2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,”

It was a nightmare of epic proportion. In my dream, I drove the wrong way, my GPS failed to reroute me, and I ended up lost. Now if you know me, you can vouch this to be my reality, for I am indeed “directionally dyslexic.” However, in this nightmare, my children felt my actions merited placing me in a lock-down memory care facility. And to make matters worse, while there, I was required to earn my keep by cleaning, cooking, and serving all the residents. I awoke with the light of day exhausted from “slaving” all night and extremely relieved it had been nothing more than a bad dream.

That nightmare stayed in my head all day. Morning coffee helped subdue its trauma, but I remained in awe of how very real that dream seemed. My heart held an extra measure of thankfulness for my real children and a bit of anger toward the children in my nightmare. There was also a realization that all my troubles could have been averted had my dream GPS rerouted me.

I am certainly no fan of nightmares and am grateful they generally reside far outside reality. However, in scripture, we find Israel living out their nightmare. Under Joshua’s leadership, God’s people had been strong, courageous, never afraid, and wholly trusted God’s providence and guidance. But in Judges 2, with the death of Joshua, the nation departed the right path, lost their way, and failed to reroute. They forsook the Lord, did evil, and in the end, found themselves slaves to other nations. Their nightmare became reality. If only they had allowed God to reroute them.

If we learn anything from scripture, we learn it is very possible to live a nightmare. Like Israel, when we are consumed with self, we lose our bearings and veer away from God’s way. When we allow words to carve a chasm in our friendships, our direction takes a wrong turn. When life gets so busy with immediate needs that we fail to see eternal needs, God’s way becomes invisible. We stand in need of a godly reroute.

According to II Timothy, the Bible offers instructions for keeping us on track. God’s Word rebukes our wrong turns. Scripture corrects our missteps. And our Heavenly Father redirects us away from disastrous destinations. I don’t know about you, friend, but I need no more nightmares! I stand forever grateful to a Heavenly Father who serves as our ultimate rerouting system.

Father God, we are grateful for Your Word that holds the power to reroute us when we err.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

CURSING

OF PARENTS

Exodus 21:17 KJV And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Matthew 15:4 KJV For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Mark 7:10 KJV For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

SHIMEI CURSED DAVID

2 Samuel 16:5 KJV And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

THE PRECEPTS (LAWS) OF JESUS CONCERNING CURSING

Matthew 5:44-47 KJV  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Luke 6:27-29 KJV But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

ANATHEMA MARAN-ATHA

1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

WHAT DO THE INSPIRED SCRIPTURES SAY?

Cursing, swearing, profanity are certainly a sin according to the inspired Scriptures, no matter what a society says or accepts. The inspired apostle Paul tells us to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

We are again warned by Paul in Colossians 3:8 KJV “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” In the Greek language, the phrase, “filthy communication” means foul speaking, low and obscene speech.

In his letter, James declares that cursing should not come out of our mouth (James 3:10-12 KJV). He admonishes us further (James 4:11, 12 KJV), not so much as to speak evil of another brother. For example, in Matthew 26:33 Peter assured the Lord “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Yet, just a few short hours later, this same apostle “denied with an oath” that he even knew Jesus (Matthew 26:72 KJV). The inspired record says that he even began to “curse and to swear”, reinforcing his denials of Jesus (Matthew 26:74 KJV). If the best of men were guilty of occasional lapses with regard to cursing and swearing, we must be constantly on guard that we do not sin even more grievously.

CONCLUSION

In Colossians 4:6 KJV, the apostle Paul tells us to, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Our speech should contain wholesome, pure, kind, and beneficial words. Words that encourage and build up a person, instead of tearing them down (Prov. 16:23; Prov. 25:11; cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 5:8- KJV).

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EUPHAMISMS

Euphemisms are substitutes for crude, hurtful, or otherwise offensive expressions. … Because the purpose of euphemism is to disguise semantics and avoid saying what is meant, it has been called “the language of evasion, hypocrisy, prudery, and deceit,” (Holder 2008)

What is a euphemism?

Webster’s Dictionary has this definition of euphemism: “The use of a less direct word or phrase for one considered offensive.”

