Read My Lips!

I watch the New York Times Bestseller list and it appears that if you’re a writer desiring to see your book fly off the shelf, incorporate the words “Angels”, “Heaven” or “Pray” in your title. Wow. I was laughing to myself after reading this, strategizing that my next book is going to be, “Angels Pray in Heaven.” LOL!

As a kid, I was in love with Dr. Seuss. I even imposed my “Seuss-ville” belief system on to my kids, getting every book that the dear “Dr.” Theodor Giesel wrote. One of my favorites (still to this day) is “Oh, The Places You'll Go!” I can tell you that I have given away this book at least thirty times over the years. It’s a great graduation gift and if the recipient would look hard, they would find a $20 bill from me embedded in the pages! Some thank you responses would say, “Thanks Ms. Sue for the book”, while others would say, “I love this book. I especially loved the 20 dollar bill you taped to page 22!” It’s then I knew – they read it!

The last two books Geisel wrote spent several months on the bestseller lists with themes that appealed to adults as well as children. The Los Angeles Times quoted him saying, "Finally I can say that I write not for kids but for people." Geisel had no children of his own, though he had stepchildren from his second marriage. I love his quote from the Chicago Tribune - "You make 'em, I amuse 'em!" The author also said, "I don't think spending your days surrounded by kids is necessary to write the kind of books I write. Once a writer starts talking down to kids, he's lost. Kids can pick up on that kind of thing."

You think? Kids pick up on a LOT of things. And whether writing, speaking, or singing, the true test (for me personally) is to see myself in the eyes of the child. And since my lips move when I read too, I connect with my younger counter-parts. Once while speaking for a Girls event, this bright child came to me saying, “Ms. Sue, you probably wouldn’t do too well on the TV show, “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” She’s right! So my “quivering reading lips while trying to read silently” continues, even as I’m editing this! The best part of reading to kids though is that you can move your lips, be silly, and they won’t care!

Read Aloud – and Be Proud!

1. Children benefit from listening to others read long after they themselves have learned to read. Books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition are excellent.
2. Reading aloud to your child is such a benefit. They’ll watch you read and mimic your inflections. Picture books with detail are the best.
3. Reading their favorite book again and again is such a benefit. As they get to really know the story well, have them fill in words for you.
4. As your child gets older and gains in reading ability, occasionally pick a book at her reading level and take turns reading to one another.

Another favorite for me is, “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”. Spiritually, we can apply the “Seuss-ism” here, and measure it with our walk with Christ – “One Fish Two Fish Big Fish Go Fish!”

Revelation 1:3 (The Message) How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book! Time is just about up.

You Speak Christianese or Christian-ease?

Many friends I grew up with back in the 70s weren’t “churched.” They weren’t privy to all the religious sounding talk that was so common in my world back then. Once I brought a friend to a Sunday service; she became confused when I addressed everyone as “Brother Smith” or “Sister Jones.” After the introductions, she pulled me aside and said, “Sue, I know it’s a small church, but are you related to everybody here?”

During the nostalgic days of flannelgraph Bible stories and chalkboard dust, we would play some great little games like “Bible Baseball” and “Sword Drill.” One little girl’s first encounter with Sunday School and hearing “Sword Drill” caused her to say out loud, “Oh no, my mom will never let me play with anything sharp. I cut off my hair with scissors last week and I’m still grounded.” (Just in case you’re un-churched or too young, “Sword Drill” was a Bible quick-response verse search game where— with Bibles in hand—we’d flip though pages and race to find the chapter and verse the teacher announced. The winner was the first one to stand and read it aloud).

A new young Christian raised on the streets asked his pastor if he could participate in the Communion service. The young man begged to say something prior to the elements being distributed to the congregation. Apprehensively, the pastor slowly handed the Communion cup to the young man. In his exuberance and joy over his new walk with Christ, the young man lifted the chalice and shouted, “You see this cup? This blood’s for you!” Then he raised both hands high, pointed to the ceiling and yelled, “You’re the M-A-N!”

