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This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "productivity"

Distinguish Between “Idle TIme” and “Leisure Time” to Avoid Wasting Time

April 6th, 2011 | Add a Comment

In my ever-time-consuming search to be more productive, efficient and less of a wastrel, idler and no-goodnik, here is a link I discovered. My wife is a natural at this, though I am not. Here’s to the future! Distinguish Between “Idle TIme” and “Leisure Time” to Avoid Wasting Time. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Computers&Productivity, Personal

Getting Things Done

May 27th, 2010 | 9 Comments

After reading about Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity for well over a year on the internet, I broke down, bought the book…and now am about to join the cult. No, dear pious Christians, it’s not a cult like you think of one, but in the full sense of the word: a cult(ure) of work and productivity and organization. You can find all (and more) you want to know about it all over the ‘net, but the fundamental premise is: get things out of your brain. Put everything on paper. Learn Latin? Write it down. Buy cat food? Write it down. Plan the next phase of your career? Write it down. Get all that stuff out of your brain so that you can process it, file it, trash it … Read entire article »

Filed under: Computers&Productivity, Personal

Lifehacker’s Motivation Boosters

May 11th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Were you the kid who listened to mom’s advice about sweets before dinner, or were you the kid who tried to reshape the frosting so it looked like nothing was missing? If you were the latter, or it feels like that’s still the case, see how kids resisted marshmallows in a famous test. The main connection between all the good little kids who could hold out for a better reward was that they distracted themselves when temptation came up. Distraction, of course, is what you’re trying to stop doing, so we’re talking about avoiding one kind of distraction (wandering into email, getting coffee, checking a favorite web site) by using a more benign form (checking a project status, tidy up … Read entire article »

Filed under: Computers&Productivity

Watching the Wheels on January 4

January 4th, 2010 | Add a Comment

I have no New Year’s resolutions yet. Not at least expressed in any coherent, voiced way. Plenty of nebulous ideas, wish-dreams and desires. One of which is to get working out again. Too long away from Y at this point and the doctor is sceptical of my cholesterol level. At least Jack thinks I’m strong. It ain’t much for wisdom, but here’s my offering: don’t make resolutions too hastily, and never make them by yourself. Sit down and talk with the spouse, the family and whomever about what you want to do. Then do what I haven’t done yet: Write them down. Make them measurable. It’s self-growth cliche, but they really should be SMART (specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely–timed). In other words “work out more” is lousy. “Work out twice … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

Bibleworks 8 Review

September 17th, 2009 | 2 Comments

I bought Bibleworks 3 when I was a seminary student. It was an incredible program back then, helping me extensively with exegetical work for sermons and seminary papers. It was so powerful I found I didn’t use half its features. Years later I upgraded to version 5. There were a few changes, mostly in additional resources that did not come standard with the previous version. If there were more changes, I’m not aware of them. One helpful addition back then: a massive user manual to help with searches. Once established in pastoral ministry, I used Bibleworks in even a more limited way. I would still translate sermon texts, (mostly from Greek), but its heaviest use came from doing phrase and word searches across several English versions at once. For instance, writing a sermon … Read entire article »

Filed under: Computers&Productivity, Theology

Switched to Logos

August 27th, 2009 | 3 Comments

When I was at the seminary I bought Bibleworksto help with translation, exegesis, and Bible study prep. It was a great program and I used it a lot during those years. I upgraded to a new version several years ago, but found I was using it more for just general searches and on the fly translation help–like using a Formula 1 race car to drive a mile to the grocery store. Meanwhile I bought a copy of Luther’s Works on CDROM which used theLibronixLibrary format and did not integrate with Bibleworks. I used it some and realized how useful having one collection of electronic resources would be. So I used some of my professional development money and bought myself a copy of the Logos Oringial Languages  collection (at a huge discount from the MSRP … Read entire article »

Filed under: Computers&Productivity, Personal, Theology

…And the Violent Bear it Away

June 25th, 2009 | 1 Comment

It’s a strange verse in the Bible. The rest of it reads, “”And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matt. 11:12 NKJV) The Fathers understood this in a positive sense: the man finding a treasure in a field sells all to possess it. The Kingdom of God is the pearl of great price. Or as Steve Winwood sang, “While you see a chance, take it.” Lutherans do not do much with this verse or this idea. Lutherans emphasize that the saving power of Christ–salvation is outside of us. That is true. Christ has saved us from the power of sin, death and the devil. But at the same time we have been given the invitation, placed on … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

I Almost Didn’t Read this Post Because Something Else Grabbed my Attention

May 15th, 2009 | Add a Comment

The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the holy fathers recognize it to be the origin of all evils. The person who is given up to distraction has, concerning all subjects and even the most important ones, a very light and most superficial understanding. One who is distracted is usually inconstant. The feelings of his heart usually lack depth and strength; they are not solid but transitory. As a butterfly flits from flower to flower so also a distracted person passes from one earthly satisfaction to another, from one vain care to another.- St. Ignatius Brianchaninov HT: Mind in the Heart … Read entire article »

Filed under: Theology

Do You Fear Success?

May 11th, 2009 | Add a Comment

Here’s a pretty interesting post about the Fear of Success:Getting Out of Your Own Way: The Fear of Success | GENREALITY. I used to think this “fear” should receive the reward for the most asinine psychobabble concept of the century. Fear of failure I could understand; who wants to be on the street. But consider how many people on the verge of success tank themselves, their families, reputations–everything–perhaps there is something to it. Fear of Success perhaps explains why I blog the way I do … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal

“Do or Do not, There is No Try”

May 6th, 2009 | 7 Comments

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. Leonardo da Vinci Likewise says St. James, “Be doers of the Word and not just hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). On this note I am setting another outrageous writing goal for my own self: 40,000 words on my current project due June 21. Over a month to finish my barely-begun, second unpublished, not-very-good novel. I’m going to try to find a widget of some sort to place in the sidebar here to track my progress. All this to keep me accountable. Wish me luck! For bonus points, identify the speaker of the quote in the title… … Read entire article »

Filed under: Personal, Writing&Books

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