Down an Unfamiliar Road

GETTING IT RIGHT

Often we know what we want to say, so we chose a word that seems mostly likely to convey our thought. However, sometimes we pick the wrong word, or use a word wrongly. Here are some examples.

Ironic: Probably one of the most misused words in the English language, ironic does not mean something funny or odd that happens or even an annoying coincidence. In literature, there are several different types of ironies. The most common definition of ironic actually means, “An occurrence that is the direct opposite of what you expected to happen.” For instance, if you were expecting snow, but it turned out to be a 75 degree day, that is ironic.

Peruse: If you think you perused that magazine in the grocery store by flipping through its pages, or you perused your notes seconds before that exam, you didn’t. Perusing doesn’t mean to skim through a text, although that’s how most people use the word. It actually means, “To read something carefully and closely.”

Instant: Thanks to instant coffee, instant pudding, and instant rice, you probably think the word instant means faster than fast. You’d be wrong about that. Instant means a specific moment in time so short that you cannot measure it in any way. It is a nanosecond frozen in time such as a photograph. Therefore, it is definitely shorter than the time it takes to make pudding.

Enormity: Just because a word sounds like another word doesn’t mean they also mean the same thing. Enormity doesn’t mean enormous, even though they look the same. Enormity means a great evil or immoral act. So when you refer to the “enormity of it all, “ you’re not citing its size, but its immense evil character.

Decimate: If you think you decimated your friend in the game of Battleship, you would only right if you destroyed just 10 percent of their ships. When you wipe out their entire fleet, you obliterate or exterminate. It’s a cool sounding word, but it only means 90% of what most people think it means.

Fortuitous: This is another one of those sneaky words that sounds a little like another word. In this case, “fortune.” Instead of meaning gaining something by being in the right place at the right time, fortuitous means by pure chance. Word to the wise, something can be fortuitous and also be bad. Running into your boss at a shopping mall when you called in sick that day might feel unlucky, but by percentages of chance it was also fortuitous.

Plethora: Thinking of that huge bowl filled with three full bags of Cool Ranch Doritos Chips as a plethora is right, but not because you have so much. Having a plethora of those delicious snack chips means that you have an excessive amount over and above what one person actually needs to eat.

Bemused: Another word that traps people because it sounds like something else. Bemused doesn’t mean something that amuses you, even though both are nearly identical in appearance. Being bemused means something puzzles or confuses you. You’re only bemused by a comedian if you don’t get his or her jokes.

Literally: Like the word “ironic,” literally is a word misused by a lot of people. Using the word as emphasis in a sentence is not correct unless what you are saying actually happened. For instance, telling your friends that you laughed so hard you literally fell out of your chair is only embarrassing if you actually did fall.

Irregardless: Irregardless doesn’t have an alternative definition because it doesn’t exist. It’s not an actual word. What you meant to say was, regardless. The two aren’t interchangeable because only one is found in the English language dictionary. To say irregardless only proves that you really don’t know the English language very well, regardless of your claims.

Disinterested: If something bores you or doesn’t keep your attention, you are uninterested. But when you are impartial or you simply don’t care about a subject, then you are disinterested. On a blind date, you might be uninterested when he talks about his Lego collection, but you might be disinterested if one of your friends thinks he’s cute, especially if he’s already gone on and on about the Lego set.

Redundant: This is one of those tricky words that we can easily get wrong. Redundant doesn’t mean repetitive. When something is redundant, it means you’ve already made that statement in another way earlier in the text. When it’s repetitive, you’re repeating yourself using the same words.

Misappropriately: As used when saying that someone acted misappropriately. There is no such word. The actual term is acting inappropriately. To appropriate means to set apart for a specific use. When that is done, then it is used appropriately. However, to take that which was set apart for a specific use and use it for something else, is to misappropriate. We can see then how this word was coined.

LOVE TO FEEL LOVED

There were times between conflicts that God gave David time to rest and be refreshed. He recalls how after a long day herding his father’s sheep over the Judean hills, he too gave the sheep a chance to catch their breath. During his hectic days running from Saul and later fighting the Philistines, David saw the same love and care given to him by his God and Savior. Therefore, David knew from experience that God had the heart of a shepherd. A heart that was caring, loving, protective and always on-call to provide all the assistance needed to keep him safe and sound.

