I read, “Do not use ambiguous big impressive words when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish greater understanding of simple thoughts and words.” Impressive but not implicit. As a deaf person said, “I understood every sign, but what did he say?” I often say, “If they do not understand the way you teach, then teach the way they understand.” “If they do not understand the way you write, then write the way they understand.” Dr. Bill Rice, my mentor, taught me, “Anyone can make a message deep, dull, and dry. But great preaching is making a deep message simple so everyone can understand it.” So I write and preach for the common man. Abraham Lincoln said, “God must have loved the common man because He made so many of us.” Two men preached. After the first preacher people said, “What a preacher!” After the second preacher, people said, “What a Savior.” Short statements are etched and embedded while long messages evaporate. In a session I stated, “The world conforms – The Word transforms” (Rom. 12:1-2). At the close, most was forgotten, but all remembered my short statement. A proverb is a short statement with much wisdom.
Examples:
“Loving Moments Make Lasting Memories.”
“Greatness is not what it takes to start you, but what it takes to stop you.”
“No Word of God – No Work of God.”
So as one preacher said, “let’s stop waxing elephants.” Follow the Lords advice, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: Let your nay be nay” (Matt. 5:37). Sometimes a simple “yes, yes” or “no, no” is sufficient. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Prov. 25:11). Scriptures encourage us to “think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). “We become what we believe.”
Words of Wisdom:
The Greatest word is God.
Deepest word is Soul.
Fastest word is Time.
Slowest word is Patience.
Darkest word is Sin.
Saddest Word is Alone.
Comforting word is Together.
Blissful word is Family.
Sweetest word is Home.
Dearest Word is Mother.
Tallest word is Dad.
Tenderest word is Love.
Calmest word is Peace.
Treasured word is Friend.
Shortest word is Life.
Dreaded word is Death.
Fullest word is Calvary.
Grandest word is Jesus.
Unique word is You.
Glorious word is Gospel.
Best word is Saved.
Unsure word is Doubt.
Lowest word is Hell.
Highest word is Heaven.
Hopeless word is Lost.
Regretful word is Neglect.
Ultimate word is Choice.
Longest word is Eternity.
Decisions determine directions – Directions determine destinations. “Think on these things.” Selah! Words of Wisdom.
What will you pass on when you pass on? – TC
