Whatever Takes Us Away

Humanity has an uncommon ability to use language in a way that describes the things around us, what we do, and what we say.  We use letters, numbers, and symbols to communicate meaning and help define our world.  Something has gone very wrong in the past few years that seems to be leading to the demise of human language and understanding.

This morning after I took the kids to school I passed one of the larger churches in our little town.  Usually, the sign out front has interesting little quips, event announcements or special dates on this sign.  Most times I look to see what has been posted; perhaps I’ll attend this or go to that.  This morning however, I was caught off guard by what the sign says.

Some words in the English language sound exactly the same, and unless you use the surrounding context of the words you won’t know what word has been used.  Plane and plain are a good example of this.  Is one talking about walking on a plain in Africa or riding on a plane to get to Africa?  For, fore, and four is another good example.

The sign in front of the church says, “Pray 4 Our Troops” which, if it had been properly laid out with the proper words, might mean something to the effect of, “Our troops are in a violent situation, please pray FOR them.”  But, when we start to render number symbols that have a close relationship with word symbols the language starts to deteriorate.  Does the sentence, “Pray four our troops” have the same meaning as “Pray 4 our troops?”  Maybe it is just me and I’m a stickler for the proper use of the English language, but I think those to phrases have different meanings.

The text messaging, instant messaging, chat lingo that is thrown around today is starting to madden me to no end.  If you have a feeling, thought, or emotion to convey find the correct words and/or phrases that convey those feelings, thoughts and emotions – please don’t butcher the language you speak by taking short cuts that obscure the true meaning of what you are trying to say.  If you don’t know how to spell something, find a dictionary, use the internet.  If you don’t know which word is the proper word, use a dictionary to help you understand the meanings of the word(s) in question. 

If you want the surrounding community to pray for our service members, say what you mean and mean what you say.  If you start using word symbols to represent the actual word you want to use you begin confusing the language you are using, changing the meanings of the words and symbols.  4 does not mean the same things as for or fore.  Praying four our troops does not carry the same meaning as praying for our troops, and likewise, praying fore our troops does not carry the same meaning either. 

I find this particularly infuriating because of where the sign is and who and what is attached to that sign.  If it had been in the front yard of a frat house I might find it slightly amusing, but still incorrect.  However, this sign stands along the most traveled road in the town, in front of one of the largest churches in the town.  As a Christian I am enraged by the fact that other “Christians” cannot use the God given abilities to use language as God had intended.  He did not create us to be unintellectual, idiotic morons that confuse simple words easily.  No, in fact, He created us with superior intellect to that of other animals, separating us from everything else He created.  If we are the “higher” animals we should act as such.

Here’s a quote from someone else that has similar feelings to those of mine.  “Here’s the problem. There is nothing wrong with slang. It is as American as apple pie. But one of the great deceptions is that the words are losing their original meaning. If we change the meaning of words what good is our language? . . . If we lose our common language we lose our culture” (Coach Dave Daubenmire, Words Have Meaning, 2007).

Words do have meaning.  The letters, numbers, and symbols we use each day convey certain things about the world around us.  Unlike the other creatures that roam the earth, we can use language in a way that helps us to create bicycles, cars, houses, cities and nations.  We use language to solve mathematical problems and use it in science.  It teaches us history and tells us the current news events.  But when we toy around with the meanings of the words (as has been handed down to us, written or spoken and documented with definitions) we lose the ability to communicate anything at all.

I correct my children when they use a word improperly or out of context, the same as my family did with me growing up.  I don’t think there is an emphasis on the proper use of language anymore and that may very well lead to the demise of the English language in the near future.

For those very few loyal readers I have, forgive me for my inconsistent writings of late.  Summer, what little of it is left, has once again blown by me and blown me over.  I have finished my Associates Degree in religion, the kids are growing and swimming (when the weather cooperates), and things around the Mundy house have been usual - busy, busy, busy.

I haven't been writing here, for no good reason, and while I have intended to write more often, it just hasn't happened.  I could say that will change, like I have in the past, but I now know that I will not respond (even to myself) in kind in that respect.  Get used to the fact that I won't be posting here as often as I once did, but this has become more of a last place for me to put my thoughts out. 

