The Joys of Teaching & Research

Slow posting this week. I've been at a conference with six of my students who were presenting some of their research.

Katie, Micheal, and Megan presented their emoticon research. Specifically, they examined the perceived professionalism of emoticon usage in workplace (email) correspondence. Their main finding was that emoticon usage (the :-) smiley face) is perceived as less professional when used by subordinates in their communication with superiors. By contrast, superiors were given a pass with the :-) when communicating with subordinates. Hierarchy affected how emoticons were perceived. The :-) is the privilege of the powerful.

Holly, Kenyon, and Shannon presented their tattoo research. Their focus was on perceptions of professionalism related to clergy with tattoos. They manipulated two variables, the location of the tattoo (visible versus non-visible) and the content (a Christian cross versus a star). They found that while there is a growing acceptance of tattoos among Christian groups (what I called "existential tattoos" in my prior post), their Christian participants preferred the non-visible cross among all the combinations. That is, it seems that they wanted the tattoos on clergy to be spiritual and private rather than non-spiritual and public.

Both groups did a great job presenting, and got lots of positive feedback. As a teacher I get no greater thrill than watching my students present with joy and confidence at professional conferences. Tonight on the walk to dinner Shannon said to me, "I think I really like research."

That really warms my heart.

I've also had a blast with my colleagues David, John and Cherisse who brought their own students to the conference. All of us, along with two of our graduate students, Andrea and Belinda, presented papers in a symposium on Christian aesthetics and reactions to transgressive art. Tonight poor John and Cherisse had to listen to me go on and on about Girardian scapegoating theory during the walk back to the hotel after dinner. They are patient and long-suffering souls...

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11 thoughts on “The Joys of Teaching & Research”

  1. Hey, I love listening you talk about Girardian scapegoating. Sorry I missed that. Congrats on some very interesting research topics this year! :) (I HAD to use that emoticon you know).

  2. Fascinating on the emoticons! I fit the research, as I just used an emoticon yesterday on an email to a few of my employees, but I've never used one with my boss.

  3. Coming from a person whose dream it is to teach, I really appreciated this post.

  4. Regarding the emoticons, was there any qualification as to the nature of the email? Specifically, work-related vs. personal? Even among peers, I would expect emoticons to be questionable in a work-related memo.

  5. I had such an awesome time at the conference and will remember this experience for a life time! I'm so glad I got to go and yes... I may like research a little more now than before as well :]

  6. I attended a conference with a student for the first time last month. I was surprised at how exciting it was to step aside and let her shine. I look forward to more fo this sort of joy.

  7. Hearing the pure joy in my daughter's voice on the phone while she attended this conference is a testament to the impact you have on your students. Thank you for the numerous pages of memory she carries with her that is not just knowledge but the art of teaching. One we never forget and implement into our own lives. The debt from the infamous freshman year at ACU, was worth it.

  8. happy Easter rich
    i might not know a lot
    but to day i am fairly sure i get ROM 1:16



    does the question i ask…of truth.
    is Christ righteous under law…
    if so
    how is god righteous to curse his RIGHTEOUS son .

    this takes into consideration... this does not concren fulfillment or attonement and not to be cofused with that.
    also gal 4.3-4
    4:4 But when the appropriate time7 had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.

    Christ was cursed and was in Hades acts
    2:31 David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.

    you also have a degree in ethics, yes?

    now then
    the question is does this not set up the
    Law of Contradiction,as far as TRUTH is concerned
    i think it does for theoologolical thinkers.
    how my brother
    is this not an eather or
    for contemporary theology or does god just “reverse the curse” favoring his son. being no respecter of a mans person" a righteous judge"?

    rich the answer is to simple if you understand your subject ,of the cross....

