James 1:19 be “swift to hear, slow to speak….” Can You Hear Me Now? James 1:19 be “swift to hear, slow to speak….”

Can You Hear Me Now? What is the best form of communication?

Can You Hear Me Now? Everybody is on iPods, IM, computers— everything but face-to-face communication. We are wired for being visual as humans; wanting to watch or see what’s going on. We love our cell phones and text messaging because they let us multitask during conversations, but dividing our focus between the conversation and driving, typing and other tasks makes it harder for us to really listen.

Can You Hear Me Now? A study on Social Isolation revealed that one in four Americans has no confidants. So communication is easier than ever, but we have fewer close friends to contact. Why? Mobile phones, instant messaging programs and e- mail take the visual components out of communication. Our minds tend to wander from conversations when we aren’t visually focused.

Can You Hear Me Now? And the rapid-fire exchanges these devices allow have decreased our attention spans. Advancements in technology, is one thing that will never change—but a reminder that good communication is a key ingredient to good relationships, Wolvin says a professor of Communication at the University of Maryland.

Can You Hear Me Now? When relationships break down, it’s usually because at least one person has stopped listening. Listening is probably the most useful life skill we have, and yet the least emphasized, says Dr. Melissa Beall, a member and past president of the International Listening Association.

Can You Hear Me Now? Since God Himself created us and thus knows how we work best, we can be sure that following His advice will help us build better relationships through really listening to each other. Our listening should be more than just auditory—it should be visual, mental and emotional.

Can You Hear Me Now? So, if someone doesn’t listen to us very often, it’s easy to assume they don’t care about us, our feelings and our problems. And if we don’t think they care, we’re less likely to spend time with them, and the relationship suffers. Keys to better listening We can become better listeners by taking active steps during conversations

Can You Hear Me Now? 3 Bible Tips: Listening 1. By listening to those with wisdom, we can become wiser. "Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain (refuse/reject) it" (Proverbs 8:33); “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother (experience) when she is old” (Prov. 23:22 NLT). This includes listening to our parents, not tuning them out. 2. Some things we shouldn't listen to. "Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you" (Ecclesiastes 7:21). 3. We should be a lot quicker to hear than to speak. "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).

Can You Hear Me Now? how did the human race survive before cell phones and the Internet? Once in a while, we may run into a person who doesn’t have a mobile phone or a business without a Web site. How do they expect us to contact them? Are there any other ways to communicate?

Can You Hear Me Now? Advances in technology have indisputably made communication easier. But have they made it better? The average American has only two close friends today—a third fewer than people did 20 years ago, according to a report recently published in the American Sociological Review. God wants us to build strong loving relationships with each other. It is important that we listen to each other.

Can You Hear Me Now? What can we do to assist us with becoming good listeners?

Can You Hear Me Now? Tips to make our listening more effective: • Tune out physical distractions, like music, television or other people. • Pay full attention to the conversation instead of engaging in other tasks. • Focus your attention on the speaker—make eye contact—if the conversation is in person. • Don’t interrupt while the other person is talking.

Can You Hear Me Now? Tips to make our listening more effective: • Make sure you really hear what the other person is saying instead of just thinking about what you’re going to say when he or she stops talking. • Listen actively—nod, smile or show concern when appropriate. • Stay focused. Don’t let your mind wander.

Can You Hear Me Now? In today’s high-tech, high-speed, high-stress world, communication is more important then ever, yet we seem to devote less and less time to really listening to one another. Genuine listening has become a rare gift—the gift of time. It helps build relationships, solve problems, ensure understanding, resolve conflicts, and improve accuracy.

Can You Hear Me Now? In most Western cultures, eye contact is considered a basic ingredient of effective communication. That doesn’t mean that you can’t carry on a conversation from across the room, or from another room. The desire for better communication should pull us together.

Can You Hear Me Now? At work, effective listening means fewer errors and less wasted time. At home, it helps develop resourceful, self-reliant kids who can solve their own problems. Listening builds friendships and careers. It saves money and marriages.

Next Bible Study Topic-Dealing with Difficult People Scripture-Phil. 2

Reference Beyond Today-Can you hear me now Reference Beyond Today-Can you hear me now? by Kristin Yarbrough, Oct 8, 2006