Proper Spoken Communication

There are various kinds of communication. That's how we pass along information to others. My blog is written communication. It is two-way, but people seldom provide feedback or questions. We're all too familiar with electronic communication. It actually suppresses human to human interaction which we need for a good social experience, not to mention a functional marriage and family!

I'd like to focus on "communication by word". It's an art and having a technique, means that it's also a process. When we communicate the intent is to exchange information and ideas. I don't like the dictionary use of "impart information and ideas" impart can be misunderstood as a one-way discourse, whereas anyone knows that communication is speaking and listening! The third aspect of communication is "effective".  Hence, we have several keywords: words, art, technique, effective, exchange, information and ideas.

Words are the primary aspect of verbal communication. Our brain, diaphragm, lungs, trachea, throat, larnyx, tongue, lips and teeth were designed to enunicate clearly words! We have system components which interact to allow humans to do something that animals cannot do... speak. (The parrot can say words, but does not enunciate clearly and the words are rote rather than ideas, hence not true communication).

Man is certainly different than animals!

1 Corinthians 15:39 (KJV)  "All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds."

 

Along with our ability to speak because we ARE SPECIAL to God, goes proper communication. Not only did God allow us to communicate with each other, but he also tells waht is proper and improper to communicate!  One time God got fed up with man's disobedience and desires and confounded their speech.

 

Genesis 11:6 (KJV) " And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

 

"Speech" and "words" are different. We can say words, but speech is the organized and understood presentation of words. Words are one component of speech, but also important is inflection, gesturing, organization and value of what we say. That value is "effectiveness" of what we say! Each time we organize a thought to express the same, words we select to get across the idea is paramount to good communication. Nearly all, even babes, can say words. Most can speak. Few communicate effectively!  Effective communication is what I want to address.

 

First off, God does tell us how important the tongue is.  Psalm 34:13 "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."  God didn't give a tongue and lips (speech)  to speak things sinful. We are to use our ability to speak for good!

 

Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) 29  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."

 

Our communication is not to tear down, but to build up. It's primary use is to tell anyone who listens about grace... God's grace! It's obvious that "corrupt communication" are those things such as lying, back-biting, cursing, gossip, spreading false doctrine, rumoring, licentiousness (filthy talk), idle chatter and the like. We are to encourage, build up God and others, spread the "Good News", give instruction, rebuke ungodly behavior, and to pray!  Some communication is impact neutral. Daily we must get across ideas just to exist. We can tell others of our hurts and pains, of interests and fact, and to transmit a sense of social care. We can express concern with communication or conversely or lack of concern.

 

Apathetic people use words such as "whatever", "who cares", "so what" and "why should I?" Concerned people take the opposite attitude: "I care!", "Tell me more.", "That's important!" and "I can!"  Communication as expressed words define our character and disposition. One of my favorite expressions is "words mean things!".  If the word doesn't get across the message by itself, the person's attitude who's speaking supplements. A roll of the eyes can say more than any positive word uttered!

 

"Effective word communication" then is the use of words which express the ideas and thoughts as precise as can be to the listener. Sometimes words take on opposite meaning!  The words in pre-1900 "My Old Kentucky Home" were "where the darkies are gay". The former word is no longer used and the latter has a totally disconnected meaning. Be careful what happy person you refer to as "gay"!

 

As an example of effective communication let me try this one: "The large iron machine which moves dexteriously" describes what? This was a foreigner's description of a robot! This is a true example.  Many words were used to get the thought across, yet the words selected are an example of ineffective communication.

 

Listening is as important to communicationa as speaking! 

 

James 1:19 (KJV) " Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,..."

 

All Christians are to be "swift to hear"! That means we listen and try to understand what we are hearing. Although "hearing" is the processing of sound waves, there's a reason we hear? We must be able to apply what we hear!

 

Proverbs 2:2 "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;"

 

We hear to gain practical knowledge and apply the knowledge gained for value-added purposes. Wisdom is taking the knowledge to heart and frivolty is hearing, but not perceiving!

