Switching servers

I’ve moved the blog to a new server, please update your bookmarks or your rss feed.
New URL: http://blog.scottsealy.com/
RSS: http://blog.scottsealy.com/?feed=rss2
I’ll keep this site up for awhile but won’t be updating it.
Thanks.

Maundy Thursday

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

Think of ‘as I have love you’ this way: For my love has not been the payment of something owing to you but had its beginning on my side. And in a similar way you ought to do one another good, though you may not owe it. -John Chrysostom

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Although [at the Lord's Supper] my mind can think beyond what my tongue can utter, yet even my mind is conquered and overwhelmed by the greateness of the thing. Therefore nothing remains but to break forth in wonder at this mystery, which plainly neither the mind is able to conceive nor the tongue to express. -John Calvin

He fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

His words ‘if it be possible’ referred not only to God’s power but also to his justice. As to God’s power, whatever is just or unjust is possible. As to his justice, which is not only powerful but also just, not everything is possible — only that which is just. – Origen

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48)

Let us know that this evil, which Christ once sustained in his own person, is an evil to which the Church will always be exposed — that of cherishing traitors in her bosom… -John Calvin

Patristic Quotes on the Cross

Through a tree we were made debtors to God; so through a tree we have our debt canceled.

-Irenaeus

By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God’s love towards us.

-John Chrysostom

He hath subjected all powers, He hath subjugated kings, not with the pride of soldiery, but by the ignominy of the Cross: not by the fury of the sword, but by hanging on the Wood, by suffering in the body, by working in the Spirit.

-Augustine

Keeping up appearances

There’s a story in USA Today about a Episcopal priest who stole from his church to fund his obsession with his appearance (botox and plastic surgery) while living in filth at home.

Sounds like a parable about the state of the church today — botox on the outside, empty liquor bottles and dog mess on the inside.

Brother Cesare Bonizzi

Here’s an interesting video of Cesare Bonizzi, a capuchin monk and singer.

I found it on Kim Ridderlbarger’s blog.

Somali Pirates, and now this…

Two arrested for cattle rustling

City council meeting gets out of hand

Gubernatorial Elections are Off to a Good Start

Times Daily Article Here

Thomas is self-employed as an inventor and listed night vision contact lenses, suborbital floating missile drones and a “micro copy scope” that allows germs to be viewed on the Web as some of his inventions.

Article on Alabama

Here’s a nice article on my home state:

It’s true: Even the Birmingham airport smells like barbecue. And it’s true that there is no better football than November’s Auburn-Alabama game, a.k.a. the Iron Bowl.

Tools of the Trade: GTDAgenda

I’ve been asked by Dan at GTKAgenda to review their online task management/ planning application. I’ve mentioned previously Todoist which I used for awhile. After a few days of internet outage (web access issues is one drawback to being a country parson) I began using tools that don’t require an internet connection. Also, I don’t have access in my study, which is a good thing when it comes to getting thesis writing done, but also means that tools that require an internet connection are not useful for me. If that’s not an issue for you, you might want to give GTKAgenda a look. There are three levels of service. The free version is limited to 3 goals 5 projects and 5 contexts. The Basic is limited to 30, 50 and 50 respectively while the premium account has not limits. Basic is $4.45/ month and Premium is $7.95, plus there’s a 30 day money back guarantee.

The basic feature of GTDAgenda is is task management which can be organized using goals, projects, tasks, contexts, schedule and priorities. Using these Gtdagenda will list your next action you should be working on so you can focus on it. It also has a a calender and a helpful checklist. There is a mobile phone version too that allows access for while you’re away from your computer.

I like the flexibility of this app, let’s you follow strict GTD or Steven Covey, but you can also tailor it to meet your needs. (I especially like the Zen GTD implementation.)

Having a calendar included is nice, I like having these integrated instead of having to use separate apps/sites for scheduling and task management. The feature that stands out to me is the checklist. Having regular weekly tasks like printing a bulletin, sermon outline, send birthday cards on a list is a quick and convenient way to manage these small ‘mosquito’ tasks. I could also see how this would be useful for an exercise schedule etc…

Another thing I liked when checking out the site was the numerous examples of ways one could use GTDAgenda to implement different productivity strategies and for different jobs. It included a step-by-step by guide to setting up a GTD or Franklin Covey type system or using the app as a software developer or for the gym; however this leads to my major gripe – after I was logged in there was no obvious way to see these. If you are logged in you are taken to your home screen with no link to these nifty examples. In fact there is no obvious link for help with the features. There is now a help button on the homepage that is linked to send an email or to the help forums. But a simple way to a FAQ or the tutorials would be simpler. I had to log out go back and find the URL and log back in to use them. (I really don’t want to have to log into a site, then register and log into a help forum on top of that just to see how to use the basic features.)

GTDagenda has all the features you would need for scheduling and managing projects and tasks, however nothing stood out as a killer feature that would justify spending nearly $100 a year when there are competitive products for free.