communication

Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?

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More than 400,000 Americans struggle with internal clocks that are more than a tick or two off.  Afflicted with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, their circadian rhythms run about two hours slower than the rate at which the average person functions.

The desire to acquire an extra wink of sleep leaves them out of sync with society, and their more punctual friends see them as dysfunctional and time-challenged.

Being aware of the time and being responsible for using it wisely is a theme of Scripture:

  • Romans 13:11: Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:2: Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
  • Ecclesiastes 3: To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up

I’m afraid that a large part of the Church is infected with a sleep disorder:  We are asleep, and it is harvest time.

  • Solomon hints at this in the Proverbs: He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps at harvest time is a son who causes shame.
  • Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 9: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Can we afford to snooze when the world needs to hear the Good News that Jesus saves?

Communication: Do You WiFi or Wee-Fee?

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3-golden-rules-for-team-communicationDo you pay a Wee-Fee for your WiFi, or do you hee-hee when some people say Wee-Fee?  Most people reading this blog know that WiFi  is the wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed connection to the internet.

What you may not know is that about 7% of the people living in Arkansas pronounce WiFi as Wee-Fee; however, they are not alone.  In fact, there are several countries that have a significant number of people who opt for the Wee-Fee pronunciation of the word:

  • Spain 49.3%
  • France 46.1%
  • Hungary 41%
  • Belgium 34.4%
  • Netherlands 33.7%

The meaning of WiFi does not change if it is pronounced Wee-Fee, but in some situations a mispronounced word can lead to heated circumstances.

I clearly remember an unclearly spoken word that created a state of confusion.  I was 18, and was asleep on the top floor of an old Air Force barracks when a backwoods sergeant ran down the hall shouting, “Far! Far!”  I thought:  “Far?  How far am I supposed to go and in which direction?”

“Far” took on new meaning and significance when the smell of burning wood began to find its way into my room.  I realized the sergeant with the hick-accent had not been shouting “far,” but was yelling “FIRE!”

One of the basic rules of communication is found in the acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).  The Apostle Paul could be profoundly simple in the way he stated truth, and he kept it simple and clear in Romans 6:23:  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The wages of your sin cost God more than just a wee-fee, it cost Him the death of His son on the cross of Calvary.

Your WiFi might be what directs you to the internet, but it’s Jesus who connects you to Heaven.  Jesus said:  “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

 

Essential Communication

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scrabbleI would imagine that most everyone who reads this blog has a cell phone. Not so long ago, the cell phone was thought of as a convenience, but it’s now considered to be an essential device for daily communication.

In a sense, the same can be said for prayer. Some people think of it as a convenience, while others recognize its true importance. It is the essential means through which we communicate with God.

The importance of prayer is seen in the words of Philip Yancey: “If prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet, then I must learn about prayer. Most of my struggles in the Christian life circle around the same two themes: why God doesn’t act the way we want God to, and why I don’t act the way God wants me to. Prayer is the precise point where those themes converge.”

Several years ago I began to use the word PRAY as an acronym to guide my quiet moments with God:

Praise: Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is King of all the earth (Psalm 47:5-7)

Repent: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).

Ask: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

Yield: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As Yancey said, “If prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet then I must learn about prayer.” I hope this PRAY acronym will help you learn more about prayer, and help you spend more time using this essential means of communication.

God Willing

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god_willing_mug-r7056888776fc48d6ba16762a3baf25d2_x7jgr_8byvr_324Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed something about my mail box. It has more junk mail and very few letters. The reason for this is the advent of email.

In the early history of our nation, travel was difficult and communication a challenge, so people were excited when they received a letter in the mail. In the early 1800’s a Christian might end his letter with a postscript consisting of two letters: D.V.

These letters stood for a Latin phrase, Deo Volente that means: “God willing.” This idea is expressed in the book of James: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that (James 4:15).” The principle of this phrase and this verse is that we should not live a self-directed life.

A clear concept of Scripture is that we should seek the will of God. To do this you should:
• Be willing to embrace God’s will for your life (Isaiah 6:8).
• Look to God’s Word as a guide (Psalm 119:105).
• Seek Gods will through prayer (Jeremiah 33:3).

As you follow the steps above, you may notice that when you take God’s Word in, your praise for Him will go up; your faith will go out; and, God will strengthen you as you walk in His will.

Robust Words and Anemic Chatter

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Information word cloudLast week I went to the VA hospital for my annual checkup. I’ve been there enough to know the routine, so when the nurse called my name I walked down the hall and stepped on the scales. The nurse said, “Weight!” I replied: “Ok.” Then she said, “Weight! Weight!” I replied: “I’m on the scales are you wanting to check my weight or are you wanting me to wait while you check on something?”

This incident was interesting for a couple of reasons. First the nurse made the assumption that the message she sent was the message I received. From my understanding of her instructions, I thought I was being compliant; however, from her perspective I was being obstinate.

When the nurse was speaking to me, she made the all too common mistake of thinking that information and communication are one and the same. We can give a person some information; however, if the information is not understood, there is no communication.

The effectiveness of communication is enhanced when a person’s words are congruent with his actions. I think this is what Stephen Covey meant when he said: “In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.”

Consistent character benefits clear communication, and James speaks of this in connection to faith and works:

“Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, ‘Sounds good. You take care of the faith department; I’ll handle the works department.’ Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove” ~The Message James 2:14-18

Do the words of your life and the actions of your life fit together “hand in glove,” or are they as mismatched and pair-less as two left-handed gloves?

A Lack of Communication

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Friday evening I drove 2 miles north of Towanda to help build a ramp for a lady, so she would have easier access to her house.  When I returned to my truck to leave, it would not start.

I tried several different methods to get the truck to start and it would not cooperate.  After a few moments of frustration, I pulled out the owner’s manual and read it.  I followed the instructions, but nothing happened.  I changed the sequence and order of what I was doing, but the truck would not start.

Saturday morning I had it towed to a Ford dealership in Wichita.  After pacing for about 3 hours, I was given the verdict:  The transponder ring in the ignition had to be replaced, so it could read the chip in the key.  If there is no communication between the ring and the key, the anti-theft system prevents the truck from starting.

I could put the key in the ignition and listen to the radio.  I could activate windows, and several different items on the instrument panel.  I could put the transmission in different gears and turn the steering wheel, but the engine would not run.

As I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that I have experienced this scenario in my personal life.  Everything can appear to be just fine from the outside; however, there is something wrong on the inside.

This happens when I allow something to get between me and God.  The saintly signal is interrupted, and I don’t go anywhere.  When this happens I have to shake off the cob webs and get right with God.

If there are times you find yourself in the same predicament, I encourage you to pray over some verses I use from Psalm 139:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. 

Here’s a thought to keep you thinking:  Don’t try to play hide and seek with God when you’ve just asked Him to search your heart.