Some examples of English euphemisms include “powder your nose” for go to the toilet, “negative cash flow” for broke, and “passed away” for died.

Examples of euphemisms in the Bible

The King James Version says King Saul went into a cave “to cover his feet” (1 Samuel 24:3). This is a euphemism for sleep or, how shall we say it, to powder his nose? The New King James Version says “attend to his needs,” which you could say is another English euphemism for defecation (go to the toilet). If we read the rest of that account, (1 Samuel 24:4-14 KJV), we will see that King Saul must have slept after his original intent.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord saiad unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. 7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. 9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. KJV

Many times the Bible describes someone who died as being asleep. For example, Jesus told His disciples, John 11:11-14 KJV “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” KJV Since they misunderstood, He had to tell them plainly, “Lazarus is dead” (verse 14). Though sleep is a euphemism for death, we also learn that from God’s perspective, death is like sleep since the dead person is unconscious and God has the power to wake the dead through the resurrection from the dead.

Types of euphemisms

Some euphemisms are considered polite. Some are funny. But some can just be a way to try to say something considered wrong or offensive without being punished.

Alternative swear words, while seeming less offensive or even funny, can still, at their heart, be profanity, swearing or taking God’s name in vain.

Christians and euphemisms

There are many categories of euphemisms, but the two Christians are most concerned with are those that violate the Third Commandment and those that ask God to condemn others. Unfortunately, many who claim to be Christian unknowingly use these types of euphemisms that disobey His instructions.

Euphemisms misusing God’s name

The Third Commandment states, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7 KJV; “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Deuteronomy 5:11 KJV).

“In vain” literally means to use God’s name in an empty or trifling way, without appropriate reverence for God.

In our modern world we hear this commandment violated overtly and frequently all around us, with “God,” “Jesus,” “Christ” or “Lord” uttered merely as filler words, exclamations, expressions of anger or contempt or in conjunction with cursing or profanity. One of the most common abuses of the name of God is the phrase “oh my …!,” which has become so commonplace it now has its own abbreviation (OMG) for text messaging.

In addition to blatantly saying God’s names, there are euphemisms that have modified the same names into less explicit or softened forms; but because they are merely modifications of God’s name(s), they likewise are violations of the intent of the Third Commandment.

The euphemism list below is provided to help you identify common euphemisms for God’s name, in order to avoid inadvertently making irreverent references to God’s holy name. (You can find more information in many dictionaries that include slang words and euphemisms.)

Partial Euphemism list

Euphemisms for eternal judgment

Another category of euphemisms that is inappropriate for Christians to use is those asking God to condemn (“damn”) a person or thing. Euphemisms for condemn include darn, durn, dang, doggone (a euphemism for both the words “God” and “damn”) and any other combination of these words with euphemisms for God.

Are the words we speak important to God? Jesus Christ said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).While the Bible teaches that Christians should learn to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14), it also teaches that we should not condemn others in the sense of trying to determine their ultimate fate. God the Father has given the judgment of mankind to the Son (John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10), and it is His prerogative to judge—not ours.

Referring to this ultimate judgment, Jesus said: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Jesus also cautions us: “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2) and “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Every idle word

Are the words we speak important to God? Jesus Christ said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 – KJV).

Euphemisms that were coined to utter God’s name without proper reverence or to judge another’s ultimate fate are inappropriate for a Christian. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29 – KJV). As lights in a dark world, we are to set the example not only in our conduct, but in pure speech as well.

Is it wrong to “swear to God”?

Jesus made it clear that God does not expect or want us to swear by anything, but rather, to be truthful in all our dealings, developing a reputation of trustworthiness. To that end, Christians shouldn’t emphasize the truth of their statements by saying “I swear to God,” but rather by letting their “‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’” and their “‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37 – KJV).

This Third Commandment is recorded in Exodus 20:7: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” This is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:11.

To not take God’s name in vain means to not take it lightly and to never use God’s holy name as a thoughtless, hateful curse! This is perhaps the most common and lightly treated sin today, as profanity is splashed all over our music, television shows and movies. But God tells us to stop using blasphemy and filthy language and to bless rather than curse.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colosse, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8 – KJV). He also gave this instruction to the church in Rome, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” (Romans 12:14 – KJV).

