Christianity Commons^™

Imagery, Prayer, And Mind Wandering: Kataphatic Prayer, Martha M. O. Duah

Honors Theses

Mind wandering—reduced attention to external events—during prayer could pose a problem for Christians. However, different types of prayer make different cognitive demands. Kataphatic prayer, a common type of evangelical Christian prayer, makes use of mental imagery in hopes of experiencing God in a richer sense. Because both mind wandering and kataphatic prayer require imagery, tying up imagery resources in kataphatic prayer should block mind wandering thereby improving focus. Participants in this study prayed as they normally do, viewed a visual task, or engaged in kataphatic prayer while self-monitoring for mind wandering.

Advent: Lessons In Waiting, Barb Hoekstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Waiting is open-ended, filled with hope for what God desires to bring us beyond our imagination."

Posting about the benefits of learning to wait from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/advent-lessons-in-waiting/

The Faithful Flyer, 12-06-2015, University Of Dayton. Campus Ministry

Chapel Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Advent: Waiting, Gwen R. Marra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"When I face challenges and am in the midst of one of life’s storms, I can look at Noah’s life and have hope while I wait. I know I belong to God."

Posting about trusting God during the waiting times in life­­­­­­­­ from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/advent-waiting/

Through Generations, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"For my grandmother, living in Advent meant not only a longing for her eternal home but a concern for her children’s children, because, just as God was faithful across the generations from Adam to Christ, He will be faithful across the generations from Christ to the Last Day."

Posting about hope in God's covenant promises from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/through-generations/

Preparing From The Perspective Of Mary, Kim Brinkerhoff

Staff Work

"I learn that preparation is the work of waiting well: rejoicing, choosing to see what He sees, bowing in obedience in the smaller moments, and being fully present."

Posting about Advent surrender from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/preparing-from-the-perspective-of-mary/

Preparing: Be Filled, Erin Olson

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"What are you doing to prepare your heart? How are you welcoming and inviting the Holy Spirit to fill your being with the longing and excitement of this Advent season?"

Posting about being ready for Christ's coming from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/preparing-be-filled/

Advent: Ring The Bells That Still Can Ring, Tanya Deroo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Perhaps Advent is, in part, a season of remembering journeys in to strange lands and stories about loss."

Posting about faith in the Advent promise from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/advent-ring-the-bells-that-still-can-ring/

Christ, Consumerism, And Christmas, Aaron Baart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Maybe the greatest advertising gaffe occurred when the Savior of the world somehow got wrapped up in our consumerism in the first place."

Posting about receiving Christ at Christmas from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/christ-consumerism-and-christmas/

The Prophetic Hope Of Emerging Adulthood: Emerging Together Toward An Abundant Life, Adam David Pallay

Doctor of Ministry

I am studying hope within Emerging Adulthood in order to bring clarity to the cultural conversations surrounding Millennials and faith so that emerging adults can have the tools to move toward and experience an abundant life. The conversation around Emerging Adulthood is often limited to the Millennial generation. This is problematic because it paints Emerging Adulthood as a rebellious generation rather than a natural stage of human development. Within this generation framework, emerging adults are viewed as needing to be fixed and/or assimilated; therefore, their voices and contributions get minimized until they decide to fall in line with the status …

Nicholas Of Lyra, Literal Commentary On Galatians, Edward Arthur Naumann

TEAMS Commentary Series

Though little-known today, Nicholas of Lyra's commentaries are arguably among the most widely-read and influential commentaries of all time. For more than two hundred years, from the time of their composition, well into the Reformation era, they were copied and recopied, printed and reprinted, as an indispensable guide to the meaning of scripture. Naumann presents here a complete translation of Lyra's literal commentary on Galatians in English for the first time, with a freshly-edited Latin text, and provides ample notes on its significance in relation to the works of previous authors.

Churches Of Christ, Spiritual Formation, And The Liturgical Christian Calendar, Wes Horn

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

For many Christian traditions, participation in the liturgical year does not seem remarkable; in fact, it is second nature being the form, or liturgy, through which congregational members grew up practicing their faith. However, for those Christian traditions, like the Churches of Christ, who have avoided the liturgical year, the inclusion of liturgical practices is a substantial deviation in worship theology, practice, and comfort.

