Beauty is not a luxury, it is essential. We need it to help counteract the relentless machinations of the world’s systems and the many human manipulations that push against our fervent hope for communities where shalom prevails. Beauty renews our hope. Beauty is one of the transcendentals that our Maker has built into our world and into our lives, …
Column entry, “Lay Down Your Burdens, Look to the Star,” by John Hatch
Column title: Crossed My Mind: Thoughts on Culture and Communication Column entry: “Lay Down Your Burdens, Look to the Star” By John Hatch, Ph.D. Eastern University (retired) CCSN Senior Fellow Column Description: As Christians, we are called to have the mind of Christ. This goes against the grain of our social and cultural conditioning. We seek personal or political advancement; …
New Vlog, “Tangling with the Media Culture,” by Stephanie Bennett
Description: Our media choices shape us. The shaping involves more than the discrete messages that come through TV, Podcasts, and Social Media, but include the media platforms and channels we use to connect with others. You’ve heard, “the medium is the message.” How does the particular medium we use to connect with others affect our spiritual formation, our relationships, and …
Column entry, Great Questions Strengthen Family Connections, by Jonathan Pettigrew and Diane Badzinski
Column: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing Column entry: Great Questions Strengthen Family Connections By Jonathan Pettigrew, PhD, Arizona State University; Diane Badzinski, PhD, Colorado Christian University Column Description: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing is a monthly column offering a space to consider research-based, biblically-sound practices for family communication. We all have families. …
Column entry, Keeping the Faith (as a Graduate Student), by Lakelyn Taylor
Keeping the Faith in Grad School February entry: “Quitting and Keeping the Faith” Column Description: Writing as a Christian who is a doctoral student at a public institution of higher learning, Lakelyn reflects on how graduate students can maintain their faith in graduate school when it seems hard to do. This column is not about how to “beat” the “other” …
Column entry, “Failing to Call the Audience to Action,” by Brandon Knight
Column Title: In Search of Right Words: Saint Augustine, Rhetoric, and Preaching By Brandon Knight, Ph.D. William Carey University February: “Failing to Call the Audience to Action” Column Description: Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, in his work On Christian Doctrine, illustrates the important relationship between preaching and rhetoric. Even in his day, many questioned what use the church could possibly …
Column entry, “Let’s Talk Family,” by Jonathan Pettigrew and Diane Badzinski
Column: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing Column entry: Let’s Talk about Love By Jonathan Pettigrew, PhD, Arizona State University; Diane Badzinski, PhD, Colorado Christian University Column Description: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing is a monthly column offering a space to consider research-based, biblically-sound practices for family communication. We all have families. And …
Vlog entry, “Better Than Flowers or Chocolate,” by Stephanie Bennett
Description: Join Stephanie as she reflects on our recent Valentine’s Day celebration from a different perspective. . . To understand and be understood is a beautiful thing. Giving another the gift of listening to their story is better than chocolates, even better than flowers! You can show your friend or mate that you care enough to listen carefully to really …
Column entry, “Ashes and Light, Children and Lightness,” by John Hatch
Column title: Crossed My Mind: Thoughts on Culture and Communication Column entry: “Ashes and Light, Children and Lightness” By John Hatch, Ph.D. Eastern University (retired) CCSN Senior Fellow Column Description: As Christians, we are called to have the mind of Christ. This goes against the grain of our social and cultural conditioning. We seek personal or political advancement; Christ seeks …
Devotional, “Impression Management: What My Things Say about Me,” by Donna Elkins
Impression Management: What My Things Say about Me I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. Ecclesiastes 2:4–6 (NIV) Two examples recently inspired me to think about how we choose the items we …
