There isn’t one “right” morning routine. It’s built on your values and realities. My reality is self-employed (pastor) and 6 kids. Yours might look totally different. But for some ideas and encouragement, here’s a walkthru of my morning routine, from start to finish, with tips of what makes it work better for me.
If you want to read the first post I wrote on this, you’ll need to go here: How to Build a Morning Routine In 7 Steps.
I am loving Evernote. I had an account with Evernote for a couple years, but I confess I didn’t see the benefits & uses at the time, so I didn’t start using it. Then I read a post by Michael Hyatt on how he uses Evernote, and it opened my eyes to the possibilities. Since then, Evernote has become one of my absolute favorite tools.
It’s really useful on on a personal level — I keep my budget there, gift lists, etc. But in this post, I’ll talk about how I’m using it professionally in my ministry work. Here’s what I’m doing with it, and how it’s making my life easier as a pastor:
I once heard John C. Maxwell tell a story of a man who was angry at being passed over for a promotion. “They can’t do that — I have 20 years experience!” he grouched. “No you don’t!” Maxwell retorted. “You have one year of experience 20 times!”
If you have been in church work for long, you know: Repetition doesn’t mean improvement. You can do something 20 times and not really be any better at it on the 20th than you were last time. Is there a way to change that? Is there a way to make sure you always improve, and next year really is BETTER than last?
Yes! Follow these steps and your Christmas and Easter outreaches will improve year-over-year!
There’s only one thing you need to do, and do it early, while it’s still fresh: Get people together… make lists. Done right, this is REALLY FUN. I have a blast with it every year.
I’ve heard it called in the business world AAR’s (After Action Reports). I’ve heard it called “doing a post-mortem.” (Hope your Christmas service wasn’t that bad!) Whatever you call it, here’s HOW you do it:
Want to read more books in 2016? Here’s a little tip from Michael Hyatt — Don’t feel pressure to finish: “Here’s publishing’s dirty little secret: most books are not worth finishing. Most books could be cut in half and you wouldn’t miss a thing. The key is to read as long as you are interested and then stop.”
Several books last year I read, but didn’t finish — on purpose. But there are some books that I want to finish. Here are a few books I started and want to finish this year:
There’s a running joke among preachers, where sermons are referred to as “Saturday Night Specials.” It’s one of those jokes with an element of truth. Every small church pastor knows the feeling of a busy week of ministry, outside jobs, counseling, maintenance — and an emergency crash sermon prep session on Saturday night. (Or Sunday morning!)
I know the stress & pain in that. Recently, I’ve had to a few times, with our 6th baby arriving in September.
But for some, it’s a distressing, stress-filled, regular occurrence.
Often, it’s just a function of life. But for some guys, it goes deeper — down to a fundamental doubt about whether it’s really a good thing to prep sermons in advance.
Here are 5 reasons why you should plan your sermons in advance:
Looking back over last year, here are the 5 posts that most resonated with my readers.
Most of the pastors who shared in my survey a couple months ago said they were most frustrated with issues related to time & time management. It’s no surprise that this one wound up in the top 5. Few things are more important to time management than how we use our fragile mornings. Take a few minutes & check it out. It’s worth the read, especially here at the first of the year.
I learned something from this post. People like to read about my failures. Learn from my problem, and gather the information you need to follow up well with your guests.
Written & posted in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision re-defining marriage, these two posts were viewed often and shared in those few days as Christians tried to cope with the realities of the new world we are entering. I hope these two columns will be an encouragement.
I said at the time on Facebook, that this might be the most important thing I’ve ever written. I still think that’s true. Share this with your church family, and let it spark a conversation about pastoral burnout in your ministry context. Don’t suffer alone & feel like it’s “part of the sacrifice.” Read this and share your thoughts with me.
I look forward to sharing more with you in 2016. Here’s some of what’s coming up:
Would you click here and take a 3-question survey about what you’d most like to read in 2016? Answering will enter you in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card!
Thanks!
Look forward to serving you this year!
“Leaders are readers. When you stop reading, you stop leading.” I’ve heard that from many leaders over the years, and I agree. My goal for the first couple years of my time pastoring in OKC was to read 40 books per year. Reading is a key measure of your personal growth. But it’s not the only one… I took some years during the growth of my family from zero kids to six kids and read very little. Those years were about growing in character, growing in servanthood toward my family, not so much growing in other kinds of knowledge.
I don’t pretend to have a perfect reading list. I doubt it would work perfectly for you. I probably should read more of this or less of that. But I try to avoid “shoulds” in my reading. I don’t have a lot of time to read, and I’m often interrupted, so I can’t go too deep. So I read:
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking By Malcolm Gladwell
The premise of Blink is that we all make snap decisions, gut-level decisions — and research shows that those decisions tend to be as accurate or more accurate than our thought-through decisions. So, how can we capture and improve the power of our quick decisions? (4/5 stars)
Habit Stacking: 97 Small Life Changes that Take 5 Minutes or Less by S.J. Scott
A very helpful little Kindle book, which really served as my introduction to morning and evening routines. The idea: It takes virtually no willpower to brush your teeth… because it’s a habit. What if we could stack together a bundle of quick habits that you know would change your life? Then, he gives 97 ideas, categorized by life area. (4/5 stars)
Attitude 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John Maxwell
Short read, worthwhile introduction to recognizing negative attitudes in yourself, and directions on how to change and improve them. Anything by John Maxwell is worth (4/5 stars)
John Ortberg’s writing is really wonderful. He’s thought-provoking & eye-opening. In the process, he creates a hunger in me to act, to grow, to know God better… and that’s valuable. (4.5/5 stars)
Living Courageously: You Can Face Anything, Just Do It Afraid by Joyce Meyer
Some have accused Joyce Meyer of being a proponent of “name it and claim it.” This book doesn’t fall under that category, outside of a few places where that influence could be seen. I found the book to be helpful, & biblically focused. (4/5 stars)
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Classic book on temptation and spiritual warfare. If you can read Lewis without laughing with delight, I am sorry for you. (5/5 stars)
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley
An excellent overview of the progression of the church from the apostles to nearly the present day. There is nothing like church history to lend perspective to struggles & controversies in the present day. I listened to an audiobook version in the mornings while doing my morning routine.
Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas
Excellent short biographies of 7 great men, drawing lessons from their lives. The book (as the title suggests) is somewhat thematic. Its’ treatment of each man has to do mostly with how they used (or refused) power & thus expanded their influence through serving. Metaxas’ writing & research is excellent. (5/5 Stars)
Getting Things Done by David Allen
There isn’t any finer book on workflow management than this one. In fact, this is the 3rd time I’ve read it. You can’t manage time, only action. You can’t manage action if you don’t define what the next action is, and capture everything in a trusted system. This book shows you how to do it. (5/5 Stars)
He Wins, She Wins by Willard F. Harley Jr
Good book on negotiation in marriage. Teaches couples to strive for “the policy of enthusiastic agreement” and banish the idea of one partner’s continual self-sacrifice. (I listened to the audio version.) (4/5 Stars) (For a 5 star book by Harley, read “His Needs, Her Needs.” )
Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
Seamands’ classic treatment of healing for emotional damage is powerful, and worth the read even if you don’t feel particularly “damaged.” His treatment of inferiority, depression and especially perfectionism is powerful. If you are a pastor, you should read this, and then preach it. I preached 6-7 messages in a Sunday PM series using the content from this book, to the benefit of my congregation. (5/5 Stars – at this time, on sale for $.1.99 on Kindle!)
Draw the Circle: A 40 Day Prayer Devotional by Mark Batterson
I was not a huge fan of “The Circle Maker” by Batterson. However, I truly enjoyed this 40 day Devotional. I bought copies for our whole church, and we did the 40 days together. We are reaping spiritual benefits still. Batterson knows how to turn a phrase, and make it memorable. The writing is quite good, and the stories and content are inspiring and worthwhile. (5/5 Stars)
Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise
Helpful little book on creating new habits in your life. Your natural resistance to forming a new habit can be overcome by making the habit “stupid small,” like 1 pushup… which makes it easier to actually DO, and therefore do faithfully. (available only on Kindle) (4/5 Stars)
An interesting and easy read on internet marketing, presenting a sales process for knowledge & information products on the Web. I enjoyed it, and it’s immensely helpful. However, it only applies to you if you run a blog or are in sales or marketing of some sort. (4/5 Stars)
Writing Habit Mastery by S.J. Scott
I wanted to write more regularly on my blog. So I bought a book from a guy that I already knew was helpful. What I have come to expect from S.J. Scott’s writing is pure helpfulness in specific areas, with manageable length. Extremely actionable directions for those who are motivated to grow in writing faithfulness. (Kindle Version) (4/5 stars)
Evernote Essentials by Brett Kelly
If you really want to use Evernote for all it’s worth, you will need a guide to learn everything it can do. Evernote Essentials is an effective guide. I read only about half of this one, since I had learned what I needed to know. I may go back and finish it up someday, when I want to go up another level as an Evernote Ninja. (3.5/5 stars)
