Distinct from the World

". . . Behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations!" (Num. 23:9, ESV).

Throughout the Scriptures, there is a sense of uniqueness surrounding the people of God. They are not viewed by God as being of the nations, but rather, they are his people-his precious possession. They are treasured in a unique way

In a similar way, the nations viewed God's people as outsiders. They weren't like the nations. Israel had different food laws, different holidays, and different lifestyles. They were distinct among the nations, and that distinction made them despised.

Believers are to live distinct from the world. It is like the old saying, "We are in the world, not of it." As followers of Christ, we do not belong to this world. We are pilgrims and sojourners. But while we are here, we are to live as ambassadors.

We must live as outposts of heaven. All of our actions must be carefully thought through. Foolishness and wickedness reflect poorly on our King. We must live faithfully so that he would be honored by those around us.

Dr. Seuss once said something to the affect, "Why do you want to fit in, when you were born to stand out." His words, while not necessarily spiritual, apply to our life in Christ. Why are we so desperate to have the approval of others?

God's people were born to stand out. They have been redeemed in order to bring glory to the Lord. The Maker and Creator of the world fashioned them, so that they might know him and be known by him. Live in such a way that others recognize Christ in you.

Called to Discipleship

My calling as a Christian is to be a disciple. I am called to learn from and imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. As a pastor, my calling is to make disciples. It seems no matter how many times I am tempted to forget my calling, God readily reminds me. Discipleship isn't some super-spiritual quest. It is the call of every person who places their trust in Christ. He has blazed the trail we are to follow, and he calls us to take it seriously.

In fact, Jesus was very candid about it. He said, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow men cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, NIV). Yikes! That is harsh.

Many abandoned him for saying things like this. He seemed to be asking for too much. And from a human perspective, he may have been. But from the divine perspective, he was only asking for what was his due. We look at the world and things around us and we assume that these things matter. There is some truth in that they matter, but they don't matter to the extent that we imagine.

Family is important. It is foundational to a healthy society. However, family isn't ultimate. Human beings need social interaction, even the most introverted person on the planet desires companionship. But our relationship to God is more important. Without other people, we would be lonely. Without God, we are eternally condemned.

When Jesus calls the crowd to "hate" their families he is deliberately trying to chase people off. For those without "ears to hear," the words seem harsh. However, Jesus isn't commanding us to hate others. He told us elsewhere that the law was summed up in the commands to love God and love our neighbors. What Jesus was trying to get across is that our relationship to him should override our other relationships. If Jesus u wants us to go to Africa, but our spouse says, "I won't go!" What do we do?

Jesus says we are to take up our cross and follow him. If everyone rejects us for loving Jesus, then there is little we can do about it. The cost of disobedience is to great. We must obey the Lord.

Discipleship is not an additional category within Christianity. You are either a disciple, that is a believer who is following Jesus, or you're not a believer at all. Jesus warns us not to lose sight of this. We are called to endure to the end no matter how difficult it gets. We need to seek peace with him while he may be found. We must embrace Christ even if it costs us everything. Let those with ears to hear, hear it.

Spiritual Songs: With Every Breath

I hadn't heard this song in a long time, but as I listened to it again I found myself reminded of a great truth. God is infinitely worthy of praise. Every breath should be spent in the exaltation of his name. With Every Breath, by Sixpence None the Richer and Jars of Clay, reminds us of that beautifully.

Our Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1, ESV).

David understood what it meant to be a good shepherd. He knew what it was to care for a sheep so that it had no needs. David knew that a sheep had no hope without a shepherd to care for it.

It is hard to know which of his many struggles moved David to write these words, but I think it is safe to say they are born of struggle. Psalm 23:4 speaks of the "valley of the shadow of death." In Psalm 23:5, he acknowledges that his Shepherd had prepared him a table for him in the presence of his enemies.

David must have felt like a sheep--helpless and needy. Pursued and harassed. Yet David was serene. There was a rod and staff that protected him. There was still water from which to drink. His soul was restored as he rested in the green grass of God's goodness.

We have a Shepherd. He is referred to as the Good Shepherd--who laid down his life for his sheep. He is the chief Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. His name is Jesus, and he cares for us.

Sunday Recap 11-25-12

Morning: Today was our Children's Christmas Program. A lot of hard work went in to making today a success. The kids did a fantastic job. The service was concluded with a brief word on John 3:16-17.

Evening: No evening service.

