Blog Entries

Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion

jterrell@richmont.edu — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As we consider again the issue of dealing with conflict in a Kingdom way, we must first understand what tends to drive our conflicts in the beginning. When you stop to think about it most conflict we experience is driven by emotion.

Though stimulated by differing thoughts from our opponent, what drives the conflict and gives it power is how we feel.

In the early 60's (the only time you could get away with this kind of research), Stanley Schachter and Jerome Si [...]

Communication in the 21st Century

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As with almost everything else in our culture, the world of communications is changing. Ways and even purposes of communication are no longer static.

Consider: The concept of delay or "lag time" is foreign to most of us today. I was riding a few months ago with my son and we began discussing some (probably arcane) baseball statistic or another. When we couldn't agree, he said "Look it up!" Boomer that I am, I hadn't even considered the idea of using my iPhone to check the answer [...]

Perception and Conflict

jterrell@richmont.edu — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We talked a couple of weeks ago about conflict. There are certainly personalities that are a bit more averse to conflict than others. And some people don't seem happy unless they've got some conflict going on...have you ever worked with those kind of people?

However, we must realize that all of us are going to experience conflict on a fairly regular basis. I'm convinced that part of the reason for that has to do with the way we perceive the world around us. As humans, we are cre [...]

Conflict

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I have a friend who hates conflict. He denies that he hates it, but he does. In every area of life he works to minimize interactions which could lead to conflict, and he's good at avoiding it.

However. Please note that I didn't say he couldn't handle conflict. Far from it. I've been with him in situations where he confronted very difficult and challenging situations with a sense of tranquility and confidence that were amazing.

For me, far too often I'm ready to tackle confl [...]

What is authentic?

jterrell@richmont.edu — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Being real is considered a sine qua non of postmodern culture. If all we have are our stories, then we must at least be true to ourselves. For this reason, the value of authentic relationships has skyrocketed in recent years.

It's not that older generations wanted someone to be false and fake with them. (There was, after all, an Eddie Haskell character even on Leave it to Beaver.) However, there was social acceptance-perhaps even approval-of the kinds of "white lies" that are to [...]

Authenticity

jterrell@richmont.edu — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There is a great paradox at work in today's culture relative to the value of authenticity. Without question one of the values of the NextGen (or Millennials, or Gen Y) is authenticity.

With their increased exposure to the broader world and the availability of instant information via the web, the NextGen can sniff out fakes with relative ease. Corresponding to this worldliness is a strong sense of irony. While they are committed to social values and participation, they exhibi [...]

Who are Christians?

jterrell@richmont.edu — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No, I mean, who are we really? I know all the standard, doctrinally correct and theologically sound responses. My question really gets at the core of who we are, though, and in particular, how are we supposed to be different?

I just finished reading a short book by Martha Stout entitled The Sociopath Next Door. (I know, I know, but I am a psychologist, and I'm particularly interested in personality.) It's actually a pretty good book and one that I'm going to have my children r [...]

Passion

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

One of my favorite educators is a symphony conductor. Benjamin Zander has been a faculty member at The New England Conservatory as well, but his primary role is with the symphony. If you've ever seen Zander present, you'll know immediately why he is such an exceptional educator: his passion.

In one of his talks for TED (http://www.ted.com/) called "Classical Music with Shining Eyes" he tells the story of involving a whole classroom of underprivileged children in liste [...]

Passion and Purpose

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As I think about training a younger generation to serve the Church, I realize that passion-or "one-buttock playing" is perhaps one of the most important elements.

Time and again I encounter Millennials who are dissatisfied with the routine. On one of the myriad blogspots now dotting the cyberspace landscape, "Jonathan" writes "...passion and open communication are key. As a Millennial, if my work is limited to mundane tasks or I feel like my input is not valued in strategic disc [...]

Projection

jterrell@richmont.edu — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

One of my favorite authors (whom I've mentioned here before) is a psychologist by the name of James Hollis. Recently re-reading Hollis, I discovered a most provocative quote:

"All relationships begin in projection."

Projection is an unconscious mental process which is designed to (a) make us feel less anxious and more safe, and (b) provide a framework or structure for our world. It makes decisions easier because it involves less thought. Unfortunately it also crea [...]

Advent

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Expectant waiting. Silent anticipation.
Sudden glory!

