“Never put anything into print until you are at least 60 years old son.” These words of wisdom came from my Dad, who after years of writing (before he was 60), had learned something very important… THINGS CHANGE, PEOPLE CHANGE, YOU CHANGE! I like that because I have found these words to be so true.
Are words spoken easy to deny or explain away? No! Especially with all the recording devices people have conveniently in their pockets. Besides, if one has to continually keep on denying or explaining what is said, perhaps it is better to say less and not write at all.
Dad figured that when you put pen to paper, that without care, words can be misconstrued, and misunderstood. For you can’t see the smile or body language, the tears that go along with the written words. Use CAPITAL LETTERS, or BOLD to emphasize if you wish, use ITALICS, or UNDERLINE if you wish, but I have found that nothing really takes the place of seeing, feeling, or hearing it “straight from the horses mouth.”
Now this “horse” will not always be speaking… because I have some things to share as well from Dad. So, I hope you will not feel mislead by the title since he too was a minister, and I enjoy sharing his thoughts.
This little area is for all who care to read with hopes that you will glean some bit of encouragement, but this is especially for those here in the family of God in Keene. My wife (Wiwik) and I have been here now for almost a year. We fell in love with the people here back when we came to do our “Three Unusual Days” I believe back in 2014. Since then we have been in touch, and had another meeting in January 2016. Tragedy struck our family, as my brother Bob who was living with us, passed away while we were in Keene. We came happy and excited, and left downhearted and sad because of his passing and because of the love and encouragement of the brethren here in Keene, and Lake City, we made it through the pain, and looked forward to a future of serving the Lord.
After selling out in Lake City, Florida, we made our move with three dogs and a cat, to begin an exciting work here. When I say exciting, that’s what I mean. We are a small congregation, but don’t let that fool you, because this family of God has a huge “heart”. You will see when you come to visit!
So, long story short… Here we are, and we’re lovin’ it! Here’s something you might enjoy…
“STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME”
That just is not true! We said it when we were kids to get back at someone who was calling us names. We had other sayings like, “I’m rubber, you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks on you.” Sometimes we would just laugh it off, or make up another name and try and out-do the name caller. Just part of growing up in those days I guess. Tell you the truth, the words, the names, all hurt.
We aren’t made of rubber, and words don’t bounce off… they go right to the heart. People still say things that hurt others deeply, by using cruel epithets and racial slurs, sarcasm. The “Yo mamma” jokes get a laugh, but sometimes they are just mean and rude. Words may not break bones, but they can still hurt. “I take it back”, we used to say, but we knew then, we know now, that can’t be done. I remember mom getting out the bar of Palmolive soap, and my toothbrush, to ‘wash my mouth out; after saying something bad. I know it doesn’t ‘wash it out’ and once you say something, you can’t un-say-it? The verbal bullying that goes on in schools, is often learned at home. Columbine stands as a sad memorial to what happens as a result of ‘words’.
“It’s just words” you say, but there is so much more. Jesus in Matthew 15:1-20 confronts the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were concerned about His disciples not washing their hands before they ate. (These were the religious ‘nit-pickers’ of the day.) Jesus accuses them of hypocrisy, because they were more concerned for external actions, than the heart. “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Then Jesus calls the crowd to him and explained… “LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND. WHAT GOES INTO A MAN’S MOUTH DOES NOT MAKE HIM ‘UNCLEAN’, BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH , THAT IS WHAT MAKES HIM ‘UNCLEAN’.”
James says, “My dear brothers, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry. James 1:19 “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26. Then he speaks of the dangers of the tongue in chapter 3, using illustrations of a horses bit, a boat rudder, fire and dangerous animals. How can it be, that with the same tongue that we praise God with, we curse man? How can we use this ‘instrument’ in prayer and adoration to God on Sunday, and use it to curse and swear, tell dirty jokes, on Monday through Saturday?
The encouraging thing about all this is, if we clean our hearts, it will ‘wash our mouth out’. It may take time, but it will be time well spent. There are a lot of discouraged people out there, that just need a kind word, an encouragement, a sincere compliment. Try it.To edit the way your blog feed looks on your site, hover over your blog feed and click on Design. Here, you can pick from different layouts. If you add a blog feed section to a different page on your website, you can pick a design that’s different from your main blog page.
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