Holidays

Thanksgiving the holiday has passed. Our sights are now set on Christmas. It is good that we still have defining moments in our culture. There still exists the concept of sacred, although it is slowly dying off in the name of commerce. We now celebrate holidays as "family time." You might think, "You're wrong, Randy. We have always celebrated the holidays as family time."

In one sense, that is true. The holidays were a time for families to gather together. A concept that has become increasingly necessary in light of the distances that often separate families. But even as social events, the holidays were imbued with sacred meaning.

Thanksgiving was about giving thanks to God for allowing our country to take root. It was about having gratitude for freedom and liberty. Now we celebrate sale days. Christmas used to be about celebrating the birth of the Christ-child. Now kids tear into presents without ever pausing to give God thanks for the greatest gift of all--the gift of his Son.

As Christians, we need to ensure that we are filling our holidays with sacred meaning. We need to labor to ensure our traditions connect our future to our past and our celebration to our hope.

Black Friday

Black Friday. It sounds so ominous--until you hear the commercials. Then it sounds so promising. It's built on the premises and promises of consumerism. The market has to get you to want something you don't need, offer it to at a seductively "low" price, and connect to your drive for happiness in order to get you to spend money you don't have to buy stuff for which you have no room.

What do you give the person who has everything? A gift certificate to a local self-storage unit and a pad lock. I'm surprised more stores haven't thought of that angle. Buy, buy, buy. It's the only way you can convince the people you love that you truly love them and the people you envy that you are just as good as they are.

Things do not create happiness. They may stir it in the heart for a moment or perhaps for a longer time, but eventually everything new losses its attractiveness. It stops being shiny or it losses its "new" smell. A newer model is introduced and we are seduced into believing that because it is new, it is better. The instant we take the bait the old thing no longer satisfies.

I'm not opposed to shopping or getting bargains. Sometimes, it's just good stewardship. What I'm more concerned with is the motive. Why are we doing the things we are doing? Why do we feel the need to get more? What's really at stake? Would we be better served by skipping the sales?

I like stuff--especially the "new" stuff. I like playing with it until it loses its newness. When that happens, I'm ready for some new stuff. I blame Saturday morning cartoons and the slick advertising that turned me into a consumer. If I look at it more honestly, I know advertisements didn't make me want stuff. I wanted "stuff" long before I ever saw a commercial. The commercials just taught me what stuff to want.

Human beings are born with a covetous heart. We want what we want. We want what we don't have. We want what other people have. We want more of what we have. Apart from Christ, satisfaction is hard to find.

So no matter how you spent your Black Friday, I hope you are content in Christ. I hope your desire for him grows each day, until it fills you. May God fill you with his fullness. God bless.

Thursday Humor: Thanksgiving

I know I've shown this before. But it is one of my favorite Thanksgiving clips. I hope you enjoy.

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A Thanksgiving Wish

I want to take this time to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope the Lord gives you a blessed holiday. It is also my hope that you have a long list of things to be thankful for. I have been truly blessed throughout my life and throughout this year. I thank God for your willingness to keep reading my blog. God bless and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Hymns: Jesus Paid it All

This song is a beautiful reminder of one of the greatest reasons to be thankful. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanksgiving on the Mind

I'm thinking about turkey. And dressing. And pie. To be fair, I think about pie a lot. I'm thinking about family and friends. I'm thinking about fun and laughter. I think about laughter a lot, too.

I'm thinking about a young man, lost and confused. I'm thinking about darkness he passed through. I'm thinking about the Word that came alive one day, and brought living hope into his heart. I'm thinking about the light that has lit his path since that day.

I'm thinking about the Savior, who stepped out of heaven and into our world. I'm thinking about how he lived a righteous life. I'm think about how he laid down his life as an exchange for our lives--his righteousness in exchange for our guilt. I'm thinking about how he rose from the grave. I'm thinking about how he grants life to those who come to him.

I'm thinking about how my ancestors, all spread out throughout the world, had descendants who met in America. I'm thinking of how I'm the product of "The Melting Pot." I'm thinking that wouldn't have been possible without the hand of providence that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth or the Native Americans to their aid. I'm thinking of all the events that had to happen to bring me to this point right now.

As I sit here thinking, my heart is moved to gratitude. I'm am thankful. I don't mean that I'm thankful in some generic sense--as if I'm saying: "To Whom it May Concern, Thank you!". No, I am thankful the God who made me, who redeemed me through the blood of Christ. I'm thankful to God, for all I am, for all I'm becoming.

