Dear Whatever Readers Are Left, I'm sorry for letting this blog go dark for almost three months. I love blogging, but my plate has been exceedingly full this fall. In August I returned to full-time teaching and administrative responsibilities after a year-long writing sabbatical in which, by God's grace, I published a book and completed a 60,000 word manuscript for another. These recent months I've also been fulfilling a few speaking engagements, doing a few online interviews related to my previous books, and working with my editor on the latest manuscript. This new book releases, Lord … [Read more...] about Blog Hibernation Over?
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How Bad Is the Job Market for the Class of 2014?
I missed this May 2014 article in Slate by Jordan Weissmann. In the graph to the left "underemployed" is defined as "either jobless and hunting for work; working part-time because they can’t find a full-time job; or want a job, have looked within the past year, but have now given up on searching." Weissmann explains that over-qualification represents another kind of underemployment. "In a January report, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that roughly 44 percent of recent graduates—meaning those ages 22 to 27 with a B.A. or higher—were in a job that did not technically … [Read more...] about How Bad Is the Job Market for the Class of 2014?
How Should We Understand Mental Illness Through the Lens of Faith?
Two excerpts from a recent article by Dr. Michael Horton: According to a 2013 survey by LifeWay Research, one-third of Americans agree that "prayer and Bible study alone can overcome serious mental illness." Nearly half (48 percent) of evangelicals agree. According to a 2008 Baylor study, 36 percent of church attendees with mental illness said that they were told by their leaders that it was the result of sin; 34 percent said they were told it was a demon; 41 percent were told they didn't have a mental illness; and 28 percent were even told to stop taking medication. … [Read more...] about How Should We Understand Mental Illness Through the Lens of Faith?
Is the unwavering belief in the value of college justified?
In the previous post, I noted that 85% of parents strongly agreed that college was an investment in their child’s future, the highest in the last five years. Some will ask: Is such confidence justified? The answer seems to be yes: the earnings premium of having a college degree continues to rise. In 2013, the earnings premium in constant 2012 dollars was $17,500 versus $15,780 in 1995 and just $7,499 in 1965. But here's the troubling reality, and I think it's driving some of the debate on the value of college. The wages for college grads have barely risen since 1986 (see below), even … [Read more...] about Is the unwavering belief in the value of college justified?
How We Pay For College is Changing
From a national study by Sallie Mae, How America Pays for College 2013. Four highlights: Higher scholarships and grants. "Free money" now pays for 30% of college costs, up from 25% four years ago. Reduced parent contributions. Parents now fund from income and savings 27% of college expenses, down from 2010’s peak funding of 36%. Unwavering belief in the value of college. 85% of parents strongly agreed that college was an investment in their child’s future, the highest in the last five years. New cost-consciousness. A higher number of families factor college costs into the choice of … [Read more...] about How We Pay For College is Changing
Where Interns Earn the Most
Wow. And some of these interns come straight out of high school. Avg monthly income for U.S. households in 2012: $4,280. Read more. … [Read more...] about Where Interns Earn the Most