Paul knows that we will drift towards finding our significance in what we know, not who we know. He knows that we will participate unwisely in culture, taking on its values, unless we have a greater strength and power, the strength and power of the Spirit of God. And what about our economy? What if we hit a depression and knowledge work becomes scarce? God promises the power and strength to endure any crisis. What if our discretionary income declines? We are promised strength and power to endure with joy. Why with joy? Because we know and obey the God who has the power and commitment to renew and restore the whole world. And because this God has used the power of his glory to rescue us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.

“Most people can comprehend well over 300 words per minute, but the average person speaks at a rate of 125 to 175 words per minute. All the while, we are thinking at ten times that speed.”
Dave Ping and Anne Clippard, Quick-to-Listen Leaders: Where life-changing ministry begins, p. 135.

No wonder good listening doesn’t come to us by default. We have to deliberately work at it. Take note: we cannot listen well in a hurry.

I appreciated these the most:

6. Stop watching television. It can be done. Really.
7. If you cannot do #6, then refuse to use the remote control. Remove its batteries. Remember John’s warning against the “lust of the eyes”–he’s not referring to pornography.
13. And resolve never to refer to yourself as a “busy pastor.”
14. Learn how to cook and then practice hospitality.
15. Make dining a ritual of conviviality. Eat slowly and tell stories (it helps to serve wine).
20. Read at least a book a week.
22. Read Pilgrim’s Progress once a year.
27. The earth is not your mother. Nevertheless, practice stewardship of the created order.
29. Be alert to the false promises and hidden temptations of the internet. Information is not a substitute for knowledge, which is not a substitute for wisdom.
30. Do not use a study Bible.
38. Catechize your children. If necessary, catechize yourself first.
40. Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification.
42. When you next relocate, plan it so that you can walk to work, and walk to shops, and walk to church.

Would you add any others?

Disagree or agree?

1. Have you ever been irritated because there was a queue at the supermarket till?
2. Do you regularly work thirty minutes a day longer than your contracted hours?
3. Do you check work emails and phone messages at home?
4. Has anyone ever said to you: ‘I didn’t want to trouble you because I know how busy you are’?
5. Do your family or friends complain about not getting time with you?
6. If tomorrow evening was unexpectedly freed up, would you use it to work or do a household chore?
7. Do you often feel tired during the day or do your find your neck and shoulders aching?
8. Do you often exceed the speed limit while driving?

If you mainly answered ‘yes’ then maybe you have a busyness problem.

• Over a third of people agree that ‘in the evenings I am so tired I just fall asleep on the sofa’ (Jones, 2003).
• One in five men has visited the doctor with work-related stress.
• Sixty percent of us feel our workloads are sometimes out of [our] control. One in five feel this way most of the time.

The concept we’re dealing with here comes from Dr. Richard A. Swenson’s book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives

Kari has some helpful introductory posts on margin and how we can restore wholeness and rhythm to our overrun lives.

• Got Margin?
• Get Marginalized!
  
• LiveDifferent Challenge (13): Get Marginalized (Emotional Energy)
• LiveDifferent Challenge (14): Get Marginalized (Physical Energy)