“The LORD Eternal cares for me with a shepherd’s love, I have everything I need. He encourages me to relax and lower my stress; He sees to it that I stay away from what can upset me. He refreshes my spirit by giving me many reasons to keep on going and to honor Him by the way I live. And even when I’m going through difficult times that could destroy me, I don’t panic because He’s right by my side, and His power to defend me brings comfort. Even when things don’t look good, He gives me a reason to have hope; He makes me feel wanted; He even gives me things I never expected. I am certain, His loving-kindness and steadfast love will always sustain me on my journey, until I sit down in His presence forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

Reflection: Professor Stanley Jaki stood on a sidewalk in Scotland listening to a preacher tell the following story: A little shepherd boy and several lambs were found frozen to death after a severe snow storm up on the hills near his small Scottish village. When his body was recovered, the rescuers saw that the little lad seemed to have died holding fast to the little finger on his left hand. They had no explanation for this until they talked to his mother and she explained. She told them that this was how her small Scottish chap always recited the 23^rd Psalm, by starting with his thumb and touching each finger on his left hand. The preacher then demonstrated, that as the little fellow lay on the ground shivering from the cold he began to slowly recite his favorite Psalm: “The…Lord…is…my…shepherd” By the time he reached his little finger his tiny heart stopped just as he breathed the word “Shepherd.”

In spite of being buffeted by a sharp wind blowing cold off the North Sea, Dr. Jaki said he could not help but sense a warm feeling flood his soul and spread throughout his chilled body as he listened to this touching story. It was obvious that even though this little lad had to walk through the valley of death’s shadow, he knew his Shepherd was right there with him. I’m sure King David could empathize with that little shepherd boy, and prove that what he said in the final words of his Psalm were proven to be true once again. True shepherds do not abandon their flock or become distracted and allow predators to sneak in and devour them. That’s why each believer should start each day by looking up and saying with the Psalmist, “The Lord Eternal is my Shepherd.”

YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

It is said that when Esther came into the inner court of Ahasuerus, the pagan king of the Medes and Persians, she begin to sob while quoting the first line of this psalm. Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus quoted these same lines in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” while hanging on the cross. God had not really forsaken them, but they were expressing what it felt like having no God to help them. Between going out to battle and upon returning home in victory, there were some scary moments on the battlefield for King David. But they all kept their faith in a caring God who never fails.

“O God, my God, why haven’t You done anything to help me; why is it taking so long for my help to arrive; don’t you hear my gut-wrenching screams for help? My One True God, I’ve been on my knees all day—but still no reply; I stay on my knees all night—but still no answer. Aren’t You the One who sits on His throne and listens for His children to call out to Him in prayer? Aren’t You the same One our forefathers trusted unconditionally; the One they believed would help them gain their freedom. And when they cried out for help, You set them free. They absolutely trusted You, and You didn’t let them down. Please, O LORD Eternal, don’t put it off any longer; I need Your help, and I need it now in order to survive. This will protect me from their daggers and keep me away from their claws; for they are like hungry lions and wild bulls out to make my life miserable. Then I’ll let my whole family and congregation know how fantastic You are. So to my brothers and sisters I say, ‘Brag on Him! Yes, those of you who call yourselves His children, honor Him! Let everyone who claims to be His child, stand in awe of Him! For He did not pretend to love you; no, He did not make fun of those who were living in misery. Neither did He turn away as though He didn’t care; rather, when you pleaded with Him He heard your faintest cry. That’s what inspires me to stand up in front of the congregation and testify; to let those who worship Him know how much I owe Him. That way, those who are down and out, and those who are looking for His help will have an opportunity to celebrate Him. And I pray that your hearts will be lifted up forever and ever!” Psalm 22:1-5, 19-26

Reflection: In 1936, a troubled and despondent Christian teenager named Mary Stevenson, from Chester, Pennsylvania, decided to express her feelings in a poem. Here’s how she described her situation: “One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, ‘You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?’ The Lord replied, ‘The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you’.”

