Redeeming Productivity: Recent Episodes
Reagan Rose
Learn how to be more productive from a Christian worldview for the glory of God. Interviews, teaching, and practical advice on becoming a better steward of your life. Hosted by Reagan Rose.
Allergies are annoying. Some are even deadly. But there’s a kind of spiritual allergy in the church that can be debilitating for those seeking to walk faithfully before God.
I'm talking about theoretical Christian living.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
1:21 Why isn't church more practical?
2:58 Fear of legalism
6:06 Sin vs. Wisdom
7:11 We're prideful
8:58 The merchants of milquetoast
11:00 Embracing inconvenience
14:18 Please be specific
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Check out Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
What the Bible says about ambition.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 - Intro
- 0:53 - 1. The wrong ambition2:57 - 2. Ambition is not a sin
- 6:34 - 3. What is ambition?
- 12:50 - 4. How to glorify in earthly ambitions
- 16:20 - 5. You will stand before God
- 17:46 - Conclusion
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Download the 5x5 Focus Fix worksheet: https://redeemingproductivity.com/focus
Three biblical truths about attention.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Disclaimer on Brain Science
2:13 - 1. The Heart Is at the Root
7:34 - 5x5 Focus Fix
7:59 - 2. Beholding Is Becoming
10:52 - 3. Watchfulness Is a Virtue
14:51 - Training Your Affections
17:36 - Look to Christ
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
A limiting belief is an internal conviction holding you back from the life you want. It's such a common phrase in the self-help world that we rarely stop to examine it. In this video, I look at the term biblically and explore how Christians should think about limiting beliefs.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.comTIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - Problem 1: Ultimate Success
2:26 - Problem 2: Utilitarian Beliefs
4:55 - Problem 3: Untrusting Faith
8:10 - Redeeming Limiting Beliefs
12:41 - Confronting Limiting Lies Biblically
14:47 - Final Thoughts
I have been using a standalone Apple Watch as my phone for the past two years. In this video, I'll show why Apple Watch is the ultimate dumb phone, the limitations and how to overcome them, and two different ways to use the Watch as a dumb phone.LINKS MENTIONEDThe case I use https://elrowindustries.com
TinyPod case https://thetinypod.com
Also, look up the "RePod" on AliExpress for a cheaper alternative
Fob strap (cheaper than a case, still allows one hand usage) https://amzn.to/4eMYfSk
Tiny Apple Watch charger https://amzn.to/4vDEXWQ
Write-up on how to set this up https://redeemingproductivity.com/how-to-use-an-apple-watch-as-a-standalone-phone/
Info on Apple Watch for Your Kids https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-for-your-kids/
US Mobile is the carrier I use because they have the simplest standalone Apple Watch plans. This referral code saves you $25 https://www.usmobile.com/referrals?referrer=CB54E65D&name=Reagan&utm_campaign=monster_referral
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
1:46 The Features
3:46 What About GPS?
5:12 Music, Podcasts, Audiobooks
6:35 No Camera?
7:26 What About Uber & Lift?
8:03 MFA/2FA
9:39 Online Banking?
10:35 CarPlay & Battery Life?
11:37 Which Watch to Buy
12:42 Option 1: Tethered Mode
15:03 Option 2: Standalone Mode
19:41 Cases & Accessories
20:53 Recommended Carrier
21:15 Final Thoughts & Recommendations
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Do you see your present situation as a holding pattern, a season that you just need to get through, or do you see it as a sovereign assignment from God?
In this audio-only episode of the podcast, I share a sermon I recently delivered on 1 Corinthians 7:17–24. I pray you find it helpful and encouraging as you see to serve God in whatever calling He has for you.
► Get the Weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Most of us hit summer running on fumes. The first half of the year has a way of grinding you down. We feel this tension between needing to stay the course and also needing to chill out.As we come up on the halfway point of the year, it’s a great chance to take stock, rethink your goals, and make a light plan for the summer that is both restful and purposeful.In this workshop, we’ll put a special emphasis on what we call “Gift Goals.” These are the kinds of intentional efforts that are restful, enjoyable, and slow-paced—the perfect recipe for summer.You'll walk away from this workshop: - With a fresh sense of rest being a gift from the Lord, not a thing to feel guilty about- Knowing exactly which goals to keep, which to kick down the road, and which to drop altogether - And with inspiration and a plan for creating your own Gift Goals: low-pressure, soul-feeding pursuits that make summer feel like the gift God designed it to be—Want to go deeper? The Redeeming Productivity Academy is a 9-week course + community where we build every part of a God-honoring productivity system together. Learn more at https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine plannerhttps://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
I got rid of my iPhone, and my life got better. Here is what it's actually like living without a smartphone, and some answers to common questions.
How I use an Apple Watch as a standalone dumb phone. https://redeemingproductivity.com/how-to-use-an-apple-watch-as-a-standalone-phone/
MORE RESOURCES
► Weekly planning resources https://redeemingproductivity.com/weekly/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:51 Why I Stopped Using a Smartphone
- 4:08 Is this even realistic?
- 6:57 What got better
- 7:50 What was harder
- 9:54 What I don't miss
- 10:35 What I do miss
- 12:02 Tips if you're considering doing this
- 13:41 The Apple Watch dumb phone
Download the free worksheet: https://reagantrose.com/commitment
Many of us go through life leaving a trail of half-done projects in our wake. Here's why and how to become the kind of person who completes what they begin.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Christians must understand that getting stuff done isn't about having a better system; it's about a transformed heart.
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/mornings/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:39 The 3 Levels of Time Management
3:14 The Missing Ingredient
4:36 Walk the Path7:08 The Heart of Christian Productivity
10:32 The Transformed View
13:41 Conclusion
What if the key to nearly every problem in life was just this simple?
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
We tend to think of busyness as the domain of the disciplined. We picture the bustling office worker, the fully-scheduled pastor, or the active homemaker who can do it all, kids in tow. But there is a kind of busyness which, far from being productive, actually serves as a cloak for laziness.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
TIMESTAMPS0:00 Busy or Lazy?0:41 What C.S. Lewis Understood About Busyness4:58 What We're Avoiding7:38 Stop the Machines9:00 The Power of Walking10:33 Next Steps
As far as I can tell, there were three factors that transformed Bible reading from a chore to a joy for me. And if you're struggling to read the Bible consistently, I pray these insights might do the same for you.
Bible Reading Resources:
- Best Bible Reading Plans for 2026
- Morning Routine Planner
- How to Read the Bible Every Day: 8 Ways to Make Devotions a Habit
More Links:
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Planners, Templates, Books
Plan your week workshop: https://youtube.com/live/vHvJIFj3qK4
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro0:34 The Multitasking Myth1:36 Why We Try3:45 It's a Signal6:13 Strategies6:32 1. Name Your Next Action7:36 2. Close the Tabs8:07 3. Create a Container9:17 4. Notice the Urge9:47 5. Apply It Everywhere10:10 Discipline
Plan your week workshop: https://youtube.com/live/vHvJIFj3qK4Learn more about well-done statementshttps://redeemingproductivity.com/well-done/
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Planners, Templates, Books https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Download the weekly planning template to follow along: https://reagantrose.com/weekly
Most Christians feel like their weeks just happen to them. Sunday night comes around and you can't quite account for where the time went. Somehow the things that actually matter kept getting pushed aside by the urgent and the trivial.
That ends this week.
In this live workshop, we're going to tear apart your current schedule and rebuild it from the ground up. You'll walk away with a weekly template that reflects your actual priorities, your calling, and your God-given rhythms.
Want to go deeper?
The Redeeming Productivity Academy is a 9-week course + community where we build every part of a God-honoring productivity system together.
Learn more at https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy
This is the index card system I use to keep track of prayer requests and answered prayers. It's completely transformed my prayer life. In this video, I'll show you how to set it up for yourself.
Watch the first lesson from Redeeming Productivity Academy: https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 The System
- 0:17 The Elements
- 1:42 Formatting the Cards
- 4:33 Answered Prayers
- 6:08 Q&A + Tips
- 9:15 An Encouragement
LINKS
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Books, Paper Planners, and More: https://store.redeemingproductivity.com
Constantly busy? In this video, I'm exposing five lies about work and busyness that may be fueling your exhaustion. And we look at what the Bible actually says about rest, productivity, and enough.
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
This week, I celebrate 5 years doing Redeeming Productivity full-time. Here how I got here, lessons learned, and what's next.
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 5-Year Milestone
0:37 How I Got Here
15:00 Lessons Learned
22:50 What's Next
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Free morning routine planner https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
An overflowing inbox can be demoralizing and time-consuming. For better or worse, however, email is still a means by which we can love our neighbor, whether they are family, a coworker, or a stranger.
I don’t have a silver bullet strategy for you (short of nuking your Gmail account), but I did want to share a few simple habits for inbox management that you may find helpful.
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.Download free morning routine planner: https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.Download free morning routine planner: https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Get the Christian Productivity Planner for Notion https://christianproductivity.comTHE BOOKS1. Superbloom by Nicholas Carr2. Divine Providence by Stephen Charnock3. The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott5. Against the Machine by Paul KingsnorthPersonal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Most New Year's Resolutions fall off before February. In this episode Reagan talks about why change is so hard, and how God's Word can help us reach our goals and do it in a way that honors Christ.
Download the workbook https://redeemingproductivity.com/plan-your-2026-for-the-glory-of-god/
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Register to download the workbook: https://redeemingproductivity.com/plan-your-2026-for-the-glory-of-god/Join Redeeming Productivity Academy: https://redeemingproductivity.com/academyGet clarity on your God-honoring priorities, organize goals around those priorities, and create a schedule so you make consistent progress in the year to come!
Come to the free workshop on December 16th: https://redeemingproductivity.com/plan-your-2026-for-the-glory-of-god/Today is my 40th birthday. Here are 40 lessons I've learned.
Here's a written version of the 40 lessons: https://redeemingproductivity.com/40-lessons-from-turning-40/
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Here's how to create a simple tool called a "To-Love List," that will help you keep up with your relationships so you can steward them well for the glory of God.► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/► Get the Goal Plannerhttps://redeemingproductivity.com/product/waypoints-goal-planner/► Get the Notion Template https://christianproductivity.com
The word "glory" appears over 600 times in the Bible. But what exactly is the glory of God? And what does it mean for a Christian to "glorify God"? Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
How Christians can create a Christ-honoring vision statement to live more effectively.
Get the morning routine planner: https://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Habits are character. So when we change our habits, we are not just doing things differently, but becoming someone different.
Download the Redeeming Productivity Habit Tracker https://redeemingproductivity.com/the-bibles-secret-to-lasting-habit-change/
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Most productivity advice tells you to go faster, hustle harder, and get everything done. But true, biblical productivity is about faithfulness, not frenzy. In this video, I share my “Don’t-Do List”—9 things the world calls “productive” that I absolutely refuse to do.
Personal productivity from a Christian worldview for the glory of God.
► Get the weekly newsletter https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter/
► Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
► Use the Notion Planner https://christianproductivity.com
Do you ever feel like your phone is controlling you more than you’re controlling it?
I’ve been there. And in today’s video, I want to help you identify problematic screen time—and give you some strategies to reduce it without guilt, legalism, or trying to cut technology out of your life completely.
Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Producti
How to get out of the September Slump and back onto a God-glorifying path in the final months of the year.
Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
A three-part method for fitting the writing life into real life.
Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
This is a guide for how to study the Word of God using hierarchical Bible highlighting. This episode is highly visual, so you may want to watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify instead of just listening only.
Free Workshop: Post-Summer Productivity Reset
Bible Highlighting Supplies
- Highlighters: https://amzn.to/3JR4Qzm
- Archival pens: https://amzn.to/4psAmn
- Pen case: https://amzn.to/4p8gNAF
Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Feeling overcommitted? Learn how cutting back can help you finish the year strong and focused on what matters most.
Free Workshop: Post-Summer Productivity Reset
Links
- Commitment audit worksheet:
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Feeling like you can’t keep up? Discover why productivity won’t save you—and the biblical standard that actually matters.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Download the 5x5 Focus Fix worksheet: https://redeemingproductivity.com/focus
Our attention spans have dropped dramatically. This is a problem for everyone. But the issue of lost focus should be especially important to Christians, who view our lives not as our own but as a stewardship given to us by God.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Everyone’s addicted to their phones… but why doesn’t anyone seem to care?
In this episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show, Reagan explores the settled science behind smartphone addiction, the spiritual consequences for Christians, and how embracing intentional inconvenience can help us break free.
If you’ve ever felt dominated by your devices, this episode will challenge you to rethink “normal” and pursue a more purposeful, God-honoring life.
Links
- Read the essay this episode is based on.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Find a written version of this episode with additional content and footnotes at redeemingproductivity.com/transhumanism
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
From Bible reading, book notes, quotes, ideas, goals, or whatever else. Having a place to store your thoughts is increasingly important in today’s information-saturated world. But how do you build a personal note-taking system that can store your thoughts without itself becoming an onerous burden to maintain?
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
A recent MIT study showed that writers who depended on large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for an extended period of time may be in danger of stunting their ability to write, recall, and think clearly. How should Christians think about our engagement with AI, based on these findings?
The study: https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Why do I have to work?
To answer that question, we need to see what God's Word says about His purposes for work. And when we do see his grand plans for our work, we'll find ourselves asking a different question entirely... Why do I get to work?
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Many believers want to lead slower, more meaningful lives. But is simplicity a selfish desire? And is slowing down even possible in today's world?
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Three biblical reasons you should care about being on time, and five strategies to improve your punctuality.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
God has gifted many believers with incredibly sharp minds. How do we steward our minds? The Bible calls us to both guard and grow our minds.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
You can become the most efficient and effective person alive, and you'll still be a time-bound creature living in a fallen world.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Biblical productivity emphasizes the purpose and motivation behind accomplishment as taught in the Bible.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Time is short. But it’s not too short to fulfill our calling. Psalm 139 shows we have enough time, but there's not a moment to waste.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
David Kaywood is the creator of Pastors & Productivity, a newsletter designed to help pastors avoid burnout, stay healthy, and get the right things done.
Subscribe to David's substack at https://www.pastorsandproductivity.com/
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy.
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
It's been a year since I deleted all of my social media accounts. Here are 9 lessons I've learned since leaving the platforms:
- I should have done this sooner
- Convenience is a vice, not a valid excuse.
- When you limit options for procrastination, you procrastinate less.
- When you tune out you’re not missing out, you’re gaining perspective.
- Leisure with other people is harder but more fulfilling.
- Boredom is the space where creativity happens. But nowadays boredom must be fought for.
- Massive results come from massive change, not tiny tweaks.
- Business growth is fueled by extreme focus.
- You can’t effectively steward your life with a divided focus.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
It's a New Year. Maybe you're feeling excited, maybe you're nervous, or maybe you're so busy you don't have time to know how you're feeling. But if you are a Christian, you can approach the New Year—with all its goals and trials—with confidence.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
I’ve studied dozens of annual planners as I’ve been creating the new Waypoints Goal Planner. And I wanted to share some principles that might help you as you hunt for a new planner for the year.
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
This is the recording from our live workshop last week. Get clarity on your God-honoring priorities, organize goals around those priorities, and create a schedule so you make consistent progress.
- Download Workbook
- Download Slides
- Download "Strokes Tracker" Worksheet
Other Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Register for the free Plan Your 2025 for the Glory of God workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k0e6Ga9JQeOaeturDnLa_Q#/registration
Here's my step-by-step system for prioritizing your commitments so you can cut through the noise and start working on what matters most.
Commitment Audit Worksheet https://redeemingproductivity.com/commitment-audit/
Links
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Chapters0:00 Intro1:00 Plan Your 20252:14 Commitment Audit3:54 Pray for Wisdom5:25 List Your Commitments7:40 Categorize13:19 Delete13:47 Delegate14:58 Delay16:56 Do19:59 Thank God & Get Going20:42 Outro
Register for the free Plan Your 2025 for the Glory of God workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k0e6Ga9JQeOaeturDnLa_Q#/registration
Tiny pockets of time—5, 10, 15 minutes—add up. Redeeming the pockets of time means not wasting them but employing them well to serve Christ, love our neighbors, and steward these lives for the glory of God.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Gratitude journals, vision boards, and daily affirmations are standard practices in self-development. But they are often built on unbiblical assumptions.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
They say the average adult make around 34,000 individual decisions per day. So how should we approach decision making as Christians?
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
When you hear the word "leisure," what comes to mind? Do you picture somebody laying back, being fed grapes, and being fanned? Or do you imagine yourself lying on the couch watching a movie or scrolling the phone? Or is leisure simply what we do when we're not working?
In this episode, we look at how Christians can best use their time for rest, relaxation, and entertainment to glorify God.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
What am I supposed to be doing with my life?
God has a specific calling for your life, but often we struggle to figure out what that is.
In this episode, Reagan shows how individual believers figure into God's plans for the ages, and questions we can ask to determine exactly where we fit in our homes, jobs, and churches.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Have you ever felt trapped by a lack of motivation? You know what you should be doing, but you're just so overwhelmed that you can't seem to get yourself up and go? You may be stuck in the procrastination spiral. Thankfully, there is a way out.
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
What do you do if your biggest issue isn't laziness, but that you can't get yourself to stop working when you should?
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
You can’t change every area of life at once when trying to grow in faithfulness. Here’s a strategy for systematically addressing weaknesses while keeping the rest of your life running smoothly.
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Starting a side project to make some extra cash can be tempting. But make sure you count the cost before jumping in with both feet.
In this episode, Reagan shares some of the benefits and downsides of side hustles and four biblical principles to consider.
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
You manage your time based on the outcome you want to achieve. So, how does the fact that we will live for eternity transform how we manage our time in this life?
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the newsletter.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Use the Christian Productivity Planner
Five simple strategies for getting more done for the glory of God.
Goal planning worksheetWeekly schedule Google Doc
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Recently, the folks from Living Waters commented on self-development books and how Christians should treat them. Here are my thoughts on what they had to say, where I agree and perhaps disagree with their criticisms.
Watch the original video from Living Waters
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
A dead-simple weekly review strategy for Christians who want to get more done. Follow this step-by-step plan to more intentionally steward your weeks.
Download the worksheet
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
How do we set ambitious goals without being disappointingly unrealistic in our daily plans?
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Working from home provides greater flexibility, but it also comes with it’s fair share of temptations. How can Christians best glorify God through remote work?
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Links Mentioned:
- When No One Is Watching: The Heart of a Christian Remote Worker
- How to Bless Your Employer While Working Remotely
At creation, God exemplified a pattern for our work days. And even with the curse, there is still a satisfaction that comes from the completeness of a day of work.
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Your reputation says a lot about you. What would it look like if you were known as someone who used their time wisely?
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
I recently completed my annual review of my personal 5-year plan, and I wanted to share some insights on long-term planning and a simple framework for creating your own plan.
Go Deeper:
- Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sometimes we can treat sleep like it's the enemy of productivity. But a biblical theology of sleep helps us see sleep for the gift it is.
We also look at a new evening routine following the acronym W.R.A.P., that can help you sleep better and ready yourself for a productive morning.
Time Stamps:
0:00 The Enemy of Productivity?
2:35 Theology of Sleep
11:04 W.R.A.P. Evening Routine
12:07 Write
13:11 Read
14:38 Avoid Screens
16:28 Pray
18:14 Conclusion
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Reagan answers productivity questions from podcast listeners.Timestamps:0:50 Overwhelmed Mom4:40 Accountability When Working Alone8:19 Starting a Writing Ministry12:02 Fighting News Distraction21:30 Morning Routines17:58 Redeeming Free Time
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
What if, in an age of angst, overwhelm, and busyness, boredom is exactly the thing we’re missing?
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
A step-by-step process for becoming a more faithful steward in every area of life.
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
Why you constantly take on more than you can handle, and how viewing commitments as debt can help you slow down.
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
A replay of our live event on the 5 keys to faithful time stewardship.Get the slides and watch the video version. Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
A Christian perspective on Cal Newport's Slow Productivity.
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
Consistency is character. Here's a three-step plan for growing in consistency in every area of life, starting with prayer.
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Explore 1-on-1 coaching
Here's an update on what it's been like being entirely off social media and answering some of your questions.
- What's it been like being off for 4 months?
- How do I run an online ministry without social media?
- Tips for leaving social media
Get the brand new Christian Productivity Planner for Notion at christianproductivity.com
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Many of us are on a quixotic search for the perfect to-do list app. Here's why you'll never find it, and what to do instead if you want to keep your tasks and projects organized without getting overwhelmed.
Get the brand new Christian Productivity Planner for Notion at christianproductivity.com
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
A guide to planning your week so you can better honor God with your productivity.
Get the Optimize Your Week course. Get 38% off using the code “IDEALWEEK” at checkout.
Download the ideal week Google sheet.
Download the morning routine planner
Go Deeper:
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
When you idolize competence, productivity becomes a drug.
In this episode, Reagan explores a common way productivity can actually become a hindrance to believers.
- Join the weekly newsletter.
- Support the channel on Patreon
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Academy
Lack of preparation is the main reason people fall off the wagon with their morning routines. Here are three things you should do to prepare for your morning routine so you can be more consistent.Free morning routine planner: https://redeemingproductivity.com/morningMy membership program for productive Christians: https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
Many of the people who talk about productivity also self-identify as minimalists. What is minimalism and is it something Christians should embrace in our pursuit of God-honoring productivity?
Many of the people who talk about productivity also self-identify as minimalists. What is minimalism and is it something Christians should embrace in our pursuit of God-honoring productivity?
Shared more of my thoughts on this in this article: https://redeemingproductivity.com/minimalism/
Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com Membership: https://redeemingproductivity.com/academyPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/redeemingprod
I've been inactive on social media for six months, and I finally decided to finalize the decision and completely delete all my accounts.
In this episode, I share the five arguments that convinced me to fully and finally quit.
- Support the show on Patreon
- Courses, books, membership, coaching, & more
At the start of the New Year, I want to encourage you to resolve to read your Bible more because Christian maturity is downstream from knowing the Scriptures.
- Bible Reading Plans for 2024
- Support the show on Patreon
- Courses, books, membership, coaching, & more
A little behind-the-scenes reflection on 2023 and some of my plans for the coming year.
P.S. Join Redeeming Productivity Academy before the end of the year to lock in the lowest price it will ever be. Price goes up on January 1st, 2024.
In this workshop, we walk you through a step-by-step process for crafting a Christ-honoring 2024.
Watch the webinar & download the workbook: https://redeemingproductivity.com/2024
Join Redeeming Productivity Academy: https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
Reading is a skill that provides a lifetime of value. Here are a few tips I've picked up over the years that have helped me become a better reader.
Five questions to ask when setting God-glorifying goals
-
What is my desired outcome?
-
Why do I want to reach this goal?
-
Where and When will I work on this goal?
-
Who will keep me accountable?
-
How does this goal honor God?
Join us on December 15th for a free annual planning workshop!
Plan Your 2024 for the Glory of God
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_elx4_eqWSoyBeAZNNjfO-Q
Download my goal-setting worksheet.
Plan Your 2024 for the Glory of GodCome to our free workshop on December 15th:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_elx4_eqWSoyBeAZNNjfO-Q
Last month, I read Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age by Samuel D. James.In the book, Samuel explores how the connected internet shapes not just our minds but, more importantly, our hearts. The book goes deeper into the spiritually formative power of the internet than anything I've read before.
The podcast returns!
Everyone wants a more balanced life. But is balance really what Christians seeking to steward their lives for God should look for?
Get my free morning routine planner:http://redeemingproductivity.com/morning/
No one wants to be called a quitter. But even good things need to come to an end eventually. What are the principles we can use to determine when it's time to say goodbye to a project, job, or opportunity?
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"
https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
Christian optimism isn’t just toxic positivity. In this episode, Reagan makes a biblical case that optimism is a feature of our faith and not a personality trait. He discusses the practical benefits of being optimistic, why it’s a helpful trait to cultivate, and what the Bible says about worry and anxiety.
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"
https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
In this episode, Reagan offers a reframing of delegation—not as a way to shuffle your responsibilities off onto others, but as a way to disciple them and help them grow.
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- Delegation & Discipleship article from Focus on the Family
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
We all want to squeeze more things into less time. But over-optimizing your life may cause you to miss out on divine appointments.
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- "Don’t Reap to the Edges of Your Life" by Brandon Cooper
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
A review of five new practices and apps I'm using to help me focus and be more productive. In this episode we talk about Notion, Readwise Reader, limiting social media usage, not using my phone in the house, and planning my weekends in advance.
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
In this week’s episode, I am joined by Tim Challies, who for the past 15 years has been posting daily at the incredibly popular Christian blog Challies.com. Tim has also written several books including Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity. In this interview, we cover a variety of topics including calling, blogging, daily routines, and honoring Christ with our work even when facing health-related limitations. Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE" https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n Check out Tim’s blog at Challies.com Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist Support the show on Patreon
The gospel changes our eternal destiny, but the gospel also should reshape our view of life, purpose, work, and productivity.
Get 30-Days Free of Covenant Eyes with Promo Code "ROSE"https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/DVL76n
- Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
- Support the show on Patreon
Why pastors, of all people, should concern themselves with personal productivity and time management.
Links
Read the original article on Focus on the Family
A sample schedule for pastors by Paul Carter
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Support the show on Patreon
But when we do good to look good, we do wrong.
Links
Try Sunsama free for 14 days
Show Notes
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
Support the show on Patreon
Motivation isn't a mystery.
Links
Try Sunsama free for 14 days
Show Notes
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
Support the show on Patreon
Personal productivity provides a structure that enables both spiritual growth and fruitfulness for Christians.
Links
Try Sunsama free for 14 days
Show Notes
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with our smartphones. We enjoy using them, we know they can make us more productive. But at the same time, they tend to be the biggest source of distraction in our lives. How can we navigate the relationship with our phone with wisdom? In this second installment of our Smartphone Emancipation series, we look at several strategies you can take to have a healthier, more God-honoring relationship with your phone.
Links
Show Notes
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with our smartphones. We enjoy using them, we know they can make us more productive. But at the same time, they tend to be the biggest source of distraction in our lives. How can we navigate the relationship with our phone with wisdom? Or should we just cast our iPhones into the sea?
Links
Get my books
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter and morning routine planner, Reagan’s Roundup
I wrote three books in the past two years. In this episode, I break down the process I used to plan and write while working full time and raising a young family. Even if you're not an author or aspiring author, these principles apply to working on any large scale project.
Links
Get my books
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
If you want to be growing spiritually you need to be in God's Word. Here's a roundup of 9 Bible reading plans that can help you stay on track this year even if you're short on time.
Links
Download links for all Bible reading plans mentioned
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Sign-up for Redeeming Productivity Academy waitlist
Get my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
Become a more organized, consistent, and productive Christian in 2023
Redeeming Productivity Academy is an online membership program that equips believers with the plans, tools, and support they need to get more done for the glory of God
Doors are open until Saturday, December 17th. Spots are limited!
Enroll here:
https://redeemingproductivity.com/academy/
The world says your life is your own, but the Bible says you were bought with a price. This changes everything about how we approach our work and life itself. This episode is an excerpt from the audio version of my new book, Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God.
Links
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Learn Christian productivity at Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sign-up for my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
This is a recent sermon I gave on Psalm 90 and the brevity of life.
Links
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Learn Christian productivity at Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sign-up for my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
This may be the missing ingredient in your Christian life.
Links
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Learn Christian productivity at Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sign-up for my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
3 reminders for when you find yourself feeling envious, disappointed, or just plain discontent.
Links
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Learn Christian productivity at Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sign-up for my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
Is planning a failure to trust God? Here's how the apostle Paul thought about planning and what we can learn from him.
Links
Buy the Redeeming Productivity book
Learn Christian productivity at Redeeming Productivity Academy
Sign-up for my free weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
Ask ten Christians what they think about video games, and you're likely to get ten opinions. This episode is a discussion between Reagan Rose and Patrick Miller about how Christians should think about the place of video games in their lives. Patrick is a pastor as The Crossing Church in Columbia, Missouri, and co-host of the podcast Truth Over Tribe.
Episode Links
- Follow Patrick on Twitter
- Check out the Truth Over Tribe blog and podcast
- My book, A Student's Guide to Gaming
Other Links
This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at check out to try it free for 30 days
Are you a Christian man who feels stuck? Check out https://www.menneedhelp.org/
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I talk with David Kaywood, Senior Associate Pastor of Eastside Community Church and the creator of Gospel Relevance. David is a fellow Christian productivity aficionado and in our conversation, we discuss what makes Christian productivity unique and trace the history of the movement that’s redefining how believers get things done for the glory of God.
Guest Links
- David's blog: gospelrelevance.com
- David's article on the History of the Christian Productivity Movement
Other Links
- This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at check out to try it free for 30 days
- Are you a man who wants help in his Christian walk? Check out the new book Surviving the Trenches: Killing Sin Before Sin Kills You.
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
How do we plan for the future without falling in love with money? How can believers view retirement as a stewardship instead of just some kind of permanent vacation? In this episode, I speak with Chris Cagle, of Retirement Stewardship, about the principles Christians can use to be wise and intentional about retirement and honor God in the process.
Guest Links
- RetirementStewardship.com
Other Links
- This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at check out to try it free for 30 days
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I talk with Dustin Benge about how Christians can utilize social media in a God-honoring way, not get sucked into the outrage mob, and operate online with integrity. Believers often decry social media as a waste of time, but in just a few short years Dustin has accrued over 75,000 followers on Twitter by just following the strategy of simply "posting truth." Dustin shares valuable insights into how he thinks about his social media presence as an extension of his ministry and a stewardship from God.
Dustin is the author of The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church. He is also the Biblical Spirituality & Historical Theology Professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as the Vice President of Communications.
Guest Links
- Follow Dustin on Twitter
- Learn more about Dustin's Books, Podcast, and Newsletter.
Other Links
- This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at check out to try it free for 30 days
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, we look at a guy who makes just $20k/year working 1-hour per week. Is that laziness or contentment? We also discuss whether or not financial freedom or time freedom are legitimate goals for a Christian to pursue.
Links
- This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at checkout to try it free for 30 days
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I'm joined by Marci Ferrell, the creator of Thankful Homemaker. Marci provides truth-filled, gospel-driven encouragement to homemakers who amid their ordinary days desire to honor and glorify God in all things. In our conversation, we discuss Marci's testimony, the challenges full-time homemakers face, contentment, and—of course—being productive in the home.
Links
- This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at checkout to try it free for 30 days
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Are you stewarding them well? In this episode, I talk about one of the most overlooked productivity advantages Christians have and how to utilize your unique giftings to get more done and bring God more glory with your life.
Links
This season is sponsored by Covenant Eyes – Use code "ROSE" at check out to try it free for 30 days
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, we talk about the real temptation to let work and productivity consume your life. If we aren’t careful we can become disconnected from creation, our relationships, and even God. But if we approach productivity correctly, it can be a vehicle for greater faithfulness.
Links
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
Christian productivity is all about stewardship. In this episode, I take an in-depth look at what the Bible says about stewardship in Matthew 25:14–30. This was a sermon I recently delivered at Harvest Bible Church Detroit.
Links
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kelly Kapic. Dr. Kapic is the author of You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News. We talk about how often our thinking about productivity does not take our finitude into account, how love is one of the most inefficient things you can do, and why our expectations for what we can get done in a day are so out of whack.
Quotes
“I’m not here denying the reality of sin, but I am here deeply concerned that we have misunderstood what it means to be a creature.”
“God is calling us to be human, not superhuman. The Christian life is not superhuman life. It’s just human life.”
“Probably one of the most inefficient things you can ever do is love. Anything that you love requires your time, your attention, and your energy, and it makes demands on you. And so when productivity and efficiency become our highest value, often what’s happening is we’re trying to gain control of our environments. And the way you do that is by putting anything that will make demands on you at a distance. And that makes love hard, if not impossible.”
“Part of the goodness of creation is we were made to be dependent on God, on our neighbor, and on the earth. That is not a result of sin. Dependence isn’t a result of sin. Sin just distorts those dependencies.”
Links
Get Dr. Kapic’s book You’re Only Human
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
What do Jordan Peterson, Rachel Hollis, and Dave Ramsey all have in common? According to one writer, these three represent the inroads that secular self-help has made into the church. But why have these gurus have become so influential in our churches? Is there an area of Christian living that the church has been deficient in addressing? I think so.
Links
Looking for Wisdom Among the 'Christian' Gurus by Samuel D. James
John MacArthur on Jordan Peterson's popularity among Christians.
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
What do Jordan Peterson, Rachel Hollis, and Dave Ramsey all have in common? According to one writer, these three represent the inroads that secular self-help has made into the church. But why have these gurus have become so influential in our churches? Is there an area of Christian living that the church has been deficient in addressing? I think so.
Links
- Looking for Wisdom Among the 'Christian' Gurus by Samuel D. James
- John MacArthur on Jordan Peterson's popularity among Christians.
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I’m joined by Scott Kedersha. Scott is the Marriage and Family Pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He writes about dating, marriage, and family relationships at ScottKedersha.com, and is the author of Ready or Knot: 12 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have before Marriage. Our conversation is all about being intentional in the most important earthly relationship you have.
Links
Learn more about Scott at ScottKedersha.com. Get his book Ready Or Knot?, and check out his 124 Killer Date Night Ideas.
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I’m joined by Scott Kedersha. Scott is the Marriage and Family Pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He writes about dating, marriage, and family relationships at ScottKedersha.com, and is the author of Ready or Knot: 12 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have before Marriage. Our conversation is all about being intentional in the most important earthly relationship you have.
Links
Learn more about Scott at ScottKedersha.com. Get his book Ready Or Knot?, and check out his 124 Killer Date Night Ideas.
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I celebrate the milestone of doing Redeeming Productivity for one full year full time. And I share some of the lessons I've learned about productivity, entrepreneurship, and just trying all kinds of different things to make RP sustainable.
Links
- Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I celebrate the milestone of doing Redeeming Productivity for one full year full time. And I share some of the lessons I've learned about productivity, entrepreneurship, and just trying all kinds of different things to make RP sustainable.
Links
- Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
The Puritans were serious about living lives that count for God's glory. In this episode, I speak with pastor and Jonathan Edwards scholar, Matthew Everhard. We talk about what modern Christians can learn from Edwards's 70 resolutions. We also talk about the value of weekly routines and what Matthew has learned from taking notes using the same systems Edwards did.
Links
- Get Matthew Everhard's book, Holy Living: Jonathan Edwards’s Seventy Resolutions for Living the Christian Life
- Check out his YouTube channel.
- Listen to my first interview with Matthew, RPS #55 — Bible Notetaking Systems with Matthew Everhard
- Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
The Puritans were serious about living lives that count for God's glory. In this episode, I speak with pastor and Jonathan Edwards scholar, Matthew Everhard. We talk about what modern Christians can learn from Edwards's 70 resolutions. We also talk about the value of weekly routines and what Matthew has learned from taking notes using the same systems Edwards did.
Links
- Get Matthew Everhard's book, Holy Living: Jonathan Edwards’s Seventy Resolutions for Living the Christian Life
- Check out his YouTube channel.
- Listen to my first interview with Matthew, RPS #55 — Bible Notetaking Systems with Matthew Everhard
- Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
- Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
- Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
It can be tempting to believe that because we are just spiritual people our physical environments don’t affect us. But they do. And often the best thing you can do to become more disciplined is not to rely on willpower, but instead, curate an environment that fosters the kind of habits you want to grow.
Links
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
It can be tempting to believe that because we are just spiritual people our physical environments don’t affect us. But they do. And often the best thing you can do to become more disciplined is not to rely on willpower, but instead, curate an environment that fosters the kind of habits you want to grow.
Links
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Martin who is the author of the new book Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media. We discuss how social media is affecting us and how Christians should think about engaging online.
Links
Get Chris Martin’s new book Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media
Chris’s Newsletter, Terms of Service
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Martin who is the author of the new book Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media. We discuss how social media is affecting us and how Christians should think about engaging online.
Links
Get Chris Martin’s new book Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media
Chris’s Newsletter, Terms of Service
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In November I switched from an iPhone to a dumb phone to promote focus and more engagement with real life. I thought I knew what I was getting into. I thought the change would be permanent. But I gave up after just a month and went crawling back to my smug little iPhone. In this episode, I’ll share the thinking process that led me to pursue a low-tech solution, what I learned from the experiment, and the steps I’ve taken since switching back to dumb down my iPhone.
Links
My Review of the Light Phone II on YouTubeGet my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity AcademySupport the Show. Donate or join my PatreonSign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In November I switched from an iPhone to a dumb phone to promote focus and more engagement with real life. I thought I knew what I was getting into. I thought the change would be permanent. But I gave up after just a month and went crawling back to my smug little iPhone. In this episode, I’ll share the thinking process that led me to pursue a low-tech solution, what I learned from the experiment, and the steps I’ve taken since switching back to dumb down my iPhone.
Links
My Review of the Light Phone II on YouTubeGet my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity AcademySupport the Show. Donate or join my PatreonSign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, Dr. Peter Sammons and I discuss the process of writing a book. How do you go from idea to written final version? We also talk about our experience navigating the world of publishing. And most importantly, whether you’re writing a book or just doing some other side project, we talk about how you can make progress on long-term projects while still balancing the rest of life’s responsibilities.
Dr. Peter Sammons is Assistant Professor of Theology at The Master’s Seminary where he is also the managing editor of The Master’s Seminary Journal. And he is the author of the new book Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty: Recovering a Biblical Doctrine with Kregel Academic.
Links
Buy Dr. Sammons book, Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty: Recovering a Biblical Doctrine
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, Dr. Peter Sammons and I discuss the process of writing a book. How do you go from idea to written final version? We also talk about our experience navigating the world of publishing. And most importantly, whether you’re writing a book or just doing some other side project, we talk about how you can make progress on long-term projects while still balancing the rest of life’s responsibilities.
Dr. Peter Sammons is Assistant Professor of Theology at The Master’s Seminary where he is also the managing editor of The Master’s Seminary Journal. And he is the author of the new book Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty: Recovering a Biblical Doctrine with Kregel Academic.
Links
Buy Dr. Sammons book, Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty: Recovering a Biblical Doctrine
Get my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Christian Focus
- Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show. Donate or join my Patreon
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, we talk about the unhelpful ways Christians often discuss gaming, why video games are so stinking fun, and how Christians should approach gaming. I also share a reading from my brand new book A Student’s Guide to Gaming which comes out this week.
Links
Buy my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Pre-order on Christian Focus
- Pre-order on Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show.
Donate or join my Patreon.
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this episode, we talk about the unhelpful ways Christians often discuss gaming, why video games are so stinking fun, and how Christians should approach gaming. I also share a reading from my brand new book A Student’s Guide to Gaming which comes out this week.
Links
Buy my new book, A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Pre-order on Christian Focus
- Pre-order on Amazon
Learn More about Redeeming Productivity Academy
Support the Show.
Donate or join my Patreon.
Sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan’s Roundup
In this final episode of the year, I share some of the productivity techniques and habits I tried in 2021 and what I learned from them. I talk about my experience using a dumb phone, why I’m quitting Roam Research, and some of the habits and goals I’ve set for the new year.
Links
- How to Plan Your 2022 for God’s Glory Workshop and workbook
- Check out my new book: A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Come try Redeeming Productivity Academy free for the rest of December.
- The Bible reading plan I’m using in 2022
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
In this final episode of the year, I share some of the productivity techniques and habits I tried in 2021 and what I learned from them. I talk about my experience using a dumb phone, why I’m quitting Roam Research, and some of the habits and goals I’ve set for the new year.
Links
- How to Plan Your 2022 for God’s Glory Workshop and workbook
- Check out my new book: A Student’s Guide to Gaming
- Come try Redeeming Productivity Academy free for the rest of December.
- The Bible reading plan I’m using in 2022
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
The Industrial Revolution brought untold financial prosperity to the West. It also forms the philosophical foundation for the modern personal productivity movement. In this episode, I discuss some of what was lost in our work, our homes, and our understanding of both time and productivity because of how the Industrial Revolution reshaped our thinking.
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Enrollment for Redeeming Productivity Academy is now open!
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
The Industrial Revolution brought untold financial prosperity to the West. It also forms the philosophical foundation for the modern personal productivity movement. In this episode, I discuss some of what was lost in our work, our homes, and our understanding of both time and productivity because of how the Industrial Revolution reshaped our thinking.
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Enrollment for Redeeming Productivity Academy is now open!
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
It seems everywhere you look these days, you hear people talking about "the Metaverse." But what exactly does it mean? In this episode, I talk to Ian Harber and Patrick Miller, authors of How to Prepare for the Metaverse. We discuss what the Metaverse is, where it's going, and how Christians can prepare to live faithfully in the face of this next stage of digital life.
