G.K. Chesterton, prolific writer and extraordinary thinker and philosopher of 19th century England, strove for clarity in the use of words. He tirelessly sought to inventory the contents of words that were in everyday misuse, regularly emptying them of their polite pretensions and re-stocking them with rude meaning. Although G.K. never sought to publish a dictionary, his works are so replete with clarified and remodeled words that Chesterton aficionados coined the term “Chesternitions” to label his often whimsical takes on what words should be conveying.
No lexicographer myself, I have loved to play with words for as long as I could read and write. Words are among my favorite toys. Redefining them for rounding up the hoodlums of our culture today has become my serious pursuit. Where word surgery can serve my passion to interpret our culture in the light of Truth, I include those operations here. In honor and mimic of G.K., I’m choosing to label my contributions…
BASTIANITIONS
As of October 2024, I have moved my Bastianitions to my book, InVerse – Poetry, Free Verse, Bastianitions, which is available on Amazon.com.
From this date forward, I will try to post any newly developed Bastianitions right here with the newest always on the top of the list.
kingdom of God: Jesus’ favorite subject; the rule of God in an individual’s life based on the accurate application of the Scriptures; an allegiance that may at times overrule the rule of man; a visible pre-cursor of the complete answer to Jesus’ prayer, “…your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10, NIV
national election: that length of time when our valuing of our fellow citizens and neighbors and family members more highly than our own political preferences faces its greatest test.
Jesus: author and finisher of our faith; bread of life; bridegroom; bright morning star; chosen one; chief cornerstone; door; emmanuel (God with us); faithful and true witness; great physician; head of the church; high priest; holy one; image of the invisible God; judge; prince of peace; prophet; redeemer; resurrection and the life; savior; shepherd; son of God; true vine; way, truth, life; wisdom of God; wonderful counselor; word; word of life.
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These are just off the top of my head. Uh, not really. I used a resource chart titled, “Names of Jesus” available from Rose Publishing. It contains a ton more than just a list of epithets, or aptonyms, or apt descriptions for a person. For practice, I had to employ two newer words I’m trying to glue into my vocabulary.
Wet Ink 