One of my goals this year has been to focus more on my sketching and painting work and to try and develop some consistency and some continuity of themes, which in the past have totally been all over the place. That’s an exercise that’s been particularly challenging for me because in addition to a busy workload as a part of a startup company and family responsibilities in a house full of teenagers time is very scarce and creative energy often has to be subservient to the necessities of life and the thought of being able to establish some kind of routine is, I’m afraid at this point of my life, more a pipe dream than a process. But that’s not to say I’m not trying!
Author: Ed Hart
As a part of our company’s culture building, we’ve developed a list of 21 Standards that define who we are, what we do and how we do it. Prominently displayed in the office, the standards are designed to be daily reminders for everyone of how our culture and ethos differentiates us from the competition. This year, one of Drew’s ides to help reinforce the standards at a personal level is to have everyone pick a standard or two and write a short essay on what the standard means to them. I have the first one, the Golden Rule.
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My 2018 Reading List
I’ve finally finished compiling my reading list for 2018. I absolutely devoured books this year thanks to Audible and a long work commute. I guess that may have something to do with the fact that 2 years into the Trump administration, the new is still “all Trump all the time” and I’ve gotten so sick of politics that I want to inject something worthwhile into my mental hard drive even if I know I won’t retain most of it! Actually, my strategy is to give the audio book a first listen and if I really like it, then pick up a hard copy for my library. I’ve also found the clips and notes feature on Audible to be really helpful when I want to go back and remember where I’ve heard something.
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 10
We’ve spent the last 9 weeks studying Christianity and culture from the very basics of defining what culture is to understanding multiple paradigms through which we, as Christians, can effectively engage the culture from a Christian worldview. As we near the end of our study, we’ll take a deep dive into Tim Keller’s 4 “cultural camps” and tackle the questions, “Which one does the Bible teach?” and ultimately, “What do I believe?”
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 9
Should we be pessimistic or optimistic about the possibility of cultural change?
Is the current culture redeemable and full of common grace, or fundamentally fallen and lacking common grace?
Our answers to those questions can help us to see where we fit into the spectrum of cultural engagement and also teaches us what we can learn from those who have equally orthodox, but pragmatically different perspectives on the Christian’s role in culture.
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 8
In this episode of Christ and Culture, Ike Reeder takes a deep dive into Richard Neibur’s 5 approaches to confronting the world. To get the most out of this lesson, you’ll want to reference the visual chart in the accompanying slide presentation which you can view below. At the time of this posting, the chart appears on slide 24. This chart references a spectrum of Christian views on cultural engagement with some explanatory notes that Ike refers to throughout the presentation.
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 7
The Apostle Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. However, the way we express this out in our day to day lives and in our relationships with others can look very different depending on our philosophical approach to the broader culture. In this episode, join Ike as he concludes our study of C.S. Lewis’ “suburbs of Jerusalem” and explores Richard Neibuhr’s 5 categories or approaches to Christ and Culture.
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 6
If we are called by God to be culture makers through the creation mandate and within the context of the second commandment, how then shall we live? In lesson 5 of Christ and Culture, Ike Reeder explores the approaches of 2 great thinkers, J. Gresham Machen and C.S. Lewis. Join Ike as he unpacks their writings on the impact that engaged Christians can can have on our culture.
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Marsala Roasted Peaches with Ice Cream
The test kitchen was busy on a week night getting ready for the weekend! This recipe is a new riff on one of my favorite desserts, but instead of raspberries and balsamic vinegar I’m using the same principle with fresh ripe peaches and a marsala wine syrup. It’s really quite the delicious flavor bomb. This recipe is a serving for 2, so make proportional adjustments for more servings.
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Christ and Culture: Lesson 5
The 2nd Commandment teaches us that we are not to make image or likeness of anything in heaven and earth. So what does that mean for the creative process? In lesson 5 of Ike Reeder’s Christ and Culture series, we’ll explore what God has to say about artistic intentions, the pitfalls of creative idolatry and how, as Paul instructs us in Colossians 2 and 3, we are to stay rooted in Christ.