Sticks and Stones may Break My Bones…
July 11th, 2006 · Posted in God Stuff ·…but words can cause permanent psychological damage.
Chadd gave a talk at church yesterday on James 1:19-27, with a few main points that struck home pretty hard.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Ever noticed a dog’s ears prick up at the slightest noise out of the ordinary - they are quick to listen. We need to be slow to speak - once out of your mouth words cannot be called back. Stop. Think. Speak.
Before snapping at someone, think about what they said, what you heard, what they meant and what you took them to mean. Before you lose your head, make sure you aren’t the one who is wrong.
Words come from the overflow of the heart.
What you say reflects pretty accurately who you are - ever met a ‘Christian’ with a vicious tongue? All you want them to do is stop calling themselves Christian. Fill yourself up with good stuff, so good stuff overflows.
Words have the power to kill.
Most of us can remember a harsh word from years ago - we hold the things people say for decades. And the random comment of a stranger can affect the way we see ourself for the rest of our life. A stinging remark can hurt people. Words can drive people away from Christ. Words can damn.
Words have the power to heal.
We have been given the words of eternal life. What we say can save people’s lives, in this life and for eternity. A kind word, an encouragement, even a smile can change a life. Words can introduce someone to Christ. Words can heal.
RodeoClown: Stopping. Thinking. Posting.
July 11th, 2006 at 9:25 am
which church do you do to Rodeo, is it in the Mountains?
July 11th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Springwood Baptist - and yes, it is in the Mountains
(It would be a long trip if we were to leave the mountains for church - we’re right in the middle).
July 11th, 2006 at 9:36 am
OK So is it Chadd and Parisa who are your minister and minister’s wife?
July 11th, 2006 at 9:52 am
Oh I see it is… Chadd did the prayers at our wedding. He helped my husband work through Christian stuff when he first came to Christ. They came to our wedding and we came up the mountains to have dinner with them one night before we got married. It is a small world.
July 11th, 2006 at 9:59 am
It sure is.
Chadd is an assosciate pastor at our church, Steve is the main guy, and Cameron is the youth pastor.
July 11th, 2006 at 10:20 am
Good post Rodeo - I was thinking about the words that I say just this morning - and whether they represent what my thoughts are…I don’t think they do - because my thoughts are so much more horrible than my words - except when I am quick to speak - then the words are horrible.
Also thinking about how easy it is to be misunderstood in the written word - emails and the like, what that means for Christians…any thoughts on that?
July 11th, 2006 at 10:40 am
One reason I use so many emoticons (
), is so that what I write can be more easily understood.
A massive proportion of all communication is non-verbal, so without those clues it can make it really hard to understand the real meaning behind someone’s words. Especially in this current sarcastic age, where everything can have a double (triple, quadruple?) meaning.
Lately I’ve been reading my posts and letting them sit before I post them, and I give them a quick once-over before hitting the ’submit’ button.
I almost always spot something that I could clarify then.
My thoughts are often pretty horrible too - I try not to let those thoughts grow, or dwell on them too much.
July 11th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Yeah - I’ve noticed you use a lot of ‘emoticons’ (?). I try not to use sarcasm.
I usually think before I post a comment, and rewrite it a few times, but today, I am deleting everywhere - but it’s not because of what I’ve been writing - more because I feel vulnerable!
I have been praying a lot of late that God would fix up my thoughts - because I can’t seem to be able to! I do try not to dwell on them - but meditate on God’s word instead - or concentrate on looking after the boys.
July 11th, 2006 at 11:53 am
Emoticons.
Interesting read, with plenty of examples.
July 11th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
I try to avoid sarcastic humor or phrases that could be taken two ways in emails and blogs.
But I think a bigger problem in the realm of email and blogging (particularly in comments) is the lack of the constraints you normally feel in verbal communication. In the world of internet, the consequences of your words are not as immediately obvious. People tend to write things that they would never say in person. I think this is partly because of the ability to be anonymous on the internet. But even if you do identify yourself, you are removed from the impact of your statement. So I think as Christians it is really important to be conscious of the impact that your words can have and choose them carefully. To remember to be kind to others even though you can’t see them.
July 11th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Tracy - I agree - I was talking to Nixter about it this arvo because she met Rodeo for the first time - and it’s kind of weird knowing someone and not knowing them at all…..and you do say more than you would in person…then other people think that they know you…..
July 11th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Heaven will be good though, when we all meet each other
July 12th, 2006 at 6:00 am
We probably would have said more except Jen rang me back, and I like to always grab those calls ‘just-in-case’. Then there was the whole Bible talk thing, and having to get back to work.
It is good to meet people who you know online though. Two of our best friends met online, now they are married with a couple of kids!
July 12th, 2006 at 8:20 am
It is really weird meeting someone in person who you have known only on the internet. You don’t realize how much your image of that person is based on stereotypes, or other people you have known.
The first time I met someone who was quite different than my mental picture of them really brought that fact home to me. That’s what made me convinced that when I met my husband online, we had to meet and spend time together as soon as possible.
July 20th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
*sigh*
don’t i know it to be true that words hurt.
i wish now that i didn’t listen to those people when i was younger who made me feel like crap, but its really hard when the person you admire most (ie your big brother, the rodeoclown)is one of the ones who made you feel the worst, and that wasn’t meant to be a guilt trip coz we’re buds now and i know how to decipher your meaning, and you weren’t the only one to do it, you were just the fastest.
but yes, words hurt.
words make anna hurt in her heart.
anna used to be talkative until she realised how bad some of her words came out and doesn’t want to put people thru what she went thru
thanks for growing up inny
July 20th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Um… ok.
Thanks for… not using capitals
July 20th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
*sigh* oKAY aRE yOU hAPPY nOW?
hOW cAN i pLEASE yOU?
hAHAHAHA