Keeping the Faith in Grad School January entry: “Keeping the Faith (as a Graduate Student) in a New Year” Column Description: Writing as a Christian who is a doctoral student at a public institution of higher learning, Lakelyn reflects on how graduate students can maintain their faith in graduate school when it seems hard to do. This column is not …
Column Entry, “Three (or Four) Impossible Prayers,” by Chase Mitchell
Column: Image to Image: Musings on Faith, Media, and Story January entry: “Three (or Four) Impossible Prayers” Column Description: Image to Image: Musings on Faith, Media, and Story is a monthly column that illuminates old and new ideas about media ecology from a Christian perspective. Dr. Mitchell will explore what it means to bear God’s image and Christian witness in a mediated …
A Prayer for Communication Wisdom, by Howard Snyder
O Lord, open the wisdom of your written Word to me daily, more and more. Give me that godly wisdom and perspective that come solely from you, so that I can freely dismiss all the distracting, misleading messages that constantly call to us through worldly media. Teach me your ways, O Lord, Living Word, Holy Spirit. Amen. ************* “Whoever does …
Prayer for New Year’s Day, by Howard Snyder
Prayer for New Year’s Day We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may …
Column entry, “The Silent Word Still Echoes,” by John Hatch
Crossed My Mind: Thoughts on Culture and Communication By John Hatch, Ph.D. Eastern University (retired) CCSN Senior Fellow Column Description: As Christians, we are called to have the mind of Christ. This goes against the grain of our social and cultural conditioning. We seek personal or political advancement; Christ seeks the lost and the least. We grasp for cultural ascendency; …
Devotional, The Norm of Reciprocity: Repaying Evil with Good, by Donna Elkins
The Norm of Reciprocity: Repaying Evil with Good Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3: 9 (NIV) Communication and psychology researchers commonly discuss a social convention called the norm of reciprocity to explain human …
Devotional, The Power in a Name, by Donna Elkins
The Power in a Name  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7 (NIV) For many years, communication theorists have proposed that the language we use not only reflects the world we live in but also shapes the way we see it. They …
A Prayer of Praise and Gratitude, by St. Francis of Assisi
A Prayer of Praise and Gratitude Wherever we are, in every place, At every hour, at every time, Every day and continually, Let all of us truly and humbly believe, Hold in our heart, Love, honor, adore, serve, praise Bless, glorify, exalt, magnify And give thanks to the Most High And Supreme Eternal God, Trinity and Unity, Father, Son, and …
An early Christian Prayer to Christ
Join us in this Prayer to Christ, as we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, this Christmas season. Jesus, the Christ. The true way of life, including our faithful communication: Prayer to Christ He that is immortal suffered so much for us: Jesus, the Christ; Celestial offshoot of David’s race; Jesus, the Christ; In his mercy he came down from heaven …
A Prayer for Living Water, by Columbanus
A Petition for Living Water Heavenly Father, may we drink from Your Eternal Fountain, and may our earthly communication help quench the thirst of those seeking Your truth, and ultimately point them to You, the Living Water. Merciful God, good Lord, I wish that you would unite me to that fountain, that there I may drink of the living spring …