Why have you chosen this course at IWU?

Nearly thirty years ago, I received my undergraduate degree from IWU-Marion. Since then, I have completed two master’s degrees (one in the traditional classroom setting and one online) and my doctorate at Private Christian Institutions. After completing my most recent academic endeavor, I contemplated what was next in my life-long learning journey. To enhance my academic credentials, open new doors for employment opportunities, and add to my educational portfolio, I chose to pursue the Online Teaching and Learning certificate at IWU. Though I had taught online at the Associates’ level and enjoyed it very much, I never had formal training. I believe this program will help me grow as an up-and-coming educator to impact future generations of students. I chose IWU to pursue my education not only because of the quality experience and education I received almost thirty years ago but because of the continued positive reputation that IWU has for quality education.

What are the implications from having IWU Distinctives ‘salt’ incorporated into your own learning?

As a Christian, I am the salt and the light to the world. I have seen for myself first-hand how IWU not only says who they are and strive to be in writing through their distinctive’s, but I have also seen it as a student and a former employee. During my tenure in Higher Education, I have worked for four different institutions (two of which were distinctively Christian, one who came from Christian roots but has strayed far from their roots becoming a liberal institution in who they are and what they represent and the other a state community college). I have been a student at four different private Christian institutions. What IWU means has helped shape my educational perspective and shown me the importance of saying “you are the salt of the earth” and living that out in all you do and teach.

What does it mean to be ‘salt’ in your classroom? How might this look in your particular workplace setting?

To be ‘salt’ in my classroom means that I live genuinely and authentically out who I say I am in my actions, words, and deeds. As one of my classmates already stated so eloquently, if I am truly living out ‘salt,’ I don’t have to wear a badge announcing it to everyone I encounter; they will see something different about me. The Christian singing artist Baylor Wilson has a song entitled “Jesus Happened.” It talks about her response to those who would inquire what the source of her joy and happiness was. That response is simply put, “Jesus Happened.” I believe the same could be said of living out ‘salt’ daily, whether in the classroom or the workplace.

Describe an experience when you were able to be ‘the salt’ in your classroom. What was the result?

Each day a young lady comes into my cubicle from maintenance, empties my trash can, and replaces the bag with a new one. I always thank her as she moves on to the next cubicle. Today after thanking her, I said has anyone told you that you are appreciated today. She looked at me with a puzzled look and responded with a no. I responded by saying, well, let me be the first to tell you how much I appreciate you and your efforts. Almost in tears, she thanked me for my encouraging comments. I don’t know her name or anything about her other than that she comes through my office daily and empties my trash can. It is a somewhat meaningless task that most people take for granted, but if I am to live out what it means to be ‘salt,’ those I encounter need to see it daily in my words and deeds, even the person who does a meaningless task like emptying my trash. I don’t know what might have been going on in this young lady’s life today, but I am confident I had an impact on her today and therefore fulfilling my call to be ‘salt and light’ to all those with who I come in contact with.

As I reflect on this week’s ‘virtual salt’ devotional, I admit I feel a bit convicted. After reading the initial questions to think about and ponder, I reflected on a journey that began 51 years ago and continues to develop and evolve each day. While I am not an actual classroom teacher and am likely the odd man out in this program, I have worked in education for most of my working career. Ironically, I enrolled in IWU-Marion to teach junior high and high school band as a music education major. After a semester of observation/participation in the classroom during the January term of my freshman year, I concluded that I did not have the patience to teach kids and wasn’t sure that I even liked kids. With that conclusion, I changed my major and went down a different path than what God had called me to do.

I’ve often heard that God has a sense of humor. This became apparent when the first job I took after graduating from IWU-Marion was where I traveled the country presenting school assembly programs. Where you guessed it, I worked with kids daily. I learned that when you try to run from what God calls you to, He’ll bring you full circle back to it even if you are kicking and screaming ‘NO’ along the way. I spent the next 20+ years working in public education as a consultant working with school districts in various capacities. Seven years ago, I transitioned to Higher Education due to my love of learning as an adult learner.

I don’t come from a highly educated family. My mother was a high school graduate and attended one year of college. My father had no more than a 6th or 7th-grade education but was one of the wisest and most intelligent men I have ever known. I am the youngest of 10 children in my family, and I am the only one with a 4-year degree and advanced degrees. However, my parents encouraged us to pursue an education if we desired, and they supported our endeavors.

