DEAN R. DONAHUE

My Friend, Brother Monroe.....whether it is your plight or the plight of another, I can assure you that I am a master of foul language and understand it's trappings. I was a truck driver in Southern California for several years driving the crowded streets and freeways of Los Angeles. I learned a colorful phrase for almost every scenario and renamed every person on the freeway, and not one was appropriate for mixed company

When I started to re-attend church, I had to be very careful not to slip up. In other words, I had to put on my best act to look holy for the congregation and curb my flamboyant verbiage. I was unsuccessful at this venture. Those words just somehow slipped out and caused many a face to blush. It was like a disease. Though try as I did, I could not contain my ill-learned habit.

One day I was listening to a sermon on DVD where the Pastor used a phrase familiar to most of America, "garbage in- garbage out"..... 
For some reason I was impressed to change the content of what was entering my senses. I decided to eliminate all secular entertainment, all television not related to God, and all music on the radio, save a local Christian station. I decided to eliminate them for one month just to see if the garbage placed before me affected me as much as the sermon had predicted.

Philippians 4:8 summarizes my efforts to a "T". 

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

Thirty days turned into sixty, and before I realized the profound effect, two years had past. My Biblical knowledge increased, my faith in God strengthened, my marriage fortified, and my resolve substantiated to filter the worlds effect by guarding what I allowed my eyes and ears to perceive. Removing the media affects of the world and relying on the instruction of Philippians 4, I have corrected many learned destructive habits.

I will not lie to you and claim a form of sainthood freeing me of bad language or thought, but I will say it is a rare moment when I revert to my flamboyant metaphors of the past. It is said in Proverbs that " grey hair is a crown of wisdom", yet as grey as I have become, when I wonder back into the midst of what is "the world", I feel the dis-satisfaction and seek a more noble environment. 

Yes, all things are possible through Christ Jesus....even the language we speak changes as we allow the spirit of God to direct us and receive the Salvation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Will we fail? Yes.... but His Grace is sufficient when we offer our repentance in truthful sincerity. Remember, We Are Victorious With Christ.

Being a Christian is tough business. I know that "His yoke is easy and His burden light", but sometimes it gets really difficult. I thank God that it is Jesus' life that represents us before the Father and not my ill-fated efforts. Even though we may fail, focusing upon what is right and truthful and beautiful will surely cause a change in our actions, our perceptions, and every word that proceeds out of our mouths....

Dean Donahue, Show Low, Arizona

May 06 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Dave Odle

I have found that to overcome this problem in your life is to surround yourself with Godly company. This will trigger something inside you that will cause you not to speak bad words.

a good verse for this is..

1 Corinthians 15:33 - New King James Version (NKJV)

"Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” "

also don't be surrounding yourself with people who do speak in this manner,
or better yet convince them to stop speaking this way

May 05 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report