 

Being "slow to speak" means we are applying wisdom by listening, evaluating and not responding until the entire process is in place. We don't "put my foot in my mouth", so to speak.  This is the "process" part of the communication act. If you think about it, the people who are the most wise have lips that move little, but say much when they do move!

 

As defined, speech is an art and a technique. There are professional "wordsmiths" whose speech are the music of thought. Great speechwriters are in as much demand as other artists. It really takes creative abilities to take disconnected words and unite them in such a manner to motivate and enthuse. Each artist has their own technique just as distinctive as their manner of dress. A great speechwriter must write not their own personality into great speeches, but capture the identity of the person speaking! Each one of us have a technique in the presentation of words and also  varying degrees of artisitic ability.

 

Have you ever been with anyone that fires off words just like an automatic weapon? These people neither pause for reflection nor look for feedback to see if the listener understands or even cares. They love to present their view and aren't interested in two-way discourse. Many of these same people  aren't even listening! If they're not speaking; they're organizing their next word spray. These speakers aren't communicators. They're inconsiderate story-tellers. It's wise if you're a speaker to look for signs that the person to whom you're speaking is listening or if the listener seems interested. If the answer to either is "no". Ask the person a question which you're sure will engage the person.

 

What's this got to do with being a Christian? It goes right back to self-indulgence. Some people just love everything about themselves! They are proud, not meek. They don't care much for others. If you'll notice, the most loving people are those who listen, empathize and help. Although "talkers" may have the same Christian concerns, the listener fails to perceive the "care" on their part. It's all about them!

 

Good communication means speaking about subjects which the listener enjoys. A co-worker sat down by me at lunch one day and said "Do you like football?" I replied "No, I don't care for it.". He ignored my lack of interest and told me about last night's game for thirty minutes!  I was flabberghasted!  When I'm speaking of my hobbies I look for genuine interest. If I perceive the interest to be feigned, I quickly change the subject. If someone fails to look enthused or ask questions about the subject, you need to move on. They ARE NOT interested!

 

If you want to make friends, ask them about themselves. Quit saying "I did this." "I love this.", etc., but say "What do you like to do?" Or "What's your thoughts?"

 

If you're wtinessing to a person, the same goes. Everyone doesn't want to hear a sermon, but may notice a brief reference to what Jesus can do or did for you. If you go into a tirade you may turn them off. If the listener fails to ask questions, move on quickly. Be a friend and someday the Lord may lead them to care enough to ask questions.

 

With people at church be a good communicator.  Be a balanced listener and speaker. Do speak, but just not to "hear your own head rattle" as Dad used to say. Speak also, but speak in a conversation, not a siloloquy. Be loving in your speaking. Love means cherishing what you're hearing. You don't have to agree with it, but pay the other party courtesy. Wait your turn to respond. Listen to what you're hearing. Quit developing your own rebuttal or one-up until you hear the entire thought. Perhaps, a little honesty would help too. If you're off on a never-ending boring conversation tell the other part nicely "I never really got interested in this." or "I really don't know that person." and if that fails "I wanted to tell you about ______." you fill in the blank.

Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:"

Hearing doesn't impress anyone! Understanding does. Great communication is converting sound waves from a source into phonetics which make words; then to convert the words into thoughts and then process the thoughts through knowledge and wisdom such that you understand the speaker. You're now half through! Pause for awhile. Listen. Listen to silence. Listen to non-verbal signals. Listen to your self-critique. Then listen to what your friend has to say!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Love: How wrong can it be!

Years ago (1970) a movie came out called LOVE STORY starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. In the movie the female lead was dying of cancer. The male lead was angry and was attempting to apologize. She responded "Love means never having to say you're sorry". That line became the catch-phrase of the 1970s, and apparently, we're a "loving" nation now because few ever say they're sorry!