While I have two children of my own (one biological and one by marriage), if I am, to be honest, I have found that my patience level with children is greatly lacking. As an adult learner myself, I have found my niche with adult students. I think part of this comes from being an adult learner myself. 17 ½ years after completing my undergraduate degree, I went back to school and completed my first of two master’s degrees, followed most recently by my doctorate. I had the opportunity to teach online courses while I was an enrollment recruiter, and I fell in love with teaching. I saw myself in many of my students. As an adult, they were exactly where I was when I went back to school. Just as I had various teachers who influenced my life, I desired to be the one who impacted their lives positively.

First Corinthians 13 is a powerful passage of scripture that can be applied to everything we do. From our relationships with our spouse or significant others to our relationships with coworkers and even with our students. As I reflected on the passage as it relates to my role as an educator, I have the following interpretation of 1st Corinthians 13: If I take the time to share my wisdom and knowledge with others, but don’t love them in the way our heavenly father does, then I have failed. If I accomplish many great things just for the sake of accomplishing them and do not love those around me, then all that I have accomplished is useless. If I don’t use my resources and share them with others so they can learn more efficiently and love the resources I have more than those around me, I have done it all in vain, and I’ve missed the purpose.

Regardless of what I do or say, if I don’t treat others with the love that God has for them, I’ve failed to love them with the love that He has for me. Love is patient even when I am not or feel like the person doesn’t deserve my love. Love provides grace and mercy even when I fail to give grace and mercy to others. Love doesn’t desire what others have, and neither should I. If I am prideful of my accomplishments, but don’t show love for others when they accomplish great things too, then my accomplishments are meaningless. Even when I am not flexible, love is, and if I am to love others as God loves them, I will learn to be flexible too. Love is not loud or rude. Instead, it is kind, gentle, and caring, and I should be too when working with others. Love puts the needs of others first and my needs second. Love doesn’t talk ill of others for their shortcomings, and neither should I. Loves sees the positive in everyone even when I can’t. Ultimately, my time on earth is finite, but love goes on forever and is never-ending. If I love others in the same way God loves them, then my love will leave a legacy forever and fulfill my purpose.

What is truth?

One of my favorite movies of all time is the movie a few good men. In this movie, two Marines simply following orders given by a superior now find themselves on trial for following orders. My favorite scene in the film is an exchange between Danny, played by Tom Cruise, and Colonel Jessup, who Jack Nicholson plays, about the truth. Colonel Jessup asks Danny do you want the truth? To which Danny replies, yes, I want the truth; I think I deserve that. Colonel Jessup responds again, do you want the truth? Danny empathetically says yes. The heated exchange continues, and Danny says to Colonel Jessup again, I want the truth, to which Colonel Jessup finally replies emphatically, you can’t handle the truth.

So, what is truth? Danny sought the truth from Colonel Jessup. As children, our parents sought the truth when they asked us questions. When we take an oath as a witness, we agree to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Philippians chapter 4 verse 8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is TRUE, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (NIV) Scripture tells us to think about true things, but how do we decide what is true? Michael Josephson of the Josephson Institute says of truth, “it is a rational process where one comes to a conclusion that is dictated by facts, principles, and values.” I agree with him and would add that not only is the conclusion dictated by facts, principles, and values, but also the foundation on which those same facts, principles, and values are based.

Truth, much like knowledge, is remarkably challenging to define. Truth is factual whether anyone believes it or not. The most simplistic way to determine truth is to say it is the opposite of false (untrue). Truth is factual, and it can be proved. How one views truth often influences decisions one makes daily about everything you do and speak. How you view truth matters because whether you believe something is true or not is irrelevant; the truth is truth.

What are some of the challenges when there is no absolute truth or subjective in a culture? What are some examples of this?

In a world of many cultures, we live in a time of great confusion on the issue of truth. It has been said that knowledge is power, and it is also about connecting what we believe with what we know is true. As a person of faith, how do I respond when the beliefs of those around me do not align with the truth described in Philippians chapter 4? What do we do if we’re uncertain if our beliefs align with what is true? Somewhere between truth and knowledge is skepticism, which focuses on doubt. Unfortunately, as a society and culture, we have reached a day where falsehoods, fake news, and half-truths seem to be the norm rather than the exception. Could it be that having a skeptical stance will help us get closer to the truth?

