Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

Thanksgiving series

Scholar’s Compass Thanksgiving: Expect the Unexpected

Jesus Feeding the 5000, JESUS MAFA
Jesus Feeding the 5000, JESUS MAFA

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

Reflection

It was a beautiful, hot summer day; yet, I was full of despair and anxiety. While taking a walk with my Dad, I was explaining to him my dilemma. Finally, my dream of attending the university was coming true, but there was no money. Nada. Dad asked me if I was sure that God wanted me to get a college degree. “Of course,” I replied. “Then,” he said, “Believe God. He will provide.” [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Thanksgiving: Expect the Unexpected

Scholar’s Compass: A Journey of Thanksgiving

journey photo

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2 (ESV)

Reflection

A journey.

A place to leave from.

A destination you are going to.

There is preparation, and there is a time of traveling by faith with the hope to arrive safely at the destination. As students who vacillate between leaving the security of post doc work to employment, or from employment to reentering the world of academia, there is anticipation and fear mostly because we question the journey. But in all things, including uncertainty and fear, we must give thanks. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass: A Journey of Thanksgiving

Scholar’s Compass: Thankful for God’s Presence

abstract photoIn this celebratory week, Dr. Alice Brown-Collins leads ESN in reflecting on what it means to live in thanksgiving. 

Reading

I Kings 19:9-13, 15-16 (NIV)

Reflection

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” said God. As an intellectual, you may find yourself at this very moment hearing the same question posed to you. But instead of God asking, it is you who asks, “What am I doing here?” Often as intellectuals, we feel isolated and abandoned as Christians on secular campuses. Much like Elijah, we too express our feeling of being the “only one left” that truly believes in the authority of scripture. We are distracted, and perhaps conflicted, by our personal history and our history on campus. Such distractions become the prevailing and defining narrative of our lives rather than God’s love and His purposes. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass: Thankful for God’s Presence