Sunday Recap

Morning: The sermon, "Transforming Attitudes," focused on Colossians 3:15-17. In this passage, Paul explains how we can achieve the holy life: we have to change our attitudes. But how? Paul explains that peace of Christ must rule in our hearts, the word of Christ must dwell richly within us, and we must do everything to the glory of Christ. Two thoughts are woven through all of these commandments: unity and gratitude.

1. Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. We are to be controlled by Christ's peace. Jesus describes his peace in John 14:27. Commentator, William Hendriksen said, "It is the conviction that the sins of the past have been forgiven, that the present is being overruled for good, and that the future cannot bring about separation between Christ and his own."

2. Let the Word of Christ dwelling in you richly. The Word should have a living presence within your life.

a. As you teach and admonish with all wisdom

b. As you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart.

3. Let whatever you do be done in the name of the Lord. To do something in Jesus' name means we are doing in a way that keeps with his character. 

Evening: Community Wide Thanksgiving Service

The Power of Story

Have you ever found yourself caught up in a story? Is there a book or movie or television show that just immediately reeled you in? From early childhood, I have found myself relating the the characters in books, movies, and television. Once I take the bait, I'm desperate to see it through to the end.

I hate to see a good story end. Whenever one of my favorite t.v. shows ended, I always felt a sense of grief. The characters grew on me until they felt real. Book are the same way. It's one of the reasons I prefer to read books in a series.

One of my favorite movies from childhood was The Neverending Story. It was about a boy who found himself drawn into story, becoming a part of it as he read. There were a lot of reasons I loved the movie, but I think one of the foremost reasons was that I had often imagined the same thing happening to me.

Once in a great while, I wonder if I am just a character in a story someone is writing. In a very real sense I am a character in someone else's story. God is the author of life, and in that sense we are all part of a larger story.

One of the reasons story is such a powerful medium is because a good storyteller knows how to blur the lines between reality and the reality he is creating. The reader or viewer steps out of their reality into a fictional world. They bond to characters as they watch them endure conflict and struggle to live.

Stories are able to shape and mold they way people think in a way that subverts the normal rebellious tendencies of humanity. Telling a child a fable, parable, or fairy tale often helps them to understand the logic behind a command. The story about the boy who cried wolf is a good example. Children have a natural tendency to stretch the truth, and telling them not to lie isn't always effective. However, when they hear the story about the boy who cried wolf, they begin to understand that lying has serious consequences.

The power of stories rest in their ability to communicate from the heart to the mind. Most storytelling moves from the heart to the mind. Storytellers attempt to connect to our affections before they address our intellects. Sometimes, they bypass the intellect altogether.

The stories help to orient us to the way other people think. They teach us how to view the world through the eyes of another, how to see it the way they do. They open up new worlds to us in a way that challenges us to give our world a more careful viewing.

A good story is a powerful thing. It makes you think. It might cause you to look at the world a little differently. It help you see things from another's perspective. But don't get so caught up that you lose touch with reality.

Seeing Through the Moral Fog

Have you ever had your vision compromised? There are too many things that can mess with our eyes to name them all. There is biology, time, and damage. Our vision may be hindered by the smokey remnants of a grease fire as it hangs in the air like grimy fog. Allergies reek havoc with my eyes. Sometimes, they keep my contacts clouded over. It's a frustrating thing when your vision isn't clear.

However, some of us live with the impairment so long or its impact was so subtle and slow moving, that we didn't notice it. Usually, there is that event which awakens us to the fact that we can't see like we once could. It's not always dramatic, but it is always definite.

Moral clarity is a lot like the eye. In fact, Jesus uses the eye as a metaphor in this way. He says, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light" (Matt. 6:22, HCSB). If we use our eyes to fill our minds with filth, it is like walking in darkness.

Our culture likes to think that the majority of life is gray area. The black or white, wrong or right mentality is slowly fading to gray. There was a time when men (and women) were expected to keep their promises. Failure to do so was seen as a weakness in character. Now vows made in a previous, happy experience can be freely broken (usually without flinching) for the pursuit of a newer, happier experience.

A fog has settled on the eyes of our culture, and for this reason they see everything in gray. We haven't completely lost our moral vision. Although it appears it is getting harder for our culture to make out the details. The shapes of the larger issues still come into view, even when our culture finds it difficult to focus.