"Sorry" is not only expressing sympathy, but feeling the pain your actions have caused. As children, when we did something wrong, our parents forced us to say "I'm sorry." We did that very quickly and without feeling... "M Sor.......... !" This phrase was said in low tones in about one nanosecond. However, the fact that we uttered "sorry" satisfied all parties although everyone realized that it was totally meaningless and without emotion. Without contrition, words are wasted! Few people waste words today; at least not words which bridge bad relationships.

I spoke recently of narcissism... self-love. Narcisism is supplemented by pride. "Why should I tell someone else I'm sorry, when I didn't get my way?" We don't actually use this sentence, but that is the proud person's modus operandi. Self-love and pride are true bedfellows! You don't get one without the other. 

Psalm 10:4 (NET) "The wicked man is so arrogant (prideful) he always thinks, “God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.” " The KJV uses "pride"... the NET uses "arrogant"; having a high degree of self-worth or sense of importance. This is "self-love" and is a character trait of somone who is overly prideful.

 

We all know someone who never says "I'm sorry" although their behavior may be self-centered, hateful and arrogant. Think of that person right now. They are the ones who always have to have the last word, their argument is always right, they want things now, meals must be what they like, entertainment must always suit them, and the whole topic of conversation must be on a subject of their choice and about them. They tell you what they want for birthdays. They order their own Christmas presents . They're just plain old self-centered people who hurt with words and actions, but never feel or say "I'm sorry."  They are tyrants and have little regard for the feelings of others. They are the people who "never have to say I'm sorry"!

 

Such people aren't loving. Oh, yes, they love themselves, but do they truly love others or just use them? Sometimes they can indeed love and use them, but they're still egocentric.  Love is what they define it to be and is a conditional love. "If I get what I want I'll love you!" "Do it my way and I'll quit terrorizing you!" 

 

Yes, I've used "terror" a few times. That's what self-centered, unfeeling, unloving people do. They terrorize!  It's a mild form of mental torture, but none the less, it can and does cause much grief on the part of the recipient.

 

Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

 

Here we have the verse connecting "love" and "sorry". Love is toward others; preferring is toward others. We are to place the love interest of others above our own. "Love is saying you're sorry!" and the writers of LOVE STORY are dead wrong! However, we do know that as man gets more sinful their love grows weaker:

 

Matthew 24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

 

"Love means never having to say you're sorry!" is partially right!  "having to" means that you are forced to say something. If you're forced to say "I'm sorry." it is in vain. "Love is being remorseful enough for your hurts that you say you're sorry!"  Sometimes we should even take the high road in deference to the other and say "I'm sorry" when you have just by perception wronged another!  I guarantee that God will honor your attempt to mend fences and you'll get blessed!

 

With God "Love is saying you're sorry!" Without repentence there is no salvation. Without love of God there is no salvation. If you have something against anyone God doesn't hear your prayers until you make it right!  For those of you who see pride and self-centeredness in yourself, just change. Make things right. Say "I'm sorry!" and mean it! God loves a contrite heart. Love God enough to love others. Be "sorry" for your pride. Be sorry for the hurt you've caused. Be sorry for being arrogant! Others will return your love many-fold.

 

 

The Greatest Horror Story: Your Own Death

When are you dead? Scientists don't even agree! Normally a person is considered dead when there is no more oxygen and brain cells, not storing oxygen, die first. Even if other systems are still functioning I believe that you're dead when you mind goes!  Hours after you're dead, parts of your body are still dying, for instance skin cells. (By the way I am an organ donor, which I hope is harvested after I can no longer use them!)

There is a period while you're dying that you know you're dying. When your thought processes absorb the information which your body is sending is when the "agonal phase" of dying sets in. The dying person becomes highly anxious, disoriented, extreme uncomfortableness, labored  breathing and the death rattle (lung congestion). I tell many people that I'm not afraid of being dead, but I'm petrified of crossing over! I dread the agony of dying! Agony in this case is not only possibly intense physical pain, but mental as well.  Some doctors prescribe a fast-acting sub-lingual sedative to ease the mental pain of death. Just think how hopeless a dying person is when their heart stops, but their brain lives on for many seconds!

