Warning: Entry may contain explicit content not considered appropriate for those who rely on common sense and the intrinsic good of man.
EXPLICIT sure draws attention doesn't it? It's usually printed in bold font just to help communicate the idea of warning. Usually printed in black, white, or red to further echo the meaning itself. My question is how did explicit become a word that elicits the connotation that it currently does?
You see, the dictionary says:
As I thought about this idea, I thought about how I don't want to trick someone into hearing about Jesus. But how desperately I truly want people to receive His message. Somehow, I find myself in the midst of Redemption's Story, the Great I Am...wondering how I got myself in the thick of it. But, the thicket's clearing in the forrest of mystery as the Great I AM reveals himself to me.
I've written a slew of words about creativity. It's been brewing even more than what I've written inside of my mind. The burning question inside of me is what does it look like to represent Christ...THE explicit Truth as true to who he is and with the creativity that He has given us. I want to be creative. The world is creative in its deception, our Father is the Creator, we should mimic him with our creativity and blow everything else out of the water as the clone and fake charade that it is.
There was a precious asian man on the streets of San Francisco yesterday. Characterized as eccentric, radical, and crazy this man modeled a long beard and eyes that pierced with truth. His goal? To tell people about the truth. He was shouting, desperate for the message of truth to be heard. He was ridiculed, he stood out, he had passion. His eyes met my boyfriend's as he stood next to him, the man with the beard instantly recognized the truth in my boyfriend's eyes, nodded to him, and in a little while encouraged him with words of urgency saying, "You have to tell them! They have to know!" Talk about a life changing moment. The man with the beard knows that there is only one thing worth living for. I know his tactic is not usually mine, but the reality is that he is doing something. He woke up with one purpose. He is in love with the Creator.
Often, we make excuses for not being explicit. We say that it doesn't work. But, maybe we could learn something from that older man on the streets yesterday. He was explicit in his message. Sometimes, I write a song and my message is implicit instead of explicit. I hide the truth for those who are hungry, or do I hide it out of a fear of being explicit? Christ was both brilliantly explicit by how bright he shone on earth and yet implicit through use of parables and rarely giving a straight answer.
I think, maybe for awhile, the people around us could benefit from our message being labeled EXPLICIT . Redemption's story alone is the most creative narrative ever written and lived out. Even if we don't know how to present it perfectly, it is strong enough to stand on its own. Trust that the Holy Spirit truly can and will guide your words as you step out in faith and love. Don't beat people with the truth, approach them humbly, knowing that you and I were right were they were at one time.
So, without further ado, who's with me? Who's ready to carry around the explicit Truth?
EXPLICIT sure draws attention doesn't it? It's usually printed in bold font just to help communicate the idea of warning. Usually printed in black, white, or red to further echo the meaning itself. My question is how did explicit become a word that elicits the connotation that it currently does?
You see, the dictionary says:
explicit |ikˈsplisit|adjectivestated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt : the speaker's intentions were not made explicit.• (of a person) stating something in such a way : let me be explicit.So, let me be explicit, to interlace this monologue, if you will, with what offends: the explicit truth. Last night as I was falling asleep I was thinking about being explicit and what a stir just having the title "Explicit Truth" on something could cause. I pictured it on burned CD's and thought about writing in bold sharpie marker EXPLICIT and just leaving those CDs everywhere I go. I wondered how many people would pick it up, and look both ways to see if anyone noticed before slipping it into their coat pocket, sleeve, or bag. I smirked, imagining their surprise if when they pulled it up on their computer they saw a video based on the life and truth and love of Jesus and wondered what their reaction would be. (who's with me on trying this?? hahaha!)
As I thought about this idea, I thought about how I don't want to trick someone into hearing about Jesus. But how desperately I truly want people to receive His message. Somehow, I find myself in the midst of Redemption's Story, the Great I Am...wondering how I got myself in the thick of it. But, the thicket's clearing in the forrest of mystery as the Great I AM reveals himself to me.
I've written a slew of words about creativity. It's been brewing even more than what I've written inside of my mind. The burning question inside of me is what does it look like to represent Christ...THE explicit Truth as true to who he is and with the creativity that He has given us. I want to be creative. The world is creative in its deception, our Father is the Creator, we should mimic him with our creativity and blow everything else out of the water as the clone and fake charade that it is.
There was a precious asian man on the streets of San Francisco yesterday. Characterized as eccentric, radical, and crazy this man modeled a long beard and eyes that pierced with truth. His goal? To tell people about the truth. He was shouting, desperate for the message of truth to be heard. He was ridiculed, he stood out, he had passion. His eyes met my boyfriend's as he stood next to him, the man with the beard instantly recognized the truth in my boyfriend's eyes, nodded to him, and in a little while encouraged him with words of urgency saying, "You have to tell them! They have to know!" Talk about a life changing moment. The man with the beard knows that there is only one thing worth living for. I know his tactic is not usually mine, but the reality is that he is doing something. He woke up with one purpose. He is in love with the Creator.
Often, we make excuses for not being explicit. We say that it doesn't work. But, maybe we could learn something from that older man on the streets yesterday. He was explicit in his message. Sometimes, I write a song and my message is implicit instead of explicit. I hide the truth for those who are hungry, or do I hide it out of a fear of being explicit? Christ was both brilliantly explicit by how bright he shone on earth and yet implicit through use of parables and rarely giving a straight answer.
I think, maybe for awhile, the people around us could benefit from our message being labeled EXPLICIT . Redemption's story alone is the most creative narrative ever written and lived out. Even if we don't know how to present it perfectly, it is strong enough to stand on its own. Trust that the Holy Spirit truly can and will guide your words as you step out in faith and love. Don't beat people with the truth, approach them humbly, knowing that you and I were right were they were at one time.
So, without further ado, who's with me? Who's ready to carry around the explicit Truth?
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