Feb 15
This Sunday I gave each person in our worship ministry a copy of Driscoll’s “Vintage Jesus.” I read it and liked it, now I’m onto “Vintage Church” which just came out.
I think it is important to throw a book or some sort of ministry gift to the people volunteering with you. It not only gives them a resource that they can grow in for free, but also brings them in and makes them feel all warm and fuzzy. Good times!
Popularity: 4% [?]
Dec 16
I read the article below on C.J Mahaney’s blog. You can read his post HERE.
I do a lot of driving (2 round trips to Markham – 1 hour each way) and then the usual work commute.
That said, I have found that “redeeming the time” has been SO beneficial for me. Choosing not to let those hour-long drives go by without some benefit. Whether it’s a worship time, listening to the Word (via Max McLean) or praying, I try to seek out ways that I can make my driving intentional spiritual times of my day.
Below is an exert from the article that C.J posted. Enjoy.
Time Well Spent
By R.C. Sproul
Time is the great leveler. It is one resource that is allocated in absolute egalitarian terms. Every living person has the same number of hours to use in every day. Busy people are not given a special bonus added on to the hours of the day. The clock plays no favorites.
We all have an equal measure of time in every day. Where we differ from one another is in how we redeem the time allotted. When something is redeemed it is rescued or purchased from some negative condition. The basic negative condition we are concerned with is the condition of waste. To waste time is to spend it on that which has little or no value.
I am a time waster. When I think of the time I have wasted over the course of my life, I am hounded by remorse. This guilt is not a false one fostered by an overactive work ethic. The guilt is real because the time I have wasted is real time.
The late Vince Lombardi introduced the adage, “I never lost a game, I just ran out of time.” This explanation points to one of the most dramatic elements of sports—the race against the clock. The team that is most productive in the allotted time is the team that wins the game. Of course, in sports, unlike life, there are provisions for calling time-out. The clock in a sports contest can be temporarily halted. But in real life there are no timeouts…
Given my propensity to waste time, I have learned a few tricks to help me beat the clock. They may be helpful to some of you.
First, I realize that all of my time is God’s time and all of my time is my time by His delegation. God owns me and my time. Yet, He has given me a measure of time over which I am a steward. I can commit that time to work for other people, visit other people, etc. But it is time for which I must give an account.
Second, time can be redeemed by concentration and focus. One of the greatest wastes of time occurs in the human mind. Our hands may be busy but our minds idle. Likewise, our hands may be idle while our minds are busy. Woolgathering, day-dreaming, and indulging in frivolous fantasy are ways in which thoughts may be wasted in real time. To focus our minds on the task at hand—with fierce concentration—makes for productive use of time.
Third, the mind can redeem valuable time taken up by ordinary or mechanical functions. For example, the mechanics of taking a shower are not difficult. In this setting the mind is free for problem solving, creative thinking, or the composition of themes. Many of my messages and lectures are germinated in the shower. When I used to play a lot of golf, I found that the time I had between shots was a great time for composing messages in my mind.
Fourth, use your leisure time for pursuits that are life enriching. Leisure time is often spent on avocations. Reading is a valuable use of time. It enriches life to read outside of your major field or area of expertise. Augustine once advised believers to learn as much as possible about as many things as possible, since all truth is God’s truth. Other avocations that are enriching include the arts. I like to study the piano and I dabble in painting. No one will ever mistake me for a serious musician or an accomplished artist. But these avocations open up the world of beauty to me that enhances my view of God and His manifold perfections. I also enjoy working cross-word puzzles to warm up the little gray cells and to expand my vista of verbal expression.
Fifth, find ways to cheat the “Sand Man.” Several years ago I had an epiphany about time management. Though my life-long pattern had been to stay up late at night I realized that for me, the hours between 9–12 p.m. were not very productive. I reasoned that if I used those hours to sleep I might secure more time for more productive things. Since then my habit has been to retire between 8–9 p.m. when possible and rise at 4 a.m. This has effected a wonderful revolution for my schedule. The early hours of the day are a time free from distractions and interruptions, a marvelous time for study, writing, and prayer….
