Last fall, I started a new graduate studies program at Ozark Christian College, working toward a Master’s Degree. During the orientation, I found a new Bible resource that has proven to be immensely helpful to me.

As the graduate studies program started last fall, I stayed with a friend during the orientation week at Ozark, in Joplin, Missouri. He showed me a new Bible that he had found that he found helpful, and after a quick glance, I knew that I needed this as well.

The Panorama New Testament is a large book, measuring over twelve inches tall, and ten inches wide. The reason for this is so that the pages are big enough to display large quantities of text across a panoramic two-page spread. This can be especially helpful as you seek to study the Bible, because it allows you to trace themes through the text at a glance.

I have found this to be especially helpful in studying Paul’s epistles. Most of them are completely arranged across one set of pages, allowing you to see the whole letter at once.

The first letter I studied using this tool was Ephesians. One of Paul’s main themes running through this letter is our status in Christ. He uses this phrase, or “in Him,” or “in the Beloved,” over and over through this short letter, repeating it eleven times in the first fourteen verses alone.

As I studied through it, I circled every time Paul used that phrase, and seeing the whole letter at once allows me to grasp just how pervasive this point is all the way through Ephesians. I have found it to be extremely helpful to trace such themes through various books of the New Testament.

Of course, larger books have to be spread out across numerous pages, but even so, a new page always starts with a chapter break. No chapter is interrupted by a page turn. And with plenty of space in the margins, it’s easy to take notes, make references to other passages, or trace ideas.

The Panorama New Testament is quickly becoming one of the more helpful tools in my library to help me see the Bible in fresh, new ways. I am excited to see how it will help me grow in my understanding of God’s Word as I continue to use it. Plus, it’s the English Standard Version, which is what I preach from most of the time, and so it’s easy to read and follow.

If you are looking for a fresh way to study and view God’s Word, I encourage you to consider the Panorama New Testament. You might be surprised at what it helps you to see, that you may have missed before. You can purchase one on Amazon.com.

The post Resource Recommendation: Panorama Bible appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

Health care is one of those issues that sparks a lot of stress and anxiety in people. Insurance is costly. Medical care is costly. When you have a need, how do you afford it? Where can you turn for help? Insurance may not be the best option, so what do you do?

Several years ago, my wife and I were becoming more and more frustrated with the rising costs of insurance. In order to keep our payments in a reasonable financial range — which was becoming more and more unreasonable — we had to keep increasing the amount of our deductible. We eventually got to the point where our deductible was so high, I was beginning to wonder if the costs of insurance were even worth it.

So we started doing some research. A good friend of our had just joined a ministry oriented, medical share program. I was a bit skeptical, but we sat down with them and discussed their experience with a medical need not long after they joined. It sounded too good to be true, but the more we talked, the more I realized this might be just what we needed to look into.

Not long after this conversation, we discovered that many of the mainstream insurance companies used the premiums that came in — my premiums — in ways that we didn’t approve of. Many of these companies used this money to pay for abortions and to provide for various other medical procedures that we were uncomfortable with. So we decided to step out on faith and give this new option a try.

The ministry we chose to work with was Samaritan Ministries, although there were a few other options we considered. We talked with several people who had had very positive experiences with Samaritan Ministries, so we submitted our application, and in 2010, we jumped into the world of Christian medical sharing.

In a brief overview, allow me to explain how this works. Each month, we receive a newsletter from Samaritan Ministries with a payment slip for our share for the month. We don’t pay premiums, we send shares. This share goes directly to the person with the need, and is not routed through Samaritan Ministries or any other organization. I write my check, or send my share through PayPal, directly to the person or family in need. It’s that simple.

Let me explain it from the other point of view, of submitting my own need. Last spring, I broke my elbow and had to visit the Emergency Room, see an orthopedic doctor, and even a neurological specialist. That racked up quite a bit of bills. Once I had received all my bills, I submitted them to Samaritan Ministries. They reviewed them, and then published them to several other members.