Don't forget to check out Redeeming Productivity Academy. Enrollment is now open.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Ian Harber's Substack
- Patrick Miller's podcasts: Truth Over Tribe and Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study
- Matthew Ball Primer to the Metaverse
- AdWeek - Metaverse Marketing Podcast
- Join the Non-Fungible Tolkien's Discord Server
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
It seems everywhere you look these days, you hear people talking about "the Metaverse." But what exactly does it mean? In this episode, I talk to Ian Harber and Patrick Miller, authors of How to Prepare for the Metaverse. We discuss what the Metaverse is, where it's going, and how Christians can prepare to live faithfully in the face of this next stage of digital life.
Don't forget to check out Redeeming Productivity Academy. Enrollment is now open.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Ian Harber's Substack
- Patrick Miller's podcasts: Truth Over Tribe and Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study
- Matthew Ball Primer to the Metaverse
- AdWeek - Metaverse Marketing Podcast
- Join the Non-Fungible Tolkien's Discord Server
More from Redeeming Productivity
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
How should Christians think about exercise and fitness? In this episode, Reagan talks with Don LaTorre, creator of Layman's Fitness, a ministry that helps Christian men connect both the theology and practice of physical fitness for the glory of God.
Links Mentioned
- Layman's Fitness - Learn more about Don's program and philosophy of fitness.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
How should Christians think about exercise and fitness? In this episode, Reagan talks with Don LaTorre, creator of Layman's Fitness, a ministry that helps Christian men connect both the theology and practice of physical fitness for the glory of God.
Links Mentioned
- Layman's Fitness - Learn more about Don's program and philosophy of fitness.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
It seems like everyone is talking about Bitcoin these days. But how should Christians think about this digital money? Is it a scam, a get-rich scheme, or something worthy of a closer look? In this episode, Reagan talks to the trio behind Bitcoin & the Bible, a podcast that seeks to examine Bitcoin in light of God's Word.
Links Mentioned
- Bitcoin & the Bible Podcast - Listen to David, Will, and Simon and browse their recommended resources.
- Case Bitcoin - An archive of resources to learn more about Bitcoin.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
It seems like everyone is talking about Bitcoin these days. But how should Christians think about this digital money? Is it a scam, a get-rich scheme, or something worthy of a closer look? In this episode, Reagan talks to the trio behind Bitcoin & the Bible, a podcast that seeks to examine Bitcoin in light of God's Word.
Links Mentioned
- Bitcoin & the Bible Podcast - Listen to David, Will, and Simon and browse their recommended resources.
- Case Bitcoin - An archive of resources to learn more about Bitcoin.
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, is a modern productivity classic. How can Christians take and apply the principles of deep work to rise above the distractions that surround us, live more God-glorifying lives, and better serve others?
Links Mentioned
- Read my Deep Work summary and book notes
- Get the book: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, is a modern productivity classic. How can Christians take and apply the principles of deep work to rise above the distractions that surround us, live more God-glorifying lives, and better serve others?
Links Mentioned
- Read my Deep Work summary and book notes
- Get the book: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
We've all known that hopeless feeling of having more to do than you could possibly hope to accomplish. Why is it that we overcommit? How does productivity actually make the problem worse? And how do we break free from an addiction to overdoing it?
Links Mentioned
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
We've all known that hopeless feeling of having more to do than you could possibly hope to accomplish. Why is it that we overcommit? How does productivity actually make the problem worse? And how do we break free from an addiction to overdoing it?
Links Mentioned
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
Reagan chats with Jordan Raynor about his new book Redeeming Your Time, saying no generously, how the life of Jesus is a model of unhurried busyness, and Jordan's most effective strategy for turning down the noise in your life so you can focus on what matters most.
Links Mentioned
- Get Jordan's Book, Redeeming Your Time
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
Reagan chats with Jordan Raynor about his new book Redeeming Your Time, saying no generously, how the life of Jesus is a model of unhurried busyness, and Jordan's most effective strategy for turning down the noise in your life so you can focus on what matters most.
Links Mentioned
- Get Jordan's Book, Redeeming Your Time
- Join the Redeeming Productivity Patreon
- Donate
- Get my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup
In the age of remote work, the best way to be the light of Christ to your coworkers is by having a reputation for integrity. In this episode, I share a few tips on how to make sure you're not cutting corners working from home and actually being a blessing to your employer.
Note: This episode is based on a series of articles I wrote. You can read them here.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup.
- Support Redeeming Productivity
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
In the age of remote work, the best way to be the light of Christ to your coworkers is by having a reputation for integrity. In this episode, I share a few tips on how to make sure you're not cutting corners working from home and actually being a blessing to your employer.
Note: This episode is based on a series of articles I wrote. You can read them here.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for my weekly newsletter, Reagan's Roundup.
- Support Redeeming Productivity
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
Darryl has a Ph.D. in biblical counseling and is the creator of Master New Testament Greek, an online program designed to help anyone learn to read the New Testament in the original Greek. In this episode, we talk about setting spiritual growth goals and the importance of learning the original biblical languages.
Link mentioned:
- Learn more about Darryl's Master New Testament Greek program.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
Darryl has a Ph.D. in biblical counseling and is the creator of Master New Testament Greek, an online program designed to help anyone learn to read the New Testament in the original Greek. In this episode, we talk about setting spiritual growth goals and the importance of learning the original biblical languages.
Link mentioned:
- Learn more about Darryl's Master New Testament Greek program.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
If you've been into productivity for any length of time you've probably come across the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. Well, I've got major beef with GTD, and I want to tell you why.
Link mentioned:
- Get the book, Getting Things Done by David Allen.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
If you've been into productivity for any length of time you've probably come across the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. Well, I've got major beef with GTD, and I want to tell you why.
Link mentioned:
- Get the book, Getting Things Done by David Allen.
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
Should we read our Bibles even when we don't feel like it? In this episode, Reagan talks to Dr. Greg Gifford, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's University, about his new book Heart & Habits: How We Change for Good.
Link mentioned:
- Buy Dr. Gifford's book, Heart & Habits
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
Should we read our Bibles even when we don't feel like it? In this episode, Reagan talks to Dr. Greg Gifford, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's University, about his new book Heart & Habits: How We Change for Good.
Link mentioned:
- Buy Dr. Gifford's book, Heart & Habits
- For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter:
- Support Redeeming Productivity:
- My course on Christian morning routines: POWER Mornings
In an age of unlimited information, proactively choosing what we fill our eyes, ears, and hearts with is more important than ever. The articles we read, the podcasts we listen to, and the videos we consume have a profound effect on our beliefs and how we see the world. Are you being wise in what you consume? In this episode, I talk about the reasons, principles, and tools I use to curate my own information diet and offer some practical tips for you as well.
Link Mentioned:
- Tweetdeck for Twitter https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/
- Feedly https://feedly.com/
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In an age of unlimited information, proactively choosing what we fill our eyes, ears, and hearts with is more important than ever. The articles we read, the podcasts we listen to, and the videos we consume have a profound effect on our beliefs and how we see the world. Are you being wise in what you consume? In this episode, I talk about the reasons, principles, and tools I use to curate my own information diet and offer some practical tips for you as well.
Link Mentioned:
- Tweetdeck for Twitter https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/
- Feedly https://feedly.com/
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In this episode, Reagan talks to Darryl Dash, pastor and author of 8 Habits for Growth. They discuss the simplicity of spiritual growth, the habits believers should be practicing, and some of the things that get in the way of growing spiritually.
Get the book 8 Habits for Growth: https://amzn.to/2Wb07PW
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In this episode, Reagan talks to Darryl Dash, pastor and author of 8 Habits for Growth. They discuss the simplicity of spiritual growth, the habits believers should be practicing, and some of the things that get in the way of growing spiritually.
Get the book 8 Habits for Growth: https://amzn.to/2Wb07PW
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
For most people, their productivity journey begins with a crisis. They've got too much to do, and not enough time to do it. So they turn to books and podcasts on time management and getting more done. They're looking for something that can help them find peace. But the truth is productivity can never give us true peace, but there is someone who can.
More productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the Reagan's Roundup weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
For most people, their productivity journey begins with a crisis. They've got too much to do, and not enough time to do it. So they turn to books and podcasts on time management and getting more done. They're looking for something that can help them find peace. But the truth is productivity can never give us true peace, but there is someone who can.
More productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the Reagan's Roundup weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In this episode, I talk about the gospel, good works, and personal productivity.
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In this episode, I talk about the gospel, good works, and personal productivity.
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sometimes when we think of habits, we think of prayer, Bible study, and other personal practices. But if you want to lead a productive Christian life, it's impossible to do it alone. You need fellowship.
Try CovenantEyes free for 30 days: https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/c/2402158/387466/5624
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sometimes when we think of habits, we think of prayer, Bible study, and other personal practices. But if you want to lead a productive Christian life, it's impossible to do it alone. You need fellowship.
Try CovenantEyes free for 30 days: https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/c/2402158/387466/5624
For more productivity from a Christian perspective sign-up for the weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Support Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
My course on Christian morning routines: https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
In this episode, we're talking about the essential habit of daily Bible reading. I attempt to present the most convincing arguments for why you you need to make this habit part of your life.
Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
In this episode, we're talking about the essential habit of daily Bible reading. I attempt to present the most convincing arguments for why you you need to make this habit part of your life.
Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
In this episode of Redeeming Productivity, I talk about the different kinds of rest we need and how to make each of them a habit so we don't burn out.
LINKS
- The real reason why we are tired and what to do about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGNN4EPJzGk
- Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
- Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
- Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
In this episode of Redeeming Productivity, I talk about the different kinds of rest we need and how to make each of them a habit so we don't burn out.
LINKS
- The real reason why we are tired and what to do about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGNN4EPJzGk
- Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
- Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
- Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
In this episode, I talk to Joe Barnard of Cross Training Ministries about the little habits that lead to big transformation for Christians.
LINKS
Joe's Ministry:
- https://www.menneedhelp.org/
- https://www.xtrainingministries.com/
- Joe's Book, The Way Forward: https://amzn.to/3pSKyXT
Previous episode with Joe: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/podcast/pursuing-maturity-with-joe-barnard/
🙏 Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
🎙Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
In this episode, I talk to Joe Barnard of Cross Training Ministries about the little habits that lead to big transformation for Christians.
LINKS
Joe's Ministry:
- https://www.menneedhelp.org/
- https://www.xtrainingministries.com/
- Joe's Book, The Way Forward: https://amzn.to/3pSKyXT
Previous episode with Joe: https://redeemingproductivity.com/podcast/pursuing-maturity-with-joe-barnard/
???? Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
????Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
Every Christian should make a regular practice of memorizing passages from the Bible. Here's why and some strategies and resources to help you get started.
LINKS
Scripture Memorization Resources: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/memorizing-scripture/
🎙Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
0:00 Welcome| 2:19 Why Is It Essential? 5:44 How It's a Habit 10:04 Strategies for Scripture Memorization 12:08 What Verses Should You Memorize? 14:47 Scripture Memorization Resources 29:18 Conclusion
Every Christian should make a regular practice of memorizing passages from the Bible. Here's why and some strategies and resources to help you get started.
LINKS
Scripture Memorization Resources: https://redeemingproductivity.com/memorizing-scripture/
????Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
0:00 Welcome| 2:19 Why Is It Essential? 5:44 How It's a Habit 10:04 Strategies for Scripture Memorization 12:08 What Verses Should You Memorize? 14:47 Scripture Memorization Resources 29:18 Conclusion
Too many believers flit through life without a plan wondering why we don't see growth or success in our endeavors. For many of us the problem is that we don't look ahead; we don't make planning a habit.
LINKS
???? Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
????Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
1:13 - Planning Is Important for Christians 2:21 - Why Planning Is an Essential Habit 7:51 - Benefits of Planning 12:26 - Planning is Good Stewardship 16:32 - Pitfalls of Planning 22:10 - You're not in Control 28:01 - Conclusion
Too many believers flit through life without a plan wondering why we don't see growth or success in our endeavors. For many of us the problem is that we don't look ahead; we don't make planning a habit.
LINKS
🙏 Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
🎙Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
1:13 - Planning Is Important for Christians 2:21 - Why Planning Is an Essential Habit 7:51 - Benefits of Planning 12:26 - Planning is Good Stewardship 16:32 - Pitfalls of Planning 22:10 - You're not in Control 28:01 - Conclusion
For some reason just about every Christian struggles to pray. In this episode Reagan discusses why that is, and offers some very simple steps for how you can ensure that you're daily doing this essential practice of every productive Christian.
LINKS
???? Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
????Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
4:02 - What is prayer? 5:06 - Why prayer is essential 6:05 - The habit of prayer 13:05 - Strategies for prayer 19:18 - Replacing bad habits with prayer 24:42 - Conclusion
For some reason just about every Christian struggles to pray. In this episode Reagan discusses why that is, and offers some very simple steps for how you can ensure that you're daily doing this essential practice of every productive Christian.
LINKS
🙏 Learn more about supporting Redeeming Productivity: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/about/#support
🎙Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
4:02 - What is prayer? 5:06 - Why prayer is essential 6:05 - The habit of prayer 13:05 - Strategies for prayer 19:18 - Replacing bad habits with prayer 24:42 - Conclusion
This first episode introduces Season 1: Essential Habits of the Productive Christian, and in it Reagan looks at the specific instructions the Bible gives for how Christians are to eliminate bad habits and cultivate good ones.
LINKS
????Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
4:04 - A new format 5:34 - The definition of habits 15:07 - The mindset of habits 20:54 - The identity of habits 30:39 - The power of habits 39:01 - The practice of habits 45:59 - Conclusion
This first episode introduces Season 1: Essential Habits of the Productive Christian, and in it Reagan looks at the specific instructions the Bible gives for how Christians are to eliminate bad habits and cultivate good ones.
LINKS
🎙Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://link.chtbl.com/redeemingprod
☀️ Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
SHOW NOTES
4:04 - A new format 5:34 - The definition of habits 15:07 - The mindset of habits 20:54 - The identity of habits 30:39 - The power of habits 39:01 - The practice of habits 45:59 - Conclusion
In this episode, I talk about how morning routines are the key to building lasting habits. I also announce the release of my brand new course, POWER Mornings.
Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content: https://www.patreon.com/redeemingprod
Show Notes:
- 5:12 – Why you need a morning routine
- 6:24 - Morning Routines Create Consistent Habits
- 8:49 - Morning Routines Promote Peacefulness
- 11:18 - Morning Routines Transform You
- 15:15 - How to Start a Morning Routine
- 16:58 - How to Get POWER Mornings
- 19:13 - Conclusion and Updates
In this episode, I talk about how morning routines are the key to building lasting habits. I also announce the release of my brand new course, POWER Mornings.
Check out my course on morning routines, POWER Mornings! https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/power-mornings/
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter: https://newsletter.redeemingproductivity.com/
If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content: https://www.patreon.com/redeemingprod
Show Notes:
- 5:12 – Why you need a morning routine
- 6:24 - Morning Routines Create Consistent Habits
- 8:49 - Morning Routines Promote Peacefulness
- 11:18 - Morning Routines Transform You
- 15:15 - How to Start a Morning Routine
- 16:58 - How to Get POWER Mornings
- 19:13 - Conclusion and Updates
Often when it comes to productivity we want to immediately jump to apps, systems, and life hacks. But without the proper foundation, those tools are useless. In this episode, we discuss the starting point for how believers should approach managing our lives for God's glory. Welcome to Christian productivity 101.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Often when it comes to productivity we want to immediately jump to apps, systems, and life hacks. But without the proper foundation, those tools are useless. In this episode, we discuss the starting point for how believers should approach managing our lives for God's glory. Welcome to Christian productivity 101.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Weekly reviews are one of the best tools to keep us on track toward our goals, but they are also the easiest to neglect when we get busy. In this episode, I talk about weekly reviews, why they are so important for productive believers, and some suggestions on what to include in your review.
Show notes:
- 9:49 - What is a weekly review
- 15:06 - Elements of a weekly review
- 29:09 - What day is best?
- 32:40 - Conclusion
More from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Weekly reviews are one of the best tools to keep us on track toward our goals, but they are also the easiest to neglect when we get busy. In this episode, I talk about weekly reviews, why they are so important for productive believers, and some suggestions on what to include in your review.
Show notes:
- 9:49 - What is a weekly review
- 15:06 - Elements of a weekly review
- 29:09 - What day is best?
- 32:40 - Conclusion
More from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Walking is the free miracle drug that nobody takes. In this episode, I talk about some of the productivity benefits of taking a daily walk.
Show notes:
- 7:24 - Benefits of walking
- 17:54 - Ways to walk more
- 20:04 - Conclusion
More from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Walking is the free miracle drug that nobody takes. In this episode, I talk about some of the productivity benefits of taking a daily walk.
Show notes:
- 7:24 - Benefits of walking
- 17:54 - Ways to walk more
- 20:04 - Conclusion
More from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
There's a term you've probably been hearing everywhere over the last few years: Self-care. Is self-care something Christians should practice or is it really just sinful self-indulgence?
Show notes:
- 5:04 - History of the term self-care
- 12:07 - So why is this phrase so polarizing among Christians?
- 17:09 - We need balance in our lives
- 20:41 - Self-care doesn’t have self-indulgent
- 26:28 - Often the best self-care is self-sacrifice
- 32:29 - Conclusion
For more from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
There's a term you've probably been hearing everywhere over the last few years: Self-care. Is self-care something Christians should practice or is it really just sinful self-indulgence?
Show notes:
- 5:04 - History of the term self-care
- 12:07 - So why is this phrase so polarizing among Christians?
- 17:09 - We need balance in our lives
- 20:41 - Self-care doesn’t have self-indulgent
- 26:28 - Often the best self-care is self-sacrifice
- 32:29 - Conclusion
For more from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter and get my free morning routine planner.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Dale Partridge created several successful businesses before moving into full time ministry. In this episode, we discuss how Christians ought to think about success, biblical house churches, and Dale's own personal productivity practices.
Dale is the Founder and President of Relearn.org, a digital ministry committed to strengthening biblical and theological literacy in the church. He is also the author of several Christians books, the host of the Real Christianity podcast, and an elder and teaching pastor at the local house church in which he serves.
Show notes:
- 5:45 - How Christians should think about success
- 12:44 - Biblical house churches
- 28:25 - Dale's productivity practices
Links mentioned on the show:
- Get more from Dale at Relearn.org
- Reformation Seminary
- Real Christianity Podcast
- Follow Dale on Twitter
For more from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Dale Partridge created several successful businesses before moving into full time ministry. In this episode, we discuss how Christians ought to think about success, biblical house churches, and Dale's own personal productivity practices.
Dale is the Founder and President of Relearn.org, a digital ministry committed to strengthening biblical and theological literacy in the church. He is also the author of several Christians books, the host of the Real Christianity podcast, and an elder and teaching pastor at the local house church in which he serves.
Show notes:
- 5:45 - How Christians should think about success
- 12:44 - Biblical house churches
- 28:25 - Dale's productivity practices
Links mentioned on the show:
- Get more from Dale at Relearn.org
- Reformation Seminary
- Real Christianity Podcast
- Follow Dale on Twitter
For more from Redeeming Productivity:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting the show on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Imagine if individuals partnered with their churches to reach the online world for Christ. What might that look like?
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Read More Than Influencers.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:04 The opportunity gap
- 11:17 How the apostles would use the internet
- 19:03 Online ministry is missions
- 20:50 How to get started
Imagine if individuals partnered with their churches to reach the online world for Christ. What might that look like?
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Read More Than Influencers.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:04 The opportunity gap
- 11:17 How the apostles would use the internet
- 19:03 Online ministry is missions
- 20:50 How to get started
In this episode, I outline the steps I'm taking to manage my tasks and time so that I stay productive now that I'm working for myself.
Links:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
Things 3 - https://culturedcode.com/things/
Drafts - https://getdrafts.com/
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:04 - Why you need a plan
- 3:59 - Start work early
- 5:26 - Keeping the goals in front of me
- 6:13 - The brain dump
- 8:10 - Clarify, organize, and reflect
- 12:39 - Reminders for everything
- 18:37 - Hide the phone
- 20:09 - When you hit a wall, take a walk
- 22:06 - Conclusion
In this episode, I outline the steps I'm taking to manage my tasks and time so that I stay productive now that I'm working for myself.
Links:
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
Things 3 - https://culturedcode.com/things/
Drafts - https://getdrafts.com/
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:04 - Why you need a plan
- 3:59 - Start work early
- 5:26 - Keeping the goals in front of me
- 6:13 - The brain dump
- 8:10 - Clarify, organize, and reflect
- 12:39 - Reminders for everything
- 18:37 - Hide the phone
- 20:09 - When you hit a wall, take a walk
- 22:06 - Conclusion
Most modern people spend a lot of time trying to avoid thinking about death. Many want to pretend it doesn't exist at all. But for Christians, thinking about our inevitable demise can be one of the best ways to get inspired to tackle the day's work. Let's talk about getting morbid to get motivated.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 3:27 Living for Your Legacy
- 9:48 Christians Don't Fear Death
- 18:14 Having Confidence in How It Ends, Gives Us Confidence in the Present
- 23:00 Conclusion
Most modern people spend a lot of time trying to avoid thinking about death. Many want to pretend it doesn't exist at all. But for Christians, thinking about our inevitable demise can be one of the best ways to get inspired to tackle the day's work. Let's talk about getting morbid to get motivated.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 3:27 Living for Your Legacy
- 9:48 Christians Don't Fear Death
- 18:14 Having Confidence in How It Ends, Gives Us Confidence in the Present
- 23:00 Conclusion
“Do what you love” is a common piece of advice. But is it something Christians should follow? Plus, a very big announcement.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Links Mentioned on the Show:
- Ask Pastor John: Should I Ever Pursue My Dreams?
- 3 Lies Money Tells
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome 0:49 A BIG Announcement 5:35 Pursing Your Dreams 10:47 Obedience & Happiness are Unlikely Bedfellows 17:45 Doing Something Because It Will Make Me More Money is Wrong 22:33 The Will of God for My Life Is a Secret to Be Cracked 30:25 Conclusion
“Do what you love” is a common piece of advice. But is it something Christians should follow? Plus, a very big announcement.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Links Mentioned on the Show:
- Ask Pastor John: Should I Ever Pursue My Dreams?
- 3 Lies Money Tells
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome 0:49 A BIG Announcement 5:35 Pursing Your Dreams 10:47 Obedience & Happiness are Unlikely Bedfellows 17:45 Doing Something Because It Will Make Me More Money is Wrong 22:33 The Will of God for My Life Is a Secret to Be Cracked 30:25 Conclusion
If you struggle to make decisions, or feel stuck between two goals, that may be a sign of a bigger issue. It may actually be a sin issue. Let’s talk about indecision and double-mindedness.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
- Episode about the fear of man: Episode #58 — Overcoming the Fear of Other People’s Opinions
- Undone by Indecision: How the Fear of Man Paralyzes Us | Desiring God
- Book on Willpower: https://amzn.to/3pBHCgB
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Intro
- 3:02 An epiphany
- 13:05 Why do we do this to ourselves?
- 16:26 We're talking about double-mindedness
- 24:06 Our single-minded purpose
- 31:35 Indecisive people are ineffective people
- 32:34 Conclusion
If you struggle to make decisions, or feel stuck between two goals, that may be a sign of a bigger issue. It may actually be a sin issue. Let’s talk about indecision and double-mindedness.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
- Episode about the fear of man: Episode #58 — Overcoming the Fear of Other People’s Opinions
- Undone by Indecision: How the Fear of Man Paralyzes Us | Desiring God
- Book on Willpower: https://amzn.to/3pBHCgB
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Intro
- 3:02 An epiphany
- 13:05 Why do we do this to ourselves?
- 16:26 We're talking about double-mindedness
- 24:06 Our single-minded purpose
- 31:35 Indecisive people are ineffective people
- 32:34 Conclusion
The self-improvement and personal productivity industry is massive. It's worth well over $10 billion a year. At any given moment many of the books on the best sellers list are personal development books. And many of the best selling books of all time are books about personal productivity or self-improvement. People are looking for answers. But can the personal productivity provide them? Or has it failed to deliver on its promises? Has the personal productivity movement failed us?
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 1:53 Why this question matters
- 7:29 Personal productivity cannot give you peace
- 11:31 Personal productivity cannot give you meaning
- 17:30 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
The self-improvement and personal productivity industry is massive. It's worth well over $10 billion a year. At any given moment many of the books on the best sellers list are personal development books. And many of the best selling books of all time are books about personal productivity or self-improvement. People are looking for answers. But can the personal productivity provide them? Or has it failed to deliver on its promises? Has the personal productivity movement failed us?
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 1:53 Why this question matters
- 7:29 Personal productivity cannot give you peace
- 11:31 Personal productivity cannot give you meaning
- 17:30 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Risk is part of life. Every time we lace up our shoes and leave the house, we are taking on some level of risk. We could be humiliated, we could be robbed, we could even die. But if we are to live faithfully or do anything useful with our lives we need to get comfortable with risk.
▶️ Watch on YouTube: How to Take Sermon Notes
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:08 1. This World Is Terrified of Risk
- 8:08 2. We Are Terrible at Calculating Risk
- 13:01 3. Risk is the Pathway to Reward
- 17:28 4. Christians Must Learn to Tolerate More Risk
- 24:57 5. Risks Taken on Principle for God & His Glory Are No Risk at All
- 28:58 - Outro
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Risk is part of life. Every time we lace up our shoes and leave the house, we are taking on some level of risk. We could be humiliated, we could be robbed, we could even die. But if we are to live faithfully or do anything useful with our lives we need to get comfortable with risk.
▶️ Watch on YouTube: How to Take Sermon Notes
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:08 1. This World Is Terrified of Risk
- 8:08 2. We Are Terrible at Calculating Risk
- 13:01 3. Risk is the Pathway to Reward
- 17:28 4. Christians Must Learn to Tolerate More Risk
- 24:57 5. Risks Taken on Principle for God & His Glory Are No Risk at All
- 28:58 - Outro
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
A lot of times we think that be more productive, we need to add things to our lives. Another habit, another app, a new routine, etc. But, actually, the very opposite is true. If you want to add to your productivity, the best place to start is by subtracting things from your life.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 - Welcome
- 2:10 - What is via negativa?
- 9:04 - Why does via negativa work?
- 15:19 - Is it biblical?
- 19:33 - How to effectively employ via negativa in your life
- 33:43 - Keep it simple & a challenge
- 34:34 - Conclusion
A lot of times we think that be more productive, we need to add things to our lives. Another habit, another app, a new routine, etc. But, actually, the very opposite is true. If you want to add to your productivity, the best place to start is by subtracting things from your life.
✉️ Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 - Welcome
- 2:10 - What is via negativa?
- 9:04 - Why does via negativa work?
- 15:19 - Is it biblical?
- 19:33 - How to effectively employ via negativa in your life
- 33:43 - Keep it simple & a challenge
- 34:34 - Conclusion
We are all optimizing our lives for something, health, money, relationships, etc. But as we try to become more productive, the smartest thing to optimize for is eternal reward.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 0:16 Everyone optimizes for something
- 2:06 Some people optimize for the wrong things
- 3:51 What will you spend all that redeemed time on?
- 6:21 It's the same thing as walking by faith
- 8:17 Seeking eternal reward is the best way to glorify God
- 12:49 Personal productivity is just plain old faithfulness
- 14:64 Show up every day
- 16:19 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
We are all optimizing our lives for something, health, money, relationships, etc. But as we try to become more productive, the smartest thing to optimize for is eternal reward.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 0:16 Everyone optimizes for something
- 2:06 Some people optimize for the wrong things
- 3:51 What will you spend all that redeemed time on?
- 6:21 It's the same thing as walking by faith
- 8:17 Seeking eternal reward is the best way to glorify God
- 12:49 Personal productivity is just plain old faithfulness
- 14:64 Show up every day
- 16:19 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
It's a New Year. Maybe you made some resolutions. But were they all about you or all about Jesus? Let's talk about how you can make sure the goals you set for 2021 are aimed at glorifying God.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:03 Rethink your resolutions
- 8:08 Reframe your resolutions
- 13:04 Recommit to your resolutions
- 17:36 Make 2021 the best year yet
- 19:09 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
It's a New Year. Maybe you made some resolutions. But were they all about you or all about Jesus? Let's talk about how you can make sure the goals you set for 2021 are aimed at glorifying God.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 Welcome
- 5:03 Rethink your resolutions
- 8:08 Reframe your resolutions
- 13:04 Recommit to your resolutions
- 17:36 Make 2021 the best year yet
- 19:09 Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
As we look ahead to a new year, I took some time to look back at what the Lord has taught me in the previous one. This episode is admittedly a bit self-indulgent, but hopefully, it will spark some ideas for you.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:13 - 1. Family trumps nearly everything else.
- 4:02 - 2. You can’t do it all well.
- 5:58 - 3. You and you alone are responsible for your priorities.
- 8:19 - 4. Politics do matter.
- 10:30 - 5. Stop being scared and start speaking up.
- 13:16 - 6. If not now then when?
- 16:21 - 7. The natural world is marvelous up close.
- 19:23 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
As we look ahead to a new year, I took some time to look back at what the Lord has taught me in the previous one. This episode is admittedly a bit self-indulgent, but hopefully, it will spark some ideas for you.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes
- 0:00 - Intro
- 1:13 - 1. Family trumps nearly everything else.
- 4:02 - 2. You can’t do it all well.
- 5:58 - 3. You and you alone are responsible for your priorities.
- 8:19 - 4. Politics do matter.
- 10:30 - 5. Stop being scared and start speaking up.
- 13:16 - 6. If not now then when?
- 16:21 - 7. The natural world is marvelous up close.
- 19:23 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
A victimhood mindset is antithetical to the gospel and to personal productivity. People who think of themselves as victims are trapped in a prison of their own mind, always waiting for someone to come save them. If you adopt a victimhood mindset, you will never get anywhere. This self-pitying mind trap must be destroyed whenever it rears its ugly head.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes
- 0:00 - Intro
- 7:45 - Defining the Victim Mindset
- 10:40 - A Victim Mindset is Not the Same as Being a Victim
- 12:22 - The 4 Features of a Victim Mindset
- 16:16 - A Victim Mindset is Antithetical to the Gospel
- 18:14 - A Mindset of Victimhood is Cancerous at the Macro Level
- 22:04 - A Mindset of Victimhood is Cancerous to Personal Productivity
- 26:36 - How to Slay a Victim Mentality
- 31:39 - Practical Strategies for Fighting a Victim Mentality
- 33:32 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
A victimhood mindset is antithetical to the gospel and to personal productivity. People who think of themselves as victims are trapped in a prison of their own mind, always waiting for someone to come save them. If you adopt a victimhood mindset, you will never get anywhere. This self-pitying mind trap must be destroyed whenever it rears its ugly head.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes
- 0:00 - Intro
- 7:45 - Defining the Victim Mindset
- 10:40 - A Victim Mindset is Not the Same as Being a Victim
- 12:22 - The 4 Features of a Victim Mindset
- 16:16 - A Victim Mindset is Antithetical to the Gospel
- 18:14 - A Mindset of Victimhood is Cancerous at the Macro Level
- 22:04 - A Mindset of Victimhood is Cancerous to Personal Productivity
- 26:36 - How to Slay a Victim Mentality
- 31:39 - Practical Strategies for Fighting a Victim Mentality
- 33:32 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Christians are to strive for quality in all that we do, but it's not always possible to do everything with excellence. So, how do we decide where to skimp?
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 2:21 – What is Excellence?
- 4:42 – We Should Do Everything with Excellence, But We Can't
- 7:21 - God Defines Excellence
- 11:47 - Quality Should Be Our Default
- 14:38 - When to Do Less Than Excellent Work
- 17:22 - Get Your Heart Right and Quality Will Come Naturally
- 19:47 - Ask the Lord for Help
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Christians are to strive for quality in all that we do, but it's not always possible to do everything with excellence. So, how do we decide where to skimp?
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 2:21 – What is Excellence?
- 4:42 – We Should Do Everything with Excellence, But We Can't
- 7:21 - God Defines Excellence
- 11:47 - Quality Should Be Our Default
- 14:38 - When to Do Less Than Excellent Work
- 17:22 - Get Your Heart Right and Quality Will Come Naturally
- 19:47 - Ask the Lord for Help
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Here are 8 practical strategies to help you build discipline in your life.
Links
- Read this as an article, 8 Strategies for Developing Christ-Honoring Self-Discipline
- Listen to part one: RPS #61 — You Need to Learn Discipline
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 3:08 – 1. Remember that maturity does not come over night.
- 6:22 – 2. Don't let emotions in the driver's seat.
- 8:36 – 3. Start by disciplining your mind with the truth.
- 11:23 – 4. Strive to have discipline mature into habit.
- 13:27 – 5. Remember that discipline always requires sacrifice.
- 15:52 – 6. Build on habits that are already working.
- 18:02 – 7. Harness waves of motivation to create system that last.
- 22:05 – 8. Always do the right thing, the first time, no matter how small.
- 24:12 – Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Here are 8 practical strategies to help you build discipline in your life.
Links
- Read this as an article, 8 Strategies for Developing Christ-Honoring Self-Discipline
- Listen to part one: RPS #61 — You Need to Learn Discipline
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 3:08 – 1. Remember that maturity does not come over night.
- 6:22 – 2. Don't let emotions in the driver's seat.
- 8:36 – 3. Start by disciplining your mind with the truth.
- 11:23 – 4. Strive to have discipline mature into habit.
- 13:27 – 5. Remember that discipline always requires sacrifice.
- 15:52 – 6. Build on habits that are already working.
- 18:02 – 7. Harness waves of motivation to create system that last.
- 22:05 – 8. Always do the right thing, the first time, no matter how small.
- 24:12 – Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Summary
Discipline is a rare commodity. In business, those who have it succeed consistently, those who don't just get by or get lucky. For Christians, however, discipline is a necessity. But what is discipline, why do we need it, and how can we learn it?
Links
- Read this as an article, Self-Discipline Is the Gateway to Christian Maturity.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 5:22 – What is Discipline?
- 11:36 – Why You Need Discipline
- 22:32 – Teasing Practical Steps in the Next Episode
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Summary
Discipline is a rare commodity. In business, those who have it succeed consistently, those who don't just get by or get lucky. For Christians, however, discipline is a necessity. But what is discipline, why do we need it, and how can we learn it?
Links
- Read this as an article, Self-Discipline Is the Gateway to Christian Maturity.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 5:22 – What is Discipline?
- 11:36 – Why You Need Discipline
- 22:32 – Teasing Practical Steps in the Next Episode
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Do you ever have those days where you come home and think, "that was a really productive day"? Imagine if you could make every day feel productive and let that momentum carry you through, not just days, but weeks of productive work.
Links
- My new employer, Not the Bee.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:57 – The Problem
- 7:06 - Closing the Loops
- 9:39 - Make a Plan to Finish the Right Tasks
- 12:07 - How to Write a Book
- 17:23 - Principles for Breaking Your Projects Down
- 24:31 - Creating Reusable Project Templates
- 25:46 - My Process for Writing a Blog Article
- 29:20 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Do you ever have those days where you come home and think, "that was a really productive day"? Imagine if you could make every day feel productive and let that momentum carry you through, not just days, but weeks of productive work.
Links
- My new employer, Not the Bee.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:57 – The Problem
- 7:06 - Closing the Loops
- 9:39 - Make a Plan to Finish the Right Tasks
- 12:07 - How to Write a Book
- 17:23 - Principles for Breaking Your Projects Down
- 24:31 - Creating Reusable Project Templates
- 25:46 - My Process for Writing a Blog Article
- 29:20 - Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Your outlook on life is one of the biggest factors in deciding the quality and success of your work. But should Christians be optimists? And what does biblically-based optimism even look like?
Links
- My new job: Not the Bee.
- Read the post this episode is based on, "Should I Be Optimistic?" on The Master's Seminary blog.
- Listen to my testimony.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:18 – Optimism vs. Pessimism
- 3:20 – The Right Kind of Optimist
- 5:16 – Evangelical Eeyores
- 7:52 – Every Believer Should Be an Optimist
- 10:19 – Reasonably Happy
- 12:53 – Eternally Optimistic
- 16:27 – Joyfully Long-Suffering
- 17:17 – More Than a Personality Trait
- 19:17 – Optimism Is True and It Gets Results
- 22:18 – Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Your outlook on life is one of the biggest factors in deciding the quality and success of your work. But should Christians be optimists? And what does biblically-based optimism even look like?
Links
- My new job: Not the Bee.
- Read the post this episode is based on, "Should I Be Optimistic?" on The Master's Seminary blog.
- Listen to my testimony.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 – Welcome
- 2:18 – Optimism vs. Pessimism
- 3:20 – The Right Kind of Optimist
- 5:16 – Evangelical Eeyores
- 7:52 – Every Believer Should Be an Optimist
- 10:19 – Reasonably Happy
- 12:53 – Eternally Optimistic
- 16:27 – Joyfully Long-Suffering
- 17:17 – More Than a Personality Trait
- 19:17 – Optimism Is True and It Gets Results
- 22:18 – Conclusion
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Where would you be today if you weren't so afraid of other people's opinions? That's the question that drove me to look for biblical answers to my fear of man.
In this episode, we discuss how destructive living in the fear of others can be to our lives and personal productivity, and how Scripture provides a way out of this snare. I also share a big life update.
Links
- How to Stop Being Afraid of People, So You Can Start Getting Stuff Done
- Ep. 12 - Interview with Adam Ford, Creator of The Babylon Bee
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 - Welcome, and Major Life Update
- 4:16 - Why You Should Fear the Fear of Man
- 8:41 - How to Attack the Fear of Man
- 12:12 - What Fear of Man Does to Us
- 14:01 - The Fear of Man Is Beatable
- 16:58 - Rightly Ordered Fears
- 20:02 - First, Fear God
- 24:25 - Second, Love People
- 28:43 - Outro
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
Where would you be today if you weren't so afraid of other people's opinions? That's the question that drove me to look for biblical answers to my fear of man.
In this episode, we discuss how destructive living in the fear of others can be to our lives and personal productivity, and how Scripture provides a way out of this snare. I also share a big life update.
Links
- How to Stop Being Afraid of People, So You Can Start Getting Stuff Done
- Ep. 12 - Interview with Adam Ford, Creator of The Babylon Bee
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Show Notes:
- 0:00 - Welcome, and Major Life Update
- 4:16 - Why You Should Fear the Fear of Man
- 8:41 - How to Attack the Fear of Man
- 12:12 - What Fear of Man Does to Us
- 14:01 - The Fear of Man Is Beatable
- 16:58 - Rightly Ordered Fears
- 20:02 - First, Fear God
- 24:25 - Second, Love People
- 28:43 - Outro
Transcript
Read and listen via a fully-interactive transcript of this episode.
In this episode, we talk about the joy of reading, note taking, Roam Research vs. Notion, and applying note taking techniques to writing and idea creation.
Links
- Episode 55 - Bible Notetaking Systems with Matthew Everhard
- Relearning the Joy of Reading (Blog)
- How to Take Smart Notes by **Sönke Ahrens
- Track book series for students – Track is a series of books designed to disciple the next generation in the areas of culture, doctrine, & the Christian life. While the topics addressed aren’t always simple, they are communicated in a manner that is.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Time Stamps
01:42 Relearning the Joy of Reading 02:17 How to Take Smart Notes 04:39 Trying Roam Research (Again) 06:53 Roam Research vs. Notion 09:44 Applying Smart Note to My Book Project 14:17 Smart Notes for Idea Creation
Transcript
Hello, and welcome to the redeeming productivity show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done, and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host, Reagan Rose.
Well, I am on vacation this week in Florida with my family. So if you hear some background noise, that's probably my son screaming, or my wife cooking dinner right now, we're having fish tacos.
