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Southside is a loving, vigorous, and growing congregation in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Our vision is toward the future: Our Children, Our Ministry, and Our Outreach. Our goal is to embrace all people in our hearts and fellowship as we strive together to support Christ’s mission on earth.
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Lessons in Humor and Tragedy

As I’ve researched the internet for information on topics, these two items stuck in my mind, so I wanted to share them.

One Sunday morning at a small southern church. The new pastor called on one of his older deacons to lead the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, “Lord, I hate buttermilk.” The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, “Lord, I ain’t too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix 'em all together and bake ’em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits. Lord help us to realize when life gets hard when things come up that we don’t like, whenever we don’t understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After You get through mixing and baking, it’ll probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen”

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 12:12 -Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 27:14 – Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Looking through The Christian Chronicle, I noticed an obituary and wondered why this young lady’s death had been listed. On March 8, 2019, Mary Jo Ueberlien, age 20, and her sister were headed home to Wildwood, MO. for spring break from Harding University.

There was a terrible wreck, and Mary Jo was critically injured, but her sister only suffered a concussion. After eight days in the intensive care unit, Mary Jo could not overcome her injuries, and she passed away.

Mary Jo was a junior nursing student. Many of her fellow students wrote how much she loved and cared about others. A number of them wrote to The Chronicle letting them know that her organs had been donated to help others. She was a member of the Layfette Church of Christ in Ballwin, MO. The congregation posted a poem she wrote honor of her life:

Because of Jesus:

You are enough.

You are secure.

You are cared for.

You are seen.

You are forgiven.

You are free.

You have hope. And you are made to be His beloved.

It’s easy to understand why The Chronicle posted her obituary.

Through the humor of the deacon’s prayer, we learn to trust God and wait on Him. Through the tragic death of a young Christian lady, we learn that we can and do affect others in the way we live our lives.

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