6834 research outputs found
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Expository Sermons in Luke : Responding to Jesus in Light of Luke's Old Testament Allusions.
No full textThis thesis presents four expository sermons on the Gospel of Luke, giving particular attention to Luke's engagement with the Old Testament. The first sermon focuses on Jesus's entrance into his public ministry as an example for obeying the Spirit. The second sermon centers on Jesus's transfiguration in order to reveal what obedience to the New Covenant looks like. The third focuses on Jesus's rebuke of Pharisees and lawyers in order to illustrate how to respond to Jesus with pure intentions. Finally, the fourth sermon centers on the road to Emmaus story in order to model complete faith in Christ's resurrection. My research and analysis were guided mainly by Haddon Robinson's Biblical Preaching, which teaches a Biblical strategy of preaching most commonly used in Protestant churches. Taken together, the four chapters model how expository preaching can be an effective method of sharing the voice of God with a congregation
The Role of Genetics and the Environment on a Dog's Behavior and its Application Toward Successfully Choosing a Dog for Service.
No full textThis paper was intended to research the role of both genetics and the environment on a dog's behavioral profile and deduce whether there is a significant enough effect of the two on it to recommend the maintenance of breeding dogs for service or advocating for the use of shelter dogs. It was found that both factors play a significant role in the behavioral characteristics exhibited by the canine. Genetics were proven to undoubtedly influence behavior, although the effects are characterized by wide variations in gene expression and are extremely complex. The early environmental exposures of the puppy also have a profound effect on its behavior as an adult. For these reasons, it is concluded that potential service dogs should continue to be chosen from reputable breeders who can provide extensive background information on the puppy and more strictly control the surroundings they are exposed to in their early lives
Mindful self-hypnosis combined with resistance training for reducing perceived stress in female college students.
No full textPrevious research using Mindful Self Hypnosis (MSH) has been shown to be effective at reducing perceived stress in college students, however, the interventions did not include physical exercise which is also associated with improved health and quality of life. In fact, Resistance Training (RT) as one form of physical exercise, has not only been demonstrated to be effective in reducing perceived stress but also is known to lead to physical health benefits such as improved muscle strength. However, RT participation among female college students has been reported to be low. Few studies also reported no impact of RT on psychological well-being, a psychological aspect that has been theorized to be essential for dealing with one's perceived stressors. Given that the components of MSH (i.e., mindfulness and hypnosis interventions) have been shown to be effective in improving behavioral change (e.g., exercise participation) and psychological well-being, it therefore remains to be elucidated if combining RT with MSH may help complement the limitations of RT alone. Thus, the aim of the study herein is to explore the potential added benefits of combining MSH to RT on perceived stress, while also investigating its impact on psychological distress, mindfulness, psychological well-being, and muscle strength. Forty-four female college students participated in the study and were randomly assigned to three groups: MSH combined with RT (MSHRT), RT only (RTOG), or waitlist list control (WLCG). Participants in both MSHRT and RTOG performed three forty-minute RT sessions each week while those in MSHRT also received 5 minutes of MSH before and after RT sessions. Results indicated significant and large decreases in perceived stress in both MSHRT and RTOG, however significant improvements in perceived stress compared to WLCG were only observed in MSHRT. Moreover, MSHRT improved mindfulness, psychological well-being, and sleep quality with significantly greater improvements in leg press strength compared to RTOG. Although further research is needed, the present study supports the efficacy of MSH combined with RT for reducing perceived stress to optimize well-being in female college students
Creation Rx : An Exploration of Christian Primary Care Physician Responses to Implementing Nature Prescriptions.
No full textMany chronic illnesses that Americans suffer from can be alleviated through time in nature. In addition to the medicinal effects of time spent outdoors, nature plays a key role in the Christian faith and offers spiritual benefits. Some clinicians and medical practices have already adopted nature prescription programs to treat these chronic illnesses. This thesis reviews the scientific and theological evidence for the benefits of time in nature and provides a qualitative analysis of the role of Christian faith in implementing park prescriptions through multiple interviews with Christian primary care physicians. These findings will assist public health professionals and medical administrators in identifying and removing future barriers for nature prescriptions while contributing to the growing literature on medicine and religion
Receiving the self and the world back again : political implications of Kierkegaard's double movement of faith.
No full textThis dissertation follows Kierkegaard's project, spanning several of his pseudonymous and non-pseudonymous works, of describing faith's radical transformation of the self and its resultant relation to the world. I argue that the political implications of Kierkegaard's thought must be understood in this light, as the paradoxical relation between faith's "infinite resignation" and subsequent "receiving the world back again" is fundamental. Specifically, for Kierkegaard the encounter with God changes everything. It structures the believing self's relation to itself, and sets the parameters for Kierkegaard's ethic of "neighbor-love." As others have noted, Kierkegaard's account of faith fortifies the individual against the impositions of totalizing regimes. But it also provides the framework for an Augustinian prudential participation in the politics of everyday
Ambiguity, overload, turnover : a mixed methods study of public institution academic librarians' affective reactions during the Great Resignation in the South Central U.S.