David surely felt this way, but in the end he realized that God saw things much differently than he did. So rather than trust in his own instincts, or give in to his fears and doubts, he threw himself at God’s feet and said, “I’m in Your hands.” Both Miss Stevenson and King David give us good examples in continuing our walk with God. So when you feel all alone, just remember, He’s closer than you think or even know.

PRAISE THE GOD WHO CARES

Whenever David came back from battles, the crowds would gather by the tens of thousands and line the roads to cheer his victories. Having lived in Egypt for over 400 years in slavery, every triumph over their enemies made the children of God rejoice with great exuberance. Each conflict they won gave them greater faith that God was on their side and would not let their enemies prevail. So the writer of the previous psalm that encouraged David as he went out to fight, now composes a song to welcome him back in triumph.

“O LORD Eternal, You supplied the strength necessary for the king to overcome the obstacles he faced, and this thrilled him; yes, the victory you gave him caused him to shout for joy. You gave him exactly what he needed and asked for, and didn’t hold anything back. This showered him with blessings; it was like putting a gold crown on his head. He asked You to help him survive and You promised him a great future. He looks better now than he did before the victory You gave him, thus making him the great and marvelous person he is. You have overwhelmed him with more blessings than he can contain; but the one thing that thrills him most is Your constant companionship. The king has confessed his absolute trust in You, O LORD Eternal, and because of Your unwavering love, O God Most High, he has a hope now that will never die. So let the strength You provided him cause people to trust in You, O LORD Eternal, so they can also sing songs about the greatness of Your powerful deeds.” Psalm 21:1-7, 13

Reflection: Football in Texas is almost a religion with cheering, screaming fans packing every football stadium. That is, except for one team. Their stands are empty, no band, no cheerleaders, no mass of parents or townsfolk wearing the school colors and waving banners and flags. They are the Tornadoes of the Gainesville State School, a fenced, maximum-security facility of the Texas Youth Commission, 75 miles north of Dallas. These young men are there because they made serious mistakes in their lives. They work hard and train like everyone else. All of their games are always away, and almost always a loss. But something changed when they played the Faith Christian School Lions down in Grapevine, Texas. The Faith coach called the Gainesville coach and asked him if it would be okay if Faith formed a “spirit” line for his team when they ran onto the field. The Gainesville coach agreed thinking it would consist of a couple of cheerleaders. Instead, there were 100 people stretching to the 40-yard line yelling, “Go Tornadoes!” Later in the locker room, the Gainesville players were confused and asked, “Why are they cheering for us, coach?” The coach replied, “Because, men, they want to encourage you. They want you to know that they care about you…that you have value.” The boys were stunned. For many, it was the first time that anyone had shown them such unconditional love. If this worked to lift the spirits of young men in prison, how much more will it encourage those believers who have stumbled and fallen, to know that believers are still rooting for them to make it all the way to victory.

A GOOD BATTLE IS A BATTLE FOR GOOD

After David brought the treasured Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and placed it in the tent he erected to keep it covered and safe, someone felt inspired to write this Battle Hymn to be sung each time the king went out to fight Israel’s enemies. No matter how big or small the battle, David never fought it alone, or for his own cause. He always wanted God on his side and desired that all the praise for victory go to his Divine King. In other words, I’m not in this for me LORD, I’m in it for You.

“May the LORD Eternal hold you tight when you’re feeling afraid; may the reputation of the One True God of Jacob be enough to keep the enemy away; may His spirit accompany you and His power give you strength; may He reward your kind and giving spirit; may He let the dreams of your heart become real goals for your life; may we shout with joy over your victories, and in the name of our One True God lift up banners of triumph; and may the LORD answer every prayer you pray. I firmly believe the LORD Eternal will help you succeed as one of His anointed; that from His heavenly throne He will respond to your need by giving you complete victory through His power. While some try to do things depending on man’s ways and methods, we invoke the authority of the LORD Eternal our One True God. The enemy will bow down awestruck and helpless, while we advance with heads held high. O LORD Eternal, grant his majesty victory as an answer to this prayer.” Psalm 20:1-9

