My Epic Journey

do you know someone who is always arguing about something–always looking at the negative side of things–always pointing out your flaws?

i do.

i know a handful of them.

they annoy me.

i think they annoy God as well.

1Corinthians 13.1-2 says . . .

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

two good things–1) speaking in the tongues of men and angels–praying, and 2) preaching–both publicly or privately.

two bad things–1) loud, pointless, annoying noises, and 2) being pointless/nothing.

connecting point:  LACK OF LOVE!!!

signs you may lack love:

1. griping more than fixing
2. pointing more than embracing
3. argue more than encourage
4. proud instead of humble
5. teaching more than being taught

may we NEVER be seen by God as annoying or pointless.

my all that we do be surrounded with a heart AND attitude of love–even our confrontations.

note:  please don’t point out my lack of capitalization.  i know.

oh–and i LOVE you!

Clinton and Ohlschlager, in their book, Competent Christian Counseling, share six (6) ways that listening is done poorly:

1. Inadequate listening.  Becoming easily distracted.  Tuning out!
2. Evaluative or judgmental listening.  Instead of JUST listening, sometimes we listen to tear apart or to constantly evaluate.
3. Filtered listening.  Picking out ONLY what we want to hear and not focusing on the WHOLE story or explanation.
4. Rehearsing instead of listening.  I do it all the time.  Just ask Anna.  Thinking about your response before the one sharing is done with their message.
5. Sympathetic listening.  This is projecting your concern beyond what is needed.  Becoming emotionally responsive the is “over the top.”
6. Interrupting.  Stopping someone before they are done.

Our society does a horrible job at listening.  May it not be true of us who call ourselves followers of Christ.

“He who has ears, let him hear.”  Matthew 11.15

So far, my favorite Inaugural moment is then the Obama’s arrived at the White House to meet with Bush’s for coffee.

Here is a pic:

What an amazing country we live in.  Though I may be leery about the days ahead, I am VERY proud of our country!