Merriam Webster's word of the day for Tuesday, September 9th was circumlocution:

1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2 : evasion in speech

Here are some passages from Scripture to consider in regards to Torah. I will update this blog entry from time to time with other passages as I find them:

"I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My Torot [plural of Torah]." - Genesis 26:4-5

Bind up the testimony, seal the Torah among my disciples. - Isaiah 8:16

"The same Torah shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you." - Exodus 12:49

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Saturday, August 30th was exasperate:

1 : to excite the anger of : enrage 2 : to cause irritation or annoyance to

Merriam-Webster's word of the day for Tuesday 8/26/2008 is sophistry:

1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive

"An argument used to deceive. "  Hmmm... that got me to thinking of the words of the serpent in the Garden:

"Hath God said...?"

Fox News.com reported Monday that a scientific study presented evidence that "a sensory cell can process an alternative sensation".  They differentiated this process from the already previously known condition named synesthesia where some people are able to feel, hear, and taste colors.   In essence the study has found that our auditory nervous system can send auditory signals to the image processing centers of the brain for faster tracking of sounds.

"Where is this found in Scripture" you might ask?

Merriam-Webster's Word for the Day on Monday, August 11th was anathema.  I read the WOTD email and thought "Wow.  That's a word I haven't heard used outside of Scripture."

Here is how M-W defined it:

1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b: someone or something intensely disliked or loathed 2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : a vigorous denunciation : curse

Merriam-Webster's word of the day for Tuesday August 5th was "steadfast" which they defined as such:

1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable   b : not subject to change 2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal

This brought to mind James 1:17.

OK... I just wrote about thinking about what you are saying.  Now for a different take on thinking and your mouth.

I was having a discussion with one of my coworkers when a guy on our team (who is an avid marathon and triathalon runner) walked by with a soft drink in his hand.  My coworker teased him: "all the sugar in those soft drinks are going to make you fat".  The soda-drinker replied "it's diet".  My coworker's expression changed from a good-natured smile to outright horror as she replied "aspartame can kill you".

I have posted a number of articles under the category of "Words For Thought".  Part of the purpose in writing those articles is to share interesting insights into words that are often unusual. Today I would like to focus on words from a different perspective: words that are common in our society but that we often use without fully considering the meaning of what we are saying. I will hopefully add to this article as time goes on as I come across additional words to consider.

First up: romance

Words for thought. It's been a rather interesting week for words.  Merriam-Webster's word of the day for August 7th was plausible which they defined as such:

1 : seemingly fair, reasonable, or valuable but often not  so

2 : superficially pleasing or persuasive

3 : appearing worthy of belief