Hebrews 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This week is one of the most anticipated events in our great Commonwealth of Kentucky– not just by Kentuckians, but practically the world.

The Kentucky Derby is watched by a broad range of people.

Some watch for the horses, the jockeys, the chance to win a bet, to see what celebrities show up, to check out the bizarre and elegant hats, to cheer for the underdog, or to simply carry on an old Southern Tradition.

Kentucky Derby

A lot of our acquaintances aren’t able to attend the Derby, but they do attend Derby parties! They incorporate all the “must haves” from pretty dresses, Derby hats, mock mint juleps {we’re a non-alcoholic bunch}, and all the time-honored traditional delicacies.

Mock Mint Julep by Taste of Home

Just before the race, everyone picks their favorite horse using their own method for choosing their winner. Either they pick a favorite name, go by favorable odds, or simply choose by their “gut feeling”.

Some of us don’t care for the race at all, really. We just enjoy the ambiance of being with people we cherish, the sights and sounds of the excitement, the taste of heirloom recipes, and the satisfaction of being a part of something that ties us to our southern heritage.

Pretty Derby hat

We hope that you will join us this week as we share with you a bit of our Commonwealth’s history and traditions.

Don’t forget to check out our Derby Hat Contest for a chance to win a 1 year subscription to the Taste of Home magazine!

SGC’s Reflection: On a more serious note, we want to point out the scripture that is posted above. We don’t know if you have noticed, but every SGC blog post has scripture accompanying our thoughts. These are verses that we find to be relevant in some way to what we are sharing with you, and to provoke thought about your physical and spiritual life. There are a lot of spiritual comparisons that can be drawn between a race of sport and the race of life.

Now– to be totally honest and transparent, I {Tangi} debated on publishing this post. Not because this post is scandalous, but because there is sometimes a bad connotation associated with horse races, especially throughout the Bible Belt, because of the gambling and drinking alcohol associated with it.

We aren’t going to tell you what is right or wrong, but we do ask that you search scripture and prayerfully consider these things for yourself.

Our personal feelings are if you habitually drink and get drunk, you mar your witness and ability to effectively spread the gospel. The same applies if you gamble and lose all of your money, causing heartache and hardship for yourself and your family.

We don’t see anything wrong with racing horses as long as the jockeys are healthy and the horses are  treated well. We are called to be stewards of God’s creation and that includes the beautiful animals that He has given us to enjoy. Some jockeys have been known to starve themselves to be light on the horse, thus allowing the horses to run faster. God loves us more than the animals so we’re confident that this harmful practice is displeasing to the Lord. With all of that being said, we’ve decided that, for us and our families, we won’t gamble so that we won’t be a stumbling block to someone else. {Romans 14:21}

The Bible teaches that all things should be done in moderation including strong drink {Ephesians 5:18} , but because we have joined a local body of like-minded, baptized believers that have a covenant with one another that alcohol should not be partaken of as a beverage, we abstain {1 Corinthians 6:19-20}.

Here at Southern Gals Cook, we are not perfect, but we do want to please the Lord in our endeavors.