Those member then sent their monthly shares directly to me. I then paid off my medical bills. I also kept track of the shares sent to me, and reported back to Samaritan Ministries that the shares assigned to me had indeed been sent and received. If someone fails to send their share, they are unable to submit a need until they are caught up. In the meantime, that share can be assigned to someone else so that I’m not left hanging onto a bill that can’t quite be paid off. It’s really super simple.

But the most incredible part of it all is this: When people send me their shares, I usually receive them with a card or a note, indicating that the sender is not only helping me cover my medical needs, but that they are also praying for me throughout the whole process. This kind of medical share program is really an example of the church being the church and helping others bear their medical burdens.

Each month, as I send my share off, I pray for the recipient of that share. Sometimes, it’s a serious medical issue. Other times, I help cover the cost of a new birth, and a new life added to a family. Every time, it’s rewarding to know that I am helping them cover a need, not just in a financial way, but in a spiritual way as well.

And, as an added benefit, the cost for my family to be involved in this ministry share program is far less than the monthly premiums I was paying to an insurance company. We are involved as a family, but they offer membership options for couples and families of every size and shape, such as single parent situations, or single individuals, too. There are other options as well, which you can read about on their website in more detail.

I encourage you to look into Samaritan Ministries, to become part of a community of faith that is encouraging one another, praying for one another, and helping bear the burden of medical costs for one another. Aside form the financial burdens lifted, the encouragement we receive from people we have never met is the best part of this whole thing. It really is the church being the church, as it was meant to be.

Plus, if you give Samaritan Ministries my name when you sign up, I receive a credit of $100 on my account. That’s a plus for me, and as you share your experiences with Samaritan Ministries, you can encourage new members to sign up for the same benefit. It’s well worth the effort.

Again, I encourage you to think this over, pray about it, and consider making the switch to Samaritan Ministries. We love this ministry, and I think you will too.

The post Resource Review: Samaritan Ministries appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

If you know me, you probably know that some of my personal interests are pocket knives, pens, and watches. These are all areas that I find enjoyable, and I try to gather a few of the ones I like into my collection.

Watches are a relatively recent fascination for me. I have held an interest in knives and pens for several years, but wrist watches have come along more recently, just in the last three or four years really.

It started off with a couple of nicer Timex pieces, and then I found a small group of watch aficionados who took me in and taught me the ropes. That led to an interest in Seiko watches, and a few other nicer brands. (Rolex and Omega are on that list, but I suspect I’ll never own one. They’re too expensive for me. I’ll have to admire them from afar.)

My Seiko Turtle has been my go to watch for a while, being a part of my EDC. I have a couple of other dressier watches, but wear the Seiko most of the time.

Until recently…

One of the guys in the watch group I’m in started a new company called Dryden Watch Co. I was immediately hooked. I picked up one from his first run, and it makes it’s way onto my wrist more often than any other watch I own. In fact, as soon as I am able to, I plan on adding another variant or two to my collection, eventually. That’s how nice these are.

The Dryden is a chronograph diver, merging the precision of a classic chronograph with the durability of a diver. The look is bold and classy, and draws comments almost every time I wear it. It has a Seiko VK63 Mechaquartz movement inside it, creating a smooth sweep of the second hand and keeping near perfect time.

I’m really impressed with this watch. It has become my favorite time piece, hands down.

The watch in the photo is mine. I love the way it looks on the natural leather strap. As you can see, I managed to capture a nice fingerprint in the photo. For a few nicer views of Dryden watches, check out the website or their Instagram account.

And finally, by way of a disclaimer, I have not been solicited to write a review of this watch. I simply love it, and want you to have a chance to check this company out. If you enjoy watches, you might enjoy these. I encourage you to go check them out.

