Is God’s Word White Noise? July 3, 2009

When our third baby was born he slept in our room for months. To help with the noise we started using a fan. It helped newborn Jesse and his parents to sleep better. 25 years later we still need our white noise.
In Counsel from the Cross (the book I mentioned in Monday’s post) Elyse Fitzpatrick talks about her close proximity to one of the busiest highways in California. Over time she has learned to ignore the constant hum of traffic, saying:
“While I am thankful for this innate ability to ignore unimportant, repetitive sound, I’m afraid that we don’t do a very good job differentiating between what we need to pay attention to and what can be safely ignored. To be more specific, I fear that familiarity with certain biblical concepts is liable to make them seem insignificant to us. I’m afraid that we unintentionally strip certain concepts of importance and prominence and relegate them to the category of white noise — we recognize they are there, but we just don’t pay much attention to them.”
Along with the other questions I’ve mentioned this week, I’m wanting to insure that God’s word doesn’t become white noise to me. The author of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12).
As a blog team, we want to investigate our hearts. Has God’s word — in part or in whole — become white noise? Something humming in the background of our decisions, convictions, behavior and affections? Are there imperatives of Scripture that we functionally view as optional? Through neglect, are we not consistently applying the living, active, penetrating, discerning and infallible truths in the Bible to every area of our lives? Is our passionate assertion of love for God’s word backed up by our daily lives, or do we believe its righteous and good commands are fine…unless our children are driving us crazy or we just had to dish out hundreds of unplanned dollars on a car repair bill or a friend said something insensitive when she should have known what time of the month it is?
Join us next week for our thoughts on what this all looks like in our lives. White noise is a great thing when we’re falling asleep. But a dangerous way to view God’s holy word. Help me, Lord.
Posted by Sheree

Some months ago Benny and I attended a counseling conference with some friends. It wasn’t just any counseling conference, but one that emphasizes the rightful place of Scripture in the process of change in a Christian’s life.
Today we’re starting a new series and a new posting format. New posts will be done 3 days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (rather than daily, Monday through Friday as in the past). This will serve us as a team, and will hopefully serve you as well, as we all attempt to use our time wisely…and not spend excessive time each week on the computer!

Today we offer you a short story from the Revolutionary War about a young girl who was indeed quite brave that you can read to your children. May this be a reminder of God’s great blessing on our country in allowing us to live freely. Take time to pray for those serving us in the military – for they show bravery daily that we may never read about, yet God sees. And more than that, He cares for every detail of their lives.
Mmmmm! This is my absolute favorite-est snack! If they sound weird, give them a chance. I think you’ll see what I’m talking about. The hardest part about making these is waiting until they’re cooled off enough to eat. Oh, my mouth is watering – gimme a call when you make these! 



