The Tongue - Edition #13: Let's Talk

April 17th, 2006

The Tongue – Edition #13: Let’s Talk

Oh brother I can't, I can't get through. I've been trying hard to reach you, because I don't know what to do. Oh brother I can't believe it's true. I'm so scared about the future and I want to talk to you. Oh I want to talk to you. You can take a picture of something you see. In the future where will I be? You can climb a ladder up to the sun or write a song nobody has sung or do something that's never been done. Are you lost or incomplete? Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece? Tell me how do you feel? Well I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak and they're talking it to me. So you take a picture of something you see. In the future where will I be? You can climb a ladder up to the sun or write a song nobody has sung or do something that's never been done. Do something that's never been done. So you don't know were you're going, and you want to talk. And you feel like you're going where you've been before. You tell anyone who'll listen but you feel ignored. Nothing's really making any sense at all. Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk, let's talk. (Words from the song “Talk” by Coldplay)

“But doctor,” lamented young Jenny in counseling, “Whenever Johnny and I quarrel, he becomes historical.” “You mean, hysterical,” said Doctor Smith. “No, historical, you see he’s is always digging up my past.”

Talk (noun):

• An exchange of ideas or opinions; a conversation.


• A speech or lecture.


• Discussion.

Talk (verb):

• To articulate (words).


• Exchange thoughts.

John 18:28-40
Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?”

They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

Truth (noun):

• Conformity to fact or actuality.


• A statement proven to be or accepted as true.


• Sincerity; integrity.


• Conformity to reality or actuality.


• A fact that has been verified.

I think that it is interesting that Jesus asks Pilate if he came to ask Jesus if he was a king by his own idea or by the ideas of others. You see, Pilate didn’t do his homework. He borrowed notes, I guess the Cliff Notes, and believed the gossip that people told him. He didn’t come up with his own idea. And that is important. People don’t become Christians by the beliefs of others. They have to develop their own convictions. I could spend days, weeks, even months in this Yahoo group that is filled with non-believers and spouting off verses and preaching the bible, but I would simply be bringing Jesus to them. They have no desire to come to Jesus. Jesus was brought to Pilate, but Pilate had no desire to go to Jesus. And thus Jesus was crucified. I could even show them this website I found yesterday which is more than interesting to me (biblecode.com), but I feel it would simply be the “pearls before swine”. If they really don’t want to believe, they will find an area to create doubt, and thus doubt. I pray for them, that their doubt be lifted and their eyes opened. When we talk, though, it is more of ridicule which is language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate. I don’t go to that group often, simply because it sparks anger within my spirit. And I know I have issues with anger and frustration. When I go into that group, I simply speak and then I leave, knowing that I spoke with a calm presence and demeanor. If I stay within their walls too long, I know that I won’t be able to keep that calm spirit. As it is written, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” And as the saying goes, with much power, comes much responsibility. If the tongue is like a rudder on a ship, it carries with it much power… I need to be wise with this powerful tongue of mine, for with it can help others plant that seed and lead them to Christ, as it can also plant despair and push them away. Johnny Out.

Side Study: Serving the King

April 16th, 2006

Happy Easter!

Malachi 3:2-4
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

This was forwarded to me, and I thought it was very informative, and I wanted to share it here. Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.” If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. “Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.”

Also, a good quote that was sent to me: Jay Leno: “With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?”

Well, there is a lot of things going on… May the 6th will be the celebration of my sons’ birthday, which in all actuality is May the 10th. Also, I did mention that at 1:02.03 4/5/06 occurred earlier this month. But there is something that I came across that I didn’t think about, but it made sense. June 6th, 2006 could be a date of trouble… I don’t know if it will be, but there is the possibility of it being that way. I am not sure of how the pagans play or Satan worshipers dance around in goat skin pants around ancient ruins (see the Dragnet movie), but I can’t think that it would be of dancing around handing out flowers and petting little cats and dogs as they walk down the street.

Devil Worshiper (noun):

• Someone who loves and is devoted to evil spirits and demons.

Great night, that doesn’t sound like the role model of the year… Now, a change in thought: I was thinking yesterday, brainstorming my little head to pieces wondering was is the harder job, to be a servant or to be a king? And irregardless of the answer to that question, what job would I rather have? I rolled it around my brain for a bit and thought of some scriptures. This is going to be a detour from the tongue study, which I will return back to tomorrow.

