Uncool language

UNCOOL LANGUAGE

The next generation considers the last generation uncool.

Nothing new under the sun.

That’s just how it is. Mindsets change in art, fashion, culture, taste, etc etc. and if we do not conform to the majority’s take on things – we are relegated to the ‘uncool’ waste bin by others.

Then the pendulum swings and certain things return – back in vogue again.

The traditional ‘whatever’- has a certain appeal and many are interested in everything historical, but they don’t think of using a gas light to light their bedroom, or wash their clothes by hand to save electricity. I speak generally of course – western world – and all that.

So we visit museums, and read books to re-enforce our interest, if it happens to be in the things of the past.

What about religion?

Because two thousand years has passed since Christ walked the earth – there is the inevitable historic-context-aspect of all things Christian.

Don’t let the historical context deceive you into thinking it is not relevant for today. We are talking eternal truth here!

In a previous blog I drew our attention to religion as a label for things not necessarily desirable. To sum this up – Isaiah 29/13:

Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honour Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

That for me sums up the bad aspect of religion. We look for bad religion personified in the Pharisees, and Pharaisical hypocrisy. It’s a paying of lip-service only, to spiritual matters.

An outward conforming to rituals and a system, but one void of compassion, tenderness, heart or spirit, and relationship with God.

But sometimes when we encounter in a piece of writing – an old fashioned means of expression, it can rob us of the relevant content of the utterances, simply because we straightaway relegate the wording to a bygone era, and dismiss the content as uncool, and irrelevant in today’s world, simply because of it’s tone, or it’s King James English.

We too-quickly overlook the message because the wording smacks of a dead and buried past.

There are many different expressions of Christianity – and if we are wise we will bypass the awkwardness of the language, or the off-putting phrases and ambiguous language and seek the heart of the message.

Receiving or rejecting it on it’s content only, not on it’s choice of words.

If the heart of the message is good then listen more attentively. If the message is true-truth, then embrace it.

Pilate with The Lord Jesus Christ standing before him, asked the question: ‘What is truth?’.

Well – he missed it completely! But of course, there is nothing wrong with the question.

Pilgrim’s Progress is full of truth (circa 1678). For those who don’t know, it is a book written by John Bunyan. 

There have been re-written, more modern, versions of the book, as far as I know.

But grab a copy of the original – sift your way through it – to find sound, revelatory truth – good for all peoples.

It’s about a journey, the journey we are all on. And it is based fully on Biblical truth.

Read of Pilgrim’s progress through the many obstacles that stand in the way of those who sincerely, one hundred percent, want to know true-truth.

You are fighting against the odds increasingly in these days, but find the ancient message in ancient language or otherwise. Sift your way to the true-truth of Eternal Life!

Poetic Interlude VIII

IF IT’S ALL THE SAME TO YOU?

I saw across the crowded room

Nothing more than a glimpse

Of mankind and all it’s worth

All-bound-by-all-there-is – in the same way

All thrashing about in the pool

Unable to swim against it’s own tide

And while I contemplated the momentary glance

And all the sameness struck a chord

If I could grow a giant hand

I would reach out

And with a pat upon mankind’s head

Try to encourage all

In their mad pursuit of difference

As each vie for admiration

And clutch at vanity’s straws

Boxing clever and strutting stuff

Eyeballing cameras and posing aimlessly

Or kicking harder in having a shot

Ball juggling onto the head

And down again in keepy-up glitz-style

Or turmoiling emotions

And screwing up their insides

To give an Oscar performance

Here today in limelights green shroud

Whilst tomorrow repenting at leisure

Money money money the thing they love

Money money money the thing they hate

Money we need to survive

Talent and restless need to create

Giving way to the sway of money

Monet has painted and the hand moves on

On the scene/screen another arrives

in digital pre-eminence

Just to say:

“I’m different” –  for a day

While the sameness magnifies itself 

In contemplated momentary glance

Across the room – across the sky

We live we breath – et al

Nothing to say – it’s all here today

No difference – docked in originality’s bay

Of Biscay –

Take the humorous approach

And have a biscuit with your coffee

Sorry – but you are going to have to admit

Hands and feet and mouths and noses

Greetings and sleep and holiday

And jobs and exercise and sleepless nights

And buying and trying to keep ‘er lit

And tossing and turning and fingers in every pie

And rags to riches and gesticulation awry

And appointments and you scratch my back

And…

Out on the town

Old meal in old place called new

Mankind is – all the same – doing the same

Talking the same – aspiring en masse

Everyone the same as the last