So this episode, I'm going to do kind of a little bit more of what my friend Daryl Harrison calls a freestyle episode. And basically, I'm just going to be talking about a few things that I've been thinking about learning and reading about that have application to personal productivity. And it's not super structured, it's not super outlined. But hopefully, it'll be super fun. I just didn't want to go two weeks without giving you guys an episode. So here we are, we're gonna be talking about
I guess we'll be talking really about note taking, which I know I've talked about a lot with my interview with Matthew everhard. And some of the other episodes. In recent history, we're talking about the Citadel, Kazakhstan, you know, and and knowledge management systems. But it's something I just keep digging deeper and deeper into. And the more I think about it, the more I think that if if we could kind of come up with a better way to organize our thinking, organize our notes. And as we're reading and stuff, and I think it's a worthy endeavor, to try to find a good better way of taking notes. In fact, if you haven't seen the blog post I posted last week on relearning the joy of reading, you should check that out I in that I talk a little bit about how one of the things that's helped me regained kind of a love for reading, in recent days, has been
trying to get better at taking notes and retaining what I'm reading in a way that doesn't get in the way of the reading process, but actually, helps make it a bit more fun, actually. And so, as I've been thinking about that, and trying to get better at that, I bought a book that I'd been hearing a lot about, called How to take smart notes, by some K, Aaron's and this is a great, great read, if you have any interest at all in research and writing or any of that kind of stuff. This is a book that is worth your time checking out. It's called How to take smart notes. And I have been
implementing already. And in fact, kind of ironically, a little Inception wise, I've been implementing some of the ways of taking notes that the book talks about, as I'm reading the book. So in the notes on the book, but basically, what how to take smart notes is about is it's about writing and thinking and the fact that those processes can be improved through a more organized note taking system. And they kind of flip the the traditional idea of how you would go about writing something on its head. So instead of what we're kind of taught in school of starting
by starting writing a project based on choosing a topic, and then going and finding all the resources, you know, and then doing all your research and then writing on that topic. Basically, the goal of this smart note taking system is that you have already written about a bunch of different things as as you've read, and as you've thought about those things. And you've just organized those into a system. And then when a writing assignment comes up, or an idea for maybe a blog post or my case, like a podcast episode, or even a book, something like that comes up, then what you're doing is you're basically pulling together things you've already written on, and it becomes more of an editing job. And it's actually really fascinating way of going about it. And as I mentioned in a previous episode, the Zettelkastan method, that's basically what this book is about. So definitely worth checking out. And it's it's just an interesting approach to note taking. And so I've been trying to do that, as I haven't read that book. I've been trying to do that with some of the articles I've been reading and trying to get better at that. And in that vein,
I have taken another swing at the software program roam research, and I've actually heard from a number of you who have asked me if I like Chrome or if I've tried using it or all that and I I am more convinced now than I was maybe a month or two ago when I first mentioned it
Roam if You don't know what it is, it's a basically an approach to it's a software program, a subscription that has a really interesting way of taking notes in it. And when you first use it, it can be pretty daunting. Because it's not like a traditional thing where you just have pages and pages of individual notes. Now they're all cross reference to each other, every little block, every paragraph, every bullet point sort of thing is cross referenced. And it has a bunch of other more powerful features to where anything could be a to do list item, anything could be all these different types of content.
And it's, like I said, it's a little bit daunting. So I have committed myself to giving it another month, and really pouring myself into trying to use Rome research to organize my note taking. And so this can be everything from my daily journal is in here, too, as I'm reading articles, and I want to take notes on them.
That those come from Instapaper, where I save my articles, or even like I mentioned, book notes, everything goes in here. Any ideas I have, for a blog post, any ideas I have about this would be a cool thing to write on. I'm just dumping them in here, trying to cross reference them with other things and build out this sort of knowledge management system, and see if it actually bears fruit for me. Now, I talk about software and systems on here a lot. And a lot of you guys if you've been listening for a while know that I am a huge fan of notion, notion n o t IO n. And I have really put my life into notion over the last year or so. And so much so that that is probably the biggest barrier I have right now to trying to switch things over to using Rome research for note taking and knowledge management.
So the question I think is going to be a win win, do I put something to notion when do I put it in research, because I don't think Rome can actually replace everything that notion can do in some kind of experimenting with that. But here's, here's kind of my working hypothesis right now. So if you if you're still with me, on this kind of much more nerding out episode of the podcast, here, here's my kind of grid for how I'm thinking I'll use notion and research together. I think that I'll be using Rome research for note taking, and knowledge management. So as I'm, like I said, if I'm reading a book, all my highlights are getting dumped into there, I'm taking I'm summarizing chapters of the book, I if I have an idea for I just want to write on the same I'm reading first john, and I'm like, hey, I want to write some insights. I'm thinking about how Dec could apply this in life. And I don't know, is that going to be a blog post someday? Is that gonna be part of a book? I have no idea. I'm just gonna dump it all in there. But I'm gonna keep using notion for project management, which is primarily most days what I'm using it for. And that is kind of deciding on what, what episodes of the podcast am I going to do next? If I'm doing a video, what things do I need to do to shoot that? A lot of things like that, that I just feel like it's better at because of its table system. And it's like databases, and that you can do can ban boards in there. I know you can do them in Rome and the Rome, people are gonna get mad at me for saying this. But I just I think it's easier. And I think notions more built for those sort of things. But I do totally see that, that Rome is a better place to just dump ideas as you have them and build out sort of this network of thought. So if you if you don't use Rome or notion, you probably have no idea what I was taught what I'm talking about right now. But I do recommend both of those to you notion is totally free. Rome research is daunting $15 a month, but they do have a 31 day trial. And, man,
I'm liking it, I I'll be honest with you, I think it's, I think I'm probably gonna end up sticking with him. So we'll see, I'll keep you posted. But in my kind of quest to really pour myself into Rome, and really take it seriously and try to go as deep as I can with it so that if I decide not to use it in the future, I
will have given it a fair shake. Here's the project I'm working on. I'm building a book in Rome. So that's kind of the that's I'm doing a lot of stuff at the same time. But I'm trying to apply what I've been reading in how to take smart notes, which is where you basically take all these different notes and then you arrange them later into a work. So in my case, a book.
And I'm trying to do that using Rome as my kind of my slip box, as they call it in the book. So what's the book I'm working on? Well, I'm actually working on a book for a series that Christian Focus, it's called the Track series, and it's edited by John Perritt of reform youth ministries, and they are, but there's a bunch of these books, in fact, I recommend to you, especially if you're a pastor is your great little books for students on a variety of just very practical issues. Like there's one by ligand Duncan on sanctification. There's one by Ed Welch. JOHN parrot, the the editor they mentioned he did one that's really good on technology. And it's geared towards middle school, high school and college students. And it's not puff, I mean, it is it is solidly grounded in the Word of God, you know, which, unfortunately, a lot of student resources are not. But I would encourage you check out the track series from Christian focus. And especially check it out since I'm, I'll be contributing to it
in the next little while. So I'm working on a little book for that series. And I'm trying to approach this in a smart way. So I have mountains and mountains of research that I have done on the topic of video games and video game addiction, which is what my book is about when you're like, what are you doing video games with me and productivity? Well, that's another passion of mine, not video games, but I'm helping Christians to understand the addictive nature of video games that are created to be addictive, and that we need to not that they're bad, but we need to approach them with a certain degree of caution. And so I'm going to be writing about that. And I already have written a ton about it, I think I have something like 50,000 words, with references to research I've written I've read tons and tons of books and articles on the subject. But when I was working on it,
over the last few years, I have been writing all for more like an academic research work. For some reason, I didn't really know who the audiences be, I just kept writing stuff as as I was reading amount of thinking about it. So now I have all these notes on different sort of topics on the subject of video games and, and different history, things or illustrations, but they're all these different kind of atomized little notes. And so I'm trying to apply the principles from this book, smart notes, where I'm in do this in Rome, where I basically have a chapter list that I'm trying to do in for this book, and I'm going through and rereading all the notes I've ever taken. And I'm importing them into Rome as individual notes. And then I'm cross referencing them to the video game books project, and to the individual
chapter they think that they'll best fit with. And my thought is, if, if this book is to be believed, that when all those are done, I'll basically have a bunch of research all in context that I can look at. And then I can some parts that I can copy and paste and basically start to build out the structure for the chapter. After obviously, right new material and stuff connected all together, or some parts, I'll need to totally rewrite because a different audience.
And hopefully, it will turn this giant daunting process of write a book into, basically take all the things I've already done, and turn them into something much better that will finally hopefully, finally, see the light of day and someone will actually read it. So that's my my project before me. And that's how I'm trying to apply how to take smart notes by some gay Aaron's, and I'm doing it in Rome research. So I don't know if you guys care at all about this, but I always find it helpful. And I always ask guests when I have them on here about what tools they use and what methods and so I thought I'd just share with you what I'm doing right now, in lieu of a more reserved or formal episode. So that's what I'm doing. And I'm excited about it. So far, I've been having a lot of fun doing it. It's It's nice to be on vacation, you know, and kind of let the mind relax and just work on projects you want to work on. And so that's what I'm doing. And I'm enjoying it. And again, yeah, I'll keep you posted.
I also am hopeful that this will bear more fruit in terms of ideas for podcast episodes and blog posts and videos. Because I do think that if you're reading, why not also capture the ideas that you're reading spawns in your mind, right if you already consuming something, why not have a way of capturing what those thoughts that come off of that in a place where you can maybe eventually use them for something else. So that's what this book, how to take smart notes helps you to do.
And that's probably enough rambling for now. I'm gonna get back to my vacation. And some fish tacos which I could smell in the other room. But I appreciate you guys listening. I'll have a more polished maybe maybe episode next week. But until I see you again, remember this that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all for the glory of God
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
In this episode, we talk about the joy of reading, note taking, Roam Research vs. Notion, and applying note taking techniques to writing and idea creation.
Links
- Episode 55 - Bible Notetaking Systems with Matthew Everhard
- Relearning the Joy of Reading (Blog)
- How to Take Smart Notes by **Sönke Ahrens
- Track book series for students – Track is a series of books designed to disciple the next generation in the areas of culture, doctrine, & the Christian life. While the topics addressed aren’t always simple, they are communicated in a manner that is.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Time Stamps
01:42 Relearning the Joy of Reading 02:17 How to Take Smart Notes 04:39 Trying Roam Research (Again) 06:53 Roam Research vs. Notion 09:44 Applying Smart Note to My Book Project 14:17 Smart Notes for Idea Creation
Transcript
Hello, and welcome to the redeeming productivity show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done, and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host, Reagan Rose.
Well, I am on vacation this week in Florida with my family. So if you hear some background noise, that's probably my son screaming, or my wife cooking dinner right now, we're having fish tacos.
So this episode, I'm going to do kind of a little bit more of what my friend Daryl Harrison calls a freestyle episode. And basically, I'm just going to be talking about a few things that I've been thinking about learning and reading about that have application to personal productivity. And it's not super structured, it's not super outlined. But hopefully, it'll be super fun. I just didn't want to go two weeks without giving you guys an episode. So here we are, we're gonna be talking about
I guess we'll be talking really about note taking, which I know I've talked about a lot with my interview with Matthew everhard. And some of the other episodes. In recent history, we're talking about the Citadel, Kazakhstan, you know, and and knowledge management systems. But it's something I just keep digging deeper and deeper into. And the more I think about it, the more I think that if if we could kind of come up with a better way to organize our thinking, organize our notes. And as we're reading and stuff, and I think it's a worthy endeavor, to try to find a good better way of taking notes. In fact, if you haven't seen the blog post I posted last week on relearning the joy of reading, you should check that out I in that I talk a little bit about how one of the things that's helped me regained kind of a love for reading, in recent days, has been
trying to get better at taking notes and retaining what I'm reading in a way that doesn't get in the way of the reading process, but actually, helps make it a bit more fun, actually. And so, as I've been thinking about that, and trying to get better at that, I bought a book that I'd been hearing a lot about, called How to take smart notes, by some K, Aaron's and this is a great, great read, if you have any interest at all in research and writing or any of that kind of stuff. This is a book that is worth your time checking out. It's called How to take smart notes. And I have been
implementing already. And in fact, kind of ironically, a little Inception wise, I've been implementing some of the ways of taking notes that the book talks about, as I'm reading the book. So in the notes on the book, but basically, what how to take smart notes is about is it's about writing and thinking and the fact that those processes can be improved through a more organized note taking system. And they kind of flip the the traditional idea of how you would go about writing something on its head. So instead of what we're kind of taught in school of starting
by starting writing a project based on choosing a topic, and then going and finding all the resources, you know, and then doing all your research and then writing on that topic. Basically, the goal of this smart note taking system is that you have already written about a bunch of different things as as you've read, and as you've thought about those things. And you've just organized those into a system. And then when a writing assignment comes up, or an idea for maybe a blog post or my case, like a podcast episode, or even a book, something like that comes up, then what you're doing is you're basically pulling together things you've already written on, and it becomes more of an editing job. And it's actually really fascinating way of going about it. And as I mentioned in a previous episode, the Zettelkastan method, that's basically what this book is about. So definitely worth checking out. And it's it's just an interesting approach to note taking. And so I've been trying to do that, as I haven't read that book. I've been trying to do that with some of the articles I've been reading and trying to get better at that. And in that vein,
I have taken another swing at the software program roam research, and I've actually heard from a number of you who have asked me if I like Chrome or if I've tried using it or all that and I I am more convinced now than I was maybe a month or two ago when I first mentioned it
Roam if You don't know what it is, it's a basically an approach to it's a software program, a subscription that has a really interesting way of taking notes in it. And when you first use it, it can be pretty daunting. Because it's not like a traditional thing where you just have pages and pages of individual notes. Now they're all cross reference to each other, every little block, every paragraph, every bullet point sort of thing is cross referenced. And it has a bunch of other more powerful features to where anything could be a to do list item, anything could be all these different types of content.
And it's, like I said, it's a little bit daunting. So I have committed myself to giving it another month, and really pouring myself into trying to use Rome research to organize my note taking. And so this can be everything from my daily journal is in here, too, as I'm reading articles, and I want to take notes on them.
That those come from Instapaper, where I save my articles, or even like I mentioned, book notes, everything goes in here. Any ideas I have, for a blog post, any ideas I have about this would be a cool thing to write on. I'm just dumping them in here, trying to cross reference them with other things and build out this sort of knowledge management system, and see if it actually bears fruit for me. Now, I talk about software and systems on here a lot. And a lot of you guys if you've been listening for a while know that I am a huge fan of notion, notion n o t IO n. And I have really put my life into notion over the last year or so. And so much so that that is probably the biggest barrier I have right now to trying to switch things over to using Rome research for note taking and knowledge management.
So the question I think is going to be a win win, do I put something to notion when do I put it in research, because I don't think Rome can actually replace everything that notion can do in some kind of experimenting with that. But here's, here's kind of my working hypothesis right now. So if you if you're still with me, on this kind of much more nerding out episode of the podcast, here, here's my kind of grid for how I'm thinking I'll use notion and research together. I think that I'll be using Rome research for note taking, and knowledge management. So as I'm, like I said, if I'm reading a book, all my highlights are getting dumped into there, I'm taking I'm summarizing chapters of the book, I if I have an idea for I just want to write on the same I'm reading first john, and I'm like, hey, I want to write some insights. I'm thinking about how Dec could apply this in life. And I don't know, is that going to be a blog post someday? Is that gonna be part of a book? I have no idea. I'm just gonna dump it all in there. But I'm gonna keep using notion for project management, which is primarily most days what I'm using it for. And that is kind of deciding on what, what episodes of the podcast am I going to do next? If I'm doing a video, what things do I need to do to shoot that? A lot of things like that, that I just feel like it's better at because of its table system. And it's like databases, and that you can do can ban boards in there. I know you can do them in Rome and the Rome, people are gonna get mad at me for saying this. But I just I think it's easier. And I think notions more built for those sort of things. But I do totally see that, that Rome is a better place to just dump ideas as you have them and build out sort of this network of thought. So if you if you don't use Rome or notion, you probably have no idea what I was taught what I'm talking about right now. But I do recommend both of those to you notion is totally free. Rome research is daunting $15 a month, but they do have a 31 day trial. And, man,
I'm liking it, I I'll be honest with you, I think it's, I think I'm probably gonna end up sticking with him. So we'll see, I'll keep you posted. But in my kind of quest to really pour myself into Rome, and really take it seriously and try to go as deep as I can with it so that if I decide not to use it in the future, I
will have given it a fair shake. Here's the project I'm working on. I'm building a book in Rome. So that's kind of the that's I'm doing a lot of stuff at the same time. But I'm trying to apply what I've been reading in how to take smart notes, which is where you basically take all these different notes and then you arrange them later into a work. So in my case, a book.
And I'm trying to do that using Rome as my kind of my slip box, as they call it in the book. So what's the book I'm working on? Well, I'm actually working on a book for a series that Christian Focus, it's called the Track series, and it's edited by John Perritt of reform youth ministries, and they are, but there's a bunch of these books, in fact, I recommend to you, especially if you're a pastor is your great little books for students on a variety of just very practical issues. Like there's one by ligand Duncan on sanctification. There's one by Ed Welch. JOHN parrot, the the editor they mentioned he did one that's really good on technology. And it's geared towards middle school, high school and college students. And it's not puff, I mean, it is it is solidly grounded in the Word of God, you know, which, unfortunately, a lot of student resources are not. But I would encourage you check out the track series from Christian focus. And especially check it out since I'm, I'll be contributing to it
in the next little while. So I'm working on a little book for that series. And I'm trying to approach this in a smart way. So I have mountains and mountains of research that I have done on the topic of video games and video game addiction, which is what my book is about when you're like, what are you doing video games with me and productivity? Well, that's another passion of mine, not video games, but I'm helping Christians to understand the addictive nature of video games that are created to be addictive, and that we need to not that they're bad, but we need to approach them with a certain degree of caution. And so I'm going to be writing about that. And I already have written a ton about it, I think I have something like 50,000 words, with references to research I've written I've read tons and tons of books and articles on the subject. But when I was working on it,
over the last few years, I have been writing all for more like an academic research work. For some reason, I didn't really know who the audiences be, I just kept writing stuff as as I was reading amount of thinking about it. So now I have all these notes on different sort of topics on the subject of video games and, and different history, things or illustrations, but they're all these different kind of atomized little notes. And so I'm trying to apply the principles from this book, smart notes, where I'm in do this in Rome, where I basically have a chapter list that I'm trying to do in for this book, and I'm going through and rereading all the notes I've ever taken. And I'm importing them into Rome as individual notes. And then I'm cross referencing them to the video game books project, and to the individual
chapter they think that they'll best fit with. And my thought is, if, if this book is to be believed, that when all those are done, I'll basically have a bunch of research all in context that I can look at. And then I can some parts that I can copy and paste and basically start to build out the structure for the chapter. After obviously, right new material and stuff connected all together, or some parts, I'll need to totally rewrite because a different audience.
And hopefully, it will turn this giant daunting process of write a book into, basically take all the things I've already done, and turn them into something much better that will finally hopefully, finally, see the light of day and someone will actually read it. So that's my my project before me. And that's how I'm trying to apply how to take smart notes by some gay Aaron's, and I'm doing it in Rome research. So I don't know if you guys care at all about this, but I always find it helpful. And I always ask guests when I have them on here about what tools they use and what methods and so I thought I'd just share with you what I'm doing right now, in lieu of a more reserved or formal episode. So that's what I'm doing. And I'm excited about it. So far, I've been having a lot of fun doing it. It's It's nice to be on vacation, you know, and kind of let the mind relax and just work on projects you want to work on. And so that's what I'm doing. And I'm enjoying it. And again, yeah, I'll keep you posted.
I also am hopeful that this will bear more fruit in terms of ideas for podcast episodes and blog posts and videos. Because I do think that if you're reading, why not also capture the ideas that you're reading spawns in your mind, right if you already consuming something, why not have a way of capturing what those thoughts that come off of that in a place where you can maybe eventually use them for something else. So that's what this book, how to take smart notes helps you to do.
And that's probably enough rambling for now. I'm gonna get back to my vacation. And some fish tacos which I could smell in the other room. But I appreciate you guys listening. I'll have a more polished maybe maybe episode next week. But until I see you again, remember this that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all for the glory of God
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
No matter how well we plan, organize, and delegate, sometimes we drop the ball. Sometimes we let people down. Sometimes we fail to live up to our commitments. And sometimes we make matters worse by failing to communicate. This can lead to broken trust and people losing respect for you. So, how do we drop the ball gracefully? Today I'm going to give you five ways.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction 03:10 - Why we drop the ball 07:33 - 1. Don’t Overcommit to Begin With 10:27 - 2. Develop a System to Track Your Commitments 12:11 - 3. Communicate Early 15:30 - 4. Be 100% Honest 20:47 - 5. Ask for Forgiveness 23:45 - 6. Learn from Your Mistakes 25:56 - Believe the gospel when we drop the ball
Links
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
Welcome to the redeeming productivity show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host, Reagan Rose. Well, I'm here this is Episode 56. And I'm sitting here I got a ice cold Lacroix. Well, this is a Kroger brand. So, seltzer water, zero calories, naturally flavored lemon, listen to this. Just went all over my computer. It's okay. It's okay. Just a few droplets. Well, got another episode for you. So we're gonna be talking today about the art of gracefully dropping the ball, how to let people down without losing their respect. Ooh, intriguing title. I know. I wrote it. And so here's the deal. No matter how well you plan, no matter how well you organize, no matter how well you delegate, sometimes you drop the ball. Sometimes you let people down. Sometimes you fail to live up to your commitments and your promises. But sometimes, talking to myself here, we can make matters worse, when we fail to communicate when those things happen. And this can lead to broken trust can lead to people losing respect for you. And the question is, how do we drop the ball gracefully? Well, today, I'm going to give you five ways that you can drop the ball gracefully, and not lose people's respect, not lose their trust, when you have to break a commitment. So we'll talk about that in just a second. Before we do just a quick plug for the newsletter, if you don't get my bi weekly newsletter, you should it on Wednesdays I talk about things that have come out on the blog about new podcast episodes, and just some other things that I'm thinking. And that's really the only place you can get that just it's a little more. I was gonna say unhinged musings, but that's not the word I'm looking for. Though it may be more accurate, that's gonna say less, you know, rehearse less polish. This is kind of what I'm thinking about in regard to Christianity and productivity that week. And then on Fridays, you get my Reagan's roundup feature with just as five links from around the web, to help you on your journey to becoming a more productive Christian. So if you're not on the newsletter, you should sign up. It's redeemedproductivity.com/newsletter. And also now when you sign up for the newsletter, you get a free morning routine planner PDF. It's something I've pulled together, that kind of will walk you through the steps for creating a morning routine for yourself that involves things like Bible study, and exercise and prayer. And just if you walk through the steps, you'll have yourself a handy dandy routine in the morning. So check that out the redeeming productivity newsletter at redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter. And also if you're interested in supporting my work producing this podcast, these videos, blog posts, etc. You can do so on patreon.com/redeemingprod, there'll be a link in the description if you want more info on that. Okay, let's get into the meat of things. Let's get talking about dropping the ball gracefully. So here's the thing. I really hate letting people down. I do. And I think that there's I think that there's a problem there and motivations, which I'll talk about in a future episode on fear of man. But I really hate that feeling of letting someone down. And I think that in large part, that's what drives my interest in productivity. Sometimes, obviously, my more nobler reasons are that I do indeed want to glorify God with my life. But what really made me start thinking about how I can be more organized, how I can track my tasks better. The big thing that was motivating me was I just kept dropping the ball, people would ask me to do something, I'd commit to doing it. And then I'd forget. And so that's what got me into learning about how can I do this stuff better. And I do believe that this is part of being a Christian is we need to be people of our word. God is a God of his word. He always fulfills his promises. He never tells a lie. His yes is always yes is no is always No. And we as image bearers are to likewise be people of our word. And so when you commit to do something, that's a very serious thing. You You want your yes to be yes. And you know, to be no. But as you know, sometimes it can't be helped. Sometimes you really did want to do something you said you were going to do, but through maybe an error on your part, or circumstances that are outside of your control. Sometimes you let people down. Sometimes you can't fulfill that commitment. Sometimes you drop the ball. But since I want people to trust me, I want people to know that they can rely on me that can be devastating. You know, like, you want to be a person known as a person of your word, not just for your own, you know, personal self worth Back to your own reputation. But because you know that you represent Christ, you're a representative of God, you're an ambassador, for Christ, it says. So you want to be a person who's known as a person of your word, person, Person person. I think what maybe is ironic, I guess is that sometimes that fear of letting people down when things, you realize that you're not gonna be able to feel a commitment, sometimes that fear can actually lead to you making the situation worse. And what I mean is, you might try to find a way to work a bunch of overtime or something, or through the night to make up for a mistake, or for being double booked or double committed. And, you know, trying to make sure no one finds out that, that you didn't manage your time well or something. But the problem with that is it leads to this like vicious cycle of burnout, where you're constantly trying to fulfill these different commitments, and finding yourself falling short, and then trying to make up for them and then falling short and other commitments, and round and round we go, that is not a Mulberry Bush, you want to be circling weasel? Hmm. I don't think any of that's an expression. But it is now because that's how expressions are coined on podcasts. So and even worse, I think when it comes to letting people down and dropping the ball, we can even be tempted to lie sometimes, or bend the truth or just leave out some details to kind of cover over our failure. Or we might double down on our promises, we might say, well, I'll make up I'll make it up to you. But that actually, again, it can make things worse, and leads you to dropping the ball over and over again. And as a cereal ball dropper, myself, probably probably not what I should call that. But as someone who is who has done this multiple times, and is the reason I'm trying day in and day out to become a little bit more efficient, with my time a little bit more productive, a little bit better. at keeping track of the things I said I would do and making sure I actually have time to do them. It's because I am. I don't want to let people down. I want to I don't want to break their trust. I don't want to lose the respect. And I want to honor Christ by being a person of my word. So here are five ways maybe there'll be six but five ish ways on how you can learn the art of gracefully dropping the ball so that you don't lose people's respect or let them down or break their trust.
- Don’t Overcommit to Begin With
So the first reason is this. Can you guys hear the Lacroix bubbling? I just love that. It's like um, the what was that cereal? right in that cereal like it doesn't exist Rice Krispies, you know, snap, crackle, pop, you can kind of hear the Lacroix. I'll keep it away from the mics. You don't have to hear it. I like subtle. If you heard the jokes about Lacroix where it's like, um, you know, the flavor is not intense. It's not like sweet. It's just kind of like hints of flavor. Someone said that Lacroix is like drinking water. And then someone shouts the name of a fruit from another room. That's what Lacroix tastes like. I thought that was funny. Anyway, what were we talking about? Oh, I was gonna tell you five ways to drop the ball gracefully. The first one in, I think probably the one that gets to the root of the problem, at least, the root of the problem for me, maybe this is same for you is the first reason or the first way to not drop the ball is to not over commit to begin with. I think over commitment can be a source for this kind of thing. Where you you want to say yes to things, you want to be helpful. You want to, you know, do things. And so you promise you say, Oh, yeah, I'll do that. Let me take care of that for you. But you do that so much that you find that it's actually too many commitments for you to handle. And no matter how well organized you are, every single one of us has a limit, even though we might try to push it guilty, often guilty of that myself. So I would say the first way that you can drop the ball gracefully, is by not putting yourself into a position where you're constantly having to drop the ball, because you've got too many things on your plate, keep the plate tidy. And this is just the art of learning to say no. This is you know being self aware enough to know your capacity and how much you can do and not to project yourself into the future and assume that the future you is going to have more time than the you right now. You know stuff always comes out life is not as clear as it is when you block it out on paper. So don't overcommit to begin with. And I think just as a good like practical application to this, keep us thinking calendar. It Doesn't have to be a stinking calendar, it can just be a normal calendar. But keep a calendar and keep it well. If you don't want to over commit to stuff, you need to track what you are committed to. And likewise, I actually talked about this in the next one, but track your tasks as well. Unless you know what you've said yes to, you aren't going to know if you have enough time to say yes to more things, if that makes sense. So keeping a rigorous calendar helps you not to over commit to things to begin with.
- Develop a System to Track Your Commitments
Okay, the second way that you can drop the ball gracefully, when you when you are over committed, is develop a system to track your commitment. So I just mentioned calendars. But the other side of that is a task tracking system. And I'm surprised in this day and age how many people still don't do this that I talked to. And so I'm not just talking about a to do list, I'm talking about a way of tracking the things that you have said you're going to do. If you have not read the book, getting things done by David Allen, I would commend it to you. It's a simple systematic approach to how you can kind of capture things as they come into your life and make sure that they actually get done. So you're not constantly trying to remember in your head, all the things that you've said you're going to do. It's a great book. And many, many software tools have sprung up around the concept of getting things done, I use OmniFocus. To do this is really popular things. You can do this with a bullet journal or just a simple notebook, but having a just a dedicated space, where you track what are the what are the things, what are the task, what do I need to get done today and tomorrow, things like that. That will go miles to make it so that you don't drop the ball as often. And again, number one applies here to again, don't over commit to things. But if you have visibility on what you're committed to, you're going to be much more likely to not drop the ball on things. And also transition that will help you to know if you are about to drop the ball on something so that you can communicate.
- Communicate Early
And so that's the third way that you can drop the ball gracefully. When you know that you're going to break a commitment. Tell people tell the person or people or boss or friend or whoever in advance, you know, if you something comes up and you know you had plans to go have dinner with some friends or something, and don't just like ghost him for one. But don't also like 10 minutes before you're going to meet at your local Chili's to get some pain yo poppers and a triple Dipper. Don't be like oh guy, sorry, I can't make it. Especially if you knew further in advance of that. And this is again, this is something that I I am guilty of myself is you know, most people will forgive a broken promise or a failure to complete something as intended. As long as you chest tell them as soon as you know about it. Do you know what I mean? Like people understand, like, nobody's perfect. Nobody gets 100% of the things done that they say they're going to get done. Like, things come up, you know, emergencies. And even just like foolish things where you double booked yourself. The trick is, tell them when soon as you know. So as soon as you know that you goofed a call a text and email cause a hugely long way to not just save face, but also honor the person that you know, you're about to let down. And if you know that there is even the potential for dropping the ball on something so you've committed to some project and, and the deadline for it is coming up. And you know, man, it's, it's gonna be tight. I don't know, if I'm gonna make this deadline. Don't just clam up and pretend that everything's gonna be okay. This is a great time for you to tell whoever's in charge. But I mean, I find this helpful. I manage people and I really appreciate when they over communicate to me when there's an expectation for something to be done. And they tell me, Hey, this and this and this came up. I think we're still gonna get it done on time, but I'm not sure I want you to know, I so appreciate that. Because then I'm able to communicate that and I and I'm able to set my expectations or reset my expectations, rather than being surprised when I thought everything was going fine. Because last time we talked was a week ago, dude, I mean, so communicate early, communicate often. As soon as you know that you're that you're dropping the ball on something, or even before if you know there's the potential to it. So communicate simple enough, isn't it? Except for it's kind of embarrassing, right? I think this is the reason that I struggle with this is you again you want you want to please people you want you want to come through you want to be trustworthy. But you kind of don't want people to see your flaws, your mistakes, especially if you, especially if you have a podcast about how to be productive, and then you drop the ball on something because you weren't productive on it, you're not I mean, like, there's a little bit of a blow to your ego to your pride. And so then you don't communicate. But again, it just makes things worse. So when when you when you know that you can drop the ball, communicate, communicate, communicate.
- Be 100% Honest
So on the subject of the art of gracefully dropping the ball here is the fourth way that you can drop the ball gracefully and not break people's trust or lose their respect for you. And that is be 100% honest, be 100% honest. Here's the deal. excuses are really not helpful. Um, even if they're true, like, I think there is a difference. Personally, I make a difference. In my mind, I've two different categories for excuse and an explanation for something. But an excuse is, as I define it, it's when you are basically trying to pass the blame. It might not be to another person, it might be the circumstances, but an excuse has these overtones of not taking ownership of the problem to say, Oh, I, you know, I almost got it done. But, but yeah, then then My car broke down, or I almost got it done. But then X, Y, and Z happened to me, you know what I mean? And that is not that helpful. And I just, again, speaking, as you know, somebody who manages people, I would, I don't mind you, I mean, I understand that things come up, and I want to hear an explanation. But I don't want to hear an excuse. I don't want to hear a hint in there of It's not my fault. And it may not be your fault. But what I mean is people appreciate it. When you take ownership and you're 100% honest. And so something maybe your car breaks down and you can't get to an appointment on time. You know, take ownership of that, be 100% honest, tell them exactly what happens. Or if you're running late, don't don't do that thing where Oh, GPS says five minutes, but you haven't like even, you know, left your house yet. Be 100% honest about it. That is going to go miles even when you mess up, even when things don't go your way. If the aim is that, Hey, I know I'm letting this person down. But long term, I don't want to break their trust, I want them to trust me. Well, a great way to have people trust you is to not lie to them. And mainly, again, be extremely, extremely honest, hundred percent honest about why you had that epic blunder. And maybe even if it's in a work setting, what you could have done differently, you know, practically saying, Yeah, you know, what, I, I could have had this, I could have worked on this sooner. I remember this coming up all the time, like in school, if you guys ever have teachers like this, where you come and you ask for an extension on a paper or some project and you say, Oh, yeah, you know, well, I had all these other things going on. And I kind of pulled an all nighter, and then my cat got sick and was throwing up everywhere. And you know, my dog had worms. And he was you just have so many pets, and they have so many medical conditions. But like, what does the teacher say? The teacher says, Well, you How long did you know this paper was? Do? You say? Well since the beginning of the semester, and they say well, how long did you have to work on it? Well, lots and lots of weeks. When did you start last night right before fluffy started hacking up along? And then they say sorry, paper still do, dude. I mean, like, that's pretty mean. It's not mean it's holding the line. And I get it, I get why teachers do that. And it is helpful, especially when you know that the students making an excuse. But that's what I mean about taking ownership of it is instead to say I should have started sooner, we could have finished this earlier. You know, I should have left the house earlier, I knew it was potential that this thing would happen to keep me from this appointment. And I should have told you just be 100% on it honest and take 100% ownership, people will appreciate that. And then long term that trust is still maintained. And I think the on the subject of honesty, I talked a little bit about excuses how you can blame circumstances. And I and I mentioned briefly that you can use it excuses, blaming someone else. That's horrible if you think about it, and sometimes that's your default. If you're trying to save face, you kind of maybe don't come out and say it but you kind of intimate that. Well, so and so didn't do XY and Z. And you know, so yeah, we really should have done better. And you know, I mean there's like this half apology, but really you're just like blaming somebody else. That is that's pretty rough, especially if you were the one responsible for doing the thing. It's it's your problem. Even if somebody else did let you down. You should have been on top of it and why If you're kind of hinting that it's someone else's fault, when it wasn't, you are like bearing false witness, which is a violation of the law of God, you're blaming somebody else for your mistake that you do not want to be doing, take ownership for it, be 100% honest, there's consequences take them. But in the end, you keep your integrity intact. And you will have been a great witness for Christ in the workplace and a great image bearer for him, wherever you are.
- Ask for Forgiveness
Okay, so we're talking about the art of gracefully dropping the ball, how to let people down without losing their respect. And so far, we've looked at five ways of doing that. The first is not to over commit to begin with second was develop a system to track your commitments. Third is communicate early and fourth was be 100%. honest, we hear this, here's the fifth way that you can drop the ball gracefully, when you're breaking a commitment and not lose people's trust or respect. And that is the simple act of asking for forgiveness. If someone trusted you to do something, whether it be as simple as again, you know, making an appointment on time, you know, for coffee or something, or if it's in the workplace, and it's the the fulfilling a project in the time that you committed to, or even in the home with your spouse or with your kids is you said you do something, and then you don't. And even if the circumstances outside of your control, whatever the reason, ask for forgiveness. You promised to do something, you said you would do something, and you did it. Ask for their forgiveness. Apologize to them, not in that weird kind of way, you know, where you don't actually take responsibility? You say, I'm sorry, for the way that made you feel. I'm very sorry for the way you reacted to that. I'm sorry that you were mad at the car for it breaking down on me. You know, just take responsibility and ask for forgiveness. Say, I'm so sorry. I said that I would do that. And I didn't. And then mega right. It's not hard, except for to the bride, simply to ask for forgiveness. I will offer one caveat on this point of asking for forgiveness. And that is simply that sometimes this is the only thing we do. Do you know what I mean? Like if you are a serial ball dropper, there's that term again, I cannot, I don't want to say that anymore. But if you're somebody who who constantly, you know, or repeatedly has failed to meet commitments, apologies wear thin real fast. And it is the only thing you do. And you think that it makes every it smooths everything over every single time. And you don't actually take steps to rectify maybe your poor planning or organizational habits, or your you know how much you commit to, you're going to actually make steps to fix that. It's not long before, people are like, Oh, they just don't do things. And then they come and say they're sorry afterwards for it not working out. You're gonna lose people's respect, you're gonna lose their trust and can be a poor witness, if that's your Mo. But what I am saying here is that when you genuinely mess up, take full responsibility and apologize for it. But then also, you know, as someone who, who genuinely wants to do it right next time, go back and make the steps figure out how do I not over commit? How can I track my commitments better? How can I make sure these kind of things don't happen in the future? And be serious about that. And when people see that change in you, they will you'll have their respect, you'll learn it and they, they won't look down on you just because you made a mistake once. And that's it's important as a Christian, that's important. It is.
