Preaching and Teaching

Preaching

It’s been a while since I’ve written a “muse” post but it’s not because I’ve given up writing them. This past week I had the opportunity to preach in our sending church in Davis, IL. I preached on Isaiah 46. It’s hard to preach from Isaiah. I’m actually preaching the same sermon on March 6 and 7 at First Evangelical Free in Rockford, IL. They’re having their spring missions conference then and I’ve been invited to preach during the Saturday evening and Sunday morning services.

Teaching

Last week was also the beginning of the semester in Slovakia so I was getting my syllabus in shape and the web site I use as a supplement to the class (www.ketm.toddjana.com). This last Wednesday was my first lecture of the year. Usually I teach two classes during the spring semester: Old Testament Background and A Critical Introduction to the Old Testament. I guess they changed the schedule around so this semester I have only the Introduction course. I still teach the other but I’m not sure when.

The great thing about this semester is that it should be, could be, my last semester teaching from the States. Oh how I hope. In some ways, teaching over the Internet worked out better than I thought but it’s no replacement for the real thing. I have learned the power of presence in teaching (click on a link to see an earlier post on that topic). There’s nothing like being there to interact with the students, react to how their receiving the material, and just plain be involved in their lives.

Now all I have to do is my taxes and then I can start on the next “muse” post.