Words Matter

Bloopers, Typos and Laughter

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

We’ve all heard the warning, check and double-check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before submitting a piece for publication, but … what can I say, mistakes happen to the best of us. 

If you’ve made a mistake recently, relax. Laughing at one’s self is a sign of maturity, or in some cases, getting ahead of the other guy.

"If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you." 
Groucho Marx                                                                         CLICK TO TWEET
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone..."
―Ella Wheeler Wilcox                                                      CLICK TO TWEET

So, kick back and have a good, old-fashioned belly laugh. It’s good for your health and good for the soul. As demonstrated by these wonderful church ladies with typewriters. 

I can’t take credit for finding these tidbits of laughter. I received them from a dear friend. I tried my to find their origination but was unsuccessful. I did manage to locate them in numerous other places on the net. Angelfire.com,  Beliefnet.com, Lotsofjokes.com, to name a few.

These Bloopers and Typos actually appeared in church bulletins or announced during church services.

    1. The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
    2. The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water.’
    3. The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’
    4. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
    5. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
    6. Smile at someone who is hard to love.
    7. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
    8. Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
    9. Miss Charlene Mason sang ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
    10. For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
    11. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
    12. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
    13. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What Is Hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice.
    14. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
    15. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment, and gracious hostility.
    16. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and medication to follow.
    17. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
    18. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
    19. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
    20. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
    21. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
    22. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
    23. The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new campaign slogan last Sunday: I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours!

Thanks to my friend Jo and all her friends for forwarding these on. I hoped you enjoyed them as much as I did and took them in the spirit they were intended, a good belly laugh and a gentle reminder – check and recheck. Typos happen to the brightest and the blessed of us. No pun intended.

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The Power of Words

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

A member of my writing group shared this with me and I want to share it with all of you. I’d seen it before, but it is a reminder for all of us who write : Words Matter. Words make a difference in people’s lives.

All of us working on projects strive to tell a story others want to read. Sometimes we struggle with what or how to say it. We get caught up, especially if you’re a new writer like myself, in all the rules of writing. We lose focus. Stop.

Don’t forget why you started writing. Words matter and when they are simple words of truth, they matter most, leaving the biggest impact You had a story to tell. Tell it.

Here’s The Thing …

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

Social networks have gone amok, losing the purpose for which created. Originally meant to be a way to connect and re-connect, they have morphed into an avenue for anything but.

Anyone with a computer or smart phone can now access any or all of the latest social networking sites. Companies have staff members dedicated to nothing other than monitoring and contributing to Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, etc.

What began as a social networking among friends, has become a way for businesses and individuals to pedal their latest wares, potential employers to check out applicants, and people to spout off, believing it’s a safer place to do so.

Diatribes generally withheld in public because someone would challenge them or hold them accountable are posted, with a satisfied smirk, I’m sure.

We know more intimate facts about “friends” than we would have ever known before social networking. We see them in pictures and posts in ways we wished we hadn’t, making you wonder if you ever knew them at all.

And, Here’s the Thing…..

We don’t connect or re-connect, we pull away. We pull away because what you do, what you say, what you post, makes a difference.

Words matter. They matter to your real-life friends, your family, your children to whom you are supposed to be an example, your co-workers, your employer, potential customers, and society at large. Like it or not, society has its rules and those who chose to ignore the fact, do pay the price.

Our friends, real or imagined are a reflection of each one of us, our values,  and what we hold dear. When we are bombarded with senseless, thoughtless, obnoxious or offensive postings, we’re forced to make a decision, and we choose NOT to connect.

We pull away, unsubscribe, “unfriend” or hit the delete button.