The post Dryden Watch Co. appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

Over the past few weeks, I have been asked multiple times what I carry with me on a regular basis. So instead of my usual fare here at JeffRandleman.com, I though I would give a brief synopsis of my EDC.

The EDC, or Every Day Carry, community has been a place I like to hang out over the past few years, mainly on social media, but even in person a few times. I have met and made some excellent friends through the common interest of the stuff we carry and use daily. While EDC is usually confined to what is in my pockets, I have expanded it here to include a few items that I carry with me daily, even though they are not in my pockets all the time.

Most of these are items that I cannot live without, and need some form of them on a very regular basis. Over the years, my tastes have changed, and my list of EDC items has evolved to become what it is currently. Here are the main items that I have with me at all times.

Where possible, I have included a link for each item so you can check it out further. However, with the exception of Amazon, I am not affiliated with any of these companies in any way. I simply like what they have to offer, and I use their products a lot.

Saddleback Large Front Pocket Briefcase
For several years, I have stood on the sidelines, admiring the quality of craftsmanship created by Saddleback Leather. My dad was a leather craftsman, so I can appreciate quality work when I see it, and Saddleback is top notch. Early in 2018, I finally pulled the trigger on a Front Pocket Briefcase, in Chestnut Brown, and absolutely love it. This carries most of the stuff that doesn’t fit in my pockets, such as my Hobonichi, my journal and my laptop, and goes with me almost everywhere I go. Along with a few books that change out frequently, this is an essential of my daily carry.

Renaissance Arts Leather Journal Cover
A gift from my wife and kids almost a decade ago, this leather journal has been my daily companion through so much. It holds a Moleskine classic hard cover journal, which I prefer to have blank pages for daily journaling and writing. I’ve filled up a dozen Moleskines over the years, and the leather cover has seen me through them all.

Hobonichi Techo
My daily calendar is a Hobonichi Techo. I started using this a couple years ago, in order to simplify my life and move away from so much tech gadgetry. With my love for writing by hand, especially with a fountain pen, this was a logical choice, and the Techo is the perfect fit for my needs. I still use a Google calendar in order to collaborate with my wife and my staff and coworkers, but stuff lands here before it goes anywhere else. I have this wrapped in a handmade cover from One Star Leather Goods.

Leather Field Notes Wallet
In my right back pocket is a leather wallet made by Popov Leather. This holds a Field Notes notebook, long with my license, a couple of cards, and any cash or receipts I might have. I have carried a Field Notes for several years, but leaving it bare caused it to wear out extremely fast. I tried keeping it in a separate cover for a while, but it was just too bulky in my pocket, in addition to a wallet. This wallet from Popov Leather was the perfect merger of the two.

Vintage Handmade Hank
In my other back pocket, I carry a handmade handkerchief. This is almost exclusively one of my own making, labeled Piney River Peddlers. In this photo is one of my favorites, covered with vintage stamps, but I cycle through several other patterns and materials on a regular basis. If you want to see a few other examples, check out Piney River Peddlers on Etsy.

Tidioute Cutlery (Great Eastern Cutlery) Yankee Jack
I always carry a pocket knife, and 99 percent of the time, it is a traditional style slipjoint. I collect knives, and have plenty of options to carry daily, and rotate frequently. But this Yankee Jack, built on the 77 frame by Great Eastern Cutlery, is my absolute favorite. It is a handy piece, made from 1095 carbon steel, with autumn sawcut bone covers, and holds an edge well. I use it for almost everything, from slicing apples and cutting steaks, to opening mail and other day to day needs. I even whittle once in a while with it.

EDC-1 Leather Slip
This slip, by One Star Leather, is a perfect fit for most of my slipjoints built on the 77 frame or similar. It allows me to keep other items in my pockets from rubbing and scratching the bone or the bolsters. And the fact that it holds a small pen is an added bonus. I have tried a few other slips over the years, but never found one that fully satisfied me. Once I got this slip, I haven’t looked back.

