Local Radar

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Notice Me, I’m Noisy

By Rev. Skip Myers
EdgefieldDaily.com Columnist

web posted February 19, 2007
"SKIP-OLGY" – I was sitting at a stoplight just minding my own business when I suddenly became aware of what I knew had to be an approaching jet. The only problem was that I was no where near an airport. Well, if it wasn't a jet then it had to be some poor NASCAR driver who had taken a right turn by mistake. So I nervously stared in my rearview mirror waiting to see what was about to run me over. With each passing second, the decibel level increased along with my anxiety level. The least I expected was a muffler-missing dump truck. So I gritted my teeth and prepared for the worst.

What pulled up behind me at that light caused me to erupt in laughter. It was this itty-bitty little clown-car-looking thing that I couldn't have fit into with a pry bar and a can of Crisco. And yet, the noise coming out of that car was ten times what it should have been. I just had to laugh. The driver really seemed to be enjoying this whole experience as well.

Noise is all around us. It invades our lives continually throughout the day. Whether it is a hungry, screaming baby or a low-flying helicopter, noise can come from anything no matter what the size. And we respond to noise. If the noise is something familiar we hear it. If it originates from someone we know we hear it. If it applies to a situation we are concerned about we hear it. We hear the noise; we process the origin and situation surrounding the noise; we then find ourselves listening to the noise that is meaningful to us. There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is physiological while listening is mental. (That’s why we as husbands get into so much trouble. We may hear our wives but don’t listen to them.)

The one thing we can say about noise is that it is a good way to get noticed. Make noise and someone will give you attention. The amount of attention you get depends upon whether or not the noise you are making connects with the hearer. The longer you make noise and the louder it gets the better chance you have of drawing attention to yourself.

Now, let’s apply this to faith. We have already established that size doesn’t matter when it comes to making noise. What matters is the connection the noise makes to those around it. God expects our faith to be noisy. He expects us to be loud enough and connected enough to those around us so that our faith draws attention to us so that we may then draw attention to Him.

Too many people tell me that their faith is a private matter. It is NOT! And it was never intended to be a private matter. The only way others know about God is for you to make some noise on His behalf. Spend some time thinking about all He has done for you. Take a moment and reflect on what your life would be like without Jesus. If the circumstances of life have brought doubts about God’s love into your way of thinking all you have to do is look to the cross and you cannot doubt His love for your life.
Everyone around you is looking for answers.  Let’s stop whispering about God as if He was a taboo subject and begin to make some noise that is loud enough to be heard by others.  Let’s draw some attention to His goodness and His love.  Let’s make Him a topic of our daily conversation. It doesn’t matter who you are or how long you have been a believer--just make some noise for Him. In the Bible we are instructed to let our faith effect us to the point we can no longer be silent. Get overwhelmed by the greatness of the God who unconditionally loves you. I’ll hear in church this Sunday.

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.  Psalm 95:1-3

 
 

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