Another common form of taking God’s name lightly or thoughtlessly is using euphemisms for (or in place of) His name.

Reverencing God and representing Him properly

Instead of using His name in vain with profanity, we are to reverence God and represent His name well.

Jesus Christ called on His followers to set the right example so people would glorify God’s name. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 – KJV).

Jesus told us that God’s name should be “hallowed” in our prayers. In contrast, Paul warned that our wrong actions could defame God’s name: “Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” (Romans 2:24 – KJV), alluding to Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22).

Jesus warned about claiming God’s name but not actually obeying Him:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23).

He also cried out against the hypocrisy of those whose words were good but whose hearts and actions told a much different story:

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9 KJV).

So even respectful words can be used in vain by those whose lives show disrespect for God’s ways.

Prayers and praise, not profanity

• Jesus told us that God’s name should be “hallowed” in our prayers (Matthew 6:9).
• The book of Psalms and many other parts of the Bible give examples of the praise and honor that are due God’s name. Here are just a few:
• “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. KJV” (Psalm 8:1).
• “Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. KJV” (Psalm 29:1-2).
• “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. KJV” (Psalm 103:1-5).
• “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. KJV” (Daniel 2:20-22).
• “…. My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. KJV” (Luke 1:46-47).
• “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. KJV” (Revelation 4:11).

Magnify God’s name

Psalm 34:3 says, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

This is just one of six times in the Psalms and seven other places in the Bible we are told to magnify God, or where the words magnified or magnifies are used about God’s name. But what does that really mean? How can we do that?

Have you ever wondered what it means for us, mortal, weak human beings, to magnify God’s name? To glorify Him and to bless His name? We glorify God our Creator when we do what he tells us to do.

ONE Jew thought he was not under God’s laws. Romans 2:21-24 21 “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

Psalms 107:8-9 – same point in verses 15, 21 and 31
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

Psalms 136:1 – “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” THEN HE LISTS 25 events that show his kindness to men.

Psalms 50:14-15 – “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Psalms 116:16-17 –
16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

Praying in Jesus’ name

It is amazing that Jesus Christ gives His followers the awesome privilege to pray using His name! “If you ask anything in my name (with his authority), I will do it” (John 14:14).

We must not misuse this privilege; it is not like magic or a genie in a bottle. We are only to ask according to His will, not selfishly.

As the apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Instead of using profanity, we are to “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).

To study more about respectfully using God’s name in prayer, study about prayer.

Swear not at all

In His magnification of the spiritual intent of God’s law in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set the standard for Christians. Christians should not swear; their every statement should be as truthful and sure as if they had taken an oath.

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matthew 5:33-37 – KJV).

James reiterated this teaching in his letter: “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” (James 5:12 – KJV).

The power of God’s name

God’s name represents the Almighty Creator God, and there is power in His holy name. After Jesus sent out 70 disciples, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” (Luke 10:17 – KJV).

Looking at the downward spiral of this evil world, the prophet Isaiah called out for God to reveal Himself in power: “As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!” (Isaiah 64:2 – KJV).

Daniel also prayed for God to intervene powerfully:“O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.” (Daniel 9:19 – KJV).

Those called by God’s name have the tremendous responsibility to represent his name properly, but they also have the awesome blessing of God’s care for those who are his.

In the end when God’s power is poured out and he intervenes to save humanity from self-destruction, the angels will sing this prophetic song: “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Rev. 15:3-4 – KJV).

Then all people will know and glorify God’s name!

Beth Johnson

Chennai Teacher Training School

Women’s Studies

Muliebral Viewpoint

Articles and Books by Beth Johnson

Psalm 116:8 (NKJV) “For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.”

We kept to the trail that lay before us. The trip to Utah had exceeded our expectations of God’s majesty. But this particular hike was extra hot and strenuous. This hike was painfully long. Its path was dangerously steep. And the crumbly rocks under our feet caused me numerous stumbles.

I became weary and disheartened over constantly losing my footing. As my frustration mounted, my husband, taking pity on me, kindly reminded me that yes, I was experiencing numerous falters. But I also had demonstrated some incredible saves. Perhaps I could shift my focus from my near disasters to all the less than graceful ways I had been able to right my stance. Not once had I completely gone down. Not once had I been wounded or scarred. And as a bonus, with each falter, I was able to alert those coming behind me to the danger lying ahead.

