4 Easy Steps for Better Editing

July 11, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Work, Reading, Writing, & Books

Editing takes effort and even with the best effort I labor through some articles and books. Maintaining focus takes practice and keeping focus after reading through a manuscript a handful of times takes some tricks. Here are my best practices to improve your editing.

1. Full Page Mode

To maintain focus through a long project especially I prefer to move to full page mode. First the aesthetics of the white space provides a ripe atmosphere for creative work. Second it removes distractions. Email is closed. The background is covered. There’s no quick temptation to check social media. Full page funnels the gaze to the writing at hand.

2. Change Zoom

In close connection to moving to full page mode, I also prefer to adjust the zoom. On a first read through I will zoom to 150%-175%—that keeps me from slipping into reader mode. Ever had that happen? You’re editing and you find yourself three to five pages down stream and realize you were reading as a reader, not as an editor. At 150%-175% you only get a paragraph or two at a time. It keeps you laser focused. On subsequent reads, I zoom out usually to 100%-125%. This also keeps my eyes and brain fresh on later reads.

3 Simple Methods for Writing

April 15, 2015 by Joshua Torrey in Reading, Writing, & Books, Work

When I was teaching and preaching, I was asked how I decided what to teach, how I studied, and how I organized/wrote my notes. As a blogger, I get asked how I decide what to write and about my writing process. The answers I have are overly simplistic, but I thought I would share them. I do not expect that they will work for everyone. I might even be shocked to find out they work for anyone.

1. Capture Your Thoughts

The first thing I do when writing is thinking intentionally. This might seem like a silly point. I don’t know many people who have unintentional thoughts. My point is that the thought be intentionally oriented towards what you are writing. When I have spare moments, I want my thoughts to count. I have a limited amount of free time these days and have few spare thoughts to go around.

This does not mean that every free moment presents me with the opportunity to generate a new, isolated thought. I am not just free to think about writing. Not even close. My thoughts are tightly linked to the experiences of my day. But this does not prevent me from directing those thoughts intentionally.

5 Integral Reasons Mature Disciples Sleep

March 08, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Discipleship, Mission, Work

What does sleep have to do with being a mature disciple? We all have seasons of life where we might get less sleep than we should, but the right amount of sleep is integral for being a mature disciple. Mature disciples get sleep.

D. A. Carson explains the importance of sleep:

Doubt may be fostered by sleep deprivation. If you keep burning the candle at both ends, sooner or later you will indulge in more and more mean cynicism—and the line between cynicism and doubt is a very thin one….If you are among those who become nasty, cynical, or even full of doubt when you are missing your sleep, you are morally obligated to try to get the sleep you need. We are whole, complicated beings; our physical existence is tied to our spiritual well-being, to our mental outlook, to our relationships with others, including our relationship with God. Sometimes the godliest thing you can do in the universe is get a good night’s sleep—not pray all night, but sleep. I’m certainly not denying that there may be a place for praying all night; I’m merely insisting that in the normal course of things, spiritual discipline obligates you get the sleep your body need. (Scandalous p. 147)

Without further ado, here are five reasons mature disciples sleep.

Culture Creators: An Interview with Nick Rynerson

February 15, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Culture, Work

One of my favorite ongoing blog series is LifeHackers' How I Work. Simple questions about how people in a variety of workplaces get stuff done. As I read more and more of these, I kept thinking about wondering about creative people I know and what their answers might be. That got me thinking. Why not host an interview series at my own blog with Christians who are working with excellence, who I admire, and who do creative stuff? I was concerned about getting enough people to host a meaningful series, but the yeses kept rolling in. So here we are.

Who is Nick Rynerson? Nick Rynerson is a marketing coordinator at Crossway and a staff writer for Christ and Pop Culture. He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Jenna. In his spare time, Nick reads books, watches a lot of TV and movies, collects records, and frequents good coffee shops. He is also a contributor to Mockingbird and Gospel Centered Discipleship.

Culture Creators: An Interview with Joffre “The Giant” Swait

February 08, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Creation, Culture, Series, Work

Who is Joffre “The Giant” Swait? Joffre lives in old mill house with two cats, five chickens, five children, and only one wife. He believes that rugby is the highest athletic expression devised by man, and that every man should know at least one poem by heart.

