Posted by
peripheral on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 6:51:09 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Who needs Acronyms? FYI (“For Your Information”), all I need is a KISS
(“Keep It Simple Stupid”). Forget about being PC (“Politically
Correct”) with me until I have my morning glass of OJ (“Orange Juice”)
and conclude my R&R time (“Rest and Relaxation”) or until someone
displays adequate TLC (“Tender Love and Care”) and brings me a BLT
(“Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato”) sandwich to go along with my OJ.
An Acronym is: A word formed by combining the beginning letters of a
name or phrase, as in WASP for white Anglo-Saxon Protestant, or by
combining the initial syllables of a series of words, as in RADAR,
which stands for radio detecting and ranging; or OPEC from Organization
of Petroleum, EU from European Union, WHO from World Health
Organization, etc. Some can be slightly confusing, such as NAE. Does it
mean National Association of Evangelicals, or National Academy of
Engineering, or Naval Aviation Enterprise? If we juxtaposition NAE to
NEA, does it mean National Education Association, or National Endowment
for the Arts, or Nuclear Energy Association, or National Environment
Association? Those who research Acronyms came across one from the
Department of Defense and Intelligence – STONESOUP. It means: “Securely
Taking On New Executable Stuff of Uncertain Provenance.” The
researchers comment regarding this Acronym is: “It is silly and
needlessly complex. The acronym’s component words have been put
together, just to make this goofy phrase…The acronym itself has little
to do with the substance of the program, an intelligence community
research effort to find vulnerabilities in binary or source code.”
Acronyms are fine if they are kept simple and are easily remembered.
Cultural Factors also determine one’s ability to understand what a
certain Acronym means. A humorous illustration of this is a story
called The Water Closet.
“A certain English lady visited Switzerland and was having difficulty
finding a room, so she asked the local schoolmaster to help her. After
a satisfactory room had been found, she returned to her home and did
some packing. Suddenly, it occurred to her that she hadn't noticed a
W.C. (in England, the bathroom is called a Water Closet), so she wrote
the schoolmaster about the W.C. The Schoolmaster, not knowing the
British meaning, asked the parish priest and together they decided that
it must mean ‘Wayside Chapel.’ He wrote her the following letter: Dear
Madame, It is my pleasure to inform you that there is a W.C. just 9
miles from your home, in the center of a grove of pine trees. It seats
229 people, and it is open on Thursdays and Sundays. This is an
unfortunate situation if you are in the habit of going regularly. You
will, no doubt, be glad to hear that some people bring their lunches
and make a day of it. I would especially recommend Thursdays, for then
there is Musical accompaniment. The acoustics in the W.C. are
excellent; even the most delicate sound can be heard. My son was
married in the W.C. and there was such a rush for seats that 10 people
had to sit in the same seat. The looks on their faces were very
interesting. My wife is sickly but dedicated. She doesn't go regularly,
and she hasn't gone for nearly a year. I will be glad to reserve a seat
in the W.C. for you, where you will be seen and heard by everyone.
Hoping I have been of some assistance. Sincerely yours, The
Schoolmaster.”
In the Church Community, Acronyms are used frequently, such as, the
text is read from the NKJV rather than the NASB. Clarifying readings
will be taken from the NIV and the NLT. Some have developed Acronyms,
such as – FAITH – Forsaking All I Trust Him. As an attempt to define
Justification, it is said to mean that God sees me in Christ – Just As
If I Had Never Sinned. We should be thankful that the Bible is free of
Acronyms when it informs us: John 3:16,
“God so loved the world that He gave us His only-begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The Bible indicates in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” If one responds according to Acts 16:31 to, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” It becomes a fact, Romans 10:13,
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” The question
of salvation is never dealt with in terms of a clever Acronym, but on
the basis of a personal response to Jesus Christ. The bottom line issue
is: Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, do so
now! Consider these things with me!