Quote from Forum Archives on February 3, 2010, 10:03 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Visit the Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries.
Celebrating 11 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the
Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more
than 11,000 subscribers across the world.

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998 and is
made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

You can now leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at
www.theburningbush.net.

I'm now on twitter and you can find me at http://www.twitter.com/edwrather.

There is now a link on the front page of the new website for the devotional
of the day.

The Burning Bush Devotional

Welcome to the 101 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!

There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!

(A Devotional Classic from 2002)

02.03.10

Crude and Rude

Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn
their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are
driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the
pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great
things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a
fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set
on fire by hell. - James 3:3-6.

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not to be so. - James 3:10.

A survey conducted by Public Agenda found that 79% believe that the lack of
respect and courtesy in the United States is a serious problem and most
believed it was becoming worse. Surprisingly many people admitted during the
survey that they were rude themselves and more than a third admitted to
using foul language in public. Those surveyed blamed their rudeness on a
variety of things from overcrowding in public places to busy lives. Some
researchers such as Harvard University professor Robert D. Putnam say that
rudeness is a result of increasing social isolation in our society.

Being a pastor I live in a somewhat sheltered environment rarely hearing a
rude or unkind word because people are careful what they say when they are
around me. I have heard the argument from some people that they cannot
control their speech but this is not true. We can control what we say if we
have a desire to do so. No, it will not be without effort, but we can do it
just as people usually control what they say when they are at church or
visiting with their pastor.

While I was a parole officer a young man was brought into the city jail on
several offenses. At first I didn't know who it was uttering the foulest
most offensive language I had ever heard. When I asked the jailer, I found
out it was a son of a couple that went to our church, and I knew the young
man. When I walked up to the cell and said "hello" the tirade instantly
ended, and he said "Mr. Wrather." He began speaking in a completely
different way including phrases such as "yes, sir," and "no, sir." Since
that time he has gone from bad to worse and has been in prison for several
years. I still have hope; however, that this young man will turn to God.

God is still the answer to our speech problem even today. Our busy lives
become controlled lives (Galatians 5:24) when we include God. Our tension at
being in overcrowded places and highways will dissipate the closer we become
to God (James 4:7-8). Our social isolation will end as we become fully
functioning members of the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Let us stop allowing our tongue to run and ruin our lives. Instead allow God
to become the rudder that guides us into pathways of peace, gentleness, and
kindness. As the apostle Paul says, "Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one
(Colossians 4:6)."

Copyright © 2002 - 2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush
website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

Prayer Requests: Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on
the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and
they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am
always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).

If you are not my friend on facebook or myspace you can be, just add me. The
devotionals are posted in my blogs on those two social networks and you can
leave comments, feedback about them there. There are other social networks
designed just for Christians, however, this is an outreach project to reach
those who may not know the Lord or may have wandered away. You can help me
reach out to them.

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Two videos of my sermons are posted on GodTube at:
www.godtube.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist
Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
is the URL: www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.