The Best Pathway For Our Life 2

The world loves to show us the best life is one full of fortunes and riches and this makes one think of one as prosperous.   This worldly way of understanding can mislead one to chase after fortunes and riches and never be happy or at peace.   I know from experience that money causes more problems then not having money.  You have money- you have to put it in a bank that isn't going to charge you for using that money, you have to spend that money or it can be used against you, you have to protect what you spend the money on and then in a few months or years you have to replace what you bought for something newer and more efficient.

So what does God say prosperity. 

PROSPERITY

“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace.” Jeremiah 33:6 (NLT)

In the original Hebrew translation "prosperity and true peace" is translated into "abundance of peace and truth."

Being rich to God is you and I really understanding the depth of His love for us.   It is trusting God to a point you and I have a sound mind no matter the circumstances in life.  It's not about having peace because we are rich - it is about having peace because we have God who is all truth.  Riches "can" bring one under captivity of the world.  I say "can" because there were rich people such as Abraham and Job who were rich but they saw a relationship with God was more important then any amount of material wealth. 

"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress: the godly run to him and are safe.  The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.  Haughtiness goes before destruction: humility precedes honor." Proverbs 18:10-12

CAPTIVITY

"I will be found by you,” says the LORD.  “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.  I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:14 (NLT)

Interesting enough the word “fortunes” is translated in the Hebrew word “Shebuwth” which means “captivity”.

"I will end your captivity and restore your captivity.....?"

Some might say, "That doesn't make sense" but in God's perspective it makes perfect sense.

We must understand in God's understanding that we can either be captive to the world or captive to God.   Remember Jesus saying we can't serve two masters both God and money? (Matthew 6.) 

Being “captive” to God is understanding we are his prized possession.  Is understanding our heavenly Father already knows all our needs and he will give us all we need from day to day if we live for him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern. (Matthew 6)

“He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.  And we, out of all creation, become his prized possession.”  James 1:18

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Being prosperous and captive in the Lord can be illustrated and seen in Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessing.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

KNOWING WHERE LIFE IS

John speaking about Jesus: “He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and darkness can never extinguish it.”   John 1:3-5

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  Johns 14:6

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go free and will find good pastures.  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:9-10 (NLT)

Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

“Abundantly” means to exceed our expectation in this life.  God wants to exceed our expectations in this life.  He wants to show us things that we didn't even think were possible in this life.  These are treasures no one can steal.

Knowing life is Jesus and Jesus is God.  What should that path of our life look like in him? 

It will reflect Jesus not the world

Look at the concordance with me.  Life defined by God's word.

A. Life is the absolute fullness of life both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both the "hypostatic “logo” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature. 

 B. Life- real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world to those who put their trust in Christ, and resurrected after this life in a more perfect body to last forever.

WANTS AND DESIRES

Some people do and some don’t want to hear God is the path for them.   People don’t want to hear they are captive to either this world or to God.  They want to believe they are "free spirits" but free spirits of what?  Free spirits of whatever their flesh wants?  Sounds great but what does it harvest in the end?  And to whom and what ideals are they really serving?  Love you free spirits but you are being tricked and into dangerous falsehood that endangers you very souls.

Jesus said to the disciples: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose yours own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."  Matthew 16:24-27

I was there once there myself and God is continually showing me His Path in Him (Life) for me.

People want to follow their own path, which is often directed, by their own fleshly wants and desires.   Those who follow such thoughts, wants and desires find themselves in a world that is never content or at rest.  And we cannot live with one foot in both worlds.   Our heart and mind will either be captive by this world or captive to Christ.   Either we will be content and not want in Christ or we will be not contented and continued to want in this lost hamster wheel world -- for you don’t have to look too far to see proof of that.   Those captive to Christ overcome this world in their trust and faith in God.

So you and I have peace and are rich and prosperous if our heart, mind, and soul seeks and trusts God for we will see God in our lives and know we are God’s very own possession.   You have true life if you are devoted to God and you overcome this world if you trust in God.

Are You Hungry and Thirsty?

