Anyone can face mental health challenges. For all the blessings of the academic life, there are also many struggles, including stresses to mental health. Several writers in the ESN community shared reflections on mental health with us in the last few weeks, so we are sharing their stories as a way to encourage others in this stressful time of the semester. The stigma against asking for help can be strong in both Christian circles and academic ones, and we want to encourage readers to seek help when they need it and to … [Read more...] about Let Us Joyfully Share in the Suffering of Christ
Common Grace and Extra-Biblical Knowledge: An Advent Reflection (Scholar’s Compass)
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17, ESV Reflection As you study the creation narrative in Genesis, you'll notice that in the five days leading up to the creation of humanity, the result was good, whereas the result of the sixth day was very good. This suggests that humankind was God's crowning achievement. We, as humans, are made in God's … [Read more...] about Common Grace and Extra-Biblical Knowledge: An Advent Reflection (Scholar’s Compass)
In Pursuit of Gospel-Driven Productivity
A Review of Matt Perman's What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (Zondervan: 2014) By David H. Leonard, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics, Luther Rice University, Atlanta, GA It might be tempting to think that productivity is a topic more suitable for business leaders and entrepreneurs, for whom it's essential to “get things done” as efficiently as possible. As Matt Perman argues in What's Best Next, however, productivity is mainly about loving others by … [Read more...] about In Pursuit of Gospel-Driven Productivity
Evangelical Scholarship and the Pursuit of Excellence
A Review of Andreas Köstenberger's Excellence When posted, guest contributor and ESN member David Leonard had recently completed a Ph.D. in philosophy and was teaching a wide range of courses at several universities in the Twin Cities. His project at the time involved developing a taxonomy of the intellectual virtues to be used in college-level philosophy courses. David's scholarship on virtue gave him particular insight to review the book under consideration, Excellence: The Character of God and the … [Read more...] about Evangelical Scholarship and the Pursuit of Excellence