pitched roof and is topped with an illuminated cross for all of the city to see.

The life of Jesus is depicted in the beautiful stained glass windows that wrap around the sanctuary. The sunlight beaming in makes the vibrant colors just come alive on Sunday mornings. Deep red carpet runs under the beautiful wooden pews, where the Baptist hymnals rest in their designated spots next to the offering envelopes and pencils. The pews are filled with familiar faces, but new ones, too. The resonant sound of the pipe organ and grand piano playing church classics like "A Mighty Fortress is our God", "God of our Fathers", and "Holy, Holy, Holy" fill the sanctuary, but some new is mixed in with the old to cover all of the musical preferences.

The choir sings in the loft behind the pulpit and our robes have stoles, which match the shade of red in the carpeting. The wooden offering plates are passed by the ushers during the offertory. There is always a fresh flower arrangement adorning the communion table, which is usually placed there in memory or honor of someone. The baptistry is situated above the choir loft with another stained glass picture of Jesus with outstretched arms above it. I'm not real sure, but I think the pulpit and chairs that sit on the platform may have come over on the Mayflower. They are beautiful, old relics. Each sermon is concluded with an invitation hymn- a chance to share any decisions with the pastor or the church and you know "Just As I Am" and "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" are the Baptists' hymns of choice for this segment of the service.
We have a young, new pastor, who we're just crazy about. He preaches the Word of God, shares the gospel, and encourages us to live out our faith outside the church walls; telling others about Jesus by our words and deeds. When I leave there, I have truly worshipped through the music, teaching, and fellowship; all in styles that speak the most clearly to my heart and soul.

We went to spend a couple of days with Blair and John Samuel, last weekend, and had a great visit. They've lived in their city for a little over 18 months now and they spent a while visiting different churches before they landed where they are now. They started their visiting process with the churches that were similar to the traditional churches they'd both grown up in, but they kept being drawn back to this one church, because of the compelling sermons and large number of people in their age group. It was one of those contemporary churches you see now. From the outside, they could very well be mistaken for a municipal building, a spa, or a plastic surgery medical complex with their more vague names like Venture or Summit or CrossPoint.
We'd never been to their church with them, so we were sure to pack our "church" clothes, even though they assured us we could wear just about anything and it would be fine. The five of us arrived there along with hundreds of others. There were volunteers directing traffic and parking to help utilize the parking area in the most efficient way possible for the large crowd gathering. They live near the beach and so a lot of people looked as if they would likely be heading straight to some body of water as soon as church was out as they were wearing their flip flops and shorts. We walked in and the first thing we saw was a coffee shop type set-up. I'm not talking about a couple of silver coffee urns with a stack of Styrofoam cups and bowl of sweetener packets like at our church. No, this layout could've rivaled any Starbucks with all of the coffee choices and coffee embellishments.

We were welcomed by many people as we made our way through the crowd and took our seats in the gray chairs lined up within the gray walls with the gray carpeting. There were spotlights shining down into the dark room from the industrial-type exposed ceiling. There were three large screens surrounding the stage. Being a former flower person, I tried to imagine how in the world you'd decorate such a space for a wedding. The seats started to fill up to almost capacity of 1,000, each one with their coffee cup with lid and cardboard sleeve. With so many people and so many worship service times and campus options, there were very few people, who seemed to know each other, but everyone was so very friendly. There are mission opportunities and small groups that meet in homes during the week for that more personal connection. I'm so happy that Blair and John Samuel are hosting the youngest married group, each week.

The service started with the worship band taking the stage. The leader in his skinny jeans started us off in one of those contemporary choruses that repeats itself a lot and the large screens showed the lyrics with beautiful graphics in the background. There was no organ or piano, but 8 people in the band with all types of guitars, keyboards, and drums. The lyrics weren't written in the 19th century, but maybe like the 19th of last month. They weren't familiar, but were worshipful and full of truth just the same. It didn't take long to notice that what my soul gets from the pipe organ and Baptist hymnal, these people were receiving from this style of worship and it was a wonderful sight.  
It was time for the offering and the screens displayed the multiple ways you could give online or electronically, but the connection team did pass some black buckets through the crowd in case you wanted to do it the old-fashioned way. There was no invitation given at the end, but the screens displayed directions for registering decisions by way of technology with the promise that someone would be in contact to follow up with you. They announced there would be baptisms in the service, the following Sunday, which got me looking all around to find the baptistry....to no avail. Blair filled me in on the portable baptistry. 

The pastor came out from the back of the stage. He was a busy fellow. This was his third service of the day and he still had 2 to go between their two campuses. He wasn't donning a suit, but looked very hip in his V-neck tee, plaid jacket, and jeans. He opened his Bible and, while nothing else around me was, at all, familiar to the services we usually attend, his words were straight from the same word of God and he challenged all of us there to get serious about the most difficult commands of Jesus. While the service took a very different road to get there, the destination was the same as our traditional church services- to worship and save and encourage and grow.  