Our societies today doesn’t long for God. Society seems to be far away & estranged from God. Society seems to go only after temporary pleasures and those temporary pleasures never satisfy. That is why we are always hungry and unsatisfied. Money and possessions, power, achievements, conquests, human praise -heck we even make our health problems and negative thoughts have a major throne room in our lives. People even go after "temporary religious" experiences only to find themselves a short time later- that their longing for God is taken up by the cares of life and they again find themselves unsatisfied.

If a person understood their value to God they would value what God has to say not what society has to say but since they value society more then God- society has becomes their "god".

1Peter 2:2 says:

"You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk,"

God should be in his rightful place in our lives. He should be ruler of our hearts but since He is not our focus we stumble constantly and ride this roller coast of our own emotions while we seek for the next greatest thing to satisfy us. Like a drug addict looking for their next hit.

People don’t seem realize that the temporary thoughts and things have become gods in their life. Our selfish evil desires make slaves to them thinking they will somehow satisfy us but all they do is keep us chained to a certain mindset and place where we are not moving forward at all but gaining the world and losing our soul in the process. People are unaware of the evil spiritual world keeping them captive. They are tube fed by temporary pleasure- uncaring about their eternal destination.

Life is temporary. We as Christians are told to "remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth. For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." (1 Peter 1:17-19)

This life is about learning and growing and maturing in God’s love. Life is about seeing our real need for Him and why we need to accept Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior of our lives and being empowered by His grace and His righteousness. Life is about seeing that God has a plan for our life and He wants to walk and empower that important plan and purpose out in our lives despite our everyday challenges and circumstances. God helps a person overcome those challenges and circumstances.

The temporary things only fill up our time and energy until there is no time and energy left for what is truly important. We become easily confused, frustrated, tired, indifferent, depressed, weary, hardhearted, selfish, shortsighted, tunnel visioned, and we ignore what is truly important. Soon we find ourselves only a shell of person who is spiritually empty and we have ignored the important gifts in our life such as relationship with our Creator God our Heavenly Father.

We ignore the needs of ours spouse, our children, our family, our friends and even our neighbors.

Psalm 107:9 says this about God: “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (NKJV)

God wants to fill our longing soul with his love so that just His goodness pours out of our lives.

2 Peter 1:3 says:

"As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need to living a godly life. He called us to receive his own glory and goodness"

Does your soul long for the things that are good? (Peace, joy, hope, mercy, grace, love.)

Do you long for more or are you satisfied with just going through the motions. Are you satisfied in your possessions saying I have all I need?

Christians have you forgotten your first love? Have you become lukewarm? Remember what the Lord says about those who forget their first love, become lukewarm and are satisfied with their gain of possessions? Are you going into your church and leaving the same way you came out?

Have you ever seen anyone's possessions follow them to heaven? You can't take them with you. You leave this earth even with less possessions then when you came into it.

Writer G. Walter Hansenin, wrote:

“I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus’ emotions: not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger, not a silent tear, but groans and anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus’ emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle.”

My buddy Geoff and I used to spend many days of our youth in the Cascade Mountains and a mountain river was hard to miss. You can hear a mountain river roar from a long distance away. It is a powerful source to behold. It is fast moving, full of passion. It rumbles and it’s mist sprays high in the air. The fervor warns you that if you slip into it you would be swept away.

Fervor... Do our churches truly have fervor for the LORD as He has for us? Are we swept away in the fervor of the Lord? What would it be like to be in a church filled with fervor for the LORD? Are you thirsty to hear from the Lord?

I firmly believe God doesn't go where He isn't wanted. He will go to the soul who longs for Him and the people who want Him.

Is your passion is as inconstant as the wind? It is what you consider “good” one day and out of sight the next?

Are the works in the church done but have no mindset of the Spirit of Jesus Christ in them? Like everything is regimented to a man-made schedule where God only has a limited amount of time to move.

A child wouldn’t say to their parent- “Well Mom and Dad you only got 10 minutes of my time today because I am going over to Pete’s house to play street football, play video games and spend the night.”

God wants to empower and influence our lives!!!

Your Father God wants you to know Him and what He can do in your life!

Besides there is a time coming and is already here where people will be persecuted because they believe in the One true God who is Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.

Are you ready to be persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you ready to become outcasts because you will not compromise to the truths in the bible? Are you ready to be considered prejudiced, biased, intolerant, bigoted, narrow-minded and opinionated, by your society because you choose to stand and believe in what bible speaks and says?

