Word is out that Tim Tebow has signed with the New England Patriots. His position is quarterback, and he's expected to report to the Patriots mandatory mini-camp tomorrow. The deal came together quickly in the last 24 hours. Duration of the contract or financial details were not disclosed. I'm no sports analyst, but I think this is a great move for the Patriots. Tebow is not the distracting side-show some consider him to be. He's a focused, hard-working player with impeccable character. On the field he's a leader who knows how to scramble, gain yardage, and win football games. His playoff … [Read more...] about Congratulations, Tim Tebow
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What’s the best predictor of student success?
I read Paul Tough's book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character (introduced here). But I just saw Tough's amazing thesis again in Business Insider. The #1 predictor of student success is not IQ, talent, or luck/"being in the right place at the right time". It's grit. Determination. "The ability to withstand stress and move past failures to achieve a goal is the best indicator of future success." What's great is that grit can be learned and enhanced throughout a student's life, even dramatically if they develop a disciplined passion for what they're … [Read more...] about What’s the best predictor of student success?
Feature Film on Rich Mullins
I enjoyed Rich Mullins' music, particularly songs like Calling Out Your Name and Awesome God. The entire album Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth was great. But I don't remember his music being as controversial as this trailer seems to claim. Did I miss something? HT: Justin Taylor … [Read more...] about Feature Film on Rich Mullins
What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?
Edward T. Welch writes: "There is nothing wrong with wanting love. It would be positively inhuman not to want it. The problem comes when we desire it too much--when our desire for love becomes the center of our life--which, when you think about it, makes us the center of our own lives. The problem is when we want to be loved more than we want to love. If only life could be a little bit less about us." This book is thematically similar to Welch's When People Are Big and God is Small and ideal for 15-25 year old readers. Check out the endorsements, table of contents, and introduction. … [Read more...] about What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?
The Universe Next Door – James Sire
If you're still looking for high school graduation gifts, particularly for students interested in philosophy, theology, apologetics, or global studies, a classic book you might consider is The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, now in its 5th edition (with over 300,000 units sold). While this book was first published in 1976, many updates have been made along the way (including new chapters on postmodernism and Islam). If you've seen a previous edition, note that this 5th edition, released in 2009, is considerably longer than previous versions. … [Read more...] about The Universe Next Door – James Sire
The Autistic Brain – Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is a hero in the autism community, and for good reason. At 65 years of age, she is one of the world's most accomplished and well-known adults with autism. She grew up in an era when children with autism were shunned while their mothers were blamed. But Temple's mother would have none of it; she fought to get her daughter help, which often meant pioneering new forms of treatment for the mostly unknown disorder. Thanks to the efforts of many, including caring, dedicated, and creative teachers, Temple came out of her shell. Today Dr. Grandin is a Professor of Animal Science at … [Read more...] about The Autistic Brain – Temple Grandin