Watch what you say…

America is the great melting- pot of the world and we are not afraid to borrow words from different cultures and though the words may have one meaning in their original language, often the American culture attaches new meanings to th words and they become part of the American lexicon.

From Spanish, we use “amigo” having the same meaning as the English word “friend.” From Italian we use “Vendetta,” meaning a feud, keeping a grudge against someone.

“Panini” is a great sandwich in Italy as well as America. Capisci?

The comedian George Carlin had a famous monologue in 1972 which was released on an album entitled Class Clown. One track on the album was “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.”

This monologue identified seven words that could not be used — ever (now said everyday on television, movies, music, in print, etc.).

In a November 2004 interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Mr.

Carlin explained part of the “Seven Words You Can Never Say” monologue; “I don’t know that there was a ‘Eureka!’ moment or anything like that… On these other things, we get into the field of hypocrisy.

Where you really cannot pin down what rules they want to enforce are. It’s just impossible to say, ‘this is a blanket rule:’. You’ll see some newspapers print ‘f blank blank k’. Some print ‘f asterisk asterisk k’. Some blank- Some put ‘f blank bank blank’.

Some put the word ‘bleep’.

Some put, um… ‘expletive deleted’. So there’s no… there’s no real constant standard. It’s not a science.

It’s a notion that they have and it’s superstitious. These words have no power. We give them this power by refusing to be free and easy with them. We give them great power over us. They really, in themselves, have no power. It’s the thrust of the sentence that makes them either good or bad.”

Mr. Carlin was right — the rules against using certain words have never been clearly defined or affirmed by our culture.

Every day conversation cross the blurred lines of decency, common sense and continues to digress in its perversity.

The words we use have power; power to build up, encourage, inspire and to motivate one to do good.

Words also have power to tear down, discourage, and to motivate one to evil.

What does God think of our words? He said, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying to the hearer, (Ephesians 4:29).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat the results” (Proverbs 18:21). What are you doing with the power you have?

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Do you stir up people with the things you say? Why not be someone who brings peace?

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24).

Bad language can and does discourage others.

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23).

Could your words, your desire to say what you think getting you in trouble?

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

Self-control runs short in our words.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). As Aretha Franklin sang, “You’d better stop and think” what you are doing to others with your words.

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:18).

How can you know a person? The easiest way is to listen to the words a person uses. Conversation reveals what is in the heart and soul. People can also know you, simply by listening to your conversation. It really is simple to know people, listen to them!

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).

If you follow Christ, you should not be talking like those who do not follow Christ.

Our culture is devolving into anything goes, say anything you want, do anything you want, self-control has been thrown out – why? Perhaps it is as simple as Jesus said, out of the mouth comes what is in the heart.

If this is true, our hearts are sick, diseased and have no good in them.

Words are important, words have power and as the Bible states, “life and death” are in the words we use. Are you a person of life or of death?

Clayton Adams has a message of faith he would like to share with the community. He would also like to hear from you. E-mail him at claytonpadamslll@ gmail.com.