Do you really believe God in your heart or do you just know in your head knowledge? Do you have the courage? How is your relationship with the Lord?

These are all questions WE MUST ALL honestly ask ourselves and confront. Are we living in the love of our flesh or the love of Christ? Who’s love must we live in? Head knowledge won't empower us alone... for we must love our God with our HEART and SOUL as well. And God will draw close to us as we draw close to Him.

Society has always grown cold towards God throughout history and has served it’s false gods but when the persecution comes upon us, will we be able remain warm to those who hate and resent us? Where will those searching for warmth find it if we only mirror the same hatred spat at us? God is the only one who enables us to love without condition those who hate us. (Speak up for what is right in love.)

Just think of all those who hate God by their actions yet He still loves them hoping they will turn to Him to be saved through His Son Jesus Christ.

Persecution has always refined the church just as it has done the individual who receives it and turns to God. Persecution sifts the church and helps us get a good look at where we stand spiritually before God.

Are our churches filled with a true atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving towards God? Are the teachers and pastors filled with a passion with the LORD? Is their passion anointed by God or self-ambition? Teachers and Pastors is your level of passion for the Lord washing over your classes and congregations as you teach and preach? Are we crying out to the Lord knowing He is gives power and meaning behind the words given?

Dry bones….. God wants to put muscle and skin on those bones. He wants us to truly know His love and live in His Love where we can be bold in His love. (Bold as lions.)

A passionate church for Jesus Christ is sifted just as quickly. Those passionate for Christ make those less passionate or those lukewarm uncomfortable. I have heard of people escorted out of churches because they “openly” worship at God’s “supposedly” alter.

King David, sobbed at the alter. He tore his clothes and laid flat in front of the alter.

Passion for Christ should NOT be full of religious indifference, strictness, banter or thought the leads into division or focus upon one’s own fleshly desires for attention nor should what be acceptable be decided by societal norms.

Can I judge the way in which someone worships or cries out before the Lord? NO! For only God knows the heart. Does it make you uncomfortable when one of pure transparent faith does this? Where is your compassion? Where is your shared burdens and praises?

Does God not work in mysterious ways at times? So who am I to limit how God chooses to move His people? He is the potter I am only a piece of clay.

A passion of Christ is to be free to express their love for Him with tongues and words of praise, hands lifted up, singing and dancing. David sang and danced did he not? And he was said to have a heart for God. He gloried in the Lord.

Restraint is to be at the discretion of the Holy Spirit’s leading not man’s discretion.

A believer should only be concerned of their own accountability to God for we will all have to stand before God for our own actions and this and this only should put fear into our hearts.

Those who don’t open themselves up to true worship are still slaves to what others think and they are missing the opportunity to experience God’s love. For we enter into his presence through his gates and courtyards of praise and thanksgiving. We pastors, teachers and fellow believers should enter into God’s house with expectation of God and His directing and leave full of encouragement, peace, joy and expectation that God is with us to empower us in His righteousness, grace and love.

That His word and presence confirms He has done and is doing a great work in us as we hold firm and focus upon His great love.

If you are one who appreciates music and a message like this in song, listen to this song by Shawn McDonald called "Something Real"

http://www.myspace.com/shawnmcdonald/music/songs/something-real-80196659

They Sense It.

It is interesting to listen to different pastors and speakers on the radio and how often there is this commonality in their subject matter. I will be brought a topic by God to share with the group and often that topic will also be shared in some scope or dimension on the radio and even our Pastor on Sunday morning.

The theme that God has been sharing lately has been Jesus’ return and living and trusting in God. Which for many may see broad in scope but is it really when you just narrow it down to our personal lives and our relationship with Jesus. God has been reminding his messengers to tell his people of His Son’s return.

Along with this encouraging and urgent message there has been, at least in my life, this lack of luster of the things of this world. This understanding that the material things are very temporary in usage and satisfaction.

Christmas has come and gone and it seems the world has gone back to business as usual.

