Ring My Bell!

OK, I hear that the SEC Rules committee was planning on taking up the "issue" of the "artificial noise maker" again this year. Well, Let me be one of the first to make myself known on the issue of the "COWBELL."

To do that i must make a statement related to sports all together first. We have screwed up sports and made a good thing into a negative thing in record time. Our heroes, in their efforts to be "all they are not" have taken drugs, used people and left a never leaving impact on the small people's minds of the world. We've run the price of a ticket to any professional and almost every college game beyond the reach of any logical minded dad who needs to provide for his family. We've put players names on shoes, shirts and shorts and our young folk think by buying, let me say paying great amounts for and wearing these garments will be a star. Good grief! The sport isn't made by the player or is it. Heroes are the players or are the players heroes??? might depend on how old you are and how much money you have. GOOD GRIEF! Not don't take me wrong I've given out my share of autographs in my days pasted, way pasted, and it was a great feeling but I wasn't getting money under the table, a new car, new cloths, special summer "jobs" or anything like that. I got a college education that i wouldn't have gotten unless i played football at Mississippi State. YEP, the one with the COWBELLS!

Now the COWBELLS. I had know idea about COWBELLS when i went to MSU. But my freshman year I heard my first, bought my first, and rang my first. It soon became a part of me .

The noise was unforgettable. Whether while sitting in the stands or on the field best said it is "unforgettable." Before being on the field full time my junior year i sat in the stands at home games. It was a uniting factor. the sound was like "no matter what the score" we are STATE! We became BULLDOGS. Our hearts pounding, sweat pouring we were DAWGS! Of course after the game and the score was usually to our disadvantage we all returned to our regular selves and head to "Judge Mac's" for refreshment. From the field it was the sound of encouragement in the purest form. As players we knew how most people felt about our record and performance put that sound, that ringing, that clanging was something from Maroon and White Heaven saying we do believe and once the game began the noise seemed to actually become a part of you mentally like your dad saying do it boy, you can do it! and your mom saying I'm so proud! and the best looking girl in Western Civilization class standing up while surrounded by her entire sorority shouting that's the guy! that one right there! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO yea! It a feeling I will never ever ever ever forget. maybe some guys and of course i can't speak for the regular people in life never had that feeling and never will but for me I'd like to say to the SEC Rule Committee in relation to the Mississippi State COWBELL quietly that it is tradition as strong as the SEC has become power house conference. To allow traditions to be removed it worse than "kissing your sister." Further more, loudly I'd like to say loudly, KEEP YO DAMN HANDS OFF MY COWBELL!!!!!! WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE CRUEL TO ANIMALS LIKE ALLIGATORS OR THOSE THAT USE PROFANITY IN THE NAME LIKE COCKS AND HOW ABOUT THOSE THAT CAGE TIGERS UP, POOR KITTIES! NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU WILL BE ALLOWING REBELS TO CALL PLAYERS DEROGATORY NAMES FROM THE SIDELINES! KEEP YO DAMN HANDS OFF MY COWBELLS!

ALMOST FISHING

OK, sitting at home after the heart attack and decided to go fishing. Randi has never been fishing and I haven't been in a long time. We have a good friend that invited us to his place and away we went. I got both lines in the water and was prepared for some fun. WELL RANDI HAD PLANS TO HAVE FUN TOO! I sit down and saw Randi take a step into the water. Into the water? Into the water up to his chin, then the "pretty boy" jumps on in! Swims out, gets my cork, and swims back to the bank. Who'd athought the little bot was a natural in the water. Anyway, the fishing was over but the swimming was not. Little boy swam for another half hour before I tried to dry him off enough to ride home.

It was a good day of almost fishing.

YO MAMA!

Sunday is MaMa's day so I wanted to send a shout out to my Mom. My mom is a common sort of woman who grew up on a farm in North Mississippi near the town of Tishimigo. She didn't have a lot of friends to grow up with but had faithful family members that loved truly. Mom taught me lots and was very patient with me since I was not the perfect child. I love my mom and would do anything for her.

Second I want to yell at, I mean shout out for my children's mom. The very best woman I've ever known. The most loving, caring, thoughtful, sacrificial, and Godly mom in the world. If you got to pick your mom this is the one you want.

Who's Church?

Big or little it seems to me that it really makes no difference. White, black, yellow, or red, it really doesn't make a difference. The difference comes from a place far, far away. A place where things are never out of focus because they are always the center of our efforts.

Can I mud-up this any further? Hang on!

It takes all kinds to make the world of "Christiandom." Yes fat and skinny, long hair and no hair, and even the singers and the "sing-less."

My church is First Baptist Church of Jackson Mississippi. Big church with lots of folk, lots of giving, lots of political jockeying, and then there are the rest of us. We are a significant number of believers in this body of faith. Us have same things in common, well at least a few things.

Some of these things are (List time):

1. We worship the risen savior, the creator... the one true living God. (not that there has been another God and he is dead now.)

2. We believe Christianity to be a way of life and not a religion. Not a Sunday Wednesday thing or a Wednesday Sunday thing. We take Christ with us where ever, when ever.

3. We believe that worship is like air. It is necessary all the time in life. It makes no difference how you worship, just worship and the closer you get to being like Christ the more you will realize that all things are worship.

4. We will champion the "unlikely". Those, unlikely to speak up when they feel left out. Those, unlikely to stand for a belief because of the numbers against. Those, the unlikely to lead because they think that income provides knowledge. Those, the unlikely to show their emotions because real men don't cry. Those that fear embarrassment because they have failed like so many have before only they didn't receive the forgiveness from those who forgot the forgiveness they receive.

5. We know God will supply according to His riches not the monthly giving report.

6. God gives in other ways besides the numbers that are posted in the various mail outs.

7. We are not the number guys.

8. We are sinners.

9. We are forgivers.

Good grief, I could go on and on. The bottom line is that "US" is really loving to all around us and concerned about most, but most of all we are desirous of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not so much what others think when we speak up or when we don't. When we go or when we don't. When we give and when we don't. After all it's between "US" and God, not "US" and someone else. Please don't judge me but if you do don't be surprised if I don't stand tall and firm when you do.

One of my goals in what is left of my life is to take care of me. Live my life with Christ in control and when I do take back control not to screw things up too much.

So how does this come from "Who's Church?" OK, it's not mine I don't love the organization of the church because it causes problems. Whether it is baptist, Methodist, or what ever it is the organization of the church. It is the business side of the church and without it lots and lots of stuff would not be happening. I know ... rambling but I'm more concerned about me and mine and "US" than I am about whether we are able to provide the everybody color bulletin to read every Sunday.

OK, I said too much, but God has shown me that it is possible for His will to be done and me be a part of carrying out His will and still not be in God's will for me.

WHO'S CHURCH? NOT MINE BUT I'M STILL APART OF IT. AN ACTIVE PART.