- Learn from Your Mistakes
And okay, here's the bonus one. I'm gave you five ways to drop the ball gracefully. We're recommitment, disappoint someone, but to do it in a way that you don't lose the respect of their trust. And I just would say one last one. And then it's just learn from your mistakes. It's going to happen. You are going to drop the ball. You're going to fail to meet a deadline, complete a promise, fulfill a requirement of you. It's going to happen. But if you can pause hafter, that situation and look and try to figure out, Okay, what did I What could I be doing different in the future to make sure that doesn't happen again? That moment that time you spend self reflecting, maybe you're examining your own mindset towards things like I've mentioned fear man a couple times, it's something I've been thinking about about why is it to overcommit Reagan, it's because I care too much. I think that what people think about me, and so how can I set that at the heart level, so that in the future, I honor people by saying yes to the things that I really can do, and not bring up people's expectations that I'm going to do something for them. When I know that I don't really have the capacity to do it. Another part of the self exam is looking at your systems. You know, I mentioned I think in the intro to the last podcast that I had like a breakdown, basically, in my productivity system, one crisis kind of blew the whole thing up. Well, I had to spend a good probably half a day, tearing down my system for tracking tasks, and rebuilding it again and re kind of thinking about, okay, what went wrong? How can I fix this? How can I tweak this so that it's a little bit more resilient to crisis. And so I did that. And hopefully the fruit of that will be that that type of thing won't happen again, or at least I'll have the right steps in place to mitigate a disaster from messing up my whole week, or causing kind of a chain reaction of not fulfilling commitments, see what I mean? So learn from your mistakes, learn from them, improve, and keep going. And guys, listen, if you're a Christian, if you've placed your faith in Jesus Christ, if you've been united with Him by faith, then you are under God's grace, which means you can fail and fail even boldly, you will make mistakes, you will fail to fulfill things. And I think one of the problems that can happen, or maybe a better way to put it is, is this way is that productivity is something that people that are given to perfectionism, are kind of drawn to sometimes and so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of you listening would be self described perfectionists. And perfectionism is, is is in Christians, a denial of grace, right? It's a denial that you are imperfect that you are in need of God's help. And I think reminding yourself of the gospel, reminding yourself that you You are not perfect, you are not God is so helpful when you do drop the ball in a situation like this. It helps you be more honest about your own shortcomings with others and with God. And only then are you able to assess what went wrong, apologize, seek forgiveness if you messed up in some way, and then move on and keep going trying to do better next time in Christ strength. Well, guys, that's all I have for you this week. Thank you so much for listening and or watching. Appreciate you do check out that newsletter in the description. Oh, and if you are a Patreon supporter, head on over to Patreon. Now that the episodes over, I have a little clip on there that I made for you about an app that has really been changing the way I read Kindle books, and I think you will be interested in it. So check out that clip. And if you're not a Patreon supporter, you can join and get access to these bonus clips as well. The link for that is in the description. And I will see you again here next week. But until I do remember this that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
No matter how well we plan, organize, and delegate, sometimes we drop the ball. Sometimes we let people down. Sometimes we fail to live up to our commitments. And sometimes we make matters worse by failing to communicate. This can lead to broken trust and people losing respect for you. So, how do we drop the ball gracefully? Today I'm going to give you five ways.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction 03:10 - Why we drop the ball 07:33 - 1. Don’t Overcommit to Begin With 10:27 - 2. Develop a System to Track Your Commitments 12:11 - 3. Communicate Early 15:30 - 4. Be 100% Honest 20:47 - 5. Ask for Forgiveness 23:45 - 6. Learn from Your Mistakes 25:56 - Believe the gospel when we drop the ball
Links
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
Welcome to the redeeming productivity show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host, Reagan Rose. Well, I'm here this is Episode 56. And I'm sitting here I got a ice cold Lacroix. Well, this is a Kroger brand. So, seltzer water, zero calories, naturally flavored lemon, listen to this. Just went all over my computer. It's okay. It's okay. Just a few droplets. Well, got another episode for you. So we're gonna be talking today about the art of gracefully dropping the ball, how to let people down without losing their respect. Ooh, intriguing title. I know. I wrote it. And so here's the deal. No matter how well you plan, no matter how well you organize, no matter how well you delegate, sometimes you drop the ball. Sometimes you let people down. Sometimes you fail to live up to your commitments and your promises. But sometimes, talking to myself here, we can make matters worse, when we fail to communicate when those things happen. And this can lead to broken trust can lead to people losing respect for you. And the question is, how do we drop the ball gracefully? Well, today, I'm going to give you five ways that you can drop the ball gracefully, and not lose people's respect, not lose their trust, when you have to break a commitment. So we'll talk about that in just a second. Before we do just a quick plug for the newsletter, if you don't get my bi weekly newsletter, you should it on Wednesdays I talk about things that have come out on the blog about new podcast episodes, and just some other things that I'm thinking. And that's really the only place you can get that just it's a little more. I was gonna say unhinged musings, but that's not the word I'm looking for. Though it may be more accurate, that's gonna say less, you know, rehearse less polish. This is kind of what I'm thinking about in regard to Christianity and productivity that week. And then on Fridays, you get my Reagan's roundup feature with just as five links from around the web, to help you on your journey to becoming a more productive Christian. So if you're not on the newsletter, you should sign up. It's redeemedproductivity.com/newsletter. And also now when you sign up for the newsletter, you get a free morning routine planner PDF. It's something I've pulled together, that kind of will walk you through the steps for creating a morning routine for yourself that involves things like Bible study, and exercise and prayer. And just if you walk through the steps, you'll have yourself a handy dandy routine in the morning. So check that out the redeeming productivity newsletter at redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter. And also if you're interested in supporting my work producing this podcast, these videos, blog posts, etc. You can do so on patreon.com/redeemingprod, there'll be a link in the description if you want more info on that. Okay, let's get into the meat of things. Let's get talking about dropping the ball gracefully. So here's the thing. I really hate letting people down. I do. And I think that there's I think that there's a problem there and motivations, which I'll talk about in a future episode on fear of man. But I really hate that feeling of letting someone down. And I think that in large part, that's what drives my interest in productivity. Sometimes, obviously, my more nobler reasons are that I do indeed want to glorify God with my life. But what really made me start thinking about how I can be more organized, how I can track my tasks better. The big thing that was motivating me was I just kept dropping the ball, people would ask me to do something, I'd commit to doing it. And then I'd forget. And so that's what got me into learning about how can I do this stuff better. And I do believe that this is part of being a Christian is we need to be people of our word. God is a God of his word. He always fulfills his promises. He never tells a lie. His yes is always yes is no is always No. And we as image bearers are to likewise be people of our word. And so when you commit to do something, that's a very serious thing. You You want your yes to be yes. And you know, to be no. But as you know, sometimes it can't be helped. Sometimes you really did want to do something you said you were going to do, but through maybe an error on your part, or circumstances that are outside of your control. Sometimes you let people down. Sometimes you can't fulfill that commitment. Sometimes you drop the ball. But since I want people to trust me, I want people to know that they can rely on me that can be devastating. You know, like, you want to be a person known as a person of your word, not just for your own, you know, personal self worth Back to your own reputation. But because you know that you represent Christ, you're a representative of God, you're an ambassador, for Christ, it says. So you want to be a person who's known as a person of your word, person, Person person. I think what maybe is ironic, I guess is that sometimes that fear of letting people down when things, you realize that you're not gonna be able to feel a commitment, sometimes that fear can actually lead to you making the situation worse. And what I mean is, you might try to find a way to work a bunch of overtime or something, or through the night to make up for a mistake, or for being double booked or double committed. And, you know, trying to make sure no one finds out that, that you didn't manage your time well or something. But the problem with that is it leads to this like vicious cycle of burnout, where you're constantly trying to fulfill these different commitments, and finding yourself falling short, and then trying to make up for them and then falling short and other commitments, and round and round we go, that is not a Mulberry Bush, you want to be circling weasel? Hmm. I don't think any of that's an expression. But it is now because that's how expressions are coined on podcasts. So and even worse, I think when it comes to letting people down and dropping the ball, we can even be tempted to lie sometimes, or bend the truth or just leave out some details to kind of cover over our failure. Or we might double down on our promises, we might say, well, I'll make up I'll make it up to you. But that actually, again, it can make things worse, and leads you to dropping the ball over and over again. And as a cereal ball dropper, myself, probably probably not what I should call that. But as someone who is who has done this multiple times, and is the reason I'm trying day in and day out to become a little bit more efficient, with my time a little bit more productive, a little bit better. at keeping track of the things I said I would do and making sure I actually have time to do them. It's because I am. I don't want to let people down. I want to I don't want to break their trust. I don't want to lose the respect. And I want to honor Christ by being a person of my word. So here are five ways maybe there'll be six but five ish ways on how you can learn the art of gracefully dropping the ball so that you don't lose people's respect or let them down or break their trust.
- Don’t Overcommit to Begin With
So the first reason is this. Can you guys hear the Lacroix bubbling? I just love that. It's like um, the what was that cereal? right in that cereal like it doesn't exist Rice Krispies, you know, snap, crackle, pop, you can kind of hear the Lacroix. I'll keep it away from the mics. You don't have to hear it. I like subtle. If you heard the jokes about Lacroix where it's like, um, you know, the flavor is not intense. It's not like sweet. It's just kind of like hints of flavor. Someone said that Lacroix is like drinking water. And then someone shouts the name of a fruit from another room. That's what Lacroix tastes like. I thought that was funny. Anyway, what were we talking about? Oh, I was gonna tell you five ways to drop the ball gracefully. The first one in, I think probably the one that gets to the root of the problem, at least, the root of the problem for me, maybe this is same for you is the first reason or the first way to not drop the ball is to not over commit to begin with. I think over commitment can be a source for this kind of thing. Where you you want to say yes to things, you want to be helpful. You want to, you know, do things. And so you promise you say, Oh, yeah, I'll do that. Let me take care of that for you. But you do that so much that you find that it's actually too many commitments for you to handle. And no matter how well organized you are, every single one of us has a limit, even though we might try to push it guilty, often guilty of that myself. So I would say the first way that you can drop the ball gracefully, is by not putting yourself into a position where you're constantly having to drop the ball, because you've got too many things on your plate, keep the plate tidy. And this is just the art of learning to say no. This is you know being self aware enough to know your capacity and how much you can do and not to project yourself into the future and assume that the future you is going to have more time than the you right now. You know stuff always comes out life is not as clear as it is when you block it out on paper. So don't overcommit to begin with. And I think just as a good like practical application to this, keep us thinking calendar. It Doesn't have to be a stinking calendar, it can just be a normal calendar. But keep a calendar and keep it well. If you don't want to over commit to stuff, you need to track what you are committed to. And likewise, I actually talked about this in the next one, but track your tasks as well. Unless you know what you've said yes to, you aren't going to know if you have enough time to say yes to more things, if that makes sense. So keeping a rigorous calendar helps you not to over commit to things to begin with.
- Develop a System to Track Your Commitments
Okay, the second way that you can drop the ball gracefully, when you when you are over committed, is develop a system to track your commitment. So I just mentioned calendars. But the other side of that is a task tracking system. And I'm surprised in this day and age how many people still don't do this that I talked to. And so I'm not just talking about a to do list, I'm talking about a way of tracking the things that you have said you're going to do. If you have not read the book, getting things done by David Allen, I would commend it to you. It's a simple systematic approach to how you can kind of capture things as they come into your life and make sure that they actually get done. So you're not constantly trying to remember in your head, all the things that you've said you're going to do. It's a great book. And many, many software tools have sprung up around the concept of getting things done, I use OmniFocus. To do this is really popular things. You can do this with a bullet journal or just a simple notebook, but having a just a dedicated space, where you track what are the what are the things, what are the task, what do I need to get done today and tomorrow, things like that. That will go miles to make it so that you don't drop the ball as often. And again, number one applies here to again, don't over commit to things. But if you have visibility on what you're committed to, you're going to be much more likely to not drop the ball on things. And also transition that will help you to know if you are about to drop the ball on something so that you can communicate.
- Communicate Early
And so that's the third way that you can drop the ball gracefully. When you know that you're going to break a commitment. Tell people tell the person or people or boss or friend or whoever in advance, you know, if you something comes up and you know you had plans to go have dinner with some friends or something, and don't just like ghost him for one. But don't also like 10 minutes before you're going to meet at your local Chili's to get some pain yo poppers and a triple Dipper. Don't be like oh guy, sorry, I can't make it. Especially if you knew further in advance of that. And this is again, this is something that I I am guilty of myself is you know, most people will forgive a broken promise or a failure to complete something as intended. As long as you chest tell them as soon as you know about it. Do you know what I mean? Like people understand, like, nobody's perfect. Nobody gets 100% of the things done that they say they're going to get done. Like, things come up, you know, emergencies. And even just like foolish things where you double booked yourself. The trick is, tell them when soon as you know. So as soon as you know that you goofed a call a text and email cause a hugely long way to not just save face, but also honor the person that you know, you're about to let down. And if you know that there is even the potential for dropping the ball on something so you've committed to some project and, and the deadline for it is coming up. And you know, man, it's, it's gonna be tight. I don't know, if I'm gonna make this deadline. Don't just clam up and pretend that everything's gonna be okay. This is a great time for you to tell whoever's in charge. But I mean, I find this helpful. I manage people and I really appreciate when they over communicate to me when there's an expectation for something to be done. And they tell me, Hey, this and this and this came up. I think we're still gonna get it done on time, but I'm not sure I want you to know, I so appreciate that. Because then I'm able to communicate that and I and I'm able to set my expectations or reset my expectations, rather than being surprised when I thought everything was going fine. Because last time we talked was a week ago, dude, I mean, so communicate early, communicate often. As soon as you know that you're that you're dropping the ball on something, or even before if you know there's the potential to it. So communicate simple enough, isn't it? Except for it's kind of embarrassing, right? I think this is the reason that I struggle with this is you again you want you want to please people you want you want to come through you want to be trustworthy. But you kind of don't want people to see your flaws, your mistakes, especially if you, especially if you have a podcast about how to be productive, and then you drop the ball on something because you weren't productive on it, you're not I mean, like, there's a little bit of a blow to your ego to your pride. And so then you don't communicate. But again, it just makes things worse. So when when you when you know that you can drop the ball, communicate, communicate, communicate.
- Be 100% Honest
So on the subject of the art of gracefully dropping the ball here is the fourth way that you can drop the ball gracefully and not break people's trust or lose their respect for you. And that is be 100% honest, be 100% honest. Here's the deal. excuses are really not helpful. Um, even if they're true, like, I think there is a difference. Personally, I make a difference. In my mind, I've two different categories for excuse and an explanation for something. But an excuse is, as I define it, it's when you are basically trying to pass the blame. It might not be to another person, it might be the circumstances, but an excuse has these overtones of not taking ownership of the problem to say, Oh, I, you know, I almost got it done. But, but yeah, then then My car broke down, or I almost got it done. But then X, Y, and Z happened to me, you know what I mean? And that is not that helpful. And I just, again, speaking, as you know, somebody who manages people, I would, I don't mind you, I mean, I understand that things come up, and I want to hear an explanation. But I don't want to hear an excuse. I don't want to hear a hint in there of It's not my fault. And it may not be your fault. But what I mean is people appreciate it. When you take ownership and you're 100% honest. And so something maybe your car breaks down and you can't get to an appointment on time. You know, take ownership of that, be 100% honest, tell them exactly what happens. Or if you're running late, don't don't do that thing where Oh, GPS says five minutes, but you haven't like even, you know, left your house yet. Be 100% honest about it. That is going to go miles even when you mess up, even when things don't go your way. If the aim is that, Hey, I know I'm letting this person down. But long term, I don't want to break their trust, I want them to trust me. Well, a great way to have people trust you is to not lie to them. And mainly, again, be extremely, extremely honest, hundred percent honest about why you had that epic blunder. And maybe even if it's in a work setting, what you could have done differently, you know, practically saying, Yeah, you know, what, I, I could have had this, I could have worked on this sooner. I remember this coming up all the time, like in school, if you guys ever have teachers like this, where you come and you ask for an extension on a paper or some project and you say, Oh, yeah, you know, well, I had all these other things going on. And I kind of pulled an all nighter, and then my cat got sick and was throwing up everywhere. And you know, my dog had worms. And he was you just have so many pets, and they have so many medical conditions. But like, what does the teacher say? The teacher says, Well, you How long did you know this paper was? Do? You say? Well since the beginning of the semester, and they say well, how long did you have to work on it? Well, lots and lots of weeks. When did you start last night right before fluffy started hacking up along? And then they say sorry, paper still do, dude. I mean, like, that's pretty mean. It's not mean it's holding the line. And I get it, I get why teachers do that. And it is helpful, especially when you know that the students making an excuse. But that's what I mean about taking ownership of it is instead to say I should have started sooner, we could have finished this earlier. You know, I should have left the house earlier, I knew it was potential that this thing would happen to keep me from this appointment. And I should have told you just be 100% on it honest and take 100% ownership, people will appreciate that. And then long term that trust is still maintained. And I think the on the subject of honesty, I talked a little bit about excuses how you can blame circumstances. And I and I mentioned briefly that you can use it excuses, blaming someone else. That's horrible if you think about it, and sometimes that's your default. If you're trying to save face, you kind of maybe don't come out and say it but you kind of intimate that. Well, so and so didn't do XY and Z. And you know, so yeah, we really should have done better. And you know, I mean there's like this half apology, but really you're just like blaming somebody else. That is that's pretty rough, especially if you were the one responsible for doing the thing. It's it's your problem. Even if somebody else did let you down. You should have been on top of it and why If you're kind of hinting that it's someone else's fault, when it wasn't, you are like bearing false witness, which is a violation of the law of God, you're blaming somebody else for your mistake that you do not want to be doing, take ownership for it, be 100% honest, there's consequences take them. But in the end, you keep your integrity intact. And you will have been a great witness for Christ in the workplace and a great image bearer for him, wherever you are.
- Ask for Forgiveness
Okay, so we're talking about the art of gracefully dropping the ball, how to let people down without losing their respect. And so far, we've looked at five ways of doing that. The first is not to over commit to begin with second was develop a system to track your commitments. Third is communicate early and fourth was be 100%. honest, we hear this, here's the fifth way that you can drop the ball gracefully, when you're breaking a commitment and not lose people's trust or respect. And that is the simple act of asking for forgiveness. If someone trusted you to do something, whether it be as simple as again, you know, making an appointment on time, you know, for coffee or something, or if it's in the workplace, and it's the the fulfilling a project in the time that you committed to, or even in the home with your spouse or with your kids is you said you do something, and then you don't. And even if the circumstances outside of your control, whatever the reason, ask for forgiveness. You promised to do something, you said you would do something, and you did it. Ask for their forgiveness. Apologize to them, not in that weird kind of way, you know, where you don't actually take responsibility? You say, I'm sorry, for the way that made you feel. I'm very sorry for the way you reacted to that. I'm sorry that you were mad at the car for it breaking down on me. You know, just take responsibility and ask for forgiveness. Say, I'm so sorry. I said that I would do that. And I didn't. And then mega right. It's not hard, except for to the bride, simply to ask for forgiveness. I will offer one caveat on this point of asking for forgiveness. And that is simply that sometimes this is the only thing we do. Do you know what I mean? Like if you are a serial ball dropper, there's that term again, I cannot, I don't want to say that anymore. But if you're somebody who who constantly, you know, or repeatedly has failed to meet commitments, apologies wear thin real fast. And it is the only thing you do. And you think that it makes every it smooths everything over every single time. And you don't actually take steps to rectify maybe your poor planning or organizational habits, or your you know how much you commit to, you're going to actually make steps to fix that. It's not long before, people are like, Oh, they just don't do things. And then they come and say they're sorry afterwards for it not working out. You're gonna lose people's respect, you're gonna lose their trust and can be a poor witness, if that's your Mo. But what I am saying here is that when you genuinely mess up, take full responsibility and apologize for it. But then also, you know, as someone who, who genuinely wants to do it right next time, go back and make the steps figure out how do I not over commit? How can I track my commitments better? How can I make sure these kind of things don't happen in the future? And be serious about that. And when people see that change in you, they will you'll have their respect, you'll learn it and they, they won't look down on you just because you made a mistake once. And that's it's important as a Christian, that's important. It is.
- Learn from Your Mistakes
And okay, here's the bonus one. I'm gave you five ways to drop the ball gracefully. We're recommitment, disappoint someone, but to do it in a way that you don't lose the respect of their trust. And I just would say one last one. And then it's just learn from your mistakes. It's going to happen. You are going to drop the ball. You're going to fail to meet a deadline, complete a promise, fulfill a requirement of you. It's going to happen. But if you can pause hafter, that situation and look and try to figure out, Okay, what did I What could I be doing different in the future to make sure that doesn't happen again? That moment that time you spend self reflecting, maybe you're examining your own mindset towards things like I've mentioned fear man a couple times, it's something I've been thinking about about why is it to overcommit Reagan, it's because I care too much. I think that what people think about me, and so how can I set that at the heart level, so that in the future, I honor people by saying yes to the things that I really can do, and not bring up people's expectations that I'm going to do something for them. When I know that I don't really have the capacity to do it. Another part of the self exam is looking at your systems. You know, I mentioned I think in the intro to the last podcast that I had like a breakdown, basically, in my productivity system, one crisis kind of blew the whole thing up. Well, I had to spend a good probably half a day, tearing down my system for tracking tasks, and rebuilding it again and re kind of thinking about, okay, what went wrong? How can I fix this? How can I tweak this so that it's a little bit more resilient to crisis. And so I did that. And hopefully the fruit of that will be that that type of thing won't happen again, or at least I'll have the right steps in place to mitigate a disaster from messing up my whole week, or causing kind of a chain reaction of not fulfilling commitments, see what I mean? So learn from your mistakes, learn from them, improve, and keep going. And guys, listen, if you're a Christian, if you've placed your faith in Jesus Christ, if you've been united with Him by faith, then you are under God's grace, which means you can fail and fail even boldly, you will make mistakes, you will fail to fulfill things. And I think one of the problems that can happen, or maybe a better way to put it is, is this way is that productivity is something that people that are given to perfectionism, are kind of drawn to sometimes and so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of you listening would be self described perfectionists. And perfectionism is, is is in Christians, a denial of grace, right? It's a denial that you are imperfect that you are in need of God's help. And I think reminding yourself of the gospel, reminding yourself that you You are not perfect, you are not God is so helpful when you do drop the ball in a situation like this. It helps you be more honest about your own shortcomings with others and with God. And only then are you able to assess what went wrong, apologize, seek forgiveness if you messed up in some way, and then move on and keep going trying to do better next time in Christ strength. Well, guys, that's all I have for you this week. Thank you so much for listening and or watching. Appreciate you do check out that newsletter in the description. Oh, and if you are a Patreon supporter, head on over to Patreon. Now that the episodes over, I have a little clip on there that I made for you about an app that has really been changing the way I read Kindle books, and I think you will be interested in it. So check out that clip. And if you're not a Patreon supporter, you can join and get access to these bonus clips as well. The link for that is in the description. And I will see you again here next week. But until I do remember this that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Matthew Everhard who is a Jonathan Edwards scholar. We discuss the productivity habits of the Puritan pastor, particularly his unique approach to knowledge management.
Links
- Check out Matthew Everhard's YouTube Channel
- Read his article at Modern Reformation
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Matthew Everhard who is a Jonathan Edwards scholar. We discuss the productivity habits of the Puritan pastor, particularly his unique approach to knowledge management.
Links
- Check out Matthew Everhard's YouTube Channel
- Read his article at Modern Reformation
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Envy destroys our ability to do pleasing work for God. Instead of looking around at the "success" of others, we need to faithfully labor at what the Lord has put before us.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Timestamps
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:21 Thank you to you supporters
- 05:16 The article that inspired this episode
- 07:48 Jealousy in the workplace
- 09:33 Envy is a sin
- 10:54 Envy is strongest when you see the wicked succeeding
- 13:10 You are not alone
- 14:45 We have a choice to make when we see the wicked succeeding
- 15:56 Don't envy the damned
- 19:14 The dangers of envy
- 21:19 How Christians view success
- 23:14 The meek shall inherit the earth
- 25:05 You don't have to be type-A to be successful
- 27:55 Conclusion
Envy destroys our ability to do pleasing work for God. Instead of looking around at the "success" of others, we need to faithfully labor at what the Lord has put before us.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Timestamps
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:21 Thank you to you supporters
- 05:16 The article that inspired this episode
- 07:48 Jealousy in the workplace
- 09:33 Envy is a sin
- 10:54 Envy is strongest when you see the wicked succeeding
- 13:10 You are not alone
- 14:45 We have a choice to make when we see the wicked succeeding
- 15:56 Don't envy the damned
- 19:14 The dangers of envy
- 21:19 How Christians view success
- 23:14 The meek shall inherit the earth
- 25:05 You don't have to be type-A to be successful
- 27:55 Conclusion
Have you ever felt guilty for listening to the Bible instead of reading it? In this episode, I try and answer whether or not it's "cheating" to listen to the Bible on audio instead of reading it. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different modalities of Bible consumption. And at the end I share some of my picks for the best way to listen to God's Word on audio.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- 2016 Study on Audio Learning
- Bible App by YouVersion
- Study Bible by GTY
- Dwell Audio Bible App
- ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible
- ESV Daily Bible M'Cheyne Podcast
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Time Stamps
00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:40 Is listening to the Bible on audio "cheating"? 00:03:40 Where does this question come from? 00:07:12 Reading the Bible at difference speeds 00:11:01 Listening to the Bible is the historic norm. 00:14:11 Dangers of listening to the Bible on audio. 00:16:31 Make sure you'are actually listening. 00:19:02 Only reading the Bible because you feel like you have to 00:21:22 Advantages to listening to the Bible. 00:23:21 The Bible is a book for life. 00:25:50 Ways to listen to the Bible. 00:27:52 Conclusion
Transcript
Welcome to another episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show.
This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose.
Well, guys, we have a excellent episode for you today. What are you talking about? The subject of listening to the Bible? So audio Bibles, when we talk about apps, we're going to talk about audio books, websites, that kind of thing. But actually the main thing I want to dwell on is the question of, is it okay to listen to audio books, audio Bibles? Is it okay to, uh, to listen to the Bible instead of reading it? Is it cheating before we get into that?
I also just want to let you know that at the end of this episode, there's going to be a little bit extra, a little bit of a Patreon exclusive. So if you are one of my Patreon supporters, there'll be an extended clip from this episode that only you can hear. And if you're not one of my Patreon supporters, consider signing up, it's just patreon.com/redeemingprod. And for a few bucks a month, you get access to an exclusive feed. I'm trying to share more and more there. I actually have some goodies coming up soon. I'm gonna upgrade what I'm doing on Patreon and yeah, it also just helps support the show. So if you liked the show, you want to help me keep going, please check out my Patreon. And thank you to my Patreon supporters. You guys are the best, keep up the good work.
So, is listening to audio Bibles cheating? And I think that a lot of you—I've, I've actually kind of run this by a few people and asked them if they knew what I meant by asking that question. So I asked my wife, I said, “if I ask you if listening to the Bible on audio is cheating, do you know what I mean?“ She said, “yeah, I know what you mean.“ You kind of have the sense that you should be reading the Bible with your old hose, with your eyes. And if you don't, then your kind of cheating yourself out of studying the Word of God...or something like that.
In fact, I think this is something a lot of people think about audio books or books on tape in general is that it's not quite the same. I remember talking to, somebody was asking—this was years and years ago—they were asking for recommendation for where to get a good copy of an old book. And it was a specific title. And I linked to them that, “Hey, there's actually an audio version of this on sale right now.“ And they came—I was trying to be helpful—but they came back and they actually mocked me. They said, “ah, no, I actually want to read the book.“ And I was like, “okay, okay dude, fine. Don't take my recommendation.“
But I do think that that's indicative of this attitude that, uh, to listen to something is not quite as serious or quite as good as to actually read it. And so I want to question that assumption, uh, cause I think that hidden in there, there is some truth, but there also is some confusion about it. And if that's an issue for people feeling like listening is kind of cheating when compared to reading with your eyes, I think it's even more true when it comes to the Bible and as we’ll see I think there's good reasons people think that way, but I also think there's good reasons to question that assumption.
So as I was kind of researching for this episode I came across a thread on Reddit where somebody asked the following question. I feel like this is just like super representative of the types of thinking that a lot of us have when we think about that, maybe it'd be cheating, quote, unquote, to listen to the Bible.
He says, “so this is likely a dumb issue, but this is something I wrestled with fairly often due to constraints on my time. I'm sometimes unable to read as much of the Bible aside desire. So I will listen to it on my drive to, and from work on occasion. However, I have always had this unexplainable hangup about listening to the Bible versus actually reading it instead of listening to it is cheating and not as helpful. I know that listening to an audio Bible is not the best idea if you're doing a serious scripture study or even trying to remember exactly what verse and chapter a particular passage is from. But honestly, is there anything wrong with listening to the Bible as much as you read it?“
Great question guy on Reddit!
Where does this question come from? Why, why would we kind of instinctually think listening to the Bible on audio is not as good as reading it with our eyes? Well, I think it comes from a lot of places, you know, probably the result of how we've been taught to approach the Bible, um, you know, about studying it, uh, which is good about Scripture memorization about that. We go to Bible studies where it's very in depth and we're taught to go very slow. We're trying to really understand each and every word in each in reverse. And so how you approach the Bible is kind of colored by those things. And again, those are all very good things. Obviously we want to study the Bible. Obviously we want to go deep. Obviously it's the word of God. So we want to know exactly what every little aspect of it means. But I think some of that has kind of colored our thinking where we think, well, um, you know, if I'm listening to it, I'm not studying it. And I think that that, that part of it is probably mostly true. If you're listening to the Bible, you're not, it's going to be a lot harder for you to study it. You know, you're going to hit, hit pause a bunch. It's hard to look up the words. It's hard to look exactly what verse was, which, you know, there, there are limitations to it. But I think a lot of those limitations are also there. If you just read the Bible, if you just read it, um, you know, like big chunks of it at a time, you're also not studying it in depth, which is okay. That's okay. I think you need to do both.
Some of the ways that our Bibles are designed actually kind of makes us think that we really only should be studying them. Uh, so like our traditional Bible, you know, with the two columns, all the cross-references, all the extra stuff, it looks like no other book that you would find is that maybe a dictionary or something, the way that it's laid out, it doesn't look like a book. Um, it looks like a reference material. And so I think there are even in that, like these subtle hints that you shouldn't approach, you shouldn't read this book, you should, you should study it. It's, it's more of a technical book. Um, but you know, more recently in the last, I don't know, 10 years, the popularity of single column Bibles, or even Bibles you can get that don't have verse numbers at all and kind of encourage you just to read it and not be stopped every 10 words by a superscript of the verse or with a cross reference, but just to try to take in the Bible as it is, as a book.
Um, so I think that a lot of the, a lot of the hang ups we might have about listening to the Bible would also be equally true of just reading long portions of the Bible. That's my point there.
But again, I don't think that we should feel guilty listening to the Bible. I don't think we should be guilty. We should feel guilty if we're reading long portions of the Bible and not always studying it in depth. I think you need to approach the Bible at different speeds. Sometimes you go fast. Sometimes you go slow. Sometimes you stay on the surface and you're just trying to get the larger context. And sometimes you go really, really deep because you really want to understand some technical details. And you need to approach it in all those ways.
Back to the, uh, the question at hand: Is listening to it cheating? Is listening to the Bible cheating? Well, I think one reason we might think that it's cheating. Um, and probably the same reason that we might think about people who listen to books on tape as a bunch of no good cheaters is because retention. There is this notion that if I listen to it, I'm not retaining the information as good as if I read it with my eyes.
That's actually, probably per chance-ive-ly, not true.
So there's actually a 2016 study that was done. Um, and it was led by Beth Rogowsky, uh, who is a associate professor of education at Bloomsburg university. And she wanted to prove or disprove some of her own assumptions about audio learning. Um, and she, she said, even in the abstract to it, or maybe the introduction to the study, she says that, you know, she always had this feeling that listening was cheating because you couldn't possibly retain the same amount of information by listening than if you read it with your eyes. So she did this study of a bunch of different people who were like 25 to 40 and college educated and just, they, they did this study on retention. They read this book on World War II, it had lots of facts, lots of figures. And at the end of it they quizzed them. And then there was a two week gap and then they quizzed them again. And they had three groups. One would read it with their eyes, one that listened to an audio version, and one that did both at the same time. So both modalities they listened to and read at the same time.
And the results of the study were that there was actually no discernible difference in any of the groups, even the one that you would assume, you know, taking in through two senses, listening and hearing you'd assume all that one's going to be the best, no discernible difference. And I think that that's interesting, you know, she even said it in the conclusion of it—you can read the study, I'll link to it in the show notes—but in conclusion, she said, you know, this may, this was narrative form nonfiction, so right? It was history of World War II. So maybe something to do with the narrative structure helped. Maybe this wouldn't work as well for technical things or, you know, like a textbook or something, but even still, at least it calls into question some of our instinctual assumptions about audio learning as a format and as it applies to the Bible.
And that led me to think, why is it that we kind of even have this instinct? Why do we think that it's not going to be as good if I listened to it? I think the main reason we think this is because usually when we're listening to something we're multitasking. And so we're not going to retain the information as well, because we're not actually listening. I think the same would be true. Um, is if you were reading the Bible and you were also going back and forth and reading a different book at the same time. Like if you had them both open and they just had nothing to do with each other and you're just flipping back and forth. Of course, you're going to miss parts of the Bible text and you're going to skip around, you're going to, you're going to, you're not paying attention. Uh, so I think that's a big part of it is if you actually listen to the audio, um, it's not gonna be that big of a difference.
But also something to consider if you're asking the question, should, uh, should I listen to audio Bibles? Is that wrong? Is it cheating? One thing you should consider is that listening to the Bible historically is the norm, right? It's a, it's actually, we live in a very strange time. Uh, historically speaking that we all have easy access to written Bibles and that we're actually literate that we can read them, um, this for the majority of Christian history. And, and before that was Jewish history, like you, most people did not have their own copy of the Bible. Um, I talked about this some in an episode a long time ago, uh, I think it was the one on the perfect morning devotions plan, but I'll just rehash some of it briefly, uh, before Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press you couldn't, it was hard to get up. You had to have a lot of money to afford, to have a Bible. And even if you did have a Bible if you can't read it, you couldn't read it.
So, um, it was pretty normal that the way you consume the Bible was you heard it read to you in church. And this was true also, um, in the synagogues, this is true. Historically someone would read the Bible, you would hear it. You would hear the word of God. And you see this throughout Scripture, you know, um, in the book of Nehemiah, you remember, you know, the rebuilding, the wall around Jerusalem and Ezra is there and he pulls out the Law of God and he reads from early morning until midday. Remember, all the people were crying, they were weeping? Some of them out of joy, some of them out of, “Oh my goodness, we're hearing the word of God finally again.” It's this amazing occasion. And then during the Feast of Booths, he, he read for seven days straight from the law of God.
And again, you know, you see that Scripture commands people to hear and learn. Deuteronomy 31:12. You see this all throughout the old Testament. It's hearing the word of God. Um, Joshua 8:35, Joshua read before all the assembly of Israel. So the way that they heard the word was that it was read to them.
And you see this, of course, in the new Testament as well. Um, in the apostle Paul's letters he indicates that they're supposed to be read before the church. It wasn't, you know, they didn't get their, uh, you know, their, uh, their Xerox machine and make a copy for everybody. Um, they didn't have Xerox machines, so they couldn't do that. But Colossians 4:16, listen to the apostle Paul says, about his letter, he says the intent was that it would be read among you. People needed to hear it. That was the intention.
So this is always been the case, historically our access to physical printed Bibles and our ability to read them is unique. If you look at it historically speaking, um, that doesn't mean that it's not good. This is not an anti read the Bible with your eyes podcast, but that would be an interesting, a whole podcast themed, um, about, uh, being against reading the Bible with your eyes. That would be very niche. No, that's not what this is, but I am saying that trying to shake off some of the unusual illness or the cheety-ness in our thinking about listening to the Bible. It's okay to listen to the Bible. That's what the do the church has done for a long, long time. But let me circle back to some of the potential pitfalls of listening to the Bible on audio. And then I'll give some advice, some different ways to think about when you're reading through it. And I'll, I'll wrap up at the end here with a couple of suggested apps and stuff.
And I'm planning to, Lord willing, produce a little video with a roundup of some of the different apps and some of the different suggestions that many of you gave to me when I asked over the last weekend about how you listen to the Bible. So I ask that on Twitter and I got a ton of responses. It just keeps blowing up. It's even going right now on my phone as I'm recording this. Lots of good answers, but I tried to distill them down to the ones I think are best. So keep an eye out for that video later this week.
So the Bible audio Bible, what would be some potential pitfalls there of listening? Well, I kind of touched on it earlier, but I think the biggest one is are you paying attention? Um, you might feel like listening to an audio Bible is cheating because you're cheating because you're, instead of reading the Bible of your eyes, you're playing on audio so that you can kind of assuage your guilt at not reading the Bible as closely as you ought to do and just doing something else while it's playing in the background. You know what I mean? That's uh, yeah, you should probably feel bad about that, honestly. If instead of reading the Bible with your full attention, you're saying I'm going to play the Bible in the background while I do something else. I think that's a problem. I think that is a problem. I think you do need to, if you're going to listen to the Bible and read the Bible, you should pay attention to it.
There are times maybe additional reading, additional listening that you'll do that, have it in the background with the understanding that you're not fully paying attention the whole time. But I just mean if you're you're picking one or the other, whether I'm going to read it with my eyes or I'm gonna listen to it, all I'm saying is like for your daily devotions, all I'm saying is if you are going to do the audio version, well, make sure you're actually listening. Because then it is, is not the same if you're not.
You know, the Bible is God's word, right? It's inspired. It's breathed out by God. When you read the Bible, it is, it is the very word of God. It is an incredible book, but it is not magical. And what I mean by that is simply having the Bible playing in the background or reading the Bible and not understanding it doesn't really do anything for you. It doesn't do anything for you. If it doesn't penetrate the understanding, then it will not transform the heart and it will not result in actions. So you have to understand it. So that's another reason why you have to be listening closely. Back to Nehemiah 8:8. It said that they read from the book from the law of God. Clearly they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading. And my pastor, pastor John MacArthur, often says that "the meaning of the Scripture is the Scripture." If you don't understand what you're listening to, because you're not really paying attention, then there really was no point in doing it that, why did you, why were you listening? Why did you have it playing if you weren't going to listen to it and try to understand it? So that's just a little warning there about if you're going to listen to audio Bible, make sure you actually listen to it.
I also think that there's a consideration here when you're asking yourself, is it wrong for me to listen to an audio Bible? I do think it's worth considering the aspect of reverence. Um, multitasking while listening to the Bible, I don't think is necessarily wrong. Um, you know what I mean? Like cleaning the kitchen and having the Bible on in the background, uh, I don't think that's necessarily wrong. Like I said again, I think if you're, if you're doing audio to supplement your daily devotions, where you have like a focus time of reading the word, I would try to as much as possible, um, keep that time, uh, you know, kind of sanctified and make sure that you're actually listening during that. But if the option is okay, I'm going to clean the house and I can either listen to, um, gangster rap or the Bible. I would, I would say, yeah, put the Bible on instead (that's a false dichotomy). But I mean, if you're going to be listening to something, my point is, if you're going to be listening to something, why not have it be the Bible? Why not? Even if you don't catch every single part of it, some of it will penetrate the understanding. Some of it will sink into your heart. So why not have that in the background? You know what I mean?
The point really is just that in your own, thinking in your heart, just make sure that you're not treating God's word lightly. But again, our approach to the Bible, I really don't think it should be guilt based where we feel like we have to check the box every day. I think it's, it's a great discipline to study the Bible every day to read a little bit every day. But that doesn't mean that you should be doing it simply because you feel like, well, I'll be a bad Christian if I don't. Do you know what I mean? That's a negative motivation. It needs to be from a positive motivation, like, like in Psalm one, one in Psalm 1:1–2, it talks about the blessed man. It says the blessing, man. "His delight is in the law of the Lord on his law. He meditates day and night." It's positive. The motivation is I want to hear more of God's word. I want to hear it on my commute. I want to hear it when I'm out jogging in the neighborhood that, that audio Bibles make that super possible and awesome that you can constantly be meditating and hearing God's word throughout your day. Um, but your reason for doing that needs to be because I love it because I want to hear from God, not because you think that the more hours of Bible listening you get in the more, um, you know, having the brownie points you get or something like that. Okay. So don't take it for granted. God is speaking. Whether you read or listen to the word of God, he's speaking. So take that seriously. But yeah, I do think that if you're giving it the appropriate reference in your heart, man, audio Bibles are awesome.
And then I guess I kind of touched on this earlier, but I would just sum it up this way: Supplement don't replace reading with your eyes. If you have the benefit of being literate, you have the benefit of good eyesight and you can read a Bible with your eyes, just because it's not historically the norm that we've had this blessing, doesn't make it any less of a blessing. The fact that we have access to all these translations and all these great printed Bibles take advantage of that study deeply use that become a scholar of the word of God. But in addition to that, I'd say, yeah, listen to the Bible, listen to it. You read deeply for depth and read widely and lots of passages for breadth.
And then just some kind of some advantages that I see of listening, uh, versus reading. Uh, so I, I focused mostly on trying to, um, do away with some of the negative, uh, assumptions we might have about listening to the Bible. But I think there are many positive reasons that you should listen to the Bible that actually it is, has advantages at edges out reading and some really cool ways. One, is that listen to the Bible affords you insights that you might miss when you're just reading it. I think you can all the time, just because you're listening to different modality, it it's helpful in that way or, or the way that the speaker emphasize a certain things, you know, adds a layer of interpretation to the reading of the word that might help you to understand something kind of a different way than you had when you just read it yourself.
I think there's even this interesting juxtaposition that can happen when you're doing something while listening to a certain passage that can bring you new insights. I don't know if you've ever had this happen where you you've been reading something in the morning and it's a familiar passage, something from the New Testament, and then something you're doing later that day, uh, helps you to under that passage comes to mind in the context of doing whatever it is you're doing. And you start to understand the passage in a new way. What I mean like for example, is maybe you're listening to Jesus talk about the four soils while you're working in the yard. And you're thinking about the, the, the soil and the seeds and, and, and you're like, Oh, that's, that's interesting. Okay. So I see the thorns and things like that. And just being there, it just adds a shade of color to it. Um, or hearing Paul talk about running the race, right, while you're out, jogging around with your AirPods in, listening to Paul talk about running the race and you're actually running. I do think that that there's an immersive aspect of that that's really good. That's really good. And it's hard to get that when you're just reading it.
Um, I think there's a reason Deuteronomy six, seven. I think there's a reason that in Deuteronomy six, seven tells parents to teach their children as they sit in the house as they walk in the way as they lie down, as they rise that the Bible is a book for life, not just ivory study. The Bible comes alive when you are thinking about it and meditating on it and even consuming it throughout your day. And audio provides a great way to do that.
Other advantages are kind of obvious and probably the reason that you would even want to read, uh, the Bible via audio time redemption, right? Driving exercising time that might otherwise be spent listening to gangster rap can be spent, uh, listening to the Bible. And that's, you can't do that. Um, at least not safely, you can't read the Bible while running or, um, or driving cause you'll crash your car or you'll run into a ditch. And I touched on this before too, reading for breadth of context. It's just awesome to sit down and just hear someone read the Bible for, you know, 20 minutes or an hour. That's yeah, it's just great. You get a whole bunch of context at once. And really the big thing is—and this goes along with supplementing your reading with listening—is it can allow you to consume more of the word of God than you would, if you only limited yourself to reading so huge advantages worth doing, it's a good thing.
So my advice to you when it comes to reading the Bible via your ears is do both do both. I don't think you should think of it as cheating. Uh, I think if at all possible read with your eyes, listen with your ears, do both, don't feel bad about it, make sure you do it with reference, uh, but take advantage of this awesome blessing we have where we have this great technology where you don't just have to have like some servant jog alongside you and read the Bible to you. There's a little robot in your phone that does it. That's pretty awesome. So do both do both.
Just wrapping up here. I want to give you a few suggested apps and some different ways of listening. Like I said before, I'm going to (Lord willing) be doing a video that I'll release later this week. That does kind of a roundup of some of the top, uh, ways of listening to the Bible, but just briefly things to look, look at: YouVersion, which is you probably all have that Bible app on your phone, uh, has a great audio feature for, you know, most of the Bible translations that has. So if you want an all in one option, YouVersion already has it use it. It's free.
Dwell. This one got recommended to me like a bazillion times in that Twitter thread. And I actually signed up for a subscription to it. You have to pay, I think it's like 30 bucks a year or one 150 for a lifetime of it. But if you think about what you're getting, it's pretty well worth it. They've recorded the Bible—It's an audio first Bible app basically—and they've recorded the Bible with a bunch of different voices and different translations. And the app is just incredible. You can play different types of music in the background, which I personally don't like, but you might. And all the voices are super high quality and it's just a really, really well done app for audio Bible listening, probably the best one out there. So check out Dwell, um, the Grace to You Study Bible app, which I actually helped work on. Um, that one has an audio feature too. Uh, the ESV App is excellent.
