todd nelson

Before you head off into your weekend, here are three things that I have read and been thinking about this week. Hope they are as helpful and challenging to you as they have been for me.

Have a great weekend!

#1

The 80/20 Principle asserts that a minority of causes, inputs, or effort usually lead to a majority of the results, outputs, or rewards. Taken literally, this means that, for example, 80 percent of what you achieve in your job comes from 20 percent of the time spent.

The 80/20 Principle, Third Edition: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch.

What if we stopped wearing ourselves out trying to do everything? Instead, what if we took some time to focus on the handful of things that are moving the needle? It takes a lot of courage to stop stuff especially when it may be someone’s “favorite” thing. It takes discernment. It may even take input from others to know what 20% of your effort is making 80% of the impact. 

Moment of confession…I get paralyzed thinking about the 20% of what I do that makes 80% of the impact. I fear that what is making the most impact will not be the thing that I love to do. 

I feel better getting that off my chest!

#2

The one who presides over the people ought to understand before he begins that he is the servant of many. And let him not disdain this role; I repeat, let him not disdain to be the servant of many, because the Lord of lords did not disdain to serve us…. And the advice and warning I’m giving, I am also afraid of myself!

Augustine

Simon Sinek said it this way, “Leaders eat last.” From the Christian perspective, only those willing to serve others are qualified to lead.

#3

William H. Petersen, the founder of the Advent Project, has written, “While there is scant hope of changing the culture around us, the Church need not be a fellow traveler. The call is for the Church to reclaim for the sake of its own life and mission Advent’s focus on the reign of God and, in so doing, to hone once again the counter-cultural edge of the Gospel at the very beginning of the liturgical year.”

Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge

Yes, Advent is on my mind, and with it, reclaiming the heart of Advent has been on my heart. What if we acknowledged that the kingdom of God is already a reality to be embraced not earned? The world tells us that “achieving” brings purpose. God tells us that grace alone is the door to the kingdom. With that in mind, embracing grace would be one of the most counter-cultural things the church could do.