Listen...

Have you ever wondered if you keep hearing the same message because you need to hear it... and maybe you are having a hard time actually "hearing" it?

I don't know if it is just my sensitivity to the subject... or if I just need the message so badly... whatever the reason I cannot count the number of times in the last 10 days that I have wrestled with... been challenged... been convicted... that I need to be a better listener.

Yes, it is true. I need to listen to Sonya... to the girls... to my family... friends... customers... students... more, better... but what I am really convicted of right now is that I am not listening as well to God as I want... should... or need to.

I've caught myself reading and thinking about a list of different things. In the middle of a prayer... I am somewhere else - I guess I'm still praying... but I'm not focussed.

In class on Tuesday we talked about how it is sometimes possible to get bored reading the Bible... for me I've concluded that happens when I forget WHO is speaking... or there is something going on in my life that causes me not to want to hear (you may want to picture a spoiled little brat with my hands over my ears and making as much noise as possible so that I won't... can't hear).

How about you? I don't think I need hearing aids... what I need is for my ears to be ears to hear... I need to spend some heart time... some quiet time... some still time... so I can have more HOLY time.

Today... will you join me as we LISTEN?

bad company

Since we have been moving... which also explain the lack of posts this last few weeks... I have missed the news - I almost feel lost. I did hear that Steve Irwin died.

Do you remember him? If not, maybe this will help... Crocodile Hunter. I don't know why anyone would ever do what he did... I would have had a heart attack the first time. This guy loved to play with crocodiles... alligators... snakes... anything poisonous or dangerous. Surprisingly it was not one of them, but a stingray... typically thought to be one of the least dangerous animals he "played" with.

I mean no disrespect... but there is a lesson we all need here. I am not surprised he died... if you play that way long enough it will happen. Remember reading in 1 Corinthians "don't be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals." It makes a difference who we are with... what we do... There are so many things we think will be no big deal... it won't really matter... whose it oging to hurt... and then... it is too late.

Today... are there any people... places... temptations... attitudes... you are letting get hold of you? Don't be deceived...