The Blogosphere

Photo credit: Flickr/Cultural Savage

In a recent conversation with friends, I used the term "blogosphere"...and I got some strange looks. I quickly realized that not everyone knows about this "secret world" that many of us live in. I assured them, jokingly, that it was indeed a real word because Wikipedia says so. It's pretty common for people to associate Internet friendships with creepy/stalker-type situations...and while that can happen, the opposite is true most of the time. And yes, you can get TOO wrapped up in the online "alternative reality" and forget that there is a real life to be lived. But as long as you have balance in your life, blogs are such a great way to meet new people.

As we have traveled across the U.S...every single family/person we have met/stayed with has been one we first met in the blogosphere. We may have known about them in print...or maybe even what they looked like by photo, but we had never met them face to face. It's always an interesting first encounter. The wonderful thing is...we have been so delighted 100% of the time with these new friends. And that's the magical thing about blogging and the Internet in general. It has the amazing power to cut through all barriers. Race, religion, income levels...all of those things fall away as you look through the screen. You can find people with similar interests with the click of a mouse. You don't need to pretend to be anyone you're not (although some people do)...and there is no need for small talk. You just cut to the good stuff. Our tour is living proof that Internet friendships are REAL friendships!

I have been deeply changed by my online experiences. I have been inspired. I have been brought to tears. I have grown closer to Jesus. I have made life changes. I have new friends for life. I get excited to see what is happening their lives...what types of things they are learning from the Lord, what they did for their birthday...what their kids are up to. Sometimes it's much more sobering...like how their chemotherapy is going. But at all times, I know I can go to my "secret world" and find encouragement and laughter.

And now...I want to ask YOU:

"How have you been changed by your online friendships?"

Kind and Wise

As I look back through my past prayer journals...I see a definite trend in things that I struggle with. One of those things is my mouth. It seems over and over throughout my life that my mouth has gotten me into trouble. Starting when I was a teenager :) Boy, was I sassy. And on into my 20's, my mouth kind of stayed with me. I don't think I thought I was ever hurting anyone directly with my words, but even the TONE of voice I may have used toward someone, or a bit of sarcasm falling on sensitive ears...they all have negative effects. It carries over into my relationship with my family as we discuss topics that we may not all agree on and I really want to get my point across. It carries over into my marriage...when I let my mouth speak to Matt before my mind/heart has caught up to it. It carries over into my relationship with Bella...when I can all too often get frustrated and use an impatient tone with her when I'm in a hurry to get something done. I could make excuses all day about why I am the way I am. I'm "passionate". I'm "outgoing". I have "strong opinions". But the truth is, Jesus doesn't care about the excuses. His standard for our speech is so much higher than an explanation of "why I did it". I've read that the "mark of a spiritually mature woman" is that she has tamed her tongue. Oh...LORD!! How I long to be spiritually mature. I want all of my words to be only WISE & KIND! I want my words to be GENTLE!

Words are powerful. They have the ability to tear families apart. But they also have the ability to mend broken hearts and relationships. They can completely rip away at someone's self-esteem. But they can also be used to encourage and support. Jesus had MUCH to say about the words that come from our mouths.

Proverbs 17: 27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

James 3:2-12 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord^, and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Just a quick glance through these verses is enough to make me fall to my knees! Our words CONTROL our lives, set the tone for our day, and give credibility to our faith. The last sentence of the last passage is so convicting...if my mouth is speaking from the abundance or "overflow" of my heart, what is truly in my heart? Have I let Jesus come completely in and wash away all of the negativity, anger, envy, impatience...?

"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?" How often have we been speaking harshly/"cursing" to someone in our immediate family and when a stranger or friend comes near, we start speaking "blessing"? When we switch back and forth like that, what does it say about our character? And about our relationship with God?

I know without a doubt that when I have neglected my spiritual life and my time in God's word...my mouth starts to get sassy. I start to speak with negative words and with harsh tones. The inward "words" I allow myself to think are affected as well. When I am in God's word consistently, HIS words fill my heart. HIS words come to mind in a hard situation. HIS words bring LIFE.

