My Facebook site reminded me that on this day 3 years ago, some 9 months after my wife’s death, I posted this brief article. I thought it might be helpful for someone today in the wider world to understand.
As I reflect daily on the life and ministry of my late beloved wife Carole, I realise that it was the truth contained in this article that made her to be appropriate in every setting, whether as a clergy wife or as a Senior Head Teacher in a demanding educational setting. She was also the appropriate choice of our Lord for me to become her adoring husband for the 54 years we were married.
“Appropriate.” Is it a verb or an adjective? Yes, you’re right. It can be both, even though they are spelt exactly the same, but pronounced differently!
The verb “to appropriate” means to take hold of something.
The adjective “appropriate” means to be correct, to be fitting. I can remember teaching in seminars that the only way to be appropriate in everything we say and do in life, is to appropriate the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. It is of course a command to the people of God in Ephesians 5:!8, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
I once noted these words of David Guzik in a commentary, “Much of the weakness, defeat and lethargy in our spiritual life can be attributed to the fact that we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit. … The ancient Greek grammar for be filled also indicates two other important things. First, the verb is passive, so this is not a manufactured experience. Second, it is imperative, so this is not an optional experience.” God can do it in every believer! If they desire it and ask to be filled!
Only as we take hold of [appropriate]the fullness of the Holy Spirit will we learn to be appropriate [correct, suitable, fitting] in our behaviour.
In brief, those who have the appropriate belief should be those who display the appropriate behaviour.
Blog No.489 posted on Monday 17 July 2023
About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.
holbeck 
489. The Meaning Of The Word “Appropriate.” Food For Thought!
My Facebook site reminded me that on this day 3 years ago, some 9 months after my wife’s death, I posted this brief article. I thought it might be helpful for someone today in the wider world to understand.
As I reflect daily on the life and ministry of my late beloved wife Carole, I realise that it was the truth contained in this article that made her to be appropriate in every setting, whether as a clergy wife or as a Senior Head Teacher in a demanding educational setting. She was also the appropriate choice of our Lord for me to become her adoring husband for the 54 years we were married.
“Appropriate.” Is it a verb or an adjective? Yes, you’re right. It can be both, even though they are spelt exactly the same, but pronounced differently!
The verb “to appropriate” means to take hold of something.
The adjective “appropriate” means to be correct, to be fitting. I can remember teaching in seminars that the only way to be appropriate in everything we say and do in life, is to appropriate the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. It is of course a command to the people of God in Ephesians 5:!8, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
I once noted these words of David Guzik in a commentary, “Much of the weakness, defeat and lethargy in our spiritual life can be attributed to the fact that we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit. … The ancient Greek grammar for be filled also indicates two other important things. First, the verb is passive, so this is not a manufactured experience. Second, it is imperative, so this is not an optional experience.” God can do it in every believer! If they desire it and ask to be filled!
Only as we take hold of [appropriate]the fullness of the Holy Spirit will we learn to be appropriate [correct, suitable, fitting] in our behaviour.
In brief, those who have the appropriate belief should be those who display the appropriate behaviour.
Blog No.489 posted on Monday 17 July 2023
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.