Summer has once again come and gone, and I have once again lived another year to tell the stories.  Oh well, at least I have this beautiful wife to help keep me on track with all aspects of my life.  See you around!

Well, not knowing what I had started, or what I had gotten myself into at first, here I am three years past and I am still adding posts to this blog. For those few readers I have, I hope that I have at least provided some interesting reads during that time; and I hope to give you more as time progresses further.

A brief history lessen for those new to "Whatever":

Much has taken place over three years. I have taken up hunting for one thing, and quite enjoy the time I spend outdoors in the fall and winter time doing such. I have added school to my life once again, and am nearly done with degree #1 in religion (Christian religion to be more precise). Degree #2 will be in the works starting this summer and will further my pursuit of the same as the former. I get the question all the time, "Are you going to be a preacher or something?" To which I answer, "I don't know." But I will say, that through my studies my faith has been strengthened and my knowledge of things (all things) has been greatly expanded. I still have four kids of my own and have added our affectionately called Number 5, our pseudo-adopted fifth who will be graduating high school this spring (congrats #5). We are still in the same house, and have now been here for nearly five years, the same as the job I have.

For looking forward with this blog: if any of my few faithful readers have any ideas or thoughts of which you would like my input, post a comment on this post as to what you might like to have me wax on about, that is, what would you like me to write about in the future. While this blog is mainly about my thoughts, for my own sake of keeping tabs on my life, it is also about you who read - and I am grateful for those that do and want to care for your thoughts and ideas as well as my own.

For those who pray much and are looking for a good cause to pray: in only a few days my dad will be leaving for Vietnam for a two week mission trip, he and a small group from Ohio will be going to help establish places to call "home" churches and to help distinguish certain people that may come to the states for theological training in the future. As he is a pastor (mine to be more exact) he will be sharing his faith journey with those he comes in contact with. Keep him and his traveling companions in your thoughts and prayers.

For everyone: keep reading here and posting comments.

I look forward to the next three years and hope to read your comments during that time.

I'm not one to look for handouts, but sometimes you've got to do something that will help. Over on the left side of the blog are a few links to various websites you may find to be of interest to you. I have recently added another link . . .

I do not expect everyone that reads this to hurry up and start buying the items found in my Amazon.com wish list, but anytime you feel so led to do so would be more than appreciated. This list is for me, as a way of keeping track of what I would like to read, and I intend to use it frequently to remind myself of what I still need to read up on. This also helps me from having to search through the miriad of book cases through the house to check a book. You will notice that nearly all of the listed items are related to the Christian faith, its history, important figures, and apologetics. From time to time I may include some CD's or DVD's as well.

Again, don't think I am sticking my hand out for the sake of saving a buck (though it is nice to do so), but as I have a house full of kids and am a college student, sometimes the budget just isn't there to acquire the books I would like to include in my personal library. I know there aren't many that read this and therefore I am not expecting a truckload of books to arrive at my door anytime soon. However, if you do feel so led to help out I will appeciate it and will note here on the blog anytime someone does send me something.

Thanks in advance. God bless.

I start yet another semester at Liberty University online next week. After this spring semester I will have completed my associates degree in religion, the first of quite possibly a few. One thing I have noticed with my schooling, as well as with my wife's, is that text books cost so much more than the paper they are printed on. Not to mention the fact that last semester I had over a dozen books for 6 classes. Now, some I was able to find through a used online bookseller and save much coinage! However, the majority of the books were new and the average cost was over $80 (a few were well above the $100 mark).

I find it funny, amusing and frustrating all at the same time that in order to obtain a better paying job you have to pay out the nose, not merely for the schooling, but for the books that are used during the schooling. For this coming semester I have already spent over $425 and still have two more books to buy within the next week. The two I am still waiting on, if I buy them new, will cost $190 - so needless to say I am trying to find used or a place that rents these two required books.

All of this to say, that although I find schooling worth the costs, it feels like I'm being drained of any extra resources I thought I had. I really don't like money, but it seems a necessity in our world.