Patrick O'Connell

It's Hard But Do The Work

I often resolve to complete a task or project but then find my enthusiasm wane when the cold reality of the work hits. Getting things done is hard. I am a creature of habit prone to find the path of least resistance. (Mostly this works to my advantage, but not always.) I tend to give-up on the most important projects and finish the smaller less meaningful ones. But I know that if I am to make a real difference in the world I need to be able to finish the big projects along with the little ones.

If you've started something and now find yourself losing enthusiasm, I want to encourage you. Do the work. It's hard but in the end, as you're leaning back basking in the glory of an accomplishment, you'll be glad you did.

TV Fast for Lent

I've decided to fast from television for Lent. My estimate is that will give me 3 to 4 hours back every week. I have nothing against TV. I am just trying to become more wise how I spend my time.

As I've grown older I am more sensitive to the finite nature of my time.  I am not interested in being more productive  with my extra time. I suspect I'll just read more. In fact, last week I sat down and read a book about the Civil War in Missouri. I would not have added that to my reading list unless I had the extra time.

If I am going to honor God with my life I must be willing to offer every part of it to him. My time is on the offering table.

Write Down What You Know

A friend suggested some months ago that I should write down what I know about church planting. Since I don't have the time to do it all at once I had the idea for this blog. Writing everything at once is too daunting a task. So I'll write it down in small bits and pieces.

This is merely the lens of my experience of following Jesus to the edge and helping start a church.  And if it helps you build a more Jesus-centered community of impact, then it'll be worth my time.

I am interested in dialogue and ideas and processes and best practices and your experience as it relates to church planting and following Jesus to the fringe. Email me. Twitter me, whatever. Let's get going.

Greatness and Natural Talent Aren't Correlated?

I am not sure if I agree with the thesis of this article, but I did find it interesting and thought I'd pass it along.

According to this article by Geoffrey Colvin at CNN Money, greatness is a combination of hard work and practice. This doesn't refute the fact that some are gifted in certain areas, but very clearly one needs to be deliberatley intentional in the area one is attracted to. There's more to it so check it out for yourself here. I don't think Jesus wants us to strive for worldy greatness if it's not in accordance with His will. Yet, clearly we are designed to work and persevere while here. I'd like to know your throughts.

Levenger

Levenger is a store for 'serious readers.'

It is an online store for all things related to reading. I haven't purchased anything yet, but I've spent a ton of time browsing their site. If you're a reader or you share my penchant for anything related to books, you're going to like it.

Enjoy.

Day Planners Make a Comeback

Found this free website: DIYPlanner. It's a depository of downloadable planning kits run by Douglas Johnston. (Think Day Runner or Planners.) There are some really interesting kits available and like I said, they're all free.

I am giving some thought to trying one. I'd be curious to know if any of you try creating one for yourself.

Making time for projects from 52 projects

Think you have no time to finish all those projects you've started. If you're like me, there a great deal of them started but not completed.

Here's a post about making time to finish those projects by Jeffrey Yamaguchi on his blog, 52 Projects. What Yamaguchi exhorts us to do is to stop wasting our time and get to work.

Here are the essentials:

• Turn off the television
• Get rid of cable
• Limit the time you surf the web
• Stop wasting time reading silly fashion and celebrity magazines
• Schedule in time for projects
• Incorporate projects into other things you need to get done
• Prioritize
• Wake up earlier; work on them during your lunch hour
• Change one habit that consumes--and you know--wastes your time
• Make a list of all the projects you want to complete and get at them

Sage advice and I recommend his blog.