Stumbles permeate life. Each day opens the door to relationship falters and faith-walk tumbles. Our co-workers can get the best of us, making it difficult to muster up words seasoned with grace. But facing conflict with humility can preserve relationships and set us back on solid ground. Our children can trample on our last remaining nerve, hijacking any loving solution seemingly out there. But pausing to ask for God’s patience and wisdom can calm the storm, refocus the child, and keep our family’s sound footing. Grumbles among our church families can threaten to take down our faith community. But searching a solution in God’s Word allows us to right our steps and avert a falling out.

Yes, that Utah ridge caused me oh, so many stumbles. But, numerous, too, were the saves that day. So friend, let us choose to celebrate the saves, knowing that as we falter in life, God will steady our feet. And as we celebrate, remember to alert those following behind to the danger lying ahead.

Father God, may we look to you each time we stumble. Give us the strength to keep those who come behind us from faltering.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

A few quiet moments every Sunday, head bowed, heart lifted. Maybe you close your eyes and rest your palm on the cover of the Bible in your lap. Or reach for the hand of a loved one next to you. Maybe you flip to one of the gospels and read about your Savior’s sacrifice.

This precious time in worship centers our souls in at least four ways:

• The Blessing. Jesus set the example when He blessed the bread before breaking it (Mk. 14:22). The prayer before the Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to give thanks (1 Cor. 11:24), to remember Him (Lk. 22:19), and to examine ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28).
• The Body. “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24). The unleavened bread represents the body of Jesus, willingly sacrificed on the cross for us. “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:23-24).
• The Blood. The “fruit of the vine” (Matt. 26:29) represents the blood of Christ. “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28).
• The Body. Not the physical body of Jesus this time, but His body the church (Eph. 1:22-23). We “gather together” for this memorial (Ac. 20:7). Even though we are many individuals, we are one body because of the cross (1 Cor. 10:17). We are united because of the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13). It is sweet fellowship! “Hearts are brought in closer union while partaking of the bread.”

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”

(1 Cor. 10:16)

By Kathy Pollard

As you know, if you’ve been reading, for quite some time, I’ve occasionally been running little installments called “Mama’s K.I.S.S.” I know that lots of readers could give many more and far more creative ideas than I can offer, but these installments are just a few tried and true and mostly old-fashioned ideas for putting service hearts in our kids.  This is number 71 of a list of one hundred ways we train our kids to serve. K.I.S.S. is an acronym for “Kids In Service Suggestions”.

There are few places that bring smiles to young servants in a more eternally fulfilling way than the hallways of hospitals. Truly!

There are a few hospitals here and there that still allow teens to deliver the mail to the residents in volunteer programs. Mostly, though, in our post-modern and post covid world, though, the “candy-stripers” have been replaced by corporate systems that are touted as efficient and safe.

But smart parents are always on the look out for ways to incorporate the sick and hurting into the monthly service regimes of their teen (and even younger) children. Enlist the help of your youth group or church service group to do some or all of the following:

1. Fill little dollar store plastic bins with snack crackers and cookies and water bottles and deliver them to the waiting areas in hospitals with notes of encouragement from your local congregation. Be sure you include directions to your building and contact information with the open offer of meeting with families for prayer.

2. Have your children adopt a floor or wing of the hospital for weekly visiting, room by room. Choose as  safely as possible, but this limited risk is so worth it for your kids.   There are areas of non-infection in most larger hospitals. Consider the NICU or the cancer patients.

3. Have your children make little “laundry lines”  with clothes-pins to attach to the walls of patients who will be staying for a few days, so that they can display their cards. Be sure to have the children go in and attach the first card on the little yarn “clothes-lines”  they have made. Of course, the way your children find out who is staying for a few days is by visiting their floor or wing and conversing. (Today’s privacy rules will not allow the hospital to divulge that information, but many patients are so happy to have visitors and talk about their diagnoses.)

4. Have your children take a couple of friends with them (or your family) and choose a hymn to sing in three of their rooms, monthly, to those who would like to listen or sing along. You can even take the words to the hymn and let the patients read along, but be sure to identify the church and give contact information on the lyrics sheet that you leave.

