Transparency Week–Day #6 – Evening

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 23, 2012 in Personal | 0 comments

Today has been a productive and relaxing day. Friday’s have been becoming a day I take off. I normally do not take the entire day off, but I find it as a pretty relaxing day. The morning was spent working with my son in the garden before I receive an invitation to eat lunch with a member of a another congregation and a preacher in the area.

Here is my fortune cookie from the meal:

The evening turned out to be a blessing as Carrie and I took the kids out to eat due to their great grades. We let them pick, but they were divided on where to eat so we decided on a local Mexican restaurant.

Coming home this evening brought more work in the garden.

Alexis Planting in the Kid’s Garden	Emma Planting in the Kid’s Garden
Sunflowers are Planted	More Sunflowers
Hot Peppers	A 4X4 Garden

Even though I find myself relaxing and working around the house, my mind races of the events and lessons I will present to the congregation. My mind also races regarding an upcoming meeting I will be holding in West Virginia.

Anyway, there are just my thoughts for the day.

Thanks for stopping by,

Transparency Week–Day #5–The Evening

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Mar 22, 2012 in Ministry, Preaching | 0 comments

The video below is the evening video for day #5 of Transparency Week. Today was spent in two big areas: the bulletin and the Bible class.

The evening was spent with my children at soccer practice and attending the middle school production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Here is tonight’s video:

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,

36 hours before Wednesday!

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Sep 13, 2011 in Ministry, Personal | 0 comments

Many dread it, most do it, few love it – some actually enjoy it enough  not to retire! It has become one of the dirtiest words in the English language. The thought of it causes many to cringe and hide, while others welcome the opportunity. Even the media discusses it like the plague, but now, in our current economy, it is a prized possession. What is this thing of which I speak? It is, read for this – WORK!!

My work is my ministry. No matter where I am or what I am doing, it is all about the ministry. I have had many conversations regarding someone spiritual life while building a deck or fishing. Those relationships are not built overnight, they take work.

Ministry is constant – people are looking for a better life every day. Most people want it, but possessing it is a different story. After several years in ministry, I have figured out my purpose – to assist others in creating a better day today for a better life tomorrow based on the teachings of Jesus. Simple…go to Jesus. It seems cliché, but it is the truth.

This year I have began to take a different look at my current schedule. I hesitate to call it a work schedule because it is, but I love what I do.

The past month, I have dedicated Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to full days of work. Literally, after I call Wednesday a day, I have complete 36+ hours of work. I am using Thursday and Friday as relaxing days to read and do further study on topics relating to ministry.

Here is what makes up Monday – Wednesday:

Below is a picture of my home office, looks crazy.

This is the typically shoot my my desk. Below is the larger version with bookshelves above:

Just some thoughts,