In cultures where their definition of truth does not align with what we know to be truth, conflict ensues. For some cultures, truth is relative, and for others, it is absolute. How then do we reach a common ground and discover the truth? Truth is found with self-evident laws of logic.

Logic is the discipline that helps us connect ideas in the right way to determine what is true and what isn’t. Logic can also help us connect our beliefs to what is true. Understanding truth helps us navigate situations and cultures with more clarity and consistency. Some cultures believe truth is about perspective and they define truth differently based on their unique backgrounds and perspectives.

The ultimate truth will be revealed when the world comes to an end. In the interim, as believers in God, truth is revealed in Scripture; truth is revealed in the One who said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ truth will be revealed in Jesus Christ.

How does your belief in the standard of truth impact how you teach?

Who am I? Why am I the way I am? What do I believe? Why do I believe the way I do? These are a few of the questions that I have had to wrestle with as I attempt to define what truth means to me. As I have explored the idea of truth and what it means to me, I examined the origin of the word ethics and found that it comes from the Greek word “ethos” relating to “character.”

When I think about ethics, the image of a foundation, which is strong, comes to mind and something upon which something is built. Words like morals, integrity, honesty, responsibility, commitment, and honor are just a few of the virtues and traits which make up that foundation. When building a house, the builder must first pour a concrete or solid foundation, and in doing so, that foundation must be on solid ground…” bedrock,” if you will, so that in times of storm and turbulence, the foundation of the house will hold strong. Because my perspective on truth is deeply rooted in my faith in God and I rely upon my moral and internal standards to guide my decision-making and teaching process.

So, as I try to define what truth means to me, it all comes back to a faith deeply rooted and grounded in Christ. It is He who guides my steps and shapes my decision-making and teaching process. He is the one who gives me life, breath, and purposes each moment of the day. When the truth of Jesus Christ is revealed, and I reach my eternal destination and stand before Him face to face, I hope to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…great is your reward!”

From the above list, what attributes speak most clearly to you? What challenges you the most? Why? What scriptures from Jesus teachings align with this attribute?

I am a storyteller. I like to tell stories about my experiences. I particularly want to tell my story. Jesus told stories using Parables. In Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (NIV). This was the ultimate example of grace and forgiveness. One of the most challenging things for me as a human being to do is to offer grace and forgiveness. Yet, for Jesus, grace and forgiveness were at the forefront of who He was. Even for those who crucified Him, He was quick to offer grace and forgiveness, including one of the thieves on the cross who was about to be crucified with Him on the cross. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells His disciples of The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Peter asked Jesus how he is supposed to forgive a brother or sister who sins against him many times. Jesus responds to him, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18: 22, NIV). He continues by describing the kingdom of heaven as a king who wants to “settle accounts with his servants” (Matthew 18:23, NIV). What happens next gives a glimpse into how Jesus tells us to view grace and forgiveness.

Essentially the servant cannot pay his debt to the master, so the master forgives the debt with the expectation that he will afford the same grace and forgiveness to others that have been bestowed on him. Instead, the servant demands repayment of the one who owes him money, and when he does not get it, he is furious and demands he be thrown in jail till his debt is paid. When the master learns of what has happened, he is angry, questioning the lack of grace and forgiveness, and has him thrown in jail.

In Matthew 18:35, Jesus sums it all up, saying, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (NIV). I believe Jesus sums it up this way to show the disciples that true grace and forgiveness come from the heart, and as Christians and followers of Christ, if we genuinely have the Heart of Jesus, we will be able to offer grace and forgiveness the way that He did.

I am particularly challenged by this story/parable because I recently found myself in a similar situation. Those who know me best know that I am a protector. I am a protector of my wife, my family/children, and my pastor. If you attack those individuals mentioned above, my ‘protector claws’ will come out. Some time ago, a gentleman verbally attacked my wife and my pastor publicly and on social media. This has always been a sore spot with me, and I typically just tried to avoid this person, but I harbored a great deal of anger and unforgiveness in my heart for some time.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago when my pastor preached a sermon series that talked about doing something for someone just because. He challenged us to do something for someone in need and be prepared to talk about it the following Sunday in church. For example, he said to pay for the person’s food behind you in the drive-thru. Later that week, I overheard my waitress talking about struggling to make ends meet, and God spoke to me and said I was to give her an extra-large tip, so I did.

