SHARP DULL

An oxymoron (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. 

Oxymorons are sometimes inadvertently created by errors or sloppiness in conversation.
Examples:   

found missing

 deafening silence

virtual reality  

  pretty ugly   

almost exactly  

exact estimate

seriously funny

tragic comedy

liquid gas

larger half

same difference

constant variable

working holiday

definite maybe

even odds

freezer burn

original copies

jumbo shrimp

living dead

clearly confused

In some cases an inadvertent oxymoron ends up being widely adopted as the name for some concept and ceases to be recognized as an oxymoron. Examples include: bittersweet, living dead, virtual reality.

"...Out of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34

Consider the title of this blog "WHEN WORDS ARE MANY" as you read this bit of history from the thirteenth century:

Frederick II, a German king, was curious to learn what language babies would speak if no one spoke to them.  The king wondered whether they would come to speak Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, or perhaps the dialect of their biological parents if the infants were left on their own.  To find out, a select group of infants were chosen.  The king ordered the foster mother and nurses who were to care for these infants to be absolutely silent.  "Nurse them, clean them, bath them, but don't speak to them," was his command. .........

 (Before I tell you the conclusion, think about this: What would  pure language be if we were not exposed to any pre-existing language or culture? That is what King Frederick II really wanted to know. )

 

In the end, the experiment was a dismal failure.  Not only did these children fail to develop any language skills.  

They all died.

Proverbs 18:21 says,  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

 

Are You Traveling this Summer?

Watch those signs!!!!

     


 CAUTION!  Be aware of road conditions!

 Parking can be challenging!

      Keep that tank filled!

    Where am I going?

It's FLAG DAY, June 14

The Flag Code does not specify how the flag should be folded, but a standard flag will require thirteen folds.
When folding the flag in this manner gained popularity, there wasn't a symbolic meaning associated with the folds. Through the years, the public has attributed meaning to each fold. Most of these meanings are religious, and all of them reflect the ideals of this country.

	Step 1: Facing each other two people should hold the flag horizontally at both ends.
	Step 2: Make your first fold lenthwise, bringing the stripes over the union area of the flag.
*The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
	Step 3: Match up the corners, keeping the flag taut.
	Step 4: Make another lengthwise fold, match up the corners and keep the flag taut.
*The second fold of the flag is a symbol of a belief in eternal life. *The third fold is a symbol of honor and remembrance of veterans.
	Step 5: Keeping the flag taut at both ends, fold a triangle from fold to edge. Keep folding triangles, making sure you keep a 90° angle and your folds are smooth.
*The forth fold is a symbol of weakness. *The fifth fold is a tribute to our country. *The sixth fold is where our hearts lie. *The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces.
	Step 6: Continue folding triangles in the same manner.
*The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, so that we may see the light.
	Step 7: Continue folding triangles onto the union of the flag.
*The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood *The tenth fold is a tribute to fathers *The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David & King Solomon, glorifying the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. *The twelfth fold represents the emblem of eternity and glorifies the God of the Father, the Son & Holy Ghost.
	Step 8: Fold the last triangle and tuck the ends in.
*When the folds are complete, the stars are uppermost and remind us of our national motto, "In God we Trust." *The flag will resemble a cocked hat, representing soldiers, Marines & Sailors of the past & present.

Meet the Family

Our daughter Kiki and her husband Trey, they are on their way to serve our Lord in Thailand!
Here are some photos that you might enjoy:

Thailand- a land full of the beauty of God's creation

Thailand- a land of culture and lostness

 

 

 

Thailand- a new home filled with new friends

Thailand- a land offering new and wonderful foods  

 

 

 

Thailand- a land begging that we learn its language

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS Trey loves Thai food!

 PS  In Thailand you must be careful how you pronounce this word (which is also my daughter's name)


 Pray for Kiki and Trey as they begin this journey!

http://treyandkiki.blogspot.com/

They can't be avoided: metaphors are built right into our language.

A metaphor is figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. The word metaphor comes from a Greek word meaning to "transfer" or "carry across." Metaphors "carry" meaning from one word, image, or idea to another. 

Some metaphors are so common that we may not even notice that they are metaphors. Look at these familiar metaphors of “life as a journey”. You find them in advertising slogans:

• "Life is a journey, travel it well." (United Airlines)
  
• "Life is a journey. Enjoy the Ride." (Nissan)
  
• "Life's a journey--travel light" (Hugo Boss Perfume)

Here is another from a song: “Life's a journey not a destination And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings.

The simplest metaphor form is made with nouns.

America is a melting pot. Meaning: place where different peoples, styles and cultures are mixed together.

My father is a rock. Meaning: very strong or reliable person

The policeman let him off with a yellow card. Meaning: Warning - (in soccer) a yellow card that the referee shows to players when cautioning them.

Other ways of making metaphors are with verbs or adjectives.

He broke into her conversation. Meaning like burglars break into buildings.

His head was spinning with ideas. Meaning: like some computer hard drives spin at over 10,000 revolutions per minute.

Reading that book kindled my interest in politics. Meaning like the need to start a camp fire with twigs and small branches, kindling. 

Look out for those metaphors!