English As We Know It

It is amazing how the English language has changed in the last 50 to 60 years (not that I'm THAT old yet, or anything...) Perusing a dictionary from the 1960's or 70's seems strange--so strange that the words we find therein almost bring back memories, as it were. Words have changed in their meanings and we've added new words and phrases that just didn't exist even 15 years ago. Most of the changes can be attributed to the vast increase in modern technology. I mean, these days, kids are immersed in this technology from the youngest ages and most college students are required to have computers going in. In my whole college, there were only 3 people who had computers and all they were good for was typing term papers.

We've introduced terminology, phraseology and abbreviations into our everyday lives that at times defy description. Gone are the days of keen, groovy, swell and neat-o. Even funky, cool and awesome have gone the way of the dodo. I mean, come on..I am sitting here "blogging", connected by "wi-fi" to the internet, through my "DSL" router. I can group everything together on one "e-bill" and through an SSL, pay it with a credit or debit card. For "Ebay", there is the wonder of "PayPal" to pay for the items you put in your shopping cart. I "chat" with people I've never seen before and cannot hear, unless I "Yahoo", then I can whip out the "webcam" and microphone and see and hear people halfway around the world in just the time it takes for the data to "network hop" across the world. In our modern culture, "phat" does not mean overweight, a "dawg" is not usually a 4 legged, furry creature, and "geek" is now both a noun and a verb (the new phrase is "beware of geeks bearing gifts"...) Go figure.

We "rip" music and movies from the originals, then "burn" them to "cd" or "dvd". Doing things with those descriptions 20 years ago would render the objects unusable, maybe even irrecognizable. I can listen to a "webcast" of almost any radio station in the world, through the miracle of "streaming audio" and watch videos on my computer with "streaming video"...neither of which have anything to do with liquid. If we are "afk" long enough and actually want to leave home, we can "brb," "Tivo" the show we want and watch the program without the commercials later (LOL). We hang "dishes" on the sides or roofs of our houses (??) and put "buds" in our ears, so we can hear sounds. We have "bluetooths" and "blackberrys" and neither one are have anything to do with eating. "Software" is hard and breakable and "VOIP" is threatening to replace the good old phone.

You get the picture, I'm sure. You may be thinking, "What does all that have to do with the price of tea in China?" That's a really good question. I was just thinking, many times, we don't understand each other because of barriers, whether they be language, technological terminology or cultural phrases and idioms. When we talk to others, we wonder if we will be understood. Speak in technological, theological or medical terms and watch the "deer in the headlights" look form quickly. And what about God? I mean, if we pour our hearts out to God, will HE even hear and understand? The good news is that God does hear and God does understand, regardless of the language used, slang interjected, abbreviations added or even words that aren't verbalized, but spoken or shouted from the heart.

The Bible says that both Jesus Himself and the Holy Spirit receive our prayers, (spoken or silent), realign them and interpret them for us and then send them to the Father. That's what the Bible calls "interceding" for us. Geeky language doesn't frighten God, nor does slang...or anything else for that matter. He can handle it all. He invites us to come to Him and tell Him what is on our hearts. He chasteneth thou not for not using King James English. God is cool with your prayers, no matter how you want to express them. He hears you, He understands you and He loves you.

Know what? I think if Jesus were here today, He would probably utilize a "laptop," a "PDA" and have a "cell" phone with bluetooth headset for maximum portability and connectivity and when a really good joke was told, he would "ROFL" too....."imho," of course.