Or if you want to just buy a Bible from Audible, uh, or from, uh, Christian Audio, check out the ESV here, the word Bible. And then also if you like that voice, there's a podcast, um, by Crossway and it's the ESV audio Bible, but it's broken up into chunks and it follows the Robert Murray M'Cheyne reading plan. So just look up ESV Daily Bible on your podcast player. And basically you'll get like one Old Testament or no two Old Testament, uh, one New Testament and one either Gospel or some section a day. It's about 10, 15, 20 minutes a day. And you'll work your way all the way through the Bible. If you listen to that year round, um, in one year we work all the way through the Bible and listen to the Psalms and the, uh, new Testament twice. So the old Testament once Psalms twice new Testament twice, I believe so check all of those out. Um, and yeah, hopefully those are helpful to you. Well, that's all I have for you this week. Thank you so much for listening or watching and to you Patreon supporters, I have an additional bonus content after this available. If you go log into Patreon, you'll find it there. I'm going to be talking about how audio books and specifically audio Bibles changed my life. So if you're interested in that had an over to patreon.com and if you're not a Patreon supporter, consider becoming one, you help support the show. And also you unlock bonus content like this additional, uh, time for the podcast. And I actually have a lot of things cooking right now for more Patreon perks, more on that coming soon. So check that out. patreon.com/redeemingprod. And thank you again to all my patrons. Appreciate you guys so much.
Well, I'll see you again here next week, but until I do remember this, that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
Have you ever felt guilty for listening to the Bible instead of reading it? In this episode, I try and answer whether or not it's "cheating" to listen to the Bible on audio instead of reading it. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different modalities of Bible consumption. And at the end I share some of my picks for the best way to listen to God's Word on audio.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- 2016 Study on Audio Learning
- Bible App by YouVersion
- Study Bible by GTY
- Dwell Audio Bible App
- ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible
- ESV Daily Bible M'Cheyne Podcast
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Time Stamps
00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:40 Is listening to the Bible on audio "cheating"? 00:03:40 Where does this question come from? 00:07:12 Reading the Bible at difference speeds 00:11:01 Listening to the Bible is the historic norm. 00:14:11 Dangers of listening to the Bible on audio. 00:16:31 Make sure you'are actually listening. 00:19:02 Only reading the Bible because you feel like you have to 00:21:22 Advantages to listening to the Bible. 00:23:21 The Bible is a book for life. 00:25:50 Ways to listen to the Bible. 00:27:52 Conclusion
Transcript
Welcome to another episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show.
This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose.
Well, guys, we have a excellent episode for you today. What are you talking about? The subject of listening to the Bible? So audio Bibles, when we talk about apps, we're going to talk about audio books, websites, that kind of thing. But actually the main thing I want to dwell on is the question of, is it okay to listen to audio books, audio Bibles? Is it okay to, uh, to listen to the Bible instead of reading it? Is it cheating before we get into that?
I also just want to let you know that at the end of this episode, there's going to be a little bit extra, a little bit of a Patreon exclusive. So if you are one of my Patreon supporters, there'll be an extended clip from this episode that only you can hear. And if you're not one of my Patreon supporters, consider signing up, it's just patreon.com/redeemingprod. And for a few bucks a month, you get access to an exclusive feed. I'm trying to share more and more there. I actually have some goodies coming up soon. I'm gonna upgrade what I'm doing on Patreon and yeah, it also just helps support the show. So if you liked the show, you want to help me keep going, please check out my Patreon. And thank you to my Patreon supporters. You guys are the best, keep up the good work.
So, is listening to audio Bibles cheating? And I think that a lot of you—I've, I've actually kind of run this by a few people and asked them if they knew what I meant by asking that question. So I asked my wife, I said, “if I ask you if listening to the Bible on audio is cheating, do you know what I mean?“ She said, “yeah, I know what you mean.“ You kind of have the sense that you should be reading the Bible with your old hose, with your eyes. And if you don't, then your kind of cheating yourself out of studying the Word of God...or something like that.
In fact, I think this is something a lot of people think about audio books or books on tape in general is that it's not quite the same. I remember talking to, somebody was asking—this was years and years ago—they were asking for recommendation for where to get a good copy of an old book. And it was a specific title. And I linked to them that, “Hey, there's actually an audio version of this on sale right now.“ And they came—I was trying to be helpful—but they came back and they actually mocked me. They said, “ah, no, I actually want to read the book.“ And I was like, “okay, okay dude, fine. Don't take my recommendation.“
But I do think that that's indicative of this attitude that, uh, to listen to something is not quite as serious or quite as good as to actually read it. And so I want to question that assumption, uh, cause I think that hidden in there, there is some truth, but there also is some confusion about it. And if that's an issue for people feeling like listening is kind of cheating when compared to reading with your eyes, I think it's even more true when it comes to the Bible and as we’ll see I think there's good reasons people think that way, but I also think there's good reasons to question that assumption.
So as I was kind of researching for this episode I came across a thread on Reddit where somebody asked the following question. I feel like this is just like super representative of the types of thinking that a lot of us have when we think about that, maybe it'd be cheating, quote, unquote, to listen to the Bible.
He says, “so this is likely a dumb issue, but this is something I wrestled with fairly often due to constraints on my time. I'm sometimes unable to read as much of the Bible aside desire. So I will listen to it on my drive to, and from work on occasion. However, I have always had this unexplainable hangup about listening to the Bible versus actually reading it instead of listening to it is cheating and not as helpful. I know that listening to an audio Bible is not the best idea if you're doing a serious scripture study or even trying to remember exactly what verse and chapter a particular passage is from. But honestly, is there anything wrong with listening to the Bible as much as you read it?“
Great question guy on Reddit!
Where does this question come from? Why, why would we kind of instinctually think listening to the Bible on audio is not as good as reading it with our eyes? Well, I think it comes from a lot of places, you know, probably the result of how we've been taught to approach the Bible, um, you know, about studying it, uh, which is good about Scripture memorization about that. We go to Bible studies where it's very in depth and we're taught to go very slow. We're trying to really understand each and every word in each in reverse. And so how you approach the Bible is kind of colored by those things. And again, those are all very good things. Obviously we want to study the Bible. Obviously we want to go deep. Obviously it's the word of God. So we want to know exactly what every little aspect of it means. But I think some of that has kind of colored our thinking where we think, well, um, you know, if I'm listening to it, I'm not studying it. And I think that that, that part of it is probably mostly true. If you're listening to the Bible, you're not, it's going to be a lot harder for you to study it. You know, you're going to hit, hit pause a bunch. It's hard to look up the words. It's hard to look exactly what verse was, which, you know, there, there are limitations to it. But I think a lot of those limitations are also there. If you just read the Bible, if you just read it, um, you know, like big chunks of it at a time, you're also not studying it in depth, which is okay. That's okay. I think you need to do both.
Some of the ways that our Bibles are designed actually kind of makes us think that we really only should be studying them. Uh, so like our traditional Bible, you know, with the two columns, all the cross-references, all the extra stuff, it looks like no other book that you would find is that maybe a dictionary or something, the way that it's laid out, it doesn't look like a book. Um, it looks like a reference material. And so I think there are even in that, like these subtle hints that you shouldn't approach, you shouldn't read this book, you should, you should study it. It's, it's more of a technical book. Um, but you know, more recently in the last, I don't know, 10 years, the popularity of single column Bibles, or even Bibles you can get that don't have verse numbers at all and kind of encourage you just to read it and not be stopped every 10 words by a superscript of the verse or with a cross reference, but just to try to take in the Bible as it is, as a book.
Um, so I think that a lot of the, a lot of the hang ups we might have about listening to the Bible would also be equally true of just reading long portions of the Bible. That's my point there.
But again, I don't think that we should feel guilty listening to the Bible. I don't think we should be guilty. We should feel guilty if we're reading long portions of the Bible and not always studying it in depth. I think you need to approach the Bible at different speeds. Sometimes you go fast. Sometimes you go slow. Sometimes you stay on the surface and you're just trying to get the larger context. And sometimes you go really, really deep because you really want to understand some technical details. And you need to approach it in all those ways.
Back to the, uh, the question at hand: Is listening to it cheating? Is listening to the Bible cheating? Well, I think one reason we might think that it's cheating. Um, and probably the same reason that we might think about people who listen to books on tape as a bunch of no good cheaters is because retention. There is this notion that if I listen to it, I'm not retaining the information as good as if I read it with my eyes.
That's actually, probably per chance-ive-ly, not true.
So there's actually a 2016 study that was done. Um, and it was led by Beth Rogowsky, uh, who is a associate professor of education at Bloomsburg university. And she wanted to prove or disprove some of her own assumptions about audio learning. Um, and she, she said, even in the abstract to it, or maybe the introduction to the study, she says that, you know, she always had this feeling that listening was cheating because you couldn't possibly retain the same amount of information by listening than if you read it with your eyes. So she did this study of a bunch of different people who were like 25 to 40 and college educated and just, they, they did this study on retention. They read this book on World War II, it had lots of facts, lots of figures. And at the end of it they quizzed them. And then there was a two week gap and then they quizzed them again. And they had three groups. One would read it with their eyes, one that listened to an audio version, and one that did both at the same time. So both modalities they listened to and read at the same time.
And the results of the study were that there was actually no discernible difference in any of the groups, even the one that you would assume, you know, taking in through two senses, listening and hearing you'd assume all that one's going to be the best, no discernible difference. And I think that that's interesting, you know, she even said it in the conclusion of it—you can read the study, I'll link to it in the show notes—but in conclusion, she said, you know, this may, this was narrative form nonfiction, so right? It was history of World War II. So maybe something to do with the narrative structure helped. Maybe this wouldn't work as well for technical things or, you know, like a textbook or something, but even still, at least it calls into question some of our instinctual assumptions about audio learning as a format and as it applies to the Bible.
And that led me to think, why is it that we kind of even have this instinct? Why do we think that it's not going to be as good if I listened to it? I think the main reason we think this is because usually when we're listening to something we're multitasking. And so we're not going to retain the information as well, because we're not actually listening. I think the same would be true. Um, is if you were reading the Bible and you were also going back and forth and reading a different book at the same time. Like if you had them both open and they just had nothing to do with each other and you're just flipping back and forth. Of course, you're going to miss parts of the Bible text and you're going to skip around, you're going to, you're going to, you're not paying attention. Uh, so I think that's a big part of it is if you actually listen to the audio, um, it's not gonna be that big of a difference.
But also something to consider if you're asking the question, should, uh, should I listen to audio Bibles? Is that wrong? Is it cheating? One thing you should consider is that listening to the Bible historically is the norm, right? It's a, it's actually, we live in a very strange time. Uh, historically speaking that we all have easy access to written Bibles and that we're actually literate that we can read them, um, this for the majority of Christian history. And, and before that was Jewish history, like you, most people did not have their own copy of the Bible. Um, I talked about this some in an episode a long time ago, uh, I think it was the one on the perfect morning devotions plan, but I'll just rehash some of it briefly, uh, before Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press you couldn't, it was hard to get up. You had to have a lot of money to afford, to have a Bible. And even if you did have a Bible if you can't read it, you couldn't read it.
So, um, it was pretty normal that the way you consume the Bible was you heard it read to you in church. And this was true also, um, in the synagogues, this is true. Historically someone would read the Bible, you would hear it. You would hear the word of God. And you see this throughout Scripture, you know, um, in the book of Nehemiah, you remember, you know, the rebuilding, the wall around Jerusalem and Ezra is there and he pulls out the Law of God and he reads from early morning until midday. Remember, all the people were crying, they were weeping? Some of them out of joy, some of them out of, “Oh my goodness, we're hearing the word of God finally again.” It's this amazing occasion. And then during the Feast of Booths, he, he read for seven days straight from the law of God.
And again, you know, you see that Scripture commands people to hear and learn. Deuteronomy 31:12. You see this all throughout the old Testament. It's hearing the word of God. Um, Joshua 8:35, Joshua read before all the assembly of Israel. So the way that they heard the word was that it was read to them.
And you see this, of course, in the new Testament as well. Um, in the apostle Paul's letters he indicates that they're supposed to be read before the church. It wasn't, you know, they didn't get their, uh, you know, their, uh, their Xerox machine and make a copy for everybody. Um, they didn't have Xerox machines, so they couldn't do that. But Colossians 4:16, listen to the apostle Paul says, about his letter, he says the intent was that it would be read among you. People needed to hear it. That was the intention.
So this is always been the case, historically our access to physical printed Bibles and our ability to read them is unique. If you look at it historically speaking, um, that doesn't mean that it's not good. This is not an anti read the Bible with your eyes podcast, but that would be an interesting, a whole podcast themed, um, about, uh, being against reading the Bible with your eyes. That would be very niche. No, that's not what this is, but I am saying that trying to shake off some of the unusual illness or the cheety-ness in our thinking about listening to the Bible. It's okay to listen to the Bible. That's what the do the church has done for a long, long time. But let me circle back to some of the potential pitfalls of listening to the Bible on audio. And then I'll give some advice, some different ways to think about when you're reading through it. And I'll, I'll wrap up at the end here with a couple of suggested apps and stuff.
And I'm planning to, Lord willing, produce a little video with a roundup of some of the different apps and some of the different suggestions that many of you gave to me when I asked over the last weekend about how you listen to the Bible. So I ask that on Twitter and I got a ton of responses. It just keeps blowing up. It's even going right now on my phone as I'm recording this. Lots of good answers, but I tried to distill them down to the ones I think are best. So keep an eye out for that video later this week.
So the Bible audio Bible, what would be some potential pitfalls there of listening? Well, I kind of touched on it earlier, but I think the biggest one is are you paying attention? Um, you might feel like listening to an audio Bible is cheating because you're cheating because you're, instead of reading the Bible of your eyes, you're playing on audio so that you can kind of assuage your guilt at not reading the Bible as closely as you ought to do and just doing something else while it's playing in the background. You know what I mean? That's uh, yeah, you should probably feel bad about that, honestly. If instead of reading the Bible with your full attention, you're saying I'm going to play the Bible in the background while I do something else. I think that's a problem. I think that is a problem. I think you do need to, if you're going to listen to the Bible and read the Bible, you should pay attention to it.
There are times maybe additional reading, additional listening that you'll do that, have it in the background with the understanding that you're not fully paying attention the whole time. But I just mean if you're you're picking one or the other, whether I'm going to read it with my eyes or I'm gonna listen to it, all I'm saying is like for your daily devotions, all I'm saying is if you are going to do the audio version, well, make sure you're actually listening. Because then it is, is not the same if you're not.
You know, the Bible is God's word, right? It's inspired. It's breathed out by God. When you read the Bible, it is, it is the very word of God. It is an incredible book, but it is not magical. And what I mean by that is simply having the Bible playing in the background or reading the Bible and not understanding it doesn't really do anything for you. It doesn't do anything for you. If it doesn't penetrate the understanding, then it will not transform the heart and it will not result in actions. So you have to understand it. So that's another reason why you have to be listening closely. Back to Nehemiah 8:8. It said that they read from the book from the law of God. Clearly they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading. And my pastor, pastor John MacArthur, often says that "the meaning of the Scripture is the Scripture." If you don't understand what you're listening to, because you're not really paying attention, then there really was no point in doing it that, why did you, why were you listening? Why did you have it playing if you weren't going to listen to it and try to understand it? So that's just a little warning there about if you're going to listen to audio Bible, make sure you actually listen to it.
I also think that there's a consideration here when you're asking yourself, is it wrong for me to listen to an audio Bible? I do think it's worth considering the aspect of reverence. Um, multitasking while listening to the Bible, I don't think is necessarily wrong. Um, you know what I mean? Like cleaning the kitchen and having the Bible on in the background, uh, I don't think that's necessarily wrong. Like I said again, I think if you're, if you're doing audio to supplement your daily devotions, where you have like a focus time of reading the word, I would try to as much as possible, um, keep that time, uh, you know, kind of sanctified and make sure that you're actually listening during that. But if the option is okay, I'm going to clean the house and I can either listen to, um, gangster rap or the Bible. I would, I would say, yeah, put the Bible on instead (that's a false dichotomy). But I mean, if you're going to be listening to something, my point is, if you're going to be listening to something, why not have it be the Bible? Why not? Even if you don't catch every single part of it, some of it will penetrate the understanding. Some of it will sink into your heart. So why not have that in the background? You know what I mean?
The point really is just that in your own, thinking in your heart, just make sure that you're not treating God's word lightly. But again, our approach to the Bible, I really don't think it should be guilt based where we feel like we have to check the box every day. I think it's, it's a great discipline to study the Bible every day to read a little bit every day. But that doesn't mean that you should be doing it simply because you feel like, well, I'll be a bad Christian if I don't. Do you know what I mean? That's a negative motivation. It needs to be from a positive motivation, like, like in Psalm one, one in Psalm 1:1–2, it talks about the blessed man. It says the blessing, man. "His delight is in the law of the Lord on his law. He meditates day and night." It's positive. The motivation is I want to hear more of God's word. I want to hear it on my commute. I want to hear it when I'm out jogging in the neighborhood that, that audio Bibles make that super possible and awesome that you can constantly be meditating and hearing God's word throughout your day. Um, but your reason for doing that needs to be because I love it because I want to hear from God, not because you think that the more hours of Bible listening you get in the more, um, you know, having the brownie points you get or something like that. Okay. So don't take it for granted. God is speaking. Whether you read or listen to the word of God, he's speaking. So take that seriously. But yeah, I do think that if you're giving it the appropriate reference in your heart, man, audio Bibles are awesome.
And then I guess I kind of touched on this earlier, but I would just sum it up this way: Supplement don't replace reading with your eyes. If you have the benefit of being literate, you have the benefit of good eyesight and you can read a Bible with your eyes, just because it's not historically the norm that we've had this blessing, doesn't make it any less of a blessing. The fact that we have access to all these translations and all these great printed Bibles take advantage of that study deeply use that become a scholar of the word of God. But in addition to that, I'd say, yeah, listen to the Bible, listen to it. You read deeply for depth and read widely and lots of passages for breadth.
And then just some kind of some advantages that I see of listening, uh, versus reading. Uh, so I, I focused mostly on trying to, um, do away with some of the negative, uh, assumptions we might have about listening to the Bible. But I think there are many positive reasons that you should listen to the Bible that actually it is, has advantages at edges out reading and some really cool ways. One, is that listen to the Bible affords you insights that you might miss when you're just reading it. I think you can all the time, just because you're listening to different modality, it it's helpful in that way or, or the way that the speaker emphasize a certain things, you know, adds a layer of interpretation to the reading of the word that might help you to understand something kind of a different way than you had when you just read it yourself.
I think there's even this interesting juxtaposition that can happen when you're doing something while listening to a certain passage that can bring you new insights. I don't know if you've ever had this happen where you you've been reading something in the morning and it's a familiar passage, something from the New Testament, and then something you're doing later that day, uh, helps you to under that passage comes to mind in the context of doing whatever it is you're doing. And you start to understand the passage in a new way. What I mean like for example, is maybe you're listening to Jesus talk about the four soils while you're working in the yard. And you're thinking about the, the, the soil and the seeds and, and, and you're like, Oh, that's, that's interesting. Okay. So I see the thorns and things like that. And just being there, it just adds a shade of color to it. Um, or hearing Paul talk about running the race, right, while you're out, jogging around with your AirPods in, listening to Paul talk about running the race and you're actually running. I do think that that there's an immersive aspect of that that's really good. That's really good. And it's hard to get that when you're just reading it.
Um, I think there's a reason Deuteronomy six, seven. I think there's a reason that in Deuteronomy six, seven tells parents to teach their children as they sit in the house as they walk in the way as they lie down, as they rise that the Bible is a book for life, not just ivory study. The Bible comes alive when you are thinking about it and meditating on it and even consuming it throughout your day. And audio provides a great way to do that.
Other advantages are kind of obvious and probably the reason that you would even want to read, uh, the Bible via audio time redemption, right? Driving exercising time that might otherwise be spent listening to gangster rap can be spent, uh, listening to the Bible. And that's, you can't do that. Um, at least not safely, you can't read the Bible while running or, um, or driving cause you'll crash your car or you'll run into a ditch. And I touched on this before too, reading for breadth of context. It's just awesome to sit down and just hear someone read the Bible for, you know, 20 minutes or an hour. That's yeah, it's just great. You get a whole bunch of context at once. And really the big thing is—and this goes along with supplementing your reading with listening—is it can allow you to consume more of the word of God than you would, if you only limited yourself to reading so huge advantages worth doing, it's a good thing.
So my advice to you when it comes to reading the Bible via your ears is do both do both. I don't think you should think of it as cheating. Uh, I think if at all possible read with your eyes, listen with your ears, do both, don't feel bad about it, make sure you do it with reference, uh, but take advantage of this awesome blessing we have where we have this great technology where you don't just have to have like some servant jog alongside you and read the Bible to you. There's a little robot in your phone that does it. That's pretty awesome. So do both do both.
Just wrapping up here. I want to give you a few suggested apps and some different ways of listening. Like I said before, I'm going to (Lord willing) be doing a video that I'll release later this week. That does kind of a roundup of some of the top, uh, ways of listening to the Bible, but just briefly things to look, look at: YouVersion, which is you probably all have that Bible app on your phone, uh, has a great audio feature for, you know, most of the Bible translations that has. So if you want an all in one option, YouVersion already has it use it. It's free.
Dwell. This one got recommended to me like a bazillion times in that Twitter thread. And I actually signed up for a subscription to it. You have to pay, I think it's like 30 bucks a year or one 150 for a lifetime of it. But if you think about what you're getting, it's pretty well worth it. They've recorded the Bible—It's an audio first Bible app basically—and they've recorded the Bible with a bunch of different voices and different translations. And the app is just incredible. You can play different types of music in the background, which I personally don't like, but you might. And all the voices are super high quality and it's just a really, really well done app for audio Bible listening, probably the best one out there. So check out Dwell, um, the Grace to You Study Bible app, which I actually helped work on. Um, that one has an audio feature too. Uh, the ESV App is excellent.
Or if you want to just buy a Bible from Audible, uh, or from, uh, Christian Audio, check out the ESV here, the word Bible. And then also if you like that voice, there's a podcast, um, by Crossway and it's the ESV audio Bible, but it's broken up into chunks and it follows the Robert Murray M'Cheyne reading plan. So just look up ESV Daily Bible on your podcast player. And basically you'll get like one Old Testament or no two Old Testament, uh, one New Testament and one either Gospel or some section a day. It's about 10, 15, 20 minutes a day. And you'll work your way all the way through the Bible. If you listen to that year round, um, in one year we work all the way through the Bible and listen to the Psalms and the, uh, new Testament twice. So the old Testament once Psalms twice new Testament twice, I believe so check all of those out. Um, and yeah, hopefully those are helpful to you. Well, that's all I have for you this week. Thank you so much for listening or watching and to you Patreon supporters, I have an additional bonus content after this available. If you go log into Patreon, you'll find it there. I'm going to be talking about how audio books and specifically audio Bibles changed my life. So if you're interested in that had an over to patreon.com and if you're not a Patreon supporter, consider becoming one, you help support the show. And also you unlock bonus content like this additional, uh, time for the podcast. And I actually have a lot of things cooking right now for more Patreon perks, more on that coming soon. So check that out. patreon.com/redeemingprod. And thank you again to all my patrons. Appreciate you guys so much.
Well, I'll see you again here next week, but until I do remember this, that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
Life hacks are simple shortcuts to help get everyday tasks done more efficiently. But Christian contentment is the ultimate life hack. In this episode, we explore what contentment is, how you can get it, and how it allows Christians to change their attitudes without changing their circumstances.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Book: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
Welcome to the Redeeming Productivity Show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose. Well, in this week's episode, we're going to be talking about the subject of Christian contentment. Namely, why contentment is the Ultimate life hack.
More on that in a minute, but before we get into it in earnest, I just wanted to tell you that I am back at it with a video version of the podcast. So a lot of you—I know most of you—listen to this via audio podcast on Apple Podcasts or something like that. Well, there's also a video version on YouTube and there has been going back for quite a while actually, but I stopped doing them when it got too hot. Because I shoot this in the garage and it gets too hot in the garage. And so it was, it was too hard to make it pretty and not be sweating. So now it's cooled off a little bit. So I'm back at it. So if you are not subscribed to the YouTube channel, go on YouTube, go to Redeeming Productivity, just search it or just click the link in the description here. And you will find me there. And I have other videos there as well, in addition to the podcast content. So you'll want to check that out. And also of course, as usual, if you're not subscribed to this podcast on your podcast player, you ought to go ahead and do that. A special shout out to the Patreon supporters. Appreciate you guys so much! There are now 11 of you, which is amazing to me and really does help offset the cost of this. So if you are a listener to this or a watcher of this with your ojos, and you want to help support the efforts of Redeeming Productivity, do check out my Patreon page. That's patreon.com/redeemingprod. And you can become a monthly supporter for as little as three bucks a month. And I hop on there from time to time, give some exclusive content and also do early releases of episodes from time to time. So check that out. More coming soon over there…soon. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears…ears peeled, uh, ears…ears…open ears, unclogged ears? Peeled.
Okay. Let's get into the topic of today's show.
So earlier this week I tweeted, I tweeted, um, a tweet. I tweeted a tweet that just said that "contentment is the ultimate life hack." And over on my Instagram, I shared a little bit more about what I meant by that. And I figured, you know what? I should do a whole episode about what that means.
So why would I say that contentment is the ultimate life hack? That's what I want to talk about today. And so we're going to do three things, hopefully, depending on how long this takes. I might have more material than I have your attention. So I might split this up, but we'll see. So three things we're going to do. We're going to say, why contentment is the ultimate life hack. Then we're going to look at what exactly contentment is, biblically, where I get a little theological on you. I looked up some Greek words. So hold onto your hats lady and gents. Lady and gents, because there's only one lady who listens to this and it's my mom. And then lastly, we're going to answer a question—and that is one that often comes up. You might be wondering at the end of this episode as well. It's if I get too content…does contentment kill ambition? Will it kill my drive to be productive if I'm actually content? Hmm. Interesting question, Reagan. Yes. Thank you. I made that up and we'll answer it shortly.
Okay. So let's dig in.
Why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Well, you know what life hacks are, right? Like someone's like, here's a cool way to open a jar with just your teeth or, um, you know, here's a simple way to save 10 seconds tying your shoes. I don't know. You remember life hacks they're really popular in like the 2010s and still people will do like "10 Smart Life Hacks". But when I think about life hacks kind of the goal of them is to, help you save time. They're shortcuts. Right? They're shortcuts. That's really what they are, to doing common things.
So why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Well, I've got four reasons. The first is that contentment, true biblical contentment, changes your attitude without you having to change your circumstances, right? So when, when people say, well, I'm unhappy. They think, well, if only I had X, if only I achieved this goal, or I did this thing, then my attitude would change. Then I would be happy. What contentment does, is it short circuits that whole, "trying to get at the goal in order to change your attitude," by simply changing your attitude from the beginning. So that's the first one: Contentment's the ultimate life hack because it changes your attitude without forcing you to change your circumstances.
And second it is, as I just alluded to, a shortcut to happiness. Basically, I think this can happen to Christians—and I think a lot of people who do not know the Lord. This is kind of what drives them, they have these ambitions, they have these goals, they have these big projects that they're driving towards and they want to, they want to achieve, you know? Whether it's a promotion or they want to start a company or they just, they want to have kind of their house in order or whatever it may be. But what they really want is not that goal. What they want is the felt outcome of that goal, which is happiness or a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment or, or joy. Right? And if you are content in Christ, if you cultivate the virtue of contentment, you actually have a shortcut to happiness. You achieve the real outcome of the goals that you're after, which is satisfaction, without actually even achieving those goals. So it's a trick; it's a shortcut. You think that if you achieve that thing, you'll be happy. Well, guess what? In Christ, you can be content in whatever circumstances without having to accomplish some giant thing.
Third, why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Because it puts you in a right relationship to providence. It puts you in a right relationship to providence. And I'm going to talk about this a little bit more in a minute. What exactly, I mean by that.
Then fourth, contentment is the ultimate life hack because it smashes sinful anxiety. It puts you in this, this kind of position toward your goals that is peace-based instead of like desperation-based. And I'll talk about that a little bit more in the, in the final section here as well. But it smashes sinful anxiety. When you cultivate contentment, you are able to go about your goals. You're able to be productive, able to strive without having to be stressed out or anxious in a sinful way.
Okay. So contentment's the ultimate life hack. I just gave you four reasons, but what is contentment exactly? What is contentment and how do I get it? How do I learn it? Well, there's several verses in the new Testament of the Bible, there's several passages that speak of contentment and they all use variations of the same Greek word, which is arkeo. And it can either mean like "sufficient" or "enough" when it's used in active voice, or when it's used passively, it can mean "content" or to be "satisfied". So it's kind of both sides of it. It can be a thing that is sufficient or it is enough. Or the effect of it, you know, when it's applied to you, is that it results in you being content or satisfied. So arkeo, and we see this like in 2 Corinthians 12:9. These are all actually really well known verses you probably—if you've been a believer for awhile—these are probably versus you kind of maybe have memorized at one point or at least heard a lot. So like 2 Corinthians 12:9, it's when the apostle Paul is recounting God's message to him. And he says, “my grace is sufficient” It’s arkeo for you, it's sufficient for you. It's enough. “for my power is made perfect in weakness.“
Or we also see it in the passive side in 1 Timothy 6:8, where he writes, “But if we have food and clothing with these, we will be content.“ There will be enough if we just have food and clothing. It will be enough. We don't need more than that. Hebrews 13:5 also says, “keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for, he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.‘“ And then one more, just for good measure, Luke 3:14, it's talking about when the soldiers were talking to Jesus and they asked him, “what shall we do?“ And he said to them, “do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations and be content with your wages.“ So again, content, content.
So we might say this: To be biblically, to be content, that it's a state of being satisfied, of feeling that you have enough. And even in those passages I quoted, you know, if you just have food and clothing or the soldiers who have been converted and they, and they wanted to know, well what should we do? He said, don't extort people just be content with the wages that you're getting for your work. And it's this attitude of being okay with present circumstances of being content in them; being satisfied.
And contentment is more than just like a personality trait. Like, I think we all know people in our lives that are kind of like at peace. You know, they seem pretty content. You want to like order a meal or something, and you say, what do you want? They're like, “I don't care, whatever you guys want.“ Or somebody—another food related one—they get their order wrong at you know McDonald's or something. And they're like, “Oh, you should send that back. You should, you should, get them to correct that“ and say, “no, this'll be fine. I don’t mind.” They’re so content. Well, some people, you know, I think are more given to this to be kind of, you know, they’re not as needy, you know. They are content with circumstances.
But it's more than just a personality trait, contentment, biblically. It has a source. It's more of a, a view. It's more of a belief. It's, it's actually an act of faith. It has a view towards, towards Christ. And God is the reason that your content. It's not, it's not that you're just a contented person. It's that you have an understanding. You have a belief, you have a theology that allows you to be content, even in bad circumstances.
There's a great book by Jeremiah Burroughs. It is called, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, who was a Puritan. I have read this book, I think two or three times already. And it is very convicting and it is very helpful in teaching you to become more content. And he deals with contentment from all these different angles and basically how you can learn it. But in that book, Jeremiah Burroughs has a great description of Christian contentment. He says, “Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.“ I love that. It's, it's not, it's not, not this kind of like Buddhist disconnection from reality where you're kind of floating above it all, you know, “Om, om” or something. That's not Christian contentment. Christian contentment is this inner, what did he say? A sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit. And it freely submits to and delights in God's fire God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. You see what that is? It's a disposition towards God's providence, right? It's a disposition toward the fact that God's in control of things. And though these circumstances might be bad, my plans might have been thwarted, some tragedy may have fallen me, but I know the God whom I serve. And because I know Him, that He is a fatherly caring God who is in control of all circumstances, I can trust that even in these bad situation, God still loves me. And I will submit to the circumstances of providence. And not just submit to them. He says, I will delight in them because I'm content. I will delight because I will say to myself, self, this is not what you planned. This is not what you wanted. But these circumstances are what God has brought. And God loves me. He cares for me. He wants the best for me. And therefore these circumstances are the best for me. And so I will praise that wise God, and I will delight in these circumstances. And I will find a way to be thankful for this providence, though it may be bitter in the time.
Contentment is this ability to meet the events of life, not by being disconnected, kind of, and just letting, letting them wash over you and not caring because you’re apathetic. That's not what it is. Contentment is not apathy. Contentment is meeting the circumstances of life, armed with a knowledge of who God is and that he cares for you. And with that knowledge trusting fully that those things are true. It’s meeting head on the circumstances of life with a peace and even a delight that God has brought them about. Contentment is you trusting that in any situation God's will, is the best for that situation. And so you will have a peaceful spirit, which can say with all honesty and all sincerity, “as the Lord wills.“
So that's what contentment is. The next question is how do I actually cultivate contentment? You say that rare jewel you're talking about Reagan, I want that jewel. And that is, you know, that's why Burroughs calls it the rare jewel of Christian contentment, because it's valuable. And it also really is rare. A lot of people do not have this. It is a precious thing to have. And so seeing what it is, seeing that, yeah, wow, this is the ultimate life hack, I can be content without striving my whole life.
So like so many people do this thing where they think, “Oh man, if I just end up with the perfect career,“ “if I could just be the boss,“ “if I could just have this product launch, take off,” “If I could, if I could just have my family perfect. And all my kids be polite and all of them graduate with good grades and go on to good colleges and be sent out of the home, then I'll be successful. Then I'll be happy. Then I'll be content.“ You know, “if I could just make enough money, then I'll be content.“ Now here's the trick: Contentment is the ultimate life hack because it allows you, without having to achieve all those things, to already have that outcome, to already be happy, satisfied, to say it is enough—What I have right now. Because this is what God has deigned to give me at this time. That's pretty awesome.
So we know what it is. We know why we want it now. How do we get it? If content, how do we get contentment? Well, contentment can be learned. I think it is incredibly important to recognize, as I said that before, that, you know, it feels like some people are just kind of contented, peaceful people. Well, maybe some people are more given to it. But it's clear from scripture that it can be learned. Philippians 4:11–13. This is the apostle Paul. Again, he says, “not that I speak from want for, I have learned to be content.“ I have learned to be content. It was something he could learn, “in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means and also how to live in prosperity. In any, and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering.” And you say, Paul, what is this? What, what did you learn? How did you learn contentment? Whether you have a lot or have a little? He says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“ The secret knowledge, as it were, that enabled Paul to endure and face anything with God almighty was that he recognized that God was able to strengthen and sustain him with any challenge he met, whether it's temptation to despair through tragedy or temptation or to idolize riches and comfort when circumstances are good. No matter what, he knew how to be content in those things. Because the secret to contentment that he learned is that he had to walk close with the Lord who would provide the strength in all of those circumstances. That's how you become content.
How will you be contented person? By walking closely with the Lord and trusting in his strength.
But not only can contentment be learned, contentment also comes through fearing the Lord. Proverbs 19:23 says “the fear of the Lord leads to life. Then one rest content untouched by trouble.“ So the fear of the Lord allows you to be content. If you begin by putting God first in your life, by fearing him above all other things, whether that is other people or fearing bad circumstances of “what if this happens, what if this happens?“ Or “what if I fail? What if this?” If you put Christ first and you fear God most, contentment will follow that. You will be able to rest. Why? Because again, you're resting in His strength. You're resting in a trust in Him.
And that's, that's the last point I want to make on this point, which is that contentment comes through faith. It can be learned. It comes from fearing the Lord. And ultimately it comes through faith. Namely, believing that God really is sovereign. He's powerful. And he is favorably disposed toward his children. It's an amazing thing. Once you realize that God actually desires good for his children and he hasn't just saved us to, to forget us or, or, or that he has kind of begrudgingly saved us. And He's like, “alright, you know what? Um, you're saved, but just chill on earth for awhile until I perfect you. And you know, we can be in heaven and then maybe I'll talk to you.“ No, he wants good for us. God wants good for us. He looks on you—if you are in Christ, if you're Christian, if you've repented of your sins, put your faith in Jesus Christ—God, the Father, the One who is in control of this whole universe thing, He looks on you favorably because you are in Christ. But sometimes even Christians (I know I'm guilty of this) sometimes we're tempted to believe that maybe God wants good for us, but He's just, you know, not really able to bring it about. You know, maybe He's kind of like, “yeah, I really would love good stuff for you, but you know, bad things, bad things happen sometimes.“ But no, that's not true. God is sovereign. He's in control of the circumstances. He both desires good for us and He is always able to, and is in fact always bringing it about in our lives, through orchestrating the means of our circumstances. That's a complicated way of saying God's in total control of everything. Even the bad stuff that happens to you. And even the bad stuff and happen that happens to you He is orchestrating for your good, because he loves you. And that's just Romans 8:28. Isn't it? I mean, this is basic stuff, guys.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“ So if you, if you love God, if you've been called according to his purpose, which is to say, if you have been saved, you've been redeemed by God. Then all things are working together for your good. The only way that's possible is because the following premises are true. And that is that God is in control of everything. And he loves you. Therefore, all the circumstances that happen to you are working for your good, and you can trust that that's true. How's contentment relate to this> Contentment is actually believing that actively, even in the face of circumstances that would tempt us not to believe that those things are true. Contentment is your reaction to that reality. It's the result of your faith in trusting that God is in control and he cares about me that he's working all things together for my good. You believe that that's true. If you believe God's always working all things together for your good, well, you will be content. You will not be restless. You will not be fearful or anxious because of the risk of things happening to you. Or you will not despair because bad things happen to you.
And likewise, it's just, Paul had said, when good things happen to you when your plans are succeeding, when things are going really, really good, you might be tempted in the opposite direction, which is to trust in yourself and to forget about God and think, “wow, look what I've done for myself.“ But even then you won't be content. You won't be satisfied. Even when, if your house is full of riches, you have all the things you ever wanted in life and everything's working out great, you will not be content. If you are not trusting in the Lord and trusting that all that you have is yours by his good hand. And as Job said, “the Lord gives and he takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.“
I think that's one of the big things that can happen to us. You may, through God's blessing you, through the means of your being productive, and you striving hard in life, you may meet your goals and they may be satisfying for you. But my point is that they won't stay satisfying. They won't ultimately be fulfilling to you because you weren't meant to be fulfilled by those things themselves. You're meant to be satisfied in Christ. And sometimes what can happen to us is that we get everything we want. And then we start to get anxious. We start to get anxious because we wonder “what if it all goes away?“ “What if there's a downturn in the housing market? And I, and I lose my house.“ “What if I get fired from my job?“ You know, “I got all the way here but I could lose it all in a minute.“ “What if somebody sues me or what if one of my kids turns on me and they turn out to be a real rascal and, and run off and I'd say, well, all my parenting, what was that for?“ See what I mean? If you don't constantly walk close with the Lord and be believing that He desires good for you and all that He brings about is good, and he is in control of it, you won't be content, whether you have a little or a lot. And that's what makes it the ultimate life hack. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.
And then finally, on this point, I would just add this contentment comes from knowing that all you really need is Christ. All you really need is Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:5 says, “keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have.“ I read that one earlier, but did you notice why he said that that? It is because these are temptations, right? Especially somebody who's kind of driven, right. Oftentimes we're, we're seeking to better our lives through our work monetarily. And there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. But the problem Scripture states is the love of money. So he says, keep your life free from the love of money and be content with you, have. Why? Well he appends the reason. He says, “because I will never leave you nor forsake you.“ So Christ said the same. You can be content with what you have and not idolize riches or whatever else in life, if you are fully satisfied in the fact that Christ is yours, that he will never leave you for sake, you will always have Him. Those things they'll come and go, money comes and goes, relationships, come and go, successes, come and go. But Christ is with you always. And if He is your joy, if He is the true source of your contentment, well there's nothing to worry about. Cause He's not going anywhere.
Finally, the last section here. So we have a little bit more time. I want to quickly kind of get a, maybe a really high level overview about contentment and its relationship to ambition. And maybe I'll do a followup thing, a blog post or something about this that goes a little bit more in depth. But as I've been thinking through these things, thinking about the importance of contentment, and how do I cultivate it, and how it's kind of like this awesome way to get the results of achieving my goals, which is kind of happiness, contentment, whatever satisfaction without actually achieving them—So as I've thought through all that, one of the things that keeps like ringing in my ear is, and maybe you're thinking this too, “If I become content with my present circumstances, is that going to like, just absolutely destroy my ambition? Does that mean I'm not going to really accomplish anything with my life?“ And I can see, you can see the rationale here. You think, “well, if I'm content, then I'm not going to need to get off the couch. I'm not going to strive for anything. I'm just of kind of float through life, you know, all happy, like just big, big kind of pleasant, smile on my face. And not really have any drive to do anything.“ So you might even be worried in that sense. If I become too content, maybe I'll stop being hungry. Maybe, you know, like, I don't know who says this, but I always see like the entrepreneur, like stuff on Instagram or like the memes and stuff. They're like always “stay hungry!” “You're a tiger!” I don't know if they say “you're a tiger,“ but I've seen that thing about “always stay hungry.“ And they're saying like, you know, “don't be satisfied because if you get satisfied, then you'll stop being ambitious. You'll stop climbing, you'll stop kinda clawing. And therefore you won't be successful.“ And you could see productivity-minded people hearing this and saying, “well, if I cultivate contentment, maybe I won't be ambitious. And maybe I won't succeed at things.“
But true Christian contentment doesn't make you into like a passive person who has really no desires to do anything, just like a big kind of flubber that just kind of oozes through life, but doesn't really try to achieve anything. No, it just gives you the right attitude toward ambition and goals and success. Because again, the Bible does not condemn ambition. It doesn't, it condemns vain ambition, Philippians 2:3–4, right? Vain ambition. But what that is is that's talking about selfishness, a selfish attitude that puts your own desires above others, and it doesn't seek to serve people that's what's condemned. And that is sort of that attitude you see there in James, which is “I'm going to make a profit. I'm going to do this. And we're going to, I'm going to go to this town, to this town and…” It’s self, self, self, self, self that is condemned, but ambition itself, the desire to, to achieve something? No, that's not condemned. I mean, read the Proverbs.
Far from killing ambition, actually Christian contentment puts you in the best possible position to meet the challenges of life. Even as you pursue your goals with an attitude of, “if the Lord wills.“ And this way, a productive Christian who is resting contentedly with the Lord is actually in the best position to be productive, to achieve things. Why? Because when you're content, you're operating from a position of peace, rather than desperate striving, right? You're not asking of your goals. You're not demanding of, of these things. You're not seeking that they would be the thing that made you happy. You're already happy already content in Christ. So you're able to seek these things with kind of this attitude of, “okay, if the Lord wills, we're going to go do this thing.“ And if, but if it doesn't work out, you, it doesn't destroy.
You, you know, it might be hard, but your contentment wasn't from succeeding. That thing, it was from knowing and walking with Christ. And it also means when we're content that we're seeking to line up our goals with God's will, right? “If the Lord wills.” And that results in actually fewer frustrated plans. It's when we do that vain ambition thing where we're just kind of setting these goals irrespective of God, and we're kind of like, “God, can you please go ahead and, uh, bless this for me,“ right? You come to him afterwards and look for the stamp of approval. I made this huge plan. Irrespective, never thought about you once, but God it's gonna make me rich and now I'm going to pray about it so that you will a stamp of approval on it and make it happen. That's not the right way of going about it. But when you're content and you're drawing that contentment from knowing Christ, even the plans you make from the start, you're doing them in a way where you're seeking to honor God, where you're seeking to fulfill His will. Even the plans you make will be better when you're operating from contentment.
Also, when you are operating from a place of contentment, you will be well equipped to meet the adversity that meets people in any endeavor. Whether you're starting a business or whatever you're doing, you'll understand that the Lord's love loves you and that He’s sovereign over the circumstances. And so when trials arrive, you can meet them with contentment.
And also when you're content, you're depending upon God's strength, not simply on your own strength or your intelligence or your creativity to overcome issues. When you're content, you're actually resting in God's strength and that gives you the ability to overcome things.
So finally, I want to just kind of close with a little bit of a question that relates to this issue of contentment being the ultimate life hack.
What is your ultimate ambition?
And be honest with yourself, what is it you're really seeking out of life? You know, if someone asked you, what are your goals? What are the things you're after you might say, “Oh, I want to, I want to, um, you know, have just a great family that, you know, have three kids that love the Lord.“ It might be good things like that. Or, you know, “I wanna, I wanna start a business and make a million dollars.” Or you want to become a great photographer or something like that, right? You have these different goals. And my question is, what's your ultimate ambition? What is your ultimate ambition?
And does this pop into your head when people ask you what your goals are? Because we're actually, we’re told what our ultimate ambition is supposed to be, and that is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. If that's our ultimate goal of what we want is to kind of God, what we want is to be righteous, we will succeed. That's a right goal. And we will succeed in that. Because it's at blessed. Jesus said, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.“ That is a goal that will always be met. Those who seek righteousness. And if your life is built around honoring Christ, if it is built around seeking his kingdom and seeking his righteousness and wanting to honor Him and glorify Him with your life, whether kind of your sub goals under that are raising a family or being successful at work or doing these other things, as long as those really are just kind of sub goals—They're meant to be a vehicle by which you would honor Christ and glorify Him—that is an ambition that is worth pursuing. That is an ambition that is worthy of your effort and work and is not at cross purposes with God. And it is something which He will indeed bless over and over again. You'll find Him blessing it. And so I would encourage you to really take an honest look, what is it that I'm seeking in life? Why am I wanting to be more successful? Why am I trying to be more productive? Is it ultimately that I want to serve Christ and glorify him? And if it's not, do some soul work, spend some time with the Lord and get that straight. Because if your ambition is vain, if it's just for yourself, it's not going to be blessed.
And I'll tell you what, it's not going to satisfy you because no contentment doesn't kill ambition. In fact, it is the ultimate life hack. Because when we're content in Christ, you're not deriving your happiness from future success. But from that settled, quiet knowledge that you are in Christ, your future is secure. And the work you do now is simply your opportunity to bring him glory while you're here. So we work and we work hard, but we always work with that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. That's Christian contentment. And that is the ultimate life hack.
Well, that's all I have for you this week. Please do. If you're not subscribed, go ahead and subscribe. Give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you listen on there, it helps other people find it. Check out the YouTube channel. And if you're interested in supporting the work of Redeeming Productivity, helping me to produce more of this stuff and even more videos and whatnot, please do consider supporting my work on Patreon. That's patreon.com/redeemingprod. And there'll be a link to that in the description.
All right. Well, that's it. I will see you again here next week, but until I do remember this, that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
Life hacks are simple shortcuts to help get everyday tasks done more efficiently. But Christian contentment is the ultimate life hack. In this episode, we explore what contentment is, how you can get it, and how it allows Christians to change their attitudes without changing their circumstances.
Links
- Watch Redeeming Productivity on our YouTube channel
- Book: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
Welcome to the Redeeming Productivity Show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose. Well, in this week's episode, we're going to be talking about the subject of Christian contentment. Namely, why contentment is the Ultimate life hack.
More on that in a minute, but before we get into it in earnest, I just wanted to tell you that I am back at it with a video version of the podcast. So a lot of you—I know most of you—listen to this via audio podcast on Apple Podcasts or something like that. Well, there's also a video version on YouTube and there has been going back for quite a while actually, but I stopped doing them when it got too hot. Because I shoot this in the garage and it gets too hot in the garage. And so it was, it was too hard to make it pretty and not be sweating. So now it's cooled off a little bit. So I'm back at it. So if you are not subscribed to the YouTube channel, go on YouTube, go to Redeeming Productivity, just search it or just click the link in the description here. And you will find me there. And I have other videos there as well, in addition to the podcast content. So you'll want to check that out. And also of course, as usual, if you're not subscribed to this podcast on your podcast player, you ought to go ahead and do that. A special shout out to the Patreon supporters. Appreciate you guys so much! There are now 11 of you, which is amazing to me and really does help offset the cost of this. So if you are a listener to this or a watcher of this with your ojos, and you want to help support the efforts of Redeeming Productivity, do check out my Patreon page. That's patreon.com/redeemingprod. And you can become a monthly supporter for as little as three bucks a month. And I hop on there from time to time, give some exclusive content and also do early releases of episodes from time to time. So check that out. More coming soon over there…soon. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears…ears peeled, uh, ears…ears…open ears, unclogged ears? Peeled.
Okay. Let's get into the topic of today's show.
So earlier this week I tweeted, I tweeted, um, a tweet. I tweeted a tweet that just said that "contentment is the ultimate life hack." And over on my Instagram, I shared a little bit more about what I meant by that. And I figured, you know what? I should do a whole episode about what that means.
So why would I say that contentment is the ultimate life hack? That's what I want to talk about today. And so we're going to do three things, hopefully, depending on how long this takes. I might have more material than I have your attention. So I might split this up, but we'll see. So three things we're going to do. We're going to say, why contentment is the ultimate life hack. Then we're going to look at what exactly contentment is, biblically, where I get a little theological on you. I looked up some Greek words. So hold onto your hats lady and gents. Lady and gents, because there's only one lady who listens to this and it's my mom. And then lastly, we're going to answer a question—and that is one that often comes up. You might be wondering at the end of this episode as well. It's if I get too content…does contentment kill ambition? Will it kill my drive to be productive if I'm actually content? Hmm. Interesting question, Reagan. Yes. Thank you. I made that up and we'll answer it shortly.
Okay. So let's dig in.
Why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Well, you know what life hacks are, right? Like someone's like, here's a cool way to open a jar with just your teeth or, um, you know, here's a simple way to save 10 seconds tying your shoes. I don't know. You remember life hacks they're really popular in like the 2010s and still people will do like "10 Smart Life Hacks". But when I think about life hacks kind of the goal of them is to, help you save time. They're shortcuts. Right? They're shortcuts. That's really what they are, to doing common things.
So why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Well, I've got four reasons. The first is that contentment, true biblical contentment, changes your attitude without you having to change your circumstances, right? So when, when people say, well, I'm unhappy. They think, well, if only I had X, if only I achieved this goal, or I did this thing, then my attitude would change. Then I would be happy. What contentment does, is it short circuits that whole, "trying to get at the goal in order to change your attitude," by simply changing your attitude from the beginning. So that's the first one: Contentment's the ultimate life hack because it changes your attitude without forcing you to change your circumstances.
And second it is, as I just alluded to, a shortcut to happiness. Basically, I think this can happen to Christians—and I think a lot of people who do not know the Lord. This is kind of what drives them, they have these ambitions, they have these goals, they have these big projects that they're driving towards and they want to, they want to achieve, you know? Whether it's a promotion or they want to start a company or they just, they want to have kind of their house in order or whatever it may be. But what they really want is not that goal. What they want is the felt outcome of that goal, which is happiness or a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment or, or joy. Right? And if you are content in Christ, if you cultivate the virtue of contentment, you actually have a shortcut to happiness. You achieve the real outcome of the goals that you're after, which is satisfaction, without actually even achieving those goals. So it's a trick; it's a shortcut. You think that if you achieve that thing, you'll be happy. Well, guess what? In Christ, you can be content in whatever circumstances without having to accomplish some giant thing.
Third, why is contentment the ultimate life hack? Because it puts you in a right relationship to providence. It puts you in a right relationship to providence. And I'm going to talk about this a little bit more in a minute. What exactly, I mean by that.
Then fourth, contentment is the ultimate life hack because it smashes sinful anxiety. It puts you in this, this kind of position toward your goals that is peace-based instead of like desperation-based. And I'll talk about that a little bit more in the, in the final section here as well. But it smashes sinful anxiety. When you cultivate contentment, you are able to go about your goals. You're able to be productive, able to strive without having to be stressed out or anxious in a sinful way.
Okay. So contentment's the ultimate life hack. I just gave you four reasons, but what is contentment exactly? What is contentment and how do I get it? How do I learn it? Well, there's several verses in the new Testament of the Bible, there's several passages that speak of contentment and they all use variations of the same Greek word, which is arkeo. And it can either mean like "sufficient" or "enough" when it's used in active voice, or when it's used passively, it can mean "content" or to be "satisfied". So it's kind of both sides of it. It can be a thing that is sufficient or it is enough. Or the effect of it, you know, when it's applied to you, is that it results in you being content or satisfied. So arkeo, and we see this like in 2 Corinthians 12:9. These are all actually really well known verses you probably—if you've been a believer for awhile—these are probably versus you kind of maybe have memorized at one point or at least heard a lot. So like 2 Corinthians 12:9, it's when the apostle Paul is recounting God's message to him. And he says, “my grace is sufficient” It’s arkeo for you, it's sufficient for you. It's enough. “for my power is made perfect in weakness.“
Or we also see it in the passive side in 1 Timothy 6:8, where he writes, “But if we have food and clothing with these, we will be content.“ There will be enough if we just have food and clothing. It will be enough. We don't need more than that. Hebrews 13:5 also says, “keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for, he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.‘“ And then one more, just for good measure, Luke 3:14, it's talking about when the soldiers were talking to Jesus and they asked him, “what shall we do?“ And he said to them, “do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations and be content with your wages.“ So again, content, content.
So we might say this: To be biblically, to be content, that it's a state of being satisfied, of feeling that you have enough. And even in those passages I quoted, you know, if you just have food and clothing or the soldiers who have been converted and they, and they wanted to know, well what should we do? He said, don't extort people just be content with the wages that you're getting for your work. And it's this attitude of being okay with present circumstances of being content in them; being satisfied.
And contentment is more than just like a personality trait. Like, I think we all know people in our lives that are kind of like at peace. You know, they seem pretty content. You want to like order a meal or something, and you say, what do you want? They're like, “I don't care, whatever you guys want.“ Or somebody—another food related one—they get their order wrong at you know McDonald's or something. And they're like, “Oh, you should send that back. You should, you should, get them to correct that“ and say, “no, this'll be fine. I don’t mind.” They’re so content. Well, some people, you know, I think are more given to this to be kind of, you know, they’re not as needy, you know. They are content with circumstances.
But it's more than just a personality trait, contentment, biblically. It has a source. It's more of a, a view. It's more of a belief. It's, it's actually an act of faith. It has a view towards, towards Christ. And God is the reason that your content. It's not, it's not that you're just a contented person. It's that you have an understanding. You have a belief, you have a theology that allows you to be content, even in bad circumstances.
There's a great book by Jeremiah Burroughs. It is called, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, who was a Puritan. I have read this book, I think two or three times already. And it is very convicting and it is very helpful in teaching you to become more content. And he deals with contentment from all these different angles and basically how you can learn it. But in that book, Jeremiah Burroughs has a great description of Christian contentment. He says, “Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.“ I love that. It's, it's not, it's not, not this kind of like Buddhist disconnection from reality where you're kind of floating above it all, you know, “Om, om” or something. That's not Christian contentment. Christian contentment is this inner, what did he say? A sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit. And it freely submits to and delights in God's fire God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. You see what that is? It's a disposition towards God's providence, right? It's a disposition toward the fact that God's in control of things. And though these circumstances might be bad, my plans might have been thwarted, some tragedy may have fallen me, but I know the God whom I serve. And because I know Him, that He is a fatherly caring God who is in control of all circumstances, I can trust that even in these bad situation, God still loves me. And I will submit to the circumstances of providence. And not just submit to them. He says, I will delight in them because I'm content. I will delight because I will say to myself, self, this is not what you planned. This is not what you wanted. But these circumstances are what God has brought. And God loves me. He cares for me. He wants the best for me. And therefore these circumstances are the best for me. And so I will praise that wise God, and I will delight in these circumstances. And I will find a way to be thankful for this providence, though it may be bitter in the time.
Contentment is this ability to meet the events of life, not by being disconnected, kind of, and just letting, letting them wash over you and not caring because you’re apathetic. That's not what it is. Contentment is not apathy. Contentment is meeting the circumstances of life, armed with a knowledge of who God is and that he cares for you. And with that knowledge trusting fully that those things are true. It’s meeting head on the circumstances of life with a peace and even a delight that God has brought them about. Contentment is you trusting that in any situation God's will, is the best for that situation. And so you will have a peaceful spirit, which can say with all honesty and all sincerity, “as the Lord wills.“
So that's what contentment is. The next question is how do I actually cultivate contentment? You say that rare jewel you're talking about Reagan, I want that jewel. And that is, you know, that's why Burroughs calls it the rare jewel of Christian contentment, because it's valuable. And it also really is rare. A lot of people do not have this. It is a precious thing to have. And so seeing what it is, seeing that, yeah, wow, this is the ultimate life hack, I can be content without striving my whole life.
So like so many people do this thing where they think, “Oh man, if I just end up with the perfect career,“ “if I could just be the boss,“ “if I could just have this product launch, take off,” “If I could, if I could just have my family perfect. And all my kids be polite and all of them graduate with good grades and go on to good colleges and be sent out of the home, then I'll be successful. Then I'll be happy. Then I'll be content.“ You know, “if I could just make enough money, then I'll be content.“ Now here's the trick: Contentment is the ultimate life hack because it allows you, without having to achieve all those things, to already have that outcome, to already be happy, satisfied, to say it is enough—What I have right now. Because this is what God has deigned to give me at this time. That's pretty awesome.
So we know what it is. We know why we want it now. How do we get it? If content, how do we get contentment? Well, contentment can be learned. I think it is incredibly important to recognize, as I said that before, that, you know, it feels like some people are just kind of contented, peaceful people. Well, maybe some people are more given to it. But it's clear from scripture that it can be learned. Philippians 4:11–13. This is the apostle Paul. Again, he says, “not that I speak from want for, I have learned to be content.“ I have learned to be content. It was something he could learn, “in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means and also how to live in prosperity. In any, and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering.” And you say, Paul, what is this? What, what did you learn? How did you learn contentment? Whether you have a lot or have a little? He says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.“ The secret knowledge, as it were, that enabled Paul to endure and face anything with God almighty was that he recognized that God was able to strengthen and sustain him with any challenge he met, whether it's temptation to despair through tragedy or temptation or to idolize riches and comfort when circumstances are good. No matter what, he knew how to be content in those things. Because the secret to contentment that he learned is that he had to walk close with the Lord who would provide the strength in all of those circumstances. That's how you become content.
How will you be contented person? By walking closely with the Lord and trusting in his strength.
But not only can contentment be learned, contentment also comes through fearing the Lord. Proverbs 19:23 says “the fear of the Lord leads to life. Then one rest content untouched by trouble.“ So the fear of the Lord allows you to be content. If you begin by putting God first in your life, by fearing him above all other things, whether that is other people or fearing bad circumstances of “what if this happens, what if this happens?“ Or “what if I fail? What if this?” If you put Christ first and you fear God most, contentment will follow that. You will be able to rest. Why? Because again, you're resting in His strength. You're resting in a trust in Him.
And that's, that's the last point I want to make on this point, which is that contentment comes through faith. It can be learned. It comes from fearing the Lord. And ultimately it comes through faith. Namely, believing that God really is sovereign. He's powerful. And he is favorably disposed toward his children. It's an amazing thing. Once you realize that God actually desires good for his children and he hasn't just saved us to, to forget us or, or, or that he has kind of begrudgingly saved us. And He's like, “alright, you know what? Um, you're saved, but just chill on earth for awhile until I perfect you. And you know, we can be in heaven and then maybe I'll talk to you.“ No, he wants good for us. God wants good for us. He looks on you—if you are in Christ, if you're Christian, if you've repented of your sins, put your faith in Jesus Christ—God, the Father, the One who is in control of this whole universe thing, He looks on you favorably because you are in Christ. But sometimes even Christians (I know I'm guilty of this) sometimes we're tempted to believe that maybe God wants good for us, but He's just, you know, not really able to bring it about. You know, maybe He's kind of like, “yeah, I really would love good stuff for you, but you know, bad things, bad things happen sometimes.“ But no, that's not true. God is sovereign. He's in control of the circumstances. He both desires good for us and He is always able to, and is in fact always bringing it about in our lives, through orchestrating the means of our circumstances. That's a complicated way of saying God's in total control of everything. Even the bad stuff that happens to you. And even the bad stuff and happen that happens to you He is orchestrating for your good, because he loves you. And that's just Romans 8:28. Isn't it? I mean, this is basic stuff, guys.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“ So if you, if you love God, if you've been called according to his purpose, which is to say, if you have been saved, you've been redeemed by God. Then all things are working together for your good. The only way that's possible is because the following premises are true. And that is that God is in control of everything. And he loves you. Therefore, all the circumstances that happen to you are working for your good, and you can trust that that's true. How's contentment relate to this> Contentment is actually believing that actively, even in the face of circumstances that would tempt us not to believe that those things are true. Contentment is your reaction to that reality. It's the result of your faith in trusting that God is in control and he cares about me that he's working all things together for my good. You believe that that's true. If you believe God's always working all things together for your good, well, you will be content. You will not be restless. You will not be fearful or anxious because of the risk of things happening to you. Or you will not despair because bad things happen to you.
And likewise, it's just, Paul had said, when good things happen to you when your plans are succeeding, when things are going really, really good, you might be tempted in the opposite direction, which is to trust in yourself and to forget about God and think, “wow, look what I've done for myself.“ But even then you won't be content. You won't be satisfied. Even when, if your house is full of riches, you have all the things you ever wanted in life and everything's working out great, you will not be content. If you are not trusting in the Lord and trusting that all that you have is yours by his good hand. And as Job said, “the Lord gives and he takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.“
I think that's one of the big things that can happen to us. You may, through God's blessing you, through the means of your being productive, and you striving hard in life, you may meet your goals and they may be satisfying for you. But my point is that they won't stay satisfying. They won't ultimately be fulfilling to you because you weren't meant to be fulfilled by those things themselves. You're meant to be satisfied in Christ. And sometimes what can happen to us is that we get everything we want. And then we start to get anxious. We start to get anxious because we wonder “what if it all goes away?“ “What if there's a downturn in the housing market? And I, and I lose my house.“ “What if I get fired from my job?“ You know, “I got all the way here but I could lose it all in a minute.“ “What if somebody sues me or what if one of my kids turns on me and they turn out to be a real rascal and, and run off and I'd say, well, all my parenting, what was that for?“ See what I mean? If you don't constantly walk close with the Lord and be believing that He desires good for you and all that He brings about is good, and he is in control of it, you won't be content, whether you have a little or a lot. And that's what makes it the ultimate life hack. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.
And then finally, on this point, I would just add this contentment comes from knowing that all you really need is Christ. All you really need is Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:5 says, “keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have.“ I read that one earlier, but did you notice why he said that that? It is because these are temptations, right? Especially somebody who's kind of driven, right. Oftentimes we're, we're seeking to better our lives through our work monetarily. And there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. But the problem Scripture states is the love of money. So he says, keep your life free from the love of money and be content with you, have. Why? Well he appends the reason. He says, “because I will never leave you nor forsake you.“ So Christ said the same. You can be content with what you have and not idolize riches or whatever else in life, if you are fully satisfied in the fact that Christ is yours, that he will never leave you for sake, you will always have Him. Those things they'll come and go, money comes and goes, relationships, come and go, successes, come and go. But Christ is with you always. And if He is your joy, if He is the true source of your contentment, well there's nothing to worry about. Cause He's not going anywhere.
Finally, the last section here. So we have a little bit more time. I want to quickly kind of get a, maybe a really high level overview about contentment and its relationship to ambition. And maybe I'll do a followup thing, a blog post or something about this that goes a little bit more in depth. But as I've been thinking through these things, thinking about the importance of contentment, and how do I cultivate it, and how it's kind of like this awesome way to get the results of achieving my goals, which is kind of happiness, contentment, whatever satisfaction without actually achieving them—So as I've thought through all that, one of the things that keeps like ringing in my ear is, and maybe you're thinking this too, “If I become content with my present circumstances, is that going to like, just absolutely destroy my ambition? Does that mean I'm not going to really accomplish anything with my life?“ And I can see, you can see the rationale here. You think, “well, if I'm content, then I'm not going to need to get off the couch. I'm not going to strive for anything. I'm just of kind of float through life, you know, all happy, like just big, big kind of pleasant, smile on my face. And not really have any drive to do anything.“ So you might even be worried in that sense. If I become too content, maybe I'll stop being hungry. Maybe, you know, like, I don't know who says this, but I always see like the entrepreneur, like stuff on Instagram or like the memes and stuff. They're like always “stay hungry!” “You're a tiger!” I don't know if they say “you're a tiger,“ but I've seen that thing about “always stay hungry.“ And they're saying like, you know, “don't be satisfied because if you get satisfied, then you'll stop being ambitious. You'll stop climbing, you'll stop kinda clawing. And therefore you won't be successful.“ And you could see productivity-minded people hearing this and saying, “well, if I cultivate contentment, maybe I won't be ambitious. And maybe I won't succeed at things.“
But true Christian contentment doesn't make you into like a passive person who has really no desires to do anything, just like a big kind of flubber that just kind of oozes through life, but doesn't really try to achieve anything. No, it just gives you the right attitude toward ambition and goals and success. Because again, the Bible does not condemn ambition. It doesn't, it condemns vain ambition, Philippians 2:3–4, right? Vain ambition. But what that is is that's talking about selfishness, a selfish attitude that puts your own desires above others, and it doesn't seek to serve people that's what's condemned. And that is sort of that attitude you see there in James, which is “I'm going to make a profit. I'm going to do this. And we're going to, I'm going to go to this town, to this town and…” It’s self, self, self, self, self that is condemned, but ambition itself, the desire to, to achieve something? No, that's not condemned. I mean, read the Proverbs.
Far from killing ambition, actually Christian contentment puts you in the best possible position to meet the challenges of life. Even as you pursue your goals with an attitude of, “if the Lord wills.“ And this way, a productive Christian who is resting contentedly with the Lord is actually in the best position to be productive, to achieve things. Why? Because when you're content, you're operating from a position of peace, rather than desperate striving, right? You're not asking of your goals. You're not demanding of, of these things. You're not seeking that they would be the thing that made you happy. You're already happy already content in Christ. So you're able to seek these things with kind of this attitude of, “okay, if the Lord wills, we're going to go do this thing.“ And if, but if it doesn't work out, you, it doesn't destroy.
You, you know, it might be hard, but your contentment wasn't from succeeding. That thing, it was from knowing and walking with Christ. And it also means when we're content that we're seeking to line up our goals with God's will, right? “If the Lord wills.” And that results in actually fewer frustrated plans. It's when we do that vain ambition thing where we're just kind of setting these goals irrespective of God, and we're kind of like, “God, can you please go ahead and, uh, bless this for me,“ right? You come to him afterwards and look for the stamp of approval. I made this huge plan. Irrespective, never thought about you once, but God it's gonna make me rich and now I'm going to pray about it so that you will a stamp of approval on it and make it happen. That's not the right way of going about it. But when you're content and you're drawing that contentment from knowing Christ, even the plans you make from the start, you're doing them in a way where you're seeking to honor God, where you're seeking to fulfill His will. Even the plans you make will be better when you're operating from contentment.
Also, when you are operating from a place of contentment, you will be well equipped to meet the adversity that meets people in any endeavor. Whether you're starting a business or whatever you're doing, you'll understand that the Lord's love loves you and that He’s sovereign over the circumstances. And so when trials arrive, you can meet them with contentment.
And also when you're content, you're depending upon God's strength, not simply on your own strength or your intelligence or your creativity to overcome issues. When you're content, you're actually resting in God's strength and that gives you the ability to overcome things.
So finally, I want to just kind of close with a little bit of a question that relates to this issue of contentment being the ultimate life hack.
What is your ultimate ambition?
And be honest with yourself, what is it you're really seeking out of life? You know, if someone asked you, what are your goals? What are the things you're after you might say, “Oh, I want to, I want to, um, you know, have just a great family that, you know, have three kids that love the Lord.“ It might be good things like that. Or, you know, “I wanna, I wanna start a business and make a million dollars.” Or you want to become a great photographer or something like that, right? You have these different goals. And my question is, what's your ultimate ambition? What is your ultimate ambition?
And does this pop into your head when people ask you what your goals are? Because we're actually, we’re told what our ultimate ambition is supposed to be, and that is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. If that's our ultimate goal of what we want is to kind of God, what we want is to be righteous, we will succeed. That's a right goal. And we will succeed in that. Because it's at blessed. Jesus said, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.“ That is a goal that will always be met. Those who seek righteousness. And if your life is built around honoring Christ, if it is built around seeking his kingdom and seeking his righteousness and wanting to honor Him and glorify Him with your life, whether kind of your sub goals under that are raising a family or being successful at work or doing these other things, as long as those really are just kind of sub goals—They're meant to be a vehicle by which you would honor Christ and glorify Him—that is an ambition that is worth pursuing. That is an ambition that is worthy of your effort and work and is not at cross purposes with God. And it is something which He will indeed bless over and over again. You'll find Him blessing it. And so I would encourage you to really take an honest look, what is it that I'm seeking in life? Why am I wanting to be more successful? Why am I trying to be more productive? Is it ultimately that I want to serve Christ and glorify him? And if it's not, do some soul work, spend some time with the Lord and get that straight. Because if your ambition is vain, if it's just for yourself, it's not going to be blessed.
And I'll tell you what, it's not going to satisfy you because no contentment doesn't kill ambition. In fact, it is the ultimate life hack. Because when we're content in Christ, you're not deriving your happiness from future success. But from that settled, quiet knowledge that you are in Christ, your future is secure. And the work you do now is simply your opportunity to bring him glory while you're here. So we work and we work hard, but we always work with that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. That's Christian contentment. And that is the ultimate life hack.
Well, that's all I have for you this week. Please do. If you're not subscribed, go ahead and subscribe. Give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you listen on there, it helps other people find it. Check out the YouTube channel. And if you're interested in supporting the work of Redeeming Productivity, helping me to produce more of this stuff and even more videos and whatnot, please do consider supporting my work on Patreon. That's patreon.com/redeemingprod. And there'll be a link to that in the description.
All right. Well, that's it. I will see you again here next week, but until I do remember this, that in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
These days there are thousands of options when it comes to productivity tools. But one great debate still persists: Which is better, paper or digital productivity tools? I think there's a place for both.
In this episode, I demonstrate that it's not a question of either/or, but rather of which/when. And I give some principles for choosing which productivity tasks are better done on paper and which are better done using apps.
Links
- This episode is based in part on the blog post, Paper vs. Digital Productivity Tools.
- Checkout the LifeJournal that I mentioned in today's episode.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
- 00:00:08 - Welcome to the Redeeming Productivity Show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose.
- 00:00:22 - Well, thanks for listening in. We've got an interesting episode for you today. When we talking about paper versus digital productivity tools and kind of the pros and cons of each and how you can sort of mix and match, uh, some paper planning tools with digital tools and even just kind of some high-level principles to think through what would be best for what types of activities, uh, productivity-wise. Um, but before I jump into that, just want to do the little preamble I always do, which is to say, if you're listening and you like this, please do subscribe to your favorite podcast thing. So you get notified if the next one, for example, if one doesn't come out on Monday, like normal and instead comes out way later in the week, like right now, uh, you will just get it in your podcast player. Well, I don't need to explain podcasts to you.
- 00:01:16 - You're listening to one and also a special thank you to the Patreon supporters, guys. Thank you so much for supporting the podcast. Um, it is encouraging to me and helps me pay the bills to keep this going. And if any of you who are listening would like to become a patron supporter, throw a couple of bucks in the hat. Uh, it is patrion.com/redeeming prod. Okay, let's get into the meat of the episode. Um, so paper versus digital tools. So with productivity, there are, um, many, many tools available to us. Uh, the, you can go as simple as just a hit a, a to-do list or setting goals on a piece of paper, but, uh, so much of productivity is about what tools you use. And especially now in the digital era, there are countless types of tools you can use in the computer, countless apps, countless services, countless automation that you can use to increase your productivity.
- 00:02:24 - And it can get a little bit overwhelming, to be honest. I've mentioned before that when I do as doing college ministry, I think even when I was a college student, I did, this is, I just had a little tiny notebook with a little tiny pen, and I would just write in there some boxes and some little tasks for the day. And I tick off the boxes, uh, to make sure I got everything done. I needed to do that day. And that was a productivity tool. It was small, it was rudimentary, but that was, that was all I did with it. Uh, and then after I read, um, David, Allen's getting things done, I realized, Oh, I'm basically using his sort of getting things done system, but not as smartly. And so then I was using the paper to record those tasks and, and migrate them to the next day, make sure that, that I had a place to capture everything and process it and, and put it into the right category.
- 00:03:17 - And I was doing that all paper-wise. Now, though, fast forward to today, I suffer from a condition that doctors call shiny new tools syndrome. And that is, uh, my excuse for that is that I write and do a podcast on productivity. And so I can excuse to myself, my constant flooding from one tool to another, um, you know, each week, it seems like I'm telling you about some new app I'm using or some new tool for productivity. And that's because I am, I'm switching all the time with different aspects of my productivity. And this is my burden that I bear for you. Dear listener really I'd be highly would be doing this, even if I wasn't teaching on this and talking about these subjects, because again, it's, it's shiny new tool syndrome. A new app comes out and here I am first in line to grab it and try it and disrupt my whole well oiled machine of productivity systems.
- 00:04:18 - But again, my burden to bear. Uh, but I do think that no matter what you do, there really isn't one productivity tool to, um, to rule them all. Um, and in the darkness behind them, because there's just so many different things you do, and there's different personality types. And I just find that there, there are some things I like to do a certain way, and there's some things I like to do a different way. And that's okay. Um, for example, you know, like right now, there are a lot of things that I do digitally, but there's a lot of things I do on paper. Like I, I still keep a, my, my personal journal, um, on paper. Um, and while I manage my like longterm tasks and things like that in apps each day, I manage the tasks for the day on a piece of paper.
- 00:05:10 - And there's just something about putting pen on paper there that I find focusing. And so I just think no matter what, you're going to use a hybrid of tools and some of those may be paper and some of those may be digital. I don't think it's a question of which is better. Should I use a digital productivity system or a paper system? Um, they're all, there are all in one systems for either one of those, right? I mean, um, the bullet journal is probably the closest thing I can think of that actually. Uh, has you doing everything on paper, like keeping calendars and reminders and events and things like that, all in one spot, along with your tasks? Um, I I've done bullet journaling before. I still do some kind of hybrid approach to it, but I really hate the idea of keeping calendars in a paper planner, because what if I don't have it?
- 00:06:05 - I mean, it's a big notebook. I don't, I'm not going to wear cargo shorts everywhere. I'll tell you that much right now with a big planner in the, in the pocket. I'm probably not going to wear cargo shorts at all. It's my wife would leave me. Um, so anyway, my point is really just pros and cons to all those things. And I use a variety of tools right now, and I probably all always will. Um, there's also, uh, some cool tools that exist right now that have never existed before I've mentioned software stuff. I would, did want to tell you about one that I'm about to start using. I just wanted to give kind of a, a plug for, uh, because it's very cool, a very well designed. Um, and it's a, it's a paper planner. So in the past, I've used, you may have have ads for these that you've seen, but I've, I've used these all before the self journal, which is a really cool little paper daily planner time blocking thing, the full focus planner, which is something Michael Hyatt came out with.
- 00:07:04 - I've used that before. Um, didn't love it. Didn't hate it just wasn't for me, but now I have an actually holding one right now. Um, the life journal is a very cool, um, like planner journal. It's a 13-week planner that helps you focus on not just like your tasks and stuff, but, uh, spiritual disciplines. It's built around goal setting and, and productivity, all that in one. And it's neat. It's got like prompts for, um, what you read in the scripture today. Uh, it's got a spot where you can map out your daily schedule. What are your top three tasks? Um, how are you applying what you read in scripture? Things like that it's even got a spot, um, for taking notes on sermons and podcast that you're listening to. Um, it's just a really cool all in one type journal for a Christian.
- 00:07:53 - And these are, this is really neat. I'm about to start in this. I'm gonna do 13 weeks with it and try it out. I'll tell you at the end, um, my impressions on it, but I definitely even from first blush, I recommend it cause there are types of tools in here that I've used before and other, uh, paper planners that I've loved. Um, but this one's specifically, you know, kind of faith-based as I recommend that to you. If you go to gospel focused.com, um, you can pick one up there, you can read more about it, um, and, uh, try that out, but, okay. Let's get philosophical here for a minute. Um, as I've used different tools over the years here is kind of the key distinction that is emerged in my mind between digital and paper productivity tools. And then I'll kind of flesh it out a little bit.
- 00:08:46 - So the key distinction is that digital is for storing paper is for processing. So I'm going to, I'm going to build on that a little bit, but this is, this is kind of like I could, you know, distill it, reduce it down to it's a key difference. Digital is for storing papers for processing. Okay. So let's, uh, let's look at the digital side of that real quick. So I say that the, the pro that digital brings to the table, the thing that it's best at that it is better than paper at is storing. Um, and what I mean by that is three things, persistent storage, easily accessible storage. And even as it comes to reminders, the reliability of the things you read that you store in there that they'll come back to you, of course, if I took a hand written note, it is technically, you know, stored it's in a notebook somewhere, but, uh, it's not the best way to store information.
- 00:09:50 - I think computers are better at this because I can use a find function or I can, uh, have automated ways for the, for the software to re present to me information from the past. Uh, in fact, there's a great app I'm using right now, it's called read wise. And if you take highlights in Kindle or like on Instapaper or pocket or something like that, you can hook it up to read wise, realize we'll take all of those highlights. And then each day it sends you like a daily digest of old highlights. And so I think I have mine set up, it sends me five a day and every morning, and that's kind of been part of my morning routine. I get this little email and it has five highlights from old books that I've read or old articles and things that I thought interesting. And a lot of it's from years and years ago, because I've been reading Kindle books for years.
- 00:10:38 - And I just love that. It's such a cool little way to remind it of old insights. I might jump into the book and read the context and be like, Oh yeah, that was, that was fascinating. Um, but that I think is a good example of digital storage. Uh, being able to remind you of something resurfacing things, uh, from the past in an automatic way, which I would not have found. I mean, some of those books, I don't even remember reading. Um, so that, that thing is a good, good example there read wise is the name of that app. Do you wanna check it out? Um, but the main thing with digital storage is that is persistent. Um, it is always there. You're not, it's not going to go away. Um, as long as you know, all the servers don't die, your computer doesn't explode and the EMP doesn't blow up.
- 00:11:29 - Um, but that's kind of was one of the issues when I was doing bullet journaling, was that even though I was, you know, staying on top of a logging, everything each day, managing like longterm tasks, really gummed everything up. I I'd be transferring things from log to log from day to day. And if I, if I wasn't good about like reviewing my planner every week and every day, things would get forgotten. Sometimes they get left behind or sometimes they'd just be following me around for weeks and I'd have to hand copy them. Um, and also I kept finding that the more things I put in the planner, the more I lost, uh, if I, if I didn't keep it simple, uh, the complexity would, would go out to control much faster than if I use digital tools. Um, but I kept a good index, but even then I found myself missing that ability.
- 00:12:18 - I haven't a computer to do like a command F on my Mac and find a specific note or find a keyword that I remember about something. So there's that speed. That was, that was lost. Um, so that's, what's cool about digital everything's index. Everything's searchable. I can organize, I can reorganize to my heart's content. And I have confidence that if I put something in my digital storage tools, uh, and everything being equal, I'll be able to find it again. And so, so another part of that is so it's persistent, but digital storage is also easily accessible. I just mentioned the command F thing that you can find things within there. Um, make sure you don't lose, um, the things that you've stored, but it's also easily accessible in the sense that, like I mentioned before, you don't have to carry around a giant notebook with you, um, or hundreds of giant notebooks.
- 00:13:10 - If you have years of information that you've been storing, uh, your phone, your, a little smartphone has everything from your Evernote or your notion, or even your file system like on Dropbox or, or, or, um, or iCloud right at your fingertips. And that's, I think is a huge advantage of digital, you know, we might criticize it that it's distracting having these phones and, and it's tough to have all the world's information at your fingertips, but man, it is pretty nice to know that you can get at stuff you've put in your digital systems anywhere, anytime you need to. Um, so that's what I like. And I, I look for that in productivity apps, something that syncs across all my devices, um, cause I don't always have my computer with me. And then finally, just on the subject of digital for storing, there's just, uh, what I would call reliable reminders.
- 00:14:03 - Um, you can you, even, if you keep a calendar on a digital tool, the fact is there are no notifications built into your notebook. Even the coolest, even FranklinCovey planners don't have notifications built into their paper planner calendars. Why? Well, because that's just the way the world works. It's not possible, but digital tools can remind me 15 minutes before a meeting that I need to, you know, get up and go. Um, they, they can remind me with, with tasks that, Hey, you said that you were going to mow the lawn this weekend and I don't have to think about it, but it just pops up on, on Saturday morning. I'm like, okay, that's, that's the task for the day. You know what I mean? Like all of that automation type stuff that's available with digital tools not available on paper. And so I think that that's definitely, um, a digital has the edge on paper in that regard.
