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DEVOTIONAL FOR SENIORSLet’s Talk Turkey“Let your speech always be gracious so that you may know howyou ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)“Talking turkey” is a term with roots in colonial times. At first it meant to speak agreeably, possiblydescribing conversation around the Thanksgiving meal. Today it usually refers to speaking frankly orgetting down to serious business. How would you describe the dialogue around your table?Thanksgiving Day or any day, both definitions have a place in our conversation. Our words areimportant at home, in the marketplace or wherever we have opportunity to talk with others. We havelife-giving facts about Jesus to share. The salvation of family, friends and neighbors is seriousbusiness. Paul reminds us, “Let your speech be gracious.” God’s unmerited favor fills us, andtransforms our speech and behavior. His love and kindness—coming through our words—will be thesoul food every guest needs. That kind of talk fills everyone with thanksgiving!May the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. Amen.Give thanks today for each conversation conveying God’s love and care. Sharolyn SanderHope-full Living Daily Devotions“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have,you will never, ever have enough.”– Oprah Winfrey“He who thanks but with the lips Thanks but in part; The full, the true Thanksgiving Comes from theheart.”– J.A. Shedd“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that truehomage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”– Theodore Roosevelt“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,but to live by them.– John Fitzgerald Kennedy"Each day is a gift from God. What you do with it is your gift to Him."– T.D. Jakes"Careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything."– Dwight L. MoodyUnion Baptist Church 4

HUMOR - Holiday Dinner Disasters:Oh sure, it’s funny nowOriginally published inThe Seattle Times November 21, 2007at 12:00 a.m. and updated November 21, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.By Karen GaudetteVirginia, owner of Cooking School & Culinary Center:Thanksgiving afternoon had arrived by the time Virginia Duppenthaler, weary from a predawn grocery run, awoke from what she’d intended as a catnap.Her stovetop? Empty. The food? Hours from being done. And who was at the door but morethan a dozen (ravenous) Thanksgiving dinner guests.Major holidays seem primed for cooking mishaps. Turkeys catch fire in fryers and scorchdecks. Punchbowls of eggnog tumble onto spotless carpets. We run out of gravy, cracklings,butter, patience, time. But in the way that cooking disasters often do, what should have beenThe Worst Dinner Ever often becomes the stuff of lore and legend instead.In Duppenthaler’s case, it didn’t hurt that most of her guests were fellow chefs from theBlue Ribbon Cooking School & Culinary Center, which she owns.“We all jumped in and started cooking and made the best of it. It was literally the bestThanksgiving ever,” said her daughter, Vanessa Johns-Webster. “We still don’t stop makingfun of her for it.”To everyone who’s ever forgotten a bag of giblets in the turkey, watched the bird collapselike a tired soufflé or discovered too late that you switched your sugar with salt in thepumpkin pie, take heart: You are not alone. We collected the evidence via e-mail andtelephone.Jean, a TV News Anchor: “We almost always break the garbage disposal on Thanksgiving —could it be someone put potato peels down there instead of putting them into the compostpot? So I called the plumber, because with 18 at dinner, I really needed the sink! Theplumber came and worked on the project and I tried to keep things running smoothly inUnion Baptist Church 5

HUMOR continuedthe dining room so no one would notice. But one of the littlest kids went out to the kitchenand saw two long legs sticking out from under the sink and went shrieking back to the diningroom yelling, ‘Daddy is having Thanksgiving under the sink!’ Now every Thanksgiving we checkthe disposal, and make sure there are no extra legs under the sink.”Justin Branstad, Seattle cooking instructor: “Quite a ways back, a good friend of mine —their family owned a deli — had a big walk-in refrigerator, so I was always enlisted to helppeople cook. They also had a portly dog named Nugget, and the day before Christmas Evesomeone had left the door a little bit open on the walk-in and the dog sneaked in there andgorged itself on an eight-pound ham We took poor Nugget to the vet, and they had to takecare of her She was (eventually) fine, but the centerpiece of the meal was destroyed, sowe ended up ordering out Chinese food for the Christmas Eve dinner. It was quite a scene,and as bad as it is having your meal destroyed, everyone was first and foremost concernedabout the dog. You look back on it and laugh now, but it was quite an event.”Jeannine wrote about a windy Thanksgiving in the late 1970s: Dowell was in the midst ofcooking a hefty turkey and all the fixings for 30 when the power went out, a regularwintertime occurrence on the hill where she and husband Stephen live. She called herneighbor to see if she had room in the oven for their half-done turkey — nope. A friend upthe hill said to bring the turkey on by. Stephen jumped in the car and drove up.“He was carrying this 30-pound bird in a roasting pan in this windstorm,” his wife said,laughing at the memory. But that oven was too small, he told his wife over the phone. Yetanother friend had no extra space in her oven. He drove home, perplexed. His wife went intopanic mode. “I said ‘What are we going to do? We have all these people arriving at 4 o’clock.What are we going to do?!’ ” Jeannine said.Then Stephen remembered he knew the owner of the nearby Golden Steer Restaurant.“God love him, he cooked it for us,” Jeannine said. “When my husband finally came home andthe bird was placed on the table, he said to all of our guests, ‘Well, this turkey has moremiles on it today, on Thanksgiving, than it ever had in the barnyard!'”Dennis, owner of Gallagher’s’ Where-U-Brew in Edmonds, on a Christmastime blackout inthe 1980s: “I was working at Big Sky Resort in Montana, and I was the sous chef and wewere doing a Western barbecue and the power went out for about seven or eight hours. Youhad 800 people to feed, and we had the beans made up and this and that; we were semiprepared. But nothing at this point was hot, and it was about 10 below zero. We had to dustoff the snow from the barbecue. We finished all the food and fed 800 people on the fourUnion Baptist Church 6

