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: Daron George on April 24, 2023
Introduction: The relationship between religion and capitalism has been a subject of significant scholarly interest as researchers seek to understand how religious beliefs and practices intersect with economic and social systems. This blog will compare and contrast two important works that examine this relationship: “Consuming Religion” by Vincent J. Miller and Chapter 6 of “Evangelicalism…
By: Jenny Dooley on April 24, 2023
One of the main reasons I am in this doctoral program is because I have a vision for tomorrow. My days of full-time missionary service may be over. I hope not. I have had a vision of coming along side and supporting ministry leaders in our family of churches for a while. Something feels unfinished.…
By: Kim Sanford on April 24, 2023
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this book certainly paints an inspiring picture. It’s encouraging to think of leveraging the unseen networks all around us to bring real transformation. Using numerous real-life examples, Greg Satell explains how “small groups, loosely connected, but united by a common purpose… grow as the density…
By: Becca Hald on April 23, 2023
I stared at the paper blankly trying to think. The question should not have been a hard one. “Name three positive attributes.” I was at a psychiatrist office with my teenage son filling out paperwork to get services started. I had no trouble listing negative behaviors. Why did it take me so long to list…
By: Laura Fleetwood on April 23, 2023
Trauma is an urgent public health issue and one that Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has dedicated his career to addressing. In The Body Keeps the Score, van der Kolk describes his intent for this book “to serve as both a guide and an invitation—an invitation to dedicate ourselves to facing the reality of trauma,…
By: Alana Hayes on April 23, 2023
Evangelicalism in Modern Britain by D.W. Bebbington Evangelicalism has been at the heart of British society for generations, but its impact, and even its fundamental definition, has shifted in recent decades. D.W. Bebbington’s work “Evangelicalism in Modern Britain” details this intriguing trip. He contends that Evangelicalism’s purpose and character have evolved from an inward concentration…
By: Laura Fleetwood on April 23, 2023
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King and The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield are two books that are essential reading for anyone who wants to become a better writer or to get the most out of their creative endeavors. Both…
By: Alana Hayes on April 23, 2023
Max Weber’s work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism was published in 1905. Weber investigates the relationship between religious ideals and economic development in Western Europe in his book. He believed that Calvinism, with its focus on hard work, delayed gratification, and worldly success, played a significant role in the creation of modern…
By: Chad McSwain on April 23, 2023
Trauma is Prevalent “I think this man is suffering from memories.” This paraphrase of Sigmund Freud was used by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk upon hearing the story of the unique and misdiagnosed symptoms of a war veteran.[1] This quote is quite poignant when it comes to the conversations around trauma and its presence in…
By: Alana Hayes on April 23, 2023
Hans Rosling’s book Factfulness takes us on a journey to discover how our world works. He believes that individuals are drawn to tales and headlines that focus on the negative when there is far more positive news in the world than we realize. Rosling invites readers to abandon knee-jerk emotions based on fear, shame, or anger…
By: Dinka Utomo on April 22, 2023
“Leaning forward and maintaining eye contact indicate engagement; leaning back and avoiding eye contact indicate disengagement, or even boredom, anger or disdain.” -Julian Treasure- In Indonesia, it is common scene to observe couples or families sitting together at a restaurant without engaging in any conversation. Instead, they are engrossed in their own smartphones, occasionally…
By: Russell Chun on April 22, 2023
Епілог-Epilogue (Ukrainian) Today, an online magazine article from one of my “go to” magazines presented itself. Listed on the Christian Realist Providence Magazine, I read Ed Meador’s article about “Apocalypse Now: The Revelations of Vladimir Putin.” Meador writes, “Now, following decades of deception, Putin has unveiled his heart of KGB darkness, outrageously demonstrating just how…
By: Daron George on April 22, 2023
INTRODUCTION In “The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race,” authors Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long present a captivating exploration of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in motivation, reward, and the pursuit of novelty.…
By: Laura Fleetwood on April 21, 2023
For as long as humans have existed, personality has been studied. And yet a comprehensive understanding of what makes humans so different from each other has largely remained a mystery, especially when it comes to proving personality science. Daniel Nettle set out to solve this mystery in his 2007 book titled, Personality: What makes you…
By: Daron George on April 21, 2023
INTRODUCTION Effective leadership is more crucial than ever in today’s complex and rapidly evolving world. Tom Camacho’s insightful book, “Mining for Gold,” offers a fresh perspective on how to draw out the best in ourselves and those around us. Cutting through the complexity and challenges of leadership development, Camacho provides practical and effective tools to…
By: Jana Dluehosh on April 20, 2023
I suffer as a light sleeper…it’s rough. In my 20’s I worked as a Residence Hall Director at a University in Chicago for 4 years. My bedroom was right above the front door of the hall, and I could hear everything…problem was that I didn’t always want to hear what was going on because it…
By: Shonell Dillon on April 20, 2023
Personality: What makes you the way that you are Dissociative identity disorder The DSM-5 states that dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) is characterized by “switching” to alternate identities. You may feel the presence of two or more people talking or living inside your head, and you may feel as though you’re…
By: Shonell Dillon on April 20, 2023
The Body Keeps the Score If you are a social worker, business owner, youth recreation director, community advocate, mom, and grandmother you probably already know that “The body keeps the score”. The body is a tell-all that you need to rest, stop, and sit down. The body has a true way of communicating with us…
By: Adam Harris on April 20, 2023
Nausea, sleeplessness, anxiety, dread, and sweating describe some of my initial experiences when it came to speaking in front of midsize to large groups of people. At a young age I had a growing enthusiasm for ministry, the church, serving people, and God. I had no idea how much fear I would have to work…
