When Jesus said that unless we receive the Kingdom as a child, we can have no part of it, I always interpreted that as equal parts vulnerability, innocence, and curiosity. Kids ask lots of questions. Victoria Robb Powers and Cameron Mason Vickrey have coauthored a book about the many questions kids ask about God’s presence, … Continue reading
CNN’s John Blake has covered the intersection of race, religion, and politics for decades. His work has won him multiple awards, elevating him to one of the senior writer roles at CNN. Just in the last few weeks, you’ve written on the great Harry Belafonte, the expulsion and special appointment of the two Tennessee state … Continue reading
Imagine a society where people are sanctioned where to live based on their vocation and economic status. This same society gives a bleak perspective into what is happening in the world around it through television. And those that govern are swayed by special interest. Well, this isn’t science fiction but a reality for many Americans. … Continue reading
We know the names Fred Rogers and Bob Ross, two staples of PBS television for many decades. But did you ever catch PBS re-airing the BBC’s Sister Wendy’s Odyssey, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour, or Sister Wendy’s Story of Painting? I can remember thumbing through the limited number of channels before there were countless TV options … Continue reading
Do you remember the Stuart Smalley sketch from Saturday Night Live? “Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley” was a self-help show in which its host would begin and end by looking in the mirror saying, “I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!” What’s your general anthropology toward yourself? Cognitive social scientists … Continue reading
Have you ever noticed these days that someone else is to blame? No, seriously. When was the last time you heard a public figure take responsibility for their actions, sincerely apologize, and then totally change their behavior? Our cultural influence tends to want to justify or reason away the mistakes people make. This is especially … Continue reading
Our belief system about God directly correlates to how we see ourselves and the world. So, if you believe God is wrathful and vengeful, one can only imagine how those beliefs affect your soul. Therefore, it is not that far of a leap to imagine how a belief system about God based on books like … Continue reading
Age has tamed me. I used to be the first to volunteer when my group of friends came up with an insane idea for one of us to try. It is no wonder I am still alive after all the stunts I tried in my younger years. I still enjoy the thrill of an insane … Continue reading
By Layne Smith Of Abraham Lincoln – He welcomed arguments within the cabinet, but would be “greatly pained,” he warned them, if he found his colleagues attacking each other in public. What can be learned from Lincoln’s success in keeping this disparate team together? (p.222) Of Theodore Roosevelt – Throughout his political career, Roosevelt’s conception … Continue reading
Have you ever heard the term “generational trauma?” It is the idea that a group of people can experience a collective experience of distress that affects the generation that follows them. Psychological research has proven that generational trauma has affected the next generation’s social, economic, health, and emotional wellbeing. Have you ever considered the generational … Continue reading