Jesus suffered the same agony as all men have and as we all will. He had to! He had to experience what man experiences because he died in our place!  Jesus uttered these words in his agony Mark 15:34 "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

 

In his agony Jesus was quoting what God foretold hundreds of years before when the psalmist wrote Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" The entire Twenty-first Psalm is a prophecy of the agony of Jesus! It's worth reading this Psalm to understand that Jesus was not just crying out to his Father, but reminding mankind that this agony was real and for the salvation of all mankind.  The Psalm says 1) I am despised of men, 2) There is no one who can help me, 3) water pours from me, 4)  my bones are disjointed (not broken, but pulled out of location), 5) I have a weakened heart, 6) my strength is gone, 7) my tongue is swollen to the jaws, 8) My hands and feet are pierced, 9) I'm dying!, but at the end of the Psalm God is praised even in His own death! Yes, Jesus with one line from a psalm told the story of His own agony!

 

There is a bond between mind and soul.  The mind is basically man's ability to think and reason. It's man's central processing unit (CPU) which controls the Local Area Network (LAN) which consists of all the body's systems and the human soul or spirit. As does all LAN's, ours has the ability to communicate with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) which is metaphorically equivalent to the Lord God. We communicate with God through hypertext transfer protocol (http) which is by Scripture, prayer and meditation. In the case of Christians that would be "secure" https since only Christians can commune with God!

There is much controversy about the relationship between the mind and spirit. Calvinists would have you believe that you are "predestined" by God for your soul to spend eternity in heaven and hell and there's nothing you can do about it, because it's by God's grace, and it is irresistible grace. This is "determinism" and induces feelings of hopelessness if the person falsely believes that he has no recourse.

The other thought is one of "free will". Will implies that thought exercises the mental process of making a decision. "Free Will" is man's liberty to make a choice independent of divine dictates. Given free will, man is free to love God or despise him. Man is an automatron under predestination, but independent under free will. Hence, the relationship, most believe, between mind and body is our ability to process the prevenient grace of God and make a decision to accept or reject Jesus as our savior. Calvinism just doesn't have that relationship between mind and spirit that free will does.

I've discussed the relationship between mind and spirit, but only allued to the third factor: the body. The mind is the CPU which interfaces with the mechanical and chemical systems that makes up biological man. The mind controls the movement of all the systems, many by intentional thought, but many others by involuntary control.  Involuntary control requires no consious thought processes. It would be horrible if we had to think "Food. Now digest!" It just happens in a side-bar to our thought processes. Sometimes we tell our limbs what to do and at other times those same limbs move because they're trained to move. Some movements are imbedded in our sub-consious. Aren't we blessed?

The mind is the protector of the body. The mind wants the body to live on, not suffer, have pleasure and be. The network (nerves) in our body protects the body from self-destruction. That network may transfer a pain signal so the mind can implement process B to avoid short-circuiting or destruction. If we get too hot our cooling system (perspiration) is turned on to keep the system safe, just as an air-conditioner would a CPU!

The mind through thought protects the soul. God provided his Spirit to commune with mankind. The mind reasons with God, considers his majesty, weighs his promises (hope) and processes all the information to make one decision: Shall I love and obey God by accepting Jesus and live eternally or do I self-destruct and suffer by rebelling? Any rational man would choose the former, but there is a virus in the Global Network System. That virus is a deadly disease called Satan. You see Satan is allowed temporarily to own the room (the world) containing the processor and that virus is to trick man into thinking only of the moment. If all processes are "go" and all seems well, the CPU is fooled and attempts to process on an on, but eventually that hidden virus will do so much damage to the CPU that the processor fails to turn on the protection system (full armor of God) and gradually the right program (Scripture) is not even recognized as valid. The entire system then overheats and is destroyed by the deceiving virus (eternal death in hell).

