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 …
Recent Entries
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, …
Book Review, Words that Shape Us: How America’s Most Influential Evangelical Magazines Craft the Narrative of Christian Culture
Return to Journal of Christian Teaching Practice (in Communication Studies) Book Reviewed: Waters, Ken (2025). Words that Shape Us: How America’s Most Influential Evangelical Magazines Craft the Narrative of Christian Culture (Pasco, WA: Integratio Press). Reviewed By: Tamara J. Welter Reviewer Affiliation: Baylor University Total Pages: 213 ISBN: 978-1-959685-29-6 View on amazon (affiliate link) American media operates differently than news organizations in …
A Prayer for the Way of Truth in Speech, by Richard Greenham, 16th Century
“O Lord, open mine eyes, that I may see mine own wants; open my heart, that I may learn to fear thee; open my mouth, that my lips may speak of thy praise; open mine ears, that I may hear thy voice; open my hands, that I may do thy will. Make me to know the things that belong unto …
Access to 2026 Summer Workshop Recordings
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, …
Quote of the Week, The Guileless Tongue, by John Fletcher, 18th Century
“A guileless tongue is the genuine index of a sanctified heart.” —John Fletcher (1729–1785) Source: John Fletcher, Checks to Antinomianism, vol. 2 (London: J. Buckland, 1774), 207. Reflection: Where does my speech today reveal places where my heart still needs sanctifying grace?
A Prayer for Keeping the Door of My Lips, by William Romaine, 18th Century
“Lord, keep the door of my lips, that no corrupt communication may proceed out of them; but that all my words may be seasoned with grace, and may tend to edification. Let the law of kindness be in my tongue, and enable me to speak what is good in Thy sight, to the glory of Thy great name.” –William Romaine …
Join the Raven Society on July 10, 12-1 pm EDT, for Coffee and Conversation
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 …
Quote of the Week, When Words Carry More Than We Mean, by Richard Hooker, 16th Century
“Words are as the wings of actions, and therefore ought to be spoken with care, lest they carry things further than we intend.” –Richard Hooker (1554–1600) Source: Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, Book V (London: John Windet, 1597), 68. Reflection: Where in my teaching, preaching, or daily conversations do my words tend to “carry things further than I …
The Raven Society, July Meeting, Learn More
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 …
Book Reviewers needed, Four Books, Journal of Christian Teaching Practice (JCTP)
The Journal of Christian Teaching Practice is seeking reviewers for the following books published by Integratio Press: Minding Our Hearts: Devotionals on the Teaching Life for Christian Professors, ed. John Marsen Dunaway In Their Steps: What Jesus and His Disciples Teach About Sharing Our Leadership Life Stories in Transformational Ways by Chris Hamstra Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age (Updated …
