“Uncle Bud” Robinson: Enduring Lessons from an Early Twentieth-Century Simple Folk Preacher Now Available Author: Abram J. Book Foreword: Steven Hoskins Total pages: 142 Price: $20.00 Purchase (from publisher, amazon, ingramspark) Description Reuben “Uncle Bud” Robinson, born a moonshiner’s son in Tennessee and converted under the preaching of a traveling circuit rider while working as a Texas ranch hand, persevered …
Monthly Meeting of the Raven Society, August 14
Join us for coffee and conversation about research and teaching with faculty, students, administrators, and others interested in the intersections between Christianity and Communication Studies. Our desire is to continue the kinds of rich conversations we have during our face-to-face pre-conferences each year at the National Communication Association. We hope to strengthen and extend our relational bonds and sense of …
A Prayer for Guarded Words, John Cassian, 5th Century
“O God, make speed to save me; O Lord, make haste to help me. O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to rescue me.” —John Cassian (c. 360–435), Conferences, 9.18, in Nicene and Post‑Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. 11, p. 429. Reflection: Where do I most need God’s quick help to restrain my speech and steady my heart?
Quote of the Week, Speech that Reveals the Heart, by Origen, 4th Century
“Let your words be the image of your mind.” — Origen (c. 185–254), Homilies on Leviticus 10.2. Reflection: How might my speech more truthfully reflect the interior life I am cultivating before God?
Column Entry, July, Exile and Ache, by Brandon Knight
Column Title: Exile and the Ache for Home July 2026 Entry: “Lost and Searching for a Sign(post)” (Part 1 of 2) By Brandon Knight, PhD, William Carey University Column Description: Have you ever felt disconnected? What if such moments of disconnect point to a greater reality? A lost memory of unity with creation only hinted through nostalgia. Often even as we …
A Prayer for Charitable Communication, by Jeremy Taylor, 17th Century
“Keep me from all rashness of speech, from all uncharitable and evil speaking; that my words may be few, seasoned with salt, and such as may minister grace to the hearers.” —Jeremy Taylor (1613 – 1667) Source: Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living, ed. Charles P. Eden (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1883), 78–79. Reflection: Where in …
Quote of the Week, The Ethics of Expression, by Erasmus, 16th Century
“Let your speech be the genuine expression of your mind, not a mere display of words.” –Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) Source: Desiderius Erasmus, Ecclesiastes (1535), Book III Reflection: In my own teaching, preaching, or everyday communication, do my words genuinely express truth or do they sometimes become a performance rather than an act of faithfulness?
A Prayer for Speech Seasoned with Grace, by Lewis Bayly, 17th Century
“Sanctify my thoughts, words, and deeds; that whatsoever I think, speak, or do, may be pleasing in thy sight. Set a watch before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips, that I offend not with my tongue. Make my words such as may edify others, and glorify thee. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth, but …
Quote of the Week, Governed Speech, Genuine Faith, by Thomas Adam, 18th Century
“The tongue is the great instrument of duty; and if it be not governed, there can be no religion.” —Thomas Adam (1701–1784) Source: Thomas Adam, Private Thoughts on Religion (London: J. Johnson, 1786), 112. Reflection: Where does my speech today reveal a need for deeper governance by the Spirit so that my words align with genuine faith?
Summer Workshop Recordings Now Available, Learn More
In case you missed one more more of our summer workshops, you may still access the recordings and workshop resource pages with PPTs and other materials. Contact CCSN Executive Director, Robert Woods (rwoods@theccsn.com), and indicate which one or more of the recordings below you wish to access. No. 1 Word-Gardening: From Seed (Idea) to Fruit (Publication) Lead Presenter/Facilitator: Rodney Clapp, …
