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Once upon a time, it just wasn't acceptable to curse. Parents didn't swear at their kids, and kids certainly didn't use profanity around grownups. Coaches never swore-publicly, at least. And remember those seven words that were never ever uttered on television? Well, you can hear them almost every night now. And as you probably know, these days even Christians sometimes slip and use an occasional four-letter word.

But what we say and how we say it is a reflection of who we are, says communications expert James O'Connor. That's why O'Connor has founded the Cuss Control Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and written a book titled Cuss Control: The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing.

"The language we are using gets worse all the time," O'Connor recently explained to Knight Ridder Newspapers. "People say, 'Well, they are just words.' But it's much deeper than that. Too often, the words are hostile, sour sounding, belligerent, and threatening. There are a lot of negative thoughts, expressions, and attitudes behind the words."

But the best reason to stop swearing, says O'Connor, is to raise other people's opinion of you. "Others might not say anything when you swear, but are judging your personality and character."

And, of course, there's plenty in the Bible to back up that assertion. Just check out Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8, and James 3:6-12. Here is O'Connor's advice for cleaning up your language:

1. Recognize that swearing does damage.
2. Start by eliminating casual swearing.
3. Think positively.
4. Practice patience.
5. Cope, don't cuss.
6. Stop complaining.
7. Seek alternative words.
8. Make your point politely.
9. Think of what you should have said instead.
10. Work at it. [To which we might add, Pray!]

Source: CompuServe, May 2003. For more information, visit www.cusscontrol.com.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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