I've always been interested in how the meanings of words change over time. Gay started out meaning merry. Silly originally meant blessed. Rosary was a rose garden. Priest used to mean old man. Meat referred to all foods, not just animal flesh.
When there is a misunderstanding, I often wonder if persons are using the same word, but have a different definition in mind. For example, when I was in college, a casual gathering where a boy accompanied a girl was called a date. Today, it's not a date, it's "hanging out." A date today implies something more serious, perhaps even a relationship headed towards some permanency. When I "dated around" in college, it meant that I had lots of male friends and we liked to spend time together as friends. Today, a person who "dates around" is one who has loose morals and leads others to believe there is a relationship when there is not.
For some, Easter has come to mean chocolates, bunnies, egg hunts and family brunch. Therefore, some Christians are now saying "Happy Resurrection" because it is more specific and less like to change meanings in general use.
Traffic used to be what you saw on the highway. Human traffic would have been a busy walkway. Now, it is akin to slavery. We like to think slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War. However, it simply changed names and went underground.
Let's not get confused by the meanings of words and how they change. Humans are still being bought and sold and used by other humans. Are you using other people for your own gain? Do you treat people less than what they are worth? Ask God to renew your mind and help you recognize the value in each and every human that he has created here on earth.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Is it worth it?
Do you ever wonder if little changes you make in your life will make any difference?
I gave up all carbonated beverages about a year ago, but that was because it was activating my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome - look it up if you are uniformed). I don't even WANT anything carbonated now that I know how much it wrecks my body and how sick I will be. That made a really big difference in my life and I am so glad I discovered this trigger and eliminated it from my life.
About 5 weeks ago, I decided to join a gym and commit to a more healthy lifestyle. I signed on and had my body fat and muscle mass measured and was given a plan for eating and exercising. I have to admit, I didn't always stick to the plan. The goal was 5 workouts a week. I don't think I ever reached that goal, but I did at least do 3 a week. My eating habits have never been stellar, and they still aren't, but I did at least try to be more healthy in my food choices. It didn't always stick.
Today, I went in for a measurement. I warned my trainer that I tried, but didn't do my best and didn't reach all the goals we had in mind. I did tell her that I felt better and had more energy. I also noticed some of my clothes were getting looser around the waist.
She measured me and said . . .
(May I just say I took a deep breath as I didn't expect much)
You have lost 8 lbs of fat, gained 5 lbs of muscle and have 3% less body fat, 11 pts lost in your thighs and 4 pts lost in the belly
WOW! I guess it is worth it - the early morning workouts, pushing through the pain, sweating, feeling like I'm not doing anything, wondering if it really matters.
This is so true with everything in life. In fighting human trafficking, there may be some dramatic moments, but mostly, the fight is a slow, daily, painful process that doesn't always show results right away. But, we can't give up. We need to keep fighting, sweating, pushing through the barriers, even when we wonder if we are making any difference at all.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Never, ever give up the fight!
I gave up all carbonated beverages about a year ago, but that was because it was activating my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome - look it up if you are uniformed). I don't even WANT anything carbonated now that I know how much it wrecks my body and how sick I will be. That made a really big difference in my life and I am so glad I discovered this trigger and eliminated it from my life.
About 5 weeks ago, I decided to join a gym and commit to a more healthy lifestyle. I signed on and had my body fat and muscle mass measured and was given a plan for eating and exercising. I have to admit, I didn't always stick to the plan. The goal was 5 workouts a week. I don't think I ever reached that goal, but I did at least do 3 a week. My eating habits have never been stellar, and they still aren't, but I did at least try to be more healthy in my food choices. It didn't always stick.
Today, I went in for a measurement. I warned my trainer that I tried, but didn't do my best and didn't reach all the goals we had in mind. I did tell her that I felt better and had more energy. I also noticed some of my clothes were getting looser around the waist.
She measured me and said . . .
(May I just say I took a deep breath as I didn't expect much)
You have lost 8 lbs of fat, gained 5 lbs of muscle and have 3% less body fat, 11 pts lost in your thighs and 4 pts lost in the belly
WOW! I guess it is worth it - the early morning workouts, pushing through the pain, sweating, feeling like I'm not doing anything, wondering if it really matters.
This is so true with everything in life. In fighting human trafficking, there may be some dramatic moments, but mostly, the fight is a slow, daily, painful process that doesn't always show results right away. But, we can't give up. We need to keep fighting, sweating, pushing through the barriers, even when we wonder if we are making any difference at all.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Never, ever give up the fight!
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