HUMOR continuedBarbecue grills we had. That was kind of a disaster. But in my younger days, I handled stresspretty well.”Jean a Seattle insurance broker, on the legendary 1983 Thanksgiving windstorm:“Everything’s going fine. The turkey is in the oven, the potatoes are on the boil, we’re workingon things and our entire electric house goes dark, loses power.It was about 2:30, so the turkey wasn’t done. We generally just hung out in the dining roomand drank wine and ate pie because there was nothing else edible. None of our food was donecooking yet. We sat there telling stories, forced to communicate with one another and chat,grousing about the dinner we’d lost and how bizarre that was.It was very strange, because about 7:30 the power came back on. And it was the weirdestthing because we didn’t realize until the power came on that some magic was happening. Itwas a disaster at the time. But now we look back on it as our favorite -now/A Letter to Santa from MomDear Santa,I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my two children on demand,visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raisemoney to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach ninepatches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write thisletter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles,and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years.Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple,which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry ascreaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since IUnion Baptist Church 7

HUMOR continuedlost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticketitems this year I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only playsadult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; anda refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on thephone.On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boostmy parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight andthree pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could alsouse a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and 'Take yourhands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearingrange and can only be heard by the dog. And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, thehottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in threefluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the in-laws' house seemjust like mine.If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teethand comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than roomtemperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind I could alsouse a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble todeclare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if youcould coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if theywere the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute masatmidnight.Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundryroom door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wetboots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch a cold. Helpyourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.Yours Always,MomP.S.One more thing.you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough tobelieve in you.https://www.et.byu.edu/ tom/jokes/Dear Santa.htmlUnion Baptist Church 8

ETIQUETTE - Ways to Deal with Rude RelativesThey say they're family, but sometimes you'd like to ask for a DNAtest. Peggy Post explains how to keep your head — while keepingthem in line.By Peggy PostOffender No. 1: Your MotherYour mother finds fault with your cooking.What to do: As hard as this may be, you should take the high road. Stay calm, thank her asgraciously as possible for her advice, and change the subject. Confronting her won't alter herviews — and it won't make you feel better either. Instead, encourage another relative tocompliment your cooking in front of your mom. When she sees that neither of you seemsbothered by her negative comments, she may lose interest and pipe down.Offender No. 2: Your UncleYour uncle, the off-color-joke teller, is coming for holiday dinner.What to do: Well before the holiday, call your uncle and say that you're glad he's joining youbut that you have a request: To keep the day pleasant for everyone, could he please not makethe kind of jokes that embarrass or offend some people? No need to lecture or tell him he hasto change. Just say that holidays in your home are G-rated! You would also be wise to line upa relative who's close to your uncle to reinforce your stance.Offender No. 3: Your 25-Year-Old DaughterYour 25-year-old daughter has a live-in boyfriend — and has made it clear that on theirupcoming visit, she expects you to put them in the same room.What to do: The bottom line is, it's your house — and you feel uncomfortable having themshare a room. Your daughter should follow your rules. Just be sure to explain your feelings inadvance, not when she and her boyfriend are carrying their bags into your house. Make itclear you're not passing judgment on their relationship; you're just reminding her that you needto live as you like at home, just as she and her boyfriend do. If you and your daughter are ongood terms, she'll most likely accept your code of conduct.Offender No. 4: Your Eight-Year-Old NephewYour eight-year-old nephew wreaks havoc around the house.What to do: Speak to his parents before the next visit. Without criticizing their child-rearingskills, talk about their son's exuberance and energy and about how you'd like him to simmerUnion Baptist Church 9