For some however it hasn’t been business as usual. Some have lost family and friends over the Christmas break. Some even though they have been careful and good stewards of their money have found extra expenses they had not foreseen do to medical, home, and car repairs. I believe these people might be the most fortunate for they will have to look to God to help them fulfill their needs as they continue to tithe. These families won’t take for granted the simple pleasures such as water, electricity, and a roof over their head and food to fill their stomachs. They will cling to God and through this relationship of dependence will see the workings of God more clearly then those who don’t have any extra circumstances in their life to deal with. To others they are may seem unlucky, unfortunate, and tried to extremes but when there is nothing to cling I found there is always God who helps me see and live past my circumstances even though they may difficult.

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” MATTHEW 5:3

Luke 17:26-37"When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business--eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building-- until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be `business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns. On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack. A person in the field must not return to town. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”

"Lord, where will this happen?" the disciples asked.

Jesus replied, "Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near."

The values we live by either will make us die spiritually or be uplifted and encouraged spiritually. Even the smallest gift of kindness isn’t ignored when someone is in need.

Our words and actions can nourish those around us or be tools for the enemy to bring down those around us.

What we embrace will affect our life. Is it the world ideals or God and Jesus? There one brings death and one brings life.

God does not share these messages to scare his people but to prepare his people because he loves them. And if we are scared, think why we are fearful of this message.

1 John 4:18 “Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.”

1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.”

It is hard to keep up a meaningful relationship with someone when there is no communication.

I am finding it is difficult to depend on anything in this life except God. People though how lovely will misunderstand you and presume things of you. Things will breakdown and need repairs. The places that you thought you could depend on for permanence or being trustworthy will leave you stranded or take advantage of you. Nothing stays the same and sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes is a bad thing if you put prominence in that thing or place. Your body will even fail you.

Things will become just things. They are here today and quickly replaced tomorrow.

Sometimes it seems like people are running on a hamster wheel running to get nowhere.

Before I let the mind do what it wants let us ask where is the accountability? Where is the self-control?

Where do we stand at the end of day with God? Where to we put our trust? Where do we put our security and rest? Tangibles or intangibles? If it is tangibles, what happens when those tangibles fail us? Value is in what? What we can or not take with us after this life (that is but a breath and a passing shadow) is over?

I guess what we ought to ask ourselves is what are lasting values that really matter in the end and do they parallel to what God thinks is important.

Matthew 24:12-14 "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come."

2 Peter 3:9-11 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment. Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living!

May God help us live as if Christ were coming back tomorrow and knowing there are no guarantees for tomorrow.

Defragmenting Life 4

The motivation behind acquiring possessions.

What is the motivation of the possession? Why do you want to acquire something? Do you want to impress someone? Someone who is here today and gone tomorrow? Someone who can’t accept you for who you are?

Why do you want something and what for?

You and I are to be salt to those who don’t know Christ. If we become just like the world then what is the difference between us and someone who doesn’t know Christ? Where is the savor and flavor in us?

Do we want to gain the whole world and lose our soul?

Offerings, donations and even our good deeds cannot buy God off but many have been bought off by possessions even kings, prophets, and disciples, so be careful the possessions you get, and receive don’t end up owning you and make you feel obligated to those who would exploit and use you for their gain.

We all must look to God in our dependence and confidence. We must not put trust in things or ourselves but in Him. God is constant, never changing, and full of assurance. He has endless and amazing gifts that never rot, decay, loose their value or become a chore.

Defragmenting Life 3

Things acquired for a false assurance.

I think the most dangerous sign of materialism is when we start to use material possessions to replace and remove our trust or reliance on God. Some do this subconsciously, some do this because they don’t have a relationship with God and some do this because they want to find a way around God but they are only fooling themselves.

I’ll use this example: A husband and wife buy wedding rings as a symbol of their dedication, love and responsibility to one another and God. But if they buy a wedding ring not just for the symbol of commitment to one other BUT for resell value , that ring is NO longer a symbol of a loving commitment, BUT a sign that marriage is not a death to us part partnership but a temporary legal engagement.

A ring based solely on resale value and not on the symbolic meaning of commitment shows there is not just a lack of trust between this couple but also in God. The ring more or less has becomes a control issue and a false assurance. A person says in their heart that I am in charge of my life and I don’t have to be dependent on ANYONE - if things go sour. I am my own mountain. I am my own wall. I need no one. I can pawn this expensive ring for a few cold bucks in my pocket. I have never known a person who has gotten through a failed marriage with money… or anything other material possession.

