Do you ever get weary of the “News” and “Commentary” (that is becoming more and more predictable and boring)? Do you ever wish or pray that the Members of Congress would get real jobs and quit tampering with the Constitution and our lives? Have you come to a place where everything seems to be more topsy-turvy than practical and functional? Do you really believe that Government is looking out for you and generations that will follow? Do you wish you had a remote or button where you could push it and turn off all of this talk and convoluted (twisted; complicated; intricately involved) change of direction in our nation? Do you have an increasing sense that those who govern have crossed a line where they are insulting more than your intelligence by what they propose and enact?
Insults are a type of art-form. If one was to reciprocate in terms of the mish-mash being sent our way day after day, maybe some of the following would apply. These are taken from a list entitled: When Insults Had Class (from an era before the English Language was boiled down to 4-letter words):
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison." He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." Oscar Wilde
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." Irvin S. Cobb
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" Mark Twain
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-post - for support rather than illumination." Andrew Lang
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." Groucho Marx
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one." George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill "Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second, if there is one." Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop
Words should always be chosen carefully and used wisely; words can either destroy or build up. When God said: “let there be…”, the world and everything in it was created. In human discourse, words can impact another or cause one to ignore the speaker. The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament contains these axioms for life. Proverbs 13:3, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” This guideline for worship is also valuable and useful in terms of ones discourse in the secular world. There is another important application in James 1:19-22, “…take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word (God’s Word) planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Much of the Bible was written out of a secular context of hardship and persecution. In spite of those who would not only insult ones intelligence but also inflict personal and bodily harm, the Lord continually reminded His own that He would always be faithful - providing for and sustaining His people. He and His promises are never-changing. Man flip-flops all over the place – God never does. Trust Him and be at peace in Him! Consider these things with me!
Insults are a type of art-form. If one was to reciprocate in terms of the mish-mash being sent our way day after day, maybe some of the following would apply. These are taken from a list entitled: When Insults Had Class (from an era before the English Language was boiled down to 4-letter words):
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison." He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." Oscar Wilde
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." Irvin S. Cobb
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" Mark Twain
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-post - for support rather than illumination." Andrew Lang
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." Groucho Marx
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one." George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill "Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second, if there is one." Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop
Words should always be chosen carefully and used wisely; words can either destroy or build up. When God said: “let there be…”, the world and everything in it was created. In human discourse, words can impact another or cause one to ignore the speaker. The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament contains these axioms for life. Proverbs 13:3, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” This guideline for worship is also valuable and useful in terms of ones discourse in the secular world. There is another important application in James 1:19-22, “…take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word (God’s Word) planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Much of the Bible was written out of a secular context of hardship and persecution. In spite of those who would not only insult ones intelligence but also inflict personal and bodily harm, the Lord continually reminded His own that He would always be faithful - providing for and sustaining His people. He and His promises are never-changing. Man flip-flops all over the place – God never does. Trust Him and be at peace in Him! Consider these things with me!
No comments:
Post a Comment