How are you each doing on this scholar’s journey? How are your hearts, minds, souls, and bodies? How are your communities? Where are you heading? While walking parts of this journey over the years myself and alongside others, I know how lonely and overwhelming it can be when it doesn’t seem as if your department or committee is truly hearing you, and your family and friends don’t understand why you’re even on this path. I also know the joy of breakthroughs as new ideas form and come to life through reading, … [Read more...] about Joining the Journey
community
Pilgrimage Practices (#5): Community
The community you interact with on pilgrimage – both those people traveling with you and those you meet– is a vital part of the experience. Because of a shared focus on arriving at the sacred site and perhaps engaging in ritual practices along the way, people who would never encounter one another outside of this journey find themselves relating deeply. Moreover, as we listen to and interact with these different people and their stories, God slowly reshapes our own story. I've heard from so many people who … [Read more...] about Pilgrimage Practices (#5): Community
Sci-Fi Film Fest: Talking The Rise of Skywalker (Pt 2)
Welcome back to the ongoing Emerging Scholars Network Sci-Fi Film Festival! I'm having conversations on various classic and current science fiction movies. Feel free to watch along and join the conversation. This week's film is 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The conclusion of the 40+ year Star Wars saga was too big for one guest, so this week I'm joined by previous contributors Mike Beidler and Sam Blair and new addition to the festival Will Rose. The conversation was also two big for one post; … [Read more...] about Sci-Fi Film Fest: Talking The Rise of Skywalker (Pt 2)
Repaint! For the Kingdom of God is at Hand: Balancing Hope and Critical Analysis in Community Service
In Christian community development circles, there is a story about a ministry working in an underserved community. Suburban churches were interested doing weekend service projects with this ministry. Unfortunately, with limited experience and training, there was little that these well-intentioned congregations could actually contribute. Ministry staff decided to tell the visitors they had a wall that needed painting. The visitors would spend an afternoon cheerfully painting the wall, and go away pleased with the notion … [Read more...] about Repaint! For the Kingdom of God is at Hand: Balancing Hope and Critical Analysis in Community Service
Where Are You Planted? (Masterclass in Writing, Part 6)
With Written on Their Hearts: Writing, Worship, and Spiritual Formation in the Life of the Mind, Dr. Royce Francis began a new series on writing with a new format for the ESN blog, i.e., Masterclass. Like a Masterclass in music or performance, it provides the opportunity to learn skills from an expert, as well as exercises designed by that expert to help you deepen those skills in your own academic life. In this series, which will run for the length of the spring semester, Royce will weave together theological … [Read more...] about Where Are You Planted? (Masterclass in Writing, Part 6)