Fisher Space Pen
Fitting nicely into the EDC-1, the Fisher Space Pen is always in my pocket. Sometimes I forget to grab another pen when I’m headed out the door, but thanks to the Fisher, one is always in my pocket. It’s small, but once you post the cap, it is close to a full size pen. It is probably the handiest item in my pockets, and I think I’d feel lost without it. (Amazon link)

Maratac AAA Copper Flashlight
This handy little light is bright enough for my needs, and small enough that I hardly notice that I’m carrying it at all. I carry it clipped inside my front left pocket, with my pocket knife and pen. And it’s copper. I absolutely love the way copper develops a patina over time. (Amazon link)

Keys
In my front right pocket are my keys. I carry as few keys as possible, on a brass hook from Scout Leather, but I also carry a copper tritium tag and a few other various copper pieces on my key ring as well.

Morgan Dollar
Along with my keys, my front right pocket usually has a Morgan dollar in it, although sometimes it might be a peace dollar. I carry this as a fidget item sometimes, but mainly keep in on me simply because I love the look and the history of old coins.

Waltham Pocket Watch
In my fifth pocket, I have recently started carrying an old Waltham pocket watch. I know very little about this watch. I carry it because it was my grandfather’s watch. He’s the reason I love old watches, coins, and pocket knives. It keeps time well, and is always a great conversation piece.

Seiko Turtle
On my wrist is usually a Seiko Turtle diver’s watch, although I have a few other watches that rotate on and off as well. I love the classy look of the Seiko, and replaced the bracelet with a leather strap from Cheapest NATO Straps that has held up surprisingly well. The Seiko keeps time extremely well, and provides a classy look no matter how I might be dressed.

Karas Kustom EDK Pen
I almost always have another pen on me besides the Fisher Space Pen. It is usually the EDK in copper and black. This is a handmade pen from Karas Kustoms, and it won’t be the last pen I buy from them. This thing is built solid, and has almost the perfect balance. With a Schmidt refill in it, it writes smoothly, too. An added bonus is that fact that it’s copper.

TWSBI Diamond 580 in Rose Gold
Alternatively, I sometimes carry a fountain pen instead of the EDK. I have several old Parker Vacumatics from the 1930s and 40s, but they stay on my desk. This TWSBI, however, makes its way into my pocket on a regular basis. With a fine nib, it is one of the smoothest fountain pens I have found, and writes like a dream. And with a clear body, paired with the black and gold accents, it’s a beauty to behold. Currently, it’s filled with an Iroshizuku ink by Pilot, the color is Tsuki-yo, which means moonlit night, and is a deep, dark blue ink with a hint of grey. I use this pen and ink in my journal more than almost any others. (Amazon link – TWSBI, Amazon link – Tsuki-yo Ink)

So there you have it. That’s what I carry every day, and how it impacts my routine. It’s always changing, so who knows what might be added next?

The post Every Day Carry appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

I can think of nothing higher on my priority list each day than to spend time in God’s Word. It’s that important. It really is.

I have tried over the years to find a Bible Reading Plan that makes a significant difference in my life, attempting and eliminating various options over the years. A few years ago, I found one that works for me quite well, and 2019 marks my seventh year of using it on a daily basis. I’ll describe it below, along with the impact it has had in my life.

Before I get to that, though, I want to reinforce what you probably already know to be true: that a daily Bible reading discipline is a necessity for the Christian life. It is difficult, if not downright impossible, to grow without spending significant time reading and studying the Word of God.

I won’t go into all the details of that in this article. I have written extensively on this over the years. Briefly, I’ll list several of the articles here:

• Establishing the discipline of daily Bible reading
• Developing consistency in your Bible reading
• Tips to help you become more consistent in your Bible reading
• Getting the most out of your Bible reading
• How to keep your Bible reading interesting
• A colossal effort of reading 3650 chapters every year
• How to take notes while reading the Bible
• How to gain insight by hand writing your own copy of the Bible
• How God’s Word encourages you
• Reading the Old Testament
• Reading the Bible daily
• And multiple memorization projects over the years as well

I cannot begin to express just how critical this discipline is for the believer. It is foundational for our faith.

