How does God use the migration process to extend His grace in its many forms?Read more…
The Revolution of Christian Ingratitude in Western History: A Talk by Peter Leithart
How have Christian teachings on gratitude added basic ideas to the founding of Enlightenment institutions and the modern world we live in?Read more…
15 Posts on Mission, Justice, and the University from Urbana 2015
What does it mean to be part of a global religion, and how can we make sense of the diverse missions, values, and politics of that belonging? How can we as Christians better understand what it means to follow Jesus in a world that is more connected than ever before? After four days in St Louis for the Urbana conference, I feel closer to the heart of those questions than ever before.Read more…
Why Might Christians Be Involved in Nonviolent or Violent Protests? Lessons from Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests at Urbana
How can Christians decide when to be involved in conflict, and how can they know when to stop? In the past two years, Christians in Ukraine have faced all of these. How have they responded?Read more…
The Secular Academy as a Mission Field: Urbana Panel Discussion
Too many people go to gradschool who shouldn’t be there, and many people who have the gifts and calling don’t get in or even start. Read more…
Why Is There No Photo About This? Challenging the Comfortable with Photojournalism
What is it like to be a photojournalist, and why would a Christian choose journalistic photographic work over advocacy?Read more…
James Clerk Maxwell’s Accidental Invention of the Color Photograph: Humility in Research and Faith (Scholar’s Compass)
Reading Through the creatures Thou hast made Show the brightness of Thy glory, Be eternal Truth displayed In their substance transitory, Till green Earth and Ocean hoary, Massy rock and tender blade Tell the same unending story — “We are TruthRead more…
Navigating Beginnings: Student’s Bolognese
How can I extend welcome to newcomers in my university and neighborhood?Read more…
Navigating Knowledge: The Conflict of Gratitude and Equality
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – I Peter 4:9-10 (NIV) Reflection I have recently been analyzing large datasetsRead more…
Dove Power: Advocacy the Christian Way
“What does it mean for Christians to do social justice advocacy as if God is real and Jesus is risen?” is a significant question. Anyone have example regarding how such social justice advocacy relates to (interacts with or even beenRead more…
The Intersection of Church and Business
J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media continues his Urbana12 series. This post in original form (12/28/2012) can be found here. As some of you know, the seminar is part of the Business Changing the World Track. Thank-you Nathan! GreatRead more…
Find Your Voice and Own It: Women and the Academic Life
Thank-you to J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media, for venturing into and reporting on Women and the Academic Life as part of his Urbana12 series.* We’re looking forward to your responses to this material — any seminar participants withRead more…
Making Cross-Cultural Relationships in a Globalised World
J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media continues his Urbana12 series. This post in original form (12/30/2012) can be found here. Thank-you Nathan! Great to have you contributing material to the ESN Blog. Your work is much appreciated.. ~ ThomasRead more…
The Theology of Evangelical Action on Immigration Reform
This is the fourth post in an Urbana12 series by J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media. This post in original form can be found here. ————————————- This weekend, I’m at Urbana, a gathering of Christian students interested in the workRead more…
Gradschool for God’s Global Mission: S. Joshua Swamidass
Why would a student who cares about God’s mission even consider applying to gradschool? Speaking with us is S. Joshua Swamidass, an Assistant Professor in the Medical School at Washington University in St Louis.Read more…
Overcoming The Paternalism of The Informed: Calisto Odede on Luke 5
This is the second post in an Urbana12 series by J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media. This post in original form can be found here. Thank-you Nathan! Great to have you contributing materialRead more…
Unpacking the Missions Statement of Jesus in Luke 4, Urbana 2012 Opening Session
J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media, makes art, software and social processes which empower people to become more creative, more effective, and more informed. His recent projects include the Festival of Learning, researchRead more…