What most people fail to understand is the concept that God give and God take away. Why did our parents take things away from us when we were younger? Sometimes they took things from us for a punishment but they also took things away from us because they could possibly be harmful to our lives. (I am talking about possessions only here! Not people.)

Things also happen! That ring can fall into the toilet, down the sink, or into the sea on that boat trip. Stock markets fall; cars break down and get stolen, houses rot and decay and even catch on fire. Every material possession looses its luster and money disappears. The love for possessions only adds worry for those possessions. (Matthew 6:19-34) (Luke 12:28-34)

When we try to control our lives by material possessions we are trying to replace the happiness God can give to us. If we try to have happiness only in our possessions, we will never find and live the happiness God intends for us.

Defragmenting Life 2

Things acquired for convenience.

Most of us buy things for enjoyment and because they make things convenient.

We buy a cell phone because it is easy to stay connected with family, friends and work. We buy zip lock bags so when we’re done with the contents in the bag we can simply throw away the bag. It saves us on having to wash out a plastic container and having to store that container when we are done. We buy computers that are easier and faster to work and play on and need less virus software. We buy stocks and bonds in hopes they will help us in the retirement years and will make it easier to help pay for our kids rising college tuition. We buy gas grills instead of charcoal grills because they are less messy and faster to cook on. We buy a universal remote for our television, DVD player, and recorder in hopes we won’t have to use three remotes or have to dig through our couch so frequently. We buy storage boxes to store all our stuff that we don’t use all the time in. We buy large flat screen televisions because they are sometimes easier to see with our aging eyes and/or because they a lot funnier to watch movies and play video games on. We buy new improved formulas, gadgets, and tools in hopes they will make our cleaning and building faster, cleaner and more energy efficient.

There is nothing wrong with convenience in our lives but it does become a problem when it starts affecting our life and those around us.

Our want for convenience affects many aspects of our lives and sometimes we partake in things of this world because of mere convenience but in seeking convenience, these things of the world “can” trip us up if we are not careful in how we use them.

Since I started with cell phones let's use cell phones as our example. Cell phones are wonderful especially if your entire network of friends and family are on the same network but cell phones have also made things of life easy to trip over.

No longer is your phone at your office desk or at home in the kitchen hanging on the wall but now is own your person or near your person most of the day. Now those who want or feel the need to call you can do so at a whim – regardless of what time it is and who you are trying to spend quality time with. There are people out there who GOT to have their “phone” fix.

I am sure the man who brought in those wild gourds, to put them in the stew he was sharing with family and guests, didn’t know they were poisonous. He brought them in out of convenience. They were close by and not too far away to fetch. (2 Kings)

Cell phones MAKE it so easy for someone to state how they are feeling without thinking their thoughts thoroughly through.

Gossip, presumption, cheating and lying, to name a few, are at anyone’s disposal if they are caught in the wrong moment and have lack of self-restraint/ control.

Some people are now apt to call out of gut reaction to something they hear or see instead of thinking the entire situation through.

Have you ever wondered how our grandparents survived without cell phones? Technology back then did not make things convenient to call whenever they had a whim. If you were upset with someone, you would either wait until you were near a phone or you would have to write a letter and in either case you had time to stop and think before it was too late and had to retrieve your foot from your mouth. Inconvenience gave the opportunity for saving grace.

Nowadays things are so immediate. You want to call someone- you can do it right then and there. You want to buy something you can do it right then and there. No longer do you have to go to the store. You can buy it right on-line or on your phone. Some grocery stores even deliver now. Some would say, “That should be a great thing! We no longer have to stand in long lines, fight traffic and spend gas money but that is also one less opportunity to shine our light for Christ and share that love of Christ with others. One less opportunity to see what God has planned to enrich our or someone else’s life.

When Paul wrote, “Your ambition should be a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands” (1 Thess 4:11) he did not mean we were to become hermits and secluded individuals. He was talking about staying away from situations that may lead into gossip, slander, lies, presumption and talk that is not well thought out before spoken. Talk that could not just be harmful and disrupted but sinful and not a good witness for Christ.

Things bought for convenience are great but just be careful how and when you use them.