I don’t know if you are like me, but as I look back on my college years I wish someone would have pulled me aside and given me some tips on how best to pursue an education at the university. So I decided to put
Essay / Education
Paul Spears
The director of Torrey Honors College, Paul is intensely interested in how foundational philosophical commitments drive educational theories. Before teaching at Biola, Dr. Spears was a youth minister for five years. Read more about Paul here.
Posts
Essay / Education
20 Things I Have Learned as a College Professor
As the start of the fall semester is almost upon me I have been diligently trying to complete my summer projects and prepare for my classes. As I was working it dawned on me that I am looking forward to the beginning of the year.
Essay / Blog
The Courage to Speak: Responsibility, Accountability, and Community
So often we talk about being responsible for ourselves. But responsibility is not limited to ourselves alone. Being responsible demands a willingness to speak the truth to others when necessary. Consider David when he was at the zenith of his reign as King of Israel.
Essay / Misc.
A Perspective on Judgement
The other day I was driving home, and I experienced someone with road rage—me. A car cut me off in what could only be described as an audition for a job as stunt driver in the next Jerry Bruckheimer movie. As this car cut in
Essay / Culture
Winston Churchill on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
America has been blessed many times throughout its history with remarkable leaders. Winston Churchill, who many know as the Prime Minster of Great Britain during WWII, was keenly interested in American history. He was interested in American history partly because his mother was an American,
Essay / Education
An Excerpt on Knowledge and Rhetoric From “Education for Human Flourishing”
To follow up Fred Sanders’ review of my book, I have posted a short excerpt from Education for Human Flourishing published by IVP Academic. The passage below describes the difference between rhetoric and knowledge, and how important it is for us to be able to
Essay / Culture
For The Love of Service
Have you ever had a week that was so taxing that the only thing that keeps you going is the belief that it can only continue for so long? I recently had one of those weeks. I had finally made it to the Saturday following
Essay / Culture
Arrogant or Thankful?
A great many people idolize professional athletes. Watching a professional athlete drive a golf ball 300 yards to the pin, dunk a basketball, serve a tennis ball at over 120 miles an hour or pass for a touchdown is impressive. But, why do world-class athletic
Essay / Education
Freshman Follies (How to Avoid Them)
As I look with resignation at my incomplete and overly optimistic list of “Things to Accomplish This Summer,” I am coming to grips with the summer being almost at the end, and that means I am about to become the mentor/advisor to a group of
Essay / Culture
Gifted or Determined?
People in general are not born with amazing intellectual or physical giftedness. I continually have to remind myself of this. Most individuals have to work very hard to attain the level of excellence that we admire. Our culture reinforces this belief about natural abilities with
Essay / Culture
Playground Morality
Elementary school is a rather treacherous place to learn to navigate as a child. The first time I ever read Calvin and Hobbes, I discovered a kindred spirit. Calvin’s view of elementary school was akin to an intergalactic prison where the alien life forms torture
Essay / Misc.
Rousing Your Priorities
As of right now (November 16, 2008) my house is permeated by the smell of smoke. With all of the windows closed and the air filter running it is still impossible to filter out the smoke smell. Smoke is one of those smells that you