Christianity & Dr. Who

Dr. Melody Green

August 7, 2015

Description:The BBC Television series Doctor Who has been running for more than 50 years. While it is a lot of fun, it uses story to engage many different philosophical and even theological ideas. This lecture, which was published by Square Halo Books in a symposium entitled "Bigger on the Inside: Christianity and Doctor Who," will explore five different ways that Doctor Who engages in a complex relationship with the Christian faith.

Delight in Creator and Creation: An unexpected motivation for Christian stewardship of the earth

Dr. Kenneth Cuffey

January 22, 2016

Description:Psalm 104 makes the case for the believer to care about God's creation and to care for His creatures: that is, to be responsible as stewards of God's earth. However, this psalm does so in a way that is unparalleled in Scripture. In a marvelous celebration that showcases the animals, plants, and interrelated ecosystems of this world, Psalm 104 evokes the delight we are to feel in nature as those who appreciate the Creator and His handiwork. This ultimately is relational in that it calls us back to delight in our Lord. It even evokes God's delight in the creatures of our earth. In the final analysis the Psalm curiously ends up feeling like a party!

Jonathan Edwards: God & Creation

Dr. Rev. Bob Smart

October 25, 2013

Description:Dr. Rev. Bob Smart is the Lead Pastor of Christ Church, PCA in Normal, Illinois. He is not only a friend of Ithaka Fellowship, but a board member as well. He teaches part-time at different seminaires, preaches at conferences, and stays active in world missions. He and his wife, Karen, enjoy their five children and six grandchildren. Dr. Smart earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wales, with a dissertation on Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening.

Let's Go to the Movies

Krystal Kay Lyon

July 31, 2015

Description:Whether it’s the minute long silent films of the 1890’s or the three-hour long epic space voyages of 2014 we love going to the movies. There’s something magical about placing yourself in another person’s shoes or experiencing a fantastic adventure on another world. We are drawn to a good story, a tale that speaks the truth or relates to our own life’s dialogue. Why are we drawn to these stories and why is the invention of the silver screen such a big deal? How, as Christians, do we watch movies and process what we are taking in? Movies are an art form that leaves a lasting impression on us and they are subtly teaching us something.

Living Wisely: Knowing Christ

Mrs. Julie Otto

March 1, 2014

Description:Bio as given at Hannah City PCA:Julie is a native of North Carolina. She grew up in a broken home but received the Lord at a young age. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, she moved to St. Louis for graduate school. While at Washington University, she met and married Duane Otto. Their first summer as a married coupled, they served at the English L’Abri. They have lived in Louisiana and Georgia where Duane pastored churches. For the last seven years, Julie has been a farmer’s wife as well as a pastor’s wife. Duane and Julie live on the Otto Family farm in Gridley, Il with their six children, one dog, one rabbit, thirteen goats, and more cats than they care to acknowledge. From their 100 year old farm house, they run their one-room school as well as Duane’s ministry, Ithaka Fellowship. Julie is constantly amazed at the journey the Lord is allowing her to travel.

Living Wisely: Part 2

Mrs. Julie Otto

March 1, 2014

Description:Bio as given at Hannah City PCA:Julie is a native of North Carolina. She grew up in a broken home but received the Lord at a young age. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, she moved to St. Louis for graduate school. While at Washington University, she met and married Duane Otto. Their first summer as a married coupled, they served at the English L’Abri. They have lived in Louisiana and Georgia where Duane pastored churches. For the last seven years, Julie has been a farmer’s wife as well as a pastor’s wife. Duane and Julie live on the Otto Family farm in Gridley, Il with their six children, one dog, one rabbit, thirteen goats, and more cats than they care to acknowledge. From their 100 year old farm house, they run their one-room school as well as Duane’s ministry, Ithaka Fellowship. Julie is constantly amazed at the journey the Lord is allowing her to travel.

Looking For A Home

Mr. Joel Presley

January 2008

Description:Joel Presley is President of Presley Realty and Live Oak Land Company in North Augusta, South Carolina. Leading a business and making wise decisions with future generations in mind is important to Joel. As a steward of the land, he seeks to grow capital, improve value, and care for the needs of others by taking the long view. Joel is a good friend of Ithaka Fellowship.

Prelude to Wilberforce

Dr. Neil Skaggs

March 7, 2014

Description:Prior to his retirment, Neil Skaggs (Ph.D. Duke University), was Professor of Economics and Interim Department Chair at Illinois State University. He taught Money and Banking, History of Economic Thought, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and Principles of Economics. Professor Skaggs' research specialty is the history of monetary economics and his work has appeared in the Canadian Journal of Economics, History of Political Economy, Southern Economic Journal and Public Choice. He has published numerous articles on the development of British monetary theory and policy in the nineteenth century and currently is working on a monograph that traces the influence of the ideas of Henry Thornton.

The Life & Ministry of John Stott

Dr. Willem VanGemeren

March 15, 2013

Description:Willem VanGemeren (PhD, University of Wisconsin) is professor of Old Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is a friend of Ithaka Fellowhip, a former board member Langham Partnership (founded by Stott), and the author of a number of books, including Interpreting the Prophetic Word (Zondervan) and a commentary on Psalms in the Expositor's Bible Commentary series (Zondervan).

Tolkien and the Hobbit

Dr. Melody Green

January 17, 2014

Description:Recently several books, articles and television programs have argued that The Hobbit is an essentially Christian story. Other people, however, have responded with skepticism, since, after all, neither God nor any kind of religious reference show up in the book. In this lecture Dr. Green examines which aspects of Tolkien’s faith actually appear in the book, and how those themes are presented in the film.

Urbanism and Sprawl

Rev. Tom Becker

July 13, 2007

Description:Tom founded The Row House, Inc in July of 2010 and serves as President of its Board of Directors. He hosts The Row House Forum and speaks regularly for groups on community building, the theology of place, cultural discernment and interpersonal communication. As Assistant Pastor for Outreach at Wheatland Presbyterian Church, he guides his congregation in examining current culture as a means to broadening Christian discipleship and deepening relationships with neighbors and friends outside the church. The Network is an emerging ministry among young adults that Tom heads up, as well. Tom is one of the founding board members of Ithaka Fellowship.