"11 blockbuster films": Pixar, Google, and Humility
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 09:15AM Despite an unbroken string of 11 blockbuster films, Catmull regularly says, "Success hides problems." It's an insight Google should acknowledge and act on. Google's leadership admirably tolerates failure on side-projects (and big projects as well), but what Pixar has that Google does not is a culture where the fear of complacency is a strong motivator, where new problems are identified, discussed, and addressed openly and honestly, all of which requires humility.
Perfection Addiction
Monday, August 9, 2010 at 09:52PM The pursuit of perfection is what most of us are after. It’s a noble pursuit. However, it can be an addicting one as well. You can really equate it to a drug addict or alcoholic in some ways. I found myself constantly reading. Finishing one book and picking up the next. Constantly thinking about how to achieve this or to achieve that. At the end of the day, this pursuit of perfection is all about a future state. I found it very difficult to enjoy what was happening in the now.
Very insightful and encouraging post about productivity.
Productivity in Commentary, Links 8 Lessons I Must Remember: Part 3
Monday, August 9, 2010 at 09:15PM 
This one is hard. (I've taught fairly extensively on this, though I don't know if the most detailed message ever made it online. I was not at Savior both times I taught it from Philippians 4:4f). It may sound like I'm hard on myself, but I try to keep an eye on my own sense of blessedness and joy. These are a strong indicator of worshipfulness and Christ-centeredness. When circumstances dictate, not just my emotions, but my perspective then I know that my sense of inner joy is less. . .
8 Lessons in Commentary 8 Lessons I Must Remember: Part 2
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 09:15AM
4. Humility is the essential element needed for true inward transformation to take place.
I have settled on a definition of humility as consistent awareness of utter dependence upon God’s empowering grace, built upon knowledge of complete spiritual poverty (i.e. neediness). It involves a recognition of our own sinfulness, but not in the sense that we try to exaggerate our claim to be more wicked than others. Rather, we recognize that we are like all others, entirely fallen and utterly helpless apart from Christ's empowering work. This leads to a posture of dependence in our every breath in the Christian life.
The reason I say “essential conviction” is that without it none of. . .
8 Lessons in Commentary New York Times on Ministry Burnout
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 04:00PM With less than 2 weeks left on my Sabbatical this Article from the NYT was a helpful reminder about why I took a break in the first place. The focus in the first half of the article is largely on the demands people set on clergy. At SaviorCC this has never really been an issue, though the demands of my time have become increasingly difficult to manage over the past year. For me, what seemed to be an oncoming burnout developed from a combination of my church work and heavy teaching load. Heavy for me anyway.
One quote started to approach a significant frustration that I have been more and more aware of:
Larger social trends, like the aging and shrinking of congregations, the dwindling availability of volunteers. . .
A Prayer
Yep.
-From Tozer's, "The Pursuit of God"