The way we speak is important. So important that James says if we don’t control the way we speak our religion is worthless. Here are a couple questions I thought we might use to evaluate our speech, especially in the midst of conflict. Do you have any others? 1. Am I using my words to hurt others? 2. Am I speaking out of a desire to lift myself up? 3. Am I telling the truth out of love? 4. Am I exaggerating the other person’s faults to make a point? 5. Am I dealing with the problem or attacking the … Continue reading How am I talking?

“Do not speak evil against one another brothers.” James 4:11 I remember watching a story on Dateline about an EMT up in Boston who had only one arm. It was amazing watching her go about her business, picking up stretchers, getting people into wheelchairs, she did it all; but you know, what was even more amazing was that to her, it wasn’t even a big deal. She was so used to only having one arm that she didn’t even really think about it; she just went about doing her job. I think that’s the way some of us are with … Continue reading What you say? Why you say it?

I’m a teacher and a preacher which means I do a lot of talking…a lot of talking. In fact with all the talking I do, and with how hard I work at getting better at it, I sometimes become concerned that I’ll forget to work on something equally important, listening. I’ve seen it happen, all too often…people so used to talking to others that they stop listening to what others have to say. When I was a kid I remember someone calling it fls, flapping lips syndrome. In my opinion, it is deadly. It definitely is a friendship killer. I … Continue reading Hearing Problems?

“If anyone thinks himself religious but does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless…” A couple questions to help you evaluate whether or not your tongue is out of control… 1.) Are you nasty? James 3:8-10, “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, things ought not to be this … Continue reading Is your tongue under control?

I haven’t met too many people who would say they don’t think listening is important. I have met alot of people who don’t act like listening is important. If we all know that it is important to listen to others, why do we have such a hard time doing it? I’ve been thinking about some of the things that keep us from really listening to others. (Again, help me out…see if you can think of some more.) 1.) We talk too much. We don’t give the other person a chance to share. By the time the other person is done … Continue reading Circuit Jammers

Most of us probably have taken a class in public speaking, but I doubt many of us have ever taken a class on listening. We often think about what we are going to say to someone, but I wonder if any of us spend much time thinking about how we are going to listen. Listening’s just not something we think much about. Yet when it comes to every day life, and especially communicating with others, there’s hardly anything more important we can do, than really listen to them. Since I know I’m so prone to talk too much and listen … Continue reading Listen Up!