Why does a human baby have to die so that you can have a meaningful life as a woman?
How does the right to kill a human baby girl make you equal to men, if indeed equality is built upon the foundation of killing off your own gender?
Why is your identity as a woman dependent upon the termination of a human baby girl?
How does killing a human baby girl or boy help define your status as a woman?
Cheryl and I recently went out to eat at a sustainable farm-to-table kind of restaurant, where they organically grow much of their own food on the property and harvest the meat nearby. I had >
“Korean Pork: Pan seared pork belly and charred broccolini Korean fried rice, avocado relish, cilantro, served with the pickling of watermelon rind and a sunny side duck egg.”
And Cheryl had >
“Guinea Hen: Wood grilled Guinea Hen breast, summer crisp carioca lettuce, micro-shungiku, Tokyo Bekana, pickled grapes, basil infused oil and & champagne vinaigrette.”
It was good. No, delicious. Uuhmm? Truly mouth-watering!?!? Wait – I’ve got it: what a flavorful and pleasant entree of surprising friendship between the delicacy of ordinary farm animals and your not so run-of-the-mill garden fare. Yes . . . that’s what I mean to say!
Synonym buns – they’re irresistible!
What is a synonym bun, you ask? It is a collection of words at your disposal to describe what you see, hear, taste, smell, feel, or imagine. It is a tasteful way of saying the same thing without using the same word. It is a delicious and satisfying way of expressing yourself in a sentence or paragraph that uses a variety of words at the appropriate time without dulling the story or, over-expressing yourself too early that you leave no room for an exclamation.
Again, “What are synonym buns?” They are a carousel of choice words that swirl around offering their options for expression. Have you ever wondered why we refuse to stagnate with only one word to describe a sunset? “That is a beautiful sunset,” we remark. But who in there right mind would settle for beautiful? What about:
| synonyms: | attractive, pretty, handsome, good-looking, alluring, prepossessing;
formalbeauteous;
“beautiful fashion models”
|
What does it say about us that we cannot find enough words to describe the world we live in? And furthermore, why do we feel the need to use a variety of words and phrases to express ourselves? Here are my thoughts.
We feast on synonym buns because:
Have you ever said, or heard said, “. . . words can’t express how I feel.” This is because we live in a world that is infinitely beyond human expression. When a baby is born into the family and you attempt to describe the joy that you feel, you are expressing something that cannot be quantified. You reach for a synonym bun and do better. But even then, words fail us.
2. We want to be known and understood.
This is our frustration when we are trying to say what we mean, but the word does not come. True, some have a high vocabulary threshold. But even the most versed in synonym bun-ology has her limits. We come into this world as infants and quickly learn to point, cry, reach for, move toward – for what we can’t say with words. Then, mouth childishly the syllables one by one. Little by little, we add another word that means the same thing, almost. It’s coming naturally now . . . our sentences have multiple words to inform the listening ear of what we are thinking and feeling. Why? It is incumbent, no, emphatically urgent that you know exactly what I am thinking and feeling. So, we reach and reach for more synonym buns.
And this finally says something about who we are as humans.
3. We want to know and be known by the Ultimate Synonym Bun!
Consider that Jesus is the “Word”, the very thoughts of who the all-knowing God is – told out in human story form (John 1:1).
Consider that Jesus alone has infinite knowledge of all word-expression that explains what every thought and feeling a human can possess (John 2:25).
Consider that the world cannot contain all the books that could be written about Jesus (John 21:25).
The reason why every language in the world has multiple words and phrases to say the same thing, is because the heart is restless for communion, fellowship, conversation, friendship, intimacy, knowledge . . . love? . . . yes, I think that’s it: love that is unhindered, unbridled, open-handedly, unobstructedly, effortlessly, lavishly and abundantly expressed and received without reservation or embarrassment.
Recommendation: get a good cup of coffee and feast on the most delish synonym bun there is:
“O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
What is prostrate cancer? It is the worst disease known to man and is the only one that can kill him forever. It is gender-neutral, attacking both male and female. Everyone is born with it and it shows up very early in life. Prostrate, not prostate, is the hearts bent of trust, hope, refuge, and self-worth.
My battle with prostrate cancer will be different this year. Not because I’ve got this thing whipped, but because this kind of cancer never stays put – it’s always changing, morphing, restructuring its strategy to do me harm. I can’t rely on past victories because this enemy does not accept past defeats; this battle will last as long as I live.
Diagnosis: Everyone worships something. Everyone turns to something for hope, for comfort, for pleasure, for safety. Everyone comes into this world wanting a savior of some sort, even if it has to be yourself.
Prognosis: Not so good. Left to yourself, you will move from the latest source of hope to the next – the next president, the latest acne cream, the new app, the new boyfriend, or a “better you” religion sold direct from Oprah, Phil, Joel, a Fitness Program and Diet, ect. Left to yourself, you will bow down to the latest promise of success, more money, better sex tips from Cosmopolitan, better housewives tips from other Better Housewives, or the new euphoria that comes with changing jobs, ex-changing spouses, getting the latest and hottest “gotta have it” novelty. Many of these things are mostly innocent on their own platform. But when the heart of man goes for it with salvific desires, that’s when prostrate cancer picks up momentum.
There are three main categories where Prostrate Cancer attacks:
Antidote for killing what is killing you?
Jesus faced all three of the above categories and victoriously defeated prostrate cancer (Matthew 4:1-11). But Jesus is not my role-model, he is my Savior. In his own flesh he did what I cannot do. But with Christ “in me”, I can and will do in 2017, continue to put this disease to death. If Jesus is the person of whom my heart and mind prostrates, then this will be a successful year. The heart of man is a worshiping heart – it will bow down to something. Making sure that Jesus is the object of my affection, hope, trust, self-worth, and security, is the means by which this battle will be fought. I hope you’ll join me this year in putting Prostrate Cancer to death in your own heart.
Denny Burk said it perfectly,
“There are a lot of things that I want out of life—a lot of things I’d like to achieve before the curtain falls. But there is one thing I know for sure. As I watch the curse grind up the world and everyone I love in it, there is only one thing that really matters to me. If I fail at everything else, I must have this: I want to be known by Him, to know Him, and to make Him known. I want to see all of His promises come true (1 Cor. 8:3; Gal. 4:9; Rev. 21:5). All around my heart is eventually going to give way, and when it does I want Him (Phil. 3:7-14). And I want that hope to break in to all the rest of the now’s that God may be pleased to give me. That’s it.
2017 is another chance to catch a glimpse of what is coming true. The God who made everything is remaking everything—including us. He is making all the sad things come untrue. And He says, “I’m making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).
Knowing that is the only way to have a happy new year. And it’s the only way I know how to wish you to have one.
So, Happy New Year!”
the sound board 