“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?
Recent Entries
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
Introducing CCSN Senior Fellow, Mark Allan Steiner
Mark Allan Steiner (PhD, Indiana University) is Associate Professor of Communication at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, and is a past president of the Religious Communication Association. His areas of expertise include rhetorical theory and criticism, religious rhetoric, public/political discourse, and the relationship between mediation and religious identity. He is the author of The Rhetoric of Operation Rescue: …
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, …
Access All 10 Summer Workshop Recordings, 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. Summer 2025 Workshops 1. Word-Gardening: From Seed (Idea) to Fruit (Publication), June 2 …
Column entry, “How the Age of Conspiracy became Inescapable, and How to Escape from It,” by Mark Williams
Column Title: Meaningful-Faith: Words, the Word, and a Life of Substance Column Entry: “How the Age of Conspiracy became Inescapable, and How to Escape from It” By Mark Williams, Ph.D. Professor of Rhetoric, California State University, Sacramento July 2025 / March 2025 / February 2025 / January 2025 / July 2024 / June 2024 / May 2024 / November 2022 …
Column Entry, “Untangling CRT for Christians (Part 4 of 4),” by John Hatch
Column title: Crossed My Mind: Thoughts on Culture and Communication Column entry: “Untangling CRT for Christians (Part 4 of 4)” 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; …
June Vlog Entry, A Heart of Wax or a Heart of Stone, with Stephanie Bennett
In this entry . . . What does it mean to have a soft heart? First off, it is totally counter-cultural. God may want to create a soft and compassionate heart in each of us, but it is not what the world wants of us. The teaching of Jesus is needed today more than ever, but it seems that everything the …
Quote of the week, Courage, by Thomas Jefferson
“One [person] with courage is a majority.” —Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826), primary author of the Declaration of Independence; 3rd President of the United States (Quotations of Thomas Jefferson, p. 10). Questions for reflection: what kind of communication requires you to be courageous? How do you prepare for it?
A Prayer for Refreshment, Saint Augustine, 4th Century
For Refreshment O Lord our God, under the shadow of Thy wings let us hope. Thou wilt support us, both when little, and even to gray hairs. When our 50strength is of Thee, it is strength; but, when our own, it is feebleness. We return unto Thee, O Lord, that from their weariness our souls may rise towards Thee, leaning on …
Introducing CCSN’s Newest Senior Fellow, Geri Forsberg
Introducing CCSN’s Newest Senior Fellow, Geri E. Forsberg (PhD, New York University). Dr. Forsberg has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with professors since 1991. After completing her doctorate at New York University, Geri taught at Trinity Western University and traveled to university campuses throughout North America to speak to professors. Not only does she teach in the English …
Monday, June 30 Workshop, still time to register, Faith, Community, and Student Life
[Return to main workshops/conferences 2025 page] Lead Presenters/Facilitators: Brandon Knight, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication, William Carey University; Elaine V. Fung, Regent University Additional Presenters: David Dockery, Texas A&M; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University; Ines Petrovic García, Regent University; David Enns, Liberty University Date/Time: Monday, June 30, 2025 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT REGISTER HERE Description: In this …
