Listening with Jesus in a Pluralistic Society

On May 19, 2021 By Kay Avila In Uncategorized 0 Comment

Written by Anne Alexander, Doctor of Intercultural Studies What do you think about the present culture? Complex question? Of course. There are so many moving parts in today’s culture that Jesus-followers can be cowed into silence, fearing they might offend someone. This is NOT a course on how to avoid offending people by soft-peddling truths the Bible makes plain. It’s also NOT a course only for extroverted seminary-trained evangelists. And…

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Holistic Human Thriving and Spiritual Discernment

On May 19, 2021 By Kay Avila In Uncategorized 0 Comment

Written by Peter D. Spychalla, Ph.D., D.Min. Associate Professor of New Testament & Spiritual Formation My kids are sick of me using the phrase “holistic human thriving.” They hear me use it frequently. Whether it is the national news, trajectories for us to follow, or any issue, I am forever asking the question, “Does this foster holistic human thriving?” – for individuals, for groups, for communities, and for whole societies….

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Summer Reading on Racial Justice

On August 26, 2020 By Kay Avila In Faith and Culture, Spiritual Development, Uncategorized 0 Comment

Welcome back to another Fall semester (albeit a strange one!). Our UTS blog has been silent this summer. In the last post, Dr. Ken Cuffey pointed us to Jesus’ Great Commandment – to love our neighbors as ourselves. The circumstances of the COVID pandemic, racial justice demonstrations and economic upheaval have been a period of testing for our country and certainly for the bride of Christ. It has been a…

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Love Your Neighbor As Yourself…Today

On June 17, 2020 By Kay Avila In Faith and Culture, Theology 0 Comment

By Dr. Ken Cuffey, President, Urbana Theological Seminary June 16, 2020  What are we as followers of Jesus to make of all that’s happened in these last several weeks?  For some it’s been painful, agonizing, angering, while others have discovered a clarified focus for their energies.  Whatever we feel, we need to remind ourselves that God’s clear call to us is to love your neighbor as yourself.   This is vital…

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Physical Touch and a Hopeful Future – Jubilate!

On May 4, 2020 By Kay Avila In Uncategorized 0 Comment

Written by Dr. Peter Spychalla, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Spiritual Formation Jubilate! Shout for joy! I pen these words early Lord’s Day morning — windows fully open, morning air cool and fresh, sun rising, sky azure, trees pushing out their leaves in hope, and birds chittering busily. It is Eastertide, that festal season in the Christian liturgical year celebrating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, on Jubilate…

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