Friday, October 29, 2021

21st Century Ancient Technology

Ed tech is hardly a new thing.  We have sought physical tools to aid students in their learning and in the production of new ideas from what they have learned since the dawn of time.  Do you think touch screen tablets in classrooms, a hallmark of 21st century classrooms about which school boards and administrators brag to the public, are evidence of our brilliance over past ages?  They are but updated versions of the wax tablets used by the ancients, and often for similar educational purposes.

Ancient Greek alphabet practice on wax tablet (teacher's version at top, student's at bottom)

Modern English alphabet on iPad

Many would argue that with the advent of the latter, the former serves no purpose in the contemporary classroom, yet one of the things that the pandemic has taught us is that people learn best from immediate interactions (see, for example, here and here).  The word "immediate" means "without anything between."  In a language class, we strive for ever greater levels of immediacy.  We bring authentic artifacts into the classroom and even lead trips to places where the languages being taught are spoken.  In the Latin class, I would love to have a time machine so my students and I could experience the ancient world directly, but until that becomes a reality, we must make do re-creating that world here and now.

My first-year Latin students recently had the opportunity to do just that as they explored paleography and ancient writing materials.  Having spent the past three months being introduced to Latin grammar and vocabulary, it was time for them to experience the written form of those words as the Romans would have read and written them.

The University of Michigan has an excellent site that allows us to explore the physical aspects of ancient Roman writing, so on the first day of our paleography project, that is what we did.

Ancient writing materials at University of Michigan


Slide show on papyrus making at University of Michigan


Examples of paleography and how to decipher it at University of Michigan

After working their way through these examples, becoming astounded at what Latin actually looked like in ancient times, the students began to decipher various texts that I had prepared in what is called Old Roman Cursive.  Using a paleographic font that accurately represents handwriting samples from antiquity, I had typed up several familiar passages of Latin from their textbook.  As they began transcribing what at first appeared as gibberish, they slowly began to recognize the texts, which made further transcription easier.  After that, it was time for these students to write in Old Roman Cursive.  Once again I had prepared bits of text from their textbook that they tried to copy using the strange, but by then increasingly familiar alphabet.




It was then time for the students to begin making and using their own replica ancient writing implements.

Whittling a Roman stylus from a dowel rod produces a lot of shavings!

I had cut dowel rods into 6" lengths, and with craft knives the students were quickly able to carve them into a stylus.  One end had to be pointed for writing on the wax of the tablets they would be using, and the other had to be whittled flat for erasing or smoothing out the wax if mistakes were made.

Melting crayons to pour into wooden frames

Wooden frames that I had constructed awaiting their molten wax

In preparation for the next part of the project, I had prepared small wooden frames.  These were simple 6"x6" pieces of board with narrow strips cut and glued along the edges to hold the wax in place.  The next step was to melt crayons and fill the frames.  In past years I have done this with the students at school, but time and space constraints would not permit that this year.  Fortunately my wife was a good sport about letting me use our own kitchen!

The fun part started when students began writing in the wax tablets using their own styli!  They had picked a Latin text that we had read* and that had particular meaning for them, and this was what they then set about copying using Old Roman Cursive.



It is always interesting to see students using their phones or computers for the Latin texts that they are copying.  It is the perfect mix of ancient and contemporary ed tech!  As you can see, the students end up producing something very similar to that of the people whose language and culture they study from two thousand years in the past.




Ancient tablets on the left, examples of my students' work on the right

As much fun as the students have creating and working with replicas of ancient writing materials, and as much fun as I have watching them have fun, I am perhaps even more intrigued by what they write about the project in their final reflection.  For this part of the project, they must write about the challenges they experienced learning to read and write Old Roman Cursive, challenges in making and using the implements, and what insights they gained into the practice of producing words in print, both in the ancient world and today.  Here are a few of their thoughts.

The main problem is that I wasn't really writing, but more printing the letters on the paper. It felt as if a machine was doing it. As I went on though it got more "personalized" and became "my" Roman handwriting.  Sam

I have learned a lot about the Roman writing and their materials. Their alphabet is missing some of the English letters and they have precise lines and curves. Romans shared their words in many different ways. They used wax tablets, broken pottery, papyrus and many different materials. It made me think more about modern writing and to be honest our ways are great and innovative and easy but not as fun and interesting as the ancient Romans.  We have phones and online text with many characters and moving gifs to share and the Romans had an extensive process to write when making papyrus and wooden styli. The English letters may be more organized and clean, but it is still very interesting to look back on the ways Romans used to write.  Bella


Modern writing and ancient Roman writing are similar but still different in their own ways. A lot of the letters are very different between the two, like the letter A. However, they also have very similar letters, like O. Ancient Roman writing was also different in the way that it was done. For example, some Romans used wax tablets and a wooden stylus. The Romans had to whittle down a stick in order to create a stylus so they could write, thus making them have it a bit harder. In modern writing, we use things like paper, pens, and technological devices to write. Jaysi


First we learned all the ways that the Romans made their writing materials, and none were as easy as going to Target and getting a 24 pack of pencils. The Romans had to really put in a lot of effort just to make a thing to write on which means that when they had to write something it was probably important. This project took me 2 classes to make an engraving with 9 words on it and it makes you think about how long it took them to hand print those Bibles and make all of those writing materials. James


I have now learned how delicate writing used to be for the ancient Romans. Roman paleography helped me understand that it is a privilege to have pen/paper let alone texting. Roman writing is significantly harder than modern English to write because of the complex letters. Ancient Roman writing is also a lot harder to decipher due to a lack of punctuation compared to modern English.  Gavin


So, there you have it.  Students of the 21st century are gaining appreciation for an ancient culture and a better understanding of one of the most common tasks in our own era through the use of relevant ed tech.  And the advantage of these tablets is that they don't have to be plugged in!

To see this project in action, take a look at our video.




* Now that I am teaching at a Catholic school, many of my students chose a Latin verse from the Bible as their significant text to copy onto the wax tablets.  What follows are some of their reflections on why those chose the verses they did.

John 1:4 - I choose this verse because I believe it is a powerful message. It tells me that Jesus is our light in the darkness and to look for him whenever we are lost, almost like the north star in the sky.

I chose Matthew 11:28 because I often have anxiety about the chaos going on in life be that my relationships, work, or school. My mom always tells me to give my anxieties to Him and in this verse I feel as though Jesus is talking to me. I also chose Matthew 28:19 because I think I have noticed God calling me to help people see Him. I am a part of the Evangelization team at my Church and I like talking to people about my faith.

I chose the John 10:10 verse because I've always been so grateful to be a Catholic and to have Jesus in my life. As Jesus said in the quote he didn't just come so that we may life, but he came so that we could have it to the full. I always wonder what it would be like to not know Jesus and to not be raised as a Christian because we are so lucky. Ever since my confirmation I have been very involved in my faith and it has honestly made my life some much better just knowing and loving him. For example in 7th grade I was having a rough time and when I started praying more often, becoming more involved in the mass, I became so much happier. That is why I choose that quote.

I picked the verse, "Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis, et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos.  (Matthaeum 11:28)", because it is calling all those who work to come to God and find rest. Personally I consider myself a busy person, juggling two competitive sports, four younger siblings, homework, and just high school in general. It is comforting to hear that there is someone to go that that will give me rest. Someone out there who in the moment expects nothing of me except that I come to Him.

I chose this Bible verse (John 1:3) because it reminds me of how God created the sun and the mountains, all the animals on earth, He makes the beauty of the world. This verse makes me think of how the same God who paints beautiful sunsets and sunrises everyday made me as well. He created all the astonishing wonders of the world, and I really love mountains and lakes and sunsets and all parts of nature. So this verse reminds me that the same God who created all that and much more, created me. It reminds me of a quote I once read that said "Isn't it amazing that the same God who created the mountains and oceans, knew the world needed one of you."

I chose this text because it explains that Jesus is the most powerful. In English, it means "All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made." This is inspiring because it helps me realize that Jesus is truly the Son of God. 

I picked this verse (Matthew 15:8) because I liked what it said and it was relatable. It said these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. I feel like this a lot, I can go to church, pray, and others things but if my heart isn't honoring Him it doesn't matter. I think it is a good reminder to reflect on this verse and remember that honoring God is more than your actions, and going through the motions, it's just as much of importance to have a heart that honors him.


I chose this Bible verse (John 10:10), because it is a wonderful representation of why Christ came to save the world. When Jesus says, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full," it shows his amazing love, and kindness. He did not want all human beings to live on earth, to suffer their whole life, then when they die they are still separated from God. Jesus wanted to give a purpose and a "fullness" of life for all eternity. I love this verse, and I still chant this in my head randomly around my house, since the day we learned it. It also makes me happy to know that following God gives us all the possibility of eternal life.


This (Matthew 11:28) is one of my favorite Bible verses. I love how it shows comfort in knowing that we can place all of our burdens in Christ. I have struggled in the past with feeling that I am alone and that no one is able to help me. This verse from the book of Matthew reminds me that I am not alone and I will always have Jesus Christ by my side no matter the circumstances.

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Of Deserts and Daughters

 

My daughter and I outside the showing of Dune

A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.  This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows.  To begin your study of the life of Muad'Dib, then, take care that you first place him in his time:  born in the 57th year of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV.  And take the most special care that you locate Muad'Dib in his place:  the planet Arrakis.  Do not be deceived by the fact that he was born on Caladan and lived his first fifteen years there.  Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, is forever his place.

