The number one cable news show in America is Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” hosted nightly by the colorful Bill O’Reilly. One of 
Bill O’Reilly’s favorite things, next to pontificating on the issues of the day, berating unpatriotic “pinheads”, and grilling guests bold (or foolish) enough to venture into his “no-spin zone,” is to broaden the vocabulary of his audience. Each night, O’Reilly dusts off some long forgotten word tucked away in the dark recesses of the English dictionary, sending it out via cable and satellite for the entertainment and education of the masses.
Some of O’Reilly’s favorite words—“bloviating”, “pithy” and “opine” (the verb form of opinion)—are frequently utilized when inviting viewers to email him their comments. He always warns his
potential emailers against bloviating, emphasizing that all bloviation is the exclusive right of the host alone. He also encourages them to make their comments pithy and to be sure and give the name of their town with their name “if you wish to opine.” Then, he often will throw in some other interesting and strange-sounding word for good measure. For example, sometimes he adds “…and please don’t be a popinjay!” Or “please don’t be Pecksniffian!” or “loquacious!” or a “blooter!”
Bill O’Reilly’s favorite things, next to pontificating on the issues of the day, berating unpatriotic “pinheads”, and grilling guests bold (or foolish) enough to venture into his “no-spin zone,” is to broaden the vocabulary of his audience. Each night, O’Reilly dusts off some long forgotten word tucked away in the dark recesses of the English dictionary, sending it out via cable and satellite for the entertainment and education of the masses.Some of O’Reilly’s favorite words—“bloviating”, “pithy” and “opine” (the verb form of opinion)—are frequently utilized when inviting viewers to email him their comments. He always warns his
potential emailers against bloviating, emphasizing that all bloviation is the exclusive right of the host alone. He also encourages them to make their comments pithy and to be sure and give the name of their town with their name “if you wish to opine.” Then, he often will throw in some other interesting and strange-sounding word for good measure. For example, sometimes he adds “…and please don’t be a popinjay!” Or “please don’t be Pecksniffian!” or “loquacious!” or a “blooter!”
I have to admit that more than once O’Reilly has sent me scurrying to my dictionary to check out the meaning of some term he has used. Most of the aforementioned words pertain to verbal or personal excessiveness. For example, in case you’re wondering, a popinjay is “a person given to vain, pretentious displays and empty chatter.” From what I understand, the word’s origins have something to do with a parrot, a creature which interestingly offers quite a vivid illustration of the definition. A Pecksniffian is someone that is “hypocritically benevolent and 
sanctimonious”, the word being derived from the fictional Mr. Pecksniff, a character from a Charles Dickens novel. A blooter (as O’Reilly uses the term) is “a babbler, a bumbling idiot, a fool.” But you won’t find that one in the English dictionary. “Blooter” is an old Scottish slang expression with various meanings. After O’Reilly said the word on his show one night—without defining it—it became the most searched for word on Google the following day. Words and their sounds can carry with them vivid imagery that helps us 
remember them. My senior English teacher in high school was my Aunt Jo Florence. (That’s right. Jo Florence. Never just “Jo” and never just “Florence”. Always Jo Florence. Except people usually said it altogether in just 2 syllables—“Joflarnce”.) Aunt Jo Florence taught me a lot about the English language. She helped plant in me the seeds that made me want to be a good writer. (Those seeds were further cultivated in English Composition class during my freshman year of college. My professor then was the colorful Dr. Tessa Louisa Brown Unthank, a British animal rights activist and ardent vegetarian. But that’s a whole ‘nother story!)
Aunt Jo Florence spent time with those of us that
were preparing to go off to college, seeking to expand our vocabulary. She used word associations to help us create a vivid and memorable mental image for each word. One word that I’ve never forgotten is the word “truculent”, which means “fierce”. Although I never ever use that word, I always remember her telling us to “just imagine a big fierce Mack truck bearing down on you.” Yikes! Maybe that’s why I never use that word. I’m afraid to!
Anyway, words indeed are powerful tools. Jesus told us that our words are vitally important. It really doesn’t matter the size of our vocabulary. But what matters is how we utilize the vocabulary we have. Do we use our words to build up or to tear
down? Do we use our speech to edify and encourage or criticize and complain? Do we speak words of healing and hope or do we use words that wound and weary others? Jesus says that someday we’ll give account for every word we’ve ever used. Ouch! In this day of mass communication, 24/7 news reporting, incessant Internet activity, and seemingly endless pontificating and bloviating—to borrow an O’Reilly phrase—it would appear that we all need to give a lot more attention to this matter than we typically do.
Words are important. Let’s use them wisely, carefully and thoughtfully. Please don’t be a blooter. Resist the temptation to act Pecksniffian. Avoid becoming a popinjay at all costs. And please, please—whatever else you do—if you write me in response to this blog, don’t be truculent!
Pastor Danny
remember them. My senior English teacher in high school was my Aunt Jo Florence. (That’s right. Jo Florence. Never just “Jo” and never just “Florence”. Always Jo Florence. Except people usually said it altogether in just 2 syllables—“Joflarnce”.) Aunt Jo Florence taught me a lot about the English language. She helped plant in me the seeds that made me want to be a good writer. (Those seeds were further cultivated in English Composition class during my freshman year of college. My professor then was the colorful Dr. Tessa Louisa Brown Unthank, a British animal rights activist and ardent vegetarian. But that’s a whole ‘nother story!)Aunt Jo Florence spent time with those of us that
were preparing to go off to college, seeking to expand our vocabulary. She used word associations to help us create a vivid and memorable mental image for each word. One word that I’ve never forgotten is the word “truculent”, which means “fierce”. Although I never ever use that word, I always remember her telling us to “just imagine a big fierce Mack truck bearing down on you.” Yikes! Maybe that’s why I never use that word. I’m afraid to!Anyway, words indeed are powerful tools. Jesus told us that our words are vitally important. It really doesn’t matter the size of our vocabulary. But what matters is how we utilize the vocabulary we have. Do we use our words to build up or to tear
down? Do we use our speech to edify and encourage or criticize and complain? Do we speak words of healing and hope or do we use words that wound and weary others? Jesus says that someday we’ll give account for every word we’ve ever used. Ouch! In this day of mass communication, 24/7 news reporting, incessant Internet activity, and seemingly endless pontificating and bloviating—to borrow an O’Reilly phrase—it would appear that we all need to give a lot more attention to this matter than we typically do.Words are important. Let’s use them wisely, carefully and thoughtfully. Please don’t be a blooter. Resist the temptation to act Pecksniffian. Avoid becoming a popinjay at all costs. And please, please—whatever else you do—if you write me in response to this blog, don’t be truculent!
Pastor Danny
