“Lord God, Thou hast made me a pastor and teacher in the Church. Thou seest how unfit I am to undertake this great and difficult office, and had I been without Thy aid and counsel, I would long since have ruined it all. Therefore do I cry unto Thee. I offer my mouth and my heart to Thy service. I …
Quote of the Week, The Responsibility of Christian Speech, by St. Augustine, 5th Century
“They who have just ideas, and express them in suitable language, would need to use no long discourse to refute the errors of empty conjecture.” –Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Source: Augustine of Hippo, The City of God, trans. Marcus Dods, vol. 2 of A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series, ed. Philip …
A Prayer for Words that Build Up, by John Calvin, 16th Century
“Still we do not condemn words or singing, but rather greatly commend them, provided the feeling of the mind goes along with them. For in this way the thought of God is kept alive on our minds, which, from their fickle and versatile nature, soon relax, and are distracted by various objects, unless various means are used to support them. …
Quote of the Week, Words that Build Unity, by Richard Baxter, 17th Century
“The peace and concord of Believers is a thing that almost all those plead for, who call themselves Believers; and yet a thing that almost all men hinder and resist while they commend it.” –Richard Baxter (1615-1691) Source: Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory: Or, A Summ of Practical Theologie, and Cases of Conscience (London: Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673), …
Nov. 6 Webinar, The Unlikely Celebrity: Uncle Bud Robinson and the Power of an Authentic Voice
Title: The Unlikely Celebrity: Uncle Bud Robinson and the Power of an Authentic Voice Presenter and Affiliation: Abram Book, PhD, Date and Time: Friday, November 6, 6-7 pm EST Description: In the early twentieth century, Uncle Bud Robinson was a nationally known evangelist whose distinctive Appalachian speech, humor, and storytelling captivated audiences across America. Today, he is largely forgotten. In …
A Prayer for Speech that Reflects Christ, by John Henry Newman, 19th Century
“Lord Jesus, make Thyself to me a living, bright Reality; more present to faith’s vision keen than any outward object seen; more dear, more intimately nigh than e’en the sweetest earthly tie. Let me not by unkind word or deed dishonor Thy holy name, but grant that all who know me may take knowledge of me that I have been …
Quote of the Week, The Greater Compliment, by George McDonald, 19th Century
“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” — George MacDonald (1824-1905) Source: George MacDonald, The Marquis of Lossie (London: Hurst and Blackett, 1877), 335. Reflection: What habits of speech help others trust my words, and where might my communication need greater consistency between what I say and what I do?
Upcoming Webinar, The Unlikely Celebrity: Uncle Bud Robinson and the Power of an Authentic Voice, with Abram Book
Title: The Unlikely Celebrity: Uncle Bud Robinson and the Power of an Authentic Voice Presenter and Affiliation: Abram Book, PhD, Date and Time: Friday, November 6, 6-7 pm EST Description: In the early twentieth century, Uncle Bud Robinson was a nationally known evangelist whose distinctive Appalachian speech, humor, and storytelling captivated audiences across America. Today, he is largely forgotten. In …
Column Entry, “Living and Speaking as Disciples,” by Chris Hamstra
Column Title: Leadership Life Stories: Communicating and Leading through Your Story Column Entry: “Living and Speaking as Disciples” By Chris Hamstra, PhD, Davenport University Description: There is a power when people come together to share stories. As people of faith, the practice and process of storytelling helps us understand ourselves, our communities, and our organizations. When combined with leadership, stories provide examples of …
A Prayer for Patient and Faithful Speech, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 20th Century
“O God, early in the morning I cry unto thee. Help me to pray, and to think only of thee. I cannot pray alone. In me there is darkness, but with thee there is light. I am lonely, but thou leavest me not. I am feeble in heart, but thou givest me help. I am restless, but with thee there …
