Adverbs for the New Year

5

I am writing this note from Dallas, TX where we are spending the weekend with Josh and Leah and Mark and Vanessa. On my morning walk I started thinking about how we should live in 2009. And I started thinking about adverbs.

Adverbs. 

Haven’t intentionally thought about adverbs since I took English from Mrs. Graves in the ninth grade. Don’t know that I thought very much about them back then. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs (I know that because I just looked it up). When applied to verbs, adverbs (as the name implies) add something to the mix. They “Bam!” the verb the way Emeril Lagasse bams a recipe with extra spice.

So I started thinking about adverbs for the new year.

Pray boldly.
Pray creatively.
Pray outrageously.

Love deeply.
Love widely.
Love unreasonably.

Speaking of adverbs, one of the most famous was Luther’s “sin boldly.” Yes, he really said that in a letter to his friend Melancthon. That shows you how a well-chosen adverb can really grab your attention.

Here are a few verbs that could use some adverbial spice: give, grow, obey, submit, believe, think, read, follow, trust, confess, preach, share, wait, watch, sing, grow, teach, dream, rebuke, restore, serve. 

If you had a pick a few adverbs to describe what you hope for in 2009, what would they be?

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Visitor Comments:

January 2, 2009, 12:10 PM Eric Rubio says:
	Happy New Year! I like the series of adverbs you used on “pray” and “love” - I think I might try that to start off the year. And I think I’ll take a stab at modifying some of the verbs you listed: Give secretly Grow together Obey cheerfully Submit willingly Believe strongly Think broadly Read carefully Follow faithfully Trust readily Confess honestly (although, how else would one confess?) Preach humbly Share joyously Wait patiently (Psalm 27:14) Watch contentedly Sing loudly (a little cliche, but true) Grow (a repeat, but I can find another) consistently Teach compassionately Dream wildly Rebuke honestly Restore graciously Serve quietly
January 2, 2009, 12:10 PM Mike Black says:
	Grow, follow, serve the Lord more in my daily walk.
January 2, 2009, 12:17 PM Ray Pritchard says:
	Eric, I love your list! Wow. Just reading it gets me excited. That’s what adverbs do. They juice up the verb and give it some punch. I really “dream wildly” and “rebuke honestly” and “trust readily.” The last one caught my attention because “readily” is fancy or colorful like “boldly” or “outrageously” but when added to “trust,” it’s a perfect fit. “Lord, help me not just not to trusty you in 2009, but to trust you readily, in every circumstance, even those that make no sense to me.” Great stuff. Thanks! Ray
January 2, 2009, 12:18 PM Ray Pritchard says:
	Mike, your desire is mine too. Make it so, Lord. Amen. Ray
January 2, 2009, 7:32 PM Lyn O’Tuel says:
	Follow, trust, believe-wholeheartedly Eric modified thoughtfully and superbly. God bless KBM extravagantly.