TITLE:  STATE OF OUR UNIONS:  Men are Computers; Women are Cell Phones
TEXT:  Colossians 3:8-10
PROPOSITION:  Men and women are different but must learn to communicate.
QUESTION:  How?
KEY WORD:  Differences
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. The husband walks in the door – Wife says, “I don’t know how we can do it. You’re late. Richie has a game an hour away. One of us has to get him there by 7:00.  Jordan has a game here in town. Kaley is cheering at Jordan’s game but she has a game right before his. Daniel has practice at …”
2. The husband heard nothing after – “You’re late.”
3. Most wives have noticed that their husbands are computers.
   1. After a few seconds – the screen saver kicks in
   2. When there is information overload – it locks up and must be rebooted
   3. The wife realizes she is living with a computer.
4. He is always telling her that she is a cell phone.
   1. He comes home and she starts talking – everything that happened that day
   2. Cell phones can go off unexpectedly, inopportune moments
   3. Wives just keep calling until they get an answer.
5. Men are computers; Women are cell phones!

Different Wiring!

1. Famous book – Men are from Mars / Women are from Venus
2. Men and women are wired differently.
3. Both have the ability to communicate – but in different ways.
   1. Computer – one way – send a message
   2. Cell phones – two way – talk and listen at the same time
4. Dr. James Dobson – Love for a Lifetime –
   1. “Research makes it clear that little girls are blessed with greater linguistic ability than little boys, and it remains a lifelong talent. Simply stated, she talks more that he.”
   2. Men speak about 25,000 words per day
   3. Women speak about 50,000 words per day
   4. When he gets home – he has used 98% of his daily allowance – he is down to – “Butter”, “Any desert?” and “Where’s the paper?”
   5. She still has a majority of her words. She calls – gets a busy signal (actually the computer is in sleep mode)

Cell Phones and Computers

1. They have much in common.
2. Both need a connection
3. Now cell phones can send and receive email from computers

Communication

1. Man asked a marriage counselor if they really needed to learn to communicate. Counselor asked the man, “What is your wife’s favorite flower?” He said, “Pillsbury – All Purpose.”
2. The state of our unions – We need communication

The need for communication

1. For Bible Study
   1. Acts 17:2-3
   2. Romans 10:14-15
2. To work together – We are not mind readers
3. To settle disagreements – Acts 15:6-7 – talk it out

The prerequisites to communication

1. Proper attitude – love – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
2. Don’t make assumptions
   1. Don’t make gossip the basis of communication
   2. Do not assume you know what the other is thinking
3. Stay pure in speech – Ephesians 4:29
4. Control the anger – Ephesians 4:26
5. Keep your arms down
6. Keep the voice calm

The rules of communication

1. There is a right time and a wrong time to communicate
   1. Matthew 10:16
   2. Luke 16:8
2. Be quick to hear – James 1:19
3. Be slow to speak – James 1:19
4. We should speak calmly – Proverbs 15:1-2
5. Speak appropriately without distortion of the truth
   1. NEVER say “never”
   2. ALWAYS avoid “always”
6. Be patient – Ephesians 4:2