Column title: Crossed My Mind: Thoughts on Culture and Communication Column entry: From Eastertide to Pentecost: God’s “Yes!” Breaking Forth 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; …
Column entry, “Avoiding the Discussion,” by Brandon Knight
Column Title: In Search of Right Words: Saint Augustine, Rhetoric, and Preaching By Brandon Knight, Ph.D. William Carey University May: “Avoiding the Discussion” 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 gain from the study …
Prayer, Guide Our Leaders, Comfort the Anxious, Lead People in Safety, by Paul C. Stratman
Guide Our Leaders, Comfort the Anxious, Lead People in Safety Lord of the nations, you remind us that despite all our earthly might, weapons and armies, we are not in control of all things. Guide the leaders of our nation to make wise decisions, for the good of our citizens and others who are in danger. Comfort those who are …
Quote of the Week, Keeping the Sabbath, by Eugene Peterson
Keeping the Sabbath “If you keep the Sabbath, you start to see creation not as somewhere to get away from your ordinary life, but a place to frame an attentiveness to your life.”[i]—Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Note [i] Eugene Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir (New York: HarperCollins, 2012), 270. See also Eugene Peterson, quoted in …
Quote of the Week, The Blessings of Solitude, by Charles Spurgeon
The Blessings of Solitude “There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the …
Vlog Entry, Walter Brueggemann and Samuel in the Dark Knight, by Stephanie Bennett
Description: The misery of uncertainty can lead us far astray in terms of the choices we make. Instead of waiting on the Spirit of Truth and the Counsel He brings, we’d often rather do something — anything — just to feel a little bit in control. Perhaps we should start looking at our dark nights of unknowing and confusion as …
A Prayer for Knowledge of God’s Will by St. Francis of Assisi
For Knowledge of God’s Will God, almighty, eternal, righteous, and merciful, help us poor sinners do all that we know of your will, and to will always what pleases you, so that inwardly purified, enlightened, and kindled by the fire of the Holy Spirit, we may follow in the footprints of your well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Source: Francis of …
Quote of the Week, Consecrated and Dedicated, by John Calvin
“It is a very important consideration that we be consecrated and dedicated to God. It means that we may think, speak, meditate, and do all things only in view of His glory.”[i]—John Calvin, French theologian and Protestant Reformer [i] John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life, trans. by Henry J. Van Andel (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952), 20.
A Prayer, Lord Bless Us with Your Goodness, Rest, Power, Wisdom, Patience, and Hope, by Kirchen-Agende, 1797
The Lord Bless You with His Goodness, Rest, Power, Wisdom, Patience, Hope May the Lord show you the greatness of his goodness, that you overflow with thanks every day. May the Lord bless you abundantly with rest for the heart, power for virtue, wisdom for life, and patience in suffering. May the Lord bless you with joyful hope, and one day with the inexpressible joys of …
Quote of the week, by Jonathan Edwards, 18th Century Protestant Theologian
“Temples have their sacred images; and we see what influence they have always had over a great part of mankind; but in truth, the ideas and images in men’s minds are the invisible powers that constantly govern them; and to these they all pay universally a ready submission.”[i] —Jonathan Edwards, eighteenth-century Protestant theologian [i] Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will, …