Sixth, use drive-time for learning. Driving a car is another mechanical function that allows the mind to be alert to more than what is happening on the roadway. The benefits of audio tape can be put to great use during these times. I can listen to lectures and instructional tapes while driving, thereby redeeming the time.
Finally, in most cases a schedule is more liberating than restricting. Working with a schedule helps enormously to organize our use of time. The schedule should be a friend, not an enemy. I find it freeing in that the schedule can include time for leisure, recreation, and avocation. It helps us find the rhythm for a God-glorifying productive life.
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[The article “Time Well Spent: Right Now Counts Forever” was written by Dr. R.C. Sproul and published in Tabletalk magazine (September 1997, pp. 4–7). This excerpt is reprinted by the kind permission of Ligonier Ministries.]
Popularity: 5% [?]
Mar 6
I’ve always been intrigued by the “____ for Dummies” series. Saw one recently that was “Dreams for Dummies.” How much of a dummy do you have to be to have to read an instructional manual on dreaming…it probably read like this:
Step 1: Prepare for Bed
Step 2: Get in Bed
Step 3: Close Eyes
Step 4: Fall Asleep
Step 5: Dream
Step 6: Wake-up
Step 7: Repeat Nightly
But this cover makes ME feel like a dummy. Am I a dummy for not even knowing what this book for dummies is about?
Popularity: 5% [?]
I’m reading a leadership book my John MacArthur called…wait for it, “The Book on Leadership.” I don’t really understand the title. It may explain itself as the book goes on, but right now, it’s going through the necessary qualities of a leader and examining them in terms of the life of the Apostle Paul.
Here are a few points that i’ve pulled out thus far.
A Leader is Trustworthy. It is an obvious necessity that if you want to be a leader, people must want to follow you first. It’s always so interesting to see people that insist that they are leaders, but yet the line of people following is dwindling. Paul is a great example of a trustworthy leader. MacArthur uses the story of the trust that Paul gains from the Roman soldiers on his long journey to Rome. At times, Paul was asked his opinion for their next course of action. This practice is unheard of for a prisoner, but because Paul was trusted by those around him, and had proven himself time and time again as a man that looked out for the interests of those around him, Paul was known as a trustworthy man.
A Leader is takes the Initiative. How many times whether we are in a position of leadership or not do things not get done due to a lack of vision and/or direction. A common misconception that I think that many of us have, is that Leadership is reserved only for times when viewed as “the leader.” This is not the case. A leader is a leader at all times, even when not in the position of the primary leader. Whether its mobilizing others to follow the direction of the primary leader, or being the first to follow, a real leader takes the initiative to get things done, regardless of position or lack there of. MacArthur uses Paul’s example during the time of potential shipwreck. Again, Paul was a slave, and as such could have easily slid into the background and let ‘the leaders’ make the decisions, but instead, offered potential ideas, and took charge in the void of leadership around him. Paul took initiative regardless of his surroundings.
MacArthur closes charpter two with a profound statement on multiple levels:
But behind the scenes, God was clearly in control. He had His chosn leader in place, ready to take charge, and in spite of the chaos of the situation, God planned to use it for good
Paul was not a CEO, not the leader of a thousand person ministry with a sweet building, but rather just a guy wanting to be used by God, and lead people to a better understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul was a leader in spite of situation, and despite Centurions, Emperor’s and Kings, Paul was ordained by God to lead, and that is why he did it regardless of the cost.
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Sep 19
well, i’ve decided to jump both feet into the world of blogging. i am beginning to grasp the importance of personalizing the space. so bear with me as i figure this stuff out!
on a more intelligent note, i recently finished a book recommended to me from a friend and fellow blogger joshua seller entitled, ’stop dating the church’ by joshua harris.
WOW! what a find. this book challenged me in ways i can’t even explain. it made me re-think what church really meant, and gave me a new understanding and love for both my local church and the BIG ‘C’ church as a body. this a MUST read.
this week finds me anxious with the ministry year and school year well-under way! Looking forward to many more blogs to come.
Popularity: 5% [?]