Just as we have our physical eyes checked regularly, we should also check our spiritual eyes. We can have them adjusted by reading the Word and doing what it says. From the Word, we learn what is good and what is bad. If our eyes are good, we'll walk in the light. I hope you are letting the Word shape the way you see the world.

Thursday Humor: Paco the Pig

Here is a little humor. I hope it makes you laugh.

The Names of God the Spirit: Spirit of Truth

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13, NIV).

In John 16:12-15, Jesus spoke of the Spirit as the Spirit of truth. Why does Jesus use the descriptor, "truth?" What is truth? George W. Knight spoke of two dimensions of truth of which people normally speak. The first way is to speak of something which "accords with reality." That is to say, that which is real is true. The second way to use truth is to speak of something "enduring or authentic." I think Jesus is using the name, "Spirit of Truth," to stress the Spirit's unique relationship to himself and the Father.

Jesus spoke of his teachings as truth in John 8:31-32. He went on to tell the crowd that the reason they didn't believe him is that they could receive the truth because they were the children of the devil (see John 8:31-59). Although Jesus doesn't use the term "spirit" to describe their relationship to the devil, he does state they live out the character of the devil. Thus we are either under the influence of the Spirit of truth or the spirit of lies.

Jesus told his disciples that  the Spirit of truth would teach them to bear his teaching. Apart from the work of the Spirit, it impossible for the world to bear with Jesus' teaching. For this reason, people have tried to redefine Jesus and his teaching from the beginning. When the Spirit of truth comes upon us, the truth becomes glorious and beautiful.

Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit of truth would guide them into all truth. How does the Spirit do that? He tells us what he has heard. When Jesus said this, he meant that he Spirit would report what Jesus had taught. We know that the Spirit moved in holy men of old to record the words and teachings of Christ. He guides us into truth by teaching us what Jesus said.

He also guides us into all truth by telling us what is to come. Some people wonder why new prophecies aren't coming about in our day (others believe they are, but that is a different post), but how easily we forget that the Spirit has already told us how it ends. He hasn't given it to us in fine detail, but he has given us the big picture (our side wins). I can't think of one place in Scripture where a believer is given the full plan. They are given a promise, and then they have to live each day in faith as they wait for its fulfillment.

The Spirit of truth guides us by making the things of Jesus known to us. Jesus says this not to brag, but to remind his followers that the Father has put all things into his power. The Spirit honors the Father by promoting the Son. The goal of this revelation is to glorify the Son. The Spirit reveals Christ not only to our intellect, but heart and soul. He isn't just teaching us about Jesus, but he is helping us to know the Jesus experientially and intimately.

By calling the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of Truth," Jesus highlights the Spirit's inability to lie. The name reassures believers that the Spirit bears true witness. His word can be trusted. As the Spirit of truth shows us Christ, we can trust him with confidence. We he confirms his presence in our lives, we can rest easy.

Spiritual Songs: Holy Is the Lord

Here is another beautiful song by Andrew Peterson. I hope you enjoy it.

The Stewardship of Time

Time management experts claim that lack of organization is a key time waster. Lack of planning is another key time waster. Disorganization and poor planning go hand in hand. Disorganized people usually fly by the seat of their pants, while people who plan tend to be more organized.

Wasting time isn't just an educational or employment problem. It is a spiritual problem. We are to make the most of the time God has given us. We are called to make the most of every opportunity. If, however, we squander the precious few moments given to us in the vapor of a life, we are poor stewards indeed.

The good steward ship of time means that we must make plans. Someone once said, "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail." The Bible encourages planning. We are not to plan presumptuously as if our planning obligated God to ensure their success. We should seek the Lord's will as we plan, and ask faithful believers for their advice.

Developing a routine is important to establishing a rhythm to life. Organization and planning help to sync us to that rhythm. Disorganization and poor planning through us out of sync. I'm not suggesting that there is no room for spontaneity or flexibility, but approaching life with a careless attitude is dangerous.

God has given us a stewardship. We are stewards of all he has given us, including time. To make the most of it, we need to carefully plan and organize our time. If we do that, we increase our odds of making the most of the time we have been given.

With these truths in mind, what suggestions would you make to help someone become a better steward of time?

