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…
By Leah Archibald, reprinted from Made to Flourish. What’s your measure for success at work? Somewhere in the back of my mind I carry around a little scorecard for success at work. “How was your day today?” my husband will ask me over dinner. To answer his question, I take out my little mental scorecard and review how many boxes…
Reprinted from Regent College. Since May 1, ReFrame has been available for free streaming at reframecourse.com. And now we’re pleased to announce that free downloads are also available! Our Spanish, French, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese translations, as well as our regular and subtitled English versions, can all be downloaded online for free. It’s easy: simply visit this page, enter your email address, and hit subscribe. Once we…
By Lisa Slayton; part three of a series. Reprinted from The Wholeness Journey. MYTH #2: CLARITY OF CALLING BRINGS EASE AND COMFORT This series was first presented as a talk to college seniors and young 20-somethings. If the #1 Myth is ‘Pursue your Passion’ and ‘Make an Impact’, then Myth # 2 will unpack further why this is problematic and the implications…
By Sarah Heynemann, reprinted from the Salt & Light Australia Daily Devotional. Photo by Sarah Heynemann, taken in Chora Church, Istanbul. “Whom do you position on the throne of Heaven?” Some things in life are truly unpredictable and beyond our control. As a doctor I have a responsibility to inform my patients regarding the desired benefits of a proposed treatment strategy,…
Part two of a series. Reprinted from Ethos. In this series we are looking at six categories of spiritual formation while working. This post looks at the first three categories in detail: Holy Working, Gospel Working and Prayerful Working. Holy Working Once I was writing about work and spirituality, and someone commented: “I don’t know why you are making it so complicated.…
By David Williamson Labor Day Morning is traditionally the last day of summer and the beginning of Fall. Regular hours, routine, work…as I reflect on this year’s Labor Day, at first I’m grumpy. Not only because of the end of summer, with anticipation of Minnesota’s winter, but primarily from thinking about the way Labor Day is treated by society, and…
By Klaus Issler; part three of a series. Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. This series wrestles with the question: Does the Old Testament teach that charging interest on a loan is sinful? Deuteronomy 23:19 states: “You shall not charge interest on loans [nāšak II, verb] to your brother, interest [nešek, noun] on money, interest [nešek] on food, interest [nešek] on anything that…
By Dan Steiner, reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. Artwork: Light the Lamps, Justin Reddick, mixed media on canvas, 30” x 40”, private collection (used with permission) Justin Reddick wears many hats. He is a husband, father, artist, seminary student and the religious services assistant and creative arts platform facilitator at the Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado. I first met Justin after a lecture I…
By Meryl Herr, reprinted from Made to Flourish. Ten years ago, I was the woman who neurotically hummed “Great is Thy Faithfulness” wherever she went. My husband and I had completed a two-year pastoral residency in the middle of the Recession, and we struggled to find full-time work in our fields. I worked retail while my husband worked odd jobs. With…
The Green Room 