2. Why is silence so hard to deal with? silence

3. 100’s of millions of people are regularly exposed to noise levels that are in the pollution range noise

4. do you have a cell phone? do you have a pager? do you have voice-mail? a cell phone with voice and e-mail?

5. Do you have a TV? More than one TV?

6. The radio on all day? On at work, in the car and at home?

7. Is there such a thing as visual noise? noise

8. Do we really need more billboards alongside the roads we drive on?

9. Do you feel that God is distant? distant

10. Do you wish that God’s voice was louder in your life? louder

11. Do you see any connection between the noise in our lives and our inability to hear God? noise

12. Many cars now come with separate CD and DVD systems for the passengers.

13. Have you noticed how many people going to and from work are listening to MP3 players and Ipods?

14. Try this

15. Slowly

16. Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. Deut 27:9 silentlisten

17. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Ps 4:4 silent

18. But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habbakuk 2:20 silent

19. Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. - Jesus in Matthew 11 rest

20. Be still and know that I am God Ps 46:10 still

21. If I am not still and don’t listen how is Jesus going to speak to me? still

22. We spend so much time worrying and talking about our problems – how much time do we spend listening to God about them?

23. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 withdrew

24. These were regular disciplines Jesus had: silence solitude

25. When last were you in a solitary place? solitary

26. Why is it so hard to be silent? silent

27. It is easier to surround ourselves with noise than to be silent and listen noise silent listen

28. Does my schedule, time and life reflect listening to God?

29. One more conversation Perhaps your need for healing and guidance will not come from One more seminar One more sermon One more self-help book

30. But from listening

31. really Do you really believe that God’s voice is more interesting than the many voices in your life? voices

32. Have you been searching for God’s voice in the fire in the earthquake in the wind

33. when God has been waiting to speak to you in the sound of sheer silence

34. the only way a boat can sink is if sufficient water gets into the hull

35. is noise flooding in? sinking you?

36. noise silence sheer silence God