"Proud of our Christian Heritage"

Photo 1 - Ernest and Emma Simmons, 1970
Photo 2 - Simmons family on the farm, 1934 (Joe Simmons, age 4, in front)

Photo 3 - Harold and Mary Petticoffer, 1997

Photo 4 - Victoria Costa, Jessica, Alyssa, Jennifer Petticoffer, Kimie Simmons

With our nation's morals and common sense in the state of decline and with many second or third generation Christians dropping by the wayside as "victims" of their parents' religious beliefs, I just feel like saying - "I'm proud of being a Christian, a native Texan, an American, and a Baptist!"   I wholeheartedly believe that the Christian values my grandparents and parents taught us by example have been a major cause of the happiness and contentment in my family.

Were all of our forefathers Christians? I don't know, that is between them and the Lord.  Were they all church goers?  Probably not.  The generations that influenced us were both.  Were they perfect? No.  Did they try their best? Yes. Do I honor their memory? Yes.

I just read an article written by the daughter of a Baptist preacher.  She called her childhood and young adulthood unhappy, her father a cult leader, and she is no longer a professing Christian. She makes her living by telling her story of being a victim of Bible truth and then becoming a free spirit to healing powers of positive attitudes.  I thought, "What a bunch of sad hogwash".   The Bible is still true, God is still alive, the Holy Spirit is still powerful, and Jesus still is the Son of God.  Unhappiness is not a reason to turn your back on these truths.  

If you are unhappy, move to a happy place or take Zoloft, but love God.  Start a new career path, but love God.  The Lord never deserves to be abandoned because of the misbehavior of men on the earth.  Men may misbehave, mistreat, or disappoint, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.

The Petticoffer home owes whatever success we have experienced to the Lord and to the Simmons, Chapman, Gerhart, and Petticoffer values taught to us by loving examples.

1. The Bible is true.

2. God is a trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. Salvation is by grace, through faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

5. Be faithful - to church, to your spouse, to your job

6. Work hard.  Play hard.  Have fun.

7. Keep a clean and neat home.

8. Eat meals together as a family.

9. Welcome guests into your home.  Be hospitable, generous, and friendly.

10. Dad is the authority in the home.  Mom backs up Dad.  The children sit at the kids' table during holidays. lol

11. Live by principle, not personality.

12. Love unconditionally.