TERRE HAUTE — I pulled up to the little black box and waited for a faceless voice to ask for my order. I was fishing around in my billfold for money when I heard, “Welcome to Booger King. Can I help you?” I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. Not getting a response from me, he asked again, a bit louder. “Welcome to Booger King. Can I help you?” I was able to control myself long enough to tell him I wanted a large diet coke. No sandwiches for me, please. Not here, anyway. I shuddered to think how a sandwich made of kingly boogers would look, let alone how it would taste! Chuckling to myself, I resisted the impulse to correct the young man’s pronunciation, just in case he sickened some other unsuspecting customer. (It would do well for B.K. employees to remember that burgers come from cows. Boogers most decidedly do not!)
A number of years ago, I sat through an entire Sunday School hour listening to the teacher explain that we needed to set golds for ourselves. The number one gold we should have would be to lead our families and friends to Christ. Another gold we should keep uppermost is to live a Christ-like life. Each time he spoke of golds, I wanted to shout: “Goals. The word is goals!”
Granted, some people say they don’t feel comfortable speaking around me. They know I teach English and writing classes, and most know that I do a bit of writing as well. I must confess, it is rather difficult for me to keep from correcting common grammar goofs that pop up in everyday conversations. I have to bite my tongue when participles dangle, pronouns don’t have an antecedent, and subjects and verbs don’t agree.
Mispronounced words have a different effect on me. They make me laugh. When I hear someone’s rough has a leak, I know they mean roof. When I hear someone ask what is playing at the theeater, I know they mean theater. Ask me for a nakin and I will hand you a napkin. And if you oral the hinge on my backdoor, I know you will need to use oil to get the job done.
There’s a fabulous hymn in most of our hymn books. With meaning, the song proclaims that if we are covered in the blood of the sacrificial lamb, we know that when God sees us, he is looking through the filter of the blood of his son, Jesus. That blood washes away our sin. Washes — not warshes.
People often say that they don’t tell others about Christ because they “don’t talk good.” They say they don’t know how to speak well and get really nervous. So they leave the evangelism up to those who can “talk good” and know what to say.
Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 14:19, “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” Paul knew what was really needed was the instruction, not fancy words that cry out for interpretation. Sure, I know what those churchified words mean. I know what it is to be a transgressor that has been sanctified and redeemed. I can correctly use words like justification and dispensation. But what good would that do me if I could not speak five intelligible words of instruction?
Fanciful religious vocabularies would have no meaning if I could not explain to others that sin is what separates us from God. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” But God sent Jesus to earth to be offered as a sacrifice. 1st John 4:10 says God “sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 7:27 tells us that Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”
Five intelligible words — sin, sacrifice, once, for all. I understood those five simple words when I first became a Christian. So did you. And that’s all we really need to know to teach others about Christ. If we know enough to become Christians ourselves, we know enough to lead others to Christ. So forget the fancy words, the correct pronunciations, the proper subject/verb agreement. Just remember what Jesus means to you and go tell others.
Then we can all sing, “Are you warshed in the blood of the Lamb?”
Verna Davis may be reached at vrdspeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
THE JOY LADY: Five intelligible words — sin, sacrifice, once, for all
- Religion
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THE JOY LADY: It’s not too late to send God a Valentine this year
I just finished up doing a little surfing on some Valentine’s Day sites. After the necessary censoring for language and questionable love hints, I have gathered a few Valentine hints that might make your upcoming Valentine’s Day easier.
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Paris church launches Bible-reading campaign
The Bible is the best-selling book in history, but how many people in our communities are actually reading it? A Gallup survey reports the average American household has four Bibles. However, research by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2008) found that only 16 percent of Americans read the Bible every day.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Feb. 11, 2012
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THE JOY LADY: Doug and I made one promise — to love each other
The first time I met my then future husband, he was no catch. Trust me. It was my first semester in college — August 1970.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Feb. 4, 2012
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THE JOY LADY: Spurred on to husk out the good works left to do
I’ve got this thing. It was passed down to me inside a tin box that once belonged to my grandfather’s aunt. The thing is about 6-inches-long and 2-inches-wide.
