There are many levels of poor listeners and I’ve encountered all of them. When one of my children were younger, they would cover their ears the second I began lecturing them. (I won’t share the consequences of that nasty habit.) Some people will glaze over when you speak a sentence longer than ten words, some will interrupt your conversation with a random thought of their own, while others are just focused on something else they feel is more important. Many times I’ve made a comment to my family that seems to fall on deaf ears, only to have them repeat it. My biggest frustration is that they do hear, but they don’t listen.

We’re caught up in a world that is listening impaired. We get immediate answers through television and internet, have conversations by text messaging and Facebook our “friends” with a quick comment, and feel that we have “connected” with them. The irony is, technology has attempted to improve communication, but sadly, it has hindered genuine interaction with others.

So what does it mean to be a good listener? Author, M. Scot Peck said, “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” Good listeners are attentive, engaged, and focused on what you are saying. Someone who really listens, has absorbed what you’ve said and responded to that information. A real conversation involves eye contact, attention and the feeling that someone is responding to you on an emotional level. Have you ever had someone tell you that you helped them, even when you haven’t uttered a word? Most often, friends and family don’t want a lecture or advice, they just need someone who is truly listening to them … to give them opportunity to be heard and understood.

I used to pray that I would hear from God. The truth is, I do, every day. Now I pray that I will listen to him. Jesus speaks to us through his word, through others and directly and wants our full attention. Active listening leads to action.

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

James 1:22-24 (The Message)

Kitty Nancekievill is a member of WSPC who lives in Gravenhurst with her husband and daughter. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling and spending time with her five children and their families.

• Joel Larmer
• To Tell

Below are some great pictures that Luke took of the concert. Enjoy!

Are we like the crowd? Do we forget what a gift Jesus is and what it means to be spiritually fed by him? Jesus meets our needs and we are to follow his example as we meet the needs of others.

Download audio file (020512.mp3)

The scriptures we read:

• John 6:22-59
• Deuteronomy 28:1-6
• Jeremiah 31:14
• Exodus 16:1-36
• Deuteronomy 8:2-3
• Genesis 12:3
• Matthew 25:34-40

The video clip we watched:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-l7lXvknds

There will be tobogganing and ice-skating (weather permitting) starting at 3p.m. If you’re not an outside sort of person, you can stay at Phil and Kitty’s for some games. At 5 p.m., we’re all gathering back at Phil & Kitty’s house for a Pot-Luck.

If you’d like directions to their home, please call the church.

We meet downstairs from 6-7 p.m. Sunday nights. Coffee and snacks are provided.

This week’s message reminds us to keep our spiritual eyes open. Like the boy with his lunch, Jesus can use us in practical ways if we are open to the possibilities.

Special guest, Wendy Cameron, who is the president of the Manna Food Bank, shared some valuable information on how we can help the hungry in our own area.

Download audio file (012912.mp3)

The scripture we read:

• Titus 2:14
• Jeremiah 31:14

Another year is dawning, slowly opening up to reveal what it has in store for us. It is a new beginning, a chance at a fresh start to live the life we feel we should be living. The trouble is that unless we have dealt with the stuff in 2011 we will be carrying its baggage with us into 2012.

Although I rarely make a New Years Resolution, I do tend to look over the past year and see the areas in my life that need improving. This is a very frustrating experience because so often I look back and see that I’ve made the same mistakes over and over again. When I could have been reading my bible, I was reading a silly romance novel. When I could have been visiting the lonely, I sat and played a game on my iPad. When I could have been sending out encouraging cards, I was scrapbooking.

I have such great intentions. I start the New Year off vowing that I will do better, but within a month I realize I haven’t done it. I really try not to fall into the same patterns as before but before you know it, I’m doing it again. As much as I make these decisions to change, nothing happens. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. At times I feel as if I am at the end of my rope and feel as if no one can help me. But there is one who can. Thanks be to my God! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to help me and He does. He acted to set things right in my life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Sound familiar? That was my personal paraphrase of Romans 7:18, 19, 24 & 25.

Paul gets it. In my mind I have all these wonderful plans to spend my days doing the good things that I know I should be doing. Then I wake up in the morning and before I know it, I’m doing everything but.

I am so thankful that Paul doesn’t leave me in the pit of despair. He gives me encouragement, words that will bolster me up, to try again: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25 NIV)!

Another year is dawning and as much as I want to change for the better, I know that I will probably screw up again. What keeps me going is this:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering and so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)

Jeanetta van Leeuwen is a member of WSPC who lives in Bracebridge. She loves to scrapbook, journal, and enjoy life with her husband and three children.

Pastor Wendy Payne picks up the story in John 5, as Jesus continues to explain to the Pharisees who he is. Even though there is proof through the testimony of others, the miracles that have happened, and evidence in the Scriptures, they stubbornly refuse to  believe that Jesus is their Messiah.

Perhaps we can learn a lesson from the Pharisees. Do we believe wholeheartedly, without reservation, that Jesus is our Healer, Provider, Friend and Savior? This week’s message prompts us to ask ourselves if we are any different than those who doubted.

Download audio file (012212WP.mp3)

Scripture we read:

• John 5:31

The band To Tell will be performing at our church on Thursday February 2nd. Doors open at 7, and the show starts at 7:15. Call the church or email the youth leadership for tickets. Let’s pack this place!

Here’s To Tell‘s latest music video:

Devout Jews prayed morning and evening to “our God”, so introducing the idea of equality with God, infuriated the leaders. Jesus taught three elements of his relationship with his Father. They work together, they give life together and God trusts Jesus to judge. Jesus was ready for a  fight and used the opportunity to show that he worked in perfect unity with God, even though he knew it would anger his accusers.

Following Jesus isn’t about avoiding confrontation. Jesus wasn’t afraid to pick a fight. We can be just as bold when standing up for the truth because we have the Spirit of Christ in us.

Due to technical difficulties, an audio of this week’s message is not available.

The scriptures we read were:

• John 5:15-29
• Deuteronomy 6:4
• Philippians 2:5-11
• Romans 8:11

The video we watched which illustrates the Jewish prayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AaJj8py0ok