The blog entry from Monday (Can you hear me now?) . . . .Hey! I haven't posted since then! . . . has been chewed up, spit out and then grew up into Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational Church. Wanna read?
"Listen to Me!" text
"Listen to Me!" podcast
Showing posts with label Psalm 5:1-8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 5:1-8. Show all posts
6/15/2007
6/11/2007
Can you hear me now?
No -- it's not a Verizon commercial -- it's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc
+++++++++++++++++
A few years back I had a conversation with UCC president and general minister John Thomas. He told me about a new campaign the UCC was coming up with that reminded people that "God is Still Speaking." I was energized thinking about the possibilities.
He also mentioned something else. He said that later a second campaign would begin – reminding people that "God is Still Listening." I don’t know if that campaign ever got moving – or if I’m ruining some kind of future surprise by mentioning it. But the phrase "God is Still Listening" has stuck with me.
I believe God was listening to the cries of the Psalmists I believe God was listening to the one who wrote this week's Bible reading from Psalm 5:1-8, a morning lament that God’s followers have long sung and read in preparation for the day. I really do believe that God is still listening today.
But I guess I'm not always sure of it.
Sometimes I wonder – Is God listening? Is anyone listening? Are my thoughts and prayers only heard in my own mind? Is God really guiding me or am I just living my life talking to something that’s not there at all?
Questions like that aren’t always staring me in the face, but I’d be lying if I said that I’m always completely sure that God is present, speaking or listening.
I think the writers of the Psalms had similar questions in their minds at times too. Reading their words and seeking to understand their thoughts give me comfort. I see faithful people from the past with similar doubts. Yet they, and I still look to God for guidance, inspiration, justice and love.
+++++++++++++++++
A few years back I had a conversation with UCC president and general minister John Thomas. He told me about a new campaign the UCC was coming up with that reminded people that "God is Still Speaking." I was energized thinking about the possibilities.
He also mentioned something else. He said that later a second campaign would begin – reminding people that "God is Still Listening." I don’t know if that campaign ever got moving – or if I’m ruining some kind of future surprise by mentioning it. But the phrase "God is Still Listening" has stuck with me.
I believe God was listening to the cries of the Psalmists I believe God was listening to the one who wrote this week's Bible reading from Psalm 5:1-8, a morning lament that God’s followers have long sung and read in preparation for the day. I really do believe that God is still listening today.
But I guess I'm not always sure of it.
Sometimes I wonder – Is God listening? Is anyone listening? Are my thoughts and prayers only heard in my own mind? Is God really guiding me or am I just living my life talking to something that’s not there at all?
Questions like that aren’t always staring me in the face, but I’d be lying if I said that I’m always completely sure that God is present, speaking or listening.
I think the writers of the Psalms had similar questions in their minds at times too. Reading their words and seeking to understand their thoughts give me comfort. I see faithful people from the past with similar doubts. Yet they, and I still look to God for guidance, inspiration, justice and love.
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