We all have max obligations that we can take on. What happens when we get overloaded and go above what we can do? Notes from Cal Newport’s show, 279. We have a capacity to accomplish a certain amount of things, what Newport calls "max obligations." When we go over the number of max obligations, we feel…
5 Things for Total Loop Closure
From episode 276 of Cal Newport's podcast, Deep Questions. He talks about five things needed to "close the loops" (to use David Allen's term) in your mind and have a clear head. Calendar. Digital. Sync it with phone to have it with you at all times. Appointments and meetings go on there with relevant information.…
Inverse Law of Accomplishment
From episode 276 of Cal Newport's podcast, Deep Questions. The higher the impressiveness of an accomplishment, the fewer things you can do.
Five Reasons to be Pro-Life
The pro-life position seems to be a political loser since Roe v. Wade was overturned. For example, Ohio just enshrined abortion rights into its constitution. Given the fact that running as a pro-life candidate now seems to be a liability, should Christians, especially aspiring Christian politicians in America, downplay the importance of opposing abortion in…
The Four Laws of Ministry
Most ministry in the church operates according to a few principles, or laws. These four laws of ministry have been developed from the four laws of combat, but they still hold true in my experience. In fact, anytime a ministry does not work out how we'd like, it usually can be traced back to one…
Bible Study as Conversation
What is the meaning of your best friend? Or spouse? Or child? Those are nonsensical questions, aren’t they? We don’t approach the people we love as a mathematical problem to be figured out, or a literary text to be dissected. So why do we approach the Bible in a way that often feels like we’re…
How Do You Hold Your Beliefs? (Determine Doctrinal Rank)
In 1 Corinthians 15:3, the apostle Paul declares that the gospel is "of first importance." In other words, Paul is telling his audience that the gospel is the most important thing for them to know. His words have huge implications for how the church holds its beliefs and how it does theology. For if the…
You Don’t Need to be a Monk to Follow Jesus
It's self-evident that pastors are holier than "regular" people, right? It's obvious that those who leave their home country to take the gospel around the world are better Christians than those who stay and work ordinary jobs, right? Wrong! And the reason why those sentiments are wrong is the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was…
40 Days of Focus
40 Days of Focus: Adapted from Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Lent is an important season in the life of our church for personal spiritual renewal. While the church has historically practiced fasting from food during Lent, we believe that it is prudent in our current time in history to fast from screens and technology.…
Key Ideas from Productivity Books
Deep Work by Cal Newport: Cultivate focus to get important things done 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: There are too many "big rocks" in life. You have to settle. Effortless by Greg McKeown: Bitterness and unforgiveness makes you less productive by clogging up your heart and mind. Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam: Batch small…
Raising Lazarus 