Friday, May 7th, 2010 "Open Mouth, Insert TANK!"

Tsunami Ministries Devotional by Steve Keaton
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Title: Open Mouth, Insert TANK!
Text: Proverbs 15:4 (NIV) ⁴ The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

From time to time, believe it or not, I can say things that I would consider funny. And by the reaction of those around me on those occasions, they seem to affirm that. So, I enjoy being the big and funny guy. Well, a couple of nights ago I was watching one of my favorite television shows. "LOST" is a show that I have watched since its very first episode. I have never missed a show, and now as the final season is coming to end and I can direct my obsessive behavior towards another program that will consume me for far too long, I have found great pleasure by watching this with my wife and a great friend. My buddy Ryan is my associate youth pastor at the church I serve and he too has the "LOST Sickness". So, it is natural that he would be a great person to join us for the show each week.

Anyway, as we watched this week's episode, the character Claire, who is a beautiful, blond Australian young lady appeared on the screen. I had noticed and kept very quiet about the fact that Claire's hair was a fright. I mean, it has gotten worse week by week, and I finally had to say something. I simply stated that her once beautiful, blond locks now more closely resembled a "Rat's Nest". It was frizzy and wild and just out of control nasty. I followed that up with the statement, "I wouldn't be surprised if there were a guinea pig or ferret in there somewhere." We all chuckled about it and then went on with watching the show.

The next day Ryan attended an area middle school to eat lunch with some members of our youth program. They sat and enjoyed some great conversation, discuss what was happening in their lives and just chilled out. Then, Ryan saw his chance to be a funny guy. A woman entered the cafeteria and made her way across the room. Her hair was bit wild and crazy. So Ryan simply said, "Wow! Look at her hair! I bet there is a guinea pig living in that thing." All of a sudden, a young man from down the table leaned up, looked Ryan in the eye and said, "That's my mom." Come to find out, the young man was correct. And at that moment, Ryan had done more than opened his mouth and inserted his foot. Ryan inserted a TANK!

Now, please allow me to tell you that my buddy Ryan is one of the greatest guys in the world. He's an amazing youth pastor, fun and a little out there. Just like me. And of course it is not his personality to be mean or say a hurtful thing about another person. I'm sure you have probably found yourself in a similar situation. However, I couldn't help but feel led to present the fact that the words we say carry some pretty power effects with it. Words can do amazing things such as building up, affirming, praising and nurturing people. Or they can cut you as deep as a knife. The person reciting the old childhood saying of "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." must have never been on the receiving end of a hurtful comment.

As those who make their way through life with the title of "Christ-Follower" flying boldly above us, we must understand that we are called to be the voice of Christ to a world so desperately in need of a kind word, an affirming statement and a positive interaction with another living soul. Are the words we say, the comments we make, or the discussions we have with others building up or breaking down? If we will just take the time to put ourselves in the shoes of another, remember what it feels like to receive a harsh word, even as harmless as it may have been intended, I know we will truly begin to be that kind, loving and welcoming voice God has asked us to be.