By: John Fehlen on April 24, 2023
“Whether you are an activist advocating for social and political change, a manager leading an organization, or a leader looking to shape an entire society, the need to create interconnectivity and interdependence remains essential” (Satell, 35). I’m writing this particular blog post on the three year anniversary of the day I made the difficult decision (along…
By: John Fehlen on March 13, 2023
Our family is a “Lord of the Rings” family. Some families are more “Harry Potter.” No judgement from me, except that you are wrong, and we are right. There, I said it. Cancel me. When all the kids, and by “kids” I mean grown young adults, are home, and by “home” I mean the place…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on January 26, 2023
I was not looking forward to preparing for this week’s blog. I didn’t know why but I suspect it was because I elected not to purchase the book but to download it. I knew that it probably was not a good decision because I have never been a fan of e-books, I am old school.…
By: Mario Hood on May 8, 2020
link for viewing if embedded not working: https://prezi.com/view/Trc4Q74EA7h3cjLYOKwr/
By: Mario Hood on March 19, 2020
Who am I? This question has always been and will always be the million-dollar question. Issues with identity are not anything new, but as Fukuyama points out, we might be in a new era of what is genuinely shaping people’s identity. In his book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, he…
By: Dylan Branson on March 17, 2020
Within theology, “egalitarianism” is defined as “a movement based on the theological view that not only are all people equal before God in their personhood, but there are no gender-based limitations of what functions or roles each can fulfill in the home, the church, and society.”[1] It’s counterpart, “complementarianism” is defined as “the theological view…
By: Mario Hood on March 5, 2020
This week’s reading of Transgender Children and Young People falls in line with the last few weeks, as it is just as thick and thought-provoking as Pinker’s work. While Pinker does with stats and philosophical stances, Brunskell-Evans and Moore seek to provide another viewpoint to the conversation/debate about Transgenderism. Dr. Bird, in his review of…
By: Mario Hood on February 27, 2020
Another week with Pinker, and now I understand more why people dislike him. Although I picked up on his voraciousness last week when it came to religion.[1] This week, while reading Blank Slate, it seemed I discovered that much of his writing when approaching his opponents, he deploys an attacking style rather than dismantling their…
By: Mario Hood on June 20, 2019
I absolutely love reading Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders Through Coaching. I spoke to me on many different levels, and while it was not the most prolific academic work we have read thus far, it is powerful, practical and I would even add prophetic for where leadership is going. Camacho self…
By: Shawn Hart on May 9, 2019
(My apologies, but this will not have proper formatting and source citing this week, due to internet problems on my main computer). My sister and brother-in-law visited this past week since they knew I would be home recovering from surgery. Cheri and Greg have served as a ministry couple numerous times throughout their marriage, and…
By: Shawn Hart on March 14, 2019
(Disclaimer: I am prepared for the fact that not everyone will agree with my take on this week’s reading. Furthermore, though I am sure all of us will be passionate about our reasons behind our views, I wrote boldly this week, knowing that if there was ever an avenue for scholarly sharing on a topic,…
By: Shawn Hart on February 14, 2019
Finally!!! Finally!!! Finally!!! T.M. Luhrmann’s book, “When God Talks Back” was a bible-based book that actually came with biblical perspectives all throughout it. Did I agree with everything the author said? Of course not; however, I did find many places of clarity regarding the Evangelical movement that are very helpful for understanding many of the…
By: Mario Hood on November 15, 2018
One of the most impactful sermon series we do every year in the youth ministry is our series focused on identity. I learned very quickly that young people desire to “know” who they are and respond great to messages on identity. The response we so overwhelming year after year that we try to incorporate in…
By: Shawn Hart on June 14, 2018
“It has been a very long time since I’ve learned so much from a memoir. Chang was extremely careful to verify the facts of the historical events surrounding her family’s various issues.[1]” I must admit, there have been a number of our reads thus far that have invoked more of a negative apprehension for myself,…
By: Shawn Hart on February 7, 2018
Numerous books have been assigned for us to read up to this point, but Vincent J. Miller’s book, “Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture” is finally one that I can “buy” into. Sorry, I had to say it. I am sure as ministers and church leaders, we all have a myriad…
By: Garfield Harvey on March 22, 2017
In my last semester of full academic work and the last blog posting for the semester, it seems appropriate for another controversial interpretation of sexuality. Frankly, it’s ingenious of Dr. Jason Clark to have the cohort read about the secular age and then back to back readings on how the church interprets human sexuality. Homosexuality…