    answer
    1.
    a.
    every time i ask this question ….
    every one loses it…. it is kinda funny to me…
    although,i have issues as we know.
    i just think it is a simple question.
    and if dumb ole me can answer the thing what,s the problem’ ya know it’s just a simple question.
    i ask the senor pastor that question he
    ran the men’s group for two weeks.
    i ask him that question after assembly one Sunday…
    of course no one wants to stay on track.
    but to deviate into catch phrases,which do not apply.
    and i bring them back on track.
    which was no fun for him…
    so…
    the second week of him being there,
    i brought it up again.
    i said if i were you and you knew the answer
    i would say:
    RICH. that question is nonsequater,
    but then watch out now
    you gotta know why
    and i do…
    just kinda-sorta funny…to me….



    now then to take away fulfillment (MISSION AS SERVANT TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER) is to strip Christ of his faithfulness to the word of god
    as the servant for the purpose of the promise
    through grace also rom 15.8.
    and to lay bare the work’s of
    law to the attainment of righteousness by
    merit.
    which is contrary to scripture.
    hence it is grace(gods promised blessing)by
    faith,(my righteous one by faith shall live) ROM 1:17
    rom 10
    gods righteousness which is by faith
    and god being no respector of a person CONCERNING SIN AND law
    blessings
    we are called to bring the Christ’s faith
    through the gospel and receive the spirit
    by acting as Christ according to the light of the love of Christ in us
    the law of god is nullified through that faith
    of Christ in each of us
    zealous of good works as he was
    reciprocating the love of god through faith



    2.
    a.
    thought, and intent
    god purposed
    and brought about creation
    did he count the cost
    does it fall at that tower
    think about that
    he is GOOD AND FATHFUL RESPONSABLE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE GOOD OF HIS CREATION,
    THE COST TO THEM THE TRINITY GOD BROKE HIS BELOVED BY MAKEING HIM TO BE SIN….
    SEPERATING FROM THE SON OF HIS LOVE FOR US
    I THINK PSLM 53 WHAT KIND OF SACRAFICE DOES GOD REQUIRE A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HART
    FATHER WHY HAVE YOU FORSACKEN ME AND INTO THY HANDS…
    YOU DON’T THINK THIS WAS JUST DIEING
    IN HIM WAS LIFE NO SIN
    CURSED ON THE TREE
    IN HADES
    AND THEN
    JUSTIFICATION BY HIS FAITH
    AND THE NULLIFICATION OF THE LAW “A LEGAL TERM”
    OF LOVEING FAITH FULNESS TO HIS FATHER’S WILL
    AND AT THIS PRESENT THOSE THAT ARE OF THE FAITH OF CHRIST HAVE JUSTIFACTION OF LIFE THROUGH CHRIST.
    IF RIGHTEOUS COMES THROUGH LAW CHRIST ‘ DIED FOR NOTHING…
    GAL 2:16-21 READ OUT OF THE NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION
    NET BIBLE SIBJECTIVE GENDER.. THEN ROM. 3.21-27

  9. ONE LITTLE P.S. ON THE LAW
    3:10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 3:12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law. will live by them.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming. a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)27 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,. so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.


    THE REAL KICKER HERE IS ROMANS 5:18


    5:18 Consequently, just as condemnation for all people camethrough one transgression, so too through THE ONE RIGHTEOUS ACT came righteousness leading to life for all people.

    HERE IS THE TENSION

    THAT ACT OF SUBMITTING TO THE WILL OF GOD"THE CROSS"
    BROUGHT ON THE CURSE BY THE LAW OF MOSES"GODS LAW"

    WAS GOD JUST IN SEPARATING FROM HIS SON. OF COARSE GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT
    JESUS WAS IN VIOLATION OF LAW, EVEN DOING A RIGHTEOUS ACT OF THE FATHERS WILL.
    (MADE TO MISS THE MARK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNDER LAW...
    2ED COR 5:21

    THIS MIGHT PUT ROM 3:28-31 ALSO ROM 8:3-4 IN A LITTLE BETTER CHRISTOCENTRIC APPLICATION AND ALLOW GOD TO JUDGE BECAUSE IT IS A JUDGMENT OF THE THOUGHT AND INTENT OF THE HART OR CHRIST DIED FOR NOTHING

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