Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - review

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen is a method of being able to collect, process, organize, review, and do all the 'things' that flow our way.

I have used some of the techniques in Getting Things Done (GTD), but never read the book until now. Wow! I can foresee this book being a very helpful tool in managing the 'things' that I am responsible for. Allen gives simple and natural ideas some legs so that people can sleep at night not wondering if there is anything they missed. Business Week says that this book is one of the longest running best sellers.

Bob Hyatt has some helpful thoughts on using GTD as a pastor. David Allen has his own website (davidco.com), which I haven't really perused, but it may be helpful too.

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ - review

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ by Donald Whitney outlines the 'whats' and 'whys' of doing things together as the church.

The book identifies 13 disciplines:

Why go to church?
Why seek baptism in the church?
Why join a church?
Why listen to preaching in the church?
Why worship with the church?
Why witness with the church?
Why serve in the church?
Why give to the church?
Why attend the ordinances of the church?
Why fellowship with the church?
Why pray with the church?
Why learn in the church?
Why research the church?

This volume is solid and readable; Whitney gives some good biblical insight into these disciplines. There are, however, some weakness that I would have liked to have seen addressed. On some of the disciplines (like the ordinances), Whitney doesn't go after as many issues as I would have liked (example from the ordinances: what does it mean to examine yourself? isn't given much explanation). Also, the main question that seems to be addressed is one of individualism - why should I do things with the church versus by myself? This is an excellent and contemporary question, but there is more to thinking about disciplines within the church than this question. It seems that the question of individualism frames the disciplines that were chosen.

I recommend and will probably use this book. For those that enjoyed Whitney's book on 'personal' spiritual disciplines however, this book will seem to lack something.

Bits of Brainerd

Thursday, April 7. Appeared to myself exceedingly ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work. It seemed to me I should never do any service or have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for deaths beyond measure. When I though of any godly soul departed, my soul was ready to envy him his privilege, thinking, “Oh, when will my turn come! Must it be years first!” But I know, these ardent desires, at the and other times, rose partly for want of resignation to God under all miseries; and so were but impatience. Toward night, I had the exercise of faith in prayer, and some assistance in writing. O the God would keep me near him!

1 Corinthians 16 - serving

Miracles Do Happen. Proof.
Originally uploaded by velo_city.

—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—

1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

May we emulate and take our instructions (v 15) from brothers and sisters who serve.

Bits of Brainerd

Lord's day, March 13. At noon I thought it impossible for me to preach, by reason of bodily weakness and inward deadness. In the first prayer I was so weak that I could hardly stand; but in the sermon God strengthened me, so that I spake near an hour and a half with sweet freedom, clearness, and some tender power, from Gen. 5:24, "And Enoch walked with God." I was sweetly assisted to insist on a close walk with God, and to leave this as my parting advice to God's people here, that they should walk with God. May the God of all grace succeed my poor labors in this place!