What is in Your Toolbox?

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Nov 28, 2011 in Ministry, Preaching, Technology | 0 comments

Not long ago I spent a few hours deep cleaning the garage; a task I have put off for approximately three years – three years!

The task was not difficult; it just took concentrated time and a few hours to work through. The task was simple and extremely needed. You see, I have three children; two daughters and a son, who enjoy rummaging through my toolbox to see what they can find. As a result of their rummaging, I had tools scattered through out my garage and even my house. So, I decided to take on the task of some major cleaning. I sat in the floor of my garage for an hour rummaging through each tool, screw, nail and unknown item placing them in organized sections on the floor.

After all the organizing was done I began to place each one back in my toolbox and tool bag in a useable order. To say the least, every tool I have is organized and can be easily found! Tonight one of our neighbors needed some help with a car problem and ask to borrow my automotive tools. Guess what was easy to find? – my tools! I was actually excited about finding a spark plug gapper because I knew exactly where it was located.

Is your “personal development toolbox” organized and easy to find? I know each individual has a filing system accustomed to his work and his personal needs, but what about your library? Is it easy to find the book you need? I am not a guru on time management, but I am thankful I have a father who stressed time management from my childhood. He stressed it because he knew in whatever occupation I chose I would need it. Here are a few tips and tools I would suggest:

• Handle every piece of mail and email once! Many second, minutes, hours and minutes are wasted due to mail or email many times. Once you receive a piece of mail spend a few moments deciding what to do with it and do it. If it needs a reply, send one; if it needs to be paid, pay it. Schedule time during your day to handle mail.
• Schedule two times a day to handle email! Instead of handling each email as it comes into your inbox, take an hour to two a day. Spend a scheduled amount of time handling email,  instead of a hit or miss system and watch your productivity increase.
• Do not move stacks of stuff! Each of us has stacks of stuff. My stuff is material I need to read. Whenever you start organize your toolbox or workspace, do not move the stack of stuff form place to place. Spend an hour or two dealing with your stack of stuff. Plan time, in the next week, to deal with your stack instead of moving it from the right side of your desk to the left side.
• Spend time planning! Take 15 minutes at the end of each day and plan tomorrow. Spend 30 minutes on Friday (or your last day of the week) scheduling next week. Spend 45 – 60 minutes at the end of the month, planning for next month. Plan, plan plan, or plan to fail.
• Use your computer for a limited amount of time a day. Schedule a block or two of time for computer work. Use your other times for writing, reading, praying, etc. As a technological people, we waste much time surfing the internet, instant messaging, reading email, and the list could go on. Spend a block of time online, instead of the whole day and see how it goes.

Spend time organizing you ministry toolbox and watch how efficient you can be. I will share a couple more tips next week.

Just some thoughts,

Why I Keep a Journal

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Nov 16, 2011 in Ministry, Personal | 0 comments

Last year I began keep a journal to contain thoughts, quotes, articles and various to-do list items for my memory. Before keeping a journal I depended on my memory (ha!), cell phone memo taker, random loose notes, Evernote and a few other options. After hearing Jim Rohn speak on journals and reading an article by Jim Rohn entitled, “What to Write in a Journal,” I decided to make the transition. Now I take my journal with me wherever I go.

Here are some of my thoughts on using a journal:

• Keeping a journal allows me to keep a record of thoughts, ideas and information I want to remember. Instead of writing those things down on a loose sheet of paper, I now have them bound in a notebook to reflect on later in the day or in the weeks to come.
• Having a journal allows me to see how I have grown because it is a record of knowledge and thoughts. As I write my thoughts and goals, I get to reflect on them down the road.
• Keeping a journal is an idea book which sees the development of ideas and the completion of them.

Remember to read the Jim Rohn article on “What to Write in a Journal.”

Just my thoughts,

Antagonists in the Church: Book Review

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Oct 17, 2011 in Book Review, Leadership, Ministry | 0 comments

If you are a minister, read it!

If you are a church leader, read it!

Every now and then you read one book and wish you would have read it years ago. This was one of those books for me. I wish this topic was a class taught during my years studying ministry at Freed-Hardeman University.

The topics of antagonists in the church did not end with the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes of Jesus day, but they continue to exist in the church today. As antagonists have reeked havoc in the past, they will continue to reek havoc until church leaders recognize them and deal with them.

Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk goes through the process of identifying an antagonist and the characteristics the antagonist will possess. The chapters of the book will not only reveal the characteristics and patterns of antagonists, but it will also discusses how to prevent and deal with antagonists in the church.

I highly recommend “Antagonists in the Church”  to ministers and church leaders. If you are currently dealing with conflict in your ministry, order “Antagonists in the Church” and read it before taking your next step.

You can order the book at the link below using my affiliate link and assist in supporting the Preacher’s Pen.