I believe this so strongly, and since I couldn’t find a reading plan that fit my needs like I wanted, I created my own version for my own personal use, as well as the students in my ministries over the years as a youth minister. I recreated this plan each year until finally finessing it into the version that I share for free with those who sign up for my email newsletter.

In a nutshell, it has three different plans incorporated into it, one that reads from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation. The second plan combines a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and the Gospels, still reading the whole Bible in a year. The third plan coordinates events and passages with one another, so when you read about David and Bathsheba, you’ll read Psalm 51 at the same time. Each plan will help you read the whole Bible in a twelve month period, so pick the one that’s best for you and run with it. If you are interested in downloading a copy, sign up for my email updates here.

While I really like my version of a reading plan, I found one a few years ago that fits my needs even better. Developed by Professor Grant Horner, this plan divides the Bible into ten different sections, and you read one chapter from each section every day. When you finish a section, you simply start it again. And since the ten different sections are of various lengths, you won’t start them all over at the same time, ensuring that you are reading different part of the Bible together every single day. I find this especially interesting, because there have been days when several of the chapters have carried similar themes, or gave similar instructions, that I might never has associated together apart from this reading plan.

I have been using this particular variety for six years now, just beginning my seventh with the start of 2019.It has been very eye-opening, and has afforded me the ability to stick to a reading plan like nothing else I have ever attempted to utilize. For the foreseeable future, this is the plan that I will continue to stick with. That’s how much I like it. If you are interested in more details about this plan, you can find it described here.

Whatever plan you decide to use, I encourage you to make a solid commitment to it and stick to it. I just saw a post from a friend from a previous ministry I was involved in almost two decades ago. I challenged that youth group to read the Bible through that year. She and her husband took up the challenge, and read through it that year, and every single year since. They would jump at the chance to tell you just how life changing it has been for them.

One final word of encouragement: don’t get bogged down by a schedule. If you can’t read as much as someone else can in any given day, it’s ok to use a one year plan and stretch it into two. It’s not as important that you get through the whole Bible, as it is for the Bible to get through you. Just read.

So with the start of a new year, grab a Bible, find a good plan to help you read it, and dig in. Because it really does matter what you read.

The post Read Through The Bible in 2019 appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

If you know anything about me at all, you know that I love coffee. I love everything about it. It started off with an innocent fixation with certain second wave coffee vendors that shall remain unnamed. Soon I started seeking better coffee, and then buying it in bean form, and finally moving to various methods of brewing it, such as the Chemex or the Hario V60. I was hooked.

It wasn’t long before I began to venture into the arena of home roasting, using an air popcorn popper, with excellent results. This is where I have maintained my coffee enthusiasm… Until recently.

During the summer, I decided to see if others liked the coffee I was roasting as well as I did. So I started passing around a few samples, and the feedback was great. So I began to seriously consider launching my own coffee roasting company. And the result is Coffeelogical.

As this idea took off, I wanted a place where I could write and blog about coffee specifically, and display pictures of coffee and brewing methods, and more. But I also wanted to have the freedom to talk about other things as well, things that I like to talk about while drinking coffee, like God and theology. So coffee… and theological discussions… Coffeelogical.

As I was describing this to my wife, and before I could explain the meaning of my new name, she asked, “Coffeelogical? Is that because coffee always makes sense?” Why, yes it does. So we have a double meaning to the name as well.

The premise of the Coffeelogical website is simple. It’s a place where we can talk about coffee, in a blog format. There is a section where I review coffees from different roaster that I try; if they are good, I want to share them with you. There is a place where I combine my love of coffee with my other hobby, traditional pocket knife collecting. And of course, there is the shop, where you can buy Coffeelogical coffee, and will soon be able to find other Coffeelogical related stuff.