Of course the computer model is just a metaphor for mind-body-soul, but it's an accurate one!  To keep the CPU processing through the narrow gate, all we have to do is use anti-virus software and that software must be 100% fool-proof. That anti-virus software is Holy Scripture. Read and believe your copy today, tomorrow and as standardized work to keep your system secure. If you do this rest assured that machine life is prolonged, in the case of your mind-body-soul, it is prolonged eternally!

On Heaven: Where is it?

I thought I'd tackle this topic, although I'm certainly not knowledgeable enough.

"Heaven" was first described in the Old Testament as a physical place:

Gen 1: 60 (KJV) "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

The key to this verse is what "firmament" means!  The Hebrew word was "raqia". It was rendered  "stereroma" in the Septuagint (original Greek translation from Hebrew which is known as "textus receptus"; "received text" and is considered to be the genuine translation).  Stereroma were supposed "crystal spheres" about the earth and other celestial bodies. While  science now know that there are no solid spheres around celestial bodies, we do know something which supplements that "theory" of our early philosophers and Biblical patriarchs.  That support is "gravity"!

Albert Einstein discovered that gravity bends light. It can be measured. Gravity is a field around celestial bodies and the higher the mass of the body, the greater the force of gravity. Does gravity "pull" from below to keep things on the surface of the earth or does it "push" from above? Einstein proved that there is a gravity force field around the heavenly bodies. That field diminishes the further away from the body one gets. In practice all celestial bodies are enclosed in a "gravity sphere". Of course early man had no idea what gravity was. It was like magic to them. Consequently, early mankind possibly likened gravity to a crystal, both unseen to the eye.  (This is the Herrin explanation and is as good as any which I have researched which combines proven science with theology and philosophy; i.e., this is a first!).

One note of caution: We should never make God's Word agree with science, but understand that science is a feeble attempt to explain what God created!  Science may be correct in simple matters, but far off in models requiring unprovable hypotheses.  These are areas that as much faith is required in science as in religion!

Paul used stereoroma in the context of stedfastness:
 

Colossians 2:5 " For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness (steroma) of your faith in Christ." 

 

What are the most stedfast physical aspects in life? Gravity would rank first or at least among to top two. Light might be argued as stedfast, but varies with time because of solar flares, quasars and the like. Let's go with gravity! Here we have two different contexts of steroma which may be synomous: crystal (gravity) spheres and gravity itself!

Raqia (firmament) was later translated as an "expanse".  This means that a firmament was a wide open space consisting for example of land, sky or water.

There are two expanses of water in our mileau. There are waters on the surface of the world (seas) and water in the atmosphere (clouds). Hence, we know that Heaven is above the second liquid expanse and whether we go with "expanse" or "crystal (gravity) sphere" Heaven is physically defined as a place above the biosphere; a place outside where physical life can live! Although our present unglorified bodies cannot live without support outside the biosphere, that is where spiritual life DOES LIVE with the support of God!

Many have tried to pinpoint Heaven. Exactly where is it? It should be recognizable because God has a mansion there with many rooms!  Is it a physical place or strictly a spiritual one? Will there be material things in Heaven or just spiritual reproductions of the original?

Mark 16:19 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

 

Jesus was physically received "up into heaven" "and sat". In agreement with Genesis, Heaven is above the biosphere and it is real because Jesus' physical body ascended there and sat with God! Do you need more?

 

2 Kings 2:1 "And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal." Just as the Messiah was, Elisha was also physically taken UP into heaven. He was a living human who never died!  Scripture refers to Heaven as a "kingdom" and indeed it is!

 

Paul himself said of his vision:

2 Corinthians 12:2 "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven."

 

The "third heaven" is the Heaven of heavens; God's abode. Paul saw a man who he had known at a specific time caught up "in the body" or "out of the body", making it possible and probable that a MAN go to Heaven, albeit this time (since it was a vision) he didn't know which.

