Back in Class

After 3 semesters off, I am now back teaching a class at Oakland City University in Bedford. It’s really good to be back. I always learn a lot while I am teaching.

I really like my new "learning community," as I like to call them. It’s a small group of 13. Each group is different, and I think this one is going to be special. They are already opening up and discussing lots of things.

Yesterday I was struck, once again, by how much pain there is in the world. One of my student’s husband was good friends to one of the men who died in the plane crash at Bloomington a couple of days ago. She told of going to his home to comfort the wife and children. Another student came in crying. She was upset because she had just rescued a 2 year old who had wandered onto the street in front of her car. It took her a while to raise anyone to take responsibility for the child. Another student shared that his wife has ovarian cancer. We prayed together about all these things.

I love the way this class is so interested in the Word. Yesterday we shared selected texts from Matthew. They were totally engrossed by the words of Jesus and stories about him. Some of them are hearing and seeing for the first time.

Once again I am reminded about how little people really know about the Story of God, even people who go to church. It’s refreshing for me to tell the Story afresh and to see faces light up.