All Day Celebration
Today I attend an all-day retirement celebration for my boss from the last 17 years. This party involves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and various panels of important people in our field of rhetoric and composition—all celebrating her prestigious career contribution. I note most of all in the invitation and in the schedule of events the theme […]
Quotable Quotes
Today I asked my students to share with me some of their favorite quotes. I wanted to prove that most of the writing we remember and quote often uses contrast, chiasmus, rhyme, and most of all brevity. I thought you’d love to see some of the words students keep in their minds as favorite quotes. […]
Impart What We Bestow
I stop and underline this line in Andrew Murray’s The Ministry of Intercession. He writes: “[When we have] given ourselves no more to seek anything for ourselves, but for [others], and that to God, for Him to use us, and to impart to us what we can bestow on others, intercession will become to us, […]
I Think It’s the Treats
Over the years, I’ve taught in all kinds of classrooms: computer labs, lecture halls with stadium seats, tiny old rooms with no windows, classrooms with immovable desks, classrooms with moveable desks. I used to insist we all learn in a circle as something foundational to my classroom environment, but I quickly realized the impossibility of […]
Of Good Courage
I’ve always loved Deuteronomy 31:6. It’s one of the very first verses I memorized in the Bible: “Be strong and of good courage, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail or forsake you.“ This morning, someone asked me what I needed the most courage for today. I […]
“Take Assignments that Outsize You”
I’m listening to Beth Guckenberger talk about “reckless faith” and how she learned to say “yes to God’s assignments that outsized [her].” In other words, she’s lived a life of such faith that, even if God’s asking something of her that exceeds her capacity in whatever way, she says “yes.” As I talk to Beth […]
I Suppose If I Must
This weekend, I served in an emcee role at a conference for Cru in Arizona. Serving as an emcee isn’t easy; it’s not my natural gifting, and it’s harder than it looks. You set the tone and expectations for the meetings. You tie program elements together. You help direct audience attention to key points. You […]
When It’s Challenging, It’s Good
I’m out here in Arizona, speaking for a Cru event. I love the desert; I love everything it symbolizes. As I walk on a trail early this morning, I think about the verse where God says He can makes the desert lush. Think of Psalm 107: He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched […]
Two Small Things in Any Situation
As I continue to travel or spend longer days working, I’m learning the importance of two small things that you can do in almost any situation: drink more water and take a walk. My daughter and I for example, took a 3-mile walk in an airport, drinking water and talking. Rather than lounging by the […]
I’m Not Afraid of ChatGPT as a Writing Professor
Every day, I hear more news (both panic and hope) about ChatGPT. I’ve loved the articles some of you have sent me about how other professors use this Artificial Intelligence chatbot in the classroom. As I ask ChatGPT various prompts, I find its limitations immediately. But I’m still fascinated by what it can do. I […]