When my Jewish friend Mike went to a concert at a Pentecostal church, it was his very first time to be present in an atmosphere of exuberant praise and worship. When the music started and people began raising their hands, Mike couldn’t figure out why so many people had questions about the concert that night. He asked us, “They just kept raising their hands, obviously having questions or comments about the music. Why didn’t anyone acknowledge them?”

Years ago, I would not have been as prepared as I am today for opportunities to speak at secular or “outside the church walls” events. To assume that everyone will understand or comprehend Christianese is a real mistake. Today I am challenged and held accountable to keep from getting caught up in the rhetoric of dated language and religious expression. If I say I am saved, for example, some will inquire, “Saved from what?”

Letting go of Christianese and sharing more with Christian–ease:

1. The proliferation of the spiritual attitude that “I’ve always said it this way” is a real guarantee you’ll be ineffective. It’s nothing more than a habit. Be willing to examine what and how you communicate about Christ.

2. Words like redeemed, saved, sanctified, and blessed are incredibly endearing and meaningful to you and me, but to the new un-churched generation, our words may be perceived much like the droning teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoon series: “Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah.” The key is to practice effective communication rather than assuming someone will understand. Speak words that will draw them in—connecting words that create a desire for more of God’s Word (which is the ultimate goal) rather than push them away.

3. Jesus, the Master of communication, told parables using secular examples from His own society and culture to convey more clearly to His listeners. Some heard it; some did not. Some “got it” and were radically changed. Others walked away. Jesus is the example we need to emulate in our communication with others.

“The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn’t diminish or weaken over time. It’s the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you’ve been hungry for more” (Colossians 1:5,6, The Message).

Subscribe to Laugh Lines!

It's Only Words!

Laugh Lines

It’s Only Words
by Sue Duffield
What is it about turning fifty plus, when all of a sudden words escape you, and you find yourself mixing metaphors, mispronouncing words, and saying stupid stuff? I sometimes sound like Aunt Clara from Bewitched: “Duh, um, ah, uh… mmm…!” For goodness sake, words are my living and that’s probably what makes it even more funny!
I had just washed my hair, towel dried it and let it go, curly as ever. I hadn’t done that since the camping days. My husband said, “Wow – new hairdo?” Now, he knows better, but to clarify the situation, I candidly responded, “Oh, honey, you know it always looks like this when I step out of the washer.” No one moved or said a word. All that begged to be asked was, “Was it a top-loader or a front-loader, ya think?”
It doesn’t end there. One time when bugs and mosquitoes were destroying a family cookout, our college-educated daughter – who deems herself the “word police,” – said, “Mom, you know what we need? One of those salmonella candles.” Again, no one moved or said a word, but we erupted into laughter! Our daughter quietly added, “That wasn’t right, was it, mom?” No, it surely wasn’t right; she meant to say “citronella.” But maybe she was on to something. We’ll just burn the salmonella candle and then we won’t have to worry about cooking the chicken all the way through!

1 Corinthians 2:3 says, “…and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it” (The Message). Believe me, words may be mumbled and jumbled, but it sure is a thrill when the message comes through anyway, in spite of our foolish talk and mixed up words!
The next day my friend told me her husband went to Costco, and at one of the kiosks where samples are offered, a woman said, “Try this – it’s high in antioxygens.”
Then my neighbor’s little boy, when quizzed about what he learned in Sunday School, responded “Jesus swept.” Therefore, let us “sweep” too!

Suggestions for when you are flummoxed in your speech:


1.When you don’t know quite what to say, pause, take a breath, and keep this Scripture in mind (One of my favorites!): “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).

2.Be amazed that, in spite of your lack of words or fluid vernacular, God can still be glorified! His words are better anyhow! Jeremiah 1:9 says, “Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth.’”

3. Celebrate the joy of laughing at yourself! There’s nothing quite like the joy and healing power of laughter over mispronounced words. Language is a funny tool; it’s only words! And you’ll make a memory that will last a lifetime, celebrating those moments when you fumble!

SUE DUFFIELD is a heart-warming and honest storyteller, singer/songwriter and free-lance writer who travels extensively sharing her faith, music, and comic relief. She and her husband of 35 years, Jeff, travel in and out of the country doing retreats, conferences and special events. Visit her Web site.