(28.) I is for Imagination Why does it seem that education in general, and Christian education in particular, are going out of their way to starve the imagination of their students? Schools are producing split personalities: all work and no wonder; all logic and no intuition; all explaining and no exploring; all rubric and no …
(27.) H is for Humility “O God, what have you done? You have made one who is ignorant a teacher, one who is blind a leader, one who errs a guide.” Anselm’s words of humility are striking, especially when you consider these lowly words were his own, prayed at his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury …
(26.) G is for Grace and Truth “In the beginning was the Word… And the Word became flesh and pitched his tent with us… Full of grace and truth.” (John 1). How could John do this? How could he assume to summarize all there is to know about the Son of God in two little …
(9.) Cooperative Discussions: Learning To Reason Together Human discourse, both public and private, is at an all-time low. Has civilized discussion ever reached a lower ebb than right now? Disagreement is somehow seen as unacceptable, and the virtue of discussing conflicting ideas to reach the truth is now viewed with so much suspicion as to …
(25.) F is for Fools for Christ Is there a more difficult place to swallow pride than academia? In education, where impressive credibility is sought, where so many believe that knowledge is power and prestige, intentionally becoming a fool for Christ is very tough sledding. What happens when we decide not to conform to this …
(24.) E is for Excellence Unfortunately, this well-worn term has become mere pop jargon. Maybe Christians can redeem that cliché and pump some substance back into it. To excel is not to be perfect, or highly acclaimed, or even successful as the non-believing world might want to define success. Excellence is not synonymous with measurable …
(23.) D is for Developing in the Dark It is no secret that every one of us was knit together in secret, hand-made by God in the depths, beyond view and comprehension. Our Creator doesn’t stop in the womb, though, for He continues weaving each person in the same mysterious way, from cradle to grave. …
(22.) C is for Christ the Center If possible, I would like to discuss this without sanctimony and God-talk. Is there any educational idea more revolutionary, more self-defining, than to put Jesus Christ in the center? No, because a formal invitation to God transforms everything, whether you are an individual or a learning community. The …
(21.) B is for Bible-Across-the-Curriculum Holy Writ provides the eyeglasses for the entire learning community, the frames we look through for perspective. Put another way, scripture places us on the high rock, from which we can properly view our world, each other, ourselves, our mission in education. Truth be known, that is how truth is …
(20.) A is for Authority How should teachers and students handle authority? Question it? Obey it? Share it, ignore it, reject it? After Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:28-29, the crowds were “amazed, because he spoke as one who had authority.” What with the surplus of authority figures around them those …
The Pedagogy of Love. (1 Corinthians 12:31-14:1 for Home, School and Church Communities) Even as you seek the higher gifts, I will now show you the most excellent way: If we speak with eloquence, or even in the very language of heaven, but have no love, we are no better than screeching playground whistles or …