Cultural Creators: An Interview with Nick Ng

February 01, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Creation, Culture, Work

Who is Nick Ng? Hailing from Chicago, Nick resolves to make lives around him less iffy and way more spiffy. He is a designer at Roosevelt University, a metropolitan institution founded on the ideal of social justice, and was the senior designer at Trinity International University, which also houses Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. A higher ed designer by day, he dons his freelance cape by night and weekends to join forces with small businesses, startups, and organizations to fight ugliness. When not creating or shaking a fist at pixels, he spends time with his wife, four young kids, a compost bin of worms, and two annoying parakeets. You will find him being among friends at Redeemer Anglican Church, hunting for tasty gyros, and whizzing by (and snickering at) traffic on his bike.

The Meaning of Mundane Work

January 30, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Guest Post, Series, Work

In the beginning was work. God orchestrates the ordering of the world and crowns His work by breathing life into dust. “[T]he Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a
living creature” (Gen 2:7). And after each working day, God declares, “It is good.”

Now man is not just another creature like the animals. He is made imago Dei. Scripture says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Part of that image can be seen in that God creates us to work like He works. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

Many Christians I speak with about work think that work is part of the fall. That work itself is a curse, but work is a reflection of God. Our Father works, so we work. That supercharges our work with all sorts of importance and meaning.

Culture Creators: An Interview with Dr. O. Alan Noble

January 26, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Creation, Culture, Series, Technology, Work

Who is Dr. O. Alan Noble: Dr. O. Alan Noble is an Assistant Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, the Managing Editor and Co-Founder of Christ and Pop Culture, and a Freelance writer for The Atlantic. He earned his PhD in Contemporary American Literature at Baylor University in 2013, writing on manifestations of transcendence in twentieth-century American literature. His wife, Brittany, currently teaches in the Math Department at OBU whiling finishing her Master’s in Economics at Baylor. They have a 5-year-old daughter and a 2.5-year-old son.

Review: James K. A. Smith’s Imagining the Kingdom

January 23, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Book Review, Culture, Creation, Work

“When we worship on Sunday, it spills over into our cultural labor on Monday” (3).

Imaging the Kingdom is volume two of James K. A. Smith’s Cultural Liturgies series. I previously reviewed volume one Desiring the Kingdom. At the core, Smith argues, “[W]e are, primarily and at root, affective animals whose worlds are made more by the imagination than by the intellect—that humans are those desiring creatures who live off stories, narratives, images, and the stuff of poises” (xii). Smith’s stated goal is “the renewal of practice” (xvii). If the end of worship is action (going into the world) then we must “recruit our imagination” (6). Our imagination is what will grab our hearts as we go out into the world on the missio Dei. Love and our affections are at the center of his proposal (7).

Imaging the Kingdom splits into two neat parts. Part one reviews French theorists Mzerleau-Ponty and Bourdieu laying the foundation for his liturgical anthropology. Part two offers a more “tangible discussion” that the “theoretical toolbox” from part one furnishes (xvii).

Culture Creators: An Interview with Matt Heerema

January 12, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Creation, Culture, Discipleship, Series, Technology, Work

Who is Matt Heerema: Matt Heerema lives in Ames, Iowa and is a bi-vocational pastor and Web agency director, husband, father of four daughters, musician, and massive geek. He serves with a team of six pastors at Stonebrook Church where he helps oversee corporate worship ministries (he can’t bring himself to say worship pastor, all pastors are worship pastors . . . ) and theological training. He owns and directs Mere Agency, and is very excited about their recent launch of MereChurch: effective Web sites for small churches and ministries. Matt is also working on a Master’s of Theology Degree through the Antioch School for Church Planting and Leadership Development. He posts occasionally on his blog at mattheerema.com. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the other places.

