“Speech is really an image of mind: so I have learned to know you from your letters, just as the proverb tells us we may know the lion from his claws.” –St. Basil the Great (Basil of Caesarea) (4th Century) Question for reflection: In what ways does Basil’s metaphor suggest that language reveals our soul? Source: Letter 9 to Maximus …
Prayer, The Heart Behind Our Speech, John Chrysostom
“O Lord, grant me good thoughts. O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins. O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience. O Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness. O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of You in my heart. O Lord, grant me to love You with all my mind …
A Prayer for the Possibilities of Communication, by St. Augustine of Hippo
“Grant me, Lord, to know and understand which comes first—to call upon you or to praise you, and whether knowing you precedes calling upon you. For who can call upon you without knowing you? For he who does not know you may call upon you as another than you are.” –Saint Augustine of Hippo, 5th Century From Confessions, Book 1, …
Quote of the Week, Why Do We Study?, by John Piper
“We do not study to be smarter than the next man, but to behold His glory” –John Piper (1946 – ), American theologian and pastor Question for reflection: What is your motivation for study?
Quote of the Week, Thinking about that which is Excellent or Praiseworthy
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” –Philippians 4:8-9 (New International Version) Questions for reflection: how do we cultivate a habit of think about that which is “excellent or praiseworthy”? How might it influence our communication?
A Prayer for Acceptable Petitions, 5th Century
For Acceptable Petitions Let the prayers of Thy children, O Lord, come up to the ears of Thy mercy; and that we may obtain what we ask, make us ever to ask what pleaseth Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —Leonine Sacramentary, 5th Century
Column entry, “Looking UP: Rediscovering Leadership Through Story and Stillness,” by Chris Hamstra
Column Title: Leadership Life Stories: Communicating and Leading through Your Story Column Entry: “Looking UP: Rediscovering Leadership Through Story and Stillness” 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 …
Column entry, “Competing Narratives for The Good Life: Human Flourishing, Artificial Intelligence, and the Imago Dei,” by Elizabeth McLaughlin
Column Title: Communitas Column Entry: “Competing Narratives for The Good Life: Human Flourishing, Artificial Intelligence, and the Imago Dei” Column Description: The term Communitas refers to an unstructured community of equal members often traveling from one place to another. Like the characters in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, we are fellow pilgrims on the road towards the Father’s house, following Jesus as …
Quote of the Week, Loving Wisdom
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.” –Proverbs 4:6, New International Version (NIV) Question for reflection: In what ways does your communication demonstrate that you love wisdom?
A Morning Prayer, The Eastern Church, 3rd Century
Morning Prayer We give thee hearty thanks for the rest of the past night, and for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities of pleasing thee. Grant 39that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of thy service, that at eventide we may again give thanks unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —The Eastern Church, …
