What Are Your Words Worth?

We make vows when we marry. Politicians take oaths of office. We swear to tell the truth when giving testimony. We make commitments and promises with our words. What are your words worth?

In our society, words seem only important in the circumstances in which they are uttered. Whether it's big business or big government, most words are disingenuous. Many are intended to deceive and mislead. Most are for the purpose of promoting the agendas of the utterer.

In considering membership in a church recently, I was asked to sign a "covenant" of words with the leadership that was basically a commitment to submission. While presented as protection for members, this was a thinly veiled attempt to control behavior of a congregation, all in the name of what's right. Words that may appear appropriate, often aren't!

Our president and his administration use words to promote their agendas, which often are not so carefully veiled! Words, however, can deflect attention and criticism and make it seem appropriate actions are being taken when they really aren't. Words can be used for good and for evil, by anyone!

So, the question is, "How do we judge the veracity of words, others and ours? There is only one absolute standard, God's Word in the Holy Bible. A book that many have tried to destroy, that many don't believe, contains the only standard for truth. Stories of individuals setting out to disprove the contents of the Bible abound. Most have ended up believing because true words have power!

God spoke the world and mankind into existence by His Word! He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so we could be connected with Him, with His love and power. When we confess Jesus as Lord with our words, and believe in our heart He died to make us righteous, we become part of God's family. Now we can speak words of truth that have power. We can pray words that will change our lives and the lives of others. In Jesus Christ, our words will echo into eternity! They have worth far beyond our understanding! What are your words worth?

The Good Humor Man

When I was a kid, the ice cream truck would drive through our neighborhood several time each summer day. The driver was called "The Good Humor Man." I don't ever remember being sad when I gave him my nickel for ice cream on a stick! The Good Humor Man made me smile.

The man in the ice cream truck didn't do much to get me to smile, just drive by and take my nickel. He didn't tell me funny stories, try to get me to laugh or even laugh himself. By his presence and by providing something I liked very much, he brought joy to my life.

Good humor, joy, prevents hardening of the arteries so to speak. Joy brings life to our mind, to our will and to our emotions, especially in hard times.

That ice cream on a stick brought me joy but it disappeared quickly. After a few minutes savoring the ice cream, I had to begin looking for other things to bring me joy, or at least what I thought was joy. A new bike, cap pistols, candy and other things were on my list.

As I grew older I continued to search for things that made me happy. Alcohol, work and fleeting affairs replaced the ice cream on a stick. But like the ice cream, the joy I thought they brought disappeared quickly.

When I was 45, I finally realized there was only one sure source of joy in my life, His name is Jesus Christ. Don't get me wrong, life didn't suddenly turn into a rose garden! Like a small child, I had to learn how to tap into the resources we can have in Him. I'm still learning but I know we can have joy unspeakable that is everlasting! We can have good humor by One Man and it doesn't cost a nickel!

What Time is it?

It's the holiday season, of course! A time for giving, a time for family, a time for reflecting on the past year, a time for planning for next year and a time for considering the needs of others.

The temperature where I live has dipped below zero and there is some snow. I'm grateful I have a warm house; some don't. Holiday meals are being planned and I'm very grateful we have money to buy food; some don't. We are planning to get together with some of our family members to celebrate Christmas and I'm grateful for that; some are alone.

The truth is I sometimes take our blessings for granted. Only two years ago, we'd experienced a business failure and were left with no money and huge debt. During this time my wife broke her ankle and was bed-fast for 3 months. Through this time, friends and family brought food and supplies that enabled us to always have enough. Having been in a similar situation several years before, we have an understanding of what it's like being without.

With the support of friends, and out trust in God, we survived and were blessed incredibly. This holiday season, the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, many people need to see Him in flesh and blood; they need you and me!

Let your "Yes" be "Yes and your "No," "No"

The American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, 1828 Edition, defines "ingenuous" as "open, frank, fair, candid, and free from reserve, disguise, equivocation or dissimulation." "Disingenuous" is the opposite.

In today's politics and news reporting, the word "spin" has become synonymous with the word "disingenuous," at least in reference to spoken and written words. Questions asked are rarely answered with direct answers. Answers are designed to be non-answers and to direct listener's attention to a person's position, belief or dogma. We may hear partial truths or outright lies designed to cover the truth. Leaders may be saying one thing while their staff persons are doing the opposite. This is "spin" and it is "disingenuous!"

A passage of Scripture in Matthew 5:33-37 concludes with this: "But let your 'Yes" be 'Yes,' and your 'No, 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." "Spin" has become normal for today's communications and, because prominent people do it, much of society accepts it as permissible. Here's the truth. "Spin," or "disingenuous" words, are LIES! Deceitful, dishonest or criminal are progressive adjectives describing the "spin" that cloaks private agendas of politicians, political parties and others in our society today.

I'm ashamed to admit that, occasionally, I have fallen prey to this societal norm. How about you?