The multiplicity of languages and accents is a constant reminder that we live in a big world and come from widely varying backgrounds. If we don't understand another person's language or culture, we can't fully understand the person, but every effort to do so is worth the time and energy expended.Experiences like this also remind me to be grateful that the closest thing we have to a universally understood language is English, so with the exception of a few waiters, I've rarely been unable to communicate with people.
Of course, not everyone handles English with equal facility, leading to unexpected moments of humor. In worship July 24, participants held an annual memorial service for former BWA supporters or participants who have died during the previous year. Different persons read out the names of the individuals, along with a brief note about their home and their relationship with BWA.
During an otherwise somber service, I couldn't help but smile when a citation was read for Norman Wiggins, the longtime president of Campbell University who also participated in BWA. The presenter had some difficulty pronouncing Wiggins' hometown of Buies Creek. Or, perhaps he'd heard of North Carolina's moonshining reputation.
In any case, the reader told us that Wiggins came from "Boozy Creek."
Ain't language fun?
3 comments:
Tony,I'm enjoying your trip. Following are a couple of recent references I recently encountered regarding dealing with language differences:
http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D9076
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/hitting-40-languages.html
While that wouldn't change the fact that you work at Boozy Creek :-) it would be an understanding in one's own language.
hahahaha, that's pretty funny!
i have always joked and called it "bourgeois creek."
It makes me sad that such a simple thing as the gifts and fruits of the spirit are taken so out of context. Paul made some things very clear in
1 Cor. 12-14. those two chapters are very detailed and indepth about the gifts/fruits. They are also very simple. They are to be read in order, without skipping from verse to verse in order to get the correct understanding, instead of seeing what we want. Skipping from verse to verse is very dangerous to the truth of the Word. People can take verses from the Word of God, and get it to say whatever they want.
First of all the Church in Corinth had a big issue with having distorted the gift of tounges in particular, that’s why Paul addressed this subject in a very serious manner. The Church of Corinth, like I believe most charasmatic and pentecostal churches do today, had gone off the deep end with this “gift”. They had church sevices and all they did is sit around together and babble nonsense. Paul is very clear on this, look for yourself. He scolds them telling them to stop. I personally do not speak in tounges, but I KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND POWERFUL IN ME. I know what my gift is and its not tounges. I believe in every gift, and that they are active in the church today.
Paul makes it clear that:
1. The Holy Spirit decides who gets what gift, we don’t choose. 1 Cor. 12:11
2. Each person has his/her own gift. Not all have the same gifts or every gift. Not all have tounges. 1 Cor. 12:12-30
3. That what we should yearn for are the Fruits of the Spirit. Which we all can have and work on. Paul even says “yet I show you a better way”, speaking of the fruits in contrast to the gifts. And that all the gifts in the world are nothing without the fruits. Also all the gifts will pass away, not the fruits. This is makes it clear that the “evidence” of the Holy Spirt is Love. God is Love. 1 Cor.13
4. Tongues is very low in importance, it is for self edification unless interperted. Paul says to use it in your personal life, and very limited in public or church. There are multiple gifts, including non supernatural gifts like teaching and serving(yes those are gifts also, again check for yourself in
1 Cor.12) that are placed of higher importance than tounges. 1 Cor.14.
How then can anyone claim the evidence of the Holy Spirit is tongues. The whole Bible is filled with proof that it is Love which evidences the Spirit not tounges or any other gift, but the fruits. “You will know them by their fruits” also Gal. 5:22-26 and many others just look up fruit or fruits.
The most important thing I’ve learned in my studies is to read the Word of God without skipping around.
The best thing to do is read ALL of 1 Cor. 12-14 in order it makes alot more sense and is very self explanitory. I pray that God gives all his children the wisdom to study one thier own without others opinions. Remember “the Holy Spirit will teach you all things.”
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