As a college teacher, there are many things that are rewarding. Helping students reach their highest potential; assisting them in their quest for greater knowledge; above all, enabling them to come to a better understanding of the Word of God. All of these things make my job one that is fantastic.
That being said, there are some drawbacks. This is especially true, because all of the courses I teach are completely online. By far, the biggest pet peeve I have is that some students seem to not comprehend the concept of a syllabus.
Each semester, I send out a general e-mail to all my students--introducing myself and the course they are taking. I attempt (in my feeble way) to spell out what I expect of them. Foremost is the request that they actually READ THE SYLLABUS. It shouldn't be that difficult to understand....if you want to know what is expected of you, READ THE SYLLABUS.
However, it is the case that every semester there are several students who wait until midway through the term and ask, "What are we supposed to turn in?" Or, "When are the assignments due?" Or, "What is a syllabus?" (OK, I'm just making that last one up---maybe.)
Each time, I try to suppress the impulse to TYPE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE STUDENT and instead calmly ask, "Have you read the Syllabus?" To which, I add a synopsis of what the student needs to know.
In light of all of this, I have to wonder: where did these students attend high school? Were they ever taught the concept of a syllabus? And, exactly what do you call more than one syllabus? (Well, maybe not that last one.)
To me, this is merely symptomatic of the larger issue in our culture. Many people seem to have a congenital block when it comes to reading the instructions. Maybe that's why Congress passed the massive healthcare bill--they just didn't read the instructions. Yeah, yeah, I know--Pres. Obama wanted it, and the Dems in Congress rammed it through. But, did anyone really read the thing? But, I digress.
The real problem in our society is that people are not reading the instructions that REALLY matter. This leads to creeds, catechisms, confessions of faith, the Qu'ran, the Book of Mormon, and Dianetics (L. Ron Hubbard was a so-so Science Fiction author, and was messed up in his personal life), among other things.
God's Word is all we need for our lives today. His Syllabus gives us the guidelines we need. If only we knew how to read....!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Gospel Meetings...Then and Now
This is probably my favorite time of the year. I have spent most of my life in central Alabama, so summer is a season that is particularly unique. Where else can you find 95 degree temperature with 90 percent humidity? Hey, when I was a junior in high school, on CHRISTMAS DAY the temperature was 85! Anyway, it's a special time for me.
One of the reasons I love summer is because it is "Gospel Meeting season." In churches of Christ, we have traditionally had our big evangelistic efforts during the warmest months of the year. Such was always the case where my Daddy preached. V. P. Black; J. Noel Meredith; Ben Flatt; these were but a few of the men who proclaimed the Gospel.
For many years when my Grandfather and all of Daddy's brothers were living, they would preach a meeting together. Each brother would preach one night, and Pa Hester would close it out the last night. Many souls were saved and restored through such efforts.
Over the years since I began preaching full-time, I have preached in many Gospel Meetings. These are opportunities to travel to different cities and states, create new friendships, and do what I love to do--preach the Gospel. My wife Brenda and our two sons have traveled with me on many of these trips; now, Will and Jonathan are even leading singing for some of these Meetings.
One thing I have often noticed over the past few years in visiting Gospel Meetings at sister congregations is that the focus in such efforts has changed. The urgency from the pulpit seems to be missing. The topics addressed have often shifted away from sin, salvation, and faithfulness to more everyday concerns. In some places, no longer does one hear a challenge offered to folks in denominationalism.
Several years ago, I sat through a sermon delivered by a preacher in a Meeting that addressed, in part, abortion. However, he did not focus on what the Bible says about the subject; he spent much of his time lamenting the fact that he could not go out and protest at abortion clinics--and, that he wished he could lay down on the street along with the rest of the protesters in front of automobiles that were driving into the parking lot!
"So, David, what's your point? Are you saying that YOU know best how to preach a Gospel Meeting?" No, not at all. What I am trying to say is that we preachers need to realize WHY we involve ourselves in Gospel Meetings. We need to save our best sermons for those efforts. We need to proclaim the Word of God with passion--just like the preachers of yesteryear. Save the sermons on depression, worry, and getting along with one's neighbor for your home congregation.
