Welcome to Ray Flatt's Weekly BubbaGram October 4, 2006 Having stated my case about VeggieTales Bob and Larry, it was pointed out to me that I didn't understand the concept of political correctness. Just to show that I do, I have am taking the opportunity to make the following statement: Important Notice: Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, Kentuckians, Tennesseans, Georgians and West Virginians will no longer be referred to as "HILLBILLIES." You must now refer to us as APPALACHIAN-AMERICANS. Enough said about that. ----- Things have settled down in Possum Trot, Tennessee after the big fire last week. We thought it was going to burn the whole town down. It started in the old livery stable and was spreading across the stable yard. Our local volunteer fire department was spraying water trying to smoother it, but a strong breeze was blowing and the fire was getting out of hand quickly. Just at that moment when it looked like all was lost, the Johnson family came rolling into town in their old pickup truck. The Johnson parents riding in the cab, with eight kids riding in the back. They drove smack dap into the middle of the fire, jumped out and began to stomping and whipping the fire using the clothes right off their backs. In just a very few minutes they succeeded in doing what the whole volunteer fire department couldn't...they had put out the fire. Needless to say the town was extremely grateful. To show their appreciation, they passed the hat and raised $500 to give the Johnson family. As the mayor was presenting the money to the family, he asked what Mr. Johnson planned on doing with the money. Mr. Johnson proudly replied, "Well the first were going to do is get the brakes fixed on our old truck." Moral: Heroes are just ordinary people reacting to ex-ordinary situations. ------ A story passed on to me from Brother Russell... Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received A steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew. Moral: When you're prepared you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms. ------ Bubba-ism of the week - "Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak." ----- That's all from BubbaLand, talk to ya next week. Like always, if you have something to share with the group, just drop me an email. Be sure to pass this BubbaGram on to friends, enemies and family. They to can join the list at www.rayflatt.com. PS: If you got this eMail in error or would not like any future BubbaGrams (story on a weekly basis)...just send it back with the words UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject.