I just finished an article that said, “Doodling helps you remember things better and longer.” It sounds like the preacher needs to supply scraps of paper so that the members of their congregation can live out the message all week long. 

Researchers in the United Kingdom found that test subjects who doodled while listening to a message had a 29 percent better recall of the message’s details than those who didn’t doodle. The findings were published in Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Is it necessary that we just listen?  Do we listen with our ears or do we listen with our heart?  I think that we all know right from wrong from the earliest of times in our life.  We understand the difference of good and evil.  We are often seduced by that evil because it becomes easier to take that path. It takes effort to always do the right thing.

I am thankful that I can wrestle with questions about myself, life’s purpose, and my call to service.  I’m thankful that I can learn some of God’s truth from my preacher each Sunday.  I know they work hard to find ways to present God’s truths so that my life will be full of meaning and purpose. I want to stay away from the harmful arrogance that says I’ve figured it all out by myself.  I know that I can not do this by myself.  When I try I end up using condescending words to others and do not show God’s love.  I want to take these truths, these words and apply them knowing that God is love.

Listen and ask question so that you understand.  Doodle and remember so that you can ask questions.

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Luke 2:46

I was reading the story about two kings in 2 Chronicles that illustrates the king of Israel’s refusal to listen and learn. Because he only listened to voices he agreed with, he ended up suffering unfavorable consequences. He failed to realize that what and who you listen to influences what you do.  I think this is a very important point, “who we listen to influences what we do.” So I guess if it takes doodling in church for you to “get it” then do what you need to do.  Are you surrounding yourself with positive influences and wise counsel, or are you simply listening to voices that echo your own desires?  As a man that wants to live Bold I want to be a man that will listen to wise counsel.

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 18:4

I said we need to listen. But, who you listen to will ultimately influence what you do. That raises the question: What / who should we listen to? There are countless voices that attempt to speak into our lives and shape our decisions. Some we listen to with fervor. Some we ignore as foolish. But is there one voice among the rest that should not be ignored? Is there one voice that demands our attention?  The preacher has prayed fervently that the words of his mouth be the truth and the words of God. 

So if you are lead by the preacher’s message, doodle as you listen then during the week apply those concepts to you life and to your heart.

-STEVE RUSK

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