One year Brian Fugere finished the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 19 minutes. The next time he ran another 26-mile marathon it took him 7 hours and 48 minutes. That’s because this time the 47-year-old Danville, California native was pushing an IV-pole around the halls of Kaiser Walnut Creek’s third-floor cancer ward as it dripped chemotherapy into his body. It was 144 laps over a period of three days in order to raise funds for sarcoma cancer research. The doctors, nurses, staff, and other patients cheered him as he cross the finish line at 10:30 a.m. I wonder how different it would be if believers cheered on their leaders after they’ve suffered setbacks and spiritual hardships, instead of sitting around in pews, at their kitchen tables, or in restaurant booths discussing the mistakes and faults they see. How much better if they started passing on notes of encouragement and support to these weakened saints and witness a transformation in their attitude and willingness to press on to victory. Although greeting cards, as we know them, didn’t exist in David’s day, when he received this psalm it must have given him courage to lead his people in the right direction with renewed strength.

There are some people who want to change the world, and there are others who don’t want the world to change. Then there are those who don’t care either way. They are going to live their lives the way they want to regardless of what others do. This brings up the question: were we created to be worth something to others as well as ourselves, or worth nothing to others including ourselves? It’s the difference between success and significance. To be a success we feel the need to meet other’s expectations in order to be appreciated and respected. To be significant, we feel motivated to meet God’s expectations in order to appreciate and respect others. Just ask yourself this question: after you meet someone, talk to someone, work with someone, or help someone, did your being there make an impact that only you could make? So don’t aim at just being a success, aim higher at being significant. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

If you pour a hot cup of coffee and set it on the table, it only has the potential of growing cold. It cannot remain hot without some intervention. If you take an ice cube out of the freezer and place it on the counter, its only prospect is to melting into a liquid. It cannot remain frozen without some external attention. If you light a candle, it only has the possibility of burning out. It cannot remain burning without some added factor. If you spin a top on the floor, it has only the probability of slowing down and stopping. It cannot continue to spin without assistance. This is called involution. It contrasts the concept of evolution when applied to how the world and universe began. Only an outside source of power can account for how it got started and how it keeps going. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

Doing one’s duty should not come to mean simply performing the minimum, or what is expected, or “being average.” When one settles for being average they unknowingly arrest and put on hold any possibility of greatness. Anyone who arrives at a level of self-satisfaction; of having met the required standards, looses all expectations of achieving more. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

WISDOM FROM THE PAST

So often we think that the Ten Commandments given to Moses around 1400 B.C., was the beginning of God’s involvement in teaching man how to live according to His edicts. However, in a document called “The Babylonian Counsels of Wisdom,” that consisted of oral laws finally written down around 100 years earlier, we find some ancient teachings that serve as an example of the wisdom of the ages that preceded the writings of the Old Testament. It is highly thought that these teachings were actually the, “Instructions of Shuruppak,” which was an ancient Sumerian city situated about 35 miles south of Nippur on the banks of the Euphrates River at the site of modern Tell Fara in Iraq‘s Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate. This is the land where Abraham came from. These teachings include:

► Every day worship your god.

► Sacrifice and benediction are the proper accompaniment of incense burning.

► Present your free-will offering to your god, for this is proper toward the gods.

► Prayer, supplication, are done while prostrated.

► Bring Him a daily offering, and your reward will result in having full communion with your god.

► In your wisdom study the tablet.

► Reverence begets favor, sacrifice prolongs life, and prayer atones for guilt.

► Do not utter libel, speak what is of good report.

► Do not say evil things, speak well of people.

► One who utters libel and speaks evil, men will confront him about his debit account to god.

► Beware of careless talk, guard your lips; do not utter solemn oaths while alone, for what you say in a moment will follow you afterwards.

► Exert yourself to restrain your speech.

Other important teachings in this codex are:

■ Avoidance of bad companions.

■ Improper speech.

■ Avoidance of altercations and pacification of enemies.

■ Kindness to those in need.

■ The duties and benefits of religion..

■ Improper deception of friends.

Isn’t it sad that an ancient culture that some would call pagan had a better grasp of ethics and virtues than many modern day societies that are called civilized. That’s why the role of Christianity is becoming more and more important and vital as a light of consciousness and conviction in today’s world.