Happy Birthday Erica ... June 25
Happy Birthday Stephanie ... June 28
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sir Charles Moore
We'd like you to meet
Sir Charles
He's the owner of Vern & Cindy Moore of Ashtabula, Ohio
We recognize him today because of his kindness and the calming effect
he has on children and adults alike.
He often goes to the local police station to sit with
children as policemen talk with them.
He also enjoys the company of little ones as
they watch cartoons together at home.
Sir Charles, it was not by accident that you came to live with the Moore's and chose them to be your care-givers. You're a positive influence on all who meet you and we are honored to have you as a part of our families!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Killed anyone lately?
Anyone who knows me also knows that I detest snakes. I have an unhealthy fear of them that stems from childhood. Older folks who were sharing their stories with me way back then scared me beyond belief. To this day I will do all I can to avoid snakes. Just ask Clyde, or one of my sons, or even my granddaughters.
This fear has reminded me that the Bible talks about snakes, and it compares them to a part of our bodies:
James 3:8 - "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
Psalm 140:3 - "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips."
Romans 3:13 - "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps in under their lips."
Really? The tongue can't be tamed? It's full of deadly poison? And not just any poison ... the poison of asps, or snakes.
That then begs me to ask the question: Who have I killed today with my words? Who might you or I have killed today? Or yesterday? Or last week? Even last year?
Those who profess to know Christ as Savior and Lord will be held to higher standards and higher judgements than those who do not know Him. As followers of Christ, we need to be cautious of our words and give serious thought before we speak, especially when we are going through stress-filled times. Emotions run high and even older saints can say things rashly ... things that need not have been said at that time. I am not condoning ignoring problems (I've also done that in hopes things will just get better or go away...they don't) ... I am saying to wait until emotions calm down and then have quiet discussion with the one we feel has hurt us. Work things out as best you can and then go on with the life God has given you to live. Sometimes we simply have to agree to disagree.
I am guilty of using my tongue, my words, to harm and hurt and even kill the spirit of people I profess to love. I have done much soul searching these past few weeks and God has allowed me to see how sinfully wrong I have been. He has also been gracious in allowing me to repent and find mercy to cover my sinfulness.
But that doesn't take away the hurt I've caused. My telling people I'm sorry has little effect when I've caused them great harm and damaged their soul with careless words. Healing that means anything takes time and while I can be forgiven by God and those I've harmed, my hurtful words will likely resound in their mind and heart for a long time to come.
As much as I hate snakes, I've seen that when I slander someone, I'm basically taking a poisonous snake and throwing it into bed with them. I'm using words to hurt and harm those I profess to love. And I'm lying if I say I love God and then do this to a brother or sister in Christ ... or a brother or sister related by family ties.
There is ALWAYS rumors and gossip going around. Always. But I have a choice to make ... do I feed into it and allow it to burn further and deeper? Or do I choose not to be a part of the destruction and let folks know I won't listen to it and I won't spread it any farther, but I will instead pray for those involved? The choice is mine to make.
No one twists our arms to make us hurt people with our words and our attitudes. We often do that because the enemy of our soul is just behind us, hissing and telling us to "Tell that person off! Don't take that from them! Who do they think they are anyway? You have a right to speak your mind! Go ahead, tell them a mouthful!"
If we could only see the hurt we've caused ... the harm we're causing and who is the author of that hurt, we might just close our mouths and be quiet for a while. We might just stop to think before we say anything and then give a soft answer rather than a harsh one. Even when we're the ones taking the verbal beating.
In the Bible, the book of Matthew, chapter 12, verse 36 says "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak."
May God remind us of this and help us use wisdom in our speech ... in every aspect of our lives. May God let us see the gifts He has given us in family and friends and then do all we can to love them as He loves them and if we can't say anything good about them, then don't say anything at all.
This fear has reminded me that the Bible talks about snakes, and it compares them to a part of our bodies:
James 3:8 - "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
Psalm 140:3 - "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips."
Romans 3:13 - "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps in under their lips."
Really? The tongue can't be tamed? It's full of deadly poison? And not just any poison ... the poison of asps, or snakes.
That then begs me to ask the question: Who have I killed today with my words? Who might you or I have killed today? Or yesterday? Or last week? Even last year?
Those who profess to know Christ as Savior and Lord will be held to higher standards and higher judgements than those who do not know Him. As followers of Christ, we need to be cautious of our words and give serious thought before we speak, especially when we are going through stress-filled times. Emotions run high and even older saints can say things rashly ... things that need not have been said at that time. I am not condoning ignoring problems (I've also done that in hopes things will just get better or go away...they don't) ... I am saying to wait until emotions calm down and then have quiet discussion with the one we feel has hurt us. Work things out as best you can and then go on with the life God has given you to live. Sometimes we simply have to agree to disagree.
I am guilty of using my tongue, my words, to harm and hurt and even kill the spirit of people I profess to love. I have done much soul searching these past few weeks and God has allowed me to see how sinfully wrong I have been. He has also been gracious in allowing me to repent and find mercy to cover my sinfulness.
But that doesn't take away the hurt I've caused. My telling people I'm sorry has little effect when I've caused them great harm and damaged their soul with careless words. Healing that means anything takes time and while I can be forgiven by God and those I've harmed, my hurtful words will likely resound in their mind and heart for a long time to come.
As much as I hate snakes, I've seen that when I slander someone, I'm basically taking a poisonous snake and throwing it into bed with them. I'm using words to hurt and harm those I profess to love. And I'm lying if I say I love God and then do this to a brother or sister in Christ ... or a brother or sister related by family ties.
There is ALWAYS rumors and gossip going around. Always. But I have a choice to make ... do I feed into it and allow it to burn further and deeper? Or do I choose not to be a part of the destruction and let folks know I won't listen to it and I won't spread it any farther, but I will instead pray for those involved? The choice is mine to make.
No one twists our arms to make us hurt people with our words and our attitudes. We often do that because the enemy of our soul is just behind us, hissing and telling us to "Tell that person off! Don't take that from them! Who do they think they are anyway? You have a right to speak your mind! Go ahead, tell them a mouthful!"
If we could only see the hurt we've caused ... the harm we're causing and who is the author of that hurt, we might just close our mouths and be quiet for a while. We might just stop to think before we say anything and then give a soft answer rather than a harsh one. Even when we're the ones taking the verbal beating.
In the Bible, the book of Matthew, chapter 12, verse 36 says "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak."
May God remind us of this and help us use wisdom in our speech ... in every aspect of our lives. May God let us see the gifts He has given us in family and friends and then do all we can to love them as He loves them and if we can't say anything good about them, then don't say anything at all.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Rumors....
Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to
repeat a rumor.
In ancient Greece, Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the
great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and
said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass
a little test. It's called the Test of Three."
"Three?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student
let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is
Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is
true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about
to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even
though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass though, because there is a third
test -- the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my
student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor
Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and left, ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a
great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
repeat a rumor.
In ancient Greece, Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the
great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and
said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass
a little test. It's called the Test of Three."
"Three?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student
let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is
Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is
true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about
to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even
though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass though, because there is a third
test -- the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my
student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor
Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and left, ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a
great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)