[The Mayor]

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April 8, 2010

Clean Up The Environment

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READ: Ephesians 4:17-32

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification. —Ephesians 4:29

What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it “verbal pollution,” passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. “The poison of pessimism,” Swindoll writes, “creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized.”

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! As they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to “put off” the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (vv.22,30) and “put on” the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God’s help. It’s a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment.

What! Never speak one evil word,
Or rash, or idle, or unkind!
O how shall I, most gracious Lord,
This mark of true perfection find? —Wesley

Help stamp out pollution—clean up your speech!

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 9:37-62

[jaycee]

Its raining here today!
I have to go out anyway.
See you later!

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Rus. Happy Thursday.

"Help stamp out pollution—clean up your speech!"

This message hit home today, Rus. Thank you.
The school is having budget problems.
The PTA holds fundraisers to pay for field trips.

Marissa decided to help with field trips ...
she put out a jar with a note saying for every bad word, we need to contribute $1.00.

Been working on my occasional 'Oh Pelosi!"

Have a beautiful day.

[geologist]

“What! Never speak one evil word,
Or rash, or idle, or unkind!
O how shall I, most gracious Lord,
This mark of true perfection find? —Wesley”
________________________________________________________

Speak words of comfort, love, friendship, encouragement, peace, praise, forgiveness, mercy, and loyalty.

Do that for a week, and see how idle most of our previous words have been.

God help us in our day, in Jesus name, amen.