5. During the Christmas holidays, take a small gift ( a lotion, a candy cane, a little pop-up greeting card, or a little strand of lights for the bedside table–just any little happy gift) to the patients in which your children are “investing”.

The receivers will evolve and the faces will look different monthly, but the givers will respond consistently and their faces will turn ever more  heavenward!

Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5

Cindy Colley

I have been studying with my Bible class the books of the New Testament and what the writers were concerned about in each book. We are concentrating on learning the books of the Bible in order and something about each one.

The children have been interested in learning something about the writers of the books as well as what is contained in each. I have also tried to call attention to certain individuals in some of the less familiar books. We have also noticed to whom the books are written, and the children picked up very quickly how Paul starts his books.

The book of Third John is one of those books that was unfamiliar to them. We talked about the love these writers had for the churches and individuals to whom they addressed the books, but there were also some that did not receive warm wishes but rather a reprimand.

In Third John, John joyfully acknowledges that “his children” are walking in the truth. There had evidently been some fellow Christians that had visited this church, and they returned with a report of how these people were faithful Christians. They also must have told John about a man named Diotrephes. Sadly, this man did not welcome these visitors. John describes Diotrephes as a man “who likes to put himself first,” and he did not recognize authority.

He did not welcome these visitors. He did not accept their authority; in what way, we do not know. Diotrephes not only did not welcome them, but he caused enough trouble in the congregation that others rejected them too. John says that when he comes, he will bring up what happened and address the “talking wicked nonsense against us.”

John then cautions them not to imitate Diotrephes but to only imitate that which is good and from God.

How sad it was for this church to be hindered by one man that would not show hospitality. Not only was he not welcoming, but he influenced others not to be. He did this because he wanted to be first, more important, the center of attention.

John goes on to praise Demetrius for receiving only good reports. He was the man to be imitated, not because of importance but because he was concerned about others.

Though the situation would be different in some respects, we have a need for hospitality in our own congregations. Visiting preachers, missionaries, visiting families, or a bus load of young people on a trip could choose to worship with us. Do we welcome them or ignore them?

We should not isolate our visitors by speaking and fellowshipping only with our friends and family. Many visitors have been turned off by a lack of welcoming from the local church family.

May we not become known as an unwelcoming group of people. May we always show hospitality to everyone. May we welcome them as brothers and sisters in Christ or as potential brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sandra Oliver

For the last several weekends, John and I have been working hard in our yard, clearing and burning cedar trees. He cuts them level with the ground using his chainsaw and then shaves all the little branches off (so he can use the trunks for fence posts) leaving a messy pile of twigs and cedar boughs for me to drag to the fire. It’s hot, hard work. My eyes and nose are full of smoke, and occasionally, if I get too close to the popping fire, hot ashes will fry me like bacon. One got me on the lip yesterday! Often there are thorny algarita bushes mixed in with the underbrush that enjoy using me as a pincushion. I’ve currently got more scratches on my legs than I did when I was a little girl. And poison ivy loves to surprise us, hanging from trees and pretending to be grapevine. But I have really enjoyed the work. It’s productive. Its therapeutic. It’s great exercise: I’ve lost a few pounds and gained a few muscles. It’s something John and I can work on together. And sometimes, when I throw an especially heavy cedar branch on the fire, it’s fun to practice my Serena Williams grunt!

Of course, we have to be careful with the fire. Fire is very useful when controlled, providing warmth and light, but if it’s left uncontrolled it is dangerous and damaging. And in the dry Texas summers we have to be especially watchful. We make sure the area where we burn is as far as possible from other trees and dry grasses. We don’t burn when the day is windy. We keep buckets of water nearby and run an extra long hose from the hydrant so we can spray down the surrounding area. When we finish for the day, we stop feeding the fire until it dies down and covers over with ash. If we leave it alone, eventually it will go out completely, but if I go back out in the next few days to do my dragging work again, all I have to do to get the fire blazing again is poke around in the ashes and uncover the hot coals. Then, when I feed the fire with more twigs, it easily flames up again.