I went to church the following Sunday prepared to share my experience and got caught up in hearing everyone else’s story that I didn’t take the opportunity to share my own. The sermon series continued that Sunday, only the pastor took it a step further. He said, what does it look like when God tells you to pay for the person in the line behind you, and you look and realize you know this person, and you can’t stand them because they have wronged you and others. I must admit the message stung me a little bit and stayed in the forefront of my mind all week long.

Later that week, I was in the same restaurant as before when I gave my waitress an extra-large tip. I was sitting enjoying my meal, and God brought to my mind the sermon from Sunday when in walks the gentleman and his wife and God spoke very loudly to me and said, “You are going to pay for their dinner tonight!” I said, oh no God, you know he wronged my wife and my pastor, and besides, they have enough money to pay for their meal. We argued back and forth for the next several minutes, and He said, Houston, it’s not about the money; it’s about grace, forgiveness, and obedience. Just like Jesus sums it up in Matthew 18:35, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (NIV).

I quietly motioned for the waitress to come over, and I asked her to bring me the couple’s check sitting three booths from me. She wondered why, and I told her that God spoke to me and said that was what I was supposed to do. She looked at me with a puzzled look but handed me their check. I paid both bills that night, and when I walked out of the restaurant that night, I felt such a release. I told the story the following Sunday in church and have shared the experience with several others not because I wanted to brag about what I had done. I told my story because I wanted to show how God used my obedience to make a difference in someone’s life and how being obedient to God’s calling was not only a blessing to someone else but a fantastic blessing to me.

Share an experience either as a student or as a teacher where one of these attributes has created a memory or impact in your life.

There are many times in my life when my faith has been stretched, and I have just had to put my faith in God’s hands and trust that He will provide in my time of need. The bible tells us repeatedly to walk by faith and not by sight. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV). Jesus said I believe it, question settled. This is the essence of what faith is all about. Capon (2002) would agree, and he states, “I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation…” (p. 2). So why do we struggle with the issue of faith some 2000 years after these events took place in our humanness? The disciples struggled to understand and believe just as we do, yet they witnessed it first-hand. Why?

Capon (2002) gave insight to that question when he stated, “Often when people try to say what the Bible is about; they let their mindset ride roughshod over what lies on the pages” (p. 3). It seems that Capon (2002) is saying that we struggle with the issue of faith, is that rather than just taking scripture and Jesus’ words at face value, we try to make it say what we want it to say. The reality is “if we want to hear the actual ticking of Jesus’ mind, we can hardly do better than to study his parabolic words and acts over and over – with our minds open…” (Capon, 2002, p. 9). Hearing Jesus, knowing Jesus, loving Jesus requires FAITH. Even though we have never seen Him face to face, we believe we will when we get to heaven, and THAT makes it all worthwhile.

One time that stands out in my mind and has forever impacted how I look at the issue of faith and trusting God was during my first year at IWU going into my sophomore year. My parents were not wealthy by any means, but we always had what we needed. Notice I said needed and not wanted. When it came time to pay for school, they encouraged me to go but made it clear that they could not provide the finances needed to pay for it. I didn’t qualify for financial aid because the school and the federal government said my parents made too much money to be eligible for need-based aid.

I had gotten to know a man named Dr. Maurice Burns during my first year, and he and his wife were like a second set of parents to me. When I shared with him my dilemma of not having the funding to return to school the following year, his response was very simplistic and matter of fact. He said, well, don’t worry about it, have faith, and plan to return. I said again; I don’t think you understand, I don’t have the resources, and the school is unwilling to give me what I need. He said emphatically, don’t worry about it, have faith, and plan to return. I didn’t understand how he could be certain; did he know something I didn’t? Within a couple of weeks, I got a notice from financial aid that I not only had enough money to return to school in the fall, but I had enough to get me through the rest of my time at IWU.

God taught me a lesson in faith then that I have carried with me nearly thirty years later. When my faith seems to struggle and doubt creeps its way into my thinking. God gently tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me of that experience as a freshman where He provided not only for my need but provided more than I needed. Each day I can see His hand at work in my life and the experiences that come my way, both good and bad. My desire as an up-and-coming teacher is always to share my story with others to see the evidence of God’s hand at work in my life and see God at work in their own life through hearing my story.

How can this scripture help how you see yourself and your students?

Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines identity as “the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others.” I would add to this definition the word ‘unique.’ Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you.” (The Message)

I am overwhelmed when I contemplate that before I was even born and while I was still yet in my mother’s womb, God knew my identity, He knew my name, and Matthew 10:30 (NIV) says He even knew and still knows the number of hairs on my head. Ironically, my parents struggled to name me before and after my birth. Yet, my heavenly father knew my identity, knew my name, and Jeremiah 29:11 says, He knows the plans He has for me,” He has “plans to prosper you and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. (NIV – Revised by Houston) I am astonished and in awe of my creator that He knows me better than I even know myself.

Paradoxically, the Hebrew word translated “formed” in Jeremiah 1:15 is the same verb used in Genesis 2:7 when God created Adam from the dust of the earth. The term ‘formed’ is typically used to describe a potter’s process of molding clay into unique and valuable pottery. A master potter knows what he plans to form before he sits at his wheel to begin his work, just as God knew me before He ever started shaping me in His mother’s womb. Just as God has set His sights on me with plans to create me uniquely and “I praise Him because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalms 139:14, NIV)

As believers, we need to realize that God is the master designer of our lives. He is the potter who molds us, shapes us, and engineers the purpose and destiny of our story. We have all been formed by His hand. God knew us intimately before He formed us in the womb. He chose us in Christ. He will be with us always as we fulfill His purpose through our lives. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from the beginning of time.

Knowing how we are all uniquely created, with different giftings, and created in the image of God, how does this affect your teaching approach?

Not only are these things true of myself, but they are also true of the students and others that I encounter daily. Just as He is the master potter who knew what He had planned for me, He also uses a crucible to refine me daily and further mold me into His creation, in His image, and for His purpose. If God sees me as a unique creation, I must see my students in the same way as an educator. He has created each one of my students uniquely and for His purpose, and I have been entrusted with being the ‘salt and light’ in their world, reflecting the image of God.

When I see my students in the same way that God does, I treat them with the same love and respect that He does. I recognize that they are uniquely and wonderfully made. I realize that they all have talents and gifts, and I have the vital responsibility of educating them and helping to develop those God-given talents and skills. It is a unique and tremendous responsibility and one that I should never take for granted.

How can you create an authentic community that honors Jesus with your colleagues and in your classroom? Or perhaps you already have one? If so, share how this looks in your setting.

What is an authentic community? To answer this question, you have to define authenticity and community. Merriam-Webster defines authentic as ‘true to one's own personality, spirit, or character’ and community as ‘a unified body of individuals.’ I would add to this definition that an authentic community has meaningful communication with one another. However, it’s often difficult to have a meaningful face-to-face conversation with someone. This has been especially true over the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic when our face-to-face interaction has been limited in some cases. I think this can be especially difficult in the workplace. I have worked in both secular environments and ‘Christian environments,’ to be honest, I have found it equally difficult in both. One might think it would be easier to have an authentic community in a Christian environment. Often when Christians don’t see eye to eye rather than having an authentic open conversation, it is perceived as passing judgment on the other person. This often causes divides in a church and leads to a church split.

An authentic community is challenging when conflict arises. How we deal with that conflict can often make it even more challenging to achieve an authentic community—my pastor advocates for handling conflict quickly, quietly, and confidentially. When we adopt this method, we can find an authentic God-centered community. An authentic community is a safe place. We can have a conversation with another person and know that there is no condemnation by either party involved. An authentic community is a relationship where we don’t give up on each other. We can count on each other in our time of need any time of day or night. An authentic community is one where we gain new wisdom and a new perspective due to an open, honest conversation. An authentic community is a place where we can wrestle openly with our faith and the unknown. Though we might not find the answers, we can be open about our thoughts and feelings, and in the process, we grow closer in our relationship with one another but, more importantly, with God.

Whether in our classroom, church/small group, or even our home, God must always be the center of an authentic community. As we have talked about during each week of this course, we are the only salt and light that some may see. We can create an authentic community by demonstrating God’s love to one another. This means that we don’t say things that show God’s love; it means we do something for one another too.

Do you currently have an online faith community? If so, how does this enrich your faith journey?

I have several fellow believers that I follow on various forms of social media. I also have several churches that I have been a part of over my life that I follow on social media and watch their weekly services. This helps to enhance my weekly in-person worship at the church that I am a part of.

Share online faith community and/or devotional sites.

https://www.cgnaz.org/ Common Ground Church of the Nazarene

https://odb.org/ Our Daily Bread

https://www.glendoracommunitychurch.org/sundays Glendora Community Church of the Nazarene

https://globalvisionbc.com/ Global Vision Bible Church