It's been several weeks since I started this adventure. I'm really enjoying the study but was struggling to get much work done once the school holidays began.

I've found a new way (well, new for me!) to study which has helped me so much, I wanted to share it. Apologies if this is really obvious but until this month, I'd failed to appreciate the value of the printable versions of the units.

But a couple of weeks ago, I took my laptop to my parents house and took advantage of their lovely fast printer to print out the units I hadn't studied yet. Prior to this, I was dependant upon being at the PC in order to study but now, I can study anyway, even whilst my son is playing in the bath!!

I understand that this wouldn't work for everyone but I've gotten very good at working with sound around me so the noise isn't a problem. God is being very, very good because as a kid, I was hopeless at working in anything less than absolute silence!

I really should be working on the third unit of this first module but instead I got distracted by Facebook. Note to self: turn off email when studying. I had a whole two hours after house group and now it's gone and I feel so cross because I will never get that time back.

Time is a precious commodity, especially in our house with our three little ones under foot. They're lovely but 'me' time and 'God' time have to be carved out as precious. This is not time to be wasted - hence my crossness with myself. And now, having told myself off, what am I doing writing this when I should be studying?!

OK, point taken ...

Its hard to believe that we have been Online for 9 months now.  There has been a lot to do and there still is a lot to do but we are all very happy in the Online department.  We get lots of encouragement from our students.  Just this morning someone finishing the Basic Preaching Skills module wrote in to tell us that they doubted their preaching abilities before starting the module but now are so eager to be given their next opportunity.  We have been building up a great relationship with a College in Nazareth which is using our Online modules.  Tomorrow Peter Stevenson and myself fly out to Nazareth for a few days to meet the staff out there.  We are looking forward to it so much.  An update no doubt will be posted on our return.  In the meantime the Online department will be efficiently run by Emma George who will help you in any way she can!  Bye for now...

Good to hear from you Andy. I have just spent the afternoon studying unit 2 of module 1 and I realise what you mean about the lack of interaction with the Tutor. I suppose that is what the Journal is for, although it is odd to be putting down your thoughts, knowing that they will not be read until you submit them when you have finished the module. I find myself having to be very clear in what I write, as I want to get over what I am thinking. In a normal lecture situation the one-to-one interaction would enable you to do that much more easily. Oh well, I suppose it will just take a bit of getting used to, but it is at least teaching me to be more concise when trying to express a point! Rob

Hi Everybody,

I have just signed up for Spurgeon's Online and am really looking forward to getting into the course. It would be good to hear from other people out there. Just a little bit about myself....Aged 49, married with two children (one of each). I have thought about doing some sort of formal theology study for many years but only just gotten around to it (after prompting from my lovely wife). "Retired" from full-time work a few years ago so now I have more time on my hands to study (famous last words!). Very actively involved in teaching and preaching ministry anyway, so thought why not introduce more structure into my studies by following a set course like this one. When choosing a college, it just had to be Spurgeon's. Great man of God and he was originally a "local man" (he was baptised in the river at Soham, not far from where I live).

Anyway, I look froward to hearing from some of you.