December 13, 2016
There are sharply diverging reactions to the recent election. Some people are enthusiastic, seeing it as the beginning of a new era. On the other end of the spectrum, some people are despondent, seeing it as the beginning of the end. Either way, we need to step back and realize that there are pitfalls to being ruled by the emotions at either extreme. According to Rev. Charles Drew in his article ‘The Morning After’:
December 5, 2016
A recent article on Albert Mohler presented a question which was originally posed by Russian novelist Dostoevsky: ‘Will beauty save the world?’ Such a thought-provoking query cannot be answered without first defining the idea of beauty. This question can be answered in a variety of ways, and we might be tempted to imagine the sort of beauty that stares out from magazine covers. However, the article directs us to consider beauty in biblical terms, initially turning to Isaiah Chapter 53:
December 1, 2016
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But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. — Psalm 79:30
November 23, 2016
With the Thanksgiving season at hand, the idea of gratitude should be on everyone’s minds. Yet, despite the fact that we are celebrating a day of gratitude, we seem strangely out of touch with the meaning and importance of gratitude. For most of us, we have a vague understanding of the term, but perhaps not a firm grasp on how and why we should practice this staple virtue. In an article entitled ‘Why we Should Be Thankful for the Gift of Gratitude’, Joe Carter explores the essential nature of this attribute, as well as helpful suggestions for how to grow in it.
November 22, 2016
In an article entitled ”How My Millennial Students Found Their ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide’ to a Secular Age”, Dr. James K.A. Smith, Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College, touches on the insights and impact of of philosopher Charles Taylor. He examines Taylor’s riveting, but challenging, 900-page book entitled “A Secular Age,” which covers religious belief and skepticism in the 21st century.
November 17, 2016
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For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.— Psalm 47:2
November 14, 2016
For Namans, Giving is a Family Endeavor
Christian Union supporters Dr. Vincent and Dian Naman have lovingly served side by side over the course of 31 years (and counting) of marriage. Together, they have raised four godly children and have made a significant impact on their community through their professional endeavors, service to their home church, and their commitment to furthering Christ's Kingdom.November 11, 2016
Sadly, many Christians have a stunted understanding of economics, with some even insisting that the Bible doesn’t really concern itself with such topics. In reality however, the Bible bestows upon us a wholesome worldview to which we can apply and shape our different spheres of life, whether they be economics, politics, or culture.
November 11, 2016
Christian Union's Engaging Lecture Series at Columbia
For more than two hundred years, Columbia University's motto has been: "In Thy light shall we see the light," based on Psalm 36:9. But according to Jim Black, Christian Union's director of undergraduate ministry at Columbia, each fall the university explains the motto and its true meaning incorrectly during freshmen orientation."Students are told that the meaning of the motto is 'by the light of you (incoming freshmen), we will all see the light.' That is a terrible misrepresentation of the biblical text," Black said.At its weekly leadership lecture series, however, Black and Christian Union's ministry at Columbia are rightfully shining the light where it truly belongs—on Jesus Christ.November 10, 2016
Ministry Welcome Events for Young Professionals
Christian Union's ministry for professionals in New York City hosted a series of events to welcome freshly minted graduates of leading universities to the commercial capital of the world.This summer and fall, Christian Union New York City held receptions aimed at providing young professionals with spiritual and practical support systems as many settle into new careers, especially in Manhattan's financial sector."We're intentionally helping people connect. Some people who come here are self-sufficient and some who come are overwhelmed," said Scott Crosby, director of Christian Union New York (CUNYC).November 9, 2016
Part of the seeking God lifestyle involves incorporating frequent and fervent pray into our daily lives. There are no ‘quick fix’ prayers that can replace the important process of learning to pray to God from the sincerity of our hearts. However, as humans, we need initial guidance, since we are innately formed to learn through example. In an article entitled ‘Seven Simple Daily Prayers’, writer Marshall Segal lays out seven ideas to help enrich and enliven our personal prayer. He pulls his tips from the Psalms, citing verses and then detailing them with explanation and personal experience.
November 9, 2016
Knaus '17 Has a Heart for Refugees
by Catherine Elvy, Staff WriterA University of Pennsylvania upperclassman is using her international upbringing, fluency in Arabic, and passion for supporting the vulnerable to aid an influx of refugees arriving in Philadelphia."I want to make a difference by helping people, so they can see God's love through me, especially with their tangible, practical needs," said Aimee Knaus '17, who grew up with her American family in Jordan and the Togolese Republic."God definitely set me up for it. God has me at Penn for a reason."November 8, 2016
The First Amendment is receiving a massive amount of pushback, not just from a specific group, but by the culture as a whole. Trevin Wax, in his article ‘4 Cultural Trends Leading to the Decline of Religious Liberty’, states:
November 8, 2016
Hendricks '17 Works on Law Degree as Undergraduate
Rob Hendricks, a member of Christian Union's ministry at Cornell, has become the first undergraduate ever to be accepted to the Cornell Law School. He is simultaneously a senior at Cornell and a first-year law student.November 7, 2016
Ministry Celebrates First Graduating Class
Three years ago, faculty with Christian Union's ministry at Harvard Law School, Coram Deo, began reaching out to students and sojourning with them as they integrated faith and law. In May, the ministry celebrated, by God's grace, steady growth since its inception and the graduation of some of its original members."Emotions of both joy and sadness well up in one's spirit as we both celebrate our graduates and mourn their departure from local campus life," said Jim Garretson, Christian Union's ministry director at Harvard Law School.November 4, 2016
by Scott Crosby, Director of Christian Union New York"...the key actor in history is not individual genius but rather the network and the new institutions that are created out of those networks."− To Change the World, James Davison Hunter One of Christian Union's core values is Networked and Engaged Leaders. These values describe the elements of activism and effectiveness necessary for leaders to accomplish spiritual objectives that are deeply transformative in scope and depth. There is awareness that individual efforts alone will not be sufficient, and that there is a paradigm both in history and in the Christian faith that recognizes the network as a key element of change.
November 3, 2016
Q & A with Dr. Mac Pier
November 2, 2016
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The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. — Proverbs 21:1
October 31, 2016
The first few weeks of freshman year are a pivotal time. Students are open to new activities and forming social groups that often set them up for their collegiate years. At the start of each school year, Christian Union’s ministry faculty and upperclassmen involved in the ministry warmly welcome and energetically engage freshmen, with welcoming campaigns among students who study at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Harvard Law, Princeton, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale. During the campaign, the ministry team and upperclassmen eagerly present the opportunity for new students to join them for in-depth study of Scripture, Christian leadership training, fellowship, and support.
October 20, 2016
The idea of the university has long been that of a community dedicated to discovering truth and its application to life. Guided by this mission, students and teachers were enabled to find the noble and beautiful things in the world, discover their relationship to one another, as well as establish a concrete structure from which all thoughts, words and actions flowed in their proper order.
