Petting doggies=white

Acknowledging that women are attractive when you’re married=black

(sorry, I just couldn’t resist being silly )

The world would sometimes be an easier place then.

The whole lying thing reminds me of the situational ethics debate and Christians like to try to stand back and say “never lie”….”never swear”….I guess the truth is that those things are “sin” and we should strive not to do them but that God also understands and forgives when we do.

Rob, I bet Nicholas’ parents are so glad you are his mentor/teacher. I would hope that my children’s teachers would appreciate their quircky little personalities as you do his!!

I agree with Patty, God’s shoulders are broad enough to handle anything we throw His way!!!!

I’ve rebelled from my childhood teachings on swearing. I am not much of a swearer! At least, not compared to my dad. He was/is very foul mouthed. Every other word I’m sure!!

He used to refer to most women, including my mom, as b*****s. I remember wondering when I was little, if he thought I was one too. It still wounds me to hear that word used. James never says it out of love for me. Any negative word, cuss word or not, has the powere to wound our spirits deeply.

I admit, it’s really fun at times when I’m with a close friend or James to cuss- they get such a kick out of it!

and now…enough cooing over nicholas…and on to the broader issue at hand…

you know, from what i understand, many forms of Christianity have a very sanitized (and inacurrate) understanding of the language that is used in the Bible. For instance, I once had a friend of mine that was well educated in biblical studies tell me that most Christians would be shocked to hear a literal translation of some of the language that David uses in the Psalms. Apparently, for it’s time period and context, it was quite harsh- even considered by many to be an equivalent to swearing. I hear things like that and I think, hmmmm…I do think it is a matter of the heart…and my intention in the word. In other words, I can say the most reserved, holy, righteous, rehearsed, sanitized prayer and not mean a word of it. Or, I can use language that many would classify as “bad” and be totally broken before God. Sometimes a curse word is just the most accurate word…and I even think that sometimes the most appropriate place to utilize one is in prayer. Honestly. Not in a gratuitous manner (doing it just to be doing it), but rather when expression makes it necessary, when I am really taking all that I am before God, it is usually pretty intense, and usually manifests itself in some pretty intense language, I guess. This might sound scandelous, but in my weakest, most human moments, sometimes a curse word is the only prayer that I can get out.

And, as far as I am aware, God has never abandoned me there, but rather he always comes to meet me there. So, I guess that means He is not threatened or intimidated by my potty mouth…

So, Mr. Rob, I’m curioius. What was your response? “Is it a sin to swear in your head?”

I would agree that you just can’t apply a blanket command on that one. You have to judge each instance individually.

The adult world is not so black and white, though we would like it to be.

Blending this in with the Malcolm post I think this is one of the areas where he has good intentions but misses the point. Anxiously awaiting Star Wars, or any movie, book, etc. and being excited about it and thinking/talking about it does not mean its a sin or is more important than God. It simply means you are excited about it. Now if you sell your children into slavery so that you can go see it multiple times a day then yes, you may be sinning!