- 00:14:59 - Um, but, and this is what I want to stress is that doesn't mean that paper is good for nothing. I, like I mentioned the beginning, I still use a physical paper notebook, uh, in my productivity arsenal. I still use it to take notes. I still use it to plan my, my individual days. And I'm about to use it for a bunch of stuff. When I jump into this life journal that I have here. Um, and that's because paper has a benefits that digital does not. Um, and let me, let me pause to make it even broader point just about life, the universe and everything there is, I think in modern thought this, this feeling that as we make, quote, unquote, progress, that it is always better. Um, and I think I can have this attitude sometimes that digital is always better than something that is, um, not digital and that progress always means improvement.
- 00:15:51 - It doesn't technology does not always make things better. Sometimes for example, it is better that you go slower with something and you say, well, there's digital thing. Maybe it makes it so much easier, so much faster to do and do X, Y, or Z. Um, and so therefore it's better. Maybe there's a reason that it's slower. Uh, maybe there's a reason that, um, it takes a long time to dig a fence post hole and you don't necessarily need a giant machine to do it. Um, that was a metaphor. So papers for processing. This is my, my, uh, my, my key principle on the other side of it is data digitals for storage papers for processing. Okay. It can do things that digital can't do. Um, I think that this is, I have found no way around this with digital tools, but there is something about when I use a nice pen and a piece of paper that just makes the creative juices flow.
- 00:16:56 - Um, and here's kind of some of the reasons I think that this is better. I think that paper is better for processing ideas. Uh, one is because paper's disposable. Um, now that goes against kind of what I'd said before about digital being better because for storage, but when it comes to processing information or thinking, I should say, um, the fact that paper is transient by nature, uh, helps me, at least with my paralysis of analysis, I have, uh, a tendency towards perfectionism. And I feel like if I'm doing it on a computer, I don't know why, but I have to get it exactly right. But doing, working out some thoughts on a piece of paper first that I, that I know I'm going to throw away kinda helps me with that because I'm like, it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm just going to throw this in the waste bin, the waste bin, I'm an American I'm going to throw in the trash can waistband.
- 00:17:50 - Um, so knowing that whatever I jot down is not being committed to some eternal digital archive that gives me the freedom to think with fewer boundaries. Um, and I even enjoy it. I love like, you know, the classic trope of, uh, of the writer crinkling up the piece of paper and throwing it in the, in the garbage I like that because it's like, it's gone now paper because paper's disposable. It just makes it a better tool for processing thoughts. Um, second with that is paper's good for processing because paper slows you down. I'm thinking a, something that can't be rushed. Uh, the power of, of, of paper is that when you have to write it out by hand, it takes longer. And I've, I've heard this. Um, my pastor, John MacArthur has said this, and I've probably mentioned it here on this podcast before, but he says that, well, I'll say that he repeat prepares his sermons.
- 00:18:52 - They're hour-long sermons. He prepares them with a fountain pen and a piece of paper. And he's been doing that his whole life, which is nuts. He doesn't type it out on a computer or anything. It's just handwritten things and it is slower. And he said that it's slower, um, than if he would, would use a computer. But he says, it's a good thing because it slows them down. That's why he uses a fountain pen is he has to stop and refill it. And, and there's this, um, slowing down that helps with thinking to aid that process. And I have experienced this too, like as a writer, um, you kind of think, well, writing is getting as many words as possible onto the page each day. So you can like keep writing the most right writing is writing. But writing is really just thinking in the same way with, with sermon preparation, sermon preparation.
- 00:19:46 - Isn't just about getting the words on the paper. It's about getting the right words on the paper. It's about thinking and processing and then getting that out there in a crystallized form. And so speed of getting information onto a document is not necessarily the end all be all. It's not necessarily progress that you were able to type. I don't know, a thousand words a minute. That's probably is a lot. I don't know, actually, what is a lot of words per minute, but it's not, it's not necessarily progress that you were able to put the most words onto the computer because your fingers went a mile a minute. It's more important that you put the right words. And so paper, I do, I think it has a leg up on, um, digital tools because it makes you go slower and think so. Yeah. Clacking on the keyboard enables me to write faster.
- 00:20:37 - That's a fact, but it does not necessarily mean that I'm writing more thoughtfully. So paper can help you with that, not to get out of yourself. And then finally with paper, um, in this under the sub heading of papers for processing, is that right? Paper is better for processing than digital because it just stroll. I use distractions, absolutely obliterates them. Um, when I opened up my computer, that is the last thing I do every morning. Um, because that is just inviting problems. If you're, if you're, um, if your phone or your computer or your iPad or whatever it is you're using, that has wifi, it has email, it has social media. It has all these distractions. Even if you turn all those things off, you kind of know they're there. And that too is distracting. Um, uh, actually researchers have found this, that people are distracted even by the, whether or not their phone is notifying them.
- 00:21:36 - The fact that their phone could notify them is distracting to them. If that makes sense. And the great thing about paper that I think is a really great feature of paper, is that it doesn't have wifi. It doesn't have a Bluetooth antenna, it doesn't have notifications. And so like with those, uh, features or lack of features, I think there's a massive advantage. And so I, if I really want to focus, I want to do some, some thinking. I want to do that on paper because I don't want to be interrupted. Um, and like I said, that's in, in the morning, the last thing I do is open my computer. I leave my phone on the little charger next to my bedside. When I leave, uh, to get up in the morning, I don't look at my phone at all, if I'm being good and I come out to the kitchen, I open up my journal.
- 00:22:21 - I write in my journal, I read my Bible. I pray, I do all that stuff. And it only, at the end of that, do I open up my computer? Because oftentimes when I opened that computer, I ended up going down the rabbit hole. I'm not as productive as I want to be. And, um, sometimes you're gonna end up throwing my whole day into disarray because some email will come through that I have to deal with them. And so that's why I delay it. And that's why stick to paper stuff initially, so that I don't lose that time of focus, that time of thinking that time of really being focused and, uh, being with the Lord as I, as I studied his word. And I, um, and I pray, so paper is awesome because I used to lie to you from those distractions. And thus helps you to process your thoughts better than you can with digital tools, that invite distraction.
- 00:23:12 - So that is it. I hope that's somewhat helpful for you. Those are kind of the, the big thing. That's all I wanted to share with you today is that, Hey, there is a place for paper tools. There's a place for digital tools. You don't have to do everything with one productivity tool. Um, and big picture. My conclusion is that the great distinction between these two is that digital is really good at storing paper is really good for processing. If you think about those, them in those terms, that might help you to build out your own productivity arsenal. Um, and that is something that's going to look different from everybody. I think it's a personal thing, what apps you like, uh, and what tools you use and whether you're more paper geared or digital geared, but feel free to mix and match. And, um, maybe some of those principles will help you as you think through it. Well, that's all I have for you today. Thanks so much for listening. I'm sorry. Again, this is coming out so late in the week, it has been a crazy couple of weeks. Um, but, uh, it's all good and glad to be back with you. And, um, I will see you again here next week, but until I do remember this in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
These days there are thousands of options when it comes to productivity tools. But one great debate still persists: Which is better, paper or digital productivity tools? I think there's a place for both.
In this episode, I demonstrate that it's not a question of either/or, but rather of which/when. And I give some principles for choosing which productivity tasks are better done on paper and which are better done using apps.
Links
- This episode is based in part on the blog post, Paper vs. Digital Productivity Tools.
- Checkout the LifeJournal that I mentioned in today's episode.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Transcript
- 00:00:08 - Welcome to the Redeeming Productivity Show. This is the podcast that helps Christians get more done and get it done like Christians. And I'm your host Reagan Rose.
- 00:00:22 - Well, thanks for listening in. We've got an interesting episode for you today. When we talking about paper versus digital productivity tools and kind of the pros and cons of each and how you can sort of mix and match, uh, some paper planning tools with digital tools and even just kind of some high-level principles to think through what would be best for what types of activities, uh, productivity-wise. Um, but before I jump into that, just want to do the little preamble I always do, which is to say, if you're listening and you like this, please do subscribe to your favorite podcast thing. So you get notified if the next one, for example, if one doesn't come out on Monday, like normal and instead comes out way later in the week, like right now, uh, you will just get it in your podcast player. Well, I don't need to explain podcasts to you.
- 00:01:16 - You're listening to one and also a special thank you to the Patreon supporters, guys. Thank you so much for supporting the podcast. Um, it is encouraging to me and helps me pay the bills to keep this going. And if any of you who are listening would like to become a patron supporter, throw a couple of bucks in the hat. Uh, it is patrion.com/redeeming prod. Okay, let's get into the meat of the episode. Um, so paper versus digital tools. So with productivity, there are, um, many, many tools available to us. Uh, the, you can go as simple as just a hit a, a to-do list or setting goals on a piece of paper, but, uh, so much of productivity is about what tools you use. And especially now in the digital era, there are countless types of tools you can use in the computer, countless apps, countless services, countless automation that you can use to increase your productivity.
- 00:02:24 - And it can get a little bit overwhelming, to be honest. I've mentioned before that when I do as doing college ministry, I think even when I was a college student, I did, this is, I just had a little tiny notebook with a little tiny pen, and I would just write in there some boxes and some little tasks for the day. And I tick off the boxes, uh, to make sure I got everything done. I needed to do that day. And that was a productivity tool. It was small, it was rudimentary, but that was, that was all I did with it. Uh, and then after I read, um, David, Allen's getting things done, I realized, Oh, I'm basically using his sort of getting things done system, but not as smartly. And so then I was using the paper to record those tasks and, and migrate them to the next day, make sure that, that I had a place to capture everything and process it and, and put it into the right category.
- 00:03:17 - And I was doing that all paper-wise. Now, though, fast forward to today, I suffer from a condition that doctors call shiny new tools syndrome. And that is, uh, my excuse for that is that I write and do a podcast on productivity. And so I can excuse to myself, my constant flooding from one tool to another, um, you know, each week, it seems like I'm telling you about some new app I'm using or some new tool for productivity. And that's because I am, I'm switching all the time with different aspects of my productivity. And this is my burden that I bear for you. Dear listener really I'd be highly would be doing this, even if I wasn't teaching on this and talking about these subjects, because again, it's, it's shiny new tool syndrome. A new app comes out and here I am first in line to grab it and try it and disrupt my whole well oiled machine of productivity systems.
- 00:04:18 - But again, my burden to bear. Uh, but I do think that no matter what you do, there really isn't one productivity tool to, um, to rule them all. Um, and in the darkness behind them, because there's just so many different things you do, and there's different personality types. And I just find that there, there are some things I like to do a certain way, and there's some things I like to do a different way. And that's okay. Um, for example, you know, like right now, there are a lot of things that I do digitally, but there's a lot of things I do on paper. Like I, I still keep a, my, my personal journal, um, on paper. Um, and while I manage my like longterm tasks and things like that in apps each day, I manage the tasks for the day on a piece of paper.
- 00:05:10 - And there's just something about putting pen on paper there that I find focusing. And so I just think no matter what, you're going to use a hybrid of tools and some of those may be paper and some of those may be digital. I don't think it's a question of which is better. Should I use a digital productivity system or a paper system? Um, they're all, there are all in one systems for either one of those, right? I mean, um, the bullet journal is probably the closest thing I can think of that actually. Uh, has you doing everything on paper, like keeping calendars and reminders and events and things like that, all in one spot, along with your tasks? Um, I I've done bullet journaling before. I still do some kind of hybrid approach to it, but I really hate the idea of keeping calendars in a paper planner, because what if I don't have it?
- 00:06:05 - I mean, it's a big notebook. I don't, I'm not going to wear cargo shorts everywhere. I'll tell you that much right now with a big planner in the, in the pocket. I'm probably not going to wear cargo shorts at all. It's my wife would leave me. Um, so anyway, my point is really just pros and cons to all those things. And I use a variety of tools right now, and I probably all always will. Um, there's also, uh, some cool tools that exist right now that have never existed before I've mentioned software stuff. I would, did want to tell you about one that I'm about to start using. I just wanted to give kind of a, a plug for, uh, because it's very cool, a very well designed. Um, and it's a, it's a paper planner. So in the past, I've used, you may have have ads for these that you've seen, but I've, I've used these all before the self journal, which is a really cool little paper daily planner time blocking thing, the full focus planner, which is something Michael Hyatt came out with.
- 00:07:04 - I've used that before. Um, didn't love it. Didn't hate it just wasn't for me, but now I have an actually holding one right now. Um, the life journal is a very cool, um, like planner journal. It's a 13-week planner that helps you focus on not just like your tasks and stuff, but, uh, spiritual disciplines. It's built around goal setting and, and productivity, all that in one. And it's neat. It's got like prompts for, um, what you read in the scripture today. Uh, it's got a spot where you can map out your daily schedule. What are your top three tasks? Um, how are you applying what you read in scripture? Things like that it's even got a spot, um, for taking notes on sermons and podcast that you're listening to. Um, it's just a really cool all in one type journal for a Christian.
- 00:07:53 - And these are, this is really neat. I'm about to start in this. I'm gonna do 13 weeks with it and try it out. I'll tell you at the end, um, my impressions on it, but I definitely even from first blush, I recommend it cause there are types of tools in here that I've used before and other, uh, paper planners that I've loved. Um, but this one's specifically, you know, kind of faith-based as I recommend that to you. If you go to gospel focused.com, um, you can pick one up there, you can read more about it, um, and, uh, try that out, but, okay. Let's get philosophical here for a minute. Um, as I've used different tools over the years here is kind of the key distinction that is emerged in my mind between digital and paper productivity tools. And then I'll kind of flesh it out a little bit.
- 00:08:46 - So the key distinction is that digital is for storing paper is for processing. So I'm going to, I'm going to build on that a little bit, but this is, this is kind of like I could, you know, distill it, reduce it down to it's a key difference. Digital is for storing papers for processing. Okay. So let's, uh, let's look at the digital side of that real quick. So I say that the, the pro that digital brings to the table, the thing that it's best at that it is better than paper at is storing. Um, and what I mean by that is three things, persistent storage, easily accessible storage. And even as it comes to reminders, the reliability of the things you read that you store in there that they'll come back to you, of course, if I took a hand written note, it is technically, you know, stored it's in a notebook somewhere, but, uh, it's not the best way to store information.
- 00:09:50 - I think computers are better at this because I can use a find function or I can, uh, have automated ways for the, for the software to re present to me information from the past. Uh, in fact, there's a great app I'm using right now, it's called read wise. And if you take highlights in Kindle or like on Instapaper or pocket or something like that, you can hook it up to read wise, realize we'll take all of those highlights. And then each day it sends you like a daily digest of old highlights. And so I think I have mine set up, it sends me five a day and every morning, and that's kind of been part of my morning routine. I get this little email and it has five highlights from old books that I've read or old articles and things that I thought interesting. And a lot of it's from years and years ago, because I've been reading Kindle books for years.
- 00:10:38 - And I just love that. It's such a cool little way to remind it of old insights. I might jump into the book and read the context and be like, Oh yeah, that was, that was fascinating. Um, but that I think is a good example of digital storage. Uh, being able to remind you of something resurfacing things, uh, from the past in an automatic way, which I would not have found. I mean, some of those books, I don't even remember reading. Um, so that, that thing is a good, good example there read wise is the name of that app. Do you wanna check it out? Um, but the main thing with digital storage is that is persistent. Um, it is always there. You're not, it's not going to go away. Um, as long as you know, all the servers don't die, your computer doesn't explode and the EMP doesn't blow up.
- 00:11:29 - Um, but that's kind of was one of the issues when I was doing bullet journaling, was that even though I was, you know, staying on top of a logging, everything each day, managing like longterm tasks, really gummed everything up. I I'd be transferring things from log to log from day to day. And if I, if I wasn't good about like reviewing my planner every week and every day, things would get forgotten. Sometimes they get left behind or sometimes they'd just be following me around for weeks and I'd have to hand copy them. Um, and also I kept finding that the more things I put in the planner, the more I lost, uh, if I, if I didn't keep it simple, uh, the complexity would, would go out to control much faster than if I use digital tools. Um, but I kept a good index, but even then I found myself missing that ability.
- 00:12:18 - I haven't a computer to do like a command F on my Mac and find a specific note or find a keyword that I remember about something. So there's that speed. That was, that was lost. Um, so that's, what's cool about digital everything's index. Everything's searchable. I can organize, I can reorganize to my heart's content. And I have confidence that if I put something in my digital storage tools, uh, and everything being equal, I'll be able to find it again. And so, so another part of that is so it's persistent, but digital storage is also easily accessible. I just mentioned the command F thing that you can find things within there. Um, make sure you don't lose, um, the things that you've stored, but it's also easily accessible in the sense that, like I mentioned before, you don't have to carry around a giant notebook with you, um, or hundreds of giant notebooks.
- 00:13:10 - If you have years of information that you've been storing, uh, your phone, your, a little smartphone has everything from your Evernote or your notion, or even your file system like on Dropbox or, or, or, um, or iCloud right at your fingertips. And that's, I think is a huge advantage of digital, you know, we might criticize it that it's distracting having these phones and, and it's tough to have all the world's information at your fingertips, but man, it is pretty nice to know that you can get at stuff you've put in your digital systems anywhere, anytime you need to. Um, so that's what I like. And I, I look for that in productivity apps, something that syncs across all my devices, um, cause I don't always have my computer with me. And then finally, just on the subject of digital for storing, there's just, uh, what I would call reliable reminders.
- 00:14:03 - Um, you can you, even, if you keep a calendar on a digital tool, the fact is there are no notifications built into your notebook. Even the coolest, even FranklinCovey planners don't have notifications built into their paper planner calendars. Why? Well, because that's just the way the world works. It's not possible, but digital tools can remind me 15 minutes before a meeting that I need to, you know, get up and go. Um, they, they can remind me with, with tasks that, Hey, you said that you were going to mow the lawn this weekend and I don't have to think about it, but it just pops up on, on Saturday morning. I'm like, okay, that's, that's the task for the day. You know what I mean? Like all of that automation type stuff that's available with digital tools not available on paper. And so I think that that's definitely, um, a digital has the edge on paper in that regard.
- 00:14:59 - Um, but, and this is what I want to stress is that doesn't mean that paper is good for nothing. I, like I mentioned the beginning, I still use a physical paper notebook, uh, in my productivity arsenal. I still use it to take notes. I still use it to plan my, my individual days. And I'm about to use it for a bunch of stuff. When I jump into this life journal that I have here. Um, and that's because paper has a benefits that digital does not. Um, and let me, let me pause to make it even broader point just about life, the universe and everything there is, I think in modern thought this, this feeling that as we make, quote, unquote, progress, that it is always better. Um, and I think I can have this attitude sometimes that digital is always better than something that is, um, not digital and that progress always means improvement.
- 00:15:51 - It doesn't technology does not always make things better. Sometimes for example, it is better that you go slower with something and you say, well, there's digital thing. Maybe it makes it so much easier, so much faster to do and do X, Y, or Z. Um, and so therefore it's better. Maybe there's a reason that it's slower. Uh, maybe there's a reason that, um, it takes a long time to dig a fence post hole and you don't necessarily need a giant machine to do it. Um, that was a metaphor. So papers for processing. This is my, my, uh, my, my key principle on the other side of it is data digitals for storage papers for processing. Okay. It can do things that digital can't do. Um, I think that this is, I have found no way around this with digital tools, but there is something about when I use a nice pen and a piece of paper that just makes the creative juices flow.
- 00:16:56 - Um, and here's kind of some of the reasons I think that this is better. I think that paper is better for processing ideas. Uh, one is because paper's disposable. Um, now that goes against kind of what I'd said before about digital being better because for storage, but when it comes to processing information or thinking, I should say, um, the fact that paper is transient by nature, uh, helps me, at least with my paralysis of analysis, I have, uh, a tendency towards perfectionism. And I feel like if I'm doing it on a computer, I don't know why, but I have to get it exactly right. But doing, working out some thoughts on a piece of paper first that I, that I know I'm going to throw away kinda helps me with that because I'm like, it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm just going to throw this in the waste bin, the waste bin, I'm an American I'm going to throw in the trash can waistband.
- 00:17:50 - Um, so knowing that whatever I jot down is not being committed to some eternal digital archive that gives me the freedom to think with fewer boundaries. Um, and I even enjoy it. I love like, you know, the classic trope of, uh, of the writer crinkling up the piece of paper and throwing it in the, in the garbage I like that because it's like, it's gone now paper because paper's disposable. It just makes it a better tool for processing thoughts. Um, second with that is paper's good for processing because paper slows you down. I'm thinking a, something that can't be rushed. Uh, the power of, of, of paper is that when you have to write it out by hand, it takes longer. And I've, I've heard this. Um, my pastor, John MacArthur has said this, and I've probably mentioned it here on this podcast before, but he says that, well, I'll say that he repeat prepares his sermons.
- 00:18:52 - They're hour-long sermons. He prepares them with a fountain pen and a piece of paper. And he's been doing that his whole life, which is nuts. He doesn't type it out on a computer or anything. It's just handwritten things and it is slower. And he said that it's slower, um, than if he would, would use a computer. But he says, it's a good thing because it slows them down. That's why he uses a fountain pen is he has to stop and refill it. And, and there's this, um, slowing down that helps with thinking to aid that process. And I have experienced this too, like as a writer, um, you kind of think, well, writing is getting as many words as possible onto the page each day. So you can like keep writing the most right writing is writing. But writing is really just thinking in the same way with, with sermon preparation, sermon preparation.
- 00:19:46 - Isn't just about getting the words on the paper. It's about getting the right words on the paper. It's about thinking and processing and then getting that out there in a crystallized form. And so speed of getting information onto a document is not necessarily the end all be all. It's not necessarily progress that you were able to type. I don't know, a thousand words a minute. That's probably is a lot. I don't know, actually, what is a lot of words per minute, but it's not, it's not necessarily progress that you were able to put the most words onto the computer because your fingers went a mile a minute. It's more important that you put the right words. And so paper, I do, I think it has a leg up on, um, digital tools because it makes you go slower and think so. Yeah. Clacking on the keyboard enables me to write faster.
- 00:20:37 - That's a fact, but it does not necessarily mean that I'm writing more thoughtfully. So paper can help you with that, not to get out of yourself. And then finally with paper, um, in this under the sub heading of papers for processing, is that right? Paper is better for processing than digital because it just stroll. I use distractions, absolutely obliterates them. Um, when I opened up my computer, that is the last thing I do every morning. Um, because that is just inviting problems. If you're, if you're, um, if your phone or your computer or your iPad or whatever it is you're using, that has wifi, it has email, it has social media. It has all these distractions. Even if you turn all those things off, you kind of know they're there. And that too is distracting. Um, uh, actually researchers have found this, that people are distracted even by the, whether or not their phone is notifying them.
- 00:21:36 - The fact that their phone could notify them is distracting to them. If that makes sense. And the great thing about paper that I think is a really great feature of paper, is that it doesn't have wifi. It doesn't have a Bluetooth antenna, it doesn't have notifications. And so like with those, uh, features or lack of features, I think there's a massive advantage. And so I, if I really want to focus, I want to do some, some thinking. I want to do that on paper because I don't want to be interrupted. Um, and like I said, that's in, in the morning, the last thing I do is open my computer. I leave my phone on the little charger next to my bedside. When I leave, uh, to get up in the morning, I don't look at my phone at all, if I'm being good and I come out to the kitchen, I open up my journal.
- 00:22:21 - I write in my journal, I read my Bible. I pray, I do all that stuff. And it only, at the end of that, do I open up my computer? Because oftentimes when I opened that computer, I ended up going down the rabbit hole. I'm not as productive as I want to be. And, um, sometimes you're gonna end up throwing my whole day into disarray because some email will come through that I have to deal with them. And so that's why I delay it. And that's why stick to paper stuff initially, so that I don't lose that time of focus, that time of thinking that time of really being focused and, uh, being with the Lord as I, as I studied his word. And I, um, and I pray, so paper is awesome because I used to lie to you from those distractions. And thus helps you to process your thoughts better than you can with digital tools, that invite distraction.
- 00:23:12 - So that is it. I hope that's somewhat helpful for you. Those are kind of the, the big thing. That's all I wanted to share with you today is that, Hey, there is a place for paper tools. There's a place for digital tools. You don't have to do everything with one productivity tool. Um, and big picture. My conclusion is that the great distinction between these two is that digital is really good at storing paper is really good for processing. If you think about those, them in those terms, that might help you to build out your own productivity arsenal. Um, and that is something that's going to look different from everybody. I think it's a personal thing, what apps you like, uh, and what tools you use and whether you're more paper geared or digital geared, but feel free to mix and match. And, um, maybe some of those principles will help you as you think through it. Well, that's all I have for you today. Thanks so much for listening. I'm sorry. Again, this is coming out so late in the week, it has been a crazy couple of weeks. Um, but, uh, it's all good and glad to be back with you. And, um, I will see you again here next week, but until I do remember this in whatever you do, do it well and do it all to the glory of God.
In this episode, Reagan discusses how Christians can create a strategy for practicing the "one another" commands of Scripture. He talks about the pros and cons of different forms of communication, creating a "Personal CRM", and why letter writing is still relevant.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, Reagan discusses how Christians can create a strategy for practicing the "one another" commands of Scripture. He talks about the pros and cons of different forms of communication, creating a "Personal CRM", and why letter writing is still relevant.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Fresh back from vacation, Reagan shares some musings on the nature of Christian productivity, insights from the book of Ecclesiastes, "Chronological Optimism," and changes he's making in life to accommodate a broadening understanding of personal productivity.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Fresh back from vacation, Reagan shares some musings on the nature of Christian productivity, insights from the book of Ecclesiastes, "Chronological Optimism," and changes he's making in life to accommodate a broadening understanding of personal productivity.
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
What if you had the ability to perfectly recall anything you had ever learned? Imagine what you could do for the Kingdom! Well, as far as I know, that's not possible yet but in this week's episode, I talk about the subject of how we organize our notes into a knowledge management system.
I cover some of the different approaches to the subject as well as some of the software options that are available. I also discuss the theological ramifications of knowledge management and what it means for Christians to develop a "second brain."
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Zettelkasten
- Evernote
- Notion, my review of Notion, how I use Notion
- Obsidian
- Roam Research
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
What if you had the ability to perfectly recall anything you had ever learned? Imagine what you could do for the Kingdom! Well, as far as I know, that's not possible yet but in this week's episode, I talk about the subject of how we organize our notes into a knowledge management system.
I cover some of the different approaches to the subject as well as some of the software options that are available. I also discuss the theological ramifications of knowledge management and what it means for Christians to develop a "second brain."
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Zettelkasten
- Evernote
- Notion, my review of Notion, how I use Notion
- Obsidian
- Roam Research
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this week's episode, I reflect on a recent interview with John Piper in which he offered up seven lessons on productivity that he's learned over the years.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Seven Lessons for Productivity from John Piper on Desiring God
- This week on the blog: Unconfessed Sin Is Killing Your Productivity
- Ep. 44 - Making the Most of Motivation
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this week's episode, I reflect on a recent interview with John Piper in which he offered up seven lessons on productivity that he's learned over the years.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Seven Lessons for Productivity from John Piper on Desiring God
- This week on the blog: Unconfessed Sin Is Killing Your Productivity
- Ep. 44 - Making the Most of Motivation
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I talk about why you should plan your day, what the elements of a good day plan are, and a step-by-step of how I plan my day each morning.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Listen to my interview with James Parker in Episode 37
- Read Emily Maxson's article on the Bullet Journal Method
- Check out Notion, my favorite all-in-one productivity app
- I've really been enjoying using the app NotePlan 2 to keep a digital Bullet Journal
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I talk about why you should plan your day, what the elements of a good day plan are, and a step-by-step of how I plan my day each morning.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
- Listen to my interview with James Parker in Episode 37
- Read Emily Maxson's article on the Bullet Journal Method
- Check out Notion, my favorite all-in-one productivity app
- I've really been enjoying using the app NotePlan 2 to keep a digital Bullet Journal
Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I get more personal and share how the Lord saved me, and how He used trials to teach me the importance of cherishing His Word and making the most of this brief life.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I get more personal and share how the Lord saved me, and how He used trials to teach me the importance of cherishing His Word and making the most of this brief life.
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
We all have those days where we wake up feeling energized and motivated. But no sooner do we launch into our work than the motivation is gone again. The problem with bursts of motivation is that they are elusive and fickle. So, how can we find ways to work even when we aren't feeling overly motivated, and make the most of motivation when it does come?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
We all have those days where we wake up feeling energized and motivated. But no sooner do we launch into our work than the motivation is gone again. The problem with bursts of motivation is that they are elusive and fickle. So, how can we find ways to work even when we aren't feeling overly motivated, and make the most of motivation when it does come?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
A shorter episode today as I've been sick. I just share a couple of insights the Lord's been teaching me during this time.
But be sure to check out the interview I did with Reformed Youth Ministries on their podcast The Local Youth Worker.
Lord willing, I'll be back next week with a full episode.
A shorter episode today as I've been sick. I just share a couple of insights the Lord's been teaching me during this time.
But be sure to check out the interview I did with Reformed Youth Ministries on their podcast The Local Youth Worker.
Lord willing, I'll be back next week with a full episode.
We live in an age where true friendship is hard to find. But what does the Bible say makes for a true friend? And how can deep friendships make us more productive in bringing glory to God?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
We live in an age where true friendship is hard to find. But what does the Bible say makes for a true friend? And how can deep friendships make us more productive in bringing glory to God?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
It seems that every week brings more alarming news. So, how can we stay focused on being good stewards of our responsibilities when the world seems to be falling apart around us?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
It seems that every week brings more alarming news. So, how can we stay focused on being good stewards of our responsibilities when the world seems to be falling apart around us?
- Sign-up for the Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
If those of us who have been placed in leadership positions are to lead well, we must lead with confidence. And to lead with confidence we need first be assured that we indeed do have the right to lead. So, how can we secure such assurance?
Based in part on the blog post How to Lead with Confidence.
If those of us who have been placed in leadership positions are to lead well, we must lead with confidence. And to lead with confidence we need first be assured that we indeed do have the right to lead. So, how can we secure such assurance?
Based in part on the blog post How to Lead with Confidence.
In this episode of the podcast, I offer 7 biblical reasons why Christians need to work hard at whatever they do.
Support Redeeming Productivity on Patreon
In this episode of the podcast, I offer 7 biblical reasons why Christians need to work hard at whatever they do.
Support Redeeming Productivity on Patreon
Last week we talked about the value of good counsel. And that got me thinking, “What advice would I give to a younger version of me?” What are the things I’m glad I pursued and what the pitfalls I wish I had avoided? I think it's a helpful exercise that causes us to reflect on God's providence and learn from our mistakes.
What advice would you give to your past self?
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast. Subscribe to Words of Hope wherever you get your podcasts.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Last week we talked about the value of good counsel. And that got me thinking, “What advice would I give to a younger version of me?” What are the things I’m glad I pursued and what the pitfalls I wish I had avoided? I think it's a helpful exercise that causes us to reflect on God's providence and learn from our mistakes.
What advice would you give to your past self?
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast. Subscribe to Words of Hope wherever you get your podcasts.
- ⏳If you enjoy Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Solomon said, "the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." In this episode, we talk about the value of surrounding yourself with good advisors—as well as being a good counselor to others. I also share a bit of advice that I've been learning in my own life.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- I mentioned Episode 6 where we talked with Drew Dyck about habits and self-discipline.
- ⏳If you enjoy this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Solomon said, "the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." In this episode, we talk about the value of surrounding yourself with good advisors—as well as being a good counselor to others. I also share a bit of advice that I've been learning in my own life.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- I mentioned Episode 6 where we talked with Drew Dyck about habits and self-discipline.
- ⏳If you enjoy this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon, where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
This week I'm joined by James Parker owner of Parker Productivity Coaching which helps people focus on, and accomplish, what matters most. We talk about the principles of The ONE Thing, what Proverbs teaches about planning, and much more.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- Parker Productivity Coaching
- The ONE Thing
- How James sets up his iPhone home screen
- Trello
- Overcast
⏳If you enjoy this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
This week I'm joined by James Parker owner of Parker Productivity Coaching which helps people focus on, and accomplish, what matters most. We talk about the principles of The ONE Thing, what Proverbs teaches about planning, and much more.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- Parker Productivity Coaching
- The ONE Thing
- How James sets up his iPhone home screen
- Trello
- Overcast
⏳If you enjoy this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I discuss the book Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work & Wealth by Douglas Wilson. I give you my top takeaways as well as my own thoughts on Wilson's unique approach to Christian productivity.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- Get the book Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work & Wealth.
- Sign-up for our twice-weekly Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- If you like what I'm doing with this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
In this episode, I discuss the book Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work & Wealth by Douglas Wilson. I give you my top takeaways as well as my own thoughts on Wilson's unique approach to Christian productivity.
Links
- Sponsor: Today's episode is brought to you by Words of Hope, a 5-minute daily devotional podcast.
- Get the book Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work & Wealth.
- Sign-up for our twice-weekly Redeeming Productivity Newsletter.
- If you like what I'm doing with this podcast, consider supporting my work on Patreon where you'll get exclusive updates and early releases of new content.
Do you constantly put things off until the last minute? Can you not focus unless there's a deadline? Do you find that stress is the only thing that motivates you? Then you might be an urgency addict. In episode 35 of the Redeeming Productivity Show we talk about the problems of being addicted to urgency, and how Christians can overcome this crutch.
Sign-up for The Redeeming Productivity Newsletter to get more help on your journey to become a productive Christian: https://redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter
I also wrote an article on this subject. Check out That Drug Urgency.
Do you constantly put things off until the last minute? Can you not focus unless there's a deadline? Do you find that stress is the only thing that motivates you? Then you might be an urgency addict. In episode 35 of the Redeeming Productivity Show we talk about the problems of being addicted to urgency, and how Christians can overcome this crutch.
Sign-up for The Redeeming Productivity Newsletter to get more help on your journey to become a productive Christian: https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/newsletter
I also wrote an article on this subject. Check out That Drug Urgency.
Everyone is feeling the effects of COVID-19 and the quarantine. Some are feeling it in life-and-death trials or financial hardships. Others are becoming lonely or just plain bored from being stuck at home. And all of us are feeling the tension of the uncertainty. In any trial, big or small, the temptation to complain and grow discontent is powerful.
So how can Christians be content in the midst of a crisis? That's what we talk about in this, episode 34 of The Redeeming Productivity Show.
- Sign-up for The Redeeming Productivity Newsletter to get more help on your journey to become a productive Christian.
- Support the work of Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
Everyone is feeling the effects of COVID-19 and the quarantine. Some are feeling it in life-and-death trials or financial hardships. Others are becoming lonely or just plain bored from being stuck at home. And all of us are feeling the tension of the uncertainty. In any trial, big or small, the temptation to complain and grow discontent is powerful.
So how can Christians be content in the midst of a crisis? That's what we talk about in this, episode 34 of The Redeeming Productivity Show.
- Sign-up for The Redeeming Productivity Newsletter to get more help on your journey to become a productive Christian.
- Support the work of Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
In this episode, I speak with Chris Riser, the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Chris is a guy who has spent a lot of time thinking about how productivity intersects with the Christian life. We talk about the relationship between sanctification and productivity as well as how technology can be a two-edged sword. Chris also has a ton of practical tips for staying organized that I think you'll find really helpful.
In this episode, I speak with Chris Riser, the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Chris is a guy who has spent a lot of time thinking about how productivity intersects with the Christian life. We talk about the relationship between sanctification and productivity as well as how technology can be a two-edged sword. Chris also has a ton of practical tips for staying organized that I think you'll find really helpful.
These are strange and concerning days. But even in calamity, there is an opportunity to glorify God. In this episode, I talk about how Christians can make the most of these evil days to redeem the time. This advice is especially geared toward those who are suddenly having to work from home for the first time.
Links
- How to time block your day.
- If you want to fault me for my optimism in this episode, here's an article in which I explain why all Christians should be optimists.
These are strange and concerning days. But even in calamity, there is an opportunity to glorify God. In this episode, I talk about how Christians can make the most of these evil days to redeem the time. This advice is especially geared toward those who are suddenly having to work from home for the first time.
Links
- How to time block your day.
- If you want to fault me for my optimism in this episode, here's an article in which I explain why all Christians should be optimists.
We all know habits are important for productivity. But the most important habit a productive Christian can have is the daily reading of God's Word. In this episode, I share eight tips for making daily Bible reading a habit in your life.
Links
- Text version of the 8 tips discussed in this episode.
- Bible reading plans.
We all know habits are important for productivity. But the most important habit a productive Christian can have is the daily reading of God's Word. In this episode, I share eight tips for making daily Bible reading a habit in your life.
Links
- Text version of the 8 tips discussed in this episode.
- Bible reading plans.
Our society likes to portray laziness as a laughable but excusable foible. The Scriptures, however, speak of laziness in far harsher tones. In this episode, I talk about just how ugly, shameful, and disgusting sloth is—especially in the life of believers. It's only when we acknowledge just how horrible this sin of laziness is that we will put in the effort to mortify it in our lives.
Links
- This episode was based on the blog post How to Stop Being So Lazy
- If you love the podcast, consider supporting the work of Redeeming Productivity by sponsoring me on Patreon.
Our society likes to portray laziness as a laughable but excusable foible. The Scriptures, however, speak of laziness in far harsher tones. In this episode, I talk about just how ugly, shameful, and disgusting sloth is—especially in the life of believers. It's only when we acknowledge just how horrible this sin of laziness is that we will put in the effort to mortify it in our lives.
Links
- This episode was based on the blog post How to Stop Being So Lazy
- If you love the podcast, consider supporting the work of Redeeming Productivity by sponsoring me on Patreon.
In many situations being careful to create a thoughtful plan before taking the first step is very wise. But sometimes we can get caught up in planning when what we really need to do is just jump in and learn as we go. But how do we know when it's better to count the cost, or just take the plunge?
Links
- Love the show? Consider supporting Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
- Want to reach out? Send me an email at reagan@redeemingproductivity.com.
In many situations being careful to create a thoughtful plan before taking the first step is very wise. But sometimes we can get caught up in planning when what we really need to do is just jump in and learn as we go. But how do we know when it's better to count the cost, or just take the plunge?
Links
- Love the show? Consider supporting Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
- Want to reach out? Send me an email at reagan@redeemingproductivity.com.
An important part of developing our productivity is experimenting and tweaking our systems and routines. So, in the spirit of that, I thought it'd be fun to share a few practical habits I've been trying lately and how they've been working for me so far.
Links
- Love the show? Consider supporting Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
- Check out this week's blog article, my list of the Best Books on Productivity for Christians.
- Got any habits you'd like to share? Send me an email at reagan@redeemingproductivity.com.
An important part of developing our productivity is experimenting and tweaking our systems and routines. So, in the spirit of that, I thought it'd be fun to share a few practical habits I've been trying lately and how they've been working for me so far.
Links
- Love the show? Consider supporting Redeeming Productivity on Patreon.
- Check out this week's blog article, my list of the Best Books on Productivity for Christians.
- Got any habits you'd like to share? Send me an email at reagan@redeemingproductivity.com.
In this episode, I'm joined by Christa Threlfall. Christa is a pastor’s wife and mother of four. She is the author of Come to Jesus: What if God Designs Your Days to Keep You Running Back to Him? And Christa also runs the blog Brown Sugar Toast where she writes about life and faith in Jesus.
We talk about her recent article, Personality Tests Don’t Excuse Your Sin, the high calling of parenthood, and being faithful to steward our gifts even in the midst of busyness.
Links
- Read the article we discussed: Personality Tests Don’t Excuse Your Sin
- Follow Christa's blog and subscribe to her newsletter at Brown Sugar Toast
- Follow Christa on Instagram
- Get Christa's book, Come to Jesus: What if God Designs Your Days to Keep You Running Back to Him?
In this episode, I'm joined by Christa Threlfall. Christa is a pastor’s wife and mother of four. She is the author of Come to Jesus: What if God Designs Your Days to Keep You Running Back to Him? And Christa also runs the blog Brown Sugar Toast where she writes about life and faith in Jesus.
We talk about her recent article, Personality Tests Don’t Excuse Your Sin, the high calling of parenthood, and being faithful to steward our gifts even in the midst of busyness.
Links
- Read the article we discussed: Personality Tests Don’t Excuse Your Sin
- Follow Christa's blog and subscribe to her newsletter at Brown Sugar Toast
- Follow Christa on Instagram
- Get Christa's book, Come to Jesus: What if God Designs Your Days to Keep You Running Back to Him?
In this week's episode, we talk about the value of spending time alone in nature. With just how busy most of our lives are, it's important for Christians deliberately set aside time to be in and appreciate God's creation. A hike, short walk, or even just sitting for a few minutes in the fresh air affords us a unique opportunity to rest, refocus, and worship.
