A woodworking, board games, and Shakespeare enthusiast who also enjoys reading with small children, Mr. Edgren teaches Physics, Physical Science, and Intro to General Science at TPS. Currently, he resides in Moscow, Idaho, a small college town, which he describes as being “surrounded by rolling wheat fields as far as the eye can see.”
Grace: Why did you first decide to teach at TPS?
Mr. Edgren: When I was considering moving my family from west Tennessee to northern Idaho in order to pursue pastoral training, I needed to find work that would support my family, allow me flexibility to pursue studies, and make use of my teaching experience. Additionally, it was my high school physics courses with TPS that first kindled my love for the discipline, so it was a particular joy to return to serve the institution that put me on my way, so to speak.
Grace: What is your favorite narrative from the Bible?
Mr. Edgren: My favorite narrative in scripture is a bit off the beaten path, but bear with me. It’s the end of Isaiah, chapters 53-61 specifically. In this set of chapters Isaiah describes the character and work of the Messiah and the restoration of the people of God. The language is piercingly lovely, and the realities described stir the soul and give courage to the heart.
Grace: What is your favorite branch of science? Why?
Mr. Edgren: Physics is by far my favorite. It is the most rigorously mathematical and orderly of the sciences. I just plain find it lovely.
Grace: What is your favorite science experiment/project and why?
Mr. Edgren: Definitely potato cannons. ‘Nuff said.
Grace: What would your students be surprised to learn about you?
Mr. Edgren: Not sure what would surprise students, they can be a pretty stoic lot. They might be surprised to learn that in high school I was heavily involved in a JROTC program, dead set on joining the military. I had spent a week visiting the Naval Academy and had received Army, Navy, and Air Force scholarships. But during a field training exercise the summer before my senior year, I was hospitalized for allergy-induced asthma. The Lord used that experience to change my course and, though I passed my medical examinations, I chose not to pursue a military career after all.
Grace: In what other teacher’s class would you like to enroll for a day and why?
Mr. Edgren: Easy: Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation History, Lit and Comp. with Mr. Crosby and Dr. Leake. That period of history is fascinating to me, but my knowledge of it is woefully impoverished. Also because I admire, pedagogically, the combining of history and literature.
Grace: How do you remember all of your students’ names?
Mr. Edgren: Well, most of my students this year are named Sophia, so that makes things easier. The hard part is remembering which students are in which section. But as the year progresses, each class gains a personality of its own and keeping the sections distinct comes naturally.
Grace: How do you hope students will remember you and your classes?
Mr. Edgren: I hope they will remember moments of wonder at the glory of God in creation and will be drawn to further exploration and delight in God’s manifold gifts to us in the world He has made.
Grace: If you could grow up in any decade, which would you choose?
Mr. Edgren: Perhaps it is boring, but I am happy with the one I had. Every age has its battles and joys and challenges and opportunities, and this moment in history suits me just fine.
Grace: What do you usually do for Christmas?
Mr. Edgren: For Christmas I usually take my family to either my parents in Washington or my wife’s parents in Alaska, and we have a grand old time playing board games and feasting and throwing wrapping paper at each other.
Grace: What is your favorite Christmas carol, food, and movie?
Mr. Edgren: My favorite Christmas carol is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (all five glorious verses). My favorite Christmas food is probably monkey bread (bread dough dipped in butter, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and baked to sticky-caramelized-perfection in a Bundt pan). And my favorite Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, though I am sympathetic to arguments that suggest that one is legitimate all year long.
Grace: What would you like to say to the readers of clay?
Mr. Edgren: Well shucks, I’m not sure. “Merry Christmas!” I suppose, “It is merry because the same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem died on the cross for the sins of his people and rose triumphant to glory. Because of Christmas there is real forgiveness for real sins and there is the sure and certain promise of resurrection. So rest, ye merry gentlemen, and let nothing you dismay.”