Why I don’t blog.

I have a bad habit of trying to do everything at once. (Overachiever?  People pleaser?  I’m not sure…)This has the inevitable consequence of nothing ever getting finished. Any progress is very slow because of the other 8-10 tasks that require my attention as well.

In fact, 35 minutes have passed between this sentence and the previous one. I was working on several emails and projects for work. It’s a wonder, really, that I noticed that this document was still open.

…40 minutes…

So, this is why I don’t blog…frequently. I get distracted by other, possibly more important things. But blogging is important too! What to do?

I want to improve this little quirk – it will make me more effective, and reflect God’s character a bit better. He’s a God of order, completing what He begins within the timeframe He lays out. I’ve been praying for God’s help with this in my life…and…

My combative measure has become the awesome power of The List. I love lists. Lists help me refocus and prioritize nearly anything. I can see my thoughts and objectives on paper, and evaluate what needs the most attention. It really is amazing.

The other key ingredient in The List is The Ranking. When I make lists, there is typically no recognizable order to them. After I’ve emptied my brain of tasks, I step back and give them a ranking based on their importance and time-table. This is tricky, because some things are VERY important, but may not need to be finished for weeks – others may be nearly thoughtless, but immediate. So, next to each task I write a number – 1 is top priority…and the numbers descend from there.

Now, the execution. I start with number one, and focus on that one thing until either (A) I’m finished with it, or (B) I’ve hit a point where I can do no more until something else happens (waiting for an email to be returned, or the washer needs to finish..something like that). Then I move on to 2, same thing. IF 1 is not completed, and suddenly I get what I was waiting for, I return to that task as soon as I can to complete it. Then back to 2 until completion or impasse. Then 3. And on and on I go moving down the list crossing things off.

No, I haven’t “arrived” at 100% productivity, but I’m now MOVING in that direction. Constant communication with God is keeping me on track, helping me prioritize, and it is working for me! But that doesn’t mean lists work for you…

What inhibits your productivity?

Are you easily distracted?

What have you done to become more focused/productive?

Behind the Wheel

I know that when I tell you I went to driving school, you’ll think I got a ticket and was ordered by a judge to go or face the consequences. It wasn’t like that at all. I signed up for this – advanced drivers training at Ford’s proving grounds. Test driver training. Certified to drive like a controlled maniac.

Leave it to God to use this day of training to really teach me something about Him..and me.

A Business Lesson

God cares about the details of our lives – everything from our choice of diet to the way we spend our time.  It is no suprise, then, that God cares about how his Church conducts business.  That is what I’ve spent the last month studying..Business in the church.

I’ve been reading Business Management in the Local Church by David Pollock.  Now, I don’t want to bore you with the details of managmenet practices in a church, however there was one key theme that stood out to me: Excellence.

In all areas of ministry, God deserves honor.  Serving as an afterthought, giving only whatever effort it takes to “get by,” is not an option.  Excellence honors God, and reflects His character – something my Pastor tells us all the time.  It’s TRUE!  If I am not willing to serve to the best of my ability, then I should move over and let someone who will take over.

It has been a challenge to push myself toward excellence in serving in this area of ministry.  I’m not trained in business, and only enjoyed number crunching as a hobby.  It would have been easy to simply adapt what I do in my personal bookkeeping to a church setting…but there is much more required within a church.  I’ve had to add time studying the ins and outs of church management in order to make myself ready for this challenge.  There are many things that I thought would work that simply don’t – I’ve had to admit that and grow, asking God for inspiration for something better.

This lesson falls over into every other area of my life.  If I am going to offer my service to God, whether singing, children’s ministry, office related, or in the workplace…God deserves my absolute BEST!  Not only that, but I should be getting better week after week.  Continual improvement. 

Have you learned a lesson like this before?  How did God change you and your ministry?