“Get the f--k away from me!”

That’s the reply I got when I approached a kid I knew and asked, “Hey, what’s up?” while he was talking with his friends.

The other day I was sitting with two of my colleagues, both talented biblical scholars, drinking beer and discussing the present and future of our seminary. I explained to them that those of us in the Children, Youth, and Family department wanted to start a fully-funded Ph.D. program in the next few years. They responded positively and offered encouragement for the new endeavor. Just before the conversation was going to shift topics, one turned to me (with a half smile that said he knew his next comment would likely draw my ire) and inquired, “My only question is, who’s going to teach the Ph.D. seminar on group mixers?”