Weekly Email: December 8, 2025
In this week's email:
Student Tip: Creating time before it disappears
Program News: Winter Graduation
Student Tip: Creating time before it disappears
I’m sitting here staring at a blank screen at 4:07 Monday morning, hoping to send this out in a little over two hours.
Honestly, I feel a bit like I’m sure you feel as an online student: a due date in two hours, thinking, “I wish I would have completed this earlier on Saturday.”
We just moved after 9.5 years at our current place. It’s an upgrade, so it’s exciting. We’ve been ready for this for a while, but this past week I was putting together furniture, hanging curtain rods, and doing other things around the house preparing for the move. I took off a couple days at work, and I knew I had this newsletter to write. But instead of following the advice I often give you, I thought, “I’ll have time later. I’ll get it done.”
What I’ve said before is still true today: time does not magically appear.
Looking back, I should have taken 90 minutes and written this on Monday or Tuesday when I could have easily created time in my schedule. I didn’t. I thought I would have time later, and now I’m sitting here early Monday morning with 6:30 looming, writing this out to you.
I am telling you this for two reasons.
You really are not the only one. There are other students right now staring down a deadline, wishing they had started earlier, still needing to produce something they are not fully happy with. I am in that same boat with you this morning. I would not want to live every week like this, but some weeks will look like this. Life happens. Ministry happens. Family happens.
You do not want this to become the default.When you wait until the last minute, it usually means more stress and weaker work. You will still get something turned in, but it will not be your best thinking. And the cost shows up in your focus, your family, and your energy for the rest of the week.
If you’ve been reading these emails for awhile now, you probably know exactly what I’m going to say next. Here is the simple, concrete move I wish I had made last week and that I want to encourage you to make this week:
Block 60–90 minutes on Monday or Tuesday for that “non-urgent but important” work. Guard it. Treat it like a dentist appointment that you have to be at. Then make progress.
This could be something as simple as outlining a paper that is due in 2–3 weeks or go ahead and starting that book review instead of thinking about the book a little bit more.
Some weeks will still go sideways. You will make choices you wish you had made differently. When that happens, keep pressing on. There really is another week coming. You can keep adjusting your schedule, learning from what did not work, and working a little earlier in the week.
Just know that I am right there with you, even on the 4:07 a.m. weeks.
Program News: Winter Graduation & Livestream
Graduation is this Friday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. I’m so thankful for all of you who are finishing this term. I know it has been a long, hard process. Many sacrifices have been made by you, your family, your colleagues, and others in your life.
Take this time to rejoice and look back at how God has sustained you through your journey here at Southern.
If you are not graduating, I encourage you to visit www.sbts.edu/live at 10:00 a.m. this Friday to watch the livestream. Let it be an encouragement and a vision of the finish line. As you see students who have walked the same path you are on now, pray and ask God to sustain you as well, to give you the daily encouragement to wake up, study, and continue the work he has called you to do.
Quick Reference of Upcoming Term Dates:
Current Week: Winter, Week 2 (December 8-15)
Spring 1 Term Begins: February 2, 2026
Spring 2 Term Begins: April 6, 2026
Register for Courses →
Spring Experiential Modular courses filled up quickly, so be on the lookout for the fall schedule if you would like a spot.
