The 10,000 Hour Rule
While we claim to be disciples or “students” of Jesus, many do not study Jesus seriously. In the best selling book “Outliers: The Story of Success,” Malcolm Glidewell says it takes 10,000 hours to be good at something. In the book, he uses examples from both music and sports. Both Michael Jordan and the Beetles made history, yet neither was exempt from the 10,000 hour rule.

In a published interview Tidwell says, “One of the reasons people don’t feel they can reinvent themselves is that they think being good at something requires some innate gift. They think, ‘I couldn’t do that, I don’t have that kind of mind or that kind of ability.’ But the 10,000-hour rule says you can do that; you just have to put in the necessary time. The thing that limits us in our choices is not something we have no control over, our abilities. It is something we do have control over—our effort.”

Why do so few Christians experience the abundant life God has prepared for them? Could it be they have not practiced the 10,000-hour rule?

Parents need to provide their children the opportunity for 10,000 hours in Christian training before they go away to college. While this number can appear intimidating, it is very realistic when you look what is available each week.

• 3 hours of church per week on Sunday (10 years equals 1560 hours)
• 2 hours of Wednesday night activities (10 years equal 1040 hours)
• 2 hours per week or 17 minutes per day for either family or individual child devotions (10 years equals 1040 hours)
• 2 hours per week watching Christian content based videos, reading Christian authors, or listening to Christian music (10 years equal 1040 hours)
• 15 hours annually of Vacation Bible School or Day Camp (10 years equals 150 hours)
• 30 hours annually in Scripture Seekers counting home work (4 years equals 120 hours)
• 100 hours of Scouts or Christian community activities (5 years equals 500 hours)

In 10 years, you can help your child be half way toward the 10,000 hours without any of the wonderful special Christian camps and Bible studies they can attend.

No one excels in SOUL SCHOOL without making it a priority.