This will sound like I am a boy from another planet, but we were not allowed to use the words, “darn” and “heck”. Dad said these were just nicknames for “dam” and “hell”. With the exception of the “f” word we have now adopted all cuss words as dictionary – proper speech. “Bret” broke the code in the movie “Gone With The Wind”, when he said, “Frankly dear, I just don’t give a dam”.
    The “F” word is now waiting in the wings and will be used when our ears have become sufficiently dull to allow it. We don’t flitch on the other words, why would we flinch on a slang or slur word for intercourse? The latest Hip-Hop recording already uses the term.
    Jesus taught, “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things make a man ‘unclean’. For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (gossip). These are the things that make a man ‘unclean’, but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.” (Matthew 15:16-2)
    That which is in the well of the heart sooner or later comes up in the bucket of the mouth. Garbage in – garbage out, goodness in – goodness out.
    James says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me”. For God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire (inner heart), he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15).
    Jesus says where it begins and James tells when it ends. So why do you foul your mouth with bad words – or evil thoughts – or a gossip-filled tongue, or a living lie?
Solomon, the second King of united Israel wrote, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness that pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Then he adds, “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues (wellspring) of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
    How many times did my mother (or yours) make me chew on a bar of Palmolive soap? Got a foul moth, clean it! But the mouth is not the problem. Guns do not kill people – people kill people. Knives do not cut open the hearts of others; people cut open the hearts of other. Broken homes are not the issue, people are the issue. It’s not what we eat, that is digested and gives daily strength, it is a HEART PROBLEM.
    Paul identifies the battle in clear language. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:16-17 KJV). The battle for the heart and mind of humans has always been the field of conflict.
    Living is the greatest part of learning. You can tell and talk and teach and point, but until the student applies it to life, it will remain just a theory or hypothesis. We learn by living.
    Children learn what they live. Life to them is a daily practice, whether good or bad – they learn.
    When children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
    When they live with hostility, they learn to fight.
    The language they hear is what they learn to say and speak.
    If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself.
    When a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt.
    If a child lives with foolish parents, he learns to be a fool.
    If a child lives with those who cheat and steal, he learns to cheat and steal.
    When a child loses respect for authority, he respects no authority.
    The use of tobacco or alcohol in the home is a precursor to reproduce the same in those who have lived it.
    On the contrary, when a child lives with tolerance (prudence) he learns to be patient. When a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident. When boys and girls live with praise, they learn to be appreciated.
    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. For you that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:22-24).
    What a glorious thought that anyone (whosoever will) can begin again and have a new birth. Jesus said, “You must be born again… truly I say to you, except a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:1-8).
    Our parent said, “Be good for goodness sake.” Garbage in – garbage out. Goodness in – goodness out. The ‘good ole days’ weren’t all that bad.’