So begins one of the greatest science fiction series of all time.  Frank Herbert published Dune, the first novel of his ecological space epic, in 1965, and I first became aware of it nearly twenty years later when it was made into a movie for release in December of 1984.  Although that movie was disowned by its own director, David Lynch, and earned less in box office sales than it took to make, it made me want to read the novel, which I purchased just a few weeks later in January of 1985.

My well worn copy of Dune

To say that I devoured that book would be an understatement, for I am not sure if I have ever read a novel more quickly.  By the end of July in 1985, I had finished the first five in the series (Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, and Heretics of Dune).  I have always preferred science fiction to fantasy novels, although both genres are often grouped together in bookstores, and the Dune series captured my imagination like no other.


I was excited when I learned that a new film version was coming out in 2021, but even more so when my daughter indicated her desire to see it.  She has had an interest in space since attending Space Camp several years ago, and is now beginning to sharpen that interest as she considers plans for college.  Whether or not she ends up pursuing astronautical engineering, which at the moment is at the top of her list, remains to be seen, but getting to watch a new film version of one my favorite novels with my daughter was not something this dad could pass up.

Selfies were not an option when I saw the first Dune movie in 1984!

I did my best to restrain myself from whispering to her various details during the movie, although I wasn't always successful, and I thrilled to scenes and even whole bits of dialogue that leapt from the book's pages directly to the silver screen.  Even with a run time of two hours and 35 minutes, it does not present all of that first novel and tantalizingly leaves us wanting more when it ends.  At least, I wanted more, but what did my sixteen year old daughter think?  I could hardly wait to ask.

As we left the theatre, I inquired what she thought of it, bracing myself for a tepid reaction.  Just because I had been enamored of the original film back in '84 and even more so of the novels did not mean that she would be as taken as I was.  What a pleasant surprise I received when she said that she really liked it.  I confirmed with, "Really?  You really liked it?"  To this she replied that it was one of the best movies she had seen.  She then began asking questions about some of the characters, and I shared more of the details on the drive home that I had been bursting to share during the movie.  I ended by telling her that I had all the Dune novels in one of our bookcases and that she could borrow them whenever she liked.

There were fans of the novel who despised the 1984 film, and that has been the reaction for many book fans when a favorite tale has made its way to the big screen.  Somehow, the cinematic renderings do not always capture all the vivid details that good authors evoke in their readers' minds.  And yet, a film, even one of less than great cinematic quality, can prompt people to seek out the novel on which it was based, and as far as I am concerned, that is worth the price of admission.  A treat even bigger for me than a bucket of popcorn was getting to share this particular cinematic/literary experience with my daughter.






Thursday, October 21, 2021

Contagious Faith

 

I am always looking for ways to connect people with other people, with ideas, with opportunities, with experiences, and most importantly with Jesus, and for this reason I had been excited for many months about my friend Mark Mittelberg's new book Contagious Faith.  Mark is a best-selling author and speaker who has spent his life doing two things, helping people come to salvation through Jesus and equipping people to help their friends and family do the same.  He is also the executive director for the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University, so it is safe to say that when he writes a book whose subtitle is Discover Your Natural Style for Sharing Jesus with Others, he knows what he is talking about.

I have been devouring this book about as fast as I can, which at times is not all that quickly since I am highlighting, making margin notes, and tweeting key lines.  In this post I will offer both a standard book review so you know what you are getting and a look at why this book needs to be in every church's bookstore, on every pastor's bookshelf, and in every Christian's arsenal for doing what God has called them to do.  To wrap it up, you will find a very personal reason why I am excited about all this.

The Review

The book is very well structured. After a foreward by Lee Strobel and two chapters that set out the why of evangelism, it moves into five "contagious faith styles," or approaches to personal evangelism.  Each style gets its own chapter that describes the style for sharing your faith, gives a biblical example to show how this style has been used, and backs that up with some personal stories from modern people.  It then gives practical tips related to that style that are useful for anyone, whether or not that particular style connects with you, and importantly offers some cautions about that style if it is pushed too far.  Too many books only present the positives of the author’s ideas, but Mittelberg is quick to show the pitfalls of each style so that they can be avoided.

Mittelberg identifies five styles for sharing your faith that he calls Friendship-Building, Selfless-Serving, Story-Sharing, Reason-Giving, and Truth-Telling.  I highlighted multiple passages in each style, even though the style that came back from my self assessment on the book's website was the Reason-Giving style.  In particular, I found myself enthusiastically highlighting, underlining, and writing "YES" with multiple exclamation marks in the Truth-Telling chapter.

The book then includes four chapters that go quite deep.  One discusses what the gospel actually is, and if you think you think it can be boiled down to just a quick prayer for salvation, think again.  Another explores what to do when your natural style doesn't seem to fit the situation, one explores the truly adventurous nature of sharing the good news of Jesus, and the final chapter takes a look at the evangelism explosion around the world and how your legacy can be caught up in it.