Side Study: Serving the King

King (noun):

• A male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom.


• One that is supreme or preeminent in a particular group, category, or sphere.

Servant (noun):

• One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another


• A person who serves others


• In a subordinate position

Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

Serve is translated from latreno.

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Serve is translated from douleuo. Douleuo can also be translated into the words slave (as to be a slave to), bondage (as to be in bondage to), or simply what is what translated into: serve. I think the word serve was used to make it easier for us, me in particular, to read. I mean, if I were to pick up the bible and read: “No one can be a slave to two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot be a slave to both God and Money.”

I don’t want to be a slave. I mean, the word slave is a horrendous word in the United States. It’s a word that people hate. It’s the worst word in the English language. But this is the word that God wants me to take on. And here comes the scripture I was really thinking about that spurned this QT.

Matthew 20:24-28
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

So the road to being a king is that of a servant. And I have thought about the kings throughout history. The bible is filled with great kings and horrendous kings. And it is when the people moan about how bad the king is, that generally changes get made. I pray for George W., that he gets his ducks in a row, as they say. I can’t say that he’s the best president this country’s ever had, but there is some tough competition when you look back. And the great thing with time is that mistakes get smudged and the good things get glorified. When Regan was in office, people cracked some serious jokes and poked a ton of fun at him. He was a co-star to a monkey. But people look back to the early 80s and reminisce about how great he was… the society of now hates the present, dooms the future, and glorifies the past. What president has a chance in this country? The people did moan in Iraq and they continue to moan. Sadam was not a great leader. The difference between the great leaders and the bad ones is how they act… (work with here), now I know this may be a “No-Duh” thought in your head, but even if the bad leader does nothing, he still gets forgotten and lost in the history books. The really bad ones act selfishly. They do what they want and do nothing to help the people. They serve themselves. And this is the world we live in. It’s me first and maybe you later… if I can muster up the two minutes for you that I don’t even have for myself, I may take care of you then. The great leaders take care of the issues for the people. World War two… President Roosevelt, elected to four terms, the only President to be elected more than twice, was loved by the people. He didn’t rush into war but was attacked and forced into the war. He served his people by taking care of the Great Depression. And those are just the most popular things that history remembers him for. He served his country, and thus made himself a king in history. Back to the bible:

What if the bible was written this way: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your waiter, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be waited upon, but to wait upon, and to suffer his spirit as a price for many.” Now, as a slave, which is what Christ became on this earth for me, he became a waiter. Waiting tables is the most humbling job a person can have. You run and try to take care of customers who are constantly judging you, minute by minute. My drink has been “half empty” for over a minute now (and when you wait tables, the customer is always seeing the glass as “half empty”). And in the case of Christ, when I don’t get that blessing when I want it, I’m cutting his tip down ever so slightly. And the price of his spirit goes up, along with the suffering. The best of waiters couldn’t measures up to Christ. And Christ still doesn’t get the best tips out there. But he’s the best king out there… because he’s the best servant. I only hope to be the best servant I can… I do have the right role model. Johnny Out.

Friendship - Edition #6: Exhausting Love

April 14th, 2006

Good Friday!
Friendship – Edition #6: Exhausting Love

1st John 4:7-21
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

God makes love. God is affection. God is benevolence. God means love. These are ways to translate that from the Greek according to E-sword. More so, we ought to love one another. We owe love to each other. I don’t know about you, but to hear that translation is challenging. I owe love to you.

Owe (verb):

• To be indebted to the amount of.


• To have a moral obligation to render or offer.


• To be in debt to.


• To be indebted or obliged for.

I have an obligation to love you. I am in debt for my love for you. I can never give you the love that I am required. Does that mean since I can not give enough that I should not even try? By no means should I have that mindset. I should give everything I can and then some; I should exhaust myself in my effort. Whoever loves God must also love his sister. Whoever loves God must also love his neighbor (Matthew 19:19). Who loves God must also love his friend (John 15:13). Whoever loves God must also love his enemy (Matthew 5:44). If I don’t do there things, then I am a liar. The kicker is that these people are owed the love. I owe it to them to love them. Even the people who rub me the wrong way, even the people who irritate me to no end, and even the people who push my buttons, they are all due love from me.