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Maryland Community Church develops app
People can experience a church activity without physically being there. A smart phone helps make that connection for a Terre Haute church.
- Church briefs: Jan. 21, 2012
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BOOKS: Wabash Valley author to sign books at Java Haute on Saturday
Brazil resident Marjorie E. Hopkins will sign copies of her Christian Life book, “Dying to Meet Him: Wit and Wisdom from a Funeral Director’s Wife” from 1-3 p.m. Saturday in Java Haute, at 3805 Wabash Ave.
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THE JOY LADY: Be VERY careful with all the words you say
Our language is peculiar, isn’t it?
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Jan. 14, 2012
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New Signing for the Savior class beginning
Senior Education Ministries Inc. in partnership with Families by Choice and Park Place Apartments has scheduled Signing for the Savior.
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Holiness Association to offer Indoor Camp
Vigo County Holiness Association will offer an Indoor Camp from Jan. 17 to 22 in 8th Street Wesleyan Church at Eighth Street and National Avenue in West Terre Haute.
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THE JOY LADY: Lyrics of hymns, worship choruses soothe my soul
When my children were teenagers, I annoyed them. On purpose! Of course, their reaction to my attempts to annoy just added to my fun. The frustrated sighs, the shaking heads, the averted faces only served to keep me going.
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Church to break ground on sanctuary
Groundbreaking on new expansion and remodel project at Cross Lane Community Church is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday in the church at 2204 Lafayette Ave.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Jan. 7, 2012
- Church Briefs: Dec. 31, 2011
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THE JOY LADY: With forming habits in mind, let’s ask some basic questions
OK. It’s over. Pack up the snowmen, the manger scenes, the mistletoe and the ornaments. Put the tree back in the box and cart it all to the attic. Christmas is over.
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THE JOY LADY: Do we forget that Christmas is all about Jesus?
I have a collection of manger scenes. Seventeen, as a matter of fact. A small one, about two inches by three, was purchased in the Holy Land and is carved out of olive wood. It was given to me a couple of weeks ago by a dear friend (thank you, Norma) because she wanted to add to my collection.
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NEWSMAKERS: Dec. 24, 2011
Seventeen individuals made their first commitments as Providence Associates during a recent Eucharistic Liturgy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods and at other sites across the United States.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Dec. 24, 2011
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First Congregational Church offering ‘Longest Night Service’
During this season, we often think of Santa and presents, nativity scenes and the birth of the Savior, as well as family gatherings and meals.
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Independent Nazarene Church plans Christmas concert
The Singing Barrick Family will be presenting a Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 25 at the Independent Nazarene Church.
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THE JOY LADY: He is worthy: Are our hearts full of worship this Christmas?
Those manger scenes I’ve been talking about remind us that Joseph’s heart was full of courage and Mary’s heart was obedient. As for the shepherds — their hearts were full of worship.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Dec. 17, 2011
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Christmas Dinner planned at Marshall church
The fifth annual Community Christmas Dinner, sponsored by Marshall First United Methodist Church will be on Dec. 25 at the church in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone who lives in the Marshall area is welcome to attend this free dinner.
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THE JOY LADY: Like Mary, we should give God our total, humble obedience
My heart needs to be more like Mary’s. Here she was, minding her own business, busily preparing for her wedding, when the angel Gabriel showed up and told her she had found favor with God and that soon she would be with child. She was going to give birth to Jesus, the Son of the Most High, whose kingdom would never, ever, never end.
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Sponsor a child at Christmas
All 18 elementary schools in Vigo County were able to submit names of three to five families from their school that need the most help for the holiday season.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: Dec. 10, 2011
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Terre Haute native on her book: It’s a ‘Bible study with a twist’
“Refreshing Bible study with a twist” is how Terre Haute native Mary Ann (Shouse) Crum describes her recently released book, “Live. Learn. Laugh! Stories and Studies That Reveal God’s Amazing Heart” (Xulon Press, 2011).
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