From an interview in the Wall Street Journal, 5.24.21 —
What’s your most useful work habit?
Notebooks.
If I have a meeting with people, I’ll take notes. If I’m traveling on a Virgin plane, I’ll take notes. I’ll listen to the staff, to the customers.
If you’re not taking notes, I think it’s offensive.
A staff member will give you an idea or tell you a frustration or make a suggestion for improvement, and they will know straight away that if you don’t write it down, you’re not going to deal with it.
I’ve taken notes on all the fun things my grandchildren and children have said. Looking back on them, if you’ve got an 18th or a 21st birthday party for your children, it’s wonderful how one can embarrass them with some of the things they’ve said in the past. One of my favorites is, when Joan and I got married on Necker Island, when Sam was four and Holly was seven, friends of ours in front of Sam said that they were getting married. This was the day after the wedding, and Sam turned to them and said, “You can’t be getting married, you haven’t had children yet!”
If you don’t write it down, you’re not going to remember it.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —\
By your will, O God,
we go out into the world
with good news of your undying love,
and minister in the midst of human need
to show wonders of your grace.
We pray for men and women
who minister for you everywhere.
May they be strengthened by our concern,
and supported by our gifts.
Do not let them be discouraged,
but make them brave and glad and hopeful in our word;
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
God of grace,
ever faithful to your promises,
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming
and looks forward with longing
to his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts to receive him when he comes,
for He is Lord forever and ever. Amen
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
God of hope and joy,
the day draws near when the glory of your Son
will brighten the night of the waiting world.
Let no sorrow hinder the joy
of those who seek him.
Let no sin obscure the vision of wisdom
seen by those who find him.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
God of the prophets,
you sent your messenger into the wilderness of Jordan
to prepare human hearts for the coming of your Son.
Help us to prepare for Christ’s coming,
and to hear the good news and repent,
that we many be ready to welcome the Lord,
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PLEASE NOTE — After six straight months of writing my “fresh-brewed daily” devotional blogs every morning and sharing something from my notebooks every evening, I think I’m about caught up on sharing favorites from my notebooks. So beginning today, Wednesday, December 1st, I will be only doing an explicitly JOE’S NOTEBOOK post on Wednesdays. I certainly hope to continue my morning blogs on a daily basis. Thank you, and please continue reading, commenting, and sharing my stuff! Now, let’s get back at it —-
The first Christmas was pretty simple. It’s okay if yours is, too.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
Holy God,
the mystery of your eternal Word
took flesh among us
when Mary, without reserve, entrusted her life to you.
Strengthen us by the example of her humility,
that we may always be ready to do your will
and welcome Christ into our lives,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
What went wrong?
Don’t dwell on what went wrong.
Instead, focus on what to do next.
Spend your energies moving foward and finding the answer.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
O Christ, splendor of the glory of God,
and perfect image of the Eternal One who begot you,
we praise you for the infinite love which sent you among us;
we confess you as the light and life of the world;
and we adore you as our Lord and out God. Amen.
Some creative people don’t have messes, they have ideas lying around everywhere.
Entering Advent, join me in praying for The Church and for the people who are the churches. These prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer: Daily Prayer, published by our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sisters and brothers. It’s been on my shelf, recently re-discovered, and offers a wealth of riches. For example —
God of all wisdom,
our hearts yearn for the warmth of your love,
and our minds search for the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for Christ our Savior,
and strengthen us to grow in love,
that at the dawn of his coming
we may rejoice in his presence
and welcome the light of his truth.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
joescheets 