In a fallen world, life is not worth living without convictions. If such things as evil, lies, and suffering are not mere illusions — not just the darker side of our social constructs — then evil must be fought, lies unmasked, and suffering eased. If such things exist at all, and especially if they flourish, then we … More Assumptions vs. Convictions
Professor Grant Horner is a rock-climbing, sailing English teacher at The Master’s College and author of Meaning at the Movies: Becoming a Discerning Viewer (Crossway, 2010). I took only gen ed courses with Horner in college, but they were always intellectually appetizing. Horner’s teaching was passionate, stirring, and tension-building, creating the need for wise and discerning resolutions. His … More Lessons on Teaching from Prof. Grant Horner: A Brief Interview
I have written a little, and would like to write more. Dave DeWit is Senior Editor at Crossway and has spent nearly three decades in the Christian publishing industry, mostly with Moody Publishers. I met Dave on a recent trip to Chicago, and after hearing some of his experience and perspective in person, I wanted to hear … More Wisdom for Would-be Authors: Interview with Crossway’s Senior Editor Dave DeWit
Dr. Abner Chou serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at The Master’s College in Southern California. He is the author of I Saw the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Vision (Wipf & Stock, forthcoming) and will contribute the Lamentations installment of the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Logos). I have known Abner for more than ten years now. … More Lessons on Teaching from Dr. Abner Chou: A Brief Interview
The landscape of higher education is undergoing a seismic shift. What’s the future of teachers after the shakedown? What will the teachers of the next generation need to look like and prioritize? Dan Dumas, Senior Vice President for Institutional Administration at Southern Seminary, recently shared four observations with a classroom of prospective teachers. Dumas has … More Teachers of the Future: Advice from Seminary Leader Dan Dumas
I recently took Theological French with Dr. Rob Plummer, Associate Professor of NT Interpretation at Southern Seminary and author of the popular 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible. One-semester courses in research languages are not the main reason why anyone pursues theological education, yet even in this course I found Dr. Plummer engaging, clear, caring, … More Lessons on Teaching from Dr. Rob Plummer: A Brief Interview
The job market for PhD’s isn’t good, and it’s only getting worse. The recent article “Ph.D. Job Woes” (from Inside Higher Ed) reports that PhD jobs in the humanities show the most severe decline. For the record, I’m a PhD student — in the humanities (Bible). I hope to teach the Bible in an academic … More Providential Blessings of the Declining PhD Job Market: Reflections of a PhD Student
How do you encourage someone after a tragic loss? How do you minister to someone languishing in discouragement? There’s no simple answer, and certainly no one-size-fits-all solution. The most helpful initial responses are counterintuitive: presence, sympathy, listening, and hands-on help. Inexperienced counselors or fix-it friends often err by rushing to offer solutions and explain truth before the person has … More Letter to a Sorrowful, Suffering Saint
The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler (Bethany House, 2012) is his legacy in the form of principles. Mohler does not aim to join the conversation about leadership but to change it (15). He is calling not for adjustments in managerial technique but a paradigm shift in the way we think about leadership. I was … More Convictional Leadership: The Legacy of Albert Mohler
The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler (Bethany House, 2012) is a powerful book. I am posting the chapter titles and summaries in anticipation of a full review later this week. I heartily recommend the book to strengthen your convictions and inspire you to lead. The Conviction to Lead True leadership starts with a purpose, not … More The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler
Winter break starts early at Boyce College. With fall finals week ending on November 16 and spring classes commencing on January 21, our students are blessed with nine weeks of break. Over the next month, college students all over the country will be joining us. At Boyce, most of our students leave the dorms and many … More Caring for College Students
Every day in my role in Student Life at Boyce College, I enjoy rich conversations with students and staff about the nature and dynamics of spiritual life. I only wish that I had an hour at the end of each day to reflect on all that I learned. Today, my late afternoon conversation with an enjoyable young … More From Anxiety to Gratitude
When the pastor closes in prayer, the service ends, and the congregation is dismissed, what’s the first thing you say about a great sermon? One thing I hear (and say) far too often: “That was a great sermon.” “He did a great job.” “He’s a great preacher.” These are ways of communicating our conviction over the message … More A Great Sermon or a Great Savior?
Few experiences are more maddening than discovering that someone’s been gossiping about you. But if we’re so disturbed when we discover that people (especially friends) are speaking negatively about us, why do we so freely speak disparagingly about others? I mentioned in the last post that (1) gossip is often our misguided attempt at justice … More Why Do We Gossip? (Part 3)
Gossip is a weapon of mass destruction. It bites, claws, and maims its unsuspecting victims. The gossip is a murderer of reputations and a divider of relationships. Yet if gossip is so destructive and divisive, why do we do it? Why are our news feeds and our communities and our conversations so saturated with gossip? … More Why Do We Gossip? (Part 2)
I wonder what percentage of my words each day either function as gossip or flow from a gossip’s heart? What if I valued others’ reputations more than my own? What if I silently asked for a pure heart before speaking negatively about someone? How much would I edit my words if I determined only … More 11 Questions about Gossip
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