This was sent to me by my Dad, the biggest cheerleader of my life, reminding me once again that everything I do is for a bigger purpose and should not be underestimated……

Three men are working on a construction site, doing exactly the same thing, about 25 yards apart. When asked what he was doing, the first man said, “Laying bricks.”

The second man, doing the same work, answered the question and said, “Putting up a wall.”

The third man, again doing the exact same job, said, “I’m building a great cathedral.”

It’s all about perspective.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” Zechariah 4:10

This is one of the most amazing songs I’ve ever heard…

Also, I read these potent verses during devotions this morning:

“So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death….” 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

We live in an enlightened era, where every person is overwhelmed with information, religion, ethics, and humanistic reasoning. People have been trained to become self-reliant, conditioning themselves to be devoid of the need for any other divine strength. These are both “Christian” and “nonreligious” alike. Most have filled that empty hole inside them with other things, failing to quench the insatiable thirst for “something more” that eats at their heart.

Saul in the Bible was a Godly man, chosen by the Lord Himself. Yet soon Saul was tormented by lying voices that completely skewed his way of thinking. In fits of fearful fury he would try to kill David, scared of some unknown tormentor. Peace never lasted long, and his relationships around him were destroyed because he kept listening to the WRONG voice. In the end the Lord had to take him away from this earth.

I ask myself today….what voice am I listening to? If I feel like my girlfriend doesn’t want me, or my parents don’t love me, is that the voice of Christ? You’re still on this earth. Listen to the soft loving voice of Jesus.

Life is waiting for you
And life I have given to you
Tell me what else can I do
What more have I left to prove?
That I am what you need
Still I will hold on to your heart
Through the chaos and the dark
When your eyes fail to see
So what are you waiting for?

On and on we go
Come love take my hand
On and on we go
As you run away again
On and on we go
Back to where this all began

Broken I was for you
Broken I’m still for you
My broken heart breaks for you
Broken I’m over you

On and on we go…

On January 16, 2010 I wrote a post on asking questions. It’s good. This past week I learned a new conversation skill that I’m hoping forever changes the way I dialogue with people. Do you mind if I share it with you?

The Problem: Do you ever have an amazing train of thought come to mind, and then start talking to the person next to you, extemporaneously expounding on all these deep concepts and ideas? This happens to me all the time. And it annoys the heck out of people (and bugs me when they don’t listen to the wisdom I’m spewing).

The Solution: When talking to someone, you should ask permission before delving into the watery depths of ideological pontification. Simple.

How: Before you start your commentary, ask if they feel like talking about it. “Do you mind if I ask you about…?” or “Is now a good time to talk about…?” or “Would it be okay if I asked a few questions…?”

It’s selfish and presumptuous to think someone actually wants to sit there and listen to you babble about something that matters to “you.” If they say “Sure! I’d love to discuss that,” then good for you. If they shrug and are kinda blah, find out when you can talk about it another time.

This might seem stupid, but I’ve actually seen it put into amazing practice this past week. I’ve also personally screwed up a couple times and just blabbed my wisdom, aggravating the relationship.

Ask permission next time you’re talking to someone. It shows deference—you care about their mood, their thoughts, and their time.