Ernesto Sirolli is widely renowned throughout the world as an expert in economic development. He has led successful International Aid efforts in communities in Zambia, Kenya, Algeria, and other African countries to develop sustainable economies.
Formations 05.15.2016: Unfamiliar Truth
May 8, 2016 by
C. S. Lewis, himself a Christian convert, wrote some pretty original and fantastic fiction, most of which didn’t even take place on this planet as we know it. The books in his Narnia series were the first stories I remember my parents reading aloud to me when I was a kid.
Formations 05.01.2016: Biding our Time
April 24, 2016 by
On an average day between 6:30am and 7:30am, you’re probably waking up and getting ready for the day. Then you either head to work, run errands, do housework, or take care of others in your home.
Formations 04.17.2016: What a Kingdom Looks Like
April 10, 2016 by
Jeff Bezos is a technology entrepreneur and investor. He is the reason you can get almost anything shipped to your door—dog food, a soldering gun, a flat screen TV—within two days of clicking a button.
Formations 04.03.2016: Questions that Make a Difference
March 27, 2016 by
Growing up, Lisa Gross was fed traditional Korean food cooked by her grandmother, who came to America from Korea with Gross’s mother in the 1970s. Every time Gross would come into the kitchen while her grandmother cooked, she was sent back out to do her homework and study.
Formations 03.20.2016: Justice, Mercy, and the Crucifixion
March 13, 2016 by
It wasn’t until I found myself reading a book about mercy and hoping for a person to be punished that I realized I’ve been way too comfortable with the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Formations 03.06.2016: What’s Your Comfort Food?
February 28, 2016 by
My grandparents kept a painting of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper hanging, fittingly, above their dining room table. We shared meals at that table on almost every major holiday, or birthday, or whenever relatives came to visit.
Formations 02.21.2016: The Ten Excuses
February 14, 2016 by
A few months ago, an employment website called Career Builder polled users to see how many employees had come up with an excuse to avoid going in to work in 2015.
Formations 02.07.2016: Accepting the Promise of Freedom
January 31, 2016 by
For nearly 34 years, Gregory Diatchenko knew that he would die in prison after he was found guilty of committing murder at the age of 17. Sent to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole, he had to resign himself to the fact that he would never be free.
Formations 01.24.2016: Making a Murderer: A Controversy That Hits Close to Home
January 17, 2016 by
In the last month, I have received a recommendation from almost every single one of my friends to watch the Netflix true crime documentary series Making a Murderer. (Don’t worry—no spoilers here!)
Formations 01.10.2016: Refreshing Traditions
January 3, 2016 by
The New Year is our chance to start over in every aspect of our lives. People want to begin the year knowing that they can hope for good health, prosperity, happiness, and success for the next twelve months.
Formations 12.27.2015: Only the Beginning
December 20, 2015 by
This December, we reach the 150-year anniversary of when the United States officially ratified and adopted the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
Formations 12.13.2015: Freedom to Hope
December 6, 2015 by
Zechariah’s song leads us through the second week of Advent in celebration and hope. But in this Scripture text, Zechariah’s song is almost as important as his months of silence leading up to it.
Formations 11.29.2015: Only Light
November 22, 2015 by
On November 12, a crowded marketplace in the Bourg al-Baragneh neighborhood in Beirut was bombed, leaving hundreds dead and injured in the worst attack Beirut has seen in years.
Formations 11.15.2015: Make Mistakes!
November 8, 2015 by
“Girls can’t be doctors. Girls are nurses, and boys are doctors.” I was used to my students saying weird and silly things, but this one made me spin around fast. My student, E, was confidently explaining to K why she couldn’t be a doctor when she grew up.
Formations 11.01.2015: Fragile Things
October 25, 2015 by
Think about strong, permanent things. What are they made of? How big are they? I think of stone structures that stand for centuries. When we want to build something that lasts forever, we consider materials even stronger than stone and wood.
Formations 10.18.2015: SMART Service
October 11, 2015 by
Have you ever tried to break out of a routine that you thought was holding you back? Maybe you wanted to eat healthier, be more active, or set aside more quality time with friends and loved ones. How did you do it? Was it easy?
Formations 10.04.2015: Our Spectacular Bodies
September 27, 2015 by
The human body is capable of so many more amazing, mysterious things than we usually realize. For example, we probably all grew up learning that we have five senses. Guess what? We have a lot more than that.
Formations 09.06.2015: Bad Habits
August 30, 2015 by
In his rambling novella Notes from the Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky joins the authors and artists who ponder the idea that human beings have subconscious thoughts and memories.
Formations 08.23.2015: Leaving Isn’t Easy
August 16, 2015 by
About a year ago, author Beverly Gooden started a movement that went viral. She was frustrated and saddened by a popular argument that criticized victims of domestic violence, and she wanted to help the world understand.
Formations 08.09.2015: Who Is My Neighbor?
August 2, 2015 by
Before joining the Smyth & Helwys Publishing team last month, I was an elementary teacher and Teach for America corps member in the Mississippi Delta for two years.