Sunday, July 21, 2002
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Sunday, July 21, 2002 |
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Cussin' By DR. KNOX HERNDON
Right away you are thinking, "Summer slump, nothing to write about!" Some of that may be true, but "cussin" is a subject that bothers most believers and nonbelievers alike. Some of you will say, "He's not talking about me I never do that." Well, do you ever think it when someone cuts you off with their new red car on the highway? Gotcha! "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Now that we have gotten that out of the way, listen up! Some of this message is from my good friend, Jeff Green, serving our country in Korea. Jeff and his family need our prayers as well as do all our soldiers. What does God's Word have to say about issues like these? "Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips." (Proverbs 4:24) Something I am hearing in our society today all over the place from TV to our daily talk people saying "O God" this and "O God" that. Be careful, God's Word says clearly in Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." It's easy to let loose a bad word sometimes. There is one word that has been difficult for me to shake. Some would blame it on my 30 years in the military but that would be too easy. In fact, the military was good to me and I was good to it. That "blame answer" would be too easy. This word that is difficult for me to shake is a word that seems to describe the situation perfectly. It's like the time when you spill coffee on a new shirt or squirt BBQ sauce across the table on your wife while eating at Speedy Pig in Fayetteville or when you are working on your car or motorcycle and a socket falls off the end of your ratchet and rolls right under the car to the middle of the vehicle right out of a normal man's reach! I know you want to know the word that is difficult for me to shake. I know you want me to print the word in the newspaper. Not a chance! The story Jeff Green sent is as follows: "A minister had recently moved into a new home and discovered that he would need to get a lawn mower. He saw a young boy walking down the road, pushing an old mower. He offered to trade the boy an old bicycle for the mower. The boy ran home to get his parents' approval. "He returned saying that the trade was OK by his parents. So the preacher gets the mower and sends the boy away on a bike. The preacher then checks the fuel, etc., and pulls the cord to start the mower. The mower has other ideas. The preacher works on the mower for some time, getting tired and sweaty, but to no avail. He looks up to see the boy riding the bike past his house. "He calls the boy over to ask what is wrong with the mower. The boy replies that the mower will only start when someone gets mad and gives it a good cussing. "The minister replies, 'Son, I am a preacher. I have practically forgotten how to cuss.' "The boy answers, 'Keep pulling the cord. You'll remember.'" I hope I don't remember how, but if I do or you do, remember God is only a quick confession and forgiveness away with a new start on life here and hereafter. I thank God that we have a loving, forgiving, non-gotcha God. Amen?? Amen!! The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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