#NewRule: Anyone who intends on augmenting their speech/sermon/conversation with alternate languages should first explain the purpose of doing so.

It was inevitable not to be introduced to a Hebrew root word every Sunday – to what purpose I still don’t understand. In a gathering where English was the primary mode of communication and furthermore, Hebrew not being a language any of us in the group even remotely understood, how is telling me what the Hebrew root word of any help? Am I supposed to be making a list of these words and report back to you? Am I supposed to be learning these words so the next time you mention it, I can raise my hands eagerly to exhibit my clearly new found Hebrew vocabulary?

For those of you who still have no idea what I am talking about, heres an example. Someone is explaining to you , in English, how rains work.

“..and that’s how clouds are formed. The root word for clouds in Hebrew is ‘Anan’. These clouds then…”

Now can anyone, who has no association with the Hebrew language or has a genuine interest in it, honestly tell me what benefit that one sentence about the root word does for you? Nothing!

This is precisely why you should know your audience before you say something – be it a sermon or even a conversation with another person. Just because a few years ago, some wise guy thought he could wow a few feeble minds by his extended language capabilities does not mean you have to do it too.