Jan 21 2010

What Are You Saying?

Posted in Living show hide 15 comments

Photo by takeyourhatred.deviantart.com/

It’s a safe bet that if it’s silent around this blog, it’s because I have nothing positive to say.

This past Sunday our guest speaker Michael Folsom, and again with Pastor Jan last night really hit this point home for me.

Michael had a lot of things that stuck with me, but one line kinda slapped me in the face

When you speak, are you drawing people closer to Christ or pushing them away?

I let that sit with me for a few days and then last night Pastor Jan put it in an even more clear language for me when he spoke about not necessarily what I say with my mouth, but what I type.  My Twitter and Facebook updates…..Are those words drawing people near or pushing them away?

I’ve written about this before because it is a constant struggle in my life.  I am a super-critical person…..of you, of me, of everyone and everything.  I won’t place blame or make excuses; it’s just part of me that I have to keep a close monitor on.  So, if I have nothing nice to say, I say nothing.  That line has been said millions of times throughout time, but I’m not sure it’s the answer.

Say nothing?  Maybe in certain cases that’s the answer, but NOTHING?? Really?

I have found that there is no better time to get in the Word than when you’re feeling or thinking negatively.  There’s nothing that will brighten your day more….nothing more positive in the world.  THAT’S the answer…..for me anyway…..I can’t imagine I’m alone.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11).

What we SAY…What we TYPE.…if we’re living a Christ-centered life, will bring people to Christ.  You don’t have to knock on doors, hand out Bibles, preach to people…..Sure, that may work too, but the way we LIVE, and more importantly, the way others SEE US LIVE, is the best form of evangelism out there.  Jesus is ALIVE…..in each of us!  The lost will never know unless they SEE Him living in us!

I won’t go into much detail, simply because of what I have written here, but yesterday I had ONE status message that was, although slightly, politically charged.  I can go days without anyone responding to my updates, but all it takes is one slip up like that to divide a bunch of people.  I got a weeks worth of messages and comments about my statement…..NONE of them positive. Even those in agreement with me only wanted to tear down those who didn’t.  And I started it.  I will not feed the beast anymore. PERIOD!

I urge you to join me.

  • http://lifespokinatcha.wordpress.com pokinatcha

    Well looks like I missed that status update! I pretty much stay away from politics & stuff like that online.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      I have since deleted it from Facebook, and tried to on Twitter, but I'm never sure if it gets rid of it or not. You didn't miss much.

  • Jan Horak

    And what I said triggered this? Here is what Jim Burns twittered sometime during the night: It only takes 2 years to learn to talk, but it takes the rest of one's life to learn to control what you say.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      A combination of you and Michael….Ya didn't know I actually listened to what you say, did ya? :-) Yes, I lack a bit of control…..always have.

  • Jan Horak

    John Maxwell tweeted this quote: Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day. -Arthur Gordon

    that's all I got to say.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      and that is enough said

  • Brandi

    Conversation peace is a good book Toby, I lack self control at times too w/my words :-) and it was helpful…My grandpa always tells me, "Brandi you have 2 ears and 1 mouth, LISTEN better" LOL…However, I think we have a responsibility at times to SPEAK UP…but God will let you know when that time is ;-)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      Sounds like Grandpa is a wise AND funny man! :D
      I actually thought of your second thought last night. By no means do I think we need to be carpet or be afraid to speak up, but that's not where my control problems come in. I need to stop thinking that God wants me to SPEAK UP about EVERYTHING…LOL

  • http://billgrandi.com Bill (cycleguy)

    Not sure what you tweeted or twiddled or dummed but every time I read something like this it reminds me more and more how glad I am not to be on FB or Twitter. I have enough trouble with watching what I say and how I say it in person without the added headache of extra venues. My prayer for you, for me, for all Christ-followers is to be extra careful what we say, how we say it and how it can be taken.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      Bill, you know I went twiddleless awhile back, but got bored :-) . I just have to let my heart in the action before I type/speak. Thanks for the prayers!

  • Brandi

    100 Kudos to BILL the cycleguy…Typed words have NO EMOTION and can be hard to decifer and taken the wrong way very easily….On my myspace account I typed a blog, TOTALLY thinking I was NOT being offensive BUT I received about 100 emails that stated other…Those who KNEW me understood what was the point but OTHERS, not so much :-( I did get a 1000 hits on my blog that week, which NEVER happened lol, but not the kind of 1000 hits I was going for lol…

  • http://www.layingonGodsAnvil.com Kelly (race_12_1)

    For those who have only known me recently, this might be hard to understand. But this lesson, was very very difficult for me to learn, and I still struggle with it from time to time. When I do, it hurts because I thought I learned it well enough!! My husband has to tell me "Kelly you don't always have to say what you think" as a reminder of that lesson. I had to admit I didn't even realize how often I was being negative, and though I was also saying positive things, they were being overshadowed by the negative. And when I changed–it took a long time for others to see that change because that isn't what they were expecting. Now, when I do say something negative, I feel a strong urge to grab it back, sometimes even before the other person reacts to it! So do not be dismayed, for this is something the Lord desires for you, so He will give you the help you need to carry it through.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      Thanks for sharing Kelly. Actually, I'm TONS better than used to be, but my greater challenge these days are with my thoughts. I can usually, although not always obviously, control what comes out of my mouth/fingers, but my thoughts have been so negative for so long, that's a tougher challenge for me.
      You're right though, we will be delivered from this should we continue to seek Him for guidance.
      Thanks again!

  • Shellie (baylormum)

    Geez, Toby, why do people have to get so fired up over politics and not what is really important on this Earth? Where is their passion then? I hate, hate seeing negative things about our president (from any party). "if you can't say (type) anything nice…." So much wasted energy! I want to see selflessness. I want to see passion for standing up for what God wants of us. I want to see a united (and peaceful) world. Good words today. Really.

    Hope Chaya is feeling better soon. :)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Pastor_T Pastor_T

      Satan knows how to push out buttons, I guess, is the best way to describe it. "A waste"….U nailed it right there. At the point where we take control and give it to God, the problem becomes a distant memory. It's just rough getting there….old habits….

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