Use Your Words

Recently the code used to model the spread of Corona Virus was released to the public after it was called into question the accuracy of the code.  Upon analysis by various people, it quickly came to the attention that there were issues with the code.  Let's take a look at some of these things that are wrong with it.   https://www.useyourwords.cc

Paul recently did a Monday episode and said he could no longer, in good faith, be a milk toast fence sitter.  This lead him to probe the other guys for their thoughts on if a person can claim to be Christian and at the same time hold a view that is considered by society to be "controversial" and remain true to their beliefs and love everyone else as they are commanded to in the Bible.  This turns into a discussion on authenticity and why people that have ever shifting opinions to fit in with the rest of society are not trusted - and what this means in the long run for being able to be authentic.   Website: https://www.useyourwords.cc Twitter: @uywpodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com

It is an interesting time in the world.  In response to Covid-19 there has been multiple new ways of life thrown at us over a short amount of time.  But what gets under my skin is when people create new laws/procedures and then immediately turn around do exactly the opposite of what they instructed others to do.  Paul talks about that this week in the Monday (released on Friday) episode of Use Your Words.   Website: https://www.useyourwords.cc Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/uywpodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com

Paul asks the question if it is allowable and/or appropriate to allow for dissent during a global crises.  Is interpreting the data (without spreading fake news which could cause harm to health) something that should even be allowed during a time when data is changing almost daily?  What happens to content that was banned at one point and then proven to be right later?  Who should be the controller of what is and isn't allowed in public discourse?  And is it better if fake news is left on the same platforms as the truth for light to be used as a disinfectant?

Josh is now a married man.  Due to Covid he and enforcer pushed their wedding forward and turned it into a quarantine wedding with just a couple people present.  While this is a new thing for him - he is learning not only to be a husband but now is learning what it is like to take care of a pet.  Paul prods and asks questions about this and of course (Paul being Paul) leads it down a spiritual track taking what Aaron and Josh were thinking was just a quick catchup conversation into a serious bend.   Follow our website at: https://www.useyourwords.cc Check out our Monday episodes for shorter, but topically relevant episodes.  This month Paul is talking about mental health as May is mental health awareness month.  Join us - and let's make talking about mental health normal.

Read and hear more about other topics, including mental health awareness month over at our website Check out:

Joe Biden was recently accused of sexual assault by Tara Reed. Within the past few years Brett Kavanaugh was accused as well by Blasey Ford of sexual assault when he was undergoing the process to be confirmed to the supreme court.  This week the guys talk about the difference in how the media and lawmakers approached each of the accusations.

During this time of Covid - there is a never ending supply of negative news around the world.  But Aaron wanted to talk about the good he is seeing through Unity both locally and globally.  So this week we talk about Unity we are seeing in the time of Covid and what it looks like, why it's good, and why it's helpful.

How do you celebrate Earth Day?  The guys talk about how they approach earth day now a days as well as their approach to the environment. How do you approach earth day?

Do you know what it means to be a milktoast fence sitter?  It means to be so bland and in the middle that you (theoretically) do not offend anyone.  I am tired of doing that - and after this week have decided I can no longer do that.  What does this mean for Use Your Words?  We will have to see - but I wanted to take a Monday episode and talk about it a little.  This is different then the normal Monday episodes - but it essential.

Covid-19 is pretty much the only thing going on in the world news wise right now.  That being said - Paul wanted to pick the guys brains on what Covid-19 means for them right now, what the future of it holds, and why there should be hope in the this time of Covid-19.  Paul then asks them each for a word of hope during this time - and the responses are just as varied as their personalities.

Today (4/12/2020) is Easter - a celebration of Spring and renewal and for the Christian church, the resurrection of Christ.  During this time, it is good to think of the good going on in the world.  There is a lot going on with Corona - but lets take a look at what possible good things there are out there and celebrate in the fact that there is good in the world even in the midst of all the bad.

We had to record remotely for the first time ever and since Easter is coming up soon we decided to talk about Easter past, present, and future.  Looking forward to being able to have family interaction again on holidays and being able to do what we normally would do on an Easter holiday.  What do you do as a family for Easter?  How do you celebrate?

We have all seen the trigger warning attributed to books, and various other pieces of media.  In recent years this warning has even been attributed to college courses as well as online conversations.  Why do we apply trigger warnings to these things?  Are they helpful?  Are they fruitful - and what does Aaron, Paul and Josh think of these things?

Every minute of every day, if you look at the news being published by online media outlets you are seeing one thing - Covid19.  Now this is a big thing in the world - so don't let it sound like I'm playing it down - but it is also something that does not need to be on the screen 24/7 and indeed does not need to be promoted as the doomsday scenario that is going to destroy the world.  While there are conspiracy theories out there that this was man made to introduce the one world government, the fake news that Trump called this a hoax, and the doom and gloom of 2+ million dead, what we need is a little glimmer of hope.  Hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that there is still stuff to celebrate right now while everything else seems to be going bad.  We need news that brings not only the news - but hope - and if they refuse then maybe they do not deserve our clicks (they only want the clicks for money anyways).   https://www.useyourwords.cc

Before the Corona virus, one of the big things on the nightly news was the lawsuits regarding transgendered athletes coming out of the high schools and the various states implementing rules for high school athletes.  What does the NCAA and International Olympic Committee say about transgendered participants in their various associations?  What about some younger people what do they say regarding this?  What are the arguments for and against this?  What is the biological differences that should be taken into consideration?

Celebrities are attempting to keep relevant in this day of social distancing.  They are singing bad cover songs, and interviewing each other to try to show that they care.  The optics are bad - but there is some good that can come out from it.

On January 26th, 2020 it was revealed that Kobe Bryant and his daughter were on a helicopter which crashed, killing all aboard.  Being one of the most well known basketball players, Kobe was mourned worldwide after his death - so much so that it seemed at times that the others who perished in the crash were forgotten about by anyone else but their friends and family.  His death, however, brought to light an interesting question in modern culture - especially as everything is always moving so quickly - how do we properly mourn a person who may have something in their past which is not something to celebrate?

The panic over Covid-19 continues around the world.  It has gone from somewhat comical to see the toilet paper isle empty to starting to get downright scary that the rest of the store is now starting to follow suit.  Now instead of just toilet paper being out everywhere, milk, cereal, water, soda, cold and flu medicine, pain killers, soup, boxed meals are all becoming more and more scarce.   This is putting people on fixed incomes, the elderly, and those who have not had a chance to get to the store in danger as they may not be able to get the essential supplies they need to live. This new world of Covid-19 is also something to be careful of for those who suffer from mental illness of various kinds.  While introverts may like this government sanctioned isolation - those who deal with mental illness may need to either be reached out to or reach out to others to keep from isolating themselves fully and living in their own minds. We are in a brave new world with this Pandemic going around - but as always it

One of Paul's favorite bands is The Classic Crime.  One of their songs - Shades of Green - has the following lyrics Gave up God for lent this year Stopped going to the church Learned to fight within myself The war beyond the words Found a way to reconcile Forget my fears and learn The inner price of peace From endless posturing and work After listening to this song Paul posed the following question to the guys - can you give up God for Lent and get closer to him?  What is Lent used for? Why is Lent important? Can we use the concept provided here to grow? What about deconstructing our own faith on a regular basis.