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“This one is broken!” Normally hearing these words from my toddler would make me assume something valuable, specifically something of mine, has been thrown somewhere, but this time I could understand the frustration. Watching my daughter struggle with a small shape sorting toy was to observe the resiliency of the human spirit, or perhaps just…

This post will not be about me, but I think I owe my readers some context involving a bit of autobiography to make sense of what follows. I am a theologian who teaches in the math and computer science department of a Christian, liberal arts university (utilizing an MS in Computer Science). This unusual relationship…

I am an Art Historian. And one way of making a “history” of art is to trace a history of gesture. The Abstract Expressionist painter Barnett Newman summed this up in his 1947 manifesto, The First Man Was an Artist.This essay was first published in the art magazine Tiger’s Eye (1947, issue 1) and can…

I recently conducted a study on athletic coaches at small liberal arts colleges and how they go about developing character in their programs. I was particularly struck by a statement from “Jennifer,” one of the participants in the study: I think the challenge with defining character is that every word you use to define it,…

When you go on sabbatical, there are two common questions that are asked before and throughout: “What are you working on?” and “Where are you travelling?” This fall semester, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a semester-long sabbatical, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked both of these. My colleagues, my family,…

Hispanics have long been integral to U.S. society making significant contributions including the education sector. Though many institutions of higher education have increased their priority on recruiting students from Hispanic backgrounds, the challenge remains for institutions of Christian higher education to engage in the recruitment, support, and retention of Hispanic faculty. Furthermore, the challenge remains…

“. . . who for the sake of the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame . . .” (Heb. 12:2, italics added). In order to understand the significance of the italicized language we need to discuss two somewhat alien facets of the ancient world. First, the society of ancient Rome was what anthropologists have often…

One of the most enduring and persistent images ancient Greco-Roman philosophers used to depict the struggle of the good life was the metaphor of life as a race. Writers as diverse as Epictetus and Cicero illustrated the moral struggle through the metaphor of a run or a marathon. There is a start, there are difficulties…

Recently I had a vivid reminder of the value in the breadth of a liberal arts education. My son, who is a computer science major, has become a fan of live theater. When he texted me the title of an upcoming play that we could see together with my other son (a music therapy major),…

It seems that every day brings news of a development in AI technology, whether advances in the medical or tech fields, new threats to (cyber)security, or concerns for industries that might have jobs overtaken by computers or robots. Some commentators exhibit great excitement about possibilities for change and improvement, while others fear our lives might…

“And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him . . . ‘the image of God,’ you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there. There is an element of goodness that he…

Having grown up as a child of educators who were Christians with non-Christian students from all over the world, Perry Glanzer’s recent blog post reminded me of my parents and their approach to hospitality in our home. We often had students in our home (including living with us for periods of time). Our home was…

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NASB) Rest strengthens. Rest calms. Rest works! After…

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” - Luke 2:10 Beneath the dissonant, thrumming symphony of contemporary culture, I think the creeping bass line is fear. I’m not sure if this was true a few years ago, but…

Our impulse to light the night with glowing colors at Christmastime is a good one. This is the time when “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:1 NIV; see also Mt. 4:16) Colors are good parts of a good creation—signposts to what is true, good, and beautiful. Paul describes Christian…

Emotions are driven by perceptions which are in turn socially derived. Since we’ve established the need for a pedagogy that employs positive emotions, and the theological and scientific basis for pedagogy driven by and for love, it is helpful to note that, biblically, love is always experienced within the context of relationships.

This is Part 2 of a three-part blog. Part 1 explores the Hebraic understanding of the heart to reclaim a vision for the transformational and life-giving education that occurs when educators acknowledge students’ whole selves—intellect and emotions included. Part 2 uses neuroscience to further explore the nature and role of emotions in learning, and Part…