By: Pam Lau on November 8, 2023
“Unless we attend to these deeper workings of culture, Theological reflection will miss the most profound challenge of consumerism–the commodification of culture–the reduction of religious beliefs, symbols, and values to objects of consumption.”[1] What is My Desire? Truth be told, when I saw what was scheduled on my calendar from June 28-July 1, 2023, I…
By: Jenny Dooley on November 7, 2023
Maybe it’s jetlag. My head is spinning following my recent trip to Bali, Indonesia. Memories of my life there 34-years ago are frequent companions. Moments of grief turned to joy, memories of God’s provision, and reconnection with people I hold dear fill my thoughts. Needless-to-say memories of bamboo beds, mallard ducks, and Oreos sparked by…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on November 7, 2023
Commodification I must admit, I had no idea what commodification meant. I liked the sound of it but had no idea how to use it in a sentence. So, of course, I looked it up. Commodification the act or fact of turning something into an item that can be bought and sold.(1) If I understand…
By: Kim Sanford on November 7, 2023
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to…
By: Tim Clark on November 6, 2023
At the start of Jason Clark’s dissertation is a question from Dan Kimball, referenced again in Clark’s fifth chapter. Kimbal asks the question, “Have we, over time and with good intentions and pure motivations, turned our churches into vendors of religious services and goods?”[1] This is the jumping off point for Clark’s research, and the…
By: John Fehlen on November 6, 2023
NOTE: The following “stream of consciousness” essay contains possible emotional triggers. I grew up devoutly Catholic. I was an Altar Boy. I attended parochial school. I was spanked by a nun. Seriously, she bent me over the edge of her desk and used the “board of education” on my hinder parts. It only happened…
By: Esther Edwards on November 6, 2023
I have 4 grandchildren ranging from 21 months to 5 years old. They are the joy of our lives. However, that joy can be brought to a halt with a trip to Target. Now, I do feel that part of a grandparent’s job is to spoil their grandchildren with added gifts and enjoy them with…
By: Travis Vaughn on November 6, 2023
“A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type.”[1] Thus to treat something as a commodity…as if that something “can be bought and sold”[2] like any other commodity is to commodify that thing. “When we relate to cultural and religious traditions as commodities, they lose…
By: Jennifer Vernam on November 6, 2023
I had an amazing opportunity on Friday as part of my work with the I to We organization[1]. We assembled a group of Christian local leaders from various denominations and educational organizations to discuss team building. It was a timely conversation and I got to share with them some of the readings from this course…
By: Kally Elliott on November 6, 2023
“This is not a book about religion against consumer culture; it is a book about the fate of religion in consumer culture.”[1] With this statement in the introduction to his book, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture, Vincent Miller, summarizes the basic thesis of his book. He gets more specific in…
By: Dinka Utomo on November 2, 2023
“Providing kingdom-seeking, God-honoring, biblically rooted influence requires that one has an ongoing, intimate interaction with God” -Jules Glanzer- The head of Badan Kependudukan Keluarga Berencana Nasional (translated: National Population and Family Planning Board) Indonesia, Dr. Hasto Hardoyo mentions in his statement that “Currently, the divorce (rate) is high because in many families the original…
By: Jana Dluehosh on November 2, 2023
A beginning and an ending; an invitation and blessing. I am called into a very specific area of life where I help people come face to face with their own mortality, their own disappointments on a life not lived or as accomplished as they hoped, or relationships broken. I know, I know, I’m Dr. Death. …
By: Todd E Henley on November 2, 2023
“We have become so focused on leading others, we have fundamentally lost the ability to lead ourselves.”1 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”2 The Sound of Leadership by Jules Glanzer…
By: Adam Harris on November 2, 2023
Both my boys have been learning to play instruments. My oldest has been working with the trombone and my youngest is learning the guitar. As they were gaining their musical skills it was a bit comical and, at times, painful to hear, but that’s part of learning! I’m the one who usually takes my youngest…
By: Mathieu Yuill on November 2, 2023
The Question: “What do you want them to say about you at your funeral?” It was a pretty deep question for my uncle to ask when I was 14 years old but the lesson was clear: live your life the way you want to be remembered. As I grew older and entered professional work I…
By: Cathy Glei on November 2, 2023
“God-honoring, kingdom seeking, biblically rooted leadership has a scale too. All the complexities of leadership, the required competencies and character, the convictions and courage to act, and the needed charisma and compassion to accomplish what is needed for the common good of the people fulfilling God’s mission in the world, are built on five words: …
By: Jenny Dooley on November 2, 2023
The Sound of Leadership: Kingdom Notes to Fine Tune Your Life and Influence, by Jules Glanzer, presents a pause from the intense readings of the past few weeks. The title of the book grabbed my attention immediately as it hinted at further insights to the importance of listening, a thread I’m following throughout our readings.…
By: Esther Edwards on November 2, 2023
Sound…“the interface between heaven and earth.”[1] The very first sound was the voice of God which brought the world into existence. It displayed power and creative authority from the onset of humanity. We can’t see sound, but it always affects us. Julian Treasure stated its effects as deeply physiological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral.[2]…
By: Russell Chun on November 2, 2023
Хвиля, A hullám, Vlna (The wave, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Slovak) Part 1 What my DLGP 01/DLG 02 cohort peers are saying. Part 2 From Glanzer’s Lips Part 3 What I learned Part 1. For the most part, I have not only enjoyed reading the posts of my peers, but in times when I have difficulty understanding…
By: Kally Elliott on November 1, 2023
Even though I know better, I keep reading these leadership books in hopes of finding some magic formula for being a great leader. Maybe there is a step by step process, a check list of some sort, that will not only get me to the head of the (conference) table but will also keep me…
