by Bret Capranica | May 3, 2011 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Time/Life Management
One of the most helpful tools in my time management arsenal has been the weekly review or weekly planning. That is, taking a set amount of time with a prescribed list of actions that help me think through what needs to be done according to priority during the next week. Today and Friday, I will describe this process ““ from its background to its purpose, benefits, timing, problems, and details. Background I was first exposed to the idea of a structured time weekly planning after attending a Franklin Covey workshop on time management. As I look back and prior to what I do now, I did try to plan out my week each week. Out of necessity and from too many weeks of being frustrated that I was never accomplishing what was most important, I would generally try to come up with some sort of schedule. However, after going through Covey”™s approach to thinking through my various roles in life and being intentional about how I would act on those important roles in the next week, I began to become much more purposeful in my weekly planning. In the Covey seminar, we were asked to schedule a 20 minute time each week where we would review our personal mission statement, roles in life, and long-term goals. Based on these, I would put on my schedule and task list what I would do in the next week to enhance those roles and move my goals forward. Then came David Allen”™s Getting Things Done. Covey was good for me in thinking long-term. Allen”™s book was a gold mine for me thinking...
by Bret Capranica | May 1, 2011 | Bookreviews, Christian Living, Featured Articles
The aim of Men of the Word is to paint a biblical portrait of manhood. Rather than appealing to a culturally driven, testosterone imbibed view of what makes a man”™s man, Men of the Word (MOTW) defines qualities of masculinity from biblical biographies. Nathan Busenitz, a former personal assistant to John MacArthur, and current faculty member of The Master”™s Seminary, edits the book. A staff member of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California writes each chapter. Using the lives of men such as Abraham, Solomon, Josiah, Elijah, Timothy, David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Peter, Elisha, and Paul, MOTW biblically chronicles God”™s expectations for men. While the focus of and a few of the applications within the book are primarily for men, these character studies are actually well-written expositions that would benefit anyone. The qualities highlighted in MOTW include what it means to live by faith, find satisfaction in God, treasure God”™s word, pray, worship, fight temptation, repent of sin, stand firm against compromise, lead with courage, love your spouse, shepherd your family, work hard, love your enemies, share the gospel, love the church, and pursue purity. The book also contains some brief questions related to each chapter that would make the book well suited for a small group or men”™s Bible study discussion. If readers desire quick references to biblical passages addressing any of the main subjects of the book, a “Biblical Reference Guide” is included at the end. Highlights for me include John Martin”™s chapter on worship. With John being an accomplished musician, it was refreshing to see worship defined beyond music. His chapter describes lessons from Israel”™s hymn...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 30, 2011 | Twitter
For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life-Ps56.13-bc He Lives! # Worth the read: See What a Morning http://bit.ly/glMQBM # Worth the read: The Overflow of Easter: A Whole Theology of Resurrection in One Chapter http://bit.ly/emzkKP # Check out this SlideShare presentation : Easter Sunday Morning – April 24, 2011 http://slidesha.re/i857PD # Worth the read: Can”™t be bothered to mow the lawn? The My Automower app can help with that! http://bit.ly/f5Hcrp # …we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit…Rom7.6 # Worth the read: Using a Traditional Paper Notebook with Evernote http://bit.ly/eq0VSh # @dougrichey @stevefreels me too bro. Looking forward to the fellowship – & the BBQ. # Worth the read: Listen to the Greek NT for Free! | For His Renown http://bit.ly/hmflJr # Worth the read: Listen to the Hebrew Bible for Free! | For His Renown http://bit.ly/gP4WQ7 # Worth the read: Schreiner”™s Stuff Now Online! | For His Renown http://bit.ly/gZuymB # May my desires be enlarged & my hopes emboldened, that I may honor thee by my entire dependency & the greatness of my expectation. #VoV # @pastorstephen I would recommend Evernote-free and accessible from anywhere. I used to use One Note. # Worth the read: Sojourn Sings Hymns of Isaac Watts http://bit.ly/hcllys # Worth the read: What”™s the Last Thing You”™ve Done to Surprise Your Wife? http://bit.ly/euLmQ9...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 27, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Taking a few mid-week minutes to think about how practical the resurrection is impacting our lives. Click HERE to purchase a copy of John Piper’s book, Desiring...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 26, 2011 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Preaching, Technology
I began using my iPad to preach in October of 2010. Actually, I have used my iPad since I bought it for some teaching, preaching, and other messages. I used it to speak and sing at several funerals. I”™ve used it at a wedding. But in my regular preaching, I”™ve used the iPad every week since late October 2010. No regrets thus far. No debilitating challenges. While there are some potential drawbacks, none have been significant enough to outweigh some of the benefits. Benefits No More Paper & Printers. I typically bought a specially cut and weighted paper on which I printed my sermons. The paper was perfectly suited for the laser printer I used, and was the perfect weight and thickness for my preferences in using paper notes in preaching. I didn”™t have to fold an 8 ½ by 11 sheet in two, creating more bulk. No cutting required. With my 6 x 9 sheet, I could use a larger font (14) and suitably indent sentences without creating too many pages or having to use larger sized paper. But no more. No more laser ink cartridges. No more screaming in agony when half-way through printing a sermon the cartridge begin to quit. No more purchasing the paper; nothing more to file afterwards. I greatly prefer the electronic means to the paper pushing. Less Mess & Bulk. Early in my ministry I carried my notes loose in my Bible. No problem as long as you keep the pages numbered in case they get out of order. Loose leaf notes may be fine assuming you have a tall enough pulpit...
