THY WILL BE DONE

Thank the Lord for answered prayer.

The people of Soperton have been praying and seeing prayers answered. More prayers will be said, openly and silently, as the class of 2007 commence what one valedictorian called "real life". Last week I heard Brittany Malott of Wheeler County emphasize what she and her classmates had learned from each other. Tomorrow's speech in Soperton will also be moving. There will be tears and smiles.

Read the Sign Man's first sign and know that this graduation will be a special one that everyone will remember.

We are all familiar the Lord's Prayer, the model he gave us. We recite by heart. I'm printing Matthew's version in context. Please read it, as I did a few minutes. It's especially meaningful right now.

OUR LORD'S EXAMPLE

Matthew 6
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9After this manner therefore pray ye:


Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.


14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.



Signs from the Sign Man

PRAY FOR STEVEN GRINSTEAD.

CLASS OF 2007: JOANNA WARE, CANDACE CLAXTON, TREY ROGERS.

BEST WISHES STACY WHEELER. GRANDPA WAYNE WILL BE WATCHING FROM HEAVEN.

WELCOME HOME JALISA KEMP. LOVE MOM DAD.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 5-27 2:30 AT MUSEUM.

FLAG DEDICATION 5-28 10 AM WESTVIEW CEMETERY.


Now for the funnies:

RULES OF THE SOUTH
11. So, you have a sixty thousand dollar car. We're real impressed. We have a quarter of a million-dollar combine (it's farm equipment) that we only use two weeks a year.

NORTH & SOUTH
The North has double last names, The South has double first names.
The North has Indy car races, The South has stock car races.
North has Cream of Wheat, The South has grits.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
Ice tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar!

ATLANTA
All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree" and include the phrase, "When you see the Waffle House." Except that in Cobb County, where all directions begin with, "Go to the Big Chicken."

CHURCH SMILES
While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign."Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in the exhaust."

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
17. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

THOUGHTS TO PONDER
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

Thy will be done, Lord. Thy will be done.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Support PKD Cure

Before we get to the funny stuff, here's a short announcement about pending legislation. I have polycystic kidney disease PKD. I urge you to support the following bill, which should benefit those who have PKD and those who carry the genetic trait.

Help Pass Genetic Non-Discrimination Legislation in the U.S. Senate!

This is what we've been working for ... Now you can make a difference in the lives of 12.5 million people, worldwide, with PKD by taking part in a highly-important Action Alert to ensure the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act passes the U.S. Senate and becomes law!

If approved, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act would protect individuals like PKD patients from discrimination in health insurance policies and employment on the basis of their genetic information. This legislation will reduce concerns about the potential for discrimination in hiring and in the availability and cost of health insurance - in addition to encouraging PKD patients to take advantage of genetic testing, new therapies and genetic research.

This legislation has already passed the U.S. House. Help us get it through the Senate. A treatment and cure for PKD is within our reach - you can help!

For more information use the URL below:

http://www.pkdcure.org/site/PageServer?pagename=2007aa_GINA

Thanks for supporting legislation, Bill R.

Now the fun stuff:

NORTH & SOUTH
The North has Bloomingdales, The South has Dollar General
The North has coffee houses, The South has Waffle Houses.
The North has dating services, The South has family reunions.
The North has switchblade knives, The South has Lee Press-on Nails.

RULES OF THE SOUTH
You bring Coke into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
There is no such thing as "lunch". There is only dinner and then there is supper.

ATLANTA
This is for anyone who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, has ever lived in Atlanta, has ever visited Atlanta, ever plans to visit Atlanta, knows anyone who already lives in Atlanta, or knows anyone who has ever heard of Atlanta.
Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina.

CHURCH SMILES
There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to
his congregation, "I have good news and bad news The good news is we
have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is
it's still out there in your pockets."

