One of the most difficult things to master, when students learn at their own pace, is the failure to set the proper weekly and daily goals, which which can ensure the completion of their course of study in a timely manner. In order to complete your course of study in a reasonable amount of time so you can move on to the next section of your degree program, or your next course, is to set daily, weekly and monthly goals. I tell my students that life is about setting goals – 1 year, 5-year, 10 year and 25-year goals must be made. If you do not know where you are going any road will take you there. You must set concrete goals. Even if older students are 50 he or she still may have 25 years ahead of them. Even a 60-year-old may have that many years of life left. And so, a 25-year plan, even among older folks isn’t far-fetched.
Why are goals essential?
By setting goals, with specific deadlines attached to them, you can actually measure your productivity
and see whether or not you are on target for your completion date. That is another important aspect of goal setting. Every goal must have attached to it a completion date, a deadline, that is feasible but not too lax.
For example: If you have a text book that you need to read for a course (or a number of books for that matter) you must set specific times when you are able to concentrate for that task. If the book is of a technical nature, math, science, etc, or one that requires deep reading, thinking and notating like philosophical treatises or theological topics, then you cannot skim or “Smart Read”. You must dig into each paragraph in order to grasp the main points that the author is making. Then you must notate the major points of that portion of the book or chapter. This is the way to learn deeply. This type of learning is called ‘Ultra Learning’. This requires time. Setting a reading/study schedule with a specific deadline is, therefore, essential if you are going to finish your required course work in a reasonable amount of time.
The Daily List for Total Completion
At the beginning of each week write down what you need to accomplish that week to reach your end 
goal. For instance: If your goal is to finish a book or an assignment in 4 weeks, divide your reading/assignment list into 4 weekly sections. Then divide that into 20 daily sections, presupposing a 5-day study schedule.
For example: If you need to read a total of 40 chapters and complete a total of 100 short answer assignments, divide these into a 4-week block. For this example, you will have to read 10 chapters per week and complete 25 short answer questions. That is further broken down into 5 parts corresponding to your 5-day study week. This means that you will have to read 2 chapters per day and complete 5 study questions per day.
The key to this formula is writing it down. 
Writing it down in a calendar, notebook or journal gives you a tangible document you can refer to see if you are keeping up to your intended completion date. Writing it down makes it real.
The successful completion of any task is its own reward. Coram Deo!
Within the Christian community there seems to be a recent obsession with building a “Family Business”. On the outset permit me to say that a family business is a good thing provided it is really about building the Kingdom of God and not being used only as a pretext for that end. Too many “Christian Family Businesses” are actually structured to advance the legacy of the individual family and not the legacy of the Lord. To this I say “Anathema!” God will not bless such hypocritical blasphemy. To use the Name of Christ to advance anything but the Glory of God will be met with much sorrow.
not the only identifying mark of fidelity. God does not call every family to build an economic program around the family unit. While the Body is One, it is made up of many parts. Families are made up of individuals each being called by God to a specific end. One must take into consideration the variables within the family make-up before launching a family business. An assessment of each family member, their gifts and character should be considered before a family business begins. To insinuate that a family business is the only path to the fulfillment of the Dominion Mandate is to totally misunderstand the Scriptures.
Furthermore, not every family should consider starting a family business. The Dominion Mandate must be spread throughout every aspect and institution within the marketplace and not simply sequestered to the family unit. This is what the Amish do. They are so afraid of the secularism in the market place that they shun it. They are not of the world simply because they are not in the world. Jesus commands the people of God to be in the world but not of it. One must be in it to change it. This is why the Apostle tells his brethren that they ought to obey their masters while working in the marketplace. They are told to work diligently, as unto the Lord, while in the employ of others. Not everyone is called to be an entrepreneur. Not everyone has the gift of business administration. Not every should covet that if it is not in their gift. To do so only invites frustration and despair.
economic prosperity, and or security, the Kingdom of God is advanced. In this case the focus is economic. The inheritance in view is the family business and the success thereof. This is a very appealing path since it promises both God and money. But is this the inheritance that God calls families to build? Is this truly the business that the family needs to be concerned about establishing?
the end all for the advancement of the Kingdom. It is, however, a helpful tool. To be sure money makes things easier. We can do much with money, and with it can make significant strides if it is stewarded properly. But that is not the issue. What we must learn is how to do much without it. To be faithful in little is the key to fidelity. Money is only given as an added tool for His Kingdom’s advance but it is only given after we have proven our fidelity in a little.
