Quick to Hear

Quick to Hear is a biblical approach to communication and relationships that glorifies God and edifies our neighbor.

Quick to Hear’s 19:14 Model uses wisdom from the closing verse of Psalm 19 to guide our interactions with others, so that “the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. “ We integrate numerous effective communication practices into this one model, where we learn to be better communicators who build lasting relationships.  Further, we learn to practice and evaluate our communication skills, seeking to grow and become more like Christ.

God gives specific commands in regards to our communication. For example, He tells us through James to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (1:19). Additionally, the inspired Apostle Paul writes, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).

And there’s so much more to learn about godly communication and relationships in the pages of Scripture. After all, God created communication and He used it to create. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). Since God is the creator of communication, His Word is the best resource for teaching us to communicate effectively. Our ability to communicate is part of our being made in His image. Communication is not something to be taken lightly, as it reflects our Creator.

Further, our God is relational. God has always existing with perfect relationships within the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, with His infinite experience in relationships, reveals to us a treasure trove of guidance for forging good relationships. He centers this around two great commandments taught by our Lord Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40).

After serving two decades in the Army as an intelligence and counterintelligence officer, I worked for more than ten years developing communication and relationship skills training for various federal agencies and private clients.  I became convinced, however, that God’s Word has far more valuable insights into communication and relationships than both my education and experience had provided me.

My educational background includes a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, a post-graduate diploma in Strategic Intelligence, and a Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries.

My wife and I have four grown children and six grandchildren. My wife Susan is a counselor/social worker, who has worked with troubled teenagers for many years.

In this day and age, it appears that most people are constantly looking for the latest new thing.  I want to encourage people to do something completely different: Try Something Old.  By “Something Old” I mean the gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly as it was recovered by the Reformers of the sixteenth century and those who followed them in subsequent centuries.  My goal is to apply the doctrines of grace to communication and relationships, so that God is glorified and His children may be edified.  Ultimately, my prayer is that people will come to faith in Jesus Christ and grow in His grace.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question/Answer #1.