Just some thoughts,

*The post above contains an affiliate link for Amazon. A percentage of the purchase price (4% to 6%)  goes towards my affiliate account.

A Prayer for my Preaching Friends

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Sep 22, 2011 in Ministry, Prayers | 1 comment

“Father,

“As the day breaks and reveals Your glory and Your light, shield my preaching friends today. Their lives are precious in Your sight and they are precious to me. Ministry can be a difficult task, but it is always made greater because You are the protector. Shield them with Your hand and allow the forces that work against them to be put to shame.

“To those seeking to do harm to Your messengers, hinder them. Stop them from disrupting a great work and change their hearts. May their selfish desires be brought low and removed from Your messenger’s path.

“May those being served today have a spirit of willingness and understanding; even when they may not understand. Change the hearts of the hearers and those being served to be open to Your saving message.

“May Your blessings fall like pouring rain on Your servants. Allow their family to receive a double dose our Your blessings.

“Father, my preaching friends have been with me many times when no one else is. I am petitioning You to bless them with Your mighty hand and show them the appreciation I have.

“In Your Son’s name,

“Amen.”

Just my thoughts,

September 14th, 2011 (Transparency Week)

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Sep 15, 2011 in Ministry, Personal | 0 comments

Warning: This week is Transparency Week on the Preacher’s Pen. During this week I am going to share with you some of the insights into my ministry and the work schedule I keep. There are some things I will keep confidential because of the nature of the situation. Many other areas are open to public scrutiny. So buckle up, here we go…

Wednesdays are always fascinating days for my life. It is a day where Bible study and teaching preparation are at an all-time high, but usually a small monkey wrench is thrown into the mix. Usually, the day will go very well, then some small issue appears and creates a slight bit of chaos for the remainder of the day…well it happened!

I am teaching a class on “Attaining Spiritual Maturity.” This class is in its second week and the comments have been excellent. I am trying to get 80% participation from those present and so far we are exceeding that amount. I believe last night, every person spoke in the class. We are not talking 100 people, we are usually around 30, but nevertheless, everyone spoke.

Here is a PDF copy of the lesson for this week:

Lesson #2 – “By Then You Should Know…” (Spiritual Maturity Class)

Here is a PDF copy of the first lesson:

Lesson #1 – “By Then You Should Know…” (Spiritual Maturity Class)

I will be updating the website with these lessons throughout the series. This series is aimed at assisting others in determining their spiritual maturity level and planning to grow to the next. The lessons are also designed as a discussion guide. I find a class grows better during a discussion and I do the facilitating.

Yesterday my monkey wrench came in the afternoon and will be described later. It is a small monkey wrench, but very unexpected. I will fill you in later as I receive some details.

Bible study and prayer filled the day.

Just my thoughts,

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 (Transparency Week)

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Sep 14, 2011 in Ministry, Personal | 0 comments

Warning: This week is Transparency Week on the Preacher’s Pen. During this week I am going to share with you some of the insights into my ministry and the work schedule I keep. There are some things I will keep confidential because of the nature of the situation. Many other areas are open to public scrutiny. So buckle up, here we go…

My home office consists of a small space in our bedroom, because I have no office at the building. Right now, the space that was to be used as an office is classroom space. Having a home office has its privileges and its things to beware. (Click here to read a past article on the benefits of a home office.) Today my office would be a 1999 Ford Ranger with 158,000 miles and counting.

Yesterday morning began with writing articles, emailing some correspondence and getting some information for a trip to Mount Pleasant. Carrie and a few ladies from PTA were at the house organizing information for the schools fundraiser. I am not sure how many people understand what effort the PTA undertakes, but it is massive. With Carrie being the PTA President, she is as busy as someone running a Fortune 500 business.

The journey to Mount Pleasant takes about 25 to 30 minutes. During that trip talk radio or audio CD fill the air. I would rather listen to something knowledgeable than music during trips. I figure that I can spend my time in a car learning or singing. If you have heard me sing, you will thank me for choosing the learning route.

After a brief stop to get a new key made for church, it was off to find the recent visitors and the MIA members. Five visits and one house not found later, I arrived at one of our member’s room in an assisted living center to find no one around. From there I headed to another older lady’s residence and found several of our members playing cards. What a joy it is to see when members get together outside of worship services and invite their friends to join them. That one visit yielded meeting at least 5 different people.

After visiting it was off to pick up the kiddos from school and do a little reading while I wait. Many times my truck (aka – mobile office) is a great place to sit and read or even accomplish some studying. I recommend keeping a book in your car for times to sit and read while you wait.

All is all it was a good day:

• A few articles written.
• Responded and communicated with a variety of people by email, phone and text.
• Meet with the church next door to ours regarding recent area break-ins.
• Watched a pit-bull puppy chase my truck. (Truck won!)
• Found out I am teaching a class I had no idea started this week.
• and much more.

So, what have you been doing this week?

Just my thoughts,