Links
This podcast episode is based in part on an article I wrote titled, The Christian Benefit of Solitude in Nature.
If you appreciate this show would you consider supporting me on Patreon?
In this week's episode, we talk about the value of spending time alone in nature. With just how busy most of our lives are, it's important for Christians deliberately set aside time to be in and appreciate God's creation. A hike, short walk, or even just sitting for a few minutes in the fresh air affords us a unique opportunity to rest, refocus, and worship.
Links
This podcast episode is based in part on an article I wrote titled, The Christian Benefit of Solitude in Nature.
If you appreciate this show would you consider supporting me on Patreon?
There's a question that has the power to push away the fog of indecision. In this episode, Reagan shares how simply asking himself how he could best glorify God was the key to resolving one of the most difficult decisions of his life, and how that same question can help provide any believer with clarity in decisions big and small.
There's a question that has the power to push away the fog of indecision. In this episode, Reagan shares how simply asking himself how he could best glorify God was the key to resolving one of the most difficult decisions of his life, and how that same question can help provide any believer with clarity in decisions big and small.
In this episode, I am joined by Joe Barnard, the founder of Cross Training Ministries. Joe is also the author of, The Way Forward: A Roadmap of Spiritual Growth for Men in the 21st Century.
Listen as Joe and I discuss discipleship and mentoring; the difference between checklists and maturity; and his latest book which aims to help Christian men get unstuck in their spiritual growth.
Links
- Buy Joe's book, "The Way Forward: A Roadmap of Spiritual Growth for Men in the 21st Century"
- Check out the Cross Training Ministries website.
- Read "You Will Be Judged: Thoughts on a Neglected Motivation" an excerpt from Joe's book.
- Read Thomas Chalmers "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" which we mentioned on the show.
In this episode, I am joined by Joe Barnard, the founder of Cross Training Ministries. Joe is also the author of, The Way Forward: A Roadmap of Spiritual Growth for Men in the 21st Century.
Listen as Joe and I discuss discipleship and mentoring; the difference between checklists and maturity; and his latest book which aims to help Christian men get unstuck in their spiritual growth.
Links
- Buy Joe's book, "The Way Forward: A Roadmap of Spiritual Growth for Men in the 21st Century"
- Check out the Cross Training Ministries website.
- Read "You Will Be Judged: Thoughts on a Neglected Motivation" an excerpt from Joe's book.
- Read Thomas Chalmers "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" which we mentioned on the show.
In this episode, Reagan talks about the complicated relationship most of us have with our smartphones. We love how our phones can make us more productive and give us instant access to information, but they can also be profoundly distracting. How can we make our phones useful without being mastered by them?
Links
- Smartphones and Distraction: Sheathing the Double-Edged Sword
- Become a Patreon supporter!
In this episode, Reagan talks about the complicated relationship most of us have with our smartphones. We love how our phones can make us more productive and give us instant access to information, but they can also be profoundly distracting. How can we make our phones useful without being mastered by them?
Links
- Smartphones and Distraction: Sheathing the Double-Edged Sword
- Become a Patreon supporter!
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Dan Doriani, Vice President at Large at Covenant Theological Seminary. We discuss the theology of work, calling, and his latest book, Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation
Links
- Purchase Dr. Doriani's book Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation
- Dr. Doriani's articles and videos on The Gospel Coalition
- Support the work of Redeeming Productivity by becoming a Patreon supporter.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Dan Doriani, Vice President at Large at Covenant Theological Seminary. We discuss the theology of work, calling, and his latest book, Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation
Links
- Purchase Dr. Doriani's book Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation
- Dr. Doriani's articles and videos on The Gospel Coalition
- Support the work of Redeeming Productivity by becoming a Patreon supporter.
In this episode, I offer 10 resolutions that every believer should consider adding to their 2020 list. The over-arching goal of all of these resolutions is to honor Christ even more in the new year in how we steward all that He has entrusted to us.
Links
- Episode 6 - interview with Drew Dyck on the subject of discipline. I mentioned this episode in the show.
- Patreon - If you like what you're hearing and reading from Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon.
In this episode, I offer 10 resolutions that every believer should consider adding to their 2020 list. The over-arching goal of all of these resolutions is to honor Christ even more in the new year in how we steward all that He has entrusted to us.
Links
- Episode 6 - interview with Drew Dyck on the subject of discipline. I mentioned this episode in the show.
- Patreon - If you like what you're hearing and reading from Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon.
In this episode, I'm joined by Matthew Robinson, Director of Media Gratiae. Matt and his team produce high-quality Christian documentaries, and their latest project Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God is a beautifully done exploration of what it looked like when the Puritans began pressing Reformations principles into every aspect of life.
Matt and I talk about drawing inspiration from Christians of the past to understand how we might live lives that glorify God today, how he goes from big-picture creative ideas to finished film, and how a desire to make Christ known is the driving force between Christian creativity.
Links
- Media Gratiae's website
- More information about the Purtian film and conference
- The Behold Your God podcast
- If you like what you're hearing and reading from Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon.
In this episode, I'm joined by Matthew Robinson, Director of Media Gratiae. Matt and his team produce high-quality Christian documentaries, and their latest project Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God is a beautifully done exploration of what it looked like when the Puritans began pressing Reformations principles into every aspect of life.
Matt and I talk about drawing inspiration from Christians of the past to understand how we might live lives that glorify God today, how he goes from big-picture creative ideas to finished film, and how a desire to make Christ known is the driving force between Christian creativity.
Links
- Media Gratiae's website
- More information about the Purtian film and conference
- The Behold Your God podcast
- If you like what you're hearing and reading from Redeeming Productivity, consider supporting my work on Patreon.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it looks like to be a Christian on the internet—how our online interactions represent Christ. Obviously, there are a lot of bad examples, but I started wondering what it might look like if we intentionally tried to act as good examples of how we behave on the internet.
Links
If you enjoy this show and would like to consider supporting it, head on over to our Patreon page.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it looks like to be a Christian on the internet—how our online interactions represent Christ. Obviously, there are a lot of bad examples, but I started wondering what it might look like if we intentionally tried to act as good examples of how we behave on the internet.
Links
If you enjoy this show and would like to consider supporting it, head on over to our Patreon page.
In this week's episode, I talk with Nate Pickowicz. Nate is the pastor of Harvest Bible Church in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. And he is the author of several books including Reviving New England and Why We're Protestant. He has also edited several works by American Puritans including his latest, The Faithful and Wise Servant: Fidelity in Pastoral Ministry which is a distillation of Reverend Isaac Smith's sermons on spiritual leadership.
Our discussion traverses a variety of topics including the American Puritans, how Nate balances writing with being a full-time pastor, and also how believers can use social media in a way that honors Christ.
Links
- Follow Nate Pickowicz on Twitter @NatePickowicz
- Check out Nate's latest book on Isaac Smith
- Get 10% off a NeuYear wall calendar - offer valid until December 11th.
In this week's episode, I talk with Nate Pickowicz. Nate is the pastor of Harvest Bible Church in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. And he is the author of several books including Reviving New England and Why We're Protestant. He has also edited several works by American Puritans including his latest, The Faithful and Wise Servant: Fidelity in Pastoral Ministry which is a distillation of Reverend Isaac Smith's sermons on spiritual leadership.
Our discussion traverses a variety of topics including the American Puritans, how Nate balances writing with being a full-time pastor, and also how believers can use social media in a way that honors Christ.
Links
- Follow Nate Pickowicz on Twitter @NatePickowicz
- Check out Nate's latest book on Isaac Smith
- Get 10% off a NeuYear wall calendar - offer valid until December 11th.
What if I told you that Christians had exclusive access to the ultimate productivity weapon? I'm talking about prayer—the fact that believers have access to the Almighty is an almost unbelievable boon to our ability to get things done. Sadly, most believers neglect prayer. That needs to change. Today, I give you three reasons why every productive Christian should be a praying Christian.
Links
- Start Your Own Podcast with Castos
- How I Use Notion - YouTube Video
What if I told you that Christians had exclusive access to the ultimate productivity weapon? I'm talking about prayer—the fact that believers have access to the Almighty is an almost unbelievable boon to our ability to get things done. Sadly, most believers neglect prayer. That needs to change. Today, I give you three reasons why every productive Christian should be a praying Christian.
Links
- Start Your Own Podcast with Castos
- How I Use Notion - YouTube Video
In this episode, I am joined by Jeff Rice, one-half of the team behind Post Tenebras Lux Bible Rebinding. Jeff and his wife, Katherine, started their Bible rebinding business in 2017 out of Middle Tennessee and have been churning out extremely high-quality work ever since. Jeff and I talk about his amazing testimony, the value of hard work, and personal calling.
Links
- Post Tenebras Lux Bible Rebinding Website
- PTL Facebook Page
In this episode, I am joined by Jeff Rice, one-half of the team behind Post Tenebras Lux Bible Rebinding. Jeff and his wife, Katherine, started their Bible rebinding business in 2017 out of Middle Tennessee and have been churning out extremely high-quality work ever since. Jeff and I talk about his amazing testimony, the value of hard work, and personal calling.
Links
- Post Tenebras Lux Bible Rebinding Website
- PTL Facebook Page
What you do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. In this episode, I talk about the bare minimum requirements of a Christian's morning routine. And while everyone's morning will look a little different, these principles will help guide you in creating a morning routine that gets you oriented, organized, and ready to obey the Lord throughout your day.
This week's episode is brought to you by both of my Patreon supporters (one of whom is my Mom).
If you too are proud of the wonderful young man I have become, consider sponsoring me on Patreon so that I can continue making more podcasts, blogs, and videos on this vital subject of Christian productivity.
Links
⏳Why Reading Your Bible is the Best Way to Be Productive
⏳How to Read Your Bible Daily as a Habit
⏳10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling
What you do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. In this episode, I talk about the bare minimum requirements of a Christian's morning routine. And while everyone's morning will look a little different, these principles will help guide you in creating a morning routine that gets you oriented, organized, and ready to obey the Lord throughout your day.
This week's episode is brought to you by both of my Patreon supporters (one of whom is my Mom).
If you too are proud of the wonderful young man I have become, consider sponsoring me on Patreon so that I can continue making more podcasts, blogs, and videos on this vital subject of Christian productivity.
Links
⏳Why Reading Your Bible is the Best Way to Be Productive
⏳How to Read Your Bible Daily as a Habit
⏳10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling
In this week's episode, I am joined by Tim Challies, who for the past 15 years has been posting daily at the incredibly popular Christian blog Challies.com. Tim has also written several books including Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity. In this interview, we cover a variety of topics including calling, blogging, daily routines, and honoring Christ with our work even when facing health-related limitations.
Links
- Check out Tim's blog at Challies.com
- Read Tim's book on productivity: Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity
- Also, if you want to start a blog of your own, check out Cloudways web hosting.
In this week's episode, I am joined by Tim Challies, who for the past 15 years has been posting daily at the incredibly popular Christian blog Challies.com. Tim has also written several books including Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity. In this interview, we cover a variety of topics including calling, blogging, daily routines, and honoring Christ with our work even when facing health-related limitations.
Links
- Check out Tim's blog at Challies.com
- Read Tim's book on productivity: Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity
- Also, if you want to start a blog of your own, check out Cloudways web hosting.
Reading is important. And it's especially important to Christians since our God has chosen to reveal Himself to us by means of the written Word. If we are wanting to live lives of productive stewardship for God's glory, we should all want to become better readers—not just of the Bible but of all kinds of books. So, for those who want to read more and get better at retaining what they do read, the 10 tips we cover in this episode are for you.
Links
- This week's episode is sponsored by Audible. Get your free 30-day trial plus free audiobook. Also, just by doing the trial you help support this show.
- Listen to last week's episode with Adam Ford, creator of the Babylon Bee.
- Many of these tips came from Mortimer J. Adler's book, How to Read a Book. That's one that is well worth your time.
- I've also been experimenting with creating a video version of this podcast. You can find that over on The Redeeming Productivity YouTube channel.
Reading is important. And it's especially important to Christians since our God has chosen to reveal Himself to us by means of the written Word. If we are wanting to live lives of productive stewardship for God's glory, we should all want to become better readers—not just of the Bible but of all kinds of books. So, for those who want to read more and get better at retaining what they do read, the 10 tips we cover in this episode are for you.
Links
- This week's episode is sponsored by Audible. Get your free 30-day trial plus free audiobook. Also, just by doing the trial you help support this show.
- Listen to last week's episode with Adam Ford, creator of the Babylon Bee.
- Many of these tips came from Mortimer J. Adler's book, How to Read a Book. That's one that is well worth your time.
- I've also been experimenting with creating a video version of this podcast. You can find that over on The Redeeming Productivity YouTube channel.
In this episode, I am joined by Adam Ford. Adam is the creator of The Babylon Bee, The Adam Ford Newsletter, and his latest venture, Disrn News. In this interview, we talk about everything from the genesis of The Bee; the Christian’s relationship to news and politics; and of course, the tools, techniques, and mindsets Adam employs to bring glory to God while being productive in his work.
Links
- Keep up with the news by signing-up for The Adam Ford Newsletter
- Be sure to check out Disrn.com
- For more about the start of the Babylon Bee check out Adam's interview in episode 19 of the Babylon Bee Podcast
- Support Redeeming Productivity on Patreon
- This Week on the Blog: How to Master Any Subject by Making it Interesting
In this episode, I am joined by Adam Ford. Adam is the creator of The Babylon Bee, The Adam Ford Newsletter, and his latest venture, Disrn News. In this interview, we talk about everything from the genesis of The Bee; the Christian’s relationship to news and politics; and of course, the tools, techniques, and mindsets Adam employs to bring glory to God while being productive in his work.
Links
- Keep up with the news by signing-up for The Adam Ford Newsletter
- Be sure to check out Disrn.com
- For more about the start of the Babylon Bee check out Adam's interview in episode 19 of the Babylon Bee Podcast
- Support Redeeming Productivity on Patreon
- This Week on the Blog: How to Master Any Subject by Making it Interesting
Theologians speak of the sufficiency of Scripture—the doctrine which states that all that believers need to live the Christian life is contained in the Word of God. But when it comes to personal productivity, is the Bible really the only thing we need in order to know how best to steward our work, time, and energy to God’s glory?
Links
- The Truth Matters Conference — Full video and audio from the conference will be posted here in the coming days.
- The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession.
- I reference Episode 3 several times, so check that one out if you haven't listened to it yet.
- Follow @redeemingprod on Twitter.
Theologians speak of the sufficiency of Scripture—the doctrine which states that all that believers need to live the Christian life is contained in the Word of God. But when it comes to personal productivity, is the Bible really the only thing we need in order to know how best to steward our work, time, and energy to God’s glory?
Links
- The Truth Matters Conference — Full video and audio from the conference will be posted here in the coming days.
- The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession.
- I reference Episode 3 several times, so check that one out if you haven't listened to it yet.
- Follow @redeemingprod on Twitter.
In this special 10th episode of the podcast, I tell the story of how I became an accidental minimalist and ended up living in an RV for four years with my wife and dog. I share some of the lessons I learned about "simple living," minimalism, and the sinfulness of the human heart throughout this journey.
Links
- What Living Full Time in an RV Taught Me About Minimalism and Contentment
- This Week on the Blog: How to Stay Productive, Even When You’re Sick
- Drop us a line at mailbag@redeemingproductivity.com
- Follow Redeeming Productivity on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
In this special 10th episode of the podcast, I tell the story of how I became an accidental minimalist and ended up living in an RV for four years with my wife and dog. I share some of the lessons I learned about "simple living," minimalism, and the sinfulness of the human heart throughout this journey.
Links
- What Living Full Time in an RV Taught Me About Minimalism and Contentment
- This Week on the Blog: How to Stay Productive, Even When You’re Sick
- Drop us a line at mailbag@redeemingproductivity.com
- Follow Redeeming Productivity on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
In this episode, we talk about the perfect morning devotions plan. Many Christians wonder how many chapters they should read, should they be studying deeply or reading broadly, or exactly how long they should be spending in the Bible each morning. Is 10 minutes enough, or should I be dedicating several hours each morning? We answer all those questions and more, on this episode of The Redeeming Productivity Show.
Links
- Blog Post - Why Reading Your Bible Every Day is the Best Way to Be Productive
- Blog Post - Biblical Meditation, How to Get Started
- At the time of this podcast release, Phil Johnson's sermon on Psalm 1 was not yet posted online. You can find it here when it becomes available. It will be the one which was preached on September 29th, 2019.
- An excellent book on praying as you read the Bible: Donald Whitney - Praying the Bible
- Every year, Ligonier updates this post with links to a variety of Bible reading plans.
In this episode, we talk about the perfect morning devotions plan. Many Christians wonder how many chapters they should read, should they be studying deeply or reading broadly, or exactly how long they should be spending in the Bible each morning. Is 10 minutes enough, or should I be dedicating several hours each morning? We answer all those questions and more, on this episode of The Redeeming Productivity Show.
Links
- Blog Post - Why Reading Your Bible Every Day is the Best Way to Be Productive
- Blog Post - Biblical Meditation, How to Get Started
- At the time of this podcast release, Phil Johnson's sermon on Psalm 1 was not yet posted online. You can find it here when it becomes available. It will be the one which was preached on September 29th, 2019.
- An excellent book on praying as you read the Bible: Donald Whitney - Praying the Bible
- Every year, Ligonier updates this post with links to a variety of Bible reading plans.
In this episode, Reagan is joined by Eric Weathers, who serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with The Master's Academy International. Eric and Reagan discuss the topic of Christians working in the secular marketplace and Eric's doctoral work on the writings of John C. Maxwell.
Links
- The Master's Academy International
- Eric Weather's chapter on John C. Maxwell from his dissertation
In this episode, Reagan is joined by Eric Weathers, who serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with The Master's Academy International. Eric and Reagan discuss the topic of Christians working in the secular marketplace and Eric's doctoral work on the writings of John C. Maxwell.
Links
- The Master's Academy International
- Eric Weather's chapter on John C. Maxwell from his dissertation
In this episode, we examine the benefits of living a life of integrity. We also explore why the reasons which are usually offered for being people of integrity fall short of the Christian standard. Then, we open up the Bible and examine what the Scriptures say about integrity. God calls us not just to be people of integrity, but to be people of ruthless integrity.
Links
- Redeeming Productivity's Instagram
- A great article on the subject of Christian integrity: Integrity and Identity by Jeremiah Johnson
- This week on the blog - Paper vs. Digital Productivity Tools
In this episode, we examine the benefits of living a life of integrity. We also explore why the reasons which are usually offered for being people of integrity fall short of the Christian standard. Then, we open up the Bible and examine what the Scriptures say about integrity. God calls us not just to be people of integrity, but to be people of ruthless integrity.
Links
- Redeeming Productivity's Instagram
- A great article on the subject of Christian integrity: Integrity and Identity by Jeremiah Johnson
- This week on the blog - Paper vs. Digital Productivity Tools
Today I am joined by Drew Dyck to discuss his new book, Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. Drew is an acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers, a contributing editor at Christianity Today’s CTPastors.com, and the author of several other books as well. We discuss how self-control fits into the Christian life and how believers can cultivate more of it in their own lives.
Links
- Get Drew’s book, Your Future Self Will Thank You
- Drew Dyck’s Website
- My review of Your Future Self Will Thank You for The Master’s Seminary Blog.
- This week on the Blog: How to Organize Your Writing with Markdown
Today I am joined by Drew Dyck to discuss his new book, Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science. Drew is an acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers, a contributing editor at Christianity Today’s CTPastors.com, and the author of several other books as well. We discuss how self-control fits into the Christian life and how believers can cultivate more of it in their own lives.
Links
- Get Drew’s book, Your Future Self Will Thank You
- Drew Dyck’s Website
- My review of Your Future Self Will Thank You for The Master’s Seminary Blog.
- This week on the Blog: How to Organize Your Writing with Markdown
In this episode we look at the phrase “redeem the time” from Ephesians 5:16 and how having an appreciation for the preciousness of our time changes how we live. From the writings of Jonathan Edwards, we examine four reasons why time is the most valuable resource on earth and what that means for how we spend it.
Show Notes
Welcome
- Welcome to the 5th episode…
- If you have questions, suggestions for topics or just want to say hello. Send me an email at mailbag@redeemingproductivity.com.
- Be sure to check out the companion blog post
1:21 - Episode Introduction
- What makes things like gold, diamonds, oil, or other natural resources valuable?
- The most valuable resources are useful, rare, and nonrenewable.
- Given these principles for value, the most valuable resource on earth is time.
- With the help of Jonathan Edwards, we will take a look at Ephesians 5:16 and that phrase, “redeem the time.”
4:20 - Context for Ephesians 5:16
- In Ephesians 5:15, the apostle Paul begins a section on “walking in wisdom” so we need to understand the instruction to "redeem the time" in that context.
- This is one of the ways in which believers are to walk in wisdom. We walk in wisdom by, as it says in the ESV, “making the best use of the time.”
5:26 - Explaining the Phrase
- That phrase “making the best use of” in the ESV is actually just one word.
- Some translations render is simply “redeeming.” And that is a good translation because it carries the idea of buying, especially buying back or buying out.
- Paul uses the same term in Galatians 3:13 when he writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us….” And he uses it similarly to our passage in reference to time in Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
- Making the most of the time is the opposite of delaying, it is taking full advantage of every opportunity.
10:48 - Edwards on The Preciousness of Time
- American Puritan Jonathan Edwards addresses this important issue in his 1734 sermon “on the preciousness of time and the importance of redeeming it”.
- In it, he gives four reasons why time is precious.
13:05 - First, time is precious because eternity depends on it.
14:20 - Second, time is precious because it is very short.
17:02 - Third, time is precious because we do not know how much we have.
22:40 - Fourth, time is precious because once it’s gone it’s gone.
24:40 - Application
Links
- 4 Reasons Time is Precious - Jonathan Edwards
- Jonathan Edwards - The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It - PDF
In this episode we look at the phrase “redeem the time” from Ephesians 5:16 and how having an appreciation for the preciousness of our time changes how we live. From the writings of Jonathan Edwards, we examine four reasons why time is the most valuable resource on earth and what that means for how we spend it.
Show Notes
Welcome
- Welcome to the 5th episode…
- If you have questions, suggestions for topics or just want to say hello. Send me an email at mailbag@redeemingproductivity.com.
- Be sure to check out the companion blog post
1:21 - Episode Introduction
- What makes things like gold, diamonds, oil, or other natural resources valuable?
- The most valuable resources are useful, rare, and nonrenewable.
- Given these principles for value, the most valuable resource on earth is time.
- With the help of Jonathan Edwards, we will take a look at Ephesians 5:16 and that phrase, “redeem the time.”
4:20 - Context for Ephesians 5:16
- In Ephesians 5:15, the apostle Paul begins a section on “walking in wisdom” so we need to understand the instruction to "redeem the time" in that context.
- This is one of the ways in which believers are to walk in wisdom. We walk in wisdom by, as it says in the ESV, “making the best use of the time.”
5:26 - Explaining the Phrase
- That phrase “making the best use of” in the ESV is actually just one word.
- Some translations render is simply “redeeming.” And that is a good translation because it carries the idea of buying, especially buying back or buying out.
- Paul uses the same term in Galatians 3:13 when he writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us….” And he uses it similarly to our passage in reference to time in Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
- Making the most of the time is the opposite of delaying, it is taking full advantage of every opportunity.
10:48 - Edwards on The Preciousness of Time
- American Puritan Jonathan Edwards addresses this important issue in his 1734 sermon “on the preciousness of time and the importance of redeeming it”.
- In it, he gives four reasons why time is precious.
13:05 - First, time is precious because eternity depends on it.
14:20 - Second, time is precious because it is very short.
17:02 - Third, time is precious because we do not know how much we have.
22:40 - Fourth, time is precious because once it’s gone it’s gone.
24:40 - Application
Links
- 4 Reasons Time is Precious - Jonathan Edwards
- Jonathan Edwards - The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It - PDF
Ever dreamed of retiring early? How about retiring at 25 or 30? In this episode, we talk about a movement that is inspiring young people to be very productive now, so they can be far less productive later.
The financial independence, retire early movement, or FIRE for short, has continued to gain traction among millennials, including some believers. But how should Christians think about this? Is financial independence a worthy pursuit? And most importantly, what does the Bible have to say about it?
1:15 - Thank You
- Thank you to everyone who has listened, left a kind note, or given a review!
1:37 - Defining FIRE
- FIRE is an acronym which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Sometimes it’s just called FI and It goes by other names as well, but it’s a lifestyle movement that has popped-up among millennials with the goal of doing just that—achieving financial independence (i.e. no job) and retiring early (as in, REALLY early, like late 20’s early 30’s).
- How it's possible to save up enough money to retire young.
- It's self-imposed frugality for the sake of gaining freedom from working a job.
- Related but not the same as the concept of generating "passive income" to achieve similar freedom.
6:05 - The Popularity of FIRE
- Most popular among the millenial generation.
- The /r/financialindependence subreddit has 628,000+ members.
- People interested in FIRE are typically also interested in productivity.
- Several major books have stoked this movement, Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin.
- Millennials who lived through The Great Recession have a distrust in the market and in traditional career paths, thus have sought alternatives.
- The internet has helped disseminate information about this alternative lifestyle, and social media culture has turned people who have done it into Instagram and YouTube celebrities.
9:49 - My Flirtations with FIRE
- My wife and I stumbled into FIRE by accident while living in an RV for 4 years in Los Angeles.
- We weren't trying to become financially independent, but living this way meant we were saving most of our monthly income and we were technically doing all of the things required to become financially independent if we just kept going.
11:56 - Why We Didn't Pursue FIRE, and What the Bible Says About It
- Nothing wrong with not working a 9–5 job as long as providing for one's own household and serving the Lord with their lives.
- There are good aspects to the FIRE movement.
16:12 - What Would You Say to a Christian Pursuing FIRE?
- What about someone seeking early retirement from the need to work for money so they can devote themselves to ministry?
- The motive is the issue. Why are you really doing this?
- Seeking financial independence may actually be a love of money issue.
19:11 - The Parable of the Rich Fool
- Parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12:13–21.
- The Rich Fool was someone who was trying to become financially independent and retire early, and he is presented as a negative example. Why?
24:37 - The Danger of Covetousness
- The Rich Fool's sin was being rich toward himself and not toward God. Ultimately, it was an issue of covetousness, which is idolatry.
- The sin of covetousness (Exodus 20:17).
- Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5–6; Ephesians 5:5).
28:33 - We Need to Have a Bigger Savings Goal
- We need to have heaven as our goal, not the goal of creating a temporary heaven on earth for ourselves.
- Our lives are a stewardship. We must be rich toward God with all of it: time, money, effort, everything.
- If you pursue financial independence for ministry purposes, be careful that you don't become deceived by the lies of money.
Links
- 7 Things You Can Learn From The 'FIRE' Early Retirement Movement - Huffington Post
- Financial Independence subreddit
- More on Vicki Robin, the Godmother of FIRE
- More on our time living in an RV - What Living in an RV Taught Me About Minimalism & Contentment
- Article I wrote for The Master's Seminary Blog on the deceitfulness of riches - 3 Lies Money Tells
- This Week on the Redeeming Productivity Blog - 10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling
Ever dreamed of retiring early? How about retiring at 25 or 30? In this episode, we talk about a movement that is inspiring young people to be very productive now, so they can be far less productive later.
The financial independence, retire early movement, or FIRE for short, has continued to gain traction among millennials, including some believers. But how should Christians think about this? Is financial independence a worthy pursuit? And most importantly, what does the Bible have to say about it?
1:15 - Thank You
- Thank you to everyone who has listened, left a kind note, or given a review!
1:37 - Defining FIRE
- FIRE is an acronym which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Sometimes it’s just called FI and It goes by other names as well, but it’s a lifestyle movement that has popped-up among millennials with the goal of doing just that—achieving financial independence (i.e. no job) and retiring early (as in, REALLY early, like late 20’s early 30’s).
- How it's possible to save up enough money to retire young.
- It's self-imposed frugality for the sake of gaining freedom from working a job.
- Related but not the same as the concept of generating "passive income" to achieve similar freedom.
6:05 - The Popularity of FIRE
- Most popular among the millenial generation.
- The /r/financialindependence subreddit has 628,000+ members.
- People interested in FIRE are typically also interested in productivity.
- Several major books have stoked this movement, Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin.
- Millennials who lived through The Great Recession have a distrust in the market and in traditional career paths, thus have sought alternatives.
- The internet has helped disseminate information about this alternative lifestyle, and social media culture has turned people who have done it into Instagram and YouTube celebrities.
9:49 - My Flirtations with FIRE
- My wife and I stumbled into FIRE by accident while living in an RV for 4 years in Los Angeles.
- We weren't trying to become financially independent, but living this way meant we were saving most of our monthly income and we were technically doing all of the things required to become financially independent if we just kept going.
11:56 - Why We Didn't Pursue FIRE, and What the Bible Says About It
- Nothing wrong with not working a 9–5 job as long as providing for one's own household and serving the Lord with their lives.
- There are good aspects to the FIRE movement.
16:12 - What Would You Say to a Christian Pursuing FIRE?
- What about someone seeking early retirement from the need to work for money so they can devote themselves to ministry?
- The motive is the issue. Why are you really doing this?
- Seeking financial independence may actually be a love of money issue.
19:11 - The Parable of the Rich Fool
- Parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12:13–21.
- The Rich Fool was someone who was trying to become financially independent and retire early, and he is presented as a negative example. Why?
24:37 - The Danger of Covetousness
- The Rich Fool's sin was being rich toward himself and not toward God. Ultimately, it was an issue of covetousness, which is idolatry.
- The sin of covetousness (Exodus 20:17).
- Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5–6; Ephesians 5:5).
28:33 - We Need to Have a Bigger Savings Goal
- We need to have heaven as our goal, not the goal of creating a temporary heaven on earth for ourselves.
- Our lives are a stewardship. We must be rich toward God with all of it: time, money, effort, everything.
- If you pursue financial independence for ministry purposes, be careful that you don't become deceived by the lies of money.
Links
- 7 Things You Can Learn From The 'FIRE' Early Retirement Movement - Huffington Post
- Financial Independence subreddit
- More on Vicki Robin, the Godmother of FIRE
- More on our time living in an RV - What Living in an RV Taught Me About Minimalism & Contentment
- Article I wrote for The Master's Seminary Blog on the deceitfulness of riches - 3 Lies Money Tells
- This Week on the Redeeming Productivity Blog - 10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling
In this episode, we talk about why the foundation for a Christian's approach to getting more done is distinctly different from the world's. And why that means we must take greater care in how we approach the secular productivity advice we read and listen to.
1:50 - Introducing why we need a distinctly Christian approach to productivity
- Why this is different than "Christianizing" secular productivity
- There is a unique theology to a Christian's understanding of productivity
- It is dangerous for believers to simply take whatever the world teaches on productivity.
- These books have helpful advice and guidance, but must be approached with discernment.
5:30 - Every philosophy of productivity has a theology
- Most productivity books and podcasts eventually leave the practical and begin to tread on religious themes—why we are here, the nature of man, the goal of life, etc.
11:08 - Examples of secular productivity books presenting religious themes
- Quotes from The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, and more.
20:30 - What makes these things dangerous, and how it relates to the sufficiency of Scripture
- If we don't listen carefully, we inadvertently imbibe unbiblical theologies and build our life on them.
- Explanation of the sufficiency of Scripture and how that assures us of a better foundation for our productivity as Christians.
25:20 - Examples of Scripture speaking directly to the issue of productivity
- The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28),
- The mandate to work heartily unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)
- To not waste time (Ephesians 5:15–17)
- To live with self-control (Titus 2:12)
- The entire book of Proverbs and its emphasis on wisdom.
- All of these point to not just the possibility, but to the necessity, of a truly Christian productivity.
26:55 - Christian productivity is only for Christians and an explanation of what it means to be a Christian
- Christian productivity doesn't work for everyone, only for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ
- Change in the Christian life is the work of God, but that change is accomplished through the means of diligent effort
- R.C. Sproul quote, "… we think that because we’re…Christian…we do not have to be concerned about productivity. On the contrary, our calling as Christians is the highest calling there is, and the idea of being productive is not the invention of capitalism, it is the mandate of Christ.” (R.C. Sproul, John, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary, 286)
Links
- This episode was based in part upon my article Why We Need a Distinctly Christian Productivity, which was itself based on material I used for my course on Stewardship & Productivity
- On the Mormon roots of 7 Habits for Highly Effective People - A Closer Look at Stephen Covey and His 7 Habits
- Books mentioned on today's episode: The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, Atomic Habits, Deep Work.
In this episode, we talk about why the foundation for a Christian's approach to getting more done is distinctly different from the world's. And why that means we must take greater care in how we approach the secular productivity advice we read and listen to.
1:50 - Introducing why we need a distinctly Christian approach to productivity
- Why this is different than "Christianizing" secular productivity
- There is a unique theology to a Christian's understanding of productivity
- It is dangerous for believers to simply take whatever the world teaches on productivity.
- These books have helpful advice and guidance, but must be approached with discernment.
5:30 - Every philosophy of productivity has a theology
- Most productivity books and podcasts eventually leave the practical and begin to tread on religious themes—why we are here, the nature of man, the goal of life, etc.
11:08 - Examples of secular productivity books presenting religious themes
- Quotes from The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, and more.
20:30 - What makes these things dangerous, and how it relates to the sufficiency of Scripture
- If we don't listen carefully, we inadvertently imbibe unbiblical theologies and build our life on them.
- Explanation of the sufficiency of Scripture and how that assures us of a better foundation for our productivity as Christians.
25:20 - Examples of Scripture speaking directly to the issue of productivity
- The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28),
- The mandate to work heartily unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)
- To not waste time (Ephesians 5:15–17)
- To live with self-control (Titus 2:12)
- The entire book of Proverbs and its emphasis on wisdom.
- All of these point to not just the possibility, but to the necessity, of a truly Christian productivity.
26:55 - Christian productivity is only for Christians and an explanation of what it means to be a Christian
- Christian productivity doesn't work for everyone, only for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ
- Change in the Christian life is the work of God, but that change is accomplished through the means of diligent effort
- R.C. Sproul quote, "… we think that because we’re…Christian…we do not have to be concerned about productivity. On the contrary, our calling as Christians is the highest calling there is, and the idea of being productive is not the invention of capitalism, it is the mandate of Christ.” (R.C. Sproul, John, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary, 286)
Links
- This episode was based in part upon my article Why We Need a Distinctly Christian Productivity, which was itself based on material I used for my course on Stewardship & Productivity
- On the Mormon roots of 7 Habits for Highly Effective People - A Closer Look at Stephen Covey and His 7 Habits
- Books mentioned on today's episode: The War of Art, The Compound Effect, The Power of Habit, Atomic Habits, Deep Work.
In this episode, we talk about how what it looks like to email like a Christian and how personal efficiency is not necessarily at odds with having a good witness in the workplace.
2:41 - Discuss article on "Emailing Like a Boss"
- How the author says her life was changed by responding to emails with shorter answers because it made her more responsive, and let fewer emails slip through the cracks.
- The author was inspired by seeing emails from top CEOs and politicians when they became public after high-profile email hacks.
- Mark Cuban is known for this practice.
- Like to article from BuzzFeed (warning: Language).
7:30 - Discussing the merits of this terse approach to email
- Allows you to get more emails answered.
- But there is a trade-off in personal warmth.
- Is this practice a good idea for Christians in the workplace?
8:30 - Emailing like a Christian—not a CEO
- The Bible has a lot to say about how believers communicate:
- Quoted Matt. 15:11; 12:34.
- Regardless of the medium through which Christians communicate, our communication should be markedly Christian.
- Explained Colossians 4:5–6.
- The way in which you email is part of your Christian witness in the workplace.
16:41 - Personal efficiency in email is not at odds with loving people in our communication
- Often, the most caring thing you can do with email is get back to someone right away, even if that means a shorter, more terse response.
- Long-winded emails do not equal better emails.
20:12 - The principles behind emailing like a Christian
- Be Responsive
- Be Clear
- Be Brief
- Be Kind
24:05 - Some examples of emailing like a Christian
29:26 - Conclusion
- Personal efficiency is not at odds with painting a good Christian witness. Often it can assist in that. So when it comes to emailing like a Christian the goal is simple:
- I want to have a good witness for Christ, by being a person who communicates well through email.
- That means I need to respond in a reasonable time frame. And it means I need to make sure my emails, like all my speech, are always gracious, seasoned with salt.
Links
- BuzzFeedNew article referenced: I Tried Emailing Like A CEO And Quite Frankly, It Made My Life Better
- On the blog this week: More information about this podcast
- Another blog post on email - How to Handle Ministry Email Overload
- Reagan's Stewardship & Productivity Course at The Institute for Church Leadership
In this episode, we talk about how what it looks like to email like a Christian and how personal efficiency is not necessarily at odds with having a good witness in the workplace.
2:41 - Discuss article on "Emailing Like a Boss"
- How the author says her life was changed by responding to emails with shorter answers because it made her more responsive, and let fewer emails slip through the cracks.
- The author was inspired by seeing emails from top CEOs and politicians when they became public after high-profile email hacks.
- Mark Cuban is known for this practice.
- Like to article from BuzzFeed (warning: Language).
7:30 - Discussing the merits of this terse approach to email
- Allows you to get more emails answered.
- But there is a trade-off in personal warmth.
- Is this practice a good idea for Christians in the workplace?
8:30 - Emailing like a Christian—not a CEO
- The Bible has a lot to say about how believers communicate:
- Quoted Matt. 15:11; 12:34.
- Regardless of the medium through which Christians communicate, our communication should be markedly Christian.
- Explained Colossians 4:5–6.
- The way in which you email is part of your Christian witness in the workplace.
16:41 - Personal efficiency in email is not at odds with loving people in our communication
- Often, the most caring thing you can do with email is get back to someone right away, even if that means a shorter, more terse response.
- Long-winded emails do not equal better emails.
20:12 - The principles behind emailing like a Christian
- Be Responsive
- Be Clear
- Be Brief
- Be Kind
24:05 - Some examples of emailing like a Christian
29:26 - Conclusion
- Personal efficiency is not at odds with painting a good Christian witness. Often it can assist in that. So when it comes to emailing like a Christian the goal is simple:
- I want to have a good witness for Christ, by being a person who communicates well through email.
- That means I need to respond in a reasonable time frame. And it means I need to make sure my emails, like all my speech, are always gracious, seasoned with salt.
Links
- BuzzFeedNew article referenced: I Tried Emailing Like A CEO And Quite Frankly, It Made My Life Better
- On the blog this week: More information about this podcast
- Another blog post on email - How to Handle Ministry Email Overload
- Reagan's Stewardship & Productivity Course at The Institute for Church Leadership
In this first episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show, Reagan introduces what the show and blog are all about, tells a little bit about him, then the bulk of the program is about tips for seminary students to be successful in their studies while staying close to the Lord.
1:04 - What Redeeming Productivity is all about
- A Christian approach to productivity
- Started as a blog
- Approaches the topic with discernment and a desire to focus on glorifying God with one's life
2:06 - About the host, Reagan Rose
- Director of Digital Platforms at Grace to You, graduate of The Master's Seminary
- From gamer to God-glorifier, why he's interested in the topic of productivity
- The theological foundation for productivity and why secular approaches fall short
6:50 - 10 Tips for Success in Seminary
Goes through the ten tips one-by-one.
Links
- 10 Tips for Success in Seminary - Blog Article - Redeeming Productivity
- Note-taking software - Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Ulysses App
- How to Stay Christian in Seminary by David Matthis
- Stewardship & Productivity Course - by Reagan Rose - from The Institute for Church Leadership (Use promo code RedeemingProd for $20 off).
- The Master’s Seminary
- Grace to You
In this first episode of the Redeeming Productivity Show, Reagan introduces what the show and blog are all about, tells a little bit about him, then the bulk of the program is about tips for seminary students to be successful in their studies while staying close to the Lord.
1:04 - What Redeeming Productivity is all about
- A Christian approach to productivity
- Started as a blog
- Approaches the topic with discernment and a desire to focus on glorifying God with one's life
2:06 - About the host, Reagan Rose
- Director of Digital Platforms at Grace to You, graduate of The Master's Seminary
- From gamer to God-glorifier, why he's interested in the topic of productivity
- The theological foundation for productivity and why secular approaches fall short
6:50 - 10 Tips for Success in Seminary
Goes through the ten tips one-by-one.
Links
- 10 Tips for Success in Seminary - Blog Article - Redeeming Productivity
- Note-taking software - Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Ulysses App
- How to Stay Christian in Seminary by David Matthis
- Stewardship & Productivity Course - by Reagan Rose - from The Institute for Church Leadership (Use promo code RedeemingProd for $20 off).
- The Master’s Seminary
- Grace to You