Romans 13:7
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

If love, then love.

Romans 13:8-10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Love is a debt that can never be repaid. I will always owe love to everyone. And that is a good debt to have. There is an obligation for me to love you. And I am glad for that obligation and even gladder to do what I can send in payments. Have a Good Friday everyone… it is friend day, it is Good Friday, and Easter is on Sunday… Johnny Out.

The Tongue - Edition #12: Idle Chatter

April 13th, 2006

The Tongue – Edition #12: Idle Chatter

Proverbs 11:1-13
The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Gossip (noun):

• A report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people.


• (Verb): Wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or intimacies.

I found that the word gossip has only been around since 1014 (http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Gossip), so that encouraged me to check out E-Sword and see what the true meaning is. The word that stuck out to me was rakiyl (pronounced raw-keel). You can actually substitute scandal monger in place of gossip. That would mean that a gossip and a scandal monger are one in the same. You can also substitute a slanderer in that place, as well. The word gossip gets glossed over, “oh, I’m just gossiping, no harm done.” But we wouldn’t ever say, “Oh, I’m just a slanderer” or “I’m such a scandal monger. What can you do?” Now, I don’t necessarily mind my bathroom scale being dishonest, I prefer it to say a lighter weight, as I’m sure most people do. The only way that I can be a man of understanding is to hold my tongue. And the only way I cannot be a gossip, scandal monger, or slanderer is to hold my tongue. Other passages really bring it home.

Proverbs 16:27-28
A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 18:1-8
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment. A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice. A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 20:19
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 26:17-22
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

A slanderer betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. The words of a scandal monger are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. Without wood a fire goes out; without idle chatter a quarrel dies down. If I don’t dwell on an issue, it will go away. If I constantly talk about it, it will never go away. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and one who speaks about others and reveals their secrets and intimacies separates close friends. I spoke with a friend last night and he was telling me about Saint Patrick. He was up for bishop and he had a discipling partner that he confessed his sins to on a regular basis. He had to minister to others but also had an appointment to speak about the bishop role. His friend said he would speak to them on his behalf. He trusted his friend and they decided to go ahead and let him go minister while his friend spoke for him. His friend spoke for him and told them all his dirt. He slandered Saint Patrick. And then the gossip spread all throughout the area. We like to hear the gossip. We watch the news. We listen to people talk about other people. We turn on the radio and listen to it there. We go to work and talk about so-and-so’s performance and how there sales numbers are sliding and we beat them down. “Bob is out sick AGAIN?! Man, he is just a sluggard. If he wouldn’t go out partying all night…” and so it begins. This is definitely an area where I am guilty. I don’t know what that guy did to Saint Patrick, and it is a shame he did it, but I am no better than that guy. And it is when I start thinking that I am, that I really get messed up. Everyone have a good Thursday, for tomorrow is Good Friday.

Prayer List: 4-12-06

Last Updated: 4/12/06

Prayer List:

1. Brenda Rivera and family for the passing of their dad, Rolando Rivera.


2. Renerick Slack: to do well in school.


3. Parents: financial difficulties.


4. Monroe Morgan: health issues.


5. Aunt Roxie: cancer.


6. Jenny’s brother to get a job.


7. Keith’s dad who has health problems.


8. Jenny’s father to find a more secure job.


9. Johnny: find what’s wrong with leg and for it to be resolved.


10. Jenny: to get a raise in pay.


11. Ray: health issues.


12. Texas Rangers: to have a winning season, win the division, and a playoff game.


13. Dallas Mavericks: to finish first and go to the NBA Finals


14. Dallas Stars: to get a cup or two.


15. Brit White: herniated disk


16. Mary Jane Barenthaler: cancer


17. Alex Moreno: cancer


18. Dan Burns: kidney infection


19. Aja Jackson: brain mass


20. Larry Anderson: cancer


21. Father of Tammy Kelly: acute leukemia


22. David Daniels: cancer


23. Vernal Gautreaux: severe pneumonia


24. Alex Reyes: serious illness


25. Kendall Shephard: liver transplant


26. Natalie Shephard: leukemia


27. Amanda Drumheller: recovering from car accident


28. J.C. & Joann McDonald: critically ill


29. Alex Lynn’s father: recovering from surgery


30. Jerry Clark: cancer