By David Williamson Entering the surgical suite for the installation of a pacemaker, I thought of – and was grateful for! – the “high calling,” the skill, specialized training and professional recognition of both the surgical team and the hospital. The first person I thought of was the cardiac electrophysiologist, the person to install my pacemaker, in a nationally acclaimed…
By Brian Fikkert; reprinted from Made to Flourish, by permission of The Chalmers Center. At the Chalmers Center, we long to see people who are struggling with material poverty restored to all that God has created them to be as his image-bearers. That’s why we work to equip churches and related ministries to more effectively walk alongside people living in…
By Lisa Slayton; part four of a series. Reprinted from The Wholeness Journey. Last time we examined Myth #2: that a life of comfort and ease will somehow magically occur once we’ve “figured out our calling.” Tied very closely to this is our broken and reductionistic understanding of “God’s will.” Myth #3: God’s will for me is a job, or house, or…
By Meryl Herr; excerpted from The Four Mondays of Advent: Daily Meditations on Faith and Work. Editor’s note: This week only, The Four Mondays of Advent is available at the special introductory price of $2.99; the price goes up on November 12. Peace “For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For…
By Demi Prentiss, reprinted from Living God’s Mission. The call that God places on each person’s life sometimes shows up as their ministry. But more often, when we look more closely, our call is bigger than our ministry. Our call could be described as the melody of God’s song in our life. Our ministry could be understood as the lyrics…
By Klaus Issler; part four of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. Three main passages in the Torah address the topic of lending and interest: Exodus 22:25: If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor…you shall not exact interest from him. Leviticus 25:35 and 37: If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with…
By Josh Mathews, reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. One among many reasons for seminaries to take vocation seriously is the change we are seeing in students’ motivation for seeking theological education. Students here at Western Seminary are pursuing their education with a variety of different end goals. Our efforts to cultivate greater appreciation for vocation and ministry outside the church…
