Old Dog Tricks and Other Tips

1. A pinch of salt helps most sweet food and a little sugar improves unsweet dishes.

2. Any color clothing can be washed together if the water is cold and a good detergent is used.

3. A house does not "have to be" vacuumed every day.

3a. Or set the cleaner in the middle of the floor and tell visitors who pop in that you were just about to clean.

3b. And if it's really bad, throw sheets on a couple of things, and tell them you are remodeling.

4. Two half gallons of milk stay fresh longer than one gallon & so on down the size.

5. Two jumbo eggs are harder to flip than 2 large eggs.

6. Most frozen vegetables are more firm and taste better and like fresh if cooked covered in the microwave with about a tablespoon of water.

7. Not using salt is easy to get used to ... and then salted food tastes too salty.

8. As soon as you sit down without the phone, it will ring.

9. Hydogen Peroxide will remove fresh blood from a garment and then soaking in cold water makes it even better.

10. Massage liquid laundry detergent into chocolate stains and then launder in cold water to remove stain.

11. It takes longer for 4 people to go a given distance than it does 2 and 1 can make it in less time than either.

12. Keep 3 quarters, 2 dimes, 1 nickle, and 4 pennies in your pocket and you'll always have the correct change.

13. When raveling out a seem keep masking tape nearby to pick up loose threads.

14. Masking tape wrapped around your hand sticky side out removes lint etc from clothing.

15. Hanging garments in a closed bath room with the shower running hot will remove most wringles ... usually works well then traveling.

16. After stinky yard jobs and such, a cup of salt and a cup of vinegar in a soaking bath will remove strong odors from your bod.

17. Baking Soda in a bath lowers the acidity and gives soothing relief to bites and itches.

18. After traiping thru' poison oak or ivy, bathe all over in nice warm water with a cup of bleach added ... this often works for chiggers, too. The quicker after the contact the better. And if you have a pool available, stay in the water as much as possible.

What Do I Really Want?

Our small West Tennessee church is in the process of hiring a new preacher. Four of those who applied for the position have preached trial sermons and visited in the homes of several families in the congregation, as well as being in conference with the elders and pulpit committee.

Let me say at the outset ... the church didn't want to lose the last minister. He is young, intelligent, energetic, a strong force with the young people and beloved by all. It's just that they have a baby, their first, and wanted to be nearer the grandparents.

Being a grandparent, I encouraged them, knowing it would leave a hole in our sheepfold. (is that a mixed metaphor?)

I've only seen the resume of one of the men and it was most impressive. A little lacking on formal education, but good history of pulpit work. He was born a southern farm boy. His wife was born and reared in the north, but I suppose she could be converted to the south. Good references and interacted well with people, excellent class room teacher and not bad in the pulpit. But I sensed a lack of fire or something and it may have just been me.

Actually I can't say a thing about the next one, so I suppose he didn't ring my bell, or either did in a negative way. I just can't remember, but I know I didn't go back that night ... Something about a promise I made to God a long time ago ... That I'd give any man one chance, but if I went back for the second dose it was my fault.

Another was so dear and so eager to spread the gospel. He has a some college work and maybe a degree but not in Bible and had worked in the private field. He just finished classes at a preaching schoolbut he just doesn't know the protocol for being a minister/preacher. Really didn't realize there is a protocol until I heard and saw him. I wanted to take him under my wing and teach him how to be a preacher (mind you, I'm a woman and I don't know a thing about the making of a preacher except I've been listening to them for 70 some odd years). I ache for him because he is so tender and loving and sincere and needs months, if not years, of internship under strong elders and with an experienced preacher.

The fourth man we heard is different from the others and from anyone else we've heard recently, including the guest speakers every Wednesday night in the July and August summer series.

He took the text and actually taught from it in the historical context ... somewhat rare in this age when people expect to be made to feel good. Didn't hear the proverbial "church doctrine" nor remarks about what "others in the brotherhood" were doing wrong. No name calling, but he did cite examples of teaching in the general Protestant world. He plain old taught the Bible. Isn't that unique?

He was born and raised in a rural area northern state and was taught the gospel by a preacher that moved next door to them. His wife is southern and was actually born and raised in an adjacent county. They both graduated from Freed and have children attending there. He talks too fast for my southern ears to hear every word, but I reminded him after services that he needed to slow down for us ... That we hear real slow down here.

Now, do I want him as our minister? I don't know. I'm afraid of his zeal and don't know if I really want to hear as much truth as he will teach.Not that it's my decision to make, anyway. It's in the hands of the elders and the pulpit committee and the men of the congregation ... But a straw pole will be taken and no one has ever been hired without a majority opinion.

From these four, a man will be selected or all will be rejected before, or if, any others are heard.

I have prayed fervently to God acknowledging that He had a man picked out for us if we were willing to wait for him and had the sense to recognize him.

So we'll soon know if or how my prayers have been answered.Thanks for listening and I'll let you know how this turns out.

Consider the Consequences

I did not fully consider the consequences when getting new eye glasses back in March. And spent the summer not seeing well nor comfortably.

I didn't get transitional lens after having them for years and years. I thought I might see better without the color change ... they do tend to stay slightly darker even in a building.

But then, without the darkening qualities of transition lens, it was difficult to drive ... sometimes I used regular sun glasses over the prescrition ones ... sometimes plain sun glasses without the prescription ones. Tried old old prescrition glasses. Wore a hat or baseball cap to shade my eyes. Drove with my left hand on my forehead. All in all, it was a mess. And I didn't know what to do. Asked Wal-Mart if they could take the prescrition off my glasses and make the transitional ones. NO, I'd have to get the written prescrition from the doctor.

So I stewed about this for a week or so. Then it hit me.

All I had to do was go back the orginal optical clinic that had the prescrition. So we did.

Now wasn't that simple, after all the misery of sun blindness, worry, where to go, what to do ... and all I had to do was go back to the original source.

God is our Original Source. No matter the problem, Go to Him.