DAVID'S COACHING TIPS

This is the process David Allen goes through in his weekly review. The weekly review is the primary application of GTD, or Getting Things Done.

I'm posting this for myself. If anyone else benefits, great. I need a systematic reminder of the things how to have, as he says, stress-free productivity.

1. Collect Loose Papers and Materials
2. Get "IN" to Zero
3. Empty Your Head
4. Review Action Lists
5. Review Previous Calendar Data
6. Review Upcoming Calendar
7. Review "Waiting For" List
8. Review Project (and Larger Outcome) Lists
9. Review Any Relevant Checklists
10. Review Someday/Maybe List
11. Be Creative & Courageous

Weaknesses

O Spirit of God,
Help my infirmities;
When I am pressed down with a load of sorrow,
perplexed and knowing not what to do,
slandered and persecuted,
made to feel the weight of the cross,
help me, I pray thee.

If thou seest in me
any wrong thing encouraged,
any evil desire cherished,
any delight that is not thy delight,
any habit that grieves thee,
any nest of sin in my heart,
then grant me the kiss of thy forgiveness,
and teach my feet to walk the way of thy commandments.

Deliver me from carking care,
and make me a happy, holy person;
Help me to walk the separated life with firm and brave step,
and to wrestle successfully against weakness;
Teach me to laud, adore, and magnify thee,
with the music of heaven,
And make me a perfume of praiseful gratitude to thee.

I do not crouch at thy feet as a slave before a tyrant,
but exult before thee as a son with a father.

Give me power to live as thy child in all my actions,
and to exercise sonship by conquering self.

Preserve me from the intoxication that comes of prosperity;
Sober me when I am glad with a joy that comes not from thee.
Lead me safely on to the eternal kingdom,
not asking whether the road be rough or smooth.
I request only to see the face of him I love,
to be content with bread to eat,
with raiment to put on,
if I can be brought to thy house in peace.

-- The Valley of Vision, Banner of Truth.

Contentment

I am not sure I'll use this in my message on Sunday, but loved it when I found it. I hope it reminds you to make the most of today.

It was Spring, but it was Summer I wanted:
The warm days and the great outdoors.

It was Summer, but it was Fall I wanted:
The colorful leaves and the cool, dry air.

It was Fall, but it was Winter I wanted:
The beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was Winter, but it was Spring I wanted:
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, and it was adulthood I wanted:
The freedom and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted:
To be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted:
The youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle-aged I wanted:
The presence of mind without limitatins.

My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.

-- Quoted by Chuck Swindoll, (Cited in Ryken, Exodus. P. 674).

Congratulations!

How many of you read through the New Testament in 2009 like I did? I'd love to hear from you about some of the things you got out of it.

Any idea what you'll do next year? Please let me know.

Revelation 22

The scene around the throne and of the river is so peaceful; my soul is refreshed reading it. We are supposed to remember the opening of the Bible. A garden, a river, a tree of life and the magnificent presence of God remind us of Eden. All is now as God intended it to be in the beginning.

We are told these things will happen quickly (Rev. 22:6-7). Jesus says he will come soon (Rev. 22:20).

These words are faithful and true. If you keep them you'll be blessed (Rev. 22:7).

Revelation 21

This chapter opens with New Heaven and New Earth. As much as, "In the Beginning," this sentence changes everything. How could so many of the promises, allusions, and hopes be tied together in one sentence. Beautiful.

The beauty of the new Jerusalem is beyond description. The glory of it radiates from and reflects the Lamb. It is HIS city.

The language of God's covenants echoes throughout. "I will be their God. They will be my people."

Revelation 20

I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know you want your name written in the book of life! Everyone who does not have their name written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire . . . forever. Get your name in that book!

Revelation 19

A huge crowd sings Alleluia! The wedding supper is beginning. But all the conflict is not over.

A rider on a white horse assembles an army for the quickest, most decisive battle in history. They fought. The beast and false prophet were seized and thrown into the lake of fire and everyone else was killed by a stroke of the sword wielded by the one on the white horse. No contest!

The rider on the horse had a name known only to him (Rev. 19:12). Then we're told he is called the Word of God (Rev. 19:13). And finally, King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). These names tell us everything we need to know about him.

Merry Christmas

I hope and pray you have a blessed and happy Christmas. May the hope of the Savior give you every reason to rejoice.

Revelation 18

The fall of the great city is sudden and complete. There are no workers, no children and no workers left. The smoke of her destruction ascends to heaven for all to see.

Three groups mourn over her, all related to their economic loss:

• Kings, with whom she was adulterous.
• Merchants, whom she had made rich.
• Sailors.

They watch from a distance because of her torment. The export list of this city is long and impressive.

Revelation 17

This chapter seems to obscure more than it reveals. He identifies a harlot, horns, heads, beasts and yet for centuries no one has been able to positively identify them -- but, not for a lack of trying.

Everything is now out of control. A harlot riding on a scarlet beast is defiling the nations with her immorality. This seems like one more powerful player lined up to oppose God. She is drunk with the blood of the martyrs (Rev. 17:6), not good. Add to that the sequence of kings that oppose God, Not good either.

