Did you ever wonder how long people have been communicating with other people? "Say the word, I, we, it, mother, brother, ten, and you are speaking words which, in one form or another, men of Europe and Asia have used for thousands of years." So wrote Frederic M. Wheelock in his book, "LATIN, An Introductory Course." (Don't bother to run to the local Barnes & Noble looking for this book because the issue I found this in was Copyrighted 1956, 1960 and 1968)

I have written in other places joshing about those who say "print is outdated, and books are disappearing" and I still say "balderdash". In case you haven't noticed, computers generate more paper than anything that has come down the pike during the last fifty years. We thought mimeographs were great (those of us who even remember what a mimeograph is, or was) but the computer and its printer, loaded with paper, can generate sufficient paper to qualify its owner to be called a publisher within months of possessing these electronic machines.

DON'T EVER STOP LEARNING - Does the "do it your selfer" or professional mechanic ever get enough tools? If there's a shooter in the family, does he/she just have one gun? Language is a tool in a shop. And reading is that unique tool for language. Unfortunately those who are semantic slight of hand artists in our world think they have all the answers and because of them our society is so concerned about leaving this group or that group out we have even let "politics" get into language - politically correctness. The moral for this thought is don't let the politically collect group drain all the blood (or meaning) out of all the important words. Whether these PC people want to admit it or not, differences in people do exist and instead of (attempting to) deny those differences we should celebrate them.*

All learning comes easy or hard depending on what you already know, or enabled yourself to know. Experience may be the best teacher but doubtless one could not find a more dangerous or harder teacher. The mind (brain) we humans have is one of the most copied or emulated objects man has on his drafting or research table. You may not know a scripture from a scarcement but you better know a spark can start a fire. You better know troubles, unattended to, can burn you out or make your mind sick.

Learning is basic to life. It is also user friendly. What you learn today may save your life tomorrow, or no less than make you understand what someone is trying to sell or tell you--in person or on the TV. An open heart or mind is the vessel of choice if you plan to be around long on this ball of clay swirling around the Sun. Otherwise, plan on letting someone else do all the thinking, working and care(ing) for you the rest of your life.

*Attribution is due Michael Golden, whose essay "Don't Rewrite the Bible" which appeared in the Fourth Edition of "Exploring Language". At the time of its publication (1986), Mr. Golden was an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn, New York. A brief commentary, "It is absurd." succinctly expresses Michael Golden's opinion on some politically correct words. Just in case this seed thought arouses your interest, "Exploring Language" Edited by Gary Goshgarian was published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston. ISBN 0-316-32157-5

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Posted by Bill Venrick at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WITH THANKS to T. J. Ray, Oxford, Mississippi, THE WORDWRIGHT shares these words about KEEPING CHRISTMAS...

Though I have no idea who penned the following words, I am sure he had me in mind in many of them. I hope you find your way through the jungle of jingles this year. Perhaps we can all produce a happier tune for those around us.
Keeping Christmas

There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is keeping Christmas.

Are you willing to forget what you have done for others, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think of what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background and your duties in the middle distance and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are to get out of life but what you are going to give; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness - are you willing to do these things even for a day?

Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children;
to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same home with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your good thoughts, with the gate open - are you willing to do these things even for a day?

Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you keep it for a day, why not always?

But you can never keep it alone.

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(T.J. Ray, a retired professor of English at the University of Mississippi)

Posted by Bill Venrick at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Incomparable Christ

After the trimmings of the tree have been put back into their boxes awaiting the passing of another year and after the last exchange of Christmas gifts at the stores where business has slackened a bit perhaps, it is time to bring out this classic assortment of words once again. These are, of course, human attempts to explain the Life of Christ but they are words that surface as regularly as Christmas itself. The unknown author has succinctly written reminders of some of the facts students of the Bible have studied for centuries. I hope you will enjoy and appreciate this classic of the Christmas season. -- THE WORDWRIGHT

More than two thousand years ago, there was a man, born contrary to the usual laws of life. This man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which he lived--that was during His exile in childhood, as we are told.

He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors of the law; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the waves as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep.

He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for the service.

He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the world could not hold the books that have been written about Him.

He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined.

He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students.

He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.

He never practiced psychiatry, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near.

Once each week, the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wend their way to worship in assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him. The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of past scientists, philosophers and theologians have come and gone, but the name of this man abounds more and more.

Though time has spread two thousand years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, He yet still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.

He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, and is the living, personal Christ, the Savior, Son of God--the Incomparable Christ.

--Author Unknown

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Bill and Jean Venrick wish you a Blessed Merry Christmas and the Best Wishes for a Happy New Year. Get ready to use the numbers 2010 in your checks and other notes.

Posted by Bill Venrick at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)