I miss my ipod

It has now been 3 ipod-less weeks. Surely 21 days is not long to be without portable music, is it? For me the answer is "YES, it is too long." Three weeks have seemed like 3 years without my ipod. An old, off-brand car charger fried my 8GB ipod nano. I thought I could go without...but I miss it so!

It isn't the music or podcasts I miss the most. I miss the simplicity of the ipod design. With one button on the front and a touch wheel, the music and videos were so easy to access. All I had to do was connect my ipod to the computer and updated podcasts and new albums would automatically download. Apple took a complex piece of technology that performs different functions for millions of people who use it in many different ways and made it all simple. The reason I like the ipod and apple products in general is the simple design. No I am not a mac snob, I just know what works ;) Apple has taken complex ideas and made them simple - and they are creating quite a following of loyal users. Apple has shown that simplicity works.

How simple is your ministry? How many programs and meetings do you have? If you are like me, the answer is "too many!" Sometimes the "simple" way is the best way. How many Bible studies, evening services, prayer meetings, team/committee meetings does a church need? How effective are the 38 different ministries that all beg for the time, treasure, and talent of the church? Perhaps we should simplfy ministry.

What ideas do you have to make ministry a little more simple?

Time is tickin' away

One of the first CD's I owned was DC Talk's "Free at Last" album. Do you remember that song "Time is tickin' away"? By asking you this question I have just proved how old I am or how young I am depending on who is reading this. 

Lately it seems like time has been flying by for me. It seems as though everywhere I turn time has slipped out of my fingers. I sit down at my desk and work hard on what I have prioritized as important and the next thing I know it is time to go home. Fingers flying on the keyboard, ears listening to conversations, mouth speaking (hopefully not too much) at planning meetings, and my brain whizzing along at top speed - Life is busy, and I like it. 

In the midst of this whirlwind beginning, I am reminded of the importance of solitude. The necessity to take time and be alone. I read about when Jesus would go off by himself and pray and think "I know HE had more to do than I do and He made time to be alone." In a world filled with mobile email, iphones, computers, TV and car radios, it is easy to lose quiet time alone with God. We are VERY connected with other people in 2008. Has our connection with God grown as strong as our increasing connection with those people in our email contact list? Even if we make time to spend with God, our brains may be still be spinning with our daily list of tasks. In this early time in a new ministry, I am encouraged to take a step back and spend time in solitude. 

What about you, do you find your time ticking away? What do you do to try and keep a balanced spiritual life with respect to time?