Tongue Control and Finger Control

In his little letter to the Christians in the 1st Century, the Apostle James had some potent things to say about “tongue control”. What James said then was probably sufficient for the most part. Though written communication had existed for a very long time then, it was much more of a laborious task to write than we think of in our modern day. Back then, most communication between people was verbal. But, times have been changing ever since. And in my lifetime, things have changed drastically.

In the middle of the 15th Century, moveable type printing machines were created for use with western languages. This multiplied the potential to mass-produce written messages for distribution. A mechanical typewriter was first marketed in the 1870’s. In the 1930’s, IBM marketed an electric typewriter, mostly used in business settings. In the mid 1960’s, IBM marketed a new innovation, the Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter, which provided a memory of the typing so that corrections could be made without having to re-type an entire document. In the early ’70’s, word processors began to be created to utilize the power of computers. Today, we have very powerful and very fast computers with very powerful word processing programs. Beyond this, cell phones and other portable devices allow us to communicate with others verbally and in print at exceptional speeds.

It seems we are able to communicate faster than we can think in this modern world. At least, a lot of stuff I see posted online (Facebook, etc.) doesn’t seem to have been very well thought out before being blurted out.

Before I go on, let’s look at what James had to say about the tongue.

“We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:2-10)

I suggest that we all think about this. Perhaps finger control is needed today as much as tongue control ever was. Let us think about what we are communicating, the appropriateness of our words – not only when we speak, but when we tweet, text, email, post comments on Facebook, etc. Personally, I see so much stuff posted on Facebook that it inappropriate, out-of-line, and damaging.

Recently, an offended dad posted a video online in response to his daughter’s disrespectful Facebook post about her family. The father’s video has been viewed more than 20 million times on Youtube. He talked to his daughter in a very stern manner about her disrespect and ingratitude. He had recently invested $130 in upgrading her laptop computer, and he was incensed that she would publicly complain about her life. He was also justly repulsed that several of her "friends" had clicked “like” to her grossly disrespectful comment. He ended his powerful rebuke by pulling out his 45 cal pistol and shooting nine rounds into her laptop. (This was filmed outside, of course.)

Though I wouldn’t recommend the Dad’s approach, I must admit I enjoyed it and hoped that a lot of young people would be inspired to think about what they post before they post it. When I was growing up, I probably complained about my home-life to a friend or two here and there. What would have been a pretty private conversation out in my yard or on the playground back in my day, winds up being a notification to literally hundreds of “friends” via a Facebook post today. So, I would encourage all of us to cautiously control our tongues, but just as cautiously control our fingers.

Richard Roberts Arrested!

I woke up to this sad news this morning: “Richard Roberts, former president of Oral Roberts University, is in Tulsa County Jail charged with DUI.” He was originally pulled over by a highway patrolman for driving in excess of 90 mph in a 65 mph zone. The smell of alcohol on Mr. Roberts led to sobriety tests on the spot which he failed. After being taken into custody, a breathalyzer test registered .11% alcohol; .08% is considered drunk in Oklahoma; .10% is considered drunk in every state. Just after midnight last night he was booked into Tulsa County Jail.

As an ORU graduate, I am very thankful for the education I received there. Of course, I remember taking the required course on “Being filled with the spirits and testing God’s protection by racing your car around town”. That is a joke, of course; no such course exists. Not even a hint of such teaching could be found at the university. I do fear that many will use Richard’s failure as a reason to attack the university. And some of those attacks will probably be as ridiculous as suggesting that such a course is part of the ORU curriculum.

Richard Roberts has his problems – legal and otherwise. He has had problems in the past; hence, he is the past president of ORU. This need not, however, become an occasion to attack the Roberts family, the university, Christians in general, or Charismatic Christians in particular. It really ought not be an occasion to attack Richard Roberts either. He obviously has problems and needs prayer. For the record, he and his family have mine.

Courageous- A Movie Recommendation

I didn't wait till it played the dollar theater on purpose. I've been busy. When I saw the first trailer for Courageous, I intended to see the movie. I expected it to be good, just not quite this good.

Yesterday, my wife and I went to see this movie. It easily gets a place among the best movies I have ever seen. In a day when families fall apart more often than they stay together, in a day when too many children grow up without the benefit of an involved, loving father, the message of this movie is so needed.

I want to publicly thank the people responsible for creating this movie. God bless you. And I want to encourage every man to go watch this movie - if for no other reason than you can passionately encourage other men to see it. And if you are a father still raising your kids, please make watching this movie a priority. I can't imagine that something in this movie wouldn't speak to your heart - powerfully speak to your heart. I plan to include this DVD in my library to loan.

Are You a Teacher?

This morning, as our lead pastor (Brian Jennings) preached his New Year message, he asked us this question: "How many of you here are teachers?" Several of us raised our hands immediately. Now, before I go on, let me ask you, "Would you have raised your hand?"

