- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,078
No Other Name - September 22, 2006
I said I'd never do it, but here I am, the worst of them all. I said I'd never be one of those moms who went through the whole list of her kids' names before hitting on the right one. But at least once a week when I'm wanting to say something to one of my kids (something entirely crucial, I'm sure), it's suddenly a roll call. I hit every name on my five-kid list and sometimes even a cousin or two. Then to add even more offense, I somehow manage to get a couple of the pets mixed in the list. It's getting downright embarrassing. If I added a "Banan-fanna-fo" do you think they'd be fooled into thinking it was some kind of name game?
I would just give up and number my kids, but I have no doubt I'd just call them the wrong numbers. By the time you call your kids the wrong number, they're likely to be insulted enough to tune you out anyway. "You have reached a kid that has been disconnected."
I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day. I can't even remember why now, but somewhere in the conversation I said, "Surely you're kidding." She said, "I'm totally not kidding. And don't call me Susan." Then she said, "Oh wait- it's Shirley, isn't it."
Sometimes there's just no substituting the right name. In Acts 4, Peter and John were standing before the rulers trying to explain whose name they were using to do all the preaching and healing they had been doing- the preaching and healing they had just spent the night in jail for, by the way. Peter didn't need a roll call. He told them flat out, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NIV)
No substitute. No other name. And it's not Susan. It's Jesus. He has all power to do all saving. And He makes salvation available to every person with every name. Surely that's reason to celebrate. Though I'm not calling you Shirley. And don't call me Susan.
Rhonda Rhea is the author of "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge" and other insanely fun books, including "Amusing Grace" and "Turkey Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken." She is a radio personality and humor columnist and speaks at conferences and events nationwide. Rhonda lives in the St. Louis area with her pastor/husband and their five children. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net.
I said I'd never do it, but here I am, the worst of them all. I said I'd never be one of those moms who went through the whole list of her kids' names before hitting on the right one. But at least once a week when I'm wanting to say something to one of my kids (something entirely crucial, I'm sure), it's suddenly a roll call. I hit every name on my five-kid list and sometimes even a cousin or two. Then to add even more offense, I somehow manage to get a couple of the pets mixed in the list. It's getting downright embarrassing. If I added a "Banan-fanna-fo" do you think they'd be fooled into thinking it was some kind of name game?
I would just give up and number my kids, but I have no doubt I'd just call them the wrong numbers. By the time you call your kids the wrong number, they're likely to be insulted enough to tune you out anyway. "You have reached a kid that has been disconnected."
I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day. I can't even remember why now, but somewhere in the conversation I said, "Surely you're kidding." She said, "I'm totally not kidding. And don't call me Susan." Then she said, "Oh wait- it's Shirley, isn't it."
Sometimes there's just no substituting the right name. In Acts 4, Peter and John were standing before the rulers trying to explain whose name they were using to do all the preaching and healing they had been doing- the preaching and healing they had just spent the night in jail for, by the way. Peter didn't need a roll call. He told them flat out, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NIV)
No substitute. No other name. And it's not Susan. It's Jesus. He has all power to do all saving. And He makes salvation available to every person with every name. Surely that's reason to celebrate. Though I'm not calling you Shirley. And don't call me Susan.
Rhonda Rhea is the author of "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge" and other insanely fun books, including "Amusing Grace" and "Turkey Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken." She is a radio personality and humor columnist and speaks at conferences and events nationwide. Rhonda lives in the St. Louis area with her pastor/husband and their five children. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net.
