JANUARY 2015 EDITION

I have a fairly pronounced hearing loss in both ears. One reason for the loss is childhood ear infections and the resultant scar tissue. The main cause for the loss, however, is attributed to years of leaf blowers, lawn mowers and shotguns, all used without hearing protection. For that reason, I have been wearing hearing aids the past several years. Being a guy, I put off getting them until finally my sweet wife grew tired of my "huh" and "What did you say?" or not responding at all. Now, I will admit to some "selective hearing" that we men will employ from time to time. Nevertheless, in time, I did come to realize that I needed to do something to correct the situation.

Hearing is a big problem with me. The problem, most of the time is not physical but mental. By that, I mean that I am guilty of not listening.

There are times when I am hearing but not listening. Listening engages more than just your ears recording sound waves and transmitting those impulses to the brain. Ideally, listening engages your ears, your mind, your eyes as well as your heart. Your ears hear the information and transmit it to the mind. Your mind processes the information. Simultaneously, if so attuned, your eyes may interpret the person's body language, and your heart, if used in a godly manner, will then take all this and filter it with the mind of Christ that we, as Christians, possess. (I Corinthians 2:16)

Now, I confess that many times I do not follow the Biblical injunction that "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry"(James 1:19) I am already thinking of my response without really listening to what the other person is trying to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. You may be familiar with the saying, "God gave us two ears and one mouth…and we should use them in that proportion." This is great advice!

In another area, my prayer life, I fall into the same trap. I am quick to speak and slow to listen. Listening to God requires that we quiet ourselves, be still, and ask God to speak to us. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and through our spirit connecting with His Spirit. We must tune out the noise both externally and internally, both are very hard to do and require patience and practice.

When we finally learn, with God's help, to listen, really listen to both those we encounter and to God, our lives will be so much richer.

Net Work News and Needs

Our Friday Group has finished the Andy Stanley book, "How To Be Rich" and will start Bill O'Reilly's book, "Killing Jesus", which promises to promote a great deal of discussion. Our group has been raising money to help with the further construction of the sewing center ministry at House of Hope in Santiago, Guatemala. This sewing center allows mothers of the children at The House of Hope to have gainful employment. Our group has been instrumental in the start up of this sewing ministry., offering business advice and raising monet to get it started.

I continue to meet with individual men over breakfast, lunch and even over the phone during the week to offer counsel and encouragement. I have a network of Christian counselors to whom I can refer when I discern that professional help would be beneficial.  Feel free to contact me if you think your situation would benefit from this.

I am involved in a monthly Bible study that meets at The Parc at Duluth with both residents of this Senior Living facility and others who attend from the public. The Bible Study is led by John Riley, whom many of you may remember from Metro Bible Study. It is sponsored by Joe and Andrea Carrol. You may remember Andrea from her days as a Young Life leader at Walton High School in the 1980's.  I function as the "chaplain" of the group.

I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through Net Work Ministries this year!  I would greatly appreciate your partnership in prayer and financial support.