We are a part of a society that likes to talk, talk, talk –- unceasingly expressing unsolicited opinions. We put our opinions out into the world as if the world depends on them, as if people desperately need to hear from us.

I'm more and more convinced that we talk so much because we hope to be noticed and to see if people will like us. We speak from our insecurities. We hope our unsolicited opinions will be received with praise and acclamation. “How wise you are!” If our opinions are rejected, no worry, we just call everyone who rejected us ignorant. Instead of considering the validity of our opinions we simply forge ahead without modification, judging others for not being as intelligent as us.

This is a problem. In a society of talking heads on TV and blogs like this one all over the Internet, we rarely take time to listen. We are so busy talking that we rarely slow down enough to seek wisdom.

I’ve been reminded by one of TheGreatBout's recent posts, which lists many poignant words from the book of Proverbs, to seek God’s wisdom –- to keep my mouth shut longer, my ears open longer, and my temper under control. Check out the verses of wisdom and may they find their way into the core of who you are. May you allow the Spirit to work within you to bear the fruit of wisdom, all for the glory of God in Christ.

What has been your experience with others sharing their unsolicited opinions with you?  What actions can we take to ensure that we're listening and sharing when appropriate?

by Sharon Hodde Miller

This week my pastor preached about Exodus 32 and the Israelites’ betrayal of God. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites felt abandoned. They couldn’t feel God’s presence, so they took the gold that God had given to them in Egypt and used it to make a golden calf. Or as Aaron the dufus put it, “They gave me the gold, I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf!” (v. 24) He’s like the kid who claims he didn’t punch his brother in the face; his brother simply “ran into his fist.” The only appropriate response to this Exodus story is a Homer Simpson-esque “doh!”

Even though I’ve heard this story countless times, something new struck me about it this time. In response to the Israelites’ unfaithfulness, God became angry and essentially slaughtered all the unfaithful. But that’s not what surprised me. What surprised me was the extent of God’s anger even though He knew ahead of time they would betray Him. It’s not as if God was caught off guard when they started worshipping idols. He knew it was going to happen, and yet He responded with the kind of anger of someone who’d had high expectations but had been stunningly disappointed.

And that got me to thinking. The story of Exodus happened thousands of years ago. It continues to happen today. God knows we are going to royally screw up over and over again, but He gets angry about each act of sin and disobedience as if it’s the first time. Why hasn’t God become disillusioned with us? You’d think that at some point He’d wash His hands of the broken human race and walk away. That way He wouldn’t have to go through such pain and depth of emotion each time. More Here...

They were the couple who were going to make it. She, an outspoken, dominating woman with neat-freak tendencies. He, a slightly nerdy introvert. Opposites in almost every way, John and Kate Gosselin were thrust into the limelight when, through a mixture of fertility treatments and divine intervention, the couple found themselves the parents of eight rambunctious children.

Whatever the reason, they didn't make it. They're not alone; the divorce rate in the United States alone shows just how difficult marriage is in this day and age, when potential substitute partners are no more than a mouse-click away.

A recent CNN article asks the question, “Is monogamy realistic?” With celebrity marriages crumbling more often than not, perhaps the influence of these affluent people suggests that the day of the life-long relationship with just one person is over. If that's the case, then what alternative to monogamy exists with popular support? More Here...