The whole "tongue" thing

Here's a scripture I recently referenced from Proverbs 25:18 (Living Bible):
"Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an axe, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow."

In my Life Application Bible, here's the note that's attached to this verse:

"Lying is vicious. Its effects can be as permanent as those of a stab wound. The next time you are tempted to pass on a bit of gossip, imagine yourself striking the victim of your remarks with an axe. This image may shock you into silence."

For more background, jump over to James 3 in the New Testament. In this chapter, the power of the tongue is compared to a "small" rudder on a huge ship. Such a small member of our body (our tongue) has the capability of "turning" our entire life! How many people with huge talents and passionate hearts have been disqualified from walking out their life purposes because they never learned to tame the tongue?

Also, James compares the tongue and the damage it can do to a roaring firestorm. A fire needs oxygen and fuel. Gossip needs somebody to supply their tongue, someone else to provide their ears, and it REALLY gets going when others toss dry kindling into the situation and fan the flames into full force. Once gossip gets going, it has the potential to suck the oxygen it needs from those close and can leave behind damage that lasts for generations.