Pastor's Column 9/18/22

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.” Deuteronomy 28:6, NLT

“Far More Than Luck!”

Words have a tremendous impact on how we think, act, and live. No word should be taken for granted. How we communicate to others and with ourselves, really matters. The Apostle James says the way we communicate is so powerful that, “Blessing and cursing [can] come pouring out the same mouth…” (James 3:10a, NLT). As people of faith, we should use words that can build us up in spiritual stature and maturity. This should be our primary spiritual dialect; also, what we say to encourage others. It’s often true that people who are excessively rude or condescending toward others, are struggling with some inner conflict or insecurity themselves. The temperamental rage and violent outbursts of King Saul toward a young David, was owed to his own flawed character. However, the more mature we become in faith, the more certain we will have a healthy and engaging spirit. James told the early Christian Church, “For if we could control our tongues, we would b perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” (James 3:2b, NLT). Aside from this good instruction, we should use language that strengthens our resolve, and gives us inner peace in our daily experiences. Recently, I observed an interview with Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall. Cynt as she is known by her colleagues, is the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. She is the first Black female CEO in the history of the National Basketball Association. Since her appointment in 2018, she has turned around the “workplace culture” of that organization, and is greatly respected. Previously as an AT&T executive, she recounted a moment when she was offered an even higher position. Among the requirements, she was told she should stop telling people she “was blessed.” The company felt she should say, she “was lucky,” Cynt refused the offer, and held to her faith and convictions. She retired from AT&T after 36 years, with many accolades. Her life, she said, is one of blessings, not luck.