Getting rid of the noise

I talked recently to a friend who's planted and grown a well-known church. He told me that one of the smartest things they did was to not read a lot of books on how to plant a church before they started.

The past three weeks, I've been on a tear. I've unsubscribed from countless e-mail newsletters, magazine subscriptions, and blogs (not yours of course). I've been drowning in too much noise.

(More on de-cluttering from e-mail here.)

A lot of what I was reading is good, but there comes a point where too much of a good thing is a bad thing. The signal to noise ratio can get out of whack and I can stop hearing from the One who doesn't always speak loudly.

There's still a place for input, but I'm finding less of the how-to stuff helpful. I don't need another model that promises the world. The best stuff out there doesn't offer ready-made solutions as much as it engages deeper issues, where the real thinking has to take place.

Comments

[Jacob]

Good for you. I went through a "noisy" phase for awhile as well. I friend encouraged me to cut down and get back to simple Bible reading and it has been very refreshing.

[Trish]

Sounds good, maybe more biblical content on your site now?

[Darryl]

Jacob: It's good to cut back on the noise. Glad to hear of your experience. Trish: Not sure I know what you mean.

[Trish]

I'm teasingggg. :)

[scott]

sounds good, now maybe you'll have less pinko commie, lukewarm, pansy, girly, watered down neo-liberal herasy too?

[Darryl]

Scott: I wouldn't make any promises.

[Trish]

It's heresy not herasy, get it right eh.

[Brian Mullins]

Have you seen Rob Bell's Nooma video "Noise" - good stuff.

[scott]

just like a fashist too chek speling

[Bill Kinnon]

I'm thinking of unsubscribing from my own blog... But I'll keep reading yours. In spite of its "terrible design". ;-}