The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by A. Conan Doyle
The classic. If you don’t have some recreational reading on your list, you should. And if you don’t enjoy Watson & Holmes, I pity you. (5/5 stars)
How to Tell A Story by Donald Miller
Technically, an e-book, which I read on Kindle. No hard copies available. I am interested in becoming a better storyteller, not just for illustrations or “Johnny and Susie stories” but to help me be able to weave people’s lives into the story of the gospel. Miller teaches mostly on the movement & elements of story, rather than speaking techniques. (3/5 stars)
Shave 10 Hours off Your Work Week by Michael Hyatt
PDF book by Michael Hyatt. I enjoy and am helped by most of what Michael writes. This one was no exception. Helpful tips to reframe your work in your mind, and streamline your workflow to consolidate what you do. (3.5/5 stars)
The Virtual Assistant Solution by Michael Hyatt
This book enabled me to process the idea of a secretary or administrative assistant. It’s cheap ($2.99 on Kindle only), and focuses more on how you can coordinate with a “virtual” assistant instead of a secretary. I wound up going with a part-time secretary, but this book helped me process through it. (3.5/5 stars)
I try to read to my children several nights per week. They have started looking forward to it as a highlight of their day. The following books are the ones we’ve read over the past 1.5 years, all of which they enjoyed immensely.
Rush Revere & the American Revolution
The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Magician’s Nephew, The Horse and His Boy, the Last Battle)
In a few days, you’ll gather with family, enjoy old traditions, play special music, and celebrate the birth of a peasant baby born 2,000 years ago in an obscure village in a backwater province in a foriegn country.
Why? What is so special about this day?
It all hinges on who you think Jesus was. This year, as you peek into the manger, consider this question: Who is this Jesus?
S.M. Lockridge says it this way:
The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews
He’s the king of Israel
He’s the king of righteousness
He’s the King of Heaven
He’s the King of Glory
He’s the King of Kings
And he’s the Lord of Lords.
Jesus is the loftiest idea in literature,
The highest personality in philosophy.
The fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He’s the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Savior.
Paul said it like this:
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (NIV)
John Piper puts it this way:
“If you took all the greatest thinkers of every country and every century and put them in a room with Jesus, they would shut their mouths and listen to the greatness of His wisdom.
All the generals would listen to His strategy.
All the greatest musicians would listen to his music theory and His performance on every instrument.
There is nothing that Jesus cannot do a thousand times better than the person you admire most in any area of human endeavor under the sun.”
Here’s how I would say it:
If you put together the entire knowledge of the internet, you have not begun to scratch the surface of his knowledge.
He knows right now, whether you stand or sit, whether you itch or hunger or thirst, and what you thought of 30 seconds ago… and what you will think of 30 minutes from now.
If you could harness the spy satellites from every country and place, he would see more, see further and sooner.
If you could tap every phone and hear every conversation, and see every email, you would still not know as much about what is going on in this world as He does.
The greatest of marksmen cannot be so accurate as He.
If you put him against the military, you cannot imagine the carnage he would inflict on them, and never get a scratch.
Against the best of the weapons, he cannot lose.
If you were to put him against the special ops forces of every country, they would find that there was more power in his word than in all their training.
If you put him in a room with Navy’s new laser gun, he would dwarf its power.
If you pitted him against all the atomic arsenals of the world, what is that against the One who created the atom & knows all of its secrets?
Yet he doesn’t need to use this power… for though mans power can end a life, it has never created life in the priciest of laboratories. But He has; in fact, He is life itself. Man’s power can change a mind, but it has never changed a heart — but he can, and he has… and he does.
If you were in his care, you would be safer with him than with the best security team ever assembled. No lock is safer, no security system more unbeatable, no self-defense course or method as unstoppable.
If you collected diamonds and gold from every country and piled them in a warehouse, he would be richer. In fact, he would own them all, no matter whose name was on the title.
He is everything any boy ever loved in any superhero. He is everything any little girl ever longed for in a handsome prince. He can seem to be late, then swoop in, defeat the enemy and leave their schemes in ruins, save the princess, and ride away into the sunset without breaking a sweat.
He is everything good you have ever seen in a person, everything admirable and strong. He is all the things you ever loved in a man or a woman, all the good and kind and beautiful, with none of the scars of sin.
