As I write this article (Wed. August 17) my wife Linda is starting a new school year and meeting her fresh crop of fifth graders for the first time.  I don't know how well I could handle 25 rambunctious kids fresh from a two-and-a-half month summer vacation.   As I told her, "You're a better man than I am!"

I didn't much care for school as I was growing up.  I was a fair student, but to be perfectly honest, I was not very good at studying.  Certain subjects came to me rather easily: I had no problem with history or reading.   Science, math and Spanish were another story.  (When asked by my Spanish teacher what "dinero" was I ventured, "The third meal of the day?")   I just didn't see the point of "wasting" 2-3 hours each evening with books when I could be watching TV, listening to music or being with my friends.   I finished high school with a B average.

Then I went to college.   BIG change.   Suddenly, none of the subjects came easily to me.  Even worse, I was paying for these classes.   I had to do a better job of studying.  But I didn't know how.   I muddled through my freshman year with a C average.

Then, my sophomore year, I met Linda.   Because this article needs to be short I can't tell you a great deal about our courtship but I will tell you this:  Linda is VERY serious about education and learning.   Most of our "dates" were on campus.  And they were study sessions.   That's right, study sessions.   In the upstairs hallway of the Chapel Building at Kentucky Christian College Linda and I would sit side-by-side: she had her books and notes and I had mine.  The difference was that she knew how to use them.  I didn't.  

So Linda taught me how to study.  And you know what?  I discovered that I LOVED learning!!!  I still do to this day (and I regret all those wasted early years).

As we leave Summer and head into Fall I hope we can do some learning together.   Beginning with the next Blotter we are going to take a close look at one of Jesus' greatest teachings: the Sermon on the Mount.   This sermon, found in Matthew chapters 5-7, has been called "The Code of Ethics For the Kingdom of God".   And it is exciting stuff!   Let's resolve to study it together and see what jewels God has waiting for us.

See you soon!
Bill