Weekly Planning: What and Why

Weekly Planning: What and Why

One of the most helpful tools in my time management arsenal has been the weekly review or weekly planning. That is, taking a set amount of time with a prescribed list of actions that help me think through what needs to be done according to priority during the next week. Today and Friday, I will describe this process ““ from its background to its purpose, benefits, timing, problems, and details. Background I was first exposed to the idea of a structured time weekly planning after attending a Franklin Covey workshop on time management. As I look back and prior to what I do now, I did try to plan out my week each week. Out of necessity and from too many weeks of being frustrated that I was never accomplishing what was most important, I would generally try to come up with some sort of schedule. However, after going through Covey”™s approach to thinking through my various roles in life and being intentional about how I would act on those important roles in the next week, I began to become much more purposeful in my weekly planning. In the Covey seminar, we were asked to schedule a 20 minute time each week where we would review our personal mission statement, roles in life, and long-term goals. Based on these, I would put on my schedule and task list what I would do in the next week to enhance those roles and move my goals forward. Then came David Allen”™s Getting Things Done. Covey was good for me in thinking long-term. Allen”™s book was a gold mine for me thinking...
The Effective Use of the President’s Time – Part 3 Pastoral Reflections

The Effective Use of the President’s Time – Part 3 Pastoral Reflections

What should an ordinary pastor glean from how the President”™s office was organized and functioned? The pastorate is not a political machine like the White House, so many issues are simply inappropriate and unnecessary.  But I can find a number of helpful points to consider when thinking through how a pastor should think about how to make the best use of his time. A pastor can”™t run ministry on his own, but needs key and capable people to rely upon.  The biblical principle of eldership indicates that no one man should be directing the affairs of the church. Qualified and capable men who can collectively oversee the church”™s ministry are needed.  Ephesians 4:11-16 is a great picture of every part of the body doing its share, with pastors assuming one key role ““ that of equipping others to carry out the ministry. We need some regular (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) time to think, write, plan, pray, and rest.  Otherwise, a pastor”™s time will be reactive rather than proactive; he will lose focus on what is most important for the whole of the church because he is caught up in putting out immediate fires, and he will mentally and emotionally wear himself out from trying to keep up with every conceivable issue beyond his control. Trust and focus are key commodities in how we work with staff around us. Written plans culled and vetted by key staff as opposed to spur-of-the-moment conversations with innumerable personalities provides a more proactive, and thoughtful approach to advancing ministry objectives.  Ministry needs to be thought through. What are the biblical parameters and implications...
Transition Lessons

Transition Lessons

The Capranica has been silent for a number of weeks.  That’s not necessarily new, though August and September were banner months for readership.  As most will know, our family just moved from the desert of Southern California to tundra of the Kansas City, Missouri area.  We now live in Lee’s Summit, a suburb of Kansas City, and I recently became the Pastor-Teacher of Summit Woods Baptist Church.  Yesterday was my third week in the pulpit and I commence my fourth week in the office today.  The transition was quick and relatively easy as far as moves go.  The kids have adjusted well and we are all adjusting from the normal November 90″™s in Hemet to the normal 40 and 50 degree weather for Kansas City.  We’re bracing for the fun stuff on its way. Our transition was, as most issues in life are, a learning experience for us.  The lessons that come to mind are ones not necessarily attached to moving to a new ministry assignment – several are essential for the normality of life.  Yet, moving your family across the country (or further) is no normal time.  Though we are still in the beginning stages, here’s a few thoughts on what I have found helpful during the transition: 1.  Spend encouraging time with good friends before leaving. We made it a point to sped some wonderful fellowship time with people who were close to us before we left (though we were unable to see everyone).  We treasure every one of those conversations – every meal – every moment we had with such precious friends.  We had rich times...
Answering Hot Topics – Introduction

Answering Hot Topics – Introduction

Answering Hot Topics from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. Last Sunday, August 29, the elders of Summit Woods Baptist Church, publicly presented me as the candidate to become the church”™s next Senior Pastor.  Kelly and I are very excited to bring our family out to Lee”™s Summit next week in view of being called to serve at Summit Woods.  We have had a tremendously warm reception by a number of people from the church already (via Facebook, e-mail, and Twitter).  Our fellowship with the elders has been abundantly sweet. In our continued to dialogue since we were presented to the church, the elders and I thought it might be helpful to put out some more answers to questions that people have raised.  I”™m happy to do that.  So, for the next few days, you”™ll see some posts here at the blog to answer further questions people have posed.  I call them, “Answering Hot Topics.”  I”™ll hit the following topics: Are You a Calvinist? How Long Should A Sermon Be? An Affirmation About Alcohol Thoughts on Educating Our Children Stewardship and Local Church Giving I am sure there are many more questions that I could address.  If you have other topics, please feel free to e-mail them to me or leave a note in the comment section of this post.  If I don”™t answer them before our arrival in Lee”™s Summit next week, be sure to ask them of me in the public Q&A time, or come introduce yourself to me personally and put me on the spot. We look forward to serving you next...