But is that the best course? An author that is high on my list lately is
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and here is a passage from his book Life Together that hit home to me…

The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking.

Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking when they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. One who cannot listen long and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be never really speaking to others, albeit he be not conscious of it. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 97-98)

How often have I been “listening” to someone, and I can’t wait for them to stop talking because I had this incredible flash of righteous wisdom that I just can’t wait to share with them?

Lord, help me to keep my mouth shut and my ears open, to You, and to those You send my way. Amen

Today’s post struck a chord with me; I wish every follower of Jesus would read, and heed, this post…

Being a friend of God | Bill Hull’s Blog.

Anyways, I found this report interesting and informative. Check it out for yourself…

Going Door-to-Door: A Look at the Numbers – EdStetzer.com.

“Timmy D” DeMoss of The Word FM, conducted an interview with Phillies star reliever Brad Lidge after the World Series that you can listen to online:

http://www.wordfm.org/a_pgs/pgs_hme.asp?f=bradlidge

Lidge, who saved 48 games in 48 opportunities this year, talked about his faith and how it affects his game. As some of you may recall, Lidge wasn’t as successful in his previous postseason outings with the Houston Astros a few years back. It seemed to send his career on a downward spiral, which makes his performance this year all the more remarkable.

I think it’s appropriate that a guy who made it through the season and postseason without blowing a save would give glory to the one whom the Bible says “is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Well, it’s time to correct that…

It’s hard to believe this was written over 50 years ago, how true it is today…

No man is worthy to succeed until he is willing to fail. No man is morally worthy of success in religious activities until he is willing that the honor of succeeding should go to another if God so wills.

For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. –2 Corinthians 2:17

Much that passes for Christianity today is the brief bright effort of the severed branch to bring forth its fruit in its season. But the deep laws of life are against it. Preoccupation with appearances and a corresponding neglect of the out-of-sight root of the true spiritual life are prophetic signs which go unheeded. Immediate ‘results’ are all that matter, quick proofs of present success without a thought of next week or next year. Religious pragmatism is running wild among the orthodox. Truth is whatever works. If it gets results it is good. There is but one test for the religious leader: success. Everything is forgiven him except failure.

A tree can weather almost any storm if its root is sound, but when the fig tree which our Lord cursed “dried up from the roots” it immediately “withered away.” A church that is soundly rooted cannot be destroyed, but nothing can save a church whose root is dried up. No stimulation, no advertising campaigns, no gifts of money and no beautiful edifice can bring back life to the rootless tree. The Root of the Righteous, 4-5.

“Lord, give us solid roots. Forgive us for our preoccupation with success and move in Your church today to restore to us a proper perspective. Begin in my life and church, I pray. Amen.”

Today’s “Insight for Leaders” is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers