On the End of the Semester-Sad Times

Posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 7:39 pm

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Ending any semester is a difficult thing for a teacher.  It reminds me of all of the things that I should have taught and didn’t have time, or did not get to; of all the things that I taught, that, now, looking back on the class perhaps my time would be spent better.  I always pray at the end of the semester that the Lord will help the students to remember the things that I have taught them that were correct, and help them forget the things that I taught them that were wrong.

This semester was a particularly difficult one.  In fact, this was the most difficult semester in my teaching life.  There have been student problems, faculty problems, and even problems with some of the textbooks.  It seemed that once the problems started, they compounded the difficulties that we were all working under.  Once it seemed that most of the fires were put out, a blaze would start again and we would all find ourselves trying to deal with our burns.

Add to this the fact that I am trying to do what I can to preach at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.  This has added to the stress and added to my own time as a public target.  Every once in a while I get some very kind notes/gifts to remind me of how much certain members of the congregation appreciate the fact that while I am not Dr. Kennedy, I am trying to do my best to preach the Scripture and present the Word of God for those who attend on Sunday morning.

Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates my work at the church.  Periodically I get complaints.  Today, at the end of this semester (the worst ever), I received a letter telling me about how poor my use of humor was from the pulpit and about how I should be a preacher, not a comic.  While I do admit that I do use humor from the pulpit, I hardly consider myself a comic or the few sayings that I use in most sermons as overly comedic.  The letter let me know in no uncertain terms that that I just should not use humor in the pulpit.

In answer to these criticisms, I can only say the same thing that Charles Spurgeon said when he was accused of this same crime.  When told by a woman in the church that he used entirely too much humor in his sermons the great preacher responded “If you knew how much held back, you would be very proud of me!”

The great thing about this semester is that it will pass, and that there will be a new one in January.  A new slate that we can use to write whatever we want.  I hope and pray that I will write a better semester than I have written this this time.

Your poor teacher and preacher who only hopes to one day be better than he is.  Criticize me, but please pray for me.  There are no perfect professors or pastors and I am a perfect example of that statement.  I will do the best that I can and hope that you will help me with your prayers.  I am hoping to get better.

Onward . . .,

DrSamLam