Rumors

I heard a rumor about me on Sunday night. I was talking with a local friend who checks up on me once in a while. It was clear to me that this rumor grew from a lack of information about why I made some decisions. And in that vacuum of information, some had tried to fill in the blanks... thus birthing the rumor. I could tell that he was troubled... by what he had heard... and didn't even want to share it with me. I gave him the freedom to share what was troubling him and he did. It really was a harmless thing... and did not bother me... but it was not true. So I was able put him at ease about the situation and we both ended the conversation better.

Rumors... can be damaging can't they. Before I try to get all philosophical on rumors... let me interject a favorite '80's tune called "Rumors" by the Timex Social Club. Enjoy...



OK, back to the serious....

The power of rumors is tied to the power of words. Words can give life... or take life. Words can be used as agents for the gospel or against the gospel. In the gospel, King Jesus defeats the power of Satan through his substitutionary death and victorious resurrection. In doing so he inaugurates his reign over all things and begins... in part... a process of restoring all of creation to its pre-Eden wholeness and perfection (biblically shalom). At the appointed time... His reign will fully come.

As his ambassadors and agents of this good news, the church (those who gain citizenship into this kingdom through faith) is to live redemptively in these last days... in all that we do. The churches existence as a community of the redeemed is a foretaste of the future shalom that will wash over all things. When shalom exists... things are knit together as they should fit... as they were designed to fit... not frail and frayed... not disordered and dissected.

Our words, too, can express shalom or disturb it. Our words when truthful and righteous and godly can affirm and do the work of bringing shalom in communities and individuals and families. When our words are truthless and rumorful... we can tear apart individuals and families and communities.

The Church is the place where the wholeness of life (shalom) should be most fully evident. Our speech... our disagreeing... our demeanor... our attitudes... our community life... is to be a foretaste to the world of what life is like when Jesus reigns in our hearts... in our homes... and in our communities.

So practically how should we deal with rumors? Reject them... they are probably not true. Instead personally seek out the individuals involved... because truth is most often discovered in healthy, face-to-face dialogue. With truth in hand you will actually escape the trouble that comes from the destructive power of rumors. Reject + Dialogue = Truth.

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.
Proverbs 11:8-9

spoonful of truth...

You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.
~ Rosa Parks

words.... words... words...

I’m obsessed… with words. I’m not sure why, but I am hyper-sensitive to the power of words these days. I’m hanging on every word that I hear. I’m hearing conversations with new… sensitive… ears.

And the whole time I’m having this internal conversation… are those sweet words… why not? are those life-giving words… how come? All of life is this continual flow of conversations and chatter and words. Our life is words.

How I welcome my son in the morning…
What I say when I kiss my wife good-bye for the day…
An e-mail I type to a co-worker…
A phone call I make to my dad…

Words. They are as important as life and death. Seems strong I know. But it is true. Why do I say that? Because our words are a window into our heart.

Think about it. When you sit down with a close family member and share a problem. And the conversation that ensues is affirmative and encouraging and helpful… it comes from heart which is filled up with love for you. Their conversation shows the posture of their heart towards you. And that is a powerful thing.

In the Bible, Luke said… For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks…. our words flow out of the status… the condition… the pattern… the state of our heart.

Just before this he says… The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.

Boy do I need help… because my words are not always good. They often come from reaction… fear… anger… pride… selfishness… ulterior motives…And why is that a big deal… because they reflect my heart.

And so I’m taking some instruction from something Solomon wrote in the Bible… 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.

the power of words

Words can give life… lift-up… heal… encourage… deliver… create. God spoke and things became. He gave life... with his words. And we… in his image... can give life... with our words.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. -Proverbs 16:24

Words can kill… cut down… dismantle… pierce… destroy. When God finally judges… he will speak... and it will be done. We on the other had must realize that our words... if used improperly... can wreak havoc.

Reckless words pierce like a sword... -Proverbs 12:18

I’ve been reflecting lately on some people in my life whose gracious words have been sweet to me like a honeycomb.

In my wife’s life I think of Andrea. She is such a thoughtful person. Over the past few years she has written a number of encouraging notes to my wife that have built her up. She understands the power of words and takes her time to build into someone else. She may never understand what a huge effect her words have had. Her thoughtfulness and her words have given life to my wife.

In my life I think of Denny. He has bit by bit, hour by hour invested in my life over the years. He has walked in my shoes and journeyed with me over the years. He understands my stresses, my pressures, my weaknesses and my strengths. He regularly brings a fresh perspective to any situation which I bring to him. In one of our recent discussions he opened the Bible and spoke its truths and promises to me. He took my hand and put in the hand of the Lord… when I didn’t have the strength to do it myself. He put wind in my sails… he gave me hope… he breathed life into me.

Words are powerful. Who is in your life? Who gives you life… or at least that needed boost?