It was a fairly normal day after hectic weeks. Although I had the feeling of not being at peace, my routine was still there. I turned on a Paul Tripp Podcast (with Joey Tomassoni) and started listening, just before opening my laptop. The name of the Podcast was 'The Spirituality of Beauty'. I was immediately hooked. As I listened, I stopped. I was transfixed, trying to understand the meaning of beauty, when it occurs, what do we mean when we call something or someone beautiful? Or is beauty just a crutch word to express … [Read more...] about The Power of Beauty: A Call to be Transformed
Christian Thought and Practice
Summer 2024 ESN Conversations
I am thrilled to announce our summer of 2024 ESN Conversations. Dru Johnson will lead off in a special evening interview with ESN science writer Andrew Walsh on What Hath Darwin to Do with Scripture. The following week Jemar Tisby and Douglas M. Strong join in conversation about a diary found in a college closet and the insights into racial justice they uncovered, a story told in Awakening to Justice. Timothy Larsen joins us in July to talk about his annotating work on George MacDonald's Diary of an Old Soul. We wrap up … [Read more...] about Summer 2024 ESN Conversations
Five Tips for Academics on Communicating to Lay Audiences
As scholars, we train rigorously in our fields, and learn to communicate with each other, but not the people most impacted by our work. How can we learn to do better? The world and the Church need us. I’m an academic, but I spend more time writing for lay audiences than scholarly ones. I’ve done my share of academic writing, from undergraduate essays, to grant proposals, science articles, and poster presentations. I even teach students how to do this. As a science communicator, I’ve realized that there is a … [Read more...] about Five Tips for Academics on Communicating to Lay Audiences
Call For Articles: Your Dreams for Academia
"Tell them about the dream, Martin." Martin Luther King, Jr. was the last speaker of the day at the March on Washington in 1963. He was preceded by his good friend, singer Mahalia Jackson, who sang and then introduced him. At a critical point in his prepared remarks, Jackson recalled a previous speech of King's that she felt was what the crowd of 250,000 needed and called out, "Tell them about the dream, Martin." Laying aside his remarks, King listened to his friend, gathered himself and began again, "I have a … [Read more...] about Call For Articles: Your Dreams for Academia
Lenten Humility: Falling to the Ground Before the Cross
We are delighted that Bobby Gross, author of Living the Christian Year and who has contributed previous series during Lent and Advent, has agreed to write this new series of Lenten reflections on the theme of humility. These weeks of Lent have brought us to Good Friday and the foot of the cross, where Jesus hangs in bleeding torment, where he cries out in uncomprehending desolation, where he finally exhales his final breath. Jesus experiences this utter humiliation because he had chosen to humble himself utterly … [Read more...] about Lenten Humility: Falling to the Ground Before the Cross