Sermon Recap 11-11-12

Morning: The sermon, "A Guide to Holy Living," focused on Colossians 3:1-14. If Satan cannot get you to believe a big lie, he'll hit you with a more subtle one. If he can't get you to believe that Jesus' death didn't purchase your forgiveness, he'll tell you that it has no real purpose in the here and now. And it might be tempting to read Paul's words in that way. But Paul isn't encouraging us to daydream about better days, he's explaining the hows and whys of the Christian life.

1. The reality of our union with Christ should be the focal point of our lives. The fact that we are in Christ should shape our affections, thoughts, and hopes (or ambitions, visions, and motivations).

2. Since we are in Christ, we need to put our sin nature to death. Paul clarifies his expectations by listing examples and the reasons why we have to get rid of them. We need to rid ourselves of our sin nature: 

because it is idolatry

because it brings God's wrath

because we aren't that person anymore

because we have already put off the "old self"

because we have put on the "new self"

                                                                                       

3. Since we are in Christ, we should reflect his character. Here Paul offers a list of traits and actions that should be evident in the Christian's life.  We need to show forth Christ's character.  Bear with others and forgive as we have been forgiven. We also need to put on love.

Evening: Play practice.

Food for Thought

For the Lord is Righteous;

He loves righteous deeds.

The upright will see His face.

Psalm 11:7

Imagination

Human beings are imaginative creatures. From the beginning of creation, we have been makers and creators. We are driven by the need to make things. Humanity tries to capture the beauty and transcendence of the world around us.

I find myself drawn to things that feed the imagination. Art, music, and literature have long been sources of inspiration. However, I am learning that there are several other sources as well. I like to watch people build stuff. It is amazing to watch someone take metal or wood and turn it into something. It is fun to watch people take different things and shape them into other things.

The more we encourage our imaginations the richer our lives. Find something that feeds the imagination is good for us. It also helps to find ways to express our imagination. So take time to create.

Thursday Humor: Nazareth

It takes a few seconds to get to the comedy routine. Be patient, there is some funny stuff. Enjoy:

The Names of God the Spirit: Counselor

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17, NIV).

The term translated "Counselor" here is the same term translated "Advocate" in 1 John 2:1. In 1 John, John is expressing Jesus' role as intercessor. Jesus stands before the Father applying his merit to us. But in John 14:16, and 14:26, Jesus is explaining the Spirit's role as our Counselor. The King James Version uses "Comforter." The English Standard Version uses the term "Helper." The original word can be translated as adviser, mediator, intercessor, or legal advocate. It refers to one who comes along side in order to exhort or encourage.

Jesus said that he would ask the Father to send us another Counselor. The word another, in this context, means one of the same kind. For this reason, Jesus speaks of the Spirit's work in our lives as his own work. Throughout John 14:15-21, Jesus says things like, "I will come to you," or "you will realize . . . I am in you," or "and [I will] show myself to him." Even as he distinguishes himself from the Spirit, Jesus affirms his oneness with the Spirit.

So the Spirit is a Counselor for us. But in what way? Jesus offers a few ways in this passage.

1. He comes along side us to keep us from being orphans. The presence of the Spirit is a mark of sonship. As Paul said, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, and by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Rom. 8:15).

2. He comes along side of us to give us life. Jesus said, "Because I live, you also will live." Why? Because the Spirit who lives with us also lives in us, and so Christ lives in us.

3. He comes along side of us to show us Jesus. Through the Spirit, we see Jesus with eyes of faith.

4. He comes along side of us to teach us all things. In John 14:26, Jesus said the Spirit would teach us all things. Jesus probably meant that the Spirit would teach us all things necessary to live in obedience to God.

5. He comes along side of us to remind us of what Jesus taught. Again, in John 14:26, Jesus said this would be one of the works of the Spirit.

Our Counselor, the Holy Spirit, brings us to life and enables us to know Jesus. He exhorts and encourages us to walk in obedience. And he brings us into the presence of Christ.

Spiritual Songs: Our God Reigns

Here is a much needed reminder. I hope it encourages you.

Lord of Elections

Tomorrow is election day. People all over the United States will be heading to the polls. Many will enter the voting booth with high hopes. They'll cast their ballots for the man they believe can deliver them from economic (and maybe social) evil. They want a leader who can break their bondage.

Many will go to the polls tomorrow conflicted. They have become disillusioned by the political process, and feel that neither candidate represents their interest. Why can't we have a better option? Who can save America from this slow and painful downward slide?

