Words

Sometimes it amazes me how powerful words can be.
Powerful in both a positive and negative way.

For most of my life I have made living with words. As a professional broadcaster, youth leader and the last several years as a pastor/ teacher/ leader.

Words often paint pictures, help people connect, cast vision, and bring about emotional responses. Words can inspire, irritate and hurt people... no matter if you meant to or not.

"Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt you" is a an out right lie. Words are powerful, can do great damage, and often can cost you a lot.

But what bothers mean the most about words is... when you think you are trying your best to communicate and yet your words confuse people. The wrong, or unintentional word picture gets created, comes across and things spin out of control. It's at these times that the emotional response inflames things faster than a forest fire on a windy day. When these times happen, the confusion of words and intentions creates crazy responses from people. I have been both the confused crazy one and the confused communicator many times. We all have.

Jesus was an amazing communicator... yet so many were confused by what he was really trying to say. Many responded "crazy" because of how they heard and interrupted his words. Ultimately Jesus words became a threat to others that were also trying to teach and communicate. A war of words grew and grew.

Yet, as amazing as a communicator as Jesus was, I don't believe it was his words that really spoke the loudest.

IT WAS HIS ACTIONS BEHIND, BEYOND THE WORDS THAT SPOKE VOLUMES.

Action clarifies intentions, dreams, and plans.
Where words confuse and confound.... action adds definition.

So if my words every confuse, confound or even get you angry. I hope and pray that my actions, intentions and heart speak volumes more than my choice of words.

You see it's not if I will miss-speak or be miss-heard, but rather how often will it happen and what will happen because of it.