From the Spring of 1998 through the Spring of 2002, while serving Jordanville and VanHornesville on a part time basis, I did a lot of substitute teaching. I taught in nine different school systems and I taught an uncountable number of subjects, including (amazingly enough) music, auto mechanics, and Industrial Arts.
But, not surprisingly, the subjects I taught most frequently were Social Studies and English.
Once, I had a several week long position teaching Seventh Grade Social Studies. In order to see if they had grasped what we had talked about the day before, I gave a short quiz nearly every day
I haven't given a pop quiz in years. I have missed it. And so, I have concluded that Lent presents an opportunity to resume the practice.
I have kept the quiz simple. Thus the questions are true or false.
T or F. Joel told us that the "Day of the Lord" would be a day of darkness and gloom, but that if we return to God with all our heart, God might relent because God is gracious and merciful.
T or F. Isaiah told us that God expects us to break the bonds of injustice and to share our bread with the hungry, as opposed to simply going through the rituals of lying in sackcloth and ashes.
T or T. The pastor is witty and tells great jokes.
T or F. In 1 Peter, the author tells us that Christ suffered to bring us to God and that baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience.
T or F. No one noticed that my Lenten sermon titles were patterned after John Grisham book titles.
T or F. Abraham came before Moses and this is a key to understanding Paul's theology.
T or F. Nearly everyone was disappointed to see me instead of George Clooney the week our church sign read "The Descendants."
T or F. I suggested that we "March 4th" to God.
T or F. My failure to successfully write a sermon when using only my gifts, illustrated what Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians.
T or F. Paul told the Ephesians that "Grace" was the great gift and that we had done nothing to earn or deserve it.
T or F. I admitted that my eyes filled with tears when I read O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi" and when I watch the "I am Spartacus" scene in "Spartacus."
The answers to all of the above are, of course, "true." I hope the answer to the next question is as well:
T or F. All of us, inspired by the Lenten scriptures and by the cross itself, have recommitted ourselves to, individually and collectively, use those lessons by,
Worshiping regularly
Giving generously
Sharing unwaveringly
And Living accordingly
Jim