"Background noise of a classroom and school bell ringing
Teacher: Welcome to archery class! For this lesson you will need your bow, some arrows, and a blindfold. First set up the target 50 feet away. Next pick up your bow and arrow. Then have your partner apply the blindfold and spin you around. Finally, shoot the arrow directly into the bull’s eye. Any questions?
Grumble
Student: Um, mam, how do you expect us to hit a target that we can’t see?
You might think that archery teacher was very unwise. But perhaps you are shooting for a target you can’t see. If you have never clearly identified your goals and committed them to writing, then you too are shooting for a target you have never seen and your likelihood of achieving your goal is about as good as that of a blindfolded archer. Prayerfully, committing your time to specific written goals is one way to stay
sound of arrow striking
on target and to redeem the time.
"
"Baseball player and philosopher Yogi Berra said, “Always go to other peoples’ funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”
Yogi’s quote raises an important question. Who is going to be crying at your funeral? One Christian leader explained how he and his wife were once successful business people, their schedules filled with activity. But as they grew older they began to reevaluate where their lives were heading. They began to ask, the question, “Who will be crying at my funeral”.
From that point, they began to prioritize around that question. The results they claim saved their marriage and gave a new sense of meaning to their lives.
Stop and ask yourself that question as you plan your day. It doesn’t mean we won’t care for strangers, but it means identifying the key people God wants us to minister to, such as our spouse and children, and making sure we’re giving them the time they need first. Doing that will insure we redeem the time.
"
"In February 1878, the first telephone book was published in New Haven, Connecticut. It was one page long and had fifty names in it.
Phone books have certainly come a long way since then. Whether we need a plumber or a printer the first place many of us turn is the phone book. But the problem is we often don’t write down the information we receive in a way we can follow it up. The best way to shop using a phone book is to make notes directly in the phone book on the company’s ad. That way you have a record of which company you spoke to and exactly what they quoted. If you need the same service months later, you can go back to those same yellow pages, see your notes from the last time, and save time by knowing who to call.
Also, use your phone book when visiting another city to find a good Bible believing church to attend while in town, so you can redeem the time.
"
"A man noticed his neighbor hired out his yard work to a lawn care company. When the new crew arrived the neighbor overheard the foreman repeatedly yelling, “Green side up. Green side up!” Overcome with curiosity he finally asked the foreman what he was talking about. He replied, “We always start by laying new sod.”
Yard work is one of those areas where it sometimes pays to delegate. If you can’t afford to hire someone, at least consider investing in some tools that will allow you to get it done faster. Unless you just want to do it for exercise, a good used riding mower is generally a better investment than a new push mower of the same price, since the riding mower will allow you to get the job done faster. Electric or gas powered trimmers can pay for themselves in a short time if you do something profitable with the time they save.
Remember, less sod time and more God time will redeem the time.
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