Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to wish you all a safe and restful holiday break. I pray Advent will be a meaningful time of reflection. We’ll be back on the blog mid-January with part 2 of Greg’s reflections on comps, plus much more!
Also, we hope to see you at the AHA!
Prayer: “Grant that the spirit of the Christ-child [...]

Guest Blog: “Coping with Comps: An Ordeal of Faith”

Part One of Two
by Gregory Jones, Kent State University
First let me say God is gracious.  Sometimes we over use the word “grace,” one of the most beautiful words in the English language.  However, having successfully passed doctoral candidacy exams this week, I can honestly say I feel God’s grace.  The point of this blog is [...]

Labyrinth

I know this is a blog about faith and history, but sometimes it’s a blog about faith keeping us sane in our graduate school journey.
I have had a particularly difficult week with my work (and life, to be honest). I have struggled and wrestled with my work in monumental ways, which has in turn yielded [...]

Our Love/Hate Relationship with Grad School

“No [one] who worships education has got the best out of education…. Without a gentle contempt for education no [one]’s education is complete.”  ~G.K. Chesterton

I appreciate this quote not simply because I think highly of Chesterton. I believe it speaks to the tension we feel as grad students. We all have days when [...]

Q&A with Joel Carpenter

Dr. Joel Carpenter is professor of history and director of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity at Calvin College. He reminisces with us here about his grad school experience.
How did you choose your area of specialty?
From high school on I was fascinated with U.S. history, and when I got to
college, my [...]

Q&A with the Pres.

CFH President Rick Kennedy reflects on his graduate school experience…
How did you choose your area of specialty (i.e. US History, Puritan history, etc.)?
I stayed at UC Santa Barbara from undergrad through Ph.D. and found my specialty in plankton-esque fashion as I floated through the department.  I enjoyed everything and settled in with a professor, Harold [...]

Seven Habits of the Highly Effective Christian Graduate Student

Reposted from the Emerging Scholars Network
by Bob Trube

How does one live well as a Christian graduate student? Bob Trube, GFM campus staff, has stewed over that question with members of the InterVarsity grad fellowship at Ohio State. Here are their recommendations of seven habits that should be incorporated into the life of every [...]

Guest Posts

I would LOVE to have you contribute a post here! Additionally, if you know a professor, author, etc. you think would like to contribute, please let me know. Just email me if interested!
Blog Entry Guidelines:
*Must discuss topics of faith and history
*400 words or less (consider sending two entries if you have more words!)
*All entries will [...]

An Emerging Evangelical Intelligentsia?

Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA) is currently undergoing a study of evangelical intellectuals. It’s fascinating stuff.
If you are interested in taking part in their survey, email me and I’ll send you the details.

Breaking the Surface, Gasping for Air

Here is a poetic description of a woman facing that last step in the doctoral journey. Re-posted from This Ordinary Day:
I am sitting on the train. My PhD defence is tomorrow. I feel like I’m under water, slowly slowly drifting upwards. I can already glimpse the sparkling sun above me, magically sending rainbows my way. [...]