 

Scientists are just now discovering what's out there. They have yet to catch up with God who knows all things. Science has just recently discovered "black holes", spheres so massive and gravity so high that not even light can escape (This reinforces the idea that gavity is more stedfast than light).  Inside black holes are a pinpoint with intense mass called a "singularity", a place where space and time are distorted and all scientific laws are null and void. It's basically a scientist saying "We don't know what it is."

 

No scientist, you have lost your place!  Whereas you admit that you don't know what it is (the singulairity) I do. It's a work of the Creator. It's God's creation. If you don't know what a singularity is, how would you know where Heaven is. We know that "black holes" cannot be proven because they can't be seen or measured. It's only by indirect methods (faith) that hypotheses are made.

 

If God conceals the secrets of the universe why would he reveal the location of heaven? Just as scientists take the author of physical laws out of the scientific equations, why would they allow God his abode in Heaven if they knew its whereabouts?

 

Isaiah 66:1 "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool..."

 

Yes, we know that Heaven is a physical place and not just a spiritual realm. We don't know it's exact location, but we don't need to. God will get us there with his power. He is the Creator who made space and time. We don't need a cosmic "worm hole" to transend time, God does that with a twinkle of his eye. In awe I say "I don't know exactly where it is, but I can't wait to get there!"

 

On Integrity

I was doing business recently with a self-proclaimed Christian and during the process of writing the contract he changed his story as he felt pressure to answer my questions. Specifically, he said repeatedly "This is not a contract. It's a permission form.". Finally, I asked him to write that on the contract and he replied "Well, it is really a contract, but it doesn't become effective until...".  To make a long story short, I layed awake two nights concerned with his lack of honesty and then I canceled the contract.

I'm sure in his own mind he somehow rationalized this obscuring of the truth, but to me, it broke the deal. I questioned his Christian integrity!  Integrity is holding onto Christian principles. He placed sealing the contract over complete honesty!

On eBay I always describe my sales items specifying any faults the product may have. Let's say a pen has a "ding".  I write that in the ad then show it on the picture. Oftentimes the buyer will turn in a refund case against me because the pen has a "ding".  Not only did the bidder not read the listing before bidding, but the bidder didn't even read it before filing a case! When I point out the accuracy of the listing, they usually come up with a whole list of other things that are "wrong" with the item, all imaginary. This happens time and again and few will admit their own mistake (pride)  and commence to calling me names!  The last person who did this dishonest act said that "God will deal with me and I'll pay!"  Not only did this Christian not have any integrity, but he used God as a weapon of revenge!

"Honesty" with God and man is a characteristic of "integrity".  We're to use balanced scales in all our dealings. Cheating at all is horrific, but rationalizing it in the name of the Lord is just plain sad... no integrity!

2 Corinthians 8:21 "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

Truth, honesty, just, pure, lovely and good report are words to describe a person with Christian integrity:

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I could have just said "moral integrity" in lieu of "Christian integrity", but if one is a Christian should imply that person has integrity. Those who are moral, but not Christian have no standards of integrity. The integrity of a Christian is operationalized all through Scripture and is summarized by the "Ten Commandments".

As you may know the "Ten Commandments" is rewritten in the New Testamant as:

Matthew 22:37 (KJV) "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.  39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 

How can you love your neigbor if your dishonest with him or try to cheat him? How can you say that you love the Lord and break this "Greatest Commandment" which in the same breath places the love of neighbor in the same thought as love of God?

 

The "Ten Commandments" were written on stone by God so that man would be without excuse. The law cannot be broken when there is no law. By lacking in Christian integrity one not only violates some commandments (lying, coveting, stealing, etc.), but are showing no Christian charity. The Christian without integrity is placing self over God and has created for themself an idol... the self!

