I've been working through a number of Bible Studies, tracing the source and meaning of the words we take for granted. Daily. Daily these words are in our vocabulary and we've accepted their meaning to be understood based on their global and historical usage. And we are generally okay with that.
But lately, and even longer ago than lately, words have been changing their meanings by the various users and abusers of our language. Not only are these changes subtle, but they are trainwrecks as they move from positive to a distant negative. It is getting difficult to know what you can use, or say, without stepping on some little petunia's foot. My apologies to the flower world!Read More »
It’s something I’ve learned of myself, and maybe it’s more noticeable to me as I age, but it’s harder and harder to turn my mind into mush so I can enjoy rest. Like, an all night restful sleep. Or, have a total focus on a singletopic instead of ranging far and wide and thinking 100 subjects.
It’s not that I’m distracted, but I’ve learned how my mind works and without some powerful focus techniques I can easily head off into a hundred different ways. And enjoy the journey!
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But… it means saying no to 100 other good ideas.” ~Steve Jobs
That troubles me… Saying “no” to 100 other good ideas. Yet, somehow, we must bring “into captivity” every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5). Except, and this is powerful for me, if I don’t think these thoughts, then what will I lose, or what will never be thought of by anyone else?
Where do these unbidden thoughts rest until someone thinks them?
Yesterday evening, at the ending of a particularly long day, and after completing a much needed conference call, I was sitting on the porch and checking out some of my news sources. Playing catch-up with the day. You know, making sure I don’t miss anything before it’s time to crash for the evening!
I was distracted by all the bird varieties hanging around in the trees. Squawking. Flapping. Settling down for the night. Birds that cannot be seen for the denseness of the trees. But they let me know they are there. The dogs wishing for one more run. That far off engine running as someone does one last chore before the sun’s totally gone. That plane heading for the airport a little lower than normal. Do the plants need water. Gotta destroy some weeds in the morning. The coolness rises from the ground as the sun beams filter through the last tree line…
Does anyone think like this? Or am I unique.
Not to read too much in this, but it’s almost as if I can imagine King David of Israel fame…young lad, out in the fields, guarding his flock of sheep. The idleness of time fills his brain with stored thoughts for future psalms. Perhaps he strums his harp through out the night, gazing at the stars and imagines:
To the Chief Musician.
On the Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalms 8:1-9 NKJV)
The beauty of these few words make me want to rethink my evening, my thoughts and how I share the ruminations of my mind. But if there is no one to ever hear me speak them, then maybe my blog will last long into the future and others will be enlightened by the words.
(Click Here For Audio) Over the past week I’ve been making a recording of my blog post and posting them to a separate platform, but I’ve provided a link within the blog so you can click and listen, if you so choose.
Now, for the most part, I keep my computing devices, even my smart phone, silent because I’m not one to listen to rattling noises from websites as I research and search for information. Besides, I read faster than I listen and in a glance I can grasp the data I need, but to listen to you talk, and drone, and spend hours what should take minutes? Well, that’s just about a complete waste of my time!
Still, there are times I enjoy listening to the banter between news anchors, or other talking heads. Some have pleasant voice and speech mannerisms that just make you want to tune in.
For example, of all the news anchors I’ve ever listened to, I can still hear Walter Cronkite closing out his daily news cycle with:
“And that’s the way it is, Friday, May 12, 2017. This is Walter Cronkite. Good night.”
Without research, and decades later, I can hear his voice in my head. All through the 60’s and 70’s he spoke into our household and I will forever remember his quality words, and voice, his gentlemanly behavior as he spoke of victories, challenges and tragedies. He is often spoken of as the most trusted man in America. Why? We believed his words. They were spoken facts as they were known, and it was Walter Cronkite who told me of the assignations of the 60’s, along with the Space program, and the war that was unwinnable. We watched and listened to him as he spoke to our hearts and minds of the important news we needed to know.
There is something about the quality of some voices that begs you to listen. It’s like a singer. There are some you can hear and understand their lyrics, the music is a quality you enjoy, and the beat keeps you connected, note after note. We were listening to a favored singers new album last night, and one song in particular changed beat and went down a path I was not expecting – “Turn it off!” I couldn’t take it! That one song may never become a favorite, although I still enjoy the voice.