Money is never to be confused with prosperity. Nor is it to be confused with what God has in mind concerning inheritance. The inheritance He calls each father to give to his children is the Lord Jesus and the understanding of His Law. That is the father’s leadership responsibility under the Covenant. God is the exceeding and great reward and His Law is the Light to every child’s path.
both of which have nothing to do with money or a family business. It is the business of God that the family needs to be about. The business of the family of God. Jesus said, “I must be about My Father’s Business’. Luke 2:29 That was His Family Business. That must be our primary family business focus. The business of the family, God-ward, must be the focus if that family is to be blessed and faithful in the execution of the Dominion Mandate. Family business, in its most basic form, should be defined as being trained in the Word of God for the Kingdom’s advance. Simply because a family has a undertaken a economic business venture does not make it a Christian family business, nor does it satisfy the command of being about the Father’s kingdom business. Jesus said, “As My Father hath sent Me, so send I you.” John 20:21
Most electronic devices, all of which are pandemically common within our day to day living, are a constant interruption with their beeps, buzzes and alarms. These only add to our attention deficit disorder which makes it almost impossible to think clearly or focus on any given project or task. Mankind has become a slave to email, Face Book, Twitter, Linked In and a myriad of other techno-interrupters all designed to make us productively impotent.
One of the ways that time can be redeemed is through Goal Setting. Without goals, there can be no measurable success, especially when it comes to advancing the Kingdom of God. In order to maximize time, each day must be carefully planned so as to not waste it on those things that distract us. Focus is key. Brian Tracy in his book “Get Smart” explains.
Goals is paramount. The legacy of Christ and His global reconstruction is the focus and legacy of the committed saint. And while distractions remain a thorn, the saint, as a result of his focused Kingdom commitment, is able to side step the lure of distraction. This however is not the case for far too many within the realm of Christendom today.
Face Book’s distraction is the granddaddy of all distractions. It has become the great Red Dragon of both distraction and destruction for many in the ranks of the faithful. In man’s desire to know and be known Facebook provides a powerful venue. This desire is not only rampant within the secular world but also within Christendom. Every little thing we do, say, eat, or where we go is now logged into the World Wide Web via Facebook for all to see. But it doesn’t end there. In a desire to declare our existence and relevancy to the world, we want to tell others what we are thinking, doing, saying, eating or where we are going. Facebook addiction also compels the individual to weigh in on every discussion or comment just to be heard. With a simply click we can “Like”, “Unlike”, “Happy Face”, “Sad Face”, “Crying Face” “Cute Animal Face” and dozens of other icons that give us a worldwide audience.
accessed without the threat of being arrested allowing us to peer into everyone else’s business. What is disturbing about this is not so much what is being posted, since most of it is innocent, it is the fact that so much precious time is being wasted. We are caring more about what others are doing, eating, saying or going than we do about creating something of life long importance. Hours upon hours are spend on Facebook in order to become narcissistically cyber relevant.
But there is an even greater danger at hand other than narcissism or voyeurism. Within some of the private theological groups there appears to be a greater evil than being simply a time waster.
In an attempt to gain followers Facebook has become the vehicle of slander, criticism and offence. Rather than seeking a face to face discussion with those brethren that either disagree or have a different opinion on a theological matter Facebook has given the excuse of violating Matthew 18. This has become increasingly disheartening and if not repented of it will destroy any hope of Reformation within this and possibly future generations. If today’s theologians are setting the example for the next generation what is it that they are actually exemplifying? And so, while professing to be Theologically proficient in the Scriptures these folks have violated the most basic of commandments.
I have long avoided such people since they eat up the precious Time God has entrusted me with to do His will. While so many Facebook pontificators talk about the things of God and cultural renewal, very few are actually doing something productive. Talk is cheap. Argumentative talk is disruptive and distractive. It leads nowhere and therefore we should not enter into such avenues.
The trend for starting a business is becoming quite popular among the Christian community. Of course, as a “Christian business” it is to be structured according to the ethical standards of Scripture. But what is the motivation and characteristic of a Christian business? How does a Christian business distinguish itself from any other business? Is what is considered a Christian business simply a business that prides itself on the Scriptural principles of honesty, integrity and fair pricing? If that is what determines the identity of a Christian business, then we might agree that those businesses are in fact Christian. But these traits alone what makes a business Christian?
on ripping people off. They go into business to provide a skill or service that is unique, and which serves the local or global community in a way that can be profitable. All businesses exist to make a profit. Christian businesses are no exception nor should they be. But that should never be the end goal.
together in a unified effort to support itself. It is then passed down to the next generation. While a worthy endeavor this, in and of itself, does not make the family business a Christian business. There are thousands of family owned and operated businesses that are distinctly not Christian. They are established in an effort to support the family and to hopefully pass it on to the next generation.
piety within the secular marketplace. They want to close on Sunday, maintain a customer base which conforms to their standard of ethics, or seek to shun any employment which mandates working for a non-Christian employer. But this does not make the business a Christian business. Many non-Christian individuals start businesses to be free from tyrannical employers. Some start a business to be more flexible with their work schedule or to pick and choose their customer base. But this does not make the company Christian. Starting a business and calling it “Christian” simply because the owners and employees are professing Christians does not make the business distinctly Christian.
dramatic difference between a Christian owned business and a Christ Centered business. While the structure and the methodologies might be somewhat the same, the reason and motivation behind starting a Christ-o-centric business is vastly distinct.
