You have noticed that important people get interviewed. A few interviews of interest include that of John Piper (mp3), Justin Taylor, C. J. Mahaney, John MacArthur ($6!), and Steven Spielberg. Nobody ever asks to interview me and I’m a-thinking that it ain’t going to happen any time soon. So I thought I’d entertain my readers with me interviewing me.
Me: Todd, thank you for joining us today.
Me: My pleasure.
Me: You’re a teacher. Has that always been your life dream?
Me: I remember being a senior in high school and the teacher asked our class who wanted to be a teacher. One person raised their hand (not me). It simply was not viewed as desirable. But as I worked my way through college, and came to Israel for the first time, it became apparent to me that this was both my desire and my gifting.
Me: Do you have a favorite class to teach?
Me: Well, I don’t teach any classes that I don’t like. That’s a real privilege that I have. I tend to like most whatever classes I’m teaching at the moment. Right now that would be History of Ancient Israel and Jerusalem Archaeology.
Me: How do you feel after a day of teaching?
Me: Incredibly blessed as I love these subjects so much. Also tired. Teaching makes me tired.
Me: What makes you the most tired?
Me: Museums – either teaching in them or visiting them.
Me: What is one of your all-time favorite words?
Me: Context
Me: That sounds like it could be the subject of a future post.
Me: Yep.
Me: What is one of the questions you dislike the most?
Me: “How many kids do you have?”
Me: Any others?
Me: “Do you plan to live the rest of your life in Israel?” I just think, Does anybody in the world really plan that far ahead? I’m having trouble with just knowing what I’m doing today.
Me: We understand that you’ve lived in Israel for a long time. Are there any places you still want to visit?
Me: Actually I have a full page (two-column) list of places. Not all are ones I haven’t visited, but I may just want to return or to photograph them at a different time of day or season.
Me: Can you give me some examples?
Me: Sure. In Jerusalem: Monastery of St. Onuphrius (traditional Hakeldema), Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jason’s Tomb (at 1 p.m.), and Lifta. Elsewhere: Beth Zur, Bethlehem of Galilee, hike through the Michmash Pass, and see the latest excavations at Hippos/Susita.
Me: We heard that your first wife was a real babe. Is that true?
Me: Yes.
Me: We heard that just after you started dating her, you went on an archaeological excavation?
Me: Indeed. In fact, I highly recommend that for potential couples. It really shows whether they can handle hard times. That and dirt and pots and pans.
Me: Where were you digging?
Me: Tell Beth Shean. Late Bronze.
Me: What do you have trouble remembering?
Me: Events in my life (major ones excluded). That’s why nearly all of my examples in teaching come from things in the previous week.
Me: What do you not have trouble remembering?
Me: My students. I remember very clearly their name, when they were my students, and what they look like. I can almost never remember what grade they got or what their paper was about.
Me: What book of the Bible is your favorite?
Me: I usually like whatever I’m reading (save Leviticus). I especially enjoy teaching 1 Samuel though I never get to go slowly enough. I’m in 1 Samuel now in one of my classes.
Me: Do you have any struggles right now that your friends could pray for you about?
Me: Well, one that I’ll mention is my need to complete a certain course that I am enrolled in. The subject is difficult for me and time is elusive.
Me: Why don’t you just quit blogging; then you’d have more time.
Me: I’ve certainly thought about it. But I usually don’t spend that much time on it per day. If I can’t do it fast, I don’t do it. Which is why you usually don’t read long deeply-thought-out posts. I also see this as something of a ministry, as an extended classroom. Thus far, it seems worth my while.
Me: Tell me about a good book you’ve seen in the last, oh, day or so.
Me: The Sacred Bridge, by Anson Rainey and Steven Notley. I was absolutely blown away by it. It costs $100, so I suppose I should be blown away. It’s one of those books that I just want to sit down and read cover to cover. I expect I’ll write more about that here in the future.