No full textIn the late spring and summer of 2021, the United States hit record-high voluntary quit rates—a phenomenon that came to be known as the Great Resignation. Academic libraries were not immune to this attrition. Abrupt changes from the COVID-19 pandemic to academic librarian roles such as working remotely, taking on new responsibilities, and relational difficulties could have attributed to this problem. I sought to evaluate these possibilities considering the ongoing high turnover rates of the Great Resignation. I chose a convergent mixed methods design to explore the complexity of the relationships between affect, role overload, role ambiguity, and turnover intentions among academic librarians at public institutions in the South Central U.S. I collected quantitative data through the Academic Librarian Affect Survey (ALAS; N = 193) and analyzed the data by running a multiple linear regression. I collected qualitative data through a semi-structured interview protocol (n = 10) and analyzed it through a two-round coding cycle. I conducted all research through the lens of Weiss and Cropanzano's (1996) affective events theory. The results and findings from my analysis revealed both a statistically significant [F(4, 188) = 54.88, p < .001] and socially impactful relationship between affect, role ambiguity, role overload, and turnover intentions among academic librarians at public institutions in the South Central U.S. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 53.9% of the variance in turnover intentions can be explained by role ambiguity, role overload, and affect (R2 = .539). The qualitative findings uncovered how academic librarians, library leaders, and campus leaders directly or indirectly influence the work environment and the positive or negative affect present in the work culture. This study contributes to the knowledge and awareness of issues impacting academic librarian turnover, especially during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation
Nonverbal assessment of intelligence in autistic children : a psychometric investigation using classical test theory.
No full textMany measures that are used to assess intelligence (i.e., IQ tests) are normed on neurotypical populations. To make valid group comparisons, researchers must ensure that items on the assessment have the same meaning and perform similarly across groups, such that there is no difference in item functioning based on group membership. Therefore, the following study sought to determine whether items on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning Visual Reception Scale performed similarly in a sample of autistic (N=45) and non-autistic children (N=30). Findings from the current study provide a foundation for future researchers and clinicians to consider the utility and appropriateness of various cognitive and developmental measures when being used with neurodiverse populations, given that IQ scores can impact diagnoses, eligibility for services and accommodations, and quality of life
An alternative solution to burnout in pastoral ministry.
No full textIn 2019, the World Health Organization classified “burnout” as an “occupational phenomenon,” not a medical condition. It is a phenomenon that has always existed among humankind and is not a derivative of postmodernity or the advent of the technological age. Most publications offer solutions to burnout that cater to career-driven overachievers. Many of these solutions involve stepping back and learning to rest and recuperate. These suggestions, however, fall short of providing a long-term solution for those who suffer from spiritual burnout. Burnout is a multifaceted occupational phenomenon, while occupational burnout is work-related. For those who work in pastoral care, burnout is life-related, including work but not limited to the work environment. It is to be overwhelmed by many facets of life’s demands, such as work, family, and health. For those who serve in pastoral care ministries, burnout may result in disconnection from one’s occupation. This disconnection leads to a disorientation regarding the person’s calling to serve in the capacity of pastoral care. This project aims to help those experiencing burnout from serving in pastoral care ministries so they can reconnect and be reorientated to their calling
Bayesian approaches to problems in diagnostic testing and underreported count data.
No full textThis dissertation is a compilation of three chapters pertaining to three distinct topics. The first chapter describes Bayesian joint estimation for predictive values of continuous diagnostic tests. We find that allowing for uncertainty in disease prevalence is essential for producing unbiased estimation regions. In the second chapter, we assess the effect of state-level immigration policy on intrastate migration utilizing four types of statistical models. These models are compared using cross-validation. Finally, the last chapter extends a zero-inflated Poisson distribution accounting for underreporting into the Bayesian paradigm. We analyze this Bayesian model in multiple simulation studies. When underreporting is inaccurately estimated, model parameter estimation can be biased. Placing a prior on the reporting probability in cases of uncertainty leads to more accurate parameter estimation
Seeking (the) faithful witness : convening for discernment and the formation of the ecclesial imagination.
No full textThis project explored the biblical theme of “witness” and how it might both shape our perception of the church and discipline the way members of the church talk together about potentially divisive topics. A context marked (in part) by polarization renders such conversations difficult, even within the church, and causes some to shy away from them to avoid disruptions within the fellowship of believers. The expectation that the people of God would testify among the nations to the reign of God, however, suggests that avoiding potentially divisive topics is not an option for the church since avoidance would leave the church susceptible to (a) thinking followers of Jesus have nothing to say about potentially divisive topics or (b) engaging in conversations about them along the lines of a polarized society. Accordingly, the intervention for this project convened ten members of Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in Holland, MI, for a series of eight discussions during which (a) the identity and calling of the people of God via the biblical narrative was pondered and (b) “witness” served as the telos while considering LGBTQ+ Rights and Chris-tian Nationalism. The goal was thus to discern what might be said together—as those acclaiming Jesus as Lord—about these topics. The results of this project indicate that participation in the witness-focused discussion group broadened participants’ perceptions of the church and made them more inclined to engage in conversations about potentially divisive topics “at church.” This project, then, contributes to our understanding of how the ecclesial imagination is formed and offers the church a useful “container” for discerning its response to potentially divisive topics during times marked (in part) by polarization