The other thing about my hearing is that I do not hear as well as I should. All those years of mainframe computers droning in the background created some hearing issues for me. My doctor says it’s about the range where most women’s voices are known to be! Proof! I don’t hear women as well as men, or, I have to listen better when a woman speaks than when most men speak. Still, there are voices, regardless of gender, that I have to focus all my attention on just to understand what they are saying…
Add to that, there are voices that simply grate on my nerves and I could never spend hours, much less a minute, paying any serious attention to them. That’s not their fault. It’s mine. But they pay the consequence of my inattention. I tune them out.
Add to that, just one more thing. There are some speakers that make no sense and their jocularity has no place in my hearing. I could never accept them in a serious mode because of their senseless banter.
Have you ever heard yourself talk? Try it. Turn that smart phone recorder on, and simply read a page of some favored reading material. Scripture. News. Book. It doesn’t matter. Read, and listen, and report back. Go ahead. I’m waiting…
Here’s My Daily Thought: When you read and record material provided by another, you are reading their words with your voice. But when you write what you want to say, and record it, then you are speaking your words with your own voice. And it becomes easier. Too often, the words we speak never originate with ourselves. We speak from another’s platform, speech style, and message. What you need to do is to learn the facts yourself, develop your own voice and speak your truth from your perspective, but back it up with solid facts!
We bend our voice to speak their words.
Unless you are in perfect harmony with the originator, then you are not able to speak their words as well as they could – even if their voice is not perfect.
Jesus doesn’t speak of his source of knowledge often, but this one time comes to mind. Consider that the words you speak are important and relay valuable knowledge of who you speak for, and the power of the words you speak.
In John 6:63, Jesus states, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Regardless of the timbre of his own voice, the content of the words are Spirit (GK: pneuma = a breath or blast of air – think about pneumatic). This is the same Spirit they received on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was that breath of spiritualair that filled them.
He was telling them something long before the event occurred! Our words can easily be mistaken when we just rattle something off the cuff, but when we know what the future holds, then our words are the very life someone needs in order to grasp understanding in the future.
This is why it is so important to listen to the way you talk! You need to learn how to speak so others can grasp the importance of your words!
Did you listen to the way you talk? Your command of the language, usage of words, and logical progression of thought… It all matters…I’m just saying…”That’s the way it is…”
I was teaching a lesson last night, and some of the words I was sharing just sort of hit me funny… I began to ask questions, to myself, and realized how little I know about the origination of language…
Where did language come from? How was it invented? Why are there so many different ones? Did they develop at the same time? Are any of them related in history? Which was the first one? If humanity migrated from a single source location, and language originated with them, how and why did language morph into so many? Of course, the Tower of Babel might be the reason for this…
Of course, it was probably spoken long before it was written, so the alphabet is totally different between each! The number of letters, the stylized writing, and the pronunciation of the sounds associated with each – when you learn a new language, you are learning definitions, letters, sounds, usage, rules of communication, tones… A ton of information is needed in order to communicate effectively.
“There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. However, about 2,000 of those languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers. The most popular language in the world is Mandarin Chinese. There are 1,213,000,000 people in the world that speak that language.” [Source]
Over a billion people speak Mandarin Chinese!
Amazing.
And this from a country that has hundreds of dialects!
Amazing!
Language is a funny thing!
Where does Space End? I remember this questioning attitude in my 8th grade science class with Mr Doolittle. Channelview, Texas… We were talking about atoms. You know, electrons, protons, and comparing their rotation around the nuclei, sort of like how the planets orbit around the sun. The distance between the components of an atom are smaller than the naked eye can see, the distance between our solar system almost incalculable without a high understanding of math and the scientific tools to perform measurements.
Is there something farther than what we can see with the stars at night? Is there something smaller than the atom we are studying… The answer is an obvious yes. Smaller than an atom, and contained within, is a quark. Anything smaller? Probably. Give em’ time. How about the depth of space? Further than most of our minds will ever comprehend, space just simply seems to keep going a kajillion light years away (the distance light can travel in one year at 186,000 mph)…
I’m just saying. It’s a good question! Scientists just have not found all the answers. I’m just saying. Good question!Read More »
If you are maturing, you realize there are probably many who do not listen to you at all, and you are probably okay with that. If you are truthful, you often wonder who really cares what you have to say and ask, “How can I communicate better?”