Culture Creators: An Interview with Jonathan K. Dodson

January 05, 2015 by Mathew B. Sims in Creation, Culture, Discipleship, Gospel Story, Mission, Reformed, Technology, Work

Who is Jonathan Dodson? Jonathan K. Dodson (MDiv; ThM) serves as a pastor of City Life Church in Austin, Texas. He is the author of Gospel-Centered Discipleship, The Unbelievable Gospel, and Raised? He has discipled men and women abroad and at home for almost two decades, taking great delight in communicating the gospel and seeing Christ formed in others. Twitter: @Jonathan_Dodson

Culture Creators: An Interview with David Radford of The Gray Havens

December 29, 2014 by Mathew B. Sims in Culture, Creation, Discipleship, Work

“Good, beautiful stories plunge the reader into a fictional world in such a way that when they come out again, they perceive the real world more clearly and with more joy than before. In much the same way, song lyrics—when married to the right melody—can penetrate the heart. Story plays such a huge part in our songs because powerfulnarratives have been so transforming for us personally.” —Dave Radford

Who are The Gray Havens: Based in Chicago, The Gray Havens have established a loyal following since the release of the Where Eyes Don’t Go EP in 2013. This year they have been featured at Under The Radar’s Escape To The Lake event, along with Jason Gray and Sara Groves, among others, as well as Under The Radar’s post-Dove Awards Nashville showcase, alongside Andrew Peterson, JJ Heller, and Andrew Greer and Cindy Morgan. The duo will launch their Fire And Stone release tour in January. For more information about The Gray Havens and their latest release click here.

Our Earthy Future Home

November 10, 2014 by Mathew B. Sims in Work, Mission, Jesus Christ, Imago Dei, Gospel Story, Culture

During the Arian controversy of the early church, Arius’ heresy spread through song. The heterodox presbyters wrote songs that the common man could easily learn, so while the Church determined Arianism was heresy, the popular vote went for the heresy. It’s not a stretch to say that what the church sings it will confess.

Many in the church today have a wrong view of end times and that has a lot to do with the songs she has been singing. In the tradition I grew up in we often sang,

This world is not my I’m just a-passin’ through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore

A song meant to steel our nerve as we sojourn through this dark and perilous world. It’s a song that sets the Christian apart from her culture, neighbors, and the world. We do not engage and create anything in this world worth relishing, rather we are waiting to be called to Gloryland by angels where we will meet friend Jesus and shake hands with our loving family.

Why Can’t Everything Be Free?

September 24, 2014 by Mathew B. Sims in Discipleship, Culture, Creation, Work

I love attending conferences and I don’t care how many people know it. Conferences get a bad wrap for a variety of reasons. The most substantial critique examines how they may fester the celebrity culture in Evangelicalism. Although speakers play some role into what conferences I attend, it has more to do with everyone else who attends. I attend for the relational fellowship. Because of that I prioritize meeting with people over teaching sessions sometimes.

I had missed a few of the Together for the Gospel sessions this year knowing I could catch them later on MP3 or video. I found out later that they would only be available for free for a limited time and then there would be a charge. Honestly, I grumbled. Looking back I regret that. We’re spoiled. With sites like Mongerism.com and DesiringGod.org giving away more content than I could consume in an entire lifetime we expect all of our digital content to be free.

Advancing a Christian Work Ethic

July 07, 2014 by Mathew B. Sims in Work, Mission, Reformed, Discipleship

A lot of hot air has been flooding the atmosphere since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby. Two common complaints I’ve heard are “Business are people? Ha!” snide remarks and “Christian businesses? How can a business be Christian?” I dislike the adjectival use of the word Christian in front of nouns ad nausea as much as the next guy. Christian bookstores. Christian gift stores. Christian pinterest (this is a thing Godinterest.com). Christian movies. To the Christianizing of normal things there is no end.

Review: Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next

June 28, 2014 by Mathew B. Sims in Work, Book Review

Confession. I do not read productivity books. It’s not that I'm opposed to them. Honestly, they've just never been on my radar. I do have methods for getting stuff done (many of which I now know are inefficient—no more using my email inbox as a to-do list), but until recently I’ve never thought much about them. Matt Perman changed that. What’s Best Next tackles the how-can-I-get-stuff-done through the lens of the gospel. Matt says,

“What we see here is that there is no distinction between learning how to be productive and learning how to live the Christian life altogether, for both are about how we are to live in this world for the glory of God . . . . With the specific issue of productivity, then, we will likely utilize the same best practices as non-Christians in things like processing workflow and getting our email inboxes to zero. But when it comes to the motive and foundation of our productivity, the gospel brings in some radical transformations” (66, 67).