The one thing I love about the English is that they are so English. And
although we have a direct heritage to them, we the US of A, who they refer to as
the colonies, many words have gotten lost in translation over the years, of
course our fault. All this from the country who drives on the right side of the
road, or the wrong side of the road in most countries. But their terms for
automobiles can leave many wondering what they are speaking of. Have you ever
ridden in a saloon? Most popular body style sold in the world, we call them
sedans. My wife loves her drop head Mustang, a convertible to you colonists.
When we buy our petrol, we should take a look under the bonnet, our hood, and
check the spare tyre, kept in the boot, our trunk. But my favorite term for a
car is the shooting brake, which we call our SUV, which has evolved from the
station wagon. How many soccer moms, football those in the UK call it, would
lineup to own the latest shooting brake? And the list goes on.
Mechanics use spanners to take things apart, Snap-on calls them wrenches.
Cars are made in works, not factories, and spares are the parts we replace when
they wear out or break. Talked to your spares counter man lately?
Now suppose while waiting you run into some bloke, a man, who is waiting
for his mate to pick him up. His mate is not his wife, but his friend, although
a wife can be a friend and should be. A decent chap if he is a mate to
both-friend that is. And so it goes that while learning to speak English, we
must deal with the English language. The Queen’s English if you will. Oh, and
by the way, if one of your mates talks about dropping a few pounds, he is losing
money, or a few quid, the English equivalent of our dollar. But the exchange
rate will kill you if you think all pounds and dollars are equal. And
ministering is also different, as their government has Ministers of Defense, the
Interior, and other government functions, here ministers minster the gospel. A
huge difference, a mistake you don’t wish to make in either country. Why don’t
you blokes take a break, lean against a wing, your car’s fender, hoist a pint,
and let’s talk cars. Jolly good...don’t you think?
And so it is easy to see how the same words can get you into
trouble, but maybe not out of trouble. I am reminded of a conversation with a
young Navajo girl on the reservation in Shiprock. She was of the new
generation, and spoke new Navajo, much different from the old Navajo, that the
US used for codes in WWII as it was not a written language, and couldn’t be
translated. And she explained that one word in the current language could mean
nice, but in the old could men you have a face like a horse. OK if you are
another horse. Careful here mates, or you chaps could get in a world of hurt.
So imagine the situation God faced on the day of Pentecost. Different men from
different backgrounds speaking different languages. Imagine Peter addressing
the crowd, with his thick Galilean accent, the same one that gave him away to
the little girl in the Garden of Gethsemane, and God had a task on His hands.
But being God, He was able to solve it and make it work for all-he had them hear
Peter’s words, each in their own language, so they understood. They would have
known the difference between a saloon and a bar, or a bonnet or a hood, and
those in shooting brakes would have been able to ride in the commuter lane.
They understood because God wanted them to, He holds no secrets to those that
seek Him. And the biggest secret He has ever revealed is Jesus, so we can
return to fellowship with Him. He doesn’t want to be separated from us, He
wants to be close and part of our lives-the most important part. And He leaves
it up to us, as real love demands a choice, not a demand or a law to enforce
it. Love conquers all-and is a noun, God, a verb, He loved us first, an
adjective, his loving kindness, and the list goes on. So you might say we are
mates, friends of Jesus. But sadly some blokes aren’t, yet on the Day of
Pentecost, 3000 blokes came to be mates in Jesus. And it continues
today...
God speaks to us in many ways, His word, pray, via the Holy
Spirit, and through other blokes, if we are listening and looking. Seeking and
finding, just like promised, to all in abundance. So after praying today,
listen to God, and for His words. They will be in a language that makes sense
to you, and He will provide an understanding when needed. You just have to
trust and obey. Don’t get it, refer to the owner’s manual, the Bible, and ask
Him again-and keep listening!
He knows your number plate, your name. And He wants to bless
you, with spares in abundance, and works never ceasing. Petrol for the soul,
and air in your tyre. So climb in your coupe, drop head, saloon, or shooting
brake, and seek Him today. He is a dynamo, an alternator of power, and never
ceases. Be like the 3000 who came not speaking the language, but left united as
one in the spirit. They came as blokes, but left as mates and chaps. Friends.
May we all do the same. No matter which side of the car the wheel is on. Don’t
keep His love hidden in your boot. And you thought a shooting brake was just a
time to reload. Bloody colonists. Now can anyone please explain Whitworth
bolts to me?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com