How Does the Christ-o-centric Business Differ?
In a rapidly changing world most young people aren’t sure what career to choose. Parents of high school age children are especially confused and are not always able to direct their sons and daughters effectively when it comes to academic and career direction. The Christian home educating community is no exception to this dilemma. In today’s marketplace no one is immune to this confusion.
afforded to the Christian. Secular colleges and universities, the so-called Bible colleges and universities, and those colleges and universities which are explicitly Christ-centered which prepare its students to be culturally relevant in the advancement of God’s Kingdom which, sadly, are few and far between. Of course, there are also trade schools which provide rich on-hands education related to a particular skill but do not necessarily fall into the category of Academia. Yet, even here we must confess that if Christians are to be faithful to their professed worldview, every trade must be taught from a Christ-centered presupposition. There can be no neutrality.
Yet, how many Christian families are drowning in debt, or considering debt, due to outrageous tuition? Even if one can justify spending the money on what is actually being taught by that institution? Does the mere price tag of an educational institution translate into a good education that is culturally relevant to the Glory of God? Not usually. So what should Christian parents and students consider when choosing higher education?
glorifying, “What college can best equip my child to advance God’s Kingdom within the scope of his or her chosen area of study?” None of God’s true saints ought to be educated for the sake of learning or for the sake of financial advancement. Our lives are to be invested for the Glory of God. All learning must be devoted to the call of God in advancing His Truth. I think the Christian community has forgotten that and has defaulted to a secular world and life view concerning higher education.
We developed New Geneva as a solution to the college dilemma. Geneva is a unique higher learning institution providing both the learning necessary for individual advancement within whatever field the student seeks to enter into. More importantly Geneva directly mentors and challenges each student to use that learning for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Without application learning is simply a head-scratching exercise.
Kindle the Fire
and His commission to teach all nations so that one day they will bow to the majesty of His Glory? How do we inspire others to move into the ranks of ‘Doers’ and not hearers only?
Fourth: What you win people with you win people to. Do not try to entertain people, like so many modern churches do today. It is a losing, even damnable strategy. Those that are serious do not want to be entertained, they want to be moved. They want to be led. Some of them just want to be involved in concrete efforts to change the way things are to the way God has commanded them to be. Look for those people when building your team of shakers and movers. Disregard the rest. Perhaps one day they will grasp the vision. Perhaps they will not and remain blind and ineffective in the battle. Nevertheless, you have a duty to perform. Get to it.
There is a book in print called the ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’. It has been around for years. It is a book on business strategies and marketing. Its premise is simple. There is a red ocean and a blue ocean within the realm of marketplace competition. The red ocean is made up of the bloody waters where the vast majority of businesses viciously fight for a small handful of customers. The blue ocean is where smart business owners find a way to create a unique market, product or service that is distinct from the rest. The result is little or no competition. Those in the blue ocean stand out. They are the real entrepreneurs. They have either a unique product or service. Coupled with the uniqueness of their product or service they have a keen intuition as to what people want and need. They also have what it takes to maximize what it means to be swimming in the blue ocean. They have what is known as MOJO. And it is that MOJO, more than anything else, that got them into the blue ocean in the first place.
business but the blue ocean of theologically applied leadership academics. While Geneva may be viewed as competing with the colleges, bible schools, universities and seminaries that are scattered across the US in multitude, it is a very unique institution. This uniqueness in addition to the MOJO that fuels Geneva is what enables it to avoid swimming in the red ocean. The red ocean is full of colleges, Bible schools, seminaries and universities that are fighting to stay afloat in a sea of tremendous competition simply because they are all similarly structured and offer the same incentives.
The educational institutions of the red ocean offer degrees many of which have been given outstanding credentials. Most of these are secular academic degrees which automatically segregates them from the Bible colleges and seminaries. Those that confer these degrees swim in the most concentrated part of the red ocean. The Bible colleges and seminaries, while distinct from the secular universities, swim in their own concentrated section of the red ocean. America is full of them. The question is “Why?” What makes these institutions red ocean swimmers and what makes Geneva a blue ocean swimmer? The answer is “Theologically Applied Leadership Academics.” Geneva is training cultural leaders for the Re-Establishment of Christendom and a Christ Centered Western Civilization.
The New Geneva Leadership Blog 
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