"What Are Words?"

^"You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words."

2 Kings 18:20

I've always enjoyed watching American Idol.  Primarily for the outrageous auditions early on in the season.  This year one story in particular struck a chord with me, as it did with the entire country.  Chris Medina's audition was one that we all remember.  Before the audition we hear about how shortly before he and his fiancé Juliana were set to walk down the aisle, she was in a car accident, leaving her with a severe brain injury and he as her caretaker.  His words, "what kind of guy would I be if I abandoned her when she needed me the most?"  hit me the most.

Chris was eliminated from the competetion, but not from our memory.  On a television interview I heard him mention a single that had been written for him.  I downloaded it and was touched by the words.

It serves as a good reminder to all of us.  

We are so quick to say things we either don't really mean, or are unprepared to follow through with them.

I remember hearing a retired Salvation Army officer speaking to us at the Salvation Army Training College; he said, 

"If you tell someone it's raining quarters outside, 

they better be able to go outside and get a bucket full."

As a pastor it is so critical that I do what I say I am going to do.  As Christians, it is essential that we do what we sing we do.

When we offer up empty words to someone in need of encouragement or direction, we do them a disservice. 

We speak and we sing about the "Battle" and the "War" and our role as Soldiers in the Lord's Army, but what good is it if we don't live up to the words?

^"You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words."

2 Kings 18:20

So think about what you say, and how you say it.  Make sure you are prepared to follow through with things you say.

What are words
If you really don't mean them
When you say them