Will the outcome of tomorrow's election really make a difference? Will it matter who is sworn in come January? In one sense, it does matter. Policies affecting all of us could be extended or ended. Yet, in another sense, it doesn't matter. No matter who wins the election, evil will still be a real presence within our world.

We have become ineffective at fight evil in our world because we no longer fight it within ourselves. We make mistakes and wrestle with addiction; we do not sin. We need understanding, not a new heart. With so many people and events to blame, personal responsibility can take a holiday.

The truth is the person elected to the office of President can't save us. He's just a man. A man with a plan and a policy, but still just a man. We need something more.

Lord willing, I'm going to the polls tomorrow. I'm going to go into that booth, and cast my ballot. Unlike some Americans, I'll come out of that both confident. I don't mean that I'll be confident my guy will win or confident I made the best choice.

I'll be confident that God is in control. For purposes I cannot guess, God has determined who will win this election. He won't be waiting up all night to see how the vote turned out. He has known since the foundation of this world.

May great confidence will be that I am in the hands of the one who is in charge. I don't have to worry. I only have to seek his kingdom. I am comforted by Solomon's wisdom: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Prov. 16:33). I may not know who is going to win, but I know who is in control.

Sunday Recap 11-4-12

Morning: The sermon, "No Compromise," focused on Colossians 2:16-23. Here Paul further exposes the errors that are being pressed on to the people in Colosse. Paul urges the church to submit to Christ, and not the world. To this end, he gives them stern warnings:

1. Don't let people judge your freedom in Christ. God has given each person a conscience. That conscience can be refined or dulled. In Christ, we are to live out of a biblically informed conscience. We shouldn't let people judge us on what we eat or drink or our religious celebrations. These things were shadows; Christ is the reality. As long as what we are doing doesn't violate the commands of God, we have freedom in Christ.

2. Don't let anyone disqualify you from the prize. The false teachers promoted a false spirituality.

 They were overly pleased with themselves, but didn't want others to think so. They called for a spirituality based on visions and idle notions. Spirituality divorced from Christ is lifeless: it possesses no life and produces no life.

3. Don't submit to the world's rules. In Christ, the believer has died to the world and its authority.

The world's rules don't prevent sinful behavior, but provoke it. Instead, we are to pursue Christ. 

Evening: Business meeting

Rest Easy

Do you ever find yourself in "go" mode? Lately, it seems like I have been going and going. Now that November is here, I know that it will only increase. Human beings weren't made to be on the go constantly. We need rest. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your productivity is take a break.

We tend to think that business is a mark of productivity, but it isn't always. Consistent, quality output is a mark of productivity. Hard work is a beautiful thing, and it is needful. However, continual relentless labor makes us less productive. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion are real dangers.

Start looking for simple ways to recharge your batteries. It might be an afternoon of leisurely reading or taking a nap or a day at the races. What you want it to find the reset button. Rest is an essential component to a healthy life.

I'm Sorry, I Wasn't Listening

Have you ever wondered how effective of a listener you are? Probably not, right? We all think that we are effective listeners. We tend to think our struggles are more on the hearing end of the spectrum than the listening end. If our miscommunications are hearing based, why don't we get our ears checked?

Maybe we didn't "hear" what someone said to us because we weren't present in the moment. Often it is our attention that is really at issue. Combine hearing loss with attention challenges and you get recipe for poor listening. I know in this great age of multitasking, everybody can do two (or more) things at once.

At least we think we can. Studies suggest that people experience a slow down in their cognitive processes the more tasks they do at the same time. That means when we attempt to do two things at once, we aren't thinking at our highest potential.

What does that have to do with listening? Often, we find ourselves in situations where our attention is spread out. We might be watching t.v. while conversing with a close friend, and find that we have missed part of what they are saying or an important plot development.

Poor listening skills may not seem unimportant. They may seem like an academic problem, but in reality they are much more serious. Inability (or unwillingness) to listen creates tension in our relationships. It creates a disorganized environment where things are easily forgotten. Poor listen skills affect our spiritual life as well. It is silly to think we can be ineffective listeners with other people, but great listeners when it comes to God.

More often than not, the deaf ear is turned to God before we turn on our fellow man. We should find our inattentive listening habits disturbing. The people in our lives may be there to share a message from God. If we don't listen to them, we will miss it.

Thursday Humor: Romeo and Juliet

Here is a classic, both from literature and Andy Griffith. Hope you enjoy it.