It's gotta be the toughest thing in the world for me not to be silly.

Examples I am not proud of but shows the condition of my heart:

1. I know it gets my pastor when we eat at a Chinese restaurant and I open a fortune cookie at the end of the meal. I do to provoke him and if it makes him angry I try to make him laugh. It's an evil that I have to rid myself from.

2. The drinking thread made me think of the times where I know I might offend somebody who may not drink or think it's getting close to the edge of sin. Even if I ask them if I may, I've really already decided I am going to do it. That's not charitable.

That's two things but it gives an example of rebellion and selfishness in my heart that won't go away. God help me. I'd be a more productive man by not doing those things.

It's the little sins I cherish that make me me that I don't want to give up in being like Christ. Who will save me from this body of sin? Thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord!

__________________
Bryan Wiley
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Reformed Baptist Church
Louisville, Kentucky

But it helps a little. Thanks for looking.

Some years ago, when we ate at Chinese restaurant's and the time came to go to the fortune cookie, we always had to end the fortune cookie's saying with..."in bed." Was it silly? Absolutely, probably bordered on worse than silly. While I no longer do this in a group, my wife and I still get a hearty chuckle out adding the addendum..."in bed" amongst ourselves.

__________________
~ Steven Bradford ~
Member Covenant Presbyterian, Chattanooga, TN

What's wrong with opening a fortune cookie?

__________________
My name is Davis. I am the Lord's.

I gather with saints at Bethel Presbyterian Church here in Lake Charles, LA, where I live.

[b][SIZE="3"]"[/SIZE][/b][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]I dwell in the high and holy place, also with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones[/COLOR].[b][SIZE="3"]"[/SIZE][/b] -Our Father, the Lord God (Isaiah 57:15)

Nary a dadburn thing Dagmire...

Heck...I challenge you to make up your own addendum to tack on to the fortune: In keeping with Silliness of course....

Nothing really. I think Brian was getting at the wrongness of his intent and motivation for opening it. It was purposefully to annoy his pastor. Thus, I believe Brian's trying to say he should be doing things to edify other Christians, as opposed to annoy them. Am I trackin, Brian?

__________________
Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
Board Rules-Signature Requirements-Suggestions?

Well, I was more wondering why his pastor has a problem with him opening a fortune cookie.

Brian may mean that his pastor would kind of be like the one who is "weak in faith" of which Paul speaks in Romans 14.

That's right, Josh.

There is a verse that says we are to stay away from silly talk and that helps me stay soberer and more productive in conversations.

Inherently I know that it's not edifying to my friends and brothers. It detracts from truth/Christ and betryas our fight against the tongue.

Henry says on the verse

Far from edifying is the key term. I want to stay edifying to my brothers.

And this one!

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.