Daily Diary - August 11th, 2016

Call or Text?

 (Parable lesson: Phones and life!)

To call or to text?  That is the question we all ask. 

In the busyness of everyday life we face the dilemma of taking time to answer the calls we receive or hope the person will drop us a quick text message. We realize that a lengthy conversation may delay our progress during the day, especially if it can be summed up by a simple text message.

I began to analyze what goes on in our minds when the phone rings.  We ask the questions:  What do they need?, and do I have time to address it properly?

The identity of the individual that is calling us provides us a pre-determined answer in our “mind” of what most likely the conversation will Intel.

I believe there are 2 main thought processes that cause us to wait for a text or answer the call.

1. Is it going to be a lengthy call?
2. Is the call more than likely going to be “negative” in nature?

I believe both of these scenarios require setting aside time and even preparation for us to handle the conversations properly.  We also should not be rushed when dealing with someone’s emotions.  Most likely a quick call during the busyness of the day ends up escalating issues due to time restraints.  When we have these circumstances arrive, we simply need to receive a text to understand and evaluate the question or issue.  This allows someone to better understand whether or not to clear their mind of what they are involved in at the time to properly be able to have a legitimate conversation. 

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.  Not strife.  To “know” more is simply to understand more, therefore we can keep the peace!

I believe people are moving into a more intellectual form of communication where we are “Classifying” the content and organizing responses.  All of which is do to the increased busyness of life. 

The more rapid we speed up life the more organized our “time management” must become.  If a conversation requires lengthy thought, it only makes sense to think about it in detail to have a productive conversation.  This means you may need to finish the task you are working on during the day and then make time for the call.

Text or Call?

People are simply at 2 different levels when it comes to advanced communications at this level.  One group is set on the old way of having to hear a voice to convey their message.  The other group is learning to manage the benefit of communicating by text and maximizing all their daily responsibilities at a more advanced level.  Both methods are fine but they can contradict the philosophy of one another if people get “emotional” about their pre-conceived idea of how things should work.

Using ministry as an example:  Pastors deal with a lot of conversations that they must prepare for.  It is true that during the busyness of life pastors are not always prayed up on the spot and able to spiritually be the answer all the time.  Unfortunately the expectation is that pastors have it all together all the time and should not only be “available” at any time, but also should be prepared to give Godly advise that is prayed through and will fix every problem at the drop of a dime.  This is often not the case and therefore should be considered when they are approached on the “fly” of everyday life.  A pastor once told me “counseling is going on every Sunday morning at 10:30 at church service and if you make those meetings God will solve a lot of issues”.  This is very true because the Holy Spirit can speak to us at church in a personal way, regardless of the message title, if we will simply open our heart to hear.

Texting vs. non-texting issues: 

Most people that are insistent on having a conversation immediately without regard to the busyness of another person’s day.  Then they assume that the person is “mad” at them or that they don’t like them.  More than likely the person looking at caller ID is busy and has some insight as to the content of the conversation that “may” take place.  With a simple text it can be determined if the conversation can be postponed until both parties can truly discuss the matter in the best possible way.  This gets over into the issue of “Patience” which we all struggle with.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

After analyzing this issue deeply for many months I have drawn some basic conclusions that may help us.

1. Emotions are the key

When we speak with someone we can “hear” his or her “emotions”!  Unfortunately, emotions of a persons spoken words cause a reaction from the other person’s emotions.  Why else would the conversation need to be vocal unless the intent was to “Express” oneself with emotions to support the idea?  Fact is we are looking for a response vocally so we can analyze the emotions in return?

Job 15:2-3 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind? ³ Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

Question:  If you know the direction of the conversation and you “can do no good” as it says in this scripture.  You may need to avoid the conversation.  Why reason with unprofitable talk?

If emotions are left out of a conversation there will be very little reason for us to respond emotionally and this will keep the peace that’s in our heart from being disrupted.  Personally I have learned to value my peace and joy and intend to keep it!  LOL!  My family also needs me to keep my peace to lead them properly.  This is how God designed it.  So therefore I may temporarily avoid conversations that have intentions to cause me to lose my joy or that are certain to not profit. 