The season of Advent reminds us of the
most amazing truth in the universe:
God came.

In one of his books, Erwin McManus
told the story of his proposal to his wife:

I loved a woman named Kim. I went
to her and asked her to be my wife.
She said no. I kept going. I kept
asking until she found out how
much I loved her. [...]

Attention Deficit

jterrell@richmont.edu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A few years ago ADHD was all the rage...the diagnosis du jour. Far too often the disorder was inappropriately assessed and kids were medicated when pharmacological intervention wasn't necessary. (By the way, there's no such thing as "ADD," which you hear folks say all the time.

There are three types of ADHD: inattentive type, impulsive type and combined type.)

Today, ADHD has faded into the cultural background somewhat, though I still get occasional frantic calls about someo [...]

Modern Art

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I'll admit I've never really been someone who had much of an eye for art. Most of the time I can tell when I'm looking at a masterpiece, I guess, but beyond that, I'm a Philistine. The genre of art that is most mystifying, however, is more abstract, modern art.

It's hard for me to fathom the difference between my children's early finger-painting and a few of the canvases I've seen hanging in museums. I have a friend who collects modern art and I remember a painting o [...]

Commentaries

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I was thinking the other day about commentaries. (Someone in my office asked why I had several sets of commentaries broken up by Bible book instead of by set.) After they left, I began to think about the purpose of biblical commentaries and the way that I use them.

The purpose of a commentary is to expand our awareness of what a biblical passage means. It may involve some textual element that doesn't translate well into English, a social custom that prevents us from understandin [...]

Tenderness

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I work with patients all the time who's greatest longing is to be in a relationship where they are valued and nurtured. Perceived expectations from childhood experiences have convinced them that unless they are perfectly organized, or superior in everything, or look beautiful, that they are not acceptable.

In our religion we find ourselves unconsciously mirroring these demands onto God. Our vice president, Gary Moon, is fond of saying that we've got the wrong head on God's shoul [...]

"Keeping Body and Soul Together"

jterrell@richmont.edu — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Do you know this phrase? It means to survive. The phrase is most often used specifically to refer to earning sufficient money to keep oneself alive. The phrase derives from the Christian notion that physical life continues only as long as the soul inhabits the body.

Walter Raleigh, the English explorer and courtier, expressed that view in his 1608 poem - The Lie, in which he describes the soul as "the body's guest".

Later in the 17th century Richard Crashaw wrote [...]

The Comfort Diner

jterrell@richmont.edu — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

One of the things DeAnne and I enjoy doing when we have the chance is visiting New York. (I mean, I wouldn't want to move there, but it sure is fun to visit.)

A few years ago we were there one November. Despite the time of year it was relatively temperate. There was one morning, though,

when the rain was falling and the wind was blowing. We weren't going to sit in the hotel when there was so much to do, so we went out anyway. We bought umbrellas from a street ve [...]

Crabgrass

jterrell@richmont.edu — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I was thinking the other day about crabgrass. DeAnne and I have a small place on Lake Weiss. Unfortunately we're there far too infrequently to suit either of our tastes. It's a wonderful getaway when life gets hectic.

But the other day we were there doing some work prior to the Fall season. As I was working in the yard, I realized that in my carefully cultivated Bermuda grass was creeping a lot of crabgrass. Two thoughts resulted.

First, I began to wonder who made the dete [...]

Beginning to Wonder

jterrell@richmont.edu — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Lately I've been thinking about the evangelical response to individuals who are different from us. Those who believe different things (or no things) or those who live different lifestyles. I've been reading about how Jesus responded to people around him and I'm not sure that we are living the same way. With those who are struggling Jesus is always gentle and nurturing. He didn't shy away from Truth, but he cared for people first.

In Luke 12, Jesus is in the middle of a crushing crowd o [...]

The Unlikely Disciple

jterrell@richmont.edu — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I don't know how many of you have seen the recent book of this title by Kevin Roose, but it's worth a read. I just finished, and I find his conclusions quite interesting. During his experiment ...

at a major fundamental university in the South, Mr. Roose (who is in reality a partying, totally nonreligious student at Brown University) begins the journey seeing himself as a "stranger in a strange land." What is fascinating is how he is changed through his experience. Mr. Roose [...]