While I’ve been dragging, I’ve been thinking. James talks about fire, comparing it with our tongues. “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” (James 3:5) He goes on to say that the tongue is a fire that “defiles the entire body” (the ESV says “staining the whole body”) and it “sets on fire the course of our life” (v. 6). So many of us have a hard time controlling our tongue, instead letting it run free and wild. “I call it like I see it.” “That’s just the way I am, I have to speak my mind!” “I’m just telling you the truth.” Not only do we hurt ourselves in this way—we hurt the ones around us who are the victims of our tongues. We hurt the entire body of Christ. We hurt innocent bystanders who witness our ranting and are burned when we carelessly feed these fires. As James says, “my brethren, these things ought not to be this way,” (v. 10).

Here we are, right smack in the middle of the strangest year I think our present generations have ever experienced, and we need to stop building and feeding these damaging fires. 2020 is a tinderbox. Social media in 2020 is a dry, brittle, brown field full of dead trees and tall grass waving in a strong California Santa Ana wind under a blazing Texas sun with no rain in sight, onto which we are tossing lit matches into gasoline-soaked rags! It seems we’ve never had more to argue about, and we’ve never had more time in which to argue, formulate replies, gather statistics, bear false witness (knowingly or unknowingly) and defend our positions. But—shouldn’t Christians be the source from which living water flows—extinguishing fires rather than feeding them? Are we being hypocritical, as James says, using our tongues in one moment to bless God and in the next to curse men (v. 9-10)?

I know I am guilty of speaking my mind in a way that isn’t helpful. I am fluent in sarcasm, though I have tried hard to extinguish it because sarcasm stings, and it betrays a pessimistic heart. I have opinions about politics, the economy, Covid-19, vaccines, masks, and racial issues, but I don’t always share them wisely. Maybe I shouldn’t even share them at all. Social media could be such an encouraging, useful tool if we all used it wisely—sharing the mind of God through scripture, building one another up, sincerely offering compliments and showing love. Instead, I’m afraid it has the tendency to become more of the devil’s tool. I would like to challenge myself, as well as each of you, to take a hard look at our social media and other discussions. Does the way that we live—and speak—demonstrate gentleness and humility? Do I show wisdom and understanding (v. 13)? Am I lying to myself, insisting that speaking blunt truth to someone is showing love, all the while ignoring James’ definition of godly wisdom?

Godly wisdom is pure: it is holy, faultless and innocent. It is peaceable, “being conducive to a harmonious relationship.”^[1] It is gentle: yielding, kind, courteous and tolerant. It is reasonable, or persuadable, willing to yield and open to reason. It is full of mercy, showing “kindness or concern expressed for someone in need…compassion, pity, clemency.”^[2] The fruit it produces is good, not bitter or bad. It is, as the NRSV translates, without a trace of partiality: “pertaining to not being judgmental or divisive, nonjudgmental, not divisive, impartial.”^[3] And it is without hypocrisy: it is genuine and sincere. What is the goal of speaking our minds? Is our intent simply to bring others over to our cause or to win an argument? God wants our fruit to be righteousness that has been sown in peace. He wants us to speak truth, but not sarcastically or unkindly. Some may see that as weak, but it isn’t. It’s biblical. God insists that we be peacemakers.

Right now, about a hundred yards from our home, there is a pile of ashes with hot coals just under the surface. Someone could easily toss a few dry twigs on the top and stir them into the coals and soon there would be a blaze. They could then walk away from the fire, leaving it burning, endangering our home, our health, and our lives. Would you be even more careless, stirring hot coals into a blaze of words that may put someone’s spiritual health at risk? Are you inflaming others, stirring up a fire with gossip, opinions, sarcasm or your agenda? Please, let’s stop feeding the fire and burning others with our spoken and written words. Let’s be intentional about letting the fires die out. Let’s sow peace and encouragement and show godly wisdom, honoring the Lord rather than satisfying our own desires.

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[1] Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 288. Print.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

Carla Moore

I think we all might know her. We walk on eggshells around her. We weigh our words carefully so that she won’t be annoyed with us. We are a little reluctant to be around her because we never know when we might accidentally provoke her. Sometimes it’s embarrassing to go places with her, because she might be short-tempered with a waitress who (she thinks) is too slow or a store clerk who (she thinks) isn’t polite enough. Offended, annoyed, hurt, resentful, irritated, miffed, insulted, indignant, wounded. All of those words might describe her on any given day.