Question:  have you ever had a conversation and it stirred your emotions up and as a result it effected your entire day?

Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

I believe we are hearing from the knowledge of good or evil.  Which one is the context of a phone call coming from?  Good or Evil?

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

When you take on a conversation that’s foundation comes from the “Flesh” your response will either come from your “Spirit” of God’s truth or your “Flesh”.  I have never won a battle when I responded in my flesh towards flesh.  This is the enemy’s playground and we lose this battle every time.  So to communicate verbally with a person that is committed to their “Fleshly” position, my spiritual position will more than likely be “unprofitable” for them.  Many times we will continue to have conversations with the same person until we give into our flesh and simply throw “Gas” on the fire!

1. Calming voice

I have learned that people looking to talk and refuse to text are normally dealing with a higher level of insecurity and need to hear a calming voice.  This is a good thing and very understandable. I have dealt with a lot of tragedy myself and need to hear a calming voice, especially from my pastor.  When I need his advice, I send him a quick text and tell him I have an issue.  This quick text is respecting his busy position during the day.  I ask if we can talk soon because I have an issue.  He replies with a text “sure”.  “I am free at this certain time and we can talk it through”. 

I have found that while I am waiting for the conversation, the issue normally either fixes itself or my emotions calm down and peace has a chance to operate negating the urgency of the problem.  It’s amazing how the fruit of the spirit works in life.  “Patience” being our key element in this fast pace world!

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

1. Identity

When a person is lacking identity in Christ and is lacking knowledge of God’s truth they begin to seek their insecurity elsewhere.  We all need relationships and the bible clearly tells us how important other people are in our lives, but we cannot rely on people more than God.  Basically we are looking for answers and when we are not secure in God we are looking in the wrong place.  GOD will answer the phone and the text.  He will provide a great answer and be your help in time of need. 

Matthew 22:36-39 Jesus said to him,“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

It’s great to have conversations and seek help in time of need.  We are to love our neighbor as our self, but we must read the first part and Love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind first.  I believe when we do this we gain peace and are in a position to help and receive help from others.

1. Healthy Calls

Most issues will eventually need to be “talked through”.  I have learned that gaining perspective and being prepared to have important conversations is the key to handling issues and truly bringing peace over a matter.  There are times that people simply do not want peace in life or don’t know how to obtain it.  They continue to react on emotions rather than gain knowledge from God’s word.  At times we need to disregard those calls because we are losing our own peace with NO results or changes taking place.  We must choose when to fight a battle and whether or not there is good ground for our conversation to be received.

Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Is the call coming from a stance of spiritual “Good” or “Evil”.  I don’t want to eat from the tree that comes from a spiritual evil.  We realize that people will have issues but to simply escalate or force problems into others on a spur of the moment basis is simply not the best plan of action.

A healthy call in my life is when we express gratitude and thanks for situations and issues and simply follow up with a need.  This is when our goal is to bring joy to others life and be a solution rather than a problem. 

Is the person open to receive a Godly response?

We must ask the question? “Is this person seeking to be a, peace and joy maker or a turmoil creator”?

In return, when we evaluate who is calling, this question often goes through our mind.  “is this call going to stir turmoil or is this going to be positive and promote solutions by peace?”

I believe people are either a “peace maker” and “problem solver” or a “turmoil creator and pot stirrer”.   This determines a lot of our “text” or “answer” decisions. 

Proverbs 18:12 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

The tongue or spoken words we hear promote either “Life” or “Death”.  Do you want to hear death filled words?  Sometimes we have had enough conversations that do not promote the goodness of a Godly life.

One example of a good call is when I call my parents to tell them how good the boys played baseball and how well they represented themselves at school etc.  This promotes goodness and brings joy to grand parents.  I refuse to discuss issues that will cause strife and turmoil if possible.  I do not want to be the reason someone else loses his or her Joy.  It’s the most important thing they have.

We need to express the good things in life way above the problems.  If we can peacefully address problem issues with a Godly plan we can make a difference.

Father God, We thank you for our ability to communicate.  We ask that you teach us how to act and react in our relationships.  Give us wisdom to make great choices and to obtain the knowledge to become efficient in your kingdom work in Jesus name! Amen