And if this were not enough, the book contains an exhaustive list of resources at the end, which in itself would be worth the price of the book.

The Why

Obviously, I am a fan of Contagious Faith, and although I would have loved to explore in depth each chapter, it is better that you just buy the book for yourself and jump in...unless, of course, you are not persuaded the idea of personal or lifestyle evangelism is all that important in the first place.  Let's be clear.  Mark Mittelberg has not paid me to write what you are about to read.  This is my own stance.  If you have a beef with it, take it up with me.

Church leaders, what could be more important than equipping our people to share the good news of Jesus Christ?  Addressing issues of sin and brokenness are important, as are the many acts of service that local churches provide, but nothing...nothing...is more important than someone's relationship with God, and if a person does not know Him or has chosen to reject His grace, that person's relationship will be defined by an eternity of separation from the living, loving God of the universe.  There's a name for that, by the way.  It's called hell.  Pastors, elders, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, deacons, bishops, and choir directors...either you believe this or you don't.  If you don't, then I would suggest finding another line of work or at least stop using the word "Christian" on your business card.  If you do, then you understand what I'm saying and it will either encourage you in your evangelistic training efforts or it will light the fire that helps you start them.

And this leads us to Christians who would not consider themselves part of that list above.  These are the children and teens, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas who fill our churches, worship faithfully, and try to live good lives, but who would never in a million years consider themselves evangelists.  Here's the thing.  Christians have understood since the time of Jesus that it was incumbent upon us to share the gospel.  From the beginning we have understood that Matthew 28:18-20 was speaking to all of us.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age."  (ESV)

As Mittelberg makes clear, it is not enough just to be a nice person and hope people can guess what is going on and accept Jesus as their Lord.  How do we know?  The last chapter of the book talks about the flourishing of evangelism and the increasing numbers of people around the world who are turning to Jesus.  What is conspicuous by its absence is mention of the United States.  Do you really need me to link data that show a decline in our country of those who follow Jesus?  I could, of course, such as here, here, and here, but just look at your news and social media feeds.  Listen to the conversations you have with co-workers, friends, and family.  Those will make more than a sufficiently compelling case for evangelism.

We must help our children and teens, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, indeed everyone in our churches and Christian communities, know how to share the good news of God through Jesus Christ.  Mark Mittelberg's Contagious Faith is an excellent resource in this most important of works.

Mark, my son Austin, and me

The Personal Part

Part of my own journey with Jesus can be found starting on p. 239 of another of Mark Mittelberg's books, The Unexpected Adventure, which he co-authored with Lee Strobel.  It was Wednesday, August 9, 2000.  The pastor of our church and I had gone to a conference where Mark was speaking, and in his morning session on relational evangelism, he made frequent reference to the clear point at which a person came to saving faith in Jesus.  I had grown up in the church, had been baptized the summer before I turned 13, and had an active prayer and devotional life.  Jesus was always part of my life, so I could not put my finger on a specific, transitional moment in my life, a Damascene conversion, if you will.  The church we attended at the time did not speak of such things, either, but I was interested in helping our congregation develop evangelistically, so this seemed like something I should understand better.

At the mid-morning break, I stood in line to ask Mark about it, but when my turn came, I found the words coming out haltingly, and as he spoke, tears unexpectedly filled my eyes.  Mark knew something was up, and since the break was nearly over, asked if I wanted to grab lunch at the conclusion of the session.  I nodded and headed off to the men's room to compose myself.  Alone in that church's restroom, I heard the nearly audible voice of Jesus saying that after that day, I would never need to doubt my relationship with Him again.  I could hardly wait for lunch, and it wasn't from hunger!

We hopped into Mark's car as soon as the session was over and drove to a nearby deli.  There, in the parking lot, Mark unpacked the gospel.  It was not that I had never heard it before, but I needed to make it my own.  We prayed, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and we grabbed lunch.  Something transpired in those moments that is best captured in Mark's telling of it in The Unexpected Adventure.

He [Steve] told me later that as I spoke, he kept praying, "Yes, Lord Jesus."  He said that "suddenly the word Lord took on a whole new meaning.  It was as if the four letters of that word radiated with red and blue and gold colors.  I kept saying, 'LORD Jesus -- just those two words, over and over.  I finally understood the word Lord and I laughed and cried."  (p. 242)

Mark did not miss an opportunity.  Yes, he was leading a conference session and needed to keep his mind on his presentation, but he was prepared for a divine appointment that day and met it.  I hope you read this latest book of his, Contagious Faith.  Perhaps there is someone just waiting to experience the Lordship of Jesus Christ because of a conversation with YOU!