Questions to ask at a class reunion

“Ten Questions to Ask at a Class Reunion”
(a brief article from Dr Don Whitney)

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say to classmates you haven’t seen in years. It’s even harder at your spouse’s class reunion, for you may not know anyone there. Take these questions with you to these gatherings and you’ll be prepared to talk with anybody: a long-lost classmate, a classmate’s spouse, even a complete stranger. In addition to school reunions, most of these questions can work in any setting where you haven’t seen the people for a long time, as well as in a situation where you are just getting acquainted. Some of the questions are just for fun, others may open deeper levels of conversation.

How did you meet your spouse?
What are your kids like?
What do you like best about your job?
What do you like best about the place where you live?
Do you have a good church?
How have you changed (other than appearance-ha) since graduation?
What’s been the biggest tragedy in your life since our school years?
How is your life different now than you thought it would be at this point?
Would you go back to our school years if you could?
If you could change one thing about the years since graduation, what would it be?

BONUS QUESTIONS

What’s your favorite school memory?
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
What’s your favorite sports memory from school?
What was your most embarrassing moment?
What was the funniest moment during our school years?
What’s been the most influential book in your life since graduation?
What’s the most important thing you want to accomplish before you die?

Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney. Used by pdb with permission.

Is jesting a virtue?

Thomas Manton wisely said,

“The praise of a Christian is not in the wittiness, 424094_chatter_teeth_3but in the graciousness of his conversation. That which is Aristotle’s virtue is made a sin with Paul* (foolish jesting). You should rather be refreshing one another with what experiences you have had of the Lord’s grace; that is the comfort and solace of Christians when they meet together. …A Christian that has God and Christ, and his wonderful and precious benefits to talk of, and so many occasions to give thanks, he cannot want [lack] matter to discourse of when he comes into company; therefore we should avoid vain discourse.”

*Ephesians 5:4 in the KJV says, “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” The Greek term for “jesting” here is eutrapelia, which Aristotle, in his Ethics, makes a virtue. Today, the term “jesting” is simply taken to mean harmless joking around. But the ESV translation captures its original, worldly sense: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Lord help us to please you with our lips.
pdb