ETIQUETTE continueddown when visiting. Give specific examples: "We had to have our couch cushions deepcleaned after he jumped on them in dirty shoes last month. Could you please talk to him abouttaking care of other people's things? You know we love Owen, but we need to protect ourhome." At the beginning of his next visit, welcome him and state your parameters: "It's great tosee you again! I have some house rules: No jumping on the furniture and crayons are forpaper — not the walls." Plan activities to keep him busy and speak up, if necessary, to restateand reinforce your rules. And don't worry about being a spoilsport: You're showing him and hisparents an important lesson about respect.Offender No. 5: Your SonYour son moved back home after college and is driving you crazy. He comes and goesas he pleases, eats all your food, and uses the car whenever he wants to.What to do: While an adjustment period is normal in a situation like this, the time has come tosit your son down for a chat. Lay out ground rules for his new "dorm" and be very clear:Raiding the fridge is okay, but eating tomorrow's dinner as a midnight snack is not acceptable.Also, he needs to go shopping and replenish his favorite goodies now and then. Tell him aboutany meals that you expect him to eat with the family. Have him check in with you about hisplans and give you a call if he needs to cancel them or is running late. Designate when the carmay (and may not) be borrowed and how low the gas can get before he's expected to fill thetank. Will he do his own laundry, or will good ol' Mom do it? Agree on a reasonable cutoff timefor loud music, TV and video games. Which chores will he be responsible for? If he has someincome (even meager wages), it's only right for him to pay for certain expenses and not totallyrely on you for cash. Help him by figuring out a budget and be clear about how much you can— and cannot — provide. Let him know you're not an endless funds faucet — and then stick tothe rules you've made. (If you don't, he never will.)Offender No. 6: Your Sister-in-LawYour sister-in-law snoops in your medicine cabinet, searches through your closets, andeven opens your mail.What to do: To call her on it, you need to catch her in the act (otherwise, she's likely to denythat she's been doing anything wrong). So wait until the next time you see her rustling aroundin your stuff, then say: "I really want you to ask me first if there's something you're looking for."She may stop once she knows you're on to her. You could also protect your privacy inadvance by keeping your mail out of sight of her prying eyes.Offender No. 7: Your Little BrotherYour little brother announces that the next time he comes to stay with you, he'sbringing his dog.What to do: It's bad manners for a guest to bring an uninvited pet, even to a relative's home.This is true even if you have one of your own and your house is already animal friendly. Andyou can politely but directly tell him so: "I can't wait to see you, but please leave Finbarr atUnion Baptist Church 10

ETIQUETTE continuedhome or in the kennel." If you wish, you can add a reason (you have a new rug, your daughteris allergic to pets), but you don't have to. Dog owners sometimes love their pooches so much;they don't consider that others may feel differently. Rather than declare that the dog is comingalong, your brother should have delicately raised the issue by saying, "Is next weekend okayfor my visit? I'll see if the kennel can take Finbarr." That would have been your cue to invitethe dog, if you were so inclined. Explain to him the polite way to ask about his furry friend, andin the future, he'll know to wait for his host to bring it up.Offender No. 8: Your In-LawsYour in-laws never lift a finger and expect to be waited on.What to do: It sounds like they think you're being paid for your domestic services! Have aheart-to-heart with your spouse so that he sees the problem. You need him on your side, andit would be ideal if he would speak to his parents on your behalf (without you present) at thestart of their next visit. He could tell them that they're always welcome but that they need tohelp out with some of the chores, like making their bed and clearing the table after meals. Oryour husband can make sure his parents see him helping you around the house, and then askthem for help with "his" chores. Thank them when they do help and they'll likely keep it up.Whom Should You Go Easy On?The grumpy grandpa who keeps repeating the same stories and complains abouteverything.Being forgetful is normal for people in their golden years, so try to be patient. That may beeasier if you remember that aging issues — from aches and pains to money worries to healthfears — can be scary and that seniors can easily feel overwhelmed. And many elderly peopleare lonely as well; they are eager to talk when they're with others. So, yes, you may feel boredor annoyed when hearing the same old stories, but that's better than embarrassing yourgrandfather or stopping him from sharing his tales.The frazzled young mother who never seems to have time for you.If there's someone like this in your life— your daughter, your son's wife, a niece — I'm sureshe doesn't mean to be disrespectful or unfriendly. It's just that, in certain stages of adulthood,there simply aren't enough minutes in the day even to return a phone call. So cut this franticnew mom some slack and don't take her scattered behavior personally. If you want to catch upwith her, ask if there's a particular time of day when she has even a little time to talk. Keep theconversation short and pleasant, and hang up before she says she has to go. Another tactic:Offer some help, like coming over to clean with her or to watch the kids while you two catchup.Your hardworking spouse, who stays late at the office many nights — and seems tothink a heads-up phone call earlier in the day makes everything okay.Be grateful for the important things! At least your spouse is considerate enough to give youadvance warning so that you can plan your evening accordingly. You can also remind yourselfthat at least he is employed and that he doesn't have to stay late every night. Keep in mindthat he would probably rather be home as well, experiencing a home-cooked dinner instead ofUnion Baptist Church 11

ETIQUETTE continueddrudgery. It's time for you to be thoughtful and offer him your understanding. You wou

A DEVOTIONAL FOR MEN ON THE GO USING YOUR FEET “There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and