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Communication Corner ~ In Theory...You Should Practice!

1:11 AM, May. 22, 2008

In Theory…You Should Practice!

You may remember the story of the Vietnam Prisoner of War who played a round of golf in his head every day all the years he was held in captivity. When he was released, he was an excellent golfer because he practiced every single day in his head. You may also have heard that practice really doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect! Every single day he practiced perfectly in his head so, after years of training his body with his mind, he was quite good.

Yet, how many people have the focus and knowledge to attain this kind of success without application and without a coach or teacher of any kind? How many of you reading this would go in for heart surgery knowing that your surgeon had no practical experience? And wouldn’t you feel much more confidence in him if he had not only done this procedure before, but had done so successfully hundreds of times?

Human beings generally require practical application and training by a professional, a teacher or a coach in order to hone their skills. Look at any professional athlete. They have a coach and they continue to follow that coach long after they have become a professional in their field.

In theory, all Christians should be able to speak in boldness and grace as Jesus did and as the Lord commands:

"Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." -Colossians 4:6

It does take some preparation and practice in order to be ready for situations that arise. 1 Peter 3:15 says:

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" -1Peter 3:15

We require wise counsel and instruction in order to attain that wisdom. Proverbs 1:5-7 says:

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

In theory, we will all react in grace. In practice, we can often find ourselves angry at the accusations, frustrated when others do not give us our opportunity to speak and overwhelmed with the misinformation and misunderstandings others have about Jesus.

So I challenge you this week to practice sharing and defending your faith. Listen to this video about Oprah Winfrey’s thoughts on religion and post your comments below. How should Christians respond?

In my post, Instead of Seeing Persecution; See Opportunity, I shared how we should think of these as opportunities to share our faith rather than as an attack on our faith. Take this opportunity here and now to practice answering these issues in boldness tempered by grace and laced with respect.

The other side is voicing its opinion boldly and, in many cases, articulately. Christian: how will you respond?

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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, has over 20 years of experience in the field and is the author of Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. Her articles appear on websites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com and in publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. For more information on JoJo or communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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