This Advent, Nan Thomas will share four Sunday reflections with us on these themes: hope, prepare, watch, and rejoice. Nan is deeply thoughtful about spiritual formation, a topic she pursues as an InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministries staff member and as Associate Director of Faculty Development at Union University. In addition, Nan was part of the founding team that imagined the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) and made it a reality. We're grateful for her ongoing advice and encouragement, and for this Advent … [Read more...] about Watch: Third Week of Advent (Scholar’s Compass)
henri nouwen
Book Review: The Return of the Prodigal Son
On a handful of occasions, a work of art has riveted my attention. As a college student, a painting in the Butler Museum of Art titled In Flanders Fields Where Soldiers Sleep and Poppies Grow by Robert Vonnoh had that effect as I pondered young girls picking scarlet red poppies in what had once been a killing field. For Henri J.M. Nouwen, it was a portion of Rembrandt's painting of The Return of the Prodigal Son that had this same effect. Eventually he spent several days meditating upon the original and out of this and … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Return of the Prodigal Son
College Christian Humanitarianism: Part 4
Is there a real danger to the creep of utilitarianism in humanitarian thinking? Has the modern humanitarian world been reduced to little more than a competitive arena for non-profit interests? Last year, the Susan G. Komen Foundation imploded over scandals and bitter dissension over funding disputes with Planned Parenthood. The split took place on a number of levels - financial, ideological, and political - and took place between two technically secular organizations, but it was also complicated (and perhaps even … [Read more...] about College Christian Humanitarianism: Part 4
Beyond Ordinary and Proper
"There is something wrong with you," she said, her face twisting in genuine disbelief and horror. "You are crazy." I laughed, but comments like these were starting to get to me. At work, I've been sharing more and more about what my life in the city is like. By this I mean telling the fun and juicy stories: nearly getting jumped, waking up to gunshots, living next to pedophiles & sex offenders, finding gas leaks and mice in the kitchen. I should have known that focusing on these more dramatic & exotic … [Read more...] about Beyond Ordinary and Proper
Best Christian Book: What Have You Added to Your Reading List?
Thank you, Andy, for your amazing breakdown of the advanced metrics of the Best Christian Book of All Time Tournament. One of Andy's findings was that the Tournament seedings came much closer to an ideal seeding than the most recent NCAA Men's Basketball tournaments. (However, I do note as a proud UofL alumnus that this year, at least, the #1 overall seed justified its ranking. Go Cards! #L1C4) Perhaps this represents my in-depth understanding of ESN members' voting tendencies —or, more likely, I was simply quite … [Read more...] about Best Christian Book: What Have You Added to Your Reading List?