Sleep in Academia: The Brain We’ve GotPosted on April 21, 2014 by A+ Brooke Lester, Curator(See also Part One: Waking Up to the Problem.) It’s sometimes said in “recovery” circles that “You can’t fix the brain you’ve got with the brain you’ve got.” But let’s see if we can’t try to think clearly—our crippling sleep deficit notwithstanding—about the brain. Anybody who can manage a Google or YouTube search can discover…
Sustainable Theological Education: Part 2—Stages Toward Pedagogical “Soil” AnalysisPosted on March 31, 2014 by Jennifer ShepherdOver 500 years ago, Leonardo DaVinci quipped, “We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.” Amazingly, it is still true today that we know less about the living ecosystem under our feet – the soil – than we do about the far side of the moon. Yet, every plant and animal on our planet depends on these living systems that provide many of the most fundamental functions needed for life.It is also true that people know very little about the foundations of their beliefs and ways of thinking.
Sustainable Theological Education: Part 1—Consider the Soil, a Living, Complex, Natural ResourcePosted on March 5, 2014 by Jennifer ShepherdSustainable theological education considers the soil – thinks carefully about, bears in mind, pays attention to, and reflects upon the makeup of the soil so that the audience can recognize where the seed had landed, acknowledge how they have received the seed, and understand how the seed will respond to the soil in their life….
The Impact of Pluralism On Professional Ministry: “Can you hear me now? Good!”Posted on September 25, 2013 by Jennifer ShepherdIn January 2002, during fierce price wars among cell phone companies, the largest mobile phone service provider in America launched its “Can You Hear Me Now?” campaign. I’m sure you remember the television spots that followed the Verizon field tester – aka “Testman” – as he traveled across the country dropping in on locations ranging from the outlandish to the mundane.In each spot he asked, “Can you hear me now?” into a mobile phone. After hearing affirmation, Testman replied, “Good!” and continued on his quest to validate the reliability of Verizon’s infrastructure into which $2-4 billion was invested annually….
Seminary Education and the Bad Haircut: Helping Students Give an Honest Answer to the Question “Do You Like It?”Posted on September 14, 2013 by Jennifer ShepherdThe commercial begins and the experience is one that is instantly familiar. A man is sitting in a chair at a hair salon looking into the mirror, eyes wide with a forced grin. He is trying to look pleased. He is trying to stay calm. He is projecting his confidence in the skills of the hairstylist as he nervously watches each lock of hair fall to the ground….