How Persnickety are You?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

National glory shines only in times of peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You are. Perhaps that distinguishes you from the many gods that are not, except as made up by our minds, or those idols that we sometimes allow to take a pre-eminent place in our lives. They are false gods, illusions, delusions. You are. Real. The real thing.

The response given to Moses in the book of Exodus when he asked for your name works pretty well “I will be who I will be.” We can’t pin you down. We can’t control you by having one name for you. It is beyond our power to name you. It is enough that we know your presence. You are.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“And when you preach, your sermon must never exceed 20 minutes in length.”

[I heard that from somebody in authority, but not from Him.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “persnickety”

"1. obsessed with detail: overly attentive to detail and trivia ( informal )
2. U.S. snobbish: snobbish in terms of choice, and thus wanting or accepting only the finest things
3. U.S. requiring keen eye for detail: necessitating precise, keen attention to details
[Early 20th century. Alteration of pernickety]"

[Thanks to msn.encarta.com for a definition. And “pernickity,” you ask? Online Etymology Dictionary answers, sort of. A persnickety person might find the answer lacking in precision, somehow, perhaps.]

"1808, 'precise, fastidious,' extended form of Scot. pernicky, of uncertain origin, perhaps somehow from particular."