Me: Any favorite songs lately?
Me: God Moves is an old hymn recently put to a new melody. The words are here. The whole song used to be available for free; now I only see the first 1:20 available. (or here for $1). Another song from the same CD is free here (see right sidebar).
Me: Thank you for the opportunity to interview you today.
Me: The honor is all mine. By the way, you’re a great interviewer. :-)
Todd…what can I say. You’re one of a kind. That’s why we love you!!!
wow
Todd,
I really enjoyed that! :) Thanks for taking the time to ask yourself questions and to give us an inside view as to what you’re doing right now and what you’re thinking about. I continue to pray for you and your students. The fact that you’re teaching Ancient Israel and Jerusalem Archeology together reminds me of classes in FA 03. :) The Lord Bless you
thats awesome! :)
Thanks for making my day, Todd! Don’t stop blogging! :-)
Todd, that interview was probably the best one I’ve read. You are funny. :) I’m glad you took your time to write this out. Israel sounds like a whole life away. I had an amazing time and I’m thankful that you were the Land and Bible professor. You’re awesome!
hi todd! i loved the post! we’re praying for you and the students!
I love it – dialogue and pictures. You look like Indiana Jones in that photo! I hope Blackstone is still on your list of photo sites.
Dear Todd,
It is always a blessing to hear how one of our beloved professors is doing. Thank you for taking the time to humor us with an interview with yourself. I will be praying for finishing your class, and for your family. I hope you have a great day and God bless!
Sean FA03
Todd, I was cracking up when I read the first few lines. I’m thankful to be in your “extended class”…appreciate keeping up on your blog.
Todd-
You crack me up…I mean, I knew you were funny, but this was hysterical!
-“Me: We heard that your first wife was a real babe. Is that true?
Me: Yes.”
Your first wife?! That really threw me at first :)
-“Me: We heard that just after you started dating her, you went on an archaeological excavation?
Me: Indeed. In fact, I highly recommend that for potential couples. It really shows whether they can handle hard times. That and dirt and pots and pans.”
Thanks for using “we” since “you” were a plurality in this interview!
-“It really shows whether they can handle hard times. That and dirt and pots and pans.”
That last line had me laughing the most! Thanks for amusing all of us, your “foreign students,” for a while!
OK, without looking it up … what semester was I at IBEX? What do I look like? And, what grade did I get in your class? Oh, just for kicks, name five other students there that semester?
So this is what you do in all your free time. =) Your interviewer seemed to know all the right questions to ask… you guys must be close. Thanks… very insightful and humorous! Miss you and think of and pray for you all often.
All – I’m glad you liked this. I bet there are some out there who are just shaking their heads though :=).
Brian – you’re too easy on me. I probably have regular contact with a full 10 of those from Fall 96 (as hard to believe as that is, it is true; that’s not the case with most semesters). I can name 10 others very quickly. As for looks, I can see your face perfectly but am not so good at putting that into words. As for grade, you didn’t get one because you dropped the class two weeks before the final :-).
That was most amusing, Todd. I was also thrown by the “first wife” bit. Perhaps this is a reference to the kinds of questions other interviewers ask, and I just don’t read enough interviews to catch the humor. :)
Hi Todd,
Charissa and I were just talking about how we can never hear a sermon on 2 Cor. 4:16-18 without thinking of your chapel message. It was good to have those comments balanced out by this reminder of you quirky sense of humor. p.s. you’ve inspired Andrei to create his own imaginary conversations with people on IM
that interviewer is awesome…what’s wrong with the interviewee?
j/k alot of my roomates took classes with you Todd everybody says that you could fight with the IDF
Wait… so you were interviewing yourself. and you think I am crazy!? PS I will hike the michmash pass with the both of you.
“your first wife”? are their others?
No other wives. That was an attempt at humor. Those who don’t know me won’t understand or appreciate many things on this blog, I’m afraid.