Author Archive
Think About It
For years the technology company IBM had a byword: “THINK.” A humorous parody of which was “THIMK.”
The art of speaking concisely makes many friends. A loquacious individual, that is one given to speaking a lot, loses many friends.
The skill of saying a lot in a few words, called laconic communication, whether verbal or writing, is a worthy aspiration. Lamentably most garrulous people, persons who drone on, don’t seem to realize they are doing it even though others do. Keep it simple, sweet, and short.
Mark Twain is spuriously credited with having said, “Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” It is still true.
The origin of the essence is found in Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”
An acrostic using the letters for think afford an admirable form of communicating.
T, is it true? If it isn’t, don’t say it. “For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips” Proverbs 8:7. An abomination means an object of disgust or hatred.
H, is it helpful? Is it edifying? The word edifying and the word edifice (building) come from the same root. To edify a person is to build them up. Become a master craftsman, a good verbal builder. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29.
I, is it inspiring? “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” Proverbs 16:24.
N, is it necessary? This is a challenge for some. The term “chasing rabbits” graphically describes some conversationalists as well as public speakers. A running rabbit dodges on and off a trail. Some persons get off the subject chasing side issues rather than being succinct, stay on track. Discipline yourself to use the fewest words to tell your story. “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” Matthew 5:37.
K, is it kind? “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” Colossians 4:6.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Prov. 15:1. Respect others, listen and think before speaking. It shows respect for them. Choose your words discreetly, they create either a barrier or a bridge. Give thought to what you say, is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind… and brief?
Peace Y’all!
“Peace,” do you have it or do you feel like the man who had a sign on his desk that read: “I’ve got so many troubles that if anything else happens to me, it will be two weeks before I can even worry about it.”
The New Testament speaks of two kinds of peace—the objective peace that has to do with your relationship to God, and the subjective peace that has to do with your experience in life.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).
His peace is not like the peace of the world. The world’s peace is worthless. Since 36 B.C. there have been nearly 15,000 wars. Before World War II the world had an average of 2.61 new wars every year. But since World War II despite all of mankind’s “enlightenment,” and organized efforts for world peace, there have been an average of three new wars every year. The New York Times once observed that “peace is a fable.”
The peace Jesus is speaking of enables believers to remain calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. It enables them to hush a cry, still a riot, rejoice in pain and trial, and sing in the middle of suffering. This peace is never by circumstances, but instead affects and even overrules them.
It is a supernatural, permanent, positive, no-side-effects, divine tranquilizer.
The peace Jesus spoke of is further defined as “… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The word for “guard” does not mean to “keep imprisoned.” It is a military word, meaning “to stand at a post and guard against the aggression of an enemy.” When peace stands guard, believers have a citadel from which nothing or nobody can dislodge him. Jesus is that sentinel.
Most worry and stress comes from either the past or the future. The defense against them is that the provision Jesus offers covers both. He is committed to caring for our future needs and forgiving our past misdeeds. Therefore, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). The word translated “rule” is the Greek word ‘brabeuo,” which means “to act as umpire.” The appeal is to so depend on the peace of Jesus that it becomes an umpire in the decisions you have to make in life, ruling them safe or ruling them out; to do or not to do.
Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. It is a greeting often heard in Israel whether greeting a person or bidding one a farewell. Practically it means “I hope you have the very best coming your way.” The peace Jesus provides is the very best. With confidence in Him and reliance on Him you can have that peace. Rejoice and enjoy it. Shalom.
Know the Time
“A time to keep silence, And a time to speak…” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
This verse is an extraction from a poem related to the appointed times of life. It is a faith statement inspiring confidence in God. Contrasts are used to indicate there is a time and place for the variables of life. We are to respect the fact there are contrasts in life, in simple summary, there are highs as well as lows in life.
This Bible passage is one of the most referenced in the Bible among Christians as well as non-Christians. It is distilled wisdom, wisdom in bite size phrases.
This part of the poem contrasts silence and speech. Each has a time and place. To confuse them is to disrespect both. Mark Twain frames it this way:
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
In conversation if you allow the other person to do most of the speaking they will leave the conversation feeling you are a wonderful conversationalist. If you dominate the conversation they might well feel you are boring. Don’t speak because you have to say something. Speak because you have something to say.
When you can improve on silence… speak.
Many speakers must have been absent in speech class when a “dramatic pause” was discussed. A brief pause clearly dramatizes the thoughts it separates. So, in personal conversation it ties thoughts together. A brief pause is indeed a valuable time of silence.
Conversation is like a tennis match, your opponent hits the ball to you and you return it to your opponent. A conversationalist is not an opponent, but the analogy is simple. Even if you don’t know as much about the topic as the other person you can keep the conversation going by asking simple analytical questions. Avoid questions needing a simple yes or no.
