Keep Learning

September 30, 2025

This is something I have to do, because without learning, my brain will turn to dust more quickly (dementia). Yet,,there is a more existential reason.

For clarification purposes, existentialism is a philosophy which appeared formally in the early 20th Century. The thinking started simply: I think, therefore I am… Since I exist, what am I going to do with this gift which is my life? In the end, what will be my contribution to my fellow man?

Unfortunately, other philosophers got hold of existentialism and perverted its original theme. Not unlike Biblical Christianity, it became divided into a multiplex of divergent and opposing mindsets.

The word is loosely tossed around a lot these days — like the TV news anchors’ new favorite deli sandwich.

Notwithstanding, I don’t get everything correct either. So, recently what I wrote in a couple essays wasn’t fully correct.

Listening to an old TV Sermon by the late great Rex Humbard on YouTube (#26), I realized I was wrong — not a new thing with me… I had said that cuss words were just words, which in a certain context is correct. Christians shouldn’t take offense when someone who does not claim the Name uses them. However, after listening to Pastor Humbard, I realized that if I, who have claimed the Name of Christ, use coarse language, it reflects badly on Jesus, and therefore calling myself a Christian becomes meaningless.

If my actions reflect poorly on Jesus, it is showing that I have taken His name in a vain, useless manner.

Pastor Humbard continued on to teach that our actions in our everyday lives can also reflect badly on Jesus’ name and give evidence that we are not taking the name seriously, but uselessly.

He also expounded on what swearing an oath means the same thing, that is, taking the Name of the Lord in vain.

Two of the verses he used:

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. -Exodus 20:7, NIV.

If you attend church Sundays and Wednesday nights but live like a jerk or a joker the rest of the week, that is also taking His name in vain.

Either you are a Believer or not, and you have to decide for yourself which.

Please, please, I highly recommend you check out his entire sermon. He talks about this subject much more clearly and fully than I can.

So, I correct myself that words do matter — for the Born Again Believer, all words matter.

Now, the second thing I learned that I was not understanding fully before, and nevermind that I cannot remember if I ever wrote anything contrary, but the Brooklyn Tabernacle Sunday Service and Sermon (09/28) was very inspiring to me and encouraged me to be more grateful, taking the time to be thankful to God for all He has done in my life, and that, rather than complaining about difficult times in my way, rise above situations by giving thanks, that is, by appreciating both what God has done in my life and His ability to always get me through whatever and whenever.

Pastor Cynbala said that when he was thanking God, it pushed out the troubles.

Again, I recommend you take the time to watch it., getting Pastor Cymbala’s practical and personal view of his need to be more thankful throughout his daily living. It’s also available on YouTube or @ Brooklyn Tabernacle’s online website.

One of the verses he used was:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Phillipians 4:6.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. — Colossians 3:17, NIV.

Anne Wilson — God Story (Official Music Video)

Charity Gayle — Thank You Jesus for the Blood (Live)