Work Cited
We wanted to let you know about a new video from our friends at Christian History Institute which seeks to explain how work, while no vacation, can be a vocation. It’s distinguished particularly by its interviews, not only with experts and theologians, but with everyday people–a waitress, a cop, a stay-at-home-dad, a hairdresser, a small-town mayor, and quite a few others.
You can learn more about it at this website: http://www.goingonvocation.com/ as wellas watch a trailer and download some additional resources. Here’s a couple of the reviews from their site:
This is exactly the resource I have been looking for. Beautifully filmed and written, it touches people right where they are. In a fallen world, our work consists of both labor and toil, and this video paints a way of seeing it that is both true to our experience and gives a fresh gospel reframe to our understanding. As my wife and I watched the video together we kept turning to each other with a look that said ‘this is our life … and this is our hope.’ By the end of Part 1 we were already feeling refreshed and encouraged. I can’t wait to share this outstanding resource with our congregation. —Rev. Langdon Palmer
Going on Vocation not only has a winsome title, but also beautiful filming and moving content. The viewer hears from scripture as well as theologians, poets, and novelists across the ages on the ways in which God calls His people to diverse vocations—in the home, community, workplace, nation, and the world. The film inspires us to view all of life redeemed, and to discern God’s voice in each of life’s seasons and many roles: as students, employees, employers, volunteers, parents, as well as in full-time ministry.
This comes alive beautifully in the lives of everyday people who share their stories of following God’s call. From baker to business owner, college professor to police officer, we see how people learned to listen to the Caller’s voice and then pursue their vocations to God’s glory and in service to others. Their stories are our stories; in them we concur with the blessing work is in our lives despite the toil that sometimes accompanies it in a fallen world. We also get a glimpse of Heaven–how work will ultimately be redeemed as we answer the call home and then join in joyful service and creativity that was meant in that first call in Genesis, to fruitfulness and stewardship.
The film is a delight. I plan to share it with students in my Career Counseling courses to aid them in reflecting on their own callings, as they prepare to assist others in finding meaningful work. Highly recommended.—Ruth Baugher Palmer, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Also, Vince Bacote, one of the featured scholar-experts, spoke movingly about the video on the Harvest Show recently: you can watch what he has to say here, from 17:00 to 30:00.
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