By: Chris Ellis on January 30, 2014
The Truman Show stars Jim Carry as an insurance salesman whose life since birth is actually an elaborate TV show watched by millions. NY Times writer David Brooks might have had this movie in mind when he wrote Social Animals. He takes the latest developments in psychology, human development, anthropology and neuroscience and weaves them…
By: Mark Steele on January 26, 2014
Most people are concerned about the environment and the future of the earth’s ecology and health. Much has been said about environmental warming, the growing pollution in China, the growing population of the earth and the earths ability to support the growth and pollution. Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone in their book Action Hope How…
By: Sharenda Roam on January 23, 2014
Let me tell you, if you will, about a book that completely changed my attitude. As a faculty member in higher education it is my responsibility to assist students in their learning process. When I was an undergrad student studying at the university it seemed some professors decided that their job was to “break down”…
By: Becky Stanley on January 23, 2014
Most mission agencies, NGO’s, churches and philanthropic institutions whether representing missions, or serving orphans, providing aid for disaster relief or development programs have experienced a decline in donations. On the surface the obvious reason stated is the Global Financial Crisis. But I sense a deeper crisis, one that is sad and nonchalantly stated as ‘compassion…
By: Sandy Bils on January 23, 2014
After reading the first three pages, I looked up our module schedule again, to make sure, that I didn’t order the wrong book by accident. I assumed, that the book I was reading was not on the reading list for our doctor of ministry program. (Especially after reading Charles Taylors challenging magnus opus “A Secular…
By: Sam Stephens on January 23, 2014
The ‘Bhopal Gas Tragedy’ as the incident is widely known, happened in North India in 1984 as a result of the leakage of toxic gasses from a chemical plant. The Indian public was awakened on a large scale for the first time to the dire consequences of disregard for the environment. The incident took the lives…
By: Chris Ellis on January 23, 2014
The world is not as it should be. There is hurt, despair and brokenness. There is violence against women and children, civil wars around the world, cancer, famine, global warming and those are just a few of the popular ills of the world. What are we as followers of Jesus to do? Should we bury…
By: Garrick Roegner on January 23, 2014
Don’t believe the devil I don’t believe his book But the truth is not the same Without the lies he made up. Don’t believe in excess Success is to give Don’t believe in riches But you should see where I live. I, I believe in love. Don’t believe in cocaine Got a speedball in my…
By: Richard Rhoads on January 23, 2014
I have a good friend named Marilyn. Marilyn is one of the kindest and most gentle humans I know. For years Marilyn has worked as a message therapist. In fact, one of the best I know. In her free time she cares for a significant HIV community in our local area. Her passion always inspires…
By: Phil Smart on January 23, 2014
Miracles, Miracles, Miracles – Active Hope by Macy and Johnstone Macy and Johnstone in Active Hope remind us that “our views about what’s normal are shaped by what we see.” When reading about other paths to joy and other ways to fulfillment, this phrase rings so true. From a non-Christian premise, Active Hope proposes three…
By: David Toth on January 22, 2014
Chose a positive attitude, engage habits that contribute to your life goals, be good to Mother Earth in all your endeavors (and maybe even make her your chief priority in life), partner with others who are doing the same, and enlist as many as possible to join the journey! (Oh, and by the way, do…
By: Fred Fay on January 22, 2014
The is a sense that we all feel frustrated with the world as it is and get angry enough to say, “Why does this happen?” or “Why doesn’t someone do something about this?” We live in this world and want to make it a good place to live and yet often do not feel at…
By: Becky Stanley on January 19, 2014
A Secular Age by Charles Taylor prescribed as the first reading for this semester is a fascinating read exploring the empirical understanding of the historical development and implications of western secularism both for the present and the future. Taylor introduces the term “exclusive humanism” at the beginning of his analysis of the present condition of…
By: Mark Steele on January 18, 2014
Charles Taylor in his book A Secular Age won the Templeton Prize for his brilliant work explaining the story and evolution of secularism. In his book, he explains that secularism is much more complex than defining it as belief versus unbelief (Taylor 2007). He says that secularism is not simply the absence of religion, it…
By: Sam Stephens on January 17, 2014
Hindus in India are currently celebrating a weeklong festival that occurs during mid January each year; one that bears social and religious significance and goes by different names depending on the region of the country. These festival days are considered exceptionally auspicious, that people throng to popular pilgrim locations, ancient temples and ‘holy’ rivers for…
By: Garrick Roegner on January 17, 2014
Certain narratives flow through our world defining and explaining where we have come, where we stand, and possibly where we are going. The television series Lost was a perfect postmodern tale. A mixture of genres colliding into a huge question of existence, reality, and meaning, played through characters with the names of famous philosophers, scientists…
By: Richard Rhoads on January 17, 2014
A few weeks ago after a long day at work, I sat down to take in a episode of Build it Bigger on the Science Channel. Now, before you make any judgments, let me just say I am a Science Channel junkie. That particular evening Build it Bigger was doing a special on the Burj…
By: Fred Fay on January 17, 2014
Where is the place of the supernatural in today’s society? When Christians speak of the miraculous or supernatural sometimes they are rebuffed. People want proof in a scientific age. Still the images of something beyond what we see still “creep” up in Sci-Fi thrillers, obsessions with vampires, belief in the force and mythological stories. Many…
By: David Toth on January 16, 2014
A Questionable Age A youngster in mid-West America during the 50’s and 60’s was likely to have inherited a view of the world that was unifying and uncomplicated. Whether in an urban ghetto or on the plains the path ahead was more objectified and predictable even if not easy or comfortable. It was not common…
By: Phil Smart on January 16, 2014
Funerals are for Evangelism? The church where I serve is large enough to have a Pastor of Benevolence and Care as well as an assistant to that position. Together they handle all requests for help, visitation, bereavement, marriages, funerals etc. I oversee this department – from a distance. So, it was to my chagrin that,…
