John Stanko

I am enjoying this down time I have and am trying to make the most of it.  I enrolled in a Quickbooks class for the next two Saturdays so I can learn how to use this software in my own companies and in the work I do for others.  This class is offered through the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry here in Pittsburgh, where I am a board member, treasurer, consultant, sometime instructor and missions advisor.  It is enjoyable work as I assist students who are returning to school to earn their college degrees through Geneva College.  This year we had one student enroll who is 65 years of age and another who is 69!  They are doing well in their classes, and I just met with them to go over their DISC profile results and do an overview of their ministry goals.

I suppose that I enjoyed working with them so much that they influenced me to go back to school for my Doctor of Ministry degree.  Speaking of that, I am really into the research portion of my last two classes and it is both enjoyable and time-consuming.  I didn't see this coming, but I am on a study sabbatical of sorts, and I am sitting here typing this with about 25 books on my desk that I am currently reading and using in my research.  When I began the program, I thought school was going to be just another activity on my to-do list.  Instead it has become almost my entire to-do list!

I was working on my Bible studies I send out every week this morning and I came to the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 24.  The main lesson in that story is that God expects preparedness and there is no way to cram or delay your way into spiritual or life success.  There is only one way to earn my degree or write my books, and that is one page at a time, one day at a time.  There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity or preparation, and we don't know how much time we have before we meet Him or He returns to us.  That means we must work with urgency. 

This new season has made finances a bit tight, but I am working hard not to fret and to focus on the work at hand that the Lord has assigned for me to do. We just got an unexpected tax bill but I know God can take care of it according to His perfect plan.  I do get to write a lot now, which I love, and I am working on my next book while consulting with two others to help them write their books.  I would love to do more consulting and even ghost writing for other authors who need help publishing.

So that's how I am spending my days.  I am off to New York City for a few days with a friend and will have dinner with my two adult chlldren tomorrow night.  Then it's one more visit to Yankee Stadium before it closes, and I return home for some meetings and coaching sessions later in the week -- and one more Quickbooks class next Saturday.