The most important conversation is called prayer. It is simply mentally if not vocally talking to God. He does not answer orally, but He does lead a praying person. He invites us, “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46: 10). This verse invites us into the presence of God, reminding us of His love and peace.
The Hebrew word for “know” is “yada” signifying deep, relational knowledge. It’s the same word used to describe intimate relationships. It reveals how vital God considers our relationship with Him.
Knowing the setting of a Scripture often helps us to understand its relevance.
This verse was written by Moses when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. In this moment of crisis, Moses reassured them that God would guide them. We, like they, need to stop struggling, rely on and respond to the Lord. When we do our conversation of prayer will come full circle.
It is then our fear is overcome by faith, our panic is replaced by His peace.
A Time to Laugh – Part Three
“There is a time to laugh” Ecclesiastes 3: 4
“The One enthroned in heaven laughs…” Psalm 2: 4
There was a time when God brought His people out of bondage and back to their homeland. It was a joyous time of which it was said, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them’” (Psalm 126).
Laughter is a verbal elixir. It is a gift of God. It brings rain to our drought-stricken lives.
Dr. W. Herschel Ford made these observations regarding laughter. “The word ‘laugh,’ in its various forms, is given thirty-eight times in the Bible. Sometimes laughter is right and sometimes it’s wrong. Sometimes it is a fool who is laughing. Sometimes it is God Himself.” If God laughed, so should we.
There is a study that shows the average 4-year old child laughs 300 times a day. By contrast, it takes over two months for the average 40-year old to laugh that many times. It is not until we are in our 70s that we start to recover our laughter instincts. This being recognized there are laugh clubs. Members get together and start off making pretending laugh sounds. They keep it up until there is a transformation to real laughter. The components of laughter are there if we will normally release them when appropriate. Go ahead and laugh.
Let me offer you this bit of humor as a potential starter for your laughter reflex.
A Cajun had a large estate with a lake on the back of the property around which he had planted peach and pear trees. One day he got a big bucket and went down to gather some fruit. To his amazement there were some young adult females skinny dipping in the lake. They said, “We aren’t coming out until you leave.” He replied. “That is alright ladies, I am just going to be here for a short time, I just came down to feed the alligators.” Go on and laugh.
When was the last time you knew the grace of a deep laugh?
God’s enemies may plot against his will, “but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:12–13). God laughs at those who set themselves against his will (Psalm 59:8). And when he laughs, he does so for our sake, to communicate to us. He laughs to give off signals — signals that are horrible to His enemies and reassuring for his friends. The most memorable instance is Psalm 2.
May the God of all grace meet you in your sighs and by the gift of grace fill you with fresh laughter. May the encouragement of His promises, the overflow of His joy, and His inexhaustible favor be yours. That is no laughing matter.
A Time to Laugh – Part Two
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh…” (Ecclesiastes 3: 4).
There is a time to laugh. There is nothing more inappropriate than a miss-timed laugh. Neither is there anything more appropriate than a good laugh. May the following spurious song titles get at least a smile if not a laugh.
I KEEP FORGETTING I FORGOT YOU
IF THE PHONE DON’T RING, BABY, YOU WILL KNOW IT’S ME
HOW CAN I MISS YOU IF YOU WON’T GO AWAY
I’M JUST A BUG ON THE WINDSHIELD OF LIFE
IF YOU LEAVE ME, CAN I COME TOO
THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND SHE’S GONE
YOU DONE TORE MY HEART OUT AND STOMPED THAT SUCKER FLAT
VELCRO ARMS, TEFLON HEART
“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place,” so said American humorist Mark Twain.
If Jesus, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3) was anointed with “the oil of gladness”(Hebrews 1:9) should not we express a little gladness in the form of laughter.
Jesus was filled with God’s Spirit, who produces the fruit of joy (Galatians 5:22). May the Spirit enable us to express joy in the form of laughter.
Scottish theologian, Donald Macleod offers this insight on joy as expressed in the form of laughter:
“Much has been made of the fact that Jesus is never said to have smiled or laughed. Linked to the description of the Servant as ‘a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief’ it has furnished a basis for the idea that Jesus’ life was unremittingly joyless and stressful. But this is a serious over-simplification. Apart from all else, a joyless life would have been a sinful life. Would Jesus have been guilty of the anxiety He forbade in others (Mt. 6:25)? Would He have fallen short of Paul’s attainment as one who had learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Phil. 4:11)? Or of the precept to ‘rejoice always’ (Phil. 4:4)? Could He have been filled with the Spirit and yet not have known the Spirit’s joy (Gal. 5:22)? Could He have given rest and relief to others (Mt. 11:28) while remaining depressed and disconsolate himself?”
Such an analysis is reason for us to recognize a lighthearted moment when God enables laughter.