 

1 Corinthians 16:14  "Let all your things be done with charity." Charity in this case is love and indulgence of others!

 

Many times, in my business dealings, I take the high road and out of charity, I reimburse the person attempting to cheat me. However, sometimes I believe that it's beneficial for them to suffer the consequences of their action, so I hold fast to the agreement. My final decision is based on the attitude of the person with the complaint. If the person is contrite and say "I failed to read the description well.", I normally reimburse that person who has integrity. If the buyer plays the blame game, then my charity turns to pragmatism... "I can't make a profit if I allow myself to be cheated!"

 

Integrity!  It's important for anyone, but even more so for the Christian. A lack of integrity on your part will be used by the lost who pegs the Christian with a lack of integrity as a hippocrite.

 

 

"Trying" is Failing

People "try" to do all sorts of things. Just today a child told me that his daddy was "trying to quit smoking". Others tell me that they are "trying to quit cursing" or "trying to quit drugs" or "trying to control my temper"!

Guess, what? The entire Bible (KJV) uses the word "try" only nineteen times. In all nineteen cases the word is used in place of the verb "test", which is one definition. However, when one is "trying" to quit smoking, etc. the context is "to make an attempt".  "Attempt" appears zero times in the Bible (KJV).

"Quit" is used several times in the Bible (KJV) and is used in the context of "to cease".  "Stop" or "stopped" is used twenty-six times all in the context of "to cease". Now for the word itself: "cease". The Bible (KJV) uses that term one-hundred-nine times! Cease has one meaning! It means "to stop"!

What point am I making? "Trying" is accomplishing nothing. "Doing" means something tangible! Today I tried to be funny. I tried to quit snoring. I tried to eat with my mouth closed. I tried to run a four-minute mile. I tried to drive the speed limit. Here is what I accomplished. Nada. Nothing!  I'm still not funny, I still snore, I still eat with my mouth open, I failed to run fast, I failed to observe the speed limit. By "trying" we are failing! We suceed by "doing". "Ceasing" is "doing" something!

I didn't "try" to shut off the television at suppertime; I actually did shut off the television at suppertime!  Are you getting the point? "Trying" is a casual attempt. "Doing" is suceeding! We should get no credit for trying, but much for accomplishing. In elementary school "grades" are given as "Tries real hard"!  What does that say? It says that your child is busy, but not suceeding. Your child is failing! In hgh school and college a person never receives a grade for "tries real hard"! The grade will be somehing equivalent to A, B, C, D or F.  Each of these show some degree of success except for "F" which is failure.

If the young child had said "Daddy quit smoking! instead of "Daddy is tring to quit smoking!" the former shows it as ceased, the latter shows it still continues. We should not be rewarded for the attempt, but for the accomplishment!  I "tried" to quit smoking for years and years. I was a loser to cigarettes. Why would you compliment me for "trying".  However, in 1984 I quit "trying" and actually quit/ceased/stopped. I deserve credit for acutally doing something! To whom do I owe the accomplishment!

1 John 5:4 (KJV) " For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

 

This means that if you're born again (A Christian) "your world" has just been defeated!  The world is "the flesh" and is the realm of Satan. Evil has been overcome! You now can stop sinning! How? By faith!  If we have the faith of a small seed we can move trees or mountains. Changing our behavior should be little challenge with Christ as our ally... no our King!

 

Success then comes down to our faith!  "Trying" shows that we have little faith. "Doing" shows we exercise our faith and act. Stopping/ceasing smoking is an act. Faith will allow you to accomplish the act of cessation whether it be cigarettes, biting the nails, pot, laziness, hate or any other "habit" or sin. I'm not saying all habits are sinful, but God can help you in all things providing you have faith!

 

After I "tried" to quit smoking, I actually quit. It took a commitment! It was a point in time that I weighed my choices and chose the road less traveled. I chose to quit smoking.  I'd like to say that lightning struck me and a voice from God said "Larry, quit smoking!".  I can, however, say that when my son, whom I love, rationalized his own drug use to my cigarette smoking, I made a choice: I can either let him use me as a crutch for his own behavior or I could set a positive example. I made the choice to quit right then and there and never looked back! God removed all desire for cigarettes from me immediately! He needs little time to help me, but helped me in my need! God helped me because I had shown commitment. I started doing instead of trying! He made doing easy for me.

