On April 11th,1970 Apollo 13 launched for a manned space mission to the moon. Fifty-five hours into the journey an explosion ripped a hole into the side of the space craft. The mission went from landing on the moon, to a rescue mission to get the Apollo 13 crew home safely. Of the hundreds of things, the crew and Houston control had to deal with, one that would determine if the astronauts would survive was the C02 levels. In moving from the main command module to the lunar lander where they stayed until the last minute before going back to the main capsule, there was a problem. The lunar module was only designed to support two astronauts for two days.
Now they had a crew of 3 and the trip home was significantly longer. The carbon dioxide indicators were reaching critical levels. The C02 scrubbers and filters for the command module were different from the ones used for the lunar lander. Using a sock, cardboard, duct tape and other items on board they literally made a square peg fit into a round hole. Through the ingenuity of the crew and Houston control, the improvised make-shift filters worked. C02 levels went down, the astronauts were safe, and the rescue resulted in a successful splashdown. It was later labeled as one of the most successful failed missions ever.
Filters! Whether C02 filters, oil filters, fuel filters, air filters or coffee filters, they are designed for one primary purpose, filtering out impurities, dirt or foreign materials. One of the greatest needs that seems to be largely missing in our culture today is language filters. Houston, we have a problem! People don’t seem to care what comes out of their mouths anymore. They have no filters! And it spills over not only into their conversations, but even more so through what they “say” when hiding behind social media platforms as they post their “drive by” barrage of verbal venom. The amount of filth, gossip, slander, unfiltered speech and sewage that spews out from the mouth or keyboard these days is nauseating and simply unacceptable behavior. People! filters, use them please!
Want greater life balance, peace and tranquility? Stop gossiping and sharing personal one on one private conversations you have had with others with the rest of the world. Simply stop it!
I was recently studying 3rd John. This is a fascinating letter from the Apostle John to the beloved Gaius. There is a verse toward the end of this short letter that demonstrates incredible control and constraint on John’s part. John has had to address a few matters and then at the end says, “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.” Here’s something of interest, the Greek phrase face to face actually means “mouth to mouth”. Translation, John says, there are things I have to say but will say them when we meet, they are personal and private. We’ll talk “mouth to mouth.”
The Scriptures speak volumes about the tongue and how unruly it is. We are admonished not to gossip or slander. Our tongues are to be used for speaking truth in love, speaking blessings, and encouragement, not cursing or maligning one another. Imagine how much heart ache, misery, pain, breeched trust, and broken relationships could be prevented if we simply kept private and personal conversations, private and personal, instead of going public.
The Rest Stop 
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