As for the coffee side of Coffeelogical, I wanted to keep it simple. I love simple, light roasted, single origin coffees. I don’t generally like a darker roast, because I think it inhibits the natural flavors of the coffee bean itself. And different regions, along with different varietals from each region can have vastly different tastes. It’s fun to try different locales and see how they compare to one another.

My focus is to roast in small batches of five to ten pounds. When it’s gone, it’s gone. If it was an incredible cup of coffee, I may try to get more of it, but usually I will move on to another origin and try something new. It’s a journey, with plenty of delicious stops along the way.

If you are a coffee drinker, I encourage you to come on over to Coffeelogical and check things out. Read the blog, share your thoughts, check out some cool pictures. And, if you’re interested, try some coffee. Or, you can check out the Coffeelogical Facebook page, and give it a like.

This is an interesting journey, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. Just the other day, I roasted some beans from a region of Ethiopia that I hadn’t heard of before. And they were incredible. I’m looking forward to having another cup of that. In fact, I think I’ll do that right now…

The post Coffeelogical appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

A few weeks ago, I shared that I was giving a paper planner a shot for 2017, specifically the Hobonichi Techo. And so far I am really enjoying it.

Back in 2016, I discovered One Star Leather on Etsy, and picked up a knife and pen pocket sleeve called the EDC1. It has become the slip I carry daily in my pocket, and has developed some beautiful character. So when I decided that I wanted a leather cover for the Hobonichi Techo, One Star Leather was the first place I checked. And sure enough, he had one.

In fact, it was structured as a “build your own” kind of deal. So I did just that. And it’s a beauty! I wanted a classy look, so I selected the Black Horween Chromexcel for the exterior, a chestnut Hermann Oak bridle leather interior, and golden thread. After adding a pen loop and a bookmark, I feel that this is the perfect setup.

Keegan, the owner at One Star Leather, is a very talented leather craftsman, and his work is top notch. As I have stated before, my dad was a saddle maker, and I grew up around leather and was exposed to a lot of craftsmen of exceptional skill. Keegan ranks right up there with many of those I grew up watching.

The leather that is used is some of the best out there. With a waxed finish to it, it feels exquisite and is incredibly soft to the touch. And yet, it will hold up for a very long time. It is one of the best leathers out there, and I absolutely love it. Plus, it smells terrific, too!

Keegan is a master at stitching. His work is even and sturdy, and is very pleasant to look at.

Upon first receiving the cover, it was somewhat stiff. That’s to be expected with new leather, and as I have used the cover, opening and closing it over the past few weeks, that has become much more fluid in motion, and even lays flat on my desk without any assistance. And, as time continues, it will develop some beautiful wear and patina, eventually becoming a beautiful and unique piece of art. Part of me longs to keep this in as close to new condition as I can, but at the same time, I can’t wait to see how this looks when fully broken in and well-used.

Perhaps the best thing of all, beside the quality and the beauty of this piece, is the complete lack of bulk. This Techo cover is lightweight, and very slim, hardly adding any thickness or weight to the planner at all. And even though there are several pieces of leather that make up this cover, each one of them is super thin, yet very sturdy. The additional layer in the front that creates a couple of card pockets hardly feels like it is there at all.

I highly encourage you to check out Keegan’s work at One Star Leather. His skill is amazing, and his prices are competitive. And you’ll love how great any of his work looks on your desk or in your hand. You may be hooked for life.

I am.

The post Hobonichi Techo Cover – One Star Leather appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

Recently I made a simple change to my daily routine that will have a significant impact on my day to day life. I decided to give the Hobonichi Techo a try for 2017.

I know what you are thinking. What is a Hobonichi Techo? It’s a planner. But it’s also so much more than just a planner.