He is all the wise and powerful, with none of the corruption and lies.
He cannot be voted out, term limited, or deposed.
No coup will ever threaten his righteous reign.
No traitor will ever escape his wrath, and no whistleblower can ever call him to fault.
The Scriptures say it this way, “Of His government and kingdom there shall be no end…”
To know him is to be as wise as Solomon, as rich as Bill Gates, as powerful as all the presidents and prime ministers and dictators combined.
Light is not the fastest human thing… thought is. Thought can travel anywhere in the blink of an eye. But if you let your thoughts race from here to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, you would find that he was already there. Then if your thoughts raced back to the people you love and care for, you would find he was already beside them, before you decided to think of them.
He is faster than the fastest, higher than the highest, greater than the great…
But this Jesus who is unlike anything that has ever existed, is completely and utterly other, and holy, and separate, and above all things…
Became a baby.
A baby!
And they laid him in a feed box for cattle!
And smelly shepherds were his welcoming party.
He was…
“The eternal one, living in a moment of time.
The Omnipresence corralled in a feed box.
The Omnipotent in a helpless infant who could not raise His head.
The Omniscience confined in a baby who would not say a word.
The Christ who created galaxies, in a cave.
For when God would draw near to a cold, cruel, sinful, suffering humanity, he placed a baby in a manger in Bethlehem.”
[adapted from The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, 1986. p. 221]
Let it drive you wild…
let it drive you tears…
let it drive you to awe, wonder, and to worship.
Merry Christmas.
I know that title is pretty broad — I can’t do anything about some of the frustrations in your life. I can’t do anything about that guy whose trash blows in your yard. Or the guy on the interstate who cuts you off with no blinker. And you really can’t do much about it, either. Just get over yourself and get over them. 🙂
But there are some larger, enduring frustrations that I’ve experienced that I bet you have too. And THOSE, I can teach you something about. It’s the frustration that comes with seasons in your life.
I know you’re familiar with the concept of seasons of the year, but you might not have thought of life in terms of seasons.
3 things you need to remember to keep from being frustrated about seasons:
Here are some examples of micro-seasons:
Examples of macro-seasons:
For micro-seasons, you just need to wait them out, and take some short term actions — medication, rest, etc.
For macro-seasons, you’ll need to adjust your attitude, check your values, and engage in personal growth.
You can’t just decide you’re not going to participate in this season any more. You can’t stop most seasons of life any more than you can stop spring or winter from coming.
So the solution to the frustration can’t be found in how to change the season… it’s got to be found in how I respond to it.
The old saying “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what happens IN you,” applies here. Author and holocaust survivor Victor Frankl said,
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom….When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Early in my ministry, when we were frustrated about a season we were facing, Liz and I would often say to each other, dramatially, “Well, in the grand scale of 30 years of ministry…” It was usually good for a chuckle, but it did more. It became a tagline that allowed us to “zoom out” and see the season from the larger perspective.
Be careful of your words. They don’t just reveal your perspective — they help create it! And your perspective helps create your reality… Create wisely.
Kids have been probably the defining season of this part our life. I have a saying my wife and I have laughed over for the last few years: “Someday, I’m going to change the world, but right now I have to change this kid’s diaper.” It helps me laugh, and remember the delicious irony of a young kid that thought he was going to change the world through his career in ministry — then had 6 kids, and discovered that he needed to change himself first.
Sam Chand says, “A leader can only grow up to the level of his tolerance for pain.” Seasons can be full of pain.
But they are also prime places for “the growth that happens before the growth.” You know what I mean by that, right? It’s what Steven Covey calls the “private victory” that always precedes “public victory.”
I know what it’s like to be dealing with a season while wishing to be out “kicking behind and taking names.” But while you’re waiting, don’t waste the time. This is captured beautifully in John Waller’s song “While I’m Waiting” from the movie Fireproof. Check it out if you need some encouragement:
Choose your attitude. Watch your words. Create your plan. You’re going to get through this.
The Christmas season is wonderful — and incredibly busy. The programs, the gifts, the family time, the sermons, the special events, the dinners, the last-minute details… it can all add up to a huge stress load. What if you could take 15 minutes and lower your stress level — feel less overwhelmed, more in control, and ready to get something done? Would that be attractive?
I’m not talking about a massage, a medication, or the proverbial ‘stiff drink.’ Those are attempts to escape stress. I’m talking about looking that giant hairy stress monster in the face & cutting it down to size.
Is that really possible? Don’t doubt me until you’ve tried these 5 simple steps: