Alva Review-Courier -

Soon it will be time to start another semester. Professors are putting together syllabi and making sure their policies and procedures are securely in place. Students are putting the finishing touches on their summer vacations and making arrangements to climb out of the pool and dive deep into learning. Of course, some of them will have to be thrown in head first while their parents yell, “Sink or swim!” If you haven’t marked the dates on your calendar, Alva Schools will welcome students back to the classroom Aug. 9 and the fall semester at Northwestern (RRR) begins Aug. 20.

One of the most important and oft-repeated questions in the classroom is, “Will that be on the test?” Some teachers take a very specific approach, making sure their students know exactly what questions will be asked and what responses are expected. Others simply answer, “If I say it in class or it’s written in your text, its fair game for the exam.” In my humble opinion (notice the lack of empirical data and quotes from juried sources), most students prefer the former but learn more from the latter.

On a semi-similar subject: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).

When it comes to scripture, many of us would love to know more than the text provides or the expert expounds. For instance, after another big rain shower last night, I started wondering why it never seems to have rained during Jesus’ ministry. He mentions rain in His preaching, but we never see Him ducking under the porch at Peter’s house to avoid a quick down-pour. Then, this morning, Beth offered to cook some shrimp for supper. (By the way, Jesus didn’t eat shrimp – not kosher.) I started wondering how Jesus liked His fish. Did He prefer fillets or did He like to pick the bones? Maybe it’s just me – and I know such questions aren’t on the “final” – but I wonder.

See you Sunday.