A New Graduate Class

I just started my third graduate class this week. It is called Leadership and Diversity. I have mixed emotions going in to the class. I am a little overwhelmed with the syllabus for the course. It looks to be a very tough class. On the other hand, I'm excited as the course is being taught by Rick Mann, who is the new president of Crown College. It will be cool to interact with him regularly for seven weeks. It will also be more encouragement for me to put my best foot forward.

There are four books required for this course. the first one is the bestseller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I have skimmed through this book in the past, but never really sat down and tried to digest it before. It is truly an amazing book. There is so much that one could comment on.

One area that has kept me thinking is when Covey talks about the different Quadrant's in one's life and how we spend our time doing the not-so-important, and the very-important or urgent gets missed. Prioritizing one's life is very important.

As a pastor, I could spend my entire day just answering and talking on the telephone. Telemarketers alone could fill my day with new gadgets and programs that my ministry must try-out... It is imperative that I make time in my planner for those important things that must get considerable time. I must block out huge amounts of time each week for my sermon preparation. I must block out time each week for my family. Most important, I must intentionally block out times to spend alone with God. If I don't schedule those things, it is a fair chance that they will get squeezed out! Make time for what is important!