Talk Pure and Simple and We Will Be in Like Flynn

Ed, my old neighbor from Saskatchewan, was not interested when I told him about an article by Richard Lederer about words and phrases that are no longer commonly used today. My old neighbor dismissed old words, and expressions, except for a couple he has used. He claimed that he never used phrases like; “Jumping Jehoshaphat! Heavens to Betsy! Heavens to Murgatroyd!” My old neighbor assured me that he never called anyone a knucklehead, never said that someone was driving an old jalopy, never accused anyone of having cooties, or said that someone looked like the wreck of the Hesperus. When Ed told me he had been innocent of all these old expressions, all I could say was, “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!”

Time never stands still, and there is a fine kettle of fish full of what folks used to say once upon a time, but not anymore. The kettle has a large selection of leftover words and expressions, bigger than a bread box, all lost, and without hope of making a comeback into current speech. Ed said that it was good that the expressions of the past are now dead and gone, and that they should stay that way. He said that they have been hung out to dry and that I should give the talk of words of the past, a rest. Fiddlesticks, if only it were that simple!

Words and expressions are at the heart of how we communicate. Words can be powerful giving both joy and sorrow. Old words and expressions do pass away and disappear over time but kind, forgiving, encouraging and loving words are welcome by most of us anytime. The Bible reminds us that a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. It also contends that an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

One of the reasons, Christians turn to God’s word is that our words become hollow next to His words. His thoughts, ways, and words are beyond our own. God’s words come full of life and truth for whom God sends them to reach. Isaiah speaks of God’s word this way, “As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish. So that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The Bible leads us to the words of the life and salvation given by God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life that leads to God the Father. God sent Jesus his son into the world to save it. Whoever believes in him shall not perish but has eternal life now, and in eternity. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Pure and simple – trust in Jesus the Son to be in solid with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

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