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| Broccoli Casserole, Ham Hocks, and Fatback |
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Y’all ever had a clogged drain? Well, I had one yesterday that just about broke up my marriage. Let me explain.
It all started on Thanksgivin day. Kathy slaved all day before cookin up our favorite foods. She cooked oyster dressin for me, mashed potatoes for, BillyRay Jr., Broccoli casserole for walker, and ham hocks for Kathy Jr. Of course there was a big turkey and fatback to go along with that. The next day at lunch we chowed down like it was the last meal we’d ever have. And we all let out a big burp afterward to show our approval for Kathy’s cookin.
Well, all that praise must’ve went to Kathy’s head cause after lunch she decided since she had cooked all the food that I should be responsible for cleanin up. At first I refused, cause where I come from the women do the kitchen work, while the men make sure nobody steals the TV or recliner or remote, but she gave me the look and I knowed I had lost this battle.
So, reluctantly I gathered up all the dishes and put em in the sink. Now I’m not a big fan of fillin up the sink with water and dish detergent cause the water just gets all nasty after a few dishes. So, I usually just run hot water over em and let it scald all the food particles off and down the drain. That way I don’t get mess all over my hands and I save money on dish detergent too. Well, I got all the dishes done in record time, and flopped down in my recliner just in time for the football game. Everybody had full bellies, the kitchen was clean, and most importantly Kathy was happy. I was really feelin the thanksgivin spirit.
Well, yesterday thanksgivin turning into mourning. Kathy took a bath like normal, but she noticed that the water didn’t drain out of the tub. So she went to sink to brush her teeth and noticed that the water didn’t drain out the sink neither. So then she used the toilet and when she flushed, the water just kept risin and stopped right at the rim. The next thing I heard was somebody yellin "BILLYRAY GET IN HERE NOW!!!” It was so loud that my neighbors deaf dog started barkin.
I ran into the bathroom and saw the pending disaster. Just one more drop of water was gonna make God break his promise about never floodin the earth again. Kathy said, “BillyRay, did you use the sink-stopper-thang when you washed dishes last Thursday!? “Om, no honey”, I said as I curled up into the fetal position in the corner. “Well, congratulations you got a problem on yer hands boy, me and the kids will be at momma’s until you get this drain unclogged”
I spent the rest of the day getting to know my new friend, Mr. Plunger and his fancy cousin, Mr. Drano. I worked that plunger till I had blisters on my hand, but that clog just wouldn’t budge. I poured eight bottles of drano in the tub but that didn’t help neither. Finally, I did the only other thang I knowed, I prayed. “God please move this clog!”
No sooner had a prayed, I heard the most awful gurglin noise. It sounded like a bucket of frogs durin mating season getting poured in a washin machine. (don’t ask how I know what that sounds like). The pressure release sucked all the water out the toilet and little pieces of broccoli casserole shot up out the sink. Then much to my joy all the water drained out. The clog was gone! “Thank you Jesus!” I yelled. I called Kathy and she came back home, and everthang was good again.
I sat up in bed that night reflectin on the day’s events.
I said, “God there’s gotta be a lesson in all this”
God said, “BillyRay, I thought you’d never ask”
I said, “Alright God sock it to me”
God said, “BillyRay, sometimes you are just like that sink. You go about your every-day life, and you take shortcuts that cause you to get clogged up spiritually. Like a couple of days ago when you skipped your morning devotion, or last week when I told you to give 5 dollars in offering but you only gave a dollar. I’m not complicated, BillyRay, but I am specific. When you don’t listen to me it prohibits me from flowing through you like I want.”
Then he brought this scripture to my mind, James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
I said, “Mmm, that’s good stuff, God. I understand. Please forgive me and unclog me spiritually”
So, I just wanted to share all that with y’all. Maybe you are goin through a dry spell. You hain’t seen God move in your life in a while and you feel stagnated in your spirit. Pray to God and ask him to move that clog, and flow in your life again. Have faith in Him, and I promise he will do the miraculous in your life. He loves ya more than you could ever comprehend.
God bless.
BillyRay |
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| To add a comment to "Broccoli Casserole, Ham Hocks, and Fatback" |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Love the story, great point! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Beautimous! Absotutely Wondermous! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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Thanks Steve
Amen Gervis, you are a wise man
Shannon thank you. I hope y'all are doin good. I enjoyed yer song |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| lol Billy Ray! Don't let this discourage you! Jump right back into the dish water tonight so you don't develop an unsurmountable fear! Hide the remote in your truck 'til you're done! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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Mullet- Only you can explain it in them terms! You always bring a smle to my face with the Simple truth you pour over your words. Thanks Bro! And tell kathy Hello.
P.S I get that look from Gina all the time- She scares me sometime! LOL! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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BillyRay, you have a gift with story telling. God has blessed you to speak true to those of us who have ears. Thanks for the plunging.
peace |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| So that's why the septic was backed up all weekend. Here's a big "thank you" from all the neigbors. |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Billy Ray, I can always count on you telling a great story and bringing an amazing life lesson with it. This was great. |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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I can always count on you to tell a fantastic story ,that always put a smile on my face or a great big belly laugh comes out, and end it with the truth.