Brian assessed the relatively low number of hands in response to his question. Then he said he thought we must not have understood him; so he asked again how many of us were teachers. Several more hands went up this time. Stating again that we must not be understanding him, he asked once more, "How many of you are teachers?" Most hands in the auditorium went up this time. Then Brian affirmed the truth that all of us are teachers; we all are teaching other people by our words or by our actions. Even children are teachers. They do learn from one another, and not always good and right things.

We would all do well to remember that all education does not take place in a formal pedagogical setting. Actually, most education does not take place in these settings. We are potentially learning from others constantly. We see someone do something and conclude that that is the way to handle a given situation. We reason "that is what everyone else is doing", so it is acceptable for me to do.

I need to remember that someone may be watching me, listening to me, when I don't even realize it. And, as they watch and listen, they may be learning lessons that are detrimental to them and a shame to me that I was their teacher. It is worth contemplating your role as a teacher. May we all be better learners and better teachers in 2012.

To blog or not to blog

To blog or not to blog - that is my question. I haven't made an entry for almost a year and a half. Occasionally, I think about it. But then I wonder if it is a worthwhile investment of my time. Will anyone read what I write? Does it really matter that my thoughts are out in the mix of the millions of other people who choose to publish their thoughts, views, opinions via the Internet? I suppose many bloggers do not consider my questions. Maybe I shouldn't.

One of the new participants in my Internet-based Bible study expressed the hope that I would invest more time in blogging. I suppose he noticed that I hadn't entered anything for a very long time. So, I will attempt in 2012 to enter something here worth your time and mine.

I shall make this proclamation as I stand on the front porch of 2012, waiting for this door of opportunity to open: I am still a grateful believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the life I have found in Him. Though I live in an age when mocking and scoffing Jesus, His Father & His Word are in vogue, I won't sit with them. Psalm One starts out with these great words of wisdom, as applicable today as the day they were first blogged - I mean written: "Blessed is the man (that would be man or woman for those who don't understand the old generic use of "man") who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in seat of mockers." Mockers are expanding their seating section in this day. Atheists are going evangelical - aggressively spreading their message. So, I unashamedly proclaim: I firmly believe in God. I believe in the God of the Bible. I believe in Jesus. He is still "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He is my Savior, my Lord.

So, God, I ask You to use me in 2012 to further Your purposes in me and in those with whom I am allowed connect. Thank You!

A Meltdown in Target

Last Saturday, while preparing our new ministry office space for our move next Saturday, my wife and I had to go shopping for some shelf paper for the kitchen and cleaning supplies. Being around the lunch hour, we decided to get a bite to eat at the cafe in Target. After eating our hot dogs, Kathy went to get a cart and I went to get a refill on my Diet Coke.

When I came out of the dining area, I noticed Kathy slowly pushing a cart my direction with a very distubed countenance. As she came closer, it became obvious that she was crying. I came to her side and asked what was wrong. I feared that she had fallen or hurt herself in some way. (She had tripped and fallen in a parking lot a few days before, so the look was familiar.) Kathy was too upset to talk.

For a minute or two I waited for her to settle down and tell me what was wrong. When she was able, she told me she had just seen a lady that looked just like Mildred Nervig, one of her mother's dear friends. Of course, it wasn't Mildred, because she had passed away even before Kathy's mom did last October.

This is how grieving typically works. From out of left field, something reminds you of your loss, and in an instant, you can be transported to an emotional place you did not expect.

The A** Obama is Looking to Kick

According to news reports, President Obama said he has been talking with various experts for weeks “so I know whose ass to kick.” I can tell you, Mr. President, whose rear-end to kick. In fact, several of those experts should have already told you. I was introduced to this culprit as a teenager in the US Navy. This villain is responsible for much chaos and calamity in our world.

His name is Murphy. He is credited with the creation of a famous law that cannot be revoked, though every government and court of every nation surely would wish to do so. His law says, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”

So, Murphy is really responsible for the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. Murphy did his thing when that Blow Out Protector devise failed. Something that could go wrong, did.

Engineers busy themselves trying to Murphy-proof things they build. For instance, a receptacle for a 220 volt dryer in our homes will not be mistaken for the place to plug in the vacuum cleaner that operates on 110 volts. The two receptacles are quite different. This is a design feature to keep Murphy at bay. In our newer vehicles, we must have our foot on the brake in order to put the vehicle in gear. This is another design feature to prevent accidental shifting in gear that can be destructive, even deadly.

Most of us consumers are aware of many everyday features that are attempts by designers to Murphy-proof things we use. Few of us are aware of the degree of thought given to Murphy when things are made. This certainly includes oil wells on land and sea. One thing can be counted on, Murphy will take advantage of any opportunity. Systems, designed to back up other critical systems that fail, can also fail; though rare, it happens. And, when it happens, the results are much like having had no backup system.

So, Mr President, if you can find Murphy, kick his butt for me, too. I’d really like that. If, however, you find Murphy as illusive as everyone else I have known, beware of just kicking any available to you. In your job, you’re surrounded by "asses", many of them worthy of being kicked. Though “kicking butt” may make you feel better and boost your approval rating, it won’t necessarily make anything better.