I have a hard question now. Is it possible that she is…me?

I know, I know—that’s inconceivable, right? But let’s stop and think about some indicators that might suggest that we are overly sensitive or easily offended. Is there someone you’re avoiding or not speaking to because that person offended you? Is it possible that your social media posts passive-aggressively hint about your irritations? You may have (consciously or unconsciously) excluded someone from your circle of friends. Maybe your body language conveys your displeasure with a simple turn of the head or a proverbial nose in the air. How much brain space is occupied by a search for the perfect “clap back” to someone you’ve disagreed with? You might not be outwardly confrontational, yet you may radiate a noticeable air of irritation. I’ll admit, this has been a personal struggle. Years ago, as a teen, I saw a candid photograph that happened to catch me with a very visible look of disdain on my face. I knew who I was looking at, and it was embarrassing to discover how transparent my feelings were.

The truth is, if we are clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love (Col. 3:12-14) our sleeves simply won’t have room for our feelings. Living and walking by the Spirit leads to the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). As difficult as it is to believe that negative tendencies are in us, we have to honestly consider the enmity (hostility), strife (quarrels), fits of anger (indignation), disputes (strife and selfishness) or dissensions (which one lexicon defines as “a standing apart”) that we so casually allow in our hearts. God is very clear that if we practice those things, we “will not inherit the kingdom of God,” (Gal. 5:21). If we say that we belong to Christ—and if you are a Christian, you have publicly declared that you do—then our aim will be to crucify those things in us that are against His will.

If you have these tendencies, here are some things to think about: I can choose not to be annoyed if someone hurts my feelings. Maybe they didn’t mean to hurt me. Maybe they have a different way of expressing themselves. Maybe they have a different background, or a weird sense of humor. Maybe they’ve had a terrible day. Maybe they misunderstood me, or didn’t hear me. Maybe no one has ever loved them. Maybe no one has ever told them that God does. (Have I told them?) Maybe, just maybe, I am the one who isn’t being super nice to them. Or maybe they did mean to hurt me. Maybe they just aren’t nice. Still, I can make a choice to return good for evil, to maintain control of my own thoughts and hearts instead of giving control to them. Though not simple, it truly is a matter of training and redirecting our minds. God said that we must “with humility of mind regard one another as more important” than ourselves, looking out “for the interests of others” and not just our own (Phil. 2:3-4).

Don’t be “her”. Instead, be a woman of God, not wearing your feelings on your sleeve. Control your feelings, and wear kindness, tenderness, humility and forgiveness. It’s beautiful, and it’s biblical!

Carla Moore

The expression “name calling” conjures up memories of actions on an elementary school playground, where children were at times cruel with their words. But there is another kind of name calling that is not at all cruel. In fact, it is divine!

When one explores the Bible to find unique examples of name calling, that is, when God named or renamed someone, I immediately think of Abram and Sarai. In chapter seventeen of Genesis, Abram is nighty-nine. The Lord appeared to him and said,

“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.  I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.  And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.  And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:1-8 ESV).

    The name Abram means “exalted father,” so it was appropriate that, in keeping with His covenant promises, God renamed him Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” Then God told Abraham,

    “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.  I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her” (17:15-16).  Abraham and Sarah’s new names signified they were under a new covenant with the Lord.

    There are others who received new names from the Lord, but probably the most important is the name God gave all the obedient followers of Christ. Isaiah prophesied about this a thousand years before it happened. “The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give” (Isaiah 62:2).

Luke wrote about the early church, “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:25-26). The word “called” here, in the original Greek language, means “divinely called.” It was not a nickname or a name of derision or used in a mocking, sarcastic way, as some may suggest! It was the name God chose for His people, just as surely as He chose Abraham and Sarah’s. The name you and I wear is the name given to us by God Almighty! It signifies that we are in a new covenant relationship with Him which is the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) under the banner of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. May we always glorify Him as we wear the special name Christian!

Today’s Verse: “And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28), and “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Peter 4:16).

 by Teresa Hampton