This article recounts one congregation’s journey through the liturgical calendar as a test case for a Doctor of Ministry project. The thesis questioned whether the introduction of the liturgical Christian calendar into the worship life of …

Glimpses Of Jesus Through The Johannine Lens--An Introduction And Overview Of John, Jesus, And History, Vol. 3, Paul N. Anderson, Jaime Clark-Soles

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

No abstract provided.

Psychological Well-Being Of Roman Catholic And Episcopal Clergy Applicants, Shannon Nicole Thomas, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

The current study investigated the psychological functioning of over 200 applicants to the priesthood or diaconate in the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, as revealed by the subjects’ scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2). Results revealed an overall trend of psychological health in the sample population, evidenced by few systematic elevations in indices of psychopathology. Within the Catholic sample, deacons demonstrated lower MMPI-2 scores on several measures, perhaps suggesting slightly better psychological well-being than their priest counterparts.

A Strategy Of Ministry For Small Korean-American Church Growth: Centered On Tallahassee Korean Community Presbyterian Church, Ju Yang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many small Korean-American churches have difficulties. The small number of members causes financial problem and causes member burn out. Also a lot of church members have difficulty which comes from the difference of language and culture in America. The purpose of this thesis project is to provide a strategy to help small Korean-American churches to grow and be more effective. Tallahassee Korean Community Presbyterian Church will be used as a model. Even though this is not an exceptionally successful church, it has potential for growth. First, literature research about church growth, worship, homiletics, leadership, and discipleship will be processed based …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 118 - Lent / Easter (December 2015), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Features

Jesus Is Greater by Kyle Haack....3

Come and See: Painting the Lenten Journey by Lisle Gwynn Garrity....10

Nothing but the Blood by Jana Dykhuis....19

Articles

Editorial: It Feels Like Lent: Where Is Easter? by Joyce Borger....2

The Lord’s Supper on Good Friday: Yes and No by Rita Klein-Geltink and James Payton....32

For Pastors: Disciples Follow by Scott Hoezee....34

Q&A: The Pastoral Challenges of Summer by John D. Witvliet....39

More than a Fiesta by Gerardo Martí and Mark T. Mulder....42

The Gift of the Felon by Kate Kooyman....44

Resources

Psalms to …

The United Methodist Church And The Willingness To Embrace Change: Attracting Members Of The Emerging Generation And A Return To Vitality, Jody Glenn Ray

Doctor of Ministry

Christian culture within the United States has been experiencing phenomenal change related to shifts in the larger U.S. culture, as well as shifts taking place in the Church. As such, five sets of research questions were presented in this phenomenological study. These consisted of - What is the current state of the Church? Is the Church divided doctrinally, theologically, and in areas regarding polity? If so, what is causing this division? What are the primary causes of the decline in membership currently being experienced by the United Methodist Church? What are the greatest challenges facing the Church? What are the …

"Speak, Hannah, And Do Not Be Silent": Pseudo-Philo's Deconstruction Of Violence In Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum 50-51, Benjamin J. Lappenga

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

This article argues that the movement from Hannah’s silent prayer in 50.5 (‘Hannah did not want to pray out loud’) to her bold declaration in 51.5 (‘I will speak my words openly’) interrupts a narrative trajectory involving violent zeal in Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum. Throughout the narrative, the prayers of key individuals for God’s merciful action on behalf of the people are rendered efficacious by acts of zeal (zelus) that are both public and violent (47.1–3). By contrast, Hannah’s act of silent prayer (framed as ‘zeal’ in 50.5) is accepted as the accompanying act for the people’s prayer (51.2). This vicarious …

Facticity And Transcendence Across The Disciplines: Phenomenology And The Promise, Neal Deroo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

This paper begins from one of the most commonly found questions in phenomenology, “What is Phenomenlogy?”, to argue that phenomenology is a trans-disciplinary approach to engaging with the products of human culture. This approach is characterized by paying particular attention to the distinction between facticity and transcendence within “lived experience” so as to help us better articulate and evaluate the promises that animate every human institution. Such a task necessarily requires inter-disciplinary input and helps us engage in our lives—in our shared cultural life—differently.