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me..they're cramming for their final exam. Check out my Bible link. It's not the only game in town, but I like it. Good way to check up on all those scripture quoters - see if they are on target.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 MAY FOURTH WEEK

The cafetorium was not air conditioned back in the olden days, and the All-Sports Banquet was always terribly hot. The cheerleaders always were a bright spot, so I chose them from all the athlete groups. Their names at that time were: Bambi Taylor, Sharol King, Mary Jo Sweat, Daphine Knight, Venise Harper, Fay Latimer, Tammy Meeks, and Mrs. Patty Davis.

It's almost 11:30, time to get some rest as the job will interfere with blogging for a while. Next week I will post the photo of the 1977 graduates. If I have time, I may do the same for the classes of 1987 and 1997.

Good Night!

Bill Ricks

1977 MAY THIRD WEEK

FFA National President James Bode visited several local farms, including Tommy Heath's hog operation, before speaking at the Treutlen FFA Banquet. State VP Terry McGhee and Treutlen FFA President Chuck Ellington accompanied Bode on the tour.
(Technical point: The left side of the photo is lighter than the right side. My Asahi Pentax Spotmatic had developed a light leak.)

1977 MAY SECOND WEEK

This photo is an example of the dozens of Treutlen Primary School programs I enjoyed in the 1970's. Mrs. Morris' second graders present "Mothers Day on the Farm". Recognize anybody?

I'd appreciate all my friends who check out my blog to tell others about it, also about the 13 x19 photos posted in the Morings window. (That's a physical location, not internet.)

I can provide glossy prints of any TPS group or any other photo in my collection of negatives.

Bill Ricks

More Signs from the Sign Man

AS A DEER LONGS FOR STREAMS OF WATER, SO I LONG FOR YOU, GOD.

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY CORETTA MOYE. LOVE MOM, DAD AND KO.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITT PALMER. 86 YEARS OLD.

DENNARD PLANTS. WE DELIVER.

SHOP DENNARDS FOR MOTHER'S GIFT. BOOKS, PERFUME, BALLOONS.

MOTHERS DAY GIFTS. DENNARD DRUGS HAS GIFT BASKETS, PLANTS, JEWELRY. WE GIFT WRAP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIST JACKSON.

TIP TOES DANCE STUDIO. SHAD, BALLET, TAP, JAZZ. AGE 2 AND UP.

HAPPY 27TH BIRTHDAY BRANDI DELOSH. LOVE MOM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA W. HARRIS FROM HARRIS/WADLEY FAMILIES.

IN MEMORY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY BULLY MILLS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY ELLEN YOUNG. BEST WISHES.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY LEVERNE MILTON. SAVE ME SOME CAKE.

CONGRATULATIONS MS. HILARY HIGGS. 2007 GSU GRADUATE.

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY ANTHONY PJ SNEAD JR. LOVE MOM, DAD, TUK.

F B CHURCH VBS. JUNE 11-15. COME JOIN US.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TYLAN HARDY. LOVE MAMA, DADDY, NANA, PAPA, GRANDMA.

PRE-K GRADUATES: WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

Good Grief! No blogging for Two Weeks!

My job has interfered with my blogging.

That's a paraphrase of Junior Samples, the Hee-Haw country boy who got his start when a fellow from the state game and fish department, Jim Morrison, recorded, and it became a popular as a vinyl record. At least it was popular down here in God's Country.

Junior told a lot of funny things about fishing. Near the end he commented "Lately work has interfered with my fishing."

I have a lot of catching up to do: 1977 photos, signs from The Signman, notes about Georgia and The South, and possibly more.

1977 MAY FIRST WEEK

It may not be so unusual today, but 30 years ago, it was big news when a goat had triplets, as usually they had twins. Mr. and Mrs. Toler out in the Tarrytown - Zaidee district had a very unusual situation, as two of the nannies had triplets. It took two rolls of film and two hours of goat chasing to come up with the picture. Oh, to be young again! I'm still proud of it: excellent focus, fill-in flash, pretty good composition as the goats were not accustomed to posing.
Blame this week's choice on self-indulgence. I made lots of other photos that week including Blanche Hunter's class, the THS chess tournament (the Sign Man was an important member of the team, but he wasn't in the photo), majorettes - senior and junior - nursing home scenes, and the bank showed off their first IBM computers.