For those of us who have had teenagers, we understand there is a time that they do not listen to the voice of age and reason. Their hormones are whacked out and their ears and little brains shut down when an adult opens their mouth to speak.
For those of us who were once teenagers,
we remember those days and say things like, “If only I had listened!”
For over 35 years I have been preaching and teaching, and have thousands of messages that document my history of speaking. For over 10 years I have taught college courses in banking, IT and ministry. For 7 years I have been blogging, sometimes not faithfully following a schedule, but through the past several years it’s been an almost daily event. For over 40 years I have been an “adult” with a maturing process of words and things to says.
Many have heard, or read my work, one way or another.
My blog has occasional readers from all around the world. I’m surprised when someone in Dubai, Hong Kong or Saudi Arabia clicks on my blog – but then I’m sure they are not really there to read and are running a key word search and they happen to land on my blog, among many other sites. I am surprised when someone actually leaves a comment at my blog. It normally means we are not connected via any other social media, and this is the best way to drop a piece of mail my way.
Through the years I have not always communicated an intentional message, following a pattern of words that takes someone on a journey. I learned yesterday that many want intentional information, like a carpenter needs a blueprint, or a traveler needs a map, or a programmer needs a flowchart.
I know I want concrete information! I listen to voices that give me solid actions and steps to take, rather than those big ideas, or random tips and tricks. So, I have voices that I tune in to, authors, pastors, teachers, coach’s and guru’s. All to help me be a better “me” and find better steps, processes, systems, and avenues to consider.
Crystal Radio Kit
But in the midst of all the noise, I have often found the best time of listening comes when there is no sound competing for my attention. It’s an internal, still, small, voice… Some may say it’s my consciousness. Other’s simply say I’m ruminating through the ether of my mind, trying to tune in to some line of thought…much like that old Crystal Radio dad and I assembled by in the early 60’s. I still don’t understand how it worked, but if you listened closely you may be able to tune in to a particular radio station with those ancient earplugs.
You have to listen closely.
And that’s what I’m thinking about today. You have to listen closely so you can understand better what’s being said. Depending on the voice, you may even have to “read between the lines” to get the subtilty of the message. Sometimes it’s difficult to simply understand the nuances of the spoken, or written, word.
So how do you determine what someone is truly saying? How do you understand who is listening to what you have to say?
We all know this to be the truth, but it is better that we lay it on the table and think about it. When a message is being communicated, we observe what the speaker does, and determine if their actions line up to the words that are coming out of their mouth. Sort of like using a plumb bob to see if you have built something straight and level using a simple weight and string to line up what you did, with what you planned…what you do, with what you said…
“Actions speak louder than words” and “Actions have consequences” – both valid statements allowing us to determine if the speakers action are lined up to their words…
The spirit of these words can be attributed to many throughout the years [Source] but it really finds roots in the epistle of St John…
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18 NKJV)
Words matter, but actions show the truth of our words. People may hear one thing, and see another. In other words, the answer to the question, “Who’s listening?” may not have anything to do with the words you speak, but rather the things that you do.
I believe people “watch and learn” better than simply “sitting and listening”. Of course, this is applicable via our own personal learning styles. [Read here from my blog post: 4 Little Things] Some need to hear, others read, some watch, and others need to do. We all learn differently… True?
Well, the Apostle Paul dealt with this same concept in my favorite epistle to the Philippians. And I’ve written about this recently. [Source]
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NKJV)
The things which you have learned, received, heard and saw in me… (all the learning styles!) … Do. Yes… Your actions are probably the most visible sound your words can communicate. Do well, and let your actions be exactly what your words have spoken.
Some are listening to what you do, more than what you say!
With words we paint a picture of what we experience. Words can tell of the heartaches and joys. Words describes the world around us. Maybe we need a dictionary at time, but once we grasp a meaning then we join the speaker in visually painting the picture seen from memory or experience.
