A scripture that has always

meant a lot to me as a child and all through my life is found in the 14th

chapter of the Gospel of John.

The chapter begins with very

comforting words from Jesus. He begins with: "Let not your heart

be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house

are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I

go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself;

that where I am, there you may be also.

I really think this is wonderful.

In essence it says that we should not be troubled with the problems of

this life. He goes on to say that you can know God by belief in Jesus

and that he is going to prepare a place for us and that there are many

"mansions" there. There are several translations as to "mansions,"

but I believe the idea is clear that we are not to have a troubled heart,

that Jesus is the way to God, and that he will be leaving and preparing

a place for us and he calls it a mansion, literally a "dwelling place."

As you travel throughout Georgia

and drive through many of the smaller towns you will see some truly beautiful

mansions. Very close to where I live in Fayette County is, of course,

the city of Newnan. I know you have probably driven through Newnan many

times, especially to get some barbecue at Sprayberry's. If a man or woman

says they don't like Sprayberry's barbecue, I would seriously have to

consider "withdrawing fellowship" from them. In fact Fayetteville

also has some serious barbecue. We have Malears and Speedy Pig and the

Du-Rock Café. We better change the subject here because I am on

a serious diet.

In getting