Tomorrow's Signs:

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY MARTEL CURRY.

COMMODITIES WILL BE GIVEN OUT 8:30-4:00 WED. MAY 9TH. SOPERTON CLUBHOUSE.

RULES OF THE SOUTH
9. Tea - yeah, we have tea. It comes in a glass over ice and is really, really sweet. You want it hot -- sit it in the sun. You want it unsweetened -- add a LOT of water.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
9. "Fixinto" is one word.

CHURCH SMILES
Somebody has well said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Okay, Okay! The Title Was in Error

I didn't give due consideration of the title of my last post. It seems mighty hard at times, but Jesus said it is easy under His conditions:
Matthew 11:29-30 (King James Version)
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

If you aren't already using the internet for Bible Study, try the website on my Link: Bible. If you remember even two or three words of a favorite verse or passage, you can find it very quickly with similar or related Bible verses. You can look them up in various versions, too. What an aid for you Sunday School teachers.

Monday's Signs

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO SELENA CAULEY.

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY TO MOLLY POLLETTE. LOVE MOM AND DAD.

Tuesday's Signs

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO GENE BOWERS FROM ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

IN MEMORY OF RODNEY CONNELL. HE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO KNEW HIM.

RULES OF THE SOUTH
8. No, there's no "Vegetarian Special" on the menu. Order steak. Order it rare. Or, you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the two pounds of ham and turkey.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
8. People actually grow and eat okra.

CHURCH SMILES
There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk. "Only the Ten Commandments," answered the lady.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Garden Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Gospel Is Simple, But Not Easy

As a child, church and Bible study was confusing to me. It helped a lot when I first read the following passage. Even now, my indignation rises when I hear people adding more to the gospel than Jesus ever did. Jesus explained simply:

Matthew 22:36-40 (King James Version)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Think about it. Think about it a lot.

Tomorrow's Signs

STREET SENSE WINS 2007 KY DERBY. CAME FROM THE REAR.

CONGRATULATIONS SHAKARI/SHE HAD A 6 LB 6 OZ BOY BORN MAY 2. FROM YOUR FAMILY.

RULES OF THE SOUTH
7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of mallards (ducks) are making their final approach, we will shoot it (the phone). You might want to ensure it's not up to your ear at the time.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
7. Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.

BIBLE STORIES
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible, Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Rickey was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Rickey was nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKEND:
If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

NEW LINKS

Have you noticed two new links have been added? Sammons Funeral Home website and Author Cynthia Reese website. Check them out!

Today's Signs:

NOW OOPEN COUNTRY BURGER. FORMER TINY BURGER. CALHOUN ST.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MISTY. LOVE FRANK. MAY 4, 2007

RULES OF THE SOUTH
6. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
6. It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.

BIBLE STORIES
MOSES AND THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." "No, Joey, is that really what the teacher taught you?" his mother asked. "Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND:
Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

National Day of Prayer

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the National Day of Prayer, and the Sign Man is proclaiming on both sides of The Sign Wednesday and Thursday.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. 12 NOON MAY 3RD. AT THE GAZEBO. COME JOIN US.

PRAY FOR OUR NATION AT HIGH NOON THURSDAY MAY 3RD DOWNTOWN.

RULES OF THE SOUTH
5. Go ahead and bring your $600 Orvis Fly Rod. Don't cry to us if a flathead breaks it off at the handle. We have a name for those little 13-inch trout you fish for -- bait.

NOTES ABOUT GEORGIA
5. Onced and twiced are words.

BIBLE STORIES
HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?"
One child blurted out, "Aces!"

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one ?

THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

May Day: Have you forgotten?

And you say we shouldn't worry bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Today at lunch I sent an e-mail to a number of family members, friends, and acquaintances. There was so much response that I decided to immortalize on the blog.
A simple photo. Two lines of lyrics.

Think about it. Think about it a lot.