-
Many people desperately search for an ear that will listen. Sometimes, sadly, they do not find the ear they need among Christians because these Christians are talking when they should be listening! But if we can no longer listen to our sisters and brothers, we will soon no longer to able to listen to God. As Bonhoeffer says, whenever we think our time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet, we will eventually have no time for God and for others--only time for ourselves and our own little plans. We live in a world where a lot of talk goes on; all around us, most of the time. And we contribute our share to that talk (some a bigger share than others!). We love to do it. We love to get our ideas out, share our views with others. But in the midst of it all, how many of us take the time to listen? To listen. To hear what others are saying. As the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted, "Just as love to God begins with listening to [God's] word, our love for others is learning to listen to them" [Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (London: SCM, 1967), 75]. We think we need to contribute something to a conversation by adding our "two cents worth." But did you ever stop to think that sometimes "listening can be a greater service than speaking"? (Bonhoeffer, 75). The Christian psychi­atrist Paul Tournier has made it his life to listen to people. He takes an interest in them, sits down and hears what's troubling them. And he wrote in one of his books about some people: "Suddenly [they] break off, as if astonished at [themselves]. 'I don't know why I tell you all this: I've never told anyone else. I never thought I should be able to tell anyone.' Then the person adds, looking me in the eyes: 'What a relief it is to get it all off one's chest'" [Paul Tournier, The Meaning of Persons (London: SCM Press, 1968), 136]. - Don McKim Blog Post

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy, an outspoken Christian, was questioned by reporters on the prospect of gay teammates and his team’s decision to welcome Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s openly gay “ambassador for inclusion,” to spring training. In his response, Murphy offered what he feels is Christianity’s “actual stance” on homosexuality. He also said he is definitely ready to have a gay teammate. “Maybe, as a Christian, that we haven’t been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality. We love the people. We disagree the lifestyle. That’s the way I would describe it for me,” Murphy told the Star-Ledger. He continued: “It’s the same way that there are aspects of my life that I’m trying to surrender to Christ in my own life. There’s a great deal of many things, like my pride. I just think that as a believer trying to articulate it in a way that says just because I disagree with the lifestyle doesn’t mean I’m just never going to speak to Bil
Read more

Hairless: GQ Editor says "Baldness is OK"

-
Image
According to GQ editor Jon Wilde, there's a way for the 70 percent of men suffering from male pattern baldness to reclaim control over their hairline. In a Thursday conversation with HuffPost Live, the journalist revealed that he recently realized he was "fighting a losing battle" against his genetics and thus decided to shave his head. "I got to a point where I was just like 'Listen, this is what's going to look best on me from now on,'" he told host Marc Lamont Hill. "I'm sick of kind of dealing with the way I feel about my hair going away, sick of kinda dealing with trying to fake it. It's not coming back, and I'm going to do the thing I think looks strongest on me." Wilde's hardly been in mourning after shedding the little hair he had, which he did "about a week and a half ago." "I gotta say, I feel 20 times more dignified and confident with my hair this short and kind of steering into the skid that is
Read more
-
Brother Jonathan, a VOM international ministries worker, says there is a gospel wildfire burning. Around the world, we’re seeing the gospel go forward like never before in the history of the church. But what is the air that gives life to this wildfire? What is the fuel, the spark, and the accelerant? Jonathan shares examples from our persecuted family of how this holy fire is lit and how it burns brightly, even in the midst of persecution and suffering. He also challenges Christians in free nations to pray and boldly work to see this same wildfire burn in our nations as well.
Read more