Example: Let the speaker say “azure” and we think of a bright blue and cloudless sky. In fact, that’s how one dictionary defines the word. Unless you are blind, or color blind, then you can simply recall such a day and associate the word to your own experience.
Our words speak to our lives.
Our words speak from our minds.
Our words are important.
A scripture came to mind this morning as I was thinking about how we describe ourselves to others. The Apostle Paul had been arrested and is in the long march of imprisonment from his country to Rome. He is brought before King Agrippa and he utters this phrase, “I think myself happy….” (Acts 26:2) Now. Happiness means something different to each of us. When we feel happy it’s generally due to a pleasant experience or memory that changes our outlook and expression on life.
A scientist, or someone smarter about certain things than you and I, may try to describe where the feeling of happiness comes from.
Serotonin is sometimes called the happiness hormone. Serotonin regulates the mood, prevents depression and makes you feel happy. … On the other hand, Dopamine helps you to feel mentally alert. The lack of it might cause lack of attention, lack of concentration and bad moods.
While it is true that there are hormonal and chemical reasons why we respond to life the way we do, there is also another way of thinking about life in such a way that we manufacture the feelings that are commonly associated with the word happy.
Paul said, “I think…” and in the original language this word is associated with an internal mechanism of controlling your mind over the situation. Other translations says it like this: “I consider…”, “I esteem…”, “In my opinion…”, “I count myself…”
Get the drift? There is such a thing as being in control of how you think about something so that you can see a different picture than what your circumstances may say. And it is perhaps that Paul’s personality forces him down this path, but it could also be him in control and seeing better things about his current lot in life.
It may only be semantics, or word mechanics, that makes me think like this, but I am often a personality that hopes to see the good in what’s happening around me. Some focus on the negative. I want to focus on the positive. I may have some internal struggles with describing the better viewpoint, but it’s definitely the way I lean.
I think Paul was like this. It is in his writings in multiple places that he looks for the positive.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (Philippians 3:7 NKJV)
Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. (1 Timothy 6:1 NKJV)
There was a man that attended a bible study I taught at one of my jobs a few decades ago. For nearly 3 years he would arrive before everyone else bemoaning the current state of the world. For 3 years! Nearly every time I would say something like, “Well, the bible says it’s supposed to get worse before it gets better.” He would cock his head, think about it a moment, and then say, “You got a point.” and his entire focus would change on a dime…
Maybe we need to have more vocalization around that can speak positive into the negative world we live in. Not that we are trying to mask the bad, but are straining to keep the conversation positive and flowing to a better outcome.
Maybe that’s you… You are not alone… Praying for you!
Listening to a news report this morning… President George Bush has produced a new book called, “Portraits of Courage” where he details the backstory of selected vets, with his personal painting of them.
And I thought a shallow thought, as I’m sure many will do.
Then I paused, and started to listen to the words of the story and realized, again, that with every story there is a unique backstory. And with every thinking moment, listening, analyzing, comparing to perspective, and bringing up my own unique method of reading the story between the lines, I realized that the story is a very deep story.
And the news can only cover it as a surface story due to time limitations, and the fact that many of the questions asked were meant to solicit a response that will be a separate news story in and of it self, for their own reporting needs.
I have a contact who does not know how to read anything quickly. It seems he analyzes every word, thought, sub-thought, and attempts to put it all in context of the paragragh, section, chapter and full story. When he has finished, he believes that he has a deep understanding of the story.
Not me. I’m a surface reader. I glean quickly, move through the pages rapidly, and have a high level understanding of the story. Until something grabs my attention… Then I’m like a submarine. Go as deep as the thought will allow!
Sunday, a preacher friend shared his message with the church, and every time I hear him I realize that the scripture has a huge deep story that we often fail to grasp. Why? We don’t take the time to think something through. The names of the places, mountains, tribes, even a country – they all have a sub-story of meaning.
We take it for granted that Washington State is the only state named for a president, and Texas may mean “friendly” but it also a restatement of earlier languages long before the Spanish occupied the land. There’s history to the word that we seldom ever take the time to research. Go ahead… Look it up. Texas comes from the Caddo Indian word “teshay” – essentially means “friendly.”
