Grander Stories

DISPLAY:

AI Offers Golden Opportunity

Artificial Intelligence is discussed everywhere these days; it has both its “boosters” and its “doomers.” Some AI boosters dream of a trans-human utopia that populates the universe. AI doomers, on the other hand, fear that AI could instead annihilate humanity. A major headline in the Financial Times recently declared, “We must slow down the race to God-like […]

Prompted to Pray

“You won’t believe how God just answered our prayers!” I sent this message to our Faculty Commons leaders after our monthly gathering where we pray for our campus and students. That morning after reading and reflecting on Psalm 3:3, “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my […]

Spurring One Another On

Covid was the worst thing and the best thing to happen to our faculty group. It nearly killed our in-person groups, but gave rise to life-changing virtual groups. Over the past four years since Covid, being part of a virtual group with other Christian faculty has profoundly impacted my work life, prayer life, and my […]

Where Two or Three…

As a new professor I was committed to living out my life as a follower of Jesus, but I knew that doing so in community was key. I knew several Christian professors, but somehow my efforts to summon a sizable group gathering was elusive. I felt alone. Then one morning it hit me – I needed […]

Life Lunch

In 2004 I took a leap of faith and left behind a 20+ year corporate career and chose to join the academy as a Computer Science and Engineering faculty member. One of the first challenges, aside from a very different day-to-day workflow, was finding those who shared my faith in a very secular workplace. Finally, […]

Going Public with My Faith

When I started as a professor ten years ago, I wondered how to go public with my faith. My own time as a university student and follower of Jesus had been a great journey of discovery: of life, of growing up, of traveling, of reflection, of learning…and all of this with Jesus himself and many […]

Perhaps Theology

The mottled light filtered through a large canopy of trees as we stepped off the train and onto the platform serving the tiny rural village. A few moments later, my friend and I came to, what appeared to be, the main street running east and west through town. We paused long enough to look both […]

We’re Not Alone

Criminal justice professor draws colleagues into Christian community and service After years of feeling alone as a Christian professor on campus, Dr. Laurie Kubicek assembled a supportive group of believing faculty and staff. In the spring of 2015, they launched the Christian Faculty and Staff Network at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State). Colleagues describe […]

The Checkbox Life and Cicadas

I remember each of my children’s university commencements, but one will not soon be forgotten. One of my kids was running late to graduation and sped into the stadium parking lot at the last minute, sprinting – gown flapping in hand – to make the processional line. After the ceremony, as lunch grew near, we inquired: […]

Lunch with a Purpose

Over the years, perhaps what I’ve appreciated most about the Missional Moments is hearing what God is doing on other campuses and gleaning ideas from other faculty. In February 2020, David Janzen from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo shared a Missional Moment about his “Life Lunches” — connecting weekly with students to talk about anything except classwork.  I loved […]