 

People will always parrot "You have to quit for yourself!"  I "tried" that and "try" means no accomplishment.  I quit for someone I love more than myself... I quit for my son!  I took the focus off me and put it on another!  That's the sort of love that Jesus spoke about... loving others as I love myself!  Not only did my son get a father who no longer smoked, but the younger children than had a father who did not smoke!

 

How to quit "trying" and start "doing"?  Read Scipture, pray and have faith that God will help you if you "cease". As long as your still "doing" no commitment has been made, but by quitting, commitment has been made and God helps those who help themselves.

 

Do you now understand why "trying" is coming up short?

God's Plan: For Man

I can't sing. I wish I could! I can, however, write a little poetry. Psalms are poetry and many are set to music. Psalms are the lyrics to lost melodies.

Psalms are Hebrew poetry. English poetry rhymes and has meter. Instead of rhyming Psalms matches thought. This thought is called “parallelism”. There are three types of parallelism in Psalms. I have selected one. The one I am using is a type of poetry called “Synthetic Parallelism” - In this poetic style the second line advances the thought of the first. Each line is synonymous but each additional line adds to the thought of the first making it more specific.

Instead of being only a poem of synthetic parallelism, I've made an attempt in my poem to add the English rhyming structure with some meter. Therefore this is a poem of “rhyming synthetic parallelism”.

God's plan for man was the same all along. It was a plan of grace. Here it is. I call it:

God Has a Plan

God provided for us a plan.

The plan is one of choice.
Choice was given to man.
Man was given a voice.

God made rules and commands.

Commands were God's laws.
Ten were for us to understand.
Understand our own innate flaws.

God with man made a covenant.

A covenant with a condition.
Man was given the ultimate.
The ultimate was our contrition.

We failed God with rebellion.

Rebellion was in our nature.
We lived like the pagan hellion.
A hellion as cold as a glacier.

For years God failed to speak.

Speaking no longer to man.
The testament was given complete.
Complete for a long time span.

Where law failed... free was grace.

Grace is love we don't deserve.
Freed from works we now replace.
Replaced by grace we now observe.

Woe to us if we reject saving blood.

Blood which was shed in place of ours.
Sins were expunged on a cross of wood.
A cross of wood with fatal scars.

The Man then dead is now alive!
Alive he lives in a celestial realm.
He lives that we may death survive.
Survive and sail with Him at the helm!

Again... a choice we're offered.

Offered death or eternal life!
Blood for our sins by Christ proffered!
Proffered so we avoid mortal strife.

What saves us is our sincere belief!

Belief in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Guilt from sin is our relief.
Relief from God without a price!

God for you still has a deal.

Deal we must with the living God!
Submit to God and make appeal.
Appeal to God and receive his nod!

Strong is man's inherited will.

Will is freedom to do as we want.
Want of freedom is our highest hill.
The hill is steep and the devil's gaunt.

Choose well and obtain salvation!

Salvation from eternal destruction.
Choose well and avoid damnation.
Damnation earned because of rejection.

Accept your Savior because of love.

Love is tender feelings of affection.
Love with your heart the God above.
Above in a mansion a place of perfection!

Prepare for yourself an eternal heaven!

Heaven is without death or sin.
Dismiss from life the unleavened.
Unleavened the wrong that captures men.

Glory! I see his awesome face!

Face of God saying “faithful servants”.
Faith in Him we must embrace!
Embrace us too in his regal fervence!

True to his word I have a room!

A room in his beautiful mansion.
Home for eternity and joy without gloom.
Gloomless without this worldly tension!

I stand in reverence and view his glory!

Glory magnificent no words can describe.
This ends my words, but not the story.
The story of God... to which I ascribe!

Larry Herrin
Sept 2011