My husband graduated from Ham Hocks to Smoked Turkey Wings and you better believe he is mad... Have to keep him healthy, you know.
MUCH LOVE
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| BillyRay, you told that story almost TOO well. There are some things we just don't want to get too descriptive about. lol |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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Billy Ray you have truly blessed me today with this blog, not only in humor but in substance of the analogy. I had a hard time holding in my laughter as I sneak this blog read at work, cause I can give the look sometimes too, and my redneck geeks spirit will curl up too. YIKES, I should be embarassed about saying that out loud. We redneck wives are supposed to be loving. LOL
This Blog sums up my life for the last six months and be prepared to read my blogs about it, as they are under construction right now. I have been so plugged up, and miserable, but He has been so true to his word and has let the waters flow in me too and for that I am grateful.
Ain't God Grand! Gotta love those spiritual spankings. He is so good and faithful.
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Mike you have offended me, but I will now forgive you. lol Just kiddin man. |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| 20 STARS IF I COULD GIVE THEM BUT SINCE I CAIN'T HERE'S ONE......GLAD YOUR BACK GREAT STORY.... |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| I love your lesson stories... thanks |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Billy Ray--it's too close to supper time to read a blog about broccoli casserole (I love it!), but imagining it bursting forth from your drains is enough to keep my appetite in check for now. Love your blogs--God bless! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Billy Ray--it's too close to supper time to read a blog about broccoli casserole (I love it!), but imagining it bursting forth from your drains is enough to keep my appetite in check for now. Love your blogs--God bless! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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| Billy Ray--it's too close to supper time to read a blog about broccoli casserole (I love it!), but imagining it bursting forth from your drains is enough to keep my appetite in check for now. Love your blogs--God bless! |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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Billyray OUTSTANDING
You do have a way with words I had my husband laughing that's a big deal to me he LOL when you said the deaf dog next door was barking tell your wife I like her style |
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| November 28, 2007 |
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That's too funny! Thank God for answered prayer and direction..
:) |
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| November 29, 2007 |
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Billyrae,
I too love all your life lessons. What I really love is that you will at least ask God, "what's the lesson?" That is so important and so special about you. Every time the Lord honors you with an answer that not only blesses you but others as well. There is no doubt that you have a way with words, this is your strength... and your gift.... I personally think that you can never be too descriptive... it'a about making the point. Keep on allowing God to use you the way you do.
Pastor Aminata
Shannon - fatback- the fat from the back of a pig that is fried and use in cooking collard greens. I my case, I use smoked ham hocs, or smoked turkey wings or necks.
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| November 29, 2007 |
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| LOL!!! I have given that look too! Excellent lesson, Billy Ray! |
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| November 30, 2007 |
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| Great story and great point made. Thanks for sharing. |
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| December 02, 2007 |
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| thanks Billyrae. So childlike. Really spoke to me! I am believing for miraculous breakthroughs in spiritual life and praying all the crap that stops the flow of God's river of life will come up and out of me. |
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| December 06, 2007 |
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Man, that was awesome, I am going to share it with my co-workers.
Much love,
Mel |
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| December 06, 2007 |
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made go hmmmm
peace & joy |
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| December 06, 2007 |
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Billy Ray, Thanks for the story...it is fabulous. We had a backed up toliet a while back...my husband thought he got it unplugged and proceeded to shower. Well, almost 20 minutes later after his shower he realized it was still flowing!!!! He definitely got the look from me as well as a little more. It looks like the smiley Arlene used. We wives are good at the looks and saying so much without a word!!! ~Robin 
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| December 06, 2007 |
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| Loved your story! Easy on that Draino stuff, it'll eat your pipes! If your wife ever lets you in the kitchen again another drain plugger is potato peels! (forewarned). Is salt pork the same as fat back? When I used cook greens it was with salt pork and ham hocks! Now I am hungry for Southern food! lol |
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| December 08, 2007 |
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| I would NEVER wash dishes like you said BUT I did get convicted about some other shortcuts I have taken in my behavior. And that's a good thing! Thanks and great blog! |
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| December 12, 2007 |
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Billy Ray I'm glad your back. I first opened this post thinkin I'd ask for a recipe for brocolli caserone. But suddenly I feel convicted to ask got to fire up his spiritual roto rooter.
Thanks |
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| February 08, 2008 |
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| Very funny yet poignant. Awesome. |
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| April 07, 2008 |
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Thank you for sharing!! I hopefully will become unclogged soon. I now realized how clogged I am.
God Bless |
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| April 08, 2008 |
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| Billy Ray, here it is april 8, 2008 and this blog you posted is still ministering to people. I know you are a humble person Billy Ray, but I believe it is your obedience to serve God that really allows you to be able to speak to God and get some of th responses you get when He answers. Life long lessons are something that everybody experiences, but to be able to be used by God to heal pain, thru laughter, and help answer questions that float around in our heads, and especially help us to feel like we fit in, Now thats AWESOME!!!!! Your family is truly blessed. See Ya! |
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