“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you” How many of you have heard that when you were younger? Or even said it to someone? Well, words can hurt, intentionally or unintentionally. I am sure most of you, if not all of you have been on the receiving end of hurtful words. Even years after they are said, words can still hurt. One must be careful with one’s words. Another saying I am sure we have all heard is “think before you speak”. We cannot take back what we say; once it comes out of our mouths the damage is done, and to right the wrong is very difficult.  Even in forgiveness the sting of the hurtful words is still there; I spent many years teaching preschool and tried to teach children this concept. There are many verses in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, about the tongue and the words we say.  This Sunday, our text will be James 3:1-12. Keep in mind as you read this, James is not discussing how to be a Christian, his readers are already Christians. He is discussing how to live the Christian life. I will be reading a sermon titled “The Christian and His Tongue”, written by Dr. Donald Burt in 1974. I believe the theme of the sermon is appropriate for anytime. Dr. Burt was the pastor at my Grandparents’ church in Independence KS. I am not sure why I saved it, but I pull it out and read it every once in a while. See you Sunday as we learn what James says about the tongue. – Linda Newacheck.