Be Still and Listen!

If one gives answer before hearing,
    it is folly and shame. Prov 18:13 NRSV

It has been many years since I was trained as a small group facilitator. A major component of facilitating is listening; another is directing the conversation in a way that is helpful.

I was attempting to watch the news last night and found myself flipping through news channels quite regularly. I was getting a bit frustrated with the way the news people were constantly interrupting the people they were interviewing to get responses more in line with their or their station's personal agendas. During one particular interview, the news person was interviewing three people. Everyone was talking at once. It was not helpful not to be able to hear what anyone had to say.

At one of the presidential debates this fall, there was also much interrupting and trying to talk over each other. The people facilitating the debate just added to the problem. They had no control over the candidates mostly because the facilitators appeared to have their own agendas. They would also interrupt and try to talk over the candidates who were trying to talk over each other. They had no ability to mediate or moderate. I could not figure out why they hadn't figured out that they just needed to shut off the mics of the offending candidates until it was their turn to speak. That is what is done with online schools when children start interrupting too much. Our candidates and news people, of course, are not children. But, it would be nice if some of them would learn to be quiet and listen and if they cannot control themselves, shut off their mics for their own sakes and ours until it is their turn to speak. One mic turned off on someone rudely interrupting another would probably be the last mic that needed to be turned off.

If we really care about others enough to want to hear what someone is saying; if we really care about figuring out a solution to any problems; then we ought to be quiet and listen to various points of view. It is not helpful to talk over others or belittle their opinions (that would be bullying which we also try to teach our children not to do). We can learn a lot by being still for a few moments and listen to voices other than our own.

There are so many opinions in the way that we could or should go. Who can know the way?

If you care about what direction the Lord would have you go; then, be quiet and listen. Be still and hear what the Lord has in store for you. He will show you "The Way."

God's Peace - Pr. J

Peace Beside Still Waters

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Every morning as I pray the Shepherd's Psalm, I am reminded how much God has blessed by providing me with this place of peace near the water.

 

Some days are more chaotic than others. Yesterday was one of them. It had nothing to do with serving the congregation. It had more to do with the world around us. In spite of the fact that we are Kingdom children, we still live in a world that is so filled with "stuff" that we have to take care of that it threatens to steal our peace.

 

So, this morning, I am even more thankful for my home beside the waters that reminds me so much of the peace that only God can give. In the midst of storms in the world, I can look out and be reminded of Moses parting the sea so that the people could escape from their persecutors. The waters remind me of my own baptism into the Body of Christ. I am reminded that it is Christ who leads me beside still waters. He makes me to lie down and find rest in the greenest of pastures. He is with me in the darkest valleys of the shadows of death. The Lord is with me and in Him alone, I know peace.

 

It is a rare day that I turn down my driveway after spending a day out in the world and neglect to give thanks to God for this place of peace that He has given me.

 

May God grant you the peace that comes with knowing that He is with you and for you in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 16:6-10 God Directs Us

Acts 16:6-10 NIV
Not sure which direction to go? Be assured that God has a purpose for you - a direction. Listen for the Spirit of Christ to guide you in The Way.

As Paul, Timothy, and Silas continue on their mission journey, the Spirit of Christ guides them. They know where they should not be going (at least not yet) and where they are being led to go. I often hear that people would wish that God would tell them what they are to do. Use your senses - all of them. Use what you have been taught through scripture. Listen to God, the Spirit of Christ and that just might mean shutting the television off to hear that still small voice. He will show you The Way. God will shut the doors that you should not enter, so don't go barging through them. He will also the doors through which you should enter. Don't go shutting those doors on yourself. Walk through those open doors to new opportunities to serve God and others.

God is with you now. He is with you always.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 32 - Comfort Afflicted; Afflict Too Comfortable

We have a new player today:  Elihu.  We've heard nothing about this younger friend, Elihu, until now.  It is his turn to speak, finally! He's been sitting, intently listening.  He refutes the wisdom and usderstanding of the elderly.  It is not mere age that makes one wise.  Rather, understanding comes from God.  He says, "But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." (vs: 8)

Eliju, as a younger man and apparently less esteemed than his elders, finally gets to speak.  He says, "I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.  I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. (vs 20-22)

The reality that if Elihu's culture was that young men should keep their lips still so as not to offend by appearing wiser than the elder's.  Elihu refutes this and speaks.  There is a reality in the American Christian culture that also needs to be refuted.  It is a reality which has no scriptural basis.  And.. that is that Christians should accept everyone just as they are.  A Christian should never open their lips in a way that might offend anybody.  We are to just turn the other cheek, while the world destroys itself, while a neighbor attacks a neighbor, while God is being blasphemed.  All this we should do, just because the culture thinks that Christian's would/should never do or say anything to offend anyone.

I want you to think about that.  Did Jesus keep his lips still?  Did he not confront anyone?  My favorite "assertive" word from Jesus was when he was warning his disciples about his impending persecution and crucifixion.  Peter does not want to hear about it and Jesus responds:  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  (Matt 16:23)  Can you imagine what the response would be if one of us told someone: "Get behind me Satan!"?  I know how most would react to me.  I would be reminded in not so gentle words that I am no Christian.  A Pastor would not treat people like that! In fact I have been told that on more than one occasion.  What kind of Christian am I that would dare to call someone on their following in the footsteps of the world, rather than Jesus?  But, it has been mainly by people who have never read or actually heard scripture.  Some have been to a few Worship services on very rare occasions, to hear the Word of God.  But, I'm not sure if they were listening.  It is those who have mistaken the false "American Christian Cultural Understanding" (I don't know how better to describe this false understanding) who will challenge you when you stand on the Word of God.  Read your scriptures and you will find that Jesus did, indeed, open his lips to comfort the afflicted as well as to afflict those who were too comfortable in their own ways, in the ways of the world.

To follow in Jesus' footsteps will not be easy.  You will not be loved by everyone.  And... there will be times when you must open your lips and speak the truth, comforting the afflicted and sometimes afflicting the too comfortable with the Word of Truth, who is Jesus Christ.

A few more scripture verses this morning, from Matthew, about the challenge that goes with following Jesus - a reminder that everything Christian does not always feel good. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  (Matt 16:24-26)

God's Peace - Pr. J