QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
James 1:19

One issue I’ve struggled with more than others over the years is my “quick tongue!”
In James 1:19 God tells us to be quick to listen, yet slow to speak and anger.
That goes contrary to how I’ve been all of my life, especially my years as an Air Traffic Controller.  For whatever reason, that career field seems to attract folks with quick tongues!  We had a lot of “fun” ripping each other apart verbally.
Many times when I read or hear something I’m ready to pounce on it with no mercy and go straight for the jugular!  Praise God, He’s still working on and in me because if not, I would have made myself look pretty bad if I’d not slowed down.  Let me share with you what I’m talking about.
Recently while researching for a class I’m building, I was reading someone’s comments about how the rock band Journey’s song “Open Arms” had just become an overnight worship sensation.
The story went that an intern for KLOVE in Nashville made a mistake by selecting Journey’s song, “Open Arms” instead of Michael W. Smith’s.  By the time he realized he’d messed up, he didn’t know what to do.  He called the DJ over but, before they could do anything though the phone lines lit up!  But, not from people complaining!  It was from people who were so happy to hear the new hit worship song.  It was reported that people were demanding the station replay the track.
One listener was reported to have written, “I’ve never had a more powerful time of worship than singing along with a godly worship leader like Steve Perry to my sweet Savior Jesus.” on the KLOVE Facebook page.
Man was I hot!  How in the world could anyone in the church be so out of touch with reality!  I started writing my response and was ready to take someone to the woodshed, so to speak.
I remembered a church that I was supposed to have spoken at in Norfolk, Virginia on a Saturday and Sunday night.  They cancelled on me because of snow, but hey still held Sunday morning service.  Since we were already there, Masami and I attended the service.
We were greeted by a friendly gentleman who asked who we were and where we were from.  I told him our names and that we were from out of town.  He had no idea I’d been scheduled to speak.
His next comment was peaked our interest.  Laughing he said, “This first song will run the Baptist out of here!”  Hmmm!  That got my attention so I pulled my phone out when the first song was starting and video recorded it.  The overweight, white “worship” pastor starting singing Marvin Gaye’s, “Let’s Get it On!”  I then realized why they had cancelled my speaking there.  I’ve still never figured out why they scheduled me in the first place and brought me all the way out there to cancel!
With those types of experiences maybe you can possibly understand why I thought the “Journey” worship song was legit!
BUT, because I’ve been burnt in the past I’ve also learned to research everything to make sure it’s on the up and up.  I tell folks all the time, “Don’t just read the headlines.  Read the actual article, then go read the sources that they site!” Thankfully I followed my own advice.
I couldn’t find anything on the KLOVE website or their Facebook page.  Hmmm!  Strange, this was reported to be a huge hit with KLOVE and Air1 affiliates playing the song in their regular rotation.  It was even reported to have risen to number 1 on the Contemporary Christian Music charts.  I couldn’t find it anywhere.
Finally, I came across the article.  Take a look:

I read the article, it seemed believable, but something just didn’t feel right.  I couldn’t verify it anywhere else.  So I then looked at the source:

I then did research on “The Babylon Bee” and I found that it’s a satire site.  “What would the Onion look like if it were written for the godly?” is how The Washington Post put it.
I LOVE IT!  Let me give you just a few of the headlines that I saw there:
“Mountain Climber Recovering After Decision to Let Go and Let God!”
“Rob Bell Lists Mint Condition of Bible on Craigslist”
“John MacArthur Sets New Low Score Of Zero on Dance Dance Revolution Machine”
 
So, the moral of the story is, be a Berean!  Listen to what is said, then research it to see if it’s true or not.  If you don’t, you could come out looking a little silly.
If you’re looking for a laugh, take a look at The Babylon Bee!  If you’re looking for the truth, read the Word of God!
Blessings and . . .
Stay Bold!