We are obsessed with words. We listen to political and sports talk shows and call them entertainment. People sometimes stay on hold for more than an hour just to get their chance to voice their opinions to the listening audience. Studies show that we typically hear 20,000-30,000 words a day. On average, that's about 175,000 words a week and more than nine million words a year! Though we probably don't remember many of these words, there are words we will remember, sometimes for a long time. The adage about sticks and stones and it's conclusion that words can never hurt is patently untrue. Words can hurt, and they can hurt for a very long time. James addresses the problem of the tongue in James, chapter 3, when he shows that tongue control is a key factor in controlled living. Rudders control ships; a bit controls a horse, and the tongue controls a person. If the tongue is undisciplined, chances are, the person is undisciplined as well. Mike Ireland of Searcy, Arkansas, uses James 3 and other scripture to show how tongue control is an index of one's heart.