The Hobonichi Techo (pronounced “tetch-oh”) is one of the many variations of a daily calendar created by Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun, or Hobonichi, a Japanese company that has become very influential in their market around the world. I have been eyeing their calendars for the past few years, but have never made the choice to purchase one. Until now.

What makes the Hobonichi Techo stand out is its versatility. It functions as a daybook and planner, but does not have the constraints of the typical planner. For example, it has no time markings, except for noon. You can break the page down into whatever sections you need. It also functions as a journal, if you want to use it for that, a task list, a sketch book, and much more.

It’s also an attractive option because it uses a high quality paper from Tomoe River, which holds an ink better than many other papers, and is even fountain pen friendly. And, since the binding is designed to lay flat when open, it is very easy to write in, making it much more user friendly than many other planners.

And, to top it all off, it’s affordable. I purchased my Techo from Jet Pens, with a pretty decent cover, for just under fifty dollars. That’s a lot cheaper than other planners I considered, even Amazon. That said, you can definitely dress it up with many different aftermarket products.

However, none of these reasons are why I decided to try it out. My purposes are entirely different. And, I hope, more valuable as I consider my life, and my use of time.

I choose to take more control of my day

The first reason I moved to the Techo this year is to take control of my time more effectively. For the past few years, I have been using Google Calendar for my scheduling, and Nozbe for my tasks. Both are great options, and good at what they do. Both are digital, though, and I want to try to eliminate my dependence upon my devices somewhat this year.

For me, the digital options have become mundane. There are days where I forget to check them, simply because I have begun to take them for granted. And I have missed a couple of appointments because I forgot. That’s not good. Making the shift to the Techo will help me be more intentional, I hope.

When it comes to tasks, not all of them will be entered into the journal. Nozbe will still play an important role in my day to day effectiveness. And so will Google, due to the ease in which you can share calendars and events with others. But I hope to take more control of my time with the Techo.

I love to use analog tools, such as pen and paper

One of my favorite disciplines is journaling. I love to write. I love good quality pens and nice paper. But, outside of my personal journal, I don’t write a lot. Switching to the Techo will give me more opportunity to write, which I find very appealing. And because the paper is so good, I’ll be able to use a variety of pens, from some of my finer, dryer fountain pens to my Hi-Tec-C Coletos, and even a variety of pencils, like the Blackwing 602.

I like the style statement a quality daily planner makes

I love looking my best. And I love adding accessories that command attention as well, not because I want the attention of those around me, but because I love the way they look. And the Hobonichi Techo looks great! I love the simple design, and the plethora of beautiful covers that you can find for it. It’s a thing of beauty, and I enjoy seeing it on my desk.

My hope is that this becomes a very effective tool in my day to day life. As with any change, I know it will come with a learning curve, and I will make tweaks and adjustments until I find the way it works best for me. In the meantime, I will play around with it, becoming more accustomed to it, and see how much more effective I can become.

I’ll keep you posted on the results.

The post Why I’m Giving The Hobonichi Techo A Shot appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

As I review this month’s top posts, I’m listening to Christmas music. I have a hard and fast rule that I don’t begin Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving. At that point, it is pretty much on all the time until Christmas arrives. And I love every minute of it. The Christmas season is the part of the year I love the most.

With the season being so hectic, though, I find that I have less time to spend writing. That’s always the case in December, and I always feel a sense of frustration that I am unable to maintain the schedule I want. On the other hand, I know my time is needed elsewhere. And that is okay.

Here is a brief rundown of some of the things that November and December hold for us. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, our church holds a Thanksgiving service, hosts a community concert, goes Christmas caroling in our community, presents a children’s Christmas program, and a Christmas Eve candlelight service. That’s on top of our normal services and programs. And this year’s Christmas series is called Birth Of A King, where we look at each of the nativity accounts in detail.

As a family, after Thanksgiving Day activities are over, we decorate the house for Christmas, celebrate the season with an Advent Night every week, and enjoy several Christmas parties. It’s a very busy season. And when you add the kids’ school activities and sports on top of it all, it makes for a crazy month. And yet, it remains my favorite time of the year.

