I Never Want to Let a Sentence Go…

I have a comma, problem I am addicted to semicolons; not to mention ellipses…and dashes – I also put two spaces after each sentence (and don’t forget parenthetic comments).

But this is how I think.  My economy is “One Sentence = One Thought”.  I can’t let go of the sentence before I let go of the thought.  Commas, semicolons, ellipses, dashes and parentheses are all means of hanging onto the sentence until I’m done with the thought; two spaces at the end of the sentence are a staccato statement “Take! That!”.

My love for the sentence is second only to my love for words and barely precedes my devotion to paragraphs.  These three are the framework of thoughts; chapters are the containers of concepts and books the repository of ideas…which are to us as we are to God.

We are His books; and in our lives he assembles our chapters of growth from His words, sentences and paragraphs of Love.

def: Churchianity Correct Language “CC”

I’m struggling with developing a shorthand term to use to specifically denote the Politically Correct language we use in our church contexts. The term “Politically Correct” remains technically correct, but in common usage it means “the language that liberals make us use”.

I’m striving to return to the root meaning of “Politically Correct”, which is really a reflection of Orwellian ‘right speak’; the understanding that you need to disengage your mind and ‘toe the party line’ or submit to the mind of the masses lest you be judged.

My first foray into this struggle coined “Churchianity Correct”, or “CC”.  I’m not sure I like it, but when I wrote it my mental alternative was “Spiritually Correct” or “SC”.  This flows better but seems mentally fuzzy as “Spiritual” is such a broad term.  I thought of using “Christianity” instead but that’s also a very broad term that didn’t flow; now I’m wondering if “Christian” would work…

Thoughts?

Christo-politico right-think?

I went off on a Christianity Today survey this afternoon.  It’s here (look in “all user reviews”). Basically the test seemed to assess how well one is able to navigate Churchianity Correct (CC) language.

Additional Confirmation…

I returned to the cult of Mac back in February and every now and then – often at work as there I’m using an XP machine – I receive yet another confirmation that I made the right choice.

Below is a recent confirmation; the second dialog box (below) is what popped up after clicking the “Help” button on the first (above).

Comfortably Numb

Whenever I work with self-injurious clients I think of the line from Pink Floyd: “I have become, comfortably numb”.  Coworkers ask me (generally expressing disdain and/or revulsion) why people ‘cut’ and/or self-injure.  I tell my coworkers that it is because they want to feel something – anything.  Today during a discussion with a wonderfully skilled and compassionate caregiver and coworker I googled the lyrics to the song and read it to my colleague as if it were a poem – which it is.  Please read it for your own understanding and edification…

Hello.
Is there anybody in there? 
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home? 

Come on, now.
I hear youre feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.

Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts:
Can you show me where it hurts? 

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ships smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I cant hear what youre sayin.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I cant explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

Ok.
Just a little pinprick. [ping]
Therell be no more –aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.

Can you stand up? 
I do believe its working. good.
Thatll keep you going for the show.
Come on its time to go.

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ships smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I cant hear what youre sayin.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

Quote…

Brian Jones…

Here’s a simple fact: most Bible consuming Christians I’ve met over the years have been painfully arrogant.

No-one is as spiritual as they are.

They confuse Bible knowledge with spiritual maturity.

They’ve turned the study of scripture into a recreational hobby, as if the act of studying the Bible itself is what pleases God.

And worst of all, they’ve committed the most subtle form of idolatry of all – they’ve replaced the centrality of the risen Jesus in their life with a book that talks about the risen Jesus.