I am an Offering | Living a Life of Worship

Thankful That I’m Still Alive and Not Hungry

Ryan Egan — November 26, 2008 — Leave a comment

I’ve been thinking. I’ve been thinking that I’m obviously behind on blogging. I’ve been thinking that I’m not devoting as much time into volunteer worship ministry that I’d like to. I’ve been thinking that I have this and that and the other thing to do.

But then I realized a few things. I’m not hiding in a basement because of what I believe. I’ve never gone to bed hungry because I don’t have enough food to eat. Even though I’m praying that I find a full time job soon, I have peace because my family wife has been smart with our finances and we have enough security that we don’t need to freak out…yet. (I’ll let you know in a few weeks if we need to 🙂

Do you realize the amazing blessings that you have in your life? Do you thank God for them or take them for granted as I have been?

Worship Him with your gratitude today, tomorrow and always.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

In How to be an Offering

Training is Consuming

Ryan Egan — November 24, 2008 — 2 Comments

Hello all!

Well, last week and this week have left me with much training to do as I leave my current position. I have rarely had time to come up and breathe, let alone blog or even catch up on reading all of the wonderful blogs that are sitting in my reader accumulating “new article” notices.

Please pray for me as I continue to make this transition. I also have a meeting with one of the partners of one of our city’s advertising agencies tomorrow – could be very beneficial. Until later, keep doing whatever it is you’re doing, keep writing whatever it is you’re writing, and I’ll try to get back as soon as I can.

In Music, Training

Some Updates – and Check out Joel Klampert’s New Home

Ryan Egan — November 6, 2008 — 6 Comments

Hey all – still trying to catch my breath in the midst of the job search. I have some potentially good news, but I’m still waiting. That seems to be the story of my life lately.

In the meantime – we had an incredibly fruitful meeting with our worship volunteers last night and I’m really looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

Also – Joel Klampert – a new blog buddy I met a while back has moved to an official website. He shares insights on all sorts of things, definitely worth checking out!

In Uncategorized

The Seemingly Impossible Task of Time Management

Ryan Egan — October 29, 2008 — 4 Comments

I definitely don’t have it all figured out by any means, and I’m still working on the process, but some thoughts that were shared with me a while back really keep striking home. Take a look at 1 Timothy 3:12-13:

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”

Whenever I’ve looked at and pondered those verses in the past all I saw was the qualification of a deacon to manage his children well, but the verse says children and household. Household encompasses a great deal! Managing your household includes, but is not limited to:

Having the means to provide and sustain your family. (Getting out of debt if your in it and staying debt free, not living paycheck to paycheck, making wise financial decisions, etc.)
Having the discernment to not let that provision and sustenance become your idol and god. It is very easy to fall in love with your job, especially if it pays well and you like it. Family comes before working 70-80 hour weeks.
Deciding where to spend your time. (Do you spend it watching hours of TV, trying to find an excuse to go play a round of golf – or do you spend your time wisely, knowing when to stop working, when to enjoy leisure, and when to get things done that need to get done.)

The last factor of managing a household is key. Instead of trying to balance the time that you have, begin to manage it. If you’re like me, and are a pretty spontaneous person who also tends to procrastinate, conisder setting up a schedule. Of course you’ll need to schedule in some spontaneous time that you can just enjoy, but a schedule might be extremely helpful.

I’m just starting to really think about these things and haven’t officially applied them yet, but after thinking about Paul’s words to Timothy to charge deacons to “manage (a) household well” I’m beginning to be convicted that I’m not really doing that – and something needs to change. Join me and the journey – and maybe you have some ways that you’ve learned how to manage your time and household.

In Leadership

Time Managing vs. Time Balancing

Ryan Egan — October 28, 2008 — 4 Comments

Throughout the last few weeks I’ve been involved in lots of things – looking for a new job, trying to develop ways for me to freelance, working my current job, figuring out how to stay on top of volunteer worship ministry, spending time with my wife and daughter and trying to spend time in God’s Word and prayer. That’s a whole life in itself, but I still love taking pictures, reading, watching a few select TV shows and doing enjoyable things. Then there’s housework, yard work and more. Yikes.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how our time management is part of how we worship God. I want to spend some time thinking about our time, using my own life as an example and talking about some ideas of how time can be managed.

Teaser for tomorrow: There’s a huge difference between managing your time and balancing your time.

See you tomorrow. In the meantime, our pastor wrote one of the best blog posts I’ve seen dealing with our nation’s financial issues and the political race. You should check it out.

In Leadership