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Posts from the ‘En Suite’ Category

Dec 31

Daily Dose 65: Home Library

Over a hundred years ago a Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president of Harvard, made the statement that anyone could give himself or herself a quality education by reading fifteen minutes a day from classic writings that could all fit on a bookshelf five feet long.

Any book lover knows five feet does not hold a lot of books, but sad to say, it is a great deal more space than many homes give to books. An enterprising publisher put Dr. Eliot to the task of actually compiling a series of volumes that would meet his criteria, and the result became known as the Harvard Classics, 51 volumes covering ancient history, scientific principles, classic literature, religious readings, poetry, historical documents, and essays. Other such series, including the Great Books (my mother-in-law led a discussion group for the Junior Great Books for many years) followed in its substantial wake. Read more

Dec 9

Daily Dose 50: Just for Fun: Executive Oversight Declaration

Here is where to begin reading Daily Doses 41-50 in order.

Have you ever heard an official proclamation? Every sentence starts with the rarely used word whereas, and then proceeds to “whereas” its way through a long list of reasons why the declaration is being made. Think “since”  instead of “whereas” and it makes more sense.

We have our own “declaration” today you can use three ways. You can go to Executive Oversight Declaration,  read it and ponder applications for your own life. You can download and print the declaration to help solidify your resolve to meet with yourself every week. Sign it, number 1-8 on the back, along with dates for your next 8 meeting times. File it in your notebook under personal. Each week, check off the date when you follow through.

Or look at the certificate as an idea prompter for other projects you undertake. What new habit do you want to build? What would your official document declare? Computer templates make producing professional oversight products simple. Such gentle, whimsical self-nudges for habit building combine worthwhile fun and serious intent in creative home oversight.

Dec 7

Daily Dose 48: Accounting System

I love paper, office supply stores and planner catalogs. I love the slip of quality paper; the slick, smooth scribing fine paper makes possible. But I also know the key to a writing system is not how elegant it is, but how it is used. Any account book: a 30-cent back-to-school spiral notebook, a 300-dollar planner system with calf leather case, a legal pad, even a sheet of paper, can be helpful for a home executive, but none comes with a guarantee, because using makes the difference. Read more

Nov 18

Daily Dose 29: Shelving Values and Priorities

If you have been dabbling in the priority gathering experiment, several little lists may be piled in front of you by now: verses, responsibilities, Titus 2 priorities, dreams you were brave enough to commit to paper, answers to long-range questions. Now what? Well, it’s just about time to box them up, set them on the shelf, and forget about them for awhile, that’s what!  Read more

Nov 17

Value Questions

Value Discerning Questions

Use questions like those below to help you identify your values for yourself. Go ahead write the musings that lead to the answers in your notebook. They’ll be fun to read ten or twelve years from now:

1. Is it a lifelong challenge?

2. Is it the outgrowth of a deeply held belief?

3. Is it the outgrowth of an unswerving conviction?

4. Will pursuing its fulfillment lead me along acceptable scriptural paths?

5. Does it demand or expect God to do something that may not be within His will for me?

6. Does it adequately express a secret longing, far-fetched dream, or deep-seated desire?

7. What about my personal character will hinder accomplishing anything I call a value for my life?

8. Can I identify blind spots for myself that might be hindering me from seeing biblical values clearly for myself?

9. Is there someone I can ask about this topic of values and blind spots ?

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