Too Salty? Nah!

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot." (Matt 5:13 NRSV)

I admit, like an old sailor, I can be a bit salty. In fact, the older I get, the saltier I seem to become. This does not always please everyone around me. It does not please those who think that the word of God can be twisted around or manipulated to appease the world's self-serving agendas. 

I am not here to please the world; to serve others, yes; but, not to make everyone around me happy, happy, happy. The truth does not always fill egos with joy. But, the truth will set us free. So, it is imperative that we proclaim the truth, who is Jesus the Christ, at all times and in all places.  

There are times when I consider that my saltiness is just a bit too salty. But, there are also times when I think that maybe I was not salty enough. I let things slide and then I wonder if by doing that I have actually encouraged unfaithfulness to God. But, do not worry. I have been seasoned with age and I am only getting older and saltier. 

"As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

                                                                            (Gal 1:9-10)

Have a blessed day in Jesus the Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Gracious Speech

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Col 4:6

Each morning, I spend a few minutes reading the news online. I don't usually turn on the television because I do not like to start my day listening to commentators who do not know how to be gracious or to speak with integrity. I do not like to start my day listening to any politician or their supporters who season their speech with way too much salt and who have no clue what the words tact or graciousness mean. All of those accusations without an iota of evidence is really becoming wearisome. Many reporters forget that in this country we are innocent until proven guilty. According to scripture there needs to be witnesses in order to convict. There is so much bad news, both in content and in presentation, that I have find it needful to not read or listen to very much of it.

Each morning as I read the news, I stumble across at least a few errors in grammar, spelling, facts, etc.. Because of these errors false information is often given. I know and confess that I make an awful lot of grammatical and spelling errors in these daily blogs that I write. I am also not always the most tactful. I do not have an editor. I write like I speak and consequently mistakes are made. I am not a professional writer. I spend very little time in writing these blogs as they are a hobby. I do not make a living writing these blogs. However, I do believe that professional reporters and editors who are paid to communicate the news to us ought to actually edit what they are writing before they print it so that the news is communicated to us accurately and without attempts to get us to worship their gods as they try to shove their personal bias' down our throats.

Communicating properly is a gift that is greatly needed in our news media, indeed in the world. Yes, a little salt in the news is a good thing. But, a little more graciousness would help others to hear and understand more clearly.    

May God help us all to be a bit more gracious when we open our mouths or place our fingers on a keyboard in attempts to communicate ideas or facts.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Just wondering how many grammatical errors I just made..