We're all very different. Goodness knows, we are. So, whether you prefer sanctuaries or worship centers. Suits or skinny jeans. Church bells or drum sets. Screens or hymnals. Pews or theater seating. Chandeliers or track lighting. A music minister or a worship leader. Deacons, ushers, elders, or a connection team. Only one thing matters. Whatever Bible-based worship style you prefer, just
"Don't stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25

Worship is our number one reason to go to church, but we also need encouragement from each other. Our need to feel like we're not alone on this increasingly crazed planet is growing. The world is ramping up its efforts to make us feel like there is something bad wrong with our thinking as Christians. It wants to make us feel isolated, unwelcomed, and intimidated. So, whether you prefer "How Great Thou Art" in pumps or "How Great is Our God" in Chacos, it doesn't matter. Not one little bit. Just set aside time, each week, to surround yourself and your family with other Christians to worship God. He certainly deserves it and we certainly need it.

And just a final note for those, who don't have a church, and are planning on visiting. As a visitor, you might be asked to raise your hand or remain seated while members stand to greet you or fill out a connection card and drop it in the offering plate or visit the "New Here" tab on the church's website or text a number to register your visit or meet someone from the staff in the welcome area, after the service, to claim your complimentary coffee gift card. We, Christians, agree on most things, but how to greet our visitors is not one of them. So, just go with whatever. We have good intentions. Bless our hearts.

We'll talk soon!
  

I have a friend, who's packing up to move. Circumstances beyond her control have her preparing to leave the home, where she thought she'd likely live out the rest of her days. She'd picked out all of its beautiful finishes and made it into the lovely place her family called home. Her kids are grown and now she's sifting through years of the stuff that we all accumulate. With every single item she picks up, there's a decision to be made about its importance. Some things can go with her through this change, but, with some, she'll have to part ways.

A couple of weeks ago, I called to check on an elderly friend, who'd been sick. We didn't have to talk long before it became obvious that she needed help. Davis and I got her where she needed to be, but, when we left her home, that day, none of us knew that she'd likely never return to her life exactly as it had been. After so many years of independence, there would be some changes put in place.

There's been a lot of stuff going on with people we know. You're probably feeling the same way from where you stand. A lot of things just haven't gone off as planned. An empty chair at a graduation. A grandmother missing at a wedding. Treatment for illness that happens far away from home for months at a time. An unexpected job change in a new city of unfamiliar faces. A divorce that requires redefining and readjusting.      

Y'all know I'm a football fan and not really a lover of baseball, but I do get interested in the post-season if Mississippi State makes it that far. Well, they have and so, for the last couple of weekends, I've watched a lot of pitches being thrown at batters. Inside, too high, sliders, wild pitches, curveballs. With my limited baseball knowledge, I understand a curveball comes at the batter and, while he thinks he knows what he's getting, at the last minute, the ball takes a dip and veers from the course that the batter was expecting it to take.

Such is life, too. We all have plans. A mental picture album full of images. Images of what we think our future will look like. Mine has pages of traveling with Davis after Carson graduates from college. A home renovation. Enjoying my mother in good health at 100+ like her grandmother. I can see grandchildren with chocolate brown eyes and dark hair, who'll come for sleepovers. A mother of the groom dress and a new daughter-in-law to add to my Christmas shopping list. Hopefully, some blue-eyed, blonde grandchildren added to my collection, one day.

We all have a checklist of the things we expect to see in the days to come. Sometimes, life sails right down the middle, just like we expected it would. But, sometimes it veers off course and we get something we didn't anticipate. It's lower than the lofty dreams we'd dreamed or it's outside the perimeters of what we wanted.           

I guess with the flurry of changes going on with those I know and love, I just wanted to remind myself  that I can't just look at a person and know the heaviness they carry around in their hearts. I don't know the pain that they feel in the quietest part of themselves. It's impossible to detect the curveballs that someone else has been thrown when I'm not the one in the batter's box. Those things can't be recognized when just speaking on the street or scrolling through social media. I don't know the things they've had to relinquish in their lives or the detours they've been forced to take. We're all gifted performers when it comes to our feelings, anyway.

I suppose the only way I can avoid withholding my spark from someone whose light is burning low is to treat everyone as if they need to feel God's warmth from me. To assume everyone could use some encouragement on this difficult journey we're all traveling. Likely, most could. There's a whole world full of people, who find themselves living in a place, where they never imagined they'd be. We pass them, each day, holding in our possession just what they could use- love, kindness, time, and the hope of Jesus Christ.We can maintain our hurried pace and hold those things tightly to our chests or we can open our eyes to discern the places, where the love of God flowing through us can make a difference.

Life is hard. Really, really hard, sometimes. We all go through rough patches and come face to face with the unexpected. God never promised it would be any different for His children either. He did promise that we'd share in the victory He won over sin and death. Because of that, we can take the pitches as they come with hope. And cheer on the next gal, who's coming up behind us.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

And my very, very favorite verse says, "...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:1-3

Maybe you or someone you know needs to be reminded of those promises.

Hope y'all have a great weekend and Hail State!