Substitute Cuss Words

Growing up around, then serving among preachers, missionaries, and denominational servants, I was always amazed at what they substituted for genuine cuss words. They couldn’t say “Damn” or “Hell” or any number of worse words, so they made up new words to use when the occasion called for a cuss word. New words, like “Dang it!” “Dern it!” “Oh, shoot!” or even “Shoot a monkey!” My Pastor father used “Piffel.” My saintly mother said, “Fiddlesticks.” My wife says, “Darn it!” My favorite Aunt, a godly Sunday School Teacher, often said, “Oh, good honk.” My Grandfather said “Dad burn it!” and when he was really mad, he said, “Diddily dad burn it!” My other grandfather was a truck driver. He stuck with the original cuss words. No substitutes for him. One friend said “Horse feathers!” and another used “Dagnabbit” as substitute profanity. Early on, when I dared venture into the use of one of these substitute words, my mother would remind me that it’s not what is on the lips, but what is in the heart that matters. Really? Makes me wonder again about the meaning of Proverbs 23:7, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Anyone have any new substitute cuss words? I’ve just about worn out all of my old ones.

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for those who serve in Chennai, India, which recently experienced extreme flooding. Many have lost their homes and much of their belongings. Vehicles were damaged and roads were impassable. People have been without power, food, and clean water.
• Pray for the leaders of the LaChapelle Mile End-Montreal (Quebec) Church which was launched in early November. The first night they had 384 young adults attend.
• Pray for missionaries in Amsterdam who will be hosting a booth at their neighborhood Christmas market. They hope to be able to engage in spiritual conversations as they have 250 children’s books that share the true meaning of Christmas to give away.
• Pray for Darrel and Kimberly (Hungary) as they prepare for their stateside assignment and seek to transition various ministries into the hands of others.