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Noise Cancellation

October 13, 2009 in Daily Faith with 1 Comment

Noise cancelling headphonesI have seen advertisements over the last few years for headphones that have a “noise cancellation” feature. Here’s how it works. A microphone in the headset picks up nearby noise and the built-in processor then sends a sound to the headset at an opposite frequency, thereby canceling out the original sound. When you wear these headphones you hear nothing unless you have the connected to a music source such as a radio or an MP3 player. Basically, you put them on and the noise of the world seems to disappear.We live in a world full of noise. There are tv’s and radios blaring. There are machinery sounds coming from appliances to tractors. Telephones and school bells add to the clamor. It would be nice to put on some noise cancelling headphones and find some quiet.But our world has other sounds as well. Life often gets too loud with the criticism and complaints of others, the temptations of the enemy, the rumbling of your own doubts, or even our own nagging blame for past mistakes and failures.

The Bible also has a noise cancellation feature. God’s Word has a response to all of that “noise.” God speaks His peace and love to our noisy hearts and minds.

I have learned that the more time I spend in the Word, the less distracted I am by the racket the world makes. Reading God’s Word cancels out the sounds of temptation and doubt and makes it possible to hear the music of His grace and love. I challenge you to focus today on listening to God’s Word, not the noise of this world.

“”I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)

Christian Illiteracy

September 29, 2009 in Daily Faith with 1 Comment

 Express Lane (2)    Some time ago, I was involved in that great American pastime, standing in line at Wal-Mart, when I heard two women’s voices above the rest of the noise. The two ladies were not very complimentary of each other. At first I thought they were friends who were joking with each other. But, when I saw their eyes and heard a few more remarks, I knew immediately that they were not friends.What led to this exchange of remarks was the fact that both of them were in the express line and one of them had more than stated number of items, a lot more. The other lady was calling into question the intelligence and reading ability of the first. The first lady was questioning a lot more of the other. It was an almost welcome diversion to help pass the time. This was especially true since the second lady was saying things I would have loved to say when I have been in the express line behind others who cannot read, but am too polite and too well mannered to voice.
 
However, as I reflected on that experience, I came to the conclusion that the majority of the human race cannot read. I mean we have raised generation after generation of illiterates. How else can you explain people who get in express lines with more than the maximum number of items or people who cannot read directions or countless other signs.
 
But I think the most convincing argument for the fact that people can’t read is the extraordinary number of good church people who seem completely unaware of the many, many claims and promises of the Bible. I mean how else can you explain it? God repeatedly expresses His love for us through the Scripture and we go on from day to day as if He didn’t exist. He promises us abundant life and we are content to play with the toys of this world instead of reaching for the Glory of God’s Kingdom. It baffles me.
 
I’m really not sure what the problem is. I think it is a reading deficiency, but Jesus said it was a matter of the heart. If that’s the case then it will take more than reading lessons, it will take a great physician.
 

 

 

 

 

 
“For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”       Matthew 13:15
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Looking For A Bargain

September 23, 2009 in Daily Faith with 1 Comment

The problem with many Christians is that they too often seek God’s hand instead of His heart.

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What Breaks Your Heart?

September 18, 2009 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

brokenheart_red   I was reading the book of Nehemiah this week. It is an exciting book. Exciting plot.. Good guys. Bad guys. Drama. All the elements for a good story.

But something struck me this week as I read the first chapter. Nehemiah asked his brother who had just returned from Jerusalem how things were with everyone. His brother replies that the people there were in great trouble. He says that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates destroyed.

When Nehemiah hears this, he sits down and cries.

Wait a minute, I thought, Jerusalem had been destroyed some 140 to 150 years before. It dawned on me that Nehemiah had probably never lived in Jerusalem. Why would he care about that city? Why would it matter to him?

As I continued to read chapter one, I read Nehemiah’s prayer and the answer hit me.
Nehemiah cared about Jerusalem because God cared about Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s heart was broken by what broke God’s heart.

How do we know this? Read Nehemiah’s prayer. It is not God’s will that His people are scattered. It’s not God’s desire that His people are disobedient. God wants His people to live with Him. God wants His people to delight in worshiping Him.

I think this was the source of Nehemiah’s strength. He was able to look beyond himself and see through the eyes of God.
This will be the source of our strength as well. As long as the only things that break our hearts are what bother us, we’ll live lives of frustration and disappointment. But if we see our world and our churches as God sees them, we, like Nehemiah, can change the world.

What Kind of Scale Do You Use?

September 15, 2009 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

fish catchWhen President Cleveland’s second child was born, the doctor asked Cleveland for a scale to determine the baby’s weight. Cleveland searched through the house without success. Finally, he remembered that he had an old scale in the basement which he always used on his fishing trips. He got it and brought it upstairs. Carefully, the doctor placed the infant on the scale and was amazed to learn that the newborn weighed 25 pounds.
We all like to use measurements that are to our advantage. After all, using scales like President Cleveland’s make for a better story.

Too often we like to use other human beings as our scales or rulers. As long as we can find someone who is worse or mixed up more than us, then we are Okay. (Perhaps that is why reality tv shows are so popular. )
But the real danger we face is when we establish our own standards, especially when it applies to our Christian faith. When we decide for ourselves what is acceptable Christian behavior, or what is God’s standard, we put ourselves in a risky position. Basically we are trying to be God and that could be deadly to our faith.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to drag out the real source of measurement. One that never changes and that is always accurate. God’s Word, the Bible is a scale that always reads true. It might not always read what we want to read, but it will always be what we need.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

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