Trina Rowlands asked me to write another column for the newsletter. I think I will do that today because the deadline is Friday.
Hold on a second, Charlene Searles just came in and sincerely asked me what I do with my time. It appears some folks want to know. I suppose, that is a fair question when it is asked in such a way.
The query made me think about something that happened years ago. I was speaking with a young man who was recent graduate of Zion Bible Institute in Rhode Island. "You have it great", he said. "I can't wait until I am a pastor, I will be able to quit my dead-end job and only have to work on Sunday!" I perceived at once that I was in the presence of a truly ignorant fellow.
Hold on. Emma Luffman just came in about the new program, "Grief Share." All is taken care of. I'm back.
Pastoral work is unlike any other profession. Some pastors say that being a pastor requires you to be on call 24-7. I have not found that to be the case in Cheshire. People do not disturb us in the night unless it is a real emergency.
Hold on a second I have to get the phone. . . It was Julie Keller looking for Marie. Sorry, I'm back.
So, what do I do with my time? According to the bible my main responsibility is to prayerfully prepare for the ministry of the word of God.
There are several obligations that are on my "A List" of priorities: on average I spend (6) hours per week preparing the sermon. This includes prayer, meditation, writing, and producing screen presentations. Sunday school makes it's demands too. (3) I pray for our church and people each day (1). In addition, these are items demand attention on a monthly basis: The "First Things First" Class: (4), Church Board (2-3) Elders Meetings (3), Canandaigua Clergy Association (2) Elim Fellowship Pastor's meetings. (2)
I also have a "AA List." It consists of funerals, accidents, emergency rooms, hospitalization, court, family fights, church fights, adulteries, fornication's, and murders. Well, perhaps not murders. There is no way for me to tell when these will arise but when they do, each item may even take a day or more. (4)
Hold on a second. I
remembered
I have to call New York City about my India ticket refund. . .
9-11 messed everything up. It's now 12/19 and still no refund. Should I
be
angry? Back to work:
I try to be in the office when Janice is here on Monday and Thursday morning. I do this in case she needs me for announcements, board minutes, newspaper ads, or something else .
Oh Boy, I am never going to get this done! John Hudson is here, returning my books he borrowed. . . Back to work
When there is nothing pressing on the A or AA list I move to the B list. This is where I keep the projects. Every year the project list is different. Last year it was remodeling the church office. One year I completed the church history book, another year was spent organizing the fellowship with job descriptions, and church hand book. This year I developed a Pastoral Theology course for the mission field. (50) I developed and taught a hunter safety course (130), and made a professional quality web site for the church. (75) In September I shot and butchered 3 deer for the game dinner. (25) This year I spent four weeks teaching in Seattle and Ukraine. I trained more than fifty pastors and evangelists. (336)
I do a lot of small things too. Sometimes I have to help the treasurer with the computer. I listen to gripes. I mail letters to missionaries. I do marriage counseling. I spend time conversing with department heads. I mop the kitchen floor. I wash dishes. I clean the toilet.
Thinking of that . . . Hold on I'll be right back.
We have a lot of other things on the agenda too. We are always invited to weddings. showers, graduations, and parties.
This week was not too unusual. Sunday evening was the Elders meeting. Monday night Caleb was elected and the Senior Patrol Leader of the Canandaigua Boy Scouts. Amos was promoted to first class. I stayed home with the smaller kids. Tuesday evening was spent at our house entertaining Beth and Mike Morath. Tonight is praise team. (It is only 3:00 but my wife just arrived. She has a lot of work to do.) Thursday evening - so far so good. Friday evening will be spent with Ken and Audry Wasnock at our house. Saturday I am going squirrel hunting. Call me if you want to, I will not be home.
Well where has the time gone this afternoon? Well, at least I took care of the newsletter. (3)
By the way, what do you all do with your time?
There is the phone again. . .
It's 3:30, I guess I will eat lunch
3:50 -back to work
Kevin A. Cotter 12/19/2001