Emoticons

I love new words, although I’m sometimes slow in learning them. I’m sure most of my younger friends have already started using the word “emoticon” but it is somewhat new to me. It is defined as “a pictorial representation of a facial expression that, in the absence of body language serves to draw a receiver’s attention to the tenor of a sender’s nominal non-verbal communication.” The word is a blend of the English words emotion and icon. The use of emoticons can be traced back to the 19th century, where they were used in casual and humorous writing. In 1963 the “smiley face”, a yellow button with two black dots representing eyes and an upturned thick curve representing a mouth was created by freelance artist Harvey Ball. This smiley presumably inspired many later emoticons, which now dot my e-mail and social media postings. While the word is relatively new in widespread usage, the idea is not. Job said, “I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile” (Job 9:27). Had emoticons been around back then, I’m sure Job would have added a smiley face to that statement. So, smile a few times today, even when you don’t say anything verbally.

Join me this week in praying for the following global issues:
• Every 4.1 seconds someone becomes a refugee. Last week saw World Refugee Day on the calendar. Pray for refugees and those who minister among them.
• Pray for the 3rd annual English Camp in the suburb of Koropi, Greece and for the volunteer team from Knoxville, TN, who will lead and share.
• Millions of Muslims around the world will be participating in the “holy month of Ramadan” – a time of fasting and feasting. Pray for those who work and minister among them.
• Joe requests prayer for eastern Ukraine. People continue to live on the edge, knowing that conflict is all around them. Pray for the many churches inside the conflict zone who continue to provide almost 20,000 meals a month.