I want to start examining my speech with a fine-toothed comb...weeding out anything that is not pleasing to Him. I only want to say words that are wise and kind...and most of all, spoken with a gentle spirit. It's not human nature to be those kind of things all the time...so it's only by the power of the Holy Spirit that I will be able to accomplish it. Sometimes I physically have to "bite my tongue" to stop from saying the first thing that comes to my mouth. It's definitely an exercise in self-control....that's why it's called TAMING the tongue. A rule we try to live by at our house..."don't ever say the first thing that comes to mind. Or the second. The third thing is usually the best." And of course, you could just not say anything at all...and that's ok. It gives your heart time to catch up.

Speak truth today. Speak wisdom today. Speak kindness today. Speak gentleness today. You'll be amazed at the change in your family life/relationships and ALL of the situations you encounter.

Update for Mauro

[ Mauro (left) performs at a recent Capoeira event]

Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who generously donated to Mauro's fund...I sent them a check for $605.00 yesterday! You guys rock! I will continue to collect ongoing donations and will periodically send them a check.

Here is the last update I received from Rebecca:

"...surgery is scheduled for Friday, Oct 5th...and we are having a blessing way/gathering for him on Thursday, Oct. 4th.

...we had hoped that the majority of the tumor was on the outside of the brain, just connected to the top. After seeing the MRI, that is not true. It is growing inside the right temporal lobe of his brain. They will need to open his brain to remove some of the tumor. They will not be able to remove all of the tumor because of the size- if they were to do that they would have to remove about 1/2 of the right side of his brain, and he would lose many abilities and functions. They are going to remove just enough to get rid of the pressure the tumor is putting on the brain, and anything more that they can safely remove. We talked about malignancy and benign- but in the brain it is a little different, something is considered benign when is can be taken fully out and won't grow back. So in his case, it is considered a malignant brain tumor- because they can not take all of it out and it will grow back. They consider it to be slow growing- meaning that maybe in a decade or two, he will have to have another surgery to reduce the size of the tumor again. When they go in for surgery they will check to see if it has cancerous cells or not- which could warrant radiation treatment. This is not really the answer we had wanted when we went in, but what else are we to do? The neurosugeon we have in considered to be one of the top in the nation. He was second in line to operate on President Kennedy when he was shot. there is a 2-3% chance of complications with the surgery. He should be out of the hospital in 2-4 days, as long as no complications..."

We are praising the Lord that this is the prognosis...even though he will still be dealing with a lot after the surgery, at least he still has a lot of LIFE left to live! God is good. Prayer is still desperately needed on Friday when he heads to surgery...for God to guide the surgeon's hands...and for God's miraculous healing power. When I hear back from her, I will post updates to this post (not a new post). Thanks again for your support and prayers!

UPDATE as of 10/9/07: Here is the email Rebecca sent me this week:

...the surgeon was able to remove all of the visible tumor. this does not mean the whole tumor- there is still more inside parts of the brain, and cells and cell growth also in the brain. it is considered a primary growth brain tumor- it is considered a cancerous tumor. the part that was removed from his brain has been sent to pathology and we should have the results in regards to the type of cancerous cells, and estimates of how fast or slow they replicate on monday. mauro is recovering well- we were transferred out of ICU yesterday and are now on the Neurological floor. the neurologists say he is neurologically sound- meaning- he knows who he is, where he is, what is going on. he is moving all limbs and even walked a little today down the hallway. his memory seems to be fine. we are hoping for a full recovery. it is unsure on what measures if any will need to be taken in regards to the cancerous cells. First and foremost he needs to heal from this surgery. Then we can take on the next obstacle in front of us if needed.

thank you so much for all of your prayers, kindness, love, support & energy. We KNOW this is what has gotten us thru this.

much peace, love, health & knowledge to you, your family, friends & all your blog readers.

rebecca