And so, my writing takes a bit of a back seat at this time. Church and family require it. And I remind myself to be satisfied with it, whenever I feel frustrated. And I greatly appreciate your patience.

Here are the top seven posts for the month of November on JeffRandleman.com. Once again, many of these are tried and true, and make this list consistently. And, as usual, the next seven are much more varied.

1. 6 Characteristics Of A Good Communicator
2. How To Take Notes While Reading The Bible
3. The Difference Between Purpose, Vision, and Mission
4. My Current Philosophy Of Ministry
5. Why You Need To Develop A Philosophy Of Ministry
6. 7 Steps To Defining A Purpose And Vision For Youth Ministry
7. Classic Bible: My Favorite Passages From Nehemiah

Most of these are from the Foundations Of Youth Ministry series, with a couple of extras from other series. These continue to be the most consistently read articles I have written.

I really don’t have a favorite post from the month of November. Since I wasn’t able to write as much as usual, I wasn’t able to choose my personal favorite. However, I expect things to get back to usual in the coming weeks.

I am praying that you have a great month! I look forward to seeing what God brings in the weeks to come!

The post Top Posts For November 2016 appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.

I love this time of year. The leaves are turning, the air is cooling down, and it is a beautiful time of the year. The holidays are just around the corner, and there is kind of a lull before that busy season begins. This is perhaps my most favorite part of the year.

Usually, this time of year presents an opportunity to slow down a bit, before things get crazy again with the holidays. This year hasn’t really been that way. We have been kind of busy with some family stuff that has kept us pretty crazy. One of our kids had a health scare, and we thought for a while we were facing Crohn’s Disease. After more testing, we have eliminated that as a concern, but haven’t yet identified the problem. It very well may result in some dietary changes.

That is something I have been faced with as well. My diet will be changing drastically in the coming weeks. My doctor recommends that I move to a completely gluten free and dairy free diet. That eliminates almost everything that I enjoy eating, but should result in improved health, for both my daughter and myself.

Those challenges have kept us pretty busy, but I still have managed to set aside the time in order to stay as consistent as possible when it comes to writing. This is an outlet for me. Writing, whether on this site, one of my other sites, or even in my journal, permits me to voice my thoughts, and change or refine them as necessary. I love writing, in whatever form it may take. I have even found myself experimenting with poetry again, which is something I haven’t really done since high school and college. Who knows, some of that may eventually find its way here…

For the past few months, I have looked at the top seven posts on JeffRandleman.com, and have found them to be largely the same posts, if in different orders each month. Because of that, I started to look at the next seven posts and their traffic. That set of seven sees much more turnover, and a lot of different things make it on to, and then off of, that list. Since I have looked at numbers eight through fourteen for the past few months, this time, I will return to the top seven. And, as suspected, they are the same posts, continuing to cycle through those spots. It seems as if they have serious staying power.

1. 6 Characteristics Of A Good Communicator
2. How To Take Notes While Reading The Bible
3. The Difference Between Purpose, Vision, and Mission
4. My Current Philosophy Of Ministry
5. Why You Need To Develop A Philosophy Of Ministry
6. 7 Steps To Defining A Purpose And Vision For Youth Ministry
7. Classic Bible: My Favorite Passages From Nehemiah

Most of these are from either the Foundations Of Youth Ministry series, or the series I wrote a couple of years ago on communication. Those are consistently the most read articles I have written. I have some great ideas for the coming months though, that I hope can compete with these.

My personal favorite post from the month of October was The Truth About Words. But I am also pretty excited about a new leadership series that I am working on, called The Heart Of A Champion. You’ll see more from this series in the coming weeks.

I am praying that you have a great month! I look forward to seeing what God brings in the weeks to come!

The post Top Posts For October 2016 appeared first on JeffRandleman.com.