I love research.
When I’m not reading for entertainment, or attempting to get a high level look at the book, then I love to research every historical portion a single sentence may contain.
But they are often misused. Daily. Hourly. And minute by minute. We put them into the wrong places of sentences and the entire thought becomes muddled. We grab the wrong word and the meaning is not only wrong, but often jokingly funny!
The problem, often, is that we seldom work on relearning or refreshing that knowledge we thought we had learned in those earlier years. Ask someone what is the difference between a verb or adverb, noun or pronoun, and the answer will not be clear. Never mind those other parts of the sentences like preposition, conjunction, or adjective.
Often, it’s never easy to remember all the correct ways to connect words to have a complete and clear thought! Especially if we have to name the “little pieces parts.”
I have written often about my poor experience of class in the 6th grade. For one year I was at one campus and with all the crowding of students, teachers were brought out of retirement to teach. I will name her, but those that were at DeZavala with me know the poorest 6th grade teacher of the hallway. It was during this year that we learned how to diagram sentences. We had never done it before in earlier grades, so it never made clear sense to me. My cousin had a better class experience down the hallway and he seemed to grasp the concept very clearly!
Of the many psalms that David wrote, there is one of my favorites and I’ve written about it several times. Psalms 37. It is didactic, meaning, it is intended to teach!Especially a lesson of moral values. Part of it is exhortation (emphatic urging). Part of it is calm, un-impassioned instruction.
It is clear. Understandable. And it makes great sense.
The one thing that pops out to me are the action words (verbs) that are continually used. See if you find them as you read the first few verses. Hint? I’ve made the words bold.
A Psalm of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. (Psalms 37:1-8 NKJV)
Then he references a scripture we use often as we document our lives….
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. (Psalms 37:23 NKJV)
The order we need to follow are those verbs I highlighted above. No fretting or envying, rather Trust, Dwell, Delight, Commit, Rest, Wait, Cease, Forsake… All action words on how to actively live.
The book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. Not really chapters, but each is a stand-alone song or poem. The first chapter may have been a preface to the entire book. Think about it…
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalms 1:1-6 NKJV)
Valid words. Beautiful thoughts. Necessary. Even today.
And I’ve heard it a million times if I’ve heard it once. You pick it up right away and use it when you’ve spoken a word or phrase that may not be something used in polite company.
“Pardon my French” or “Excuse my French” is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as French. The phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity, swearing, or curses in the presence of those offended by it under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language. (1)
Why do all the French speaking citizens get the praise, or blame, for language misuse? I’m not sure. One source describes English Speaking people in the 19th century using French words and then apologizing for the usage in company that may not know what the French word means. This sort of reminds me of all those snobbish people in The Unsinkable Molly Brown who could speak in multiple languages and then apologize to all those less educated or traveled ones who had not the opportunity or experience to learn.
As a kid we were threatened to have our mouth washed out with soap if we ever uttered certain words or phrases again. We were TAUGHT to not use these words, yet entertainment seems to be laced with these words all the time.
When it comes to profanity, the phrase almost becomes profane itself. If you did not know a bad word had just been spoken, then the phrase points out your ignorance. In my mind that means “Pardon my French” is slang for I’ve just given myselfliberty to use a word that is probably not acceptable in your hearing. It’s almost a habit to consider the company you keep and determining if what you’ve just said needs some sort of apology…instead of learning to control the language you speak in certain company.
I had a manager once that loved to titillate the conversation with off color stories and words. In mixed company it was first viewed as naughty, then polite laughter followed, and eventually it seemed some could not wait to hear what would be said next. If language controls the path of life we take, remember that you easily lead others with the words you use.
I've been working through a number of Bible Studies, tracing the source and meaning of the words we take for granted. Daily. Daily these words are in our vocabulary and we've accepted their meaning to be understood based on their global and historical usage. And we are generally okay with that.
It’s something I’ve learned of myself, and maybe it’s more noticeable to me as I age, but it’s harder and harder to turn my mind into mush so I can enjoy rest. Like, an all night restful sleep. Or, have a total focus on a single topic instead of ranging far and wide and thinking 100 subjects.
Michael Gurley 
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