They make war with the Lamb, and he conquers them. And, (Rev. 17:17), God puts in their hearts to carry out his purpose. Without their knowing, God directs their opposition toward his own goal. Wow! God is amazing and sovereign to the end.

Revelation 16

The seven bowls are full of the wrath of God. They are each in its own way unspeakably horrible, though the hail may be the worst.

Three times this chapter says something like, "They blasphemed God because of the plagues, but they did not repent." People who receive the wrath of God receive it because they would rather receive it than to acknowledge God as God (i.e., repent)! Wrath does not fall upon innocent people. Even the fierce wrath of God does not bring about humility and repentance.

Sprinkled throughout this futuristic terror are reminders to be ready, to watch, to stay dressed. Don't pretend God's wrath will never happen. Be prepared.

Revelation 15

This chapter is a pause in the judgment. Seven angels with seven plagues are introduced. They will complete the judgment.

Those who overcome the beast and his image and his number stood on the sea. Overcoming the beast I understand, overcoming his number and his name must speak to the completeness of their rejection of and victory over the beast. You overcome the image by not worshiping it and overcome the number by refusing it.

They sung the song of Moses and the lamb. It is not the song of Exodus 15, though both songs reflect God's great victory!

Revelation 14

As soon as the number of the beast is revealed we see the lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 worshipers who learn a new song. They follow the lamb wherever he leads. They are blameless. Are they the same 144,000 as in Revelation 7:4?

Three angels proclaim messages. The first proclaims an eternal gospel for every tribe, tongue, people and nation. That is a recurring phrase throughout Revelation.

• Message one: Fear God and bring him glory.
• Message two: Babylon the great has fallen.
• Message three: Those who accepted the mark of the beast and worshiped his image must face God's wrath. This also a call for the perseverance of the saints (Rev. 14:12).

Interesting summary of the angels' message, "Their works follow after them." (Rev. 14:13).

Then two angels thrust their sickles into the earth and harvest. They harvest to place clusters in the wine press of God's wrath -- devastating judgment.

Revelation 13

The most striking thing about this chapter is the use of the verb, "It has been given" or "it was given." A leopard-like, bear-like, lion-like beast arises from the sea. He deceives and frightens the whole world, yet he only has power that he 'has been given.'

He rules over every tribe, tongue, nation and people. This is one more clear indication of his direct competition with the Lamb.

Another beast arises from the land and deceived people for 42 months. He made an image of the first beast that came alive and was worshiped. Everyone was forced to get his mark, 666.

Revelation 12

Here is a Christmas story for you. It really does bear a great resemblance to the first advent. This seems to be a summary of Satan's whole-scale opposition to Jesus! The description of the beast in Revelation 12:9-10 gives some indication of his opposition both to God and to those who follow Jesus (Rev. 12:17).

I love Revelation 12:11. They overcome by him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. Allegience to and faith in Jesus is the way to overcome. If they didn't love their lives even to death, what did they love? They loved the lamb. They overcame because they loved the lamb!

Revelation 11

John was to measure the temple and discovered two witnesses with unusual powers testifying to the true God. The beast arose from the abyss and killed them. The whole world rejoiced. Their bodies were on display for three and a half days, then they rose to heaven.

A huge earthquake killed 7,000 and those who remained glorified God. I don't expect that would happen today. If a devastating earthquake killed many, the rest wouldn't respond in worship.

Then the seventh trumpet finally blows. This, too, resulted in worship.

Revelation 10

One powerful, enormous angel appears from heaven with a tiny, opened scroll. His appearance and voice are terrifying. He has one foot on land and the other on the sea, yet John can reach out and take a book from him. Interesting perspective. This angel vowed before God, "There is no more time!"

Eating the scroll, or acting, replaced writing. The voice of seven thunders told him he would speak or prophesy, not read from notes he wrote.

This appears to be a buildup for the 7th trumpet. The end is drawing nearer.

Revelation 9

This is the worst destruction so far. Demons are loosed from the abyss super-charged to destroy. They themselves are indestructible. They appear to be giant insects from hell -- literally!

One third of the people are killed. Those who remain wish they could die but can't. Even then they do not repent. Murder, witchcraft, sexual immorality and thievery are the predominant sins. The only familiar description is the one of idols, so frequent in the Old Testament.

This chapter contains no worship, no singing, no praise -- just destruction, full of fear and pain.

Revelation 8

Heaven is silent for a half an hour. That's curious. One half hour seems like nothing next to 42 months or other measurements of time in this book. Yet, to make note of one particular half hour seems important.

Seven angels prepare to sound seven trumpets and anoth3r angel emerges with a golden censer. The smoke from the censer centralizes prayers of the saints. What follows, in some way derives from those prayers. Were the saints praying for judgment to fall on people?

As the trumpets blow, one third of things are destroyed by catastrophes of various sizes. I cannot help but wonder what is going on here. What would a mixture of hail, fire and blood by like? One great star takes out one third of the rivers and springs?

A final eagle announces woes on everyone living on the earth. Yikes!