Endless Cycle Of Want, Howard Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Are any of our wants 'normal' and inherently human, or are they all created in us by the world of advertising and its wizard(s) behind the curtain(s)?"

Posting about the cycle of want and consumption from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/the-endless-cycle-of-want/

Advent: Clearing A Path For Christmas, Mary Beth Pollema

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The idea of preparing the way of the LORD is a word picture that reveals to us that the real preparation for Christmas must take place in our hearts. This is the preparation that demands our focus so that we may rightfully acknowledge the deep significance of the coming of our Messiah."

Posting about dealing with distractions during Advent from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/advent-clearing-a-path-for-christmas/

A Supplication For The Beggars: The Arguments Of Simon Fish And The Cultural Relevance Of His Writing In Sixteenth Century England, Charlotte Mcfaddin

Student Research

No abstract provided.

The Production Of Sticky Notes And Bible Quotes: Godly Answers For Sticky Situations A Children’S Musical As Directed By Julie Brinkman, Julie Elizabeth Brinkman

Honors College

This thesis reflects upon a director’s experience while directing her first production: Sticky Notes and Bible Quotes: Godly Answers for Sticky Situations by Dennis and Nan Allen. This children’s musical was produced in cooperation with Wylie United Methodist Church of Abilene, TX. Over forty children, with the help of ten adult volunteers, shared the importance of memorizing scripture and looking to God’s Word in times of trouble through song, skits, and the recitation of scripture. While reflecting upon the production process after each rehearsal, the director makes connections between her experiences as director, the content of her music education undergraduate …

Teacher Preparedness For Spiritually Transformational Teaching: A Case Study In One Christian High School, Wendy Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This single instrumental case study examined a purposive sample of teachers from Live Oak Christian High School (a pseudonym) for indications that they were spiritually qualified, sufficiently trained, and intentionally committed to transformational Christian teaching. Spiritually qualified teachers would evidence an active Christian faith as demonstrated by a sound basic theology, verbalization of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and various spiritual practices. Teachers who were sufficiently trained would evidence personal knowledge, experience, education, or training related directly to Christian education. Teachers who were committed to transformational Christian teaching would evidence that intentionality in documents, surveys, classroom observations, and personal …

Classical Pentecostal Interpretation Of The Gift Of Discernment From 1914 To 1941, Stephanie Ann Rose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the beginning of the Pentecostal Movement in 1906, Pentecostal meetings were plagued by what they labeled “counterfeit manifestations.” These manifestations were creating negative consequences for the movement and Pentecostals needed a strategy that would identify and eradicate them from their meetings. Because Pentecostalism was in its infancy, it did not have a clear procedure to assist in identifying counterfeit manifestations, to determine how they operated, and/or who or what produced them. Over time they began to form assumptions regarding the operation of counterfeit manifestations and developed several strategies that they hoped would counteract their presence in meetings, one of …

Mission Statements: Evaluating Faith-Based Organization’S Missional Effectiveness In Monrovia, Liberia, Jessica Kryzer

Masters Theses

Mission statements of faith-based organizations in Monrovia, Liberia are essential to carrying out the Two Great Commandments and the Great Commission within the work of the organizations. By presenting and evaluating the presence of the TGC and the GC within the statements it can be determined whether the programs and funding are sufficiently affected by the solidity of the mission statement and core values.

Walking With God Or The Devil,...Which? And The King's Gold Mine, Bud Robinson

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Preparing, Advent And Psalm 51, Shirley Folkerts

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"We can't make this event happen any more than we made creation happen. But we are a busy people and most days our frantic waiting drowns out the echo of our cries from deep within."

Posting about anticipating Christ's coming from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/preparing-advent-and-psalm-51/

Taking The Gift Out Of Christmas, Neal Deroo

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"If we look to the Bible, the overwhelming thing we are supposed to do with the gifts God has given us is not to be grateful or obedient - it is simply to use them."

Posting about giving and receiving gifts from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/taking-the-gift-out-of-christmas/

Advent: The Messy Preparation, Ross Douma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The stark reality is Advent season, while one of the most anticipated of the entire year, tends to be one of the most stressful times for people."

Posting about keeping our focus on the meaning of Christmas from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/advent-the-messy-preparation/