If brethren ask us to come in and preach a protracted meeting for them, we need to give it our best effort--no matter if the congregation numbers 15, 150, or 500. These sermons may be the last ones some ever hear. If you knew the next sermon you preach would be your last, what would you say? How would you say it? Our older preachers used to exhort us younger ones to preach "as a dying man to dying men and women." We need that advice now more than ever before. Theological liberalism, pluralism, feminism, and worldliness have all infected our culture--and, the church as well. Gospel Meetings can do much to help congregations stay strong.
One of the reasons I love summer is because it is "Gospel Meeting season." In churches of Christ, we have traditionally had our big evangelistic efforts during the warmest months of the year. Such was always the case where my Daddy preached. V. P. Black; J. Noel Meredith; Ben Flatt; these were but a few of the men who proclaimed the Gospel.
For many years when my Grandfather and all of Daddy's brothers were living, they would preach a meeting together. Each brother would preach one night, and Pa Hester would close it out the last night. Many souls were saved and restored through such efforts.
Over the years since I began preaching full-time, I have preached in many Gospel Meetings. These are opportunities to travel to different cities and states, create new friendships, and do what I love to do--preach the Gospel. My wife Brenda and our two sons have traveled with me on many of these trips; now, Will and Jonathan are even leading singing for some of these Meetings.
One thing I have often noticed over the past few years in visiting Gospel Meetings at sister congregations is that the focus in such efforts has changed. The urgency from the pulpit seems to be missing. The topics addressed have often shifted away from sin, salvation, and faithfulness to more everyday concerns. In some places, no longer does one hear a challenge offered to folks in denominationalism.
Several years ago, I sat through a sermon delivered by a preacher in a Meeting that addressed, in part, abortion. However, he did not focus on what the Bible says about the subject; he spent much of his time lamenting the fact that he could not go out and protest at abortion clinics--and, that he wished he could lay down on the street along with the rest of the protesters in front of automobiles that were driving into the parking lot!
"So, David, what's your point? Are you saying that YOU know best how to preach a Gospel Meeting?" No, not at all. What I am trying to say is that we preachers need to realize WHY we involve ourselves in Gospel Meetings. We need to save our best sermons for those efforts. We need to proclaim the Word of God with passion--just like the preachers of yesteryear. Save the sermons on depression, worry, and getting along with one's neighbor for your home congregation.
If brethren ask us to come in and preach a protracted meeting for them, we need to give it our best effort--no matter if the congregation numbers 15, 150, or 500. These sermons may be the last ones some ever hear. If you knew the next sermon you preach would be your last, what would you say? How would you say it? Our older preachers used to exhort us younger ones to preach "as a dying man to dying men and women." We need that advice now more than ever before. Theological liberalism, pluralism, feminism, and worldliness have all infected our culture--and, the church as well. Gospel Meetings can do much to help congregations stay strong.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Hello, Hello (Hola)! I'm At A Place Called Vertigo!
Well...If you're reading this, you are among the first to visit my new blog! There's no door prize, but there IS a "No-Prize" (Marvel Comic Book readers will appreciate that). Seriously, though, I'm glad you've stopped by!
I plan to occasionally post my musings on a variety of subjects, related to my sightly skewed perspective of life; a lot of what I will write will be humorous (hopefully), and silly (often). But, I also plan to write some dead serious posts on some very important subjects--relating to religion.
As the masthead says, I have a "slightly amused" take on life; it's how I can get through a day--even a week--without driving myself crazy over how folks seem to give no thought to the direction in which they're heading. Thankfully, my wife Brenda and I have two sons (Will & Jonathan) who are making us happy every day. Brenda has done a great job of rearing them! (And, I've put my two cents in every once in a while!)
Again, thanks for stopping by. Hope you'll come back! :)
I plan to occasionally post my musings on a variety of subjects, related to my sightly skewed perspective of life; a lot of what I will write will be humorous (hopefully), and silly (often). But, I also plan to write some dead serious posts on some very important subjects--relating to religion.
As the masthead says, I have a "slightly amused" take on life; it's how I can get through a day--even a week--without driving myself crazy over how folks seem to give no thought to the direction in which they're heading. Thankfully, my wife Brenda and I have two sons (Will & Jonathan) who are making us happy every day. Brenda has done a great job of rearing them! (And, I've put my two cents in every once in a while!)
Again, thanks for stopping by. Hope you'll come back! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
