April, 2005 Here's My Heart... Do you like to laugh? "What a question! Of course I like to laugh!", you say. Well, I'm convinced that not everybody likes to laugh, and yet the Bible speaks about laughter and how good it is for us to laugh. And, with all the sadness and tragedy in our world right now, it might just be a good time for us to laugh a little. With that in mind, I hope this month's "Here's My Heart", will allow you to laugh. I want to share some "snip-its" of an article given to us by Don Terry at a recent Deacon Ministry Meeting. Here goes! "YOU MIGHT BE A SOUTHERN BAPTIST IF..." 1. You have yet to sing the third verse of any hymn. 2. You think preachers who wear robes are actually communists. 3. You think God's presence is strongest in the back three pews. 4. You clapped in church last Sunday and felt guilty about it all week. 5. You think the Holy Land is really in Nashville. 6. You are old enough to get a senior discount card at the pharmacy, but not old enough to promote to a Senior Adult Sunday School class. 7. You think someone who says "Amen" while the pastor is preaching is a charismatic. 8. The first complete sentence you uttered was, "We've never done that before!" 9. You wonder if Annle Armstrong and Lottie Moon will ever be paid off. 10. You honestly believe the Apostle Paul spoke King James English. 11. You think Jesus actually used Welch's grape juice and saltine crackers. 12. You complain because the pastor only works one day a week and then he works too long. See, I told you that you would laugh. And, it was good, wasn't it? Come to think of it, maybe that's what we need more of... laughter! God bless you. -Jim Clayton, Senior Pastor