Text Posts – Page 11 – Nathan Day Wilson

Crisis is a terrible thing to waste

Yea, another bandwagon I’m on: using the phrase, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Who said it, or something similar, first? Maybe economist Paul Romer. A quick look shows the selection of those using the phrase, or something close includes Thomas Friedman (New York Times, 18 April 2004)Eliot Spitzer (January 2005)Arthur Affleck (FebruaryContinue reading “Crisis is a terrible thing to waste”

Green Eyed Monster

Tomorrow is week 2 of First Christian’s new worship series that we titled “Sinning Like a Christian.” Week one’s sin was PRIDE; tomorrow’s is ENVY. We’re looking honestly at the presence of sin in our lives, but lest you think we get too serious, a bit of humor can be found here and there —Continue reading “Green Eyed Monster”

The challenges, pains, rewards of leadership

I benefitted from spending a few days with ministry colleagues this week at Wabash College. Part of our time was spent discussing the ideas in Leadership without Easy Answers with each other and with the book’s author, Ronald Heifetz. Heifetz was a great conversation partner for us: thoughtful, engaging and genuinely interested in hearing ourContinue reading “The challenges, pains, rewards of leadership”

Spirituality = Happiness?

I’m not yet sure of the study’s parameters or details, because I haven’t made time to read the study in depth, but I am interested in its findings: Children between the ages of 8 and 12 who feel that their lives have meaning and value and who develop quality relationships are happier. The authors ofContinue reading “Spirituality = Happiness?”

College students today

Almost 2 million first-year college and university students are heading back to schools around the country this month. Many of them were born around 1990 when headlines sounded more than a little familiar: Big Three car companies were facing declining sales and profits; a president named Bush was increasing the number of troops in theContinue reading “College students today”

Prayers for times of recesssion

Earlier this week the Church of England published two new prayers: one to comfort those who lost their jobs in the financial crisis; and one for those who have seen colleagues laid off and are troubled by feelings of stress and even guilt about still being employed. The one for laid off workers, called “TheContinue reading “Prayers for times of recesssion”

Colleges increasing student aid in recession

Recessions are, by nature, uncertain times. This is especially true for families with children in college. Thankfully, many colleges are creating additional student aid programs or expanding existing ones. Other colleges are providing additional student counseling or extending grace periods for tuition payments. These are welcome advances, in my view, and I hope more willContinue reading “Colleges increasing student aid in recession”

Young Adult Book of the Year

Okay, this was written by a colleague. Do you agree? — Nathan “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer – Some of you may be groaning at this pick, saying to yourself: “I am so sick of everything Twilight, blah, blah, blah, and I HATED Breaking Dawn; it was terrible in every way, so why in theContinue reading “Young Adult Book of the Year”

university chaplain

Review of The College Chaplain: A Practical Guide to Campus Ministry by Stephen L. White. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2005.By Nathan Day Wilsonhttp://www.fccshelby.org Stephen L. White, chaplain of the Episcopal Church at Princeton University and priest associate at Trinity Church in Princeton, has written an excellent book that combines a vision of campus ministry withContinue reading “university chaplain”