In 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 … [Read more...] about Scholar’s Compass: Thankful for God’s Presence
Thanksgiving
30 Prayers of Thanksgiving
May by God's grace Emerging Scholars grow in the habit of slowing down in order to express thankfulness and gratitude with those in our various contexts (home, community, campus, local congregation, online): person-to-person, in public small groups, by notes of appreciation, and as a replacement for "obscenity, foolish talk and filthy joking" (Eph 5:4). Consider this an inspirational launching pad/basic toolkit so as not to pass by this season of Thanksgiving like a blur. . . . … [Read more...] about 30 Prayers of Thanksgiving
Prayer for Scholar’s Compass and ESN in November
In this month of thanksgiving, ESN is delighted to thank God for His generosity, and to share some upcoming things we're excited about. Please join us in thanking God for His goodness and praying with us. Scholar's Compass Praise for the way Scholar's Compass writers have been able to share their thoughtful perspectives from a range of disciplines over the past two months, including chemistry, biology, English literature, German language, philosophy, physics, and computational social science. We're so grateful to … [Read more...] about Prayer for Scholar’s Compass and ESN in November
What Books are on Your Christmas Lists?
What books are on your Christmas lists, not only your own wish list, but also ones you desire to give to others and/or suggest for a book discussion in the coming year? I am very interested in learning what Emerging Scholars desire to read, review, discuss, gift, possibly even teach (e.g., campus ministry, local congregation, even classroom). Please share . . . Note: No need for the book(s) to be "Christian". But yes, if you are looking for a suggestion (or two, three, four . . .), the Emerging Scholars Network … [Read more...] about What Books are on Your Christmas Lists?
On Technology, Thanksgiving, and Patience
[Originally written in 2007 for a campus publication while I was in medical school; it has remained disquietingly relevant.] We have become impatient, unfulfilled, and perpetually fixated on the future. We have filled our lives with so much hardware and noise that it makes us wonder if we too will waste away into a dull obsolescence. I had never been to a Black Friday shopping spree before. The thought of camping out for hours in the chilling pre-​​dawn night always seemed perverse to me . . . but that … [Read more...] about On Technology, Thanksgiving, and Patience