Thou shall not steal
CHITCHAT CORNER
LINDA K. BALLARD

It sure is different living in the country…a storm came through last week and took out my telephone. When, I called repair service, they asked me to step out to the telephone pole with a telephone, a screwdriver and a pair of pliers…I wonder who will get billed for this one.

At least I didn't have to call in the fire department like Donna Beets did at Wilbur Yates office. After the storm, she started smelling smoke, but couldn't find the source. The fire department discovered it was wires burning in a computer….

Which brings us back to the newspaper. All servers were down for several days and you have no idea what the term "paste" and "move" means until you have worked without the main components of the computer at a newspaper. All we have to say is we hope you appreciate the pictures along with the text this last week, cause extremes were made and I mean that with all sincerity.

"Nick is home," said Donna Van- Meter. "He has been working in Fort Worth for two years as a salesman for Southwest Oilfield Products. He is now selling mud pumps to the East Texas Oilfield, his home! Big Steve and I are thrilled his home, but so are his grandparents, family and friends. It's been a prayer answered for me," she said. "Not only that," she added. Eli, the "grandpup" has returned home with him.

Speaking of returning home, we met up with the new pastor of Victory Road Baptist Church at the circle watering hole. Pastor Johnny Williams has been preaching for thirty-four years. "I spent seven of those years in Mississippi and seven of them in Arkansas," he said. "I was born and raised in Houston," he said. "I feel I am coming back home when I get in Texas. And I've already met some of the friendliest people here," he said.

Welcome home, Pastor Williams, tell that congregation (especially Jerome) to treat you right.

It's unique - church rotation otherwise known as community church service. Three churches in this town are doing trade-offs with pastors and music. First Baptist Church, Nazarene Church and Grace Fellowship are the participating churches in this endeavor. Mark you calendars as on July 20 they meet again and Grace Fellowship will preach, Nazarene will provide the music and First Baptist will host. The next time they meet will be in September and the swap will be on again. It may sound confusing, but, to David Hampton, Minister of Education and Missions at First Baptist Church, he finds it "much fun." The swap actually takes place during the evening services and they start at 6 p.m.

I received a call from Pete Keiser. Always a prankster, he tried to disguise his voice. There's no way Pete can disguise his voice and get buy with it. That's probably because he always wants to tell you the next joke. Let's see, what was it this time? "What's the difference between a woman and a battery? The battery has at least one positive side." Okay, ladies it's your turn. (Always good to hear from you Pete - don't bother disguising the voice.)

May his Love and Laughter Fill Your Hearts and Homes Throughout the Week. We may be reached at 903- 984-2593 or by e-mail at chitchatlinda@ aol.com.