Winning Ways - from Dr. Tom Goodman, Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas 
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe Contact Us

“Lost in the Translation”
Hillcrest Church Office

May 28, 2003

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways?  Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways?  You can subscribe by logging on to Click here.  Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

Here is this week's WINNING WAYS . . . .


“Lost in the Translation”
by Tom Goodman


The Wall Street Journal reported on some signs seen at overseas businesses.  The signs were translated into English for American tourists, but you’ll admit that the signs lost their meanings in the translations.  Here’s one from a Swiss restaurant: “Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.”  Then there’s the posted notice in front of a Budapest zoo:  “Please do not feed the animals.  If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.”  In Copenhagen at least one airline was upfront in how they handled luggage.  Their sign read:  “We will take your bags and send them in all directions.”  Or here’s another from a Japanese hotel which led to some misunderstandings, I imagine:  “You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.”  That’s like the laundry in Rome which advertised:  “Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.”  Finally, there was the sign at a Paris hotel that advised:  “Please leave your values at the front desk.”

Sometimes mistranslations can be funny.  But not always.  Sometimes between our profession of faith in Christ and how well we follow him, something gets lost in the translation.  With a straight face we tell the world we are Christians bound for heaven, but our lives make the claim sound like silly nonsense.

This Sunday we’re going to look at the importance of making the right choices in how to behave.  In the Bible, we’re told to put on the “breastplate of righteousness.”  Like a bullet-proof vest protects a police officer from gunfire, moral purity protects us from misery.  Come find out more this Sunday, 8:30 or 10:45!

– Tom

P.S.  Don’t forget Sunday evening services, too!  We’ve begun a series through the book of Philippians.  Come and “dig deep” with us!


FIND OUT ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS: www.HillcrestAustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here
If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.