Disparate deserts and common language

“Would you like a pop?” “Yes, I like my pop.” “No, I mean a soda.” “A soda? Do you mean a Coke?” “Yes, a Coke.”

I knew at this moment I was in a strange land. My suspicions were confirmed when asked, “What is a grit?”

Ohio is in the United States but it might as well have been in Nigeria. I did not understand the colloquialisms and they could not understand my accent. We lived in the same country but did not share a common language. They spoke English but not Southern, and thus began my education.

Everybody must be from somewhere. I hailed from the land of grits, hash browns, vacuum cleaners, the shag, sweet tea and Coke. My Ohio friends favored home fries, corn, sweepers, the polka, hot tea and pop. It appears, like politics, all language is local and the twain takes time to meet. I didn’t even ask if there was a barbecue joint. I just ate the home fries and repeated, “Yes, we do have indoor plumbing.”

Somewhere, anywhere, everywhere possesses its own patois. I don’t eat patois but apparently, I speak it. Survival in this strange land demanded I learn the language though I never intended to use it. I decided to view it as entertainment while I clung to my heritage and salivated for barbecue.

There is one thing I did learn in Ohio. Those people are good Christian folk and we shared the Christian language. They embraced me with their home fries and hot tea as much as with their love, friendship and genuine interest in my well-being. The years and distance have not separated me from their love, though I never craved home fries.

Christians share a common life, a language for living and loving. We travel from our disparate deserts and meet at the foot of the Cross. It is here our differences and ideals pale against the power of Christ’s sacrifice. At the Cross, we cannot judge our differences, only embrace our likeness.

“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God’” (Romans 14:11). Later in chapter 14, Paul writes, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Romans 14:17-19).

We may never find common ground through culture, politics or patois, but as Christians, we come together to edify each other in the common language of faith. We must remember amongst true men of God there can be no conflict, only a genuine pursuit of the things acceptable to God.

“Would you like a pop?” “Yes pop, a Coke, please.”

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

3105 Turkey Mountain Road, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Rodney Autry will be guest speaker and there will be special music by the Plants Family. Lunch will be served following the service. The church will hold revival services Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly. Autry will be guest speaker and there will be choir and solo specials each night. For more information call 706-728-6060.

542 Branham Ave., will have an early morning yard sale and fish/hot dog plate sale on Saturday. For more information call 706-936-8722 or 706-676-0930.

209 E. Second Ave., will hold worship (casual/business casual dress) Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday School meets at 10 a.m. for a series led by the Rev. Cynthia McCarthy, “As We Believe: Spiritual Strategies for a Deeper Understanding of the Divine With Us.” Morning coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the Rev. Craig McDonald or the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

1377 Chulio Road, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Brother Buddy Floyd will be preaching and Redeemed will be singing. For more information call Dennis Ledford at 706-728-2774.

445 E. 14th St., will have its birthday tea on Aug. 27, at 3 p.m. The Rev. Steve Caldwell and Mt. Olive Baptist Church will be the special guests. The church will have a yard sale and fish fry on Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. at 2112 Maple St. Fish plates will include fish, slaw, baked beans, bread and dessert for $5. Drinks are 50 cents. Fall revival will be held Sept. 11-14 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Cedric Williams, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, will be the guest preacher. For more information call 706-234-2091 or 706-234-5047.

259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will hold their annual Men & Women’s Day on˪ Sunday at 2 p.m. The guest will be Pastor Scott McClure and Flat Rock Baptist Church.

3011 Rockmart Highway, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with the Glorybound Singers. The church will hold revival Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly. Josh Nichols will be preaching.

700 Broad St., invites youth groups and praise dancers to participate in its Back to School Musical on Sunday at 3 p.m. For more information or to register a youth group contact Lily Miller at 706-409-1576, Paula Jasper at 706-346-4831 or Bobbie Jean Daniel at 706766-5939.

1915 Huffaker Road, will have an AWANA kickoff event Sunday at 6 p.m. with inflatables and food.

735 Old Summerville Road, holds a praise and worship service Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall with music by Ben Thornton and the Praise Band. A blended service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.

2401 Euharlee Road, Taylorsville, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 11 a.m. Special singing by Walking by Faith, Robbinsville, North Carolina. There will be no Sunday night service. The church will hold revival Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. nightly with Colt Deems, Oakridge Baptist Church, Aragon. There will be special singers through the week. For more information call 706-235-0615.

202 E. Third Ave., holds contemporary worship at 9 a.m. in the Garnett M. Wilder Center and traditional worship at 11 a.m. in the historic sanctuary. Sunday school and small groups for every age meet at 10 a.m. For more information visit www.romefirst.org.

42 Ash St., meets for Holy Communion Sundays at 9:30 a.m. A nursery is provided. This week the Christian Education for youth resumes. Morning prayer will be held Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. For more information call 706-506-1241.

911 N. Broad St., offers Saturday vigil Masses at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sunday Masses are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. Registration for all Parish religious education programs including RCIA, the Adult Education program for those interested in joining the Catholic Faith, continues through Friday; forms and information are available in the church narthex and at the church office. For additional information on any church activities or programs, contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome. org.

106 E. Sixth Ave., will celebrate the second annual 100 Men in Black Day on Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Eddie Henley, pastor of Wilkes Chapel AME Church, Atlanta, will be speaker. If you don’t have any black clothes, come celebrate anyway. Women, boys and girls are invited. For more information call 706-767-0368, 770-910-3599 or 706234-5505.

6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, will hold worship led by the Rev. Camille Josey on Sunday at 11 a.m. The church continues to collect toiletries to be given to the YMCA for distribution to those in need and pet food and supplies for PAWS. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-346-7268.

36 Reeceburg Road, Silver Creek, will host an Operation Christmas Child-Georgia Highlands Area event on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. For more information call 770-684-8054.

113 Smith St., will celebrate its 143rd anniversary on Sunday at 3 p.m. Pastor Kenneth Brown and Galilee Baptist Church, Cedartown, will be the guests. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m.

8536 Black’s Bluff Road, Cave Spring, will celebrate homecoming on Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Mike Garrett will be the speaker. There will be singing by Fireproof and plenty of food.

304 Coker Drive, will celebrate Holy Eucharist Sunday at 11 a.m. This week, Tuesday Travelers will meet at Outback Steakhouse, 1404 Turner McCall Blvd., at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Al-Anon will meet in the parish hall at noon and there will be a public service of healing with Eucharist at 6 p.m. On Thursday, there will be an Alcoholics Anonymous women’s meeting at 6 p.m.

2261 Pleasant Valley Road, Silver Creek, will host BrotherHood & SisterHood on Monday at 7 p.m. Chris Waits will be preaching, and Kathy Edwards will be Lady Speaker. Supper will be served. For more information contact Betty Proctor at 706-844-8628.

1941 Shorter Ave., conducts Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. The Rev. Greg Lund will preach the sermon, “Finding God in Temptation.” A nursery is available.

1003 Shorter Ave., will hold services at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The sermon, “Jesus Challenges Tradition,” comes from Mark 7:1-23. For more information visit www.westromeumc.org.

401 Wilkerson Road, will hold revival Sept. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. nightly with Evangelist Brother Clinton Green and pastor Brother Johnny Sisson. For more information call 678-988-3004.