Chocolate and meaningful work

Last updated on: December 17, 2014 at 5:50 pm By Made to Flourish

By Alayna Greenfield, originally published at the KPN Resources blog. Regardless of profession, most people want to know that the hours they spend working will contribute to something that matters. There are countless books, studies, and articles showing that there is a connection between helping others and a sense of meaningful work. As a pastor, it’s easy to see how your work benefits others. You can create lists of people you’ve helped and reasons why your job is important. People... Read more

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Doing What You Love, What Scares You, and What Brings You Peace

Last updated on: December 17, 2014 at 9:13 pm By Mission:Work

A Monday roundup of great articles that are worth your time to read, ponder, share, or even argue with. This week’s list: Why You Should Start Before You’re Ready: Advice on how to do things that scare you. Lots more interesting articles on working with passion, and other resources, at the blog this comes from, The Meaning Movement. Big Ideas 2015: A number of business and employment trends to watch, collected by LinkedIn. Problems With Your Boss? Try a Chat... Read more

God’s beer mogul

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 10:32 am By Chris Armstrong

We’re returning to our occasional series of posts on work and vocation (linked at the bottom of this post) in Christian history by Faith and Work Channel senior editor and Christian History magazine senior editor Chris Armstrong. Enjoy! In the early days of Methodism as now, not every capitalist operated out of corrupt motives of greed. One contrary example, a contemporary of Wesley and deeply influenced by the Methodist leader, was Young Arthur Guinness, an up-and-coming eighteenth-century businessman in Dublin.... Read more

How and why Methodists moved the market economy forward

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 10:41 am By Chris Armstrong

We’re returning to our occasional series of posts on work and vocation (linked at the bottom of this post) in Christian history by Faith and Work Channel senior editor and Christian History magazine senior editor Chris Armstrong. Enjoy! It is well known that early Methodism flourished most among the new working and middle classes – the artisans and entrepreneurs who were rising up above their formerly lowly status in the ancestral class system, in which for example Anglican priests were... Read more

Calvinists, Puritans, and the Wesleyan response to the new industrial reality

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 10:43 am By Chris Armstrong

We’re returning to our occasional series of posts on work and vocation (linked at the bottom of this post) in Christian history by Faith and Work Channel senior editor and Christian History magazine senior editor Chris Armstrong. Enjoy! The Reformed tradition Calvin elaborated on the Lutheran doctrine of vocation, freeing people to pursue the vocations of their choosing rather than to remain in a single “social standing” as the more conservative Luther had counseled. The Calvinist Puritans developed the idea... Read more

Luther on ordinary work and vocation

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 10:46 am By Chris Armstrong

We’re returning to our occasional series of posts on work and vocation (linked at the bottom of this post) in Christian history by Faith and Work Channel senior editor and Christian History magazine senior editor Chris Armstrong. Enjoy! For the Reformers, as for the early church, the primary meaning of the term “calling” remained the call to Christian discipleship and community. But as Stackhouse says, for Luther and the rest, “to think that vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience were... Read more

Visiting with Mary and Martha: What is the one thing?

Last updated on: November 29, 2014 at 6:40 pm By Guest Contributor

By Ann Boyd Multi-tasking: there are days when I feel that I have taken that concept to a whole new level, tossing together the balls of household, work, school, and family, then whacking at them like a caged batter at a pitching machine. It’s usually not pretty, and at least one of those balls gets dropped, pulverized, or mangled. I think Jesus might have a better way, with just one ball and a quiet green field. Let’s see what Martha... Read more

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Giving Tuesday, macaroni entrepreneurship, and taking a vacation

Last updated on: December 8, 2014 at 1:11 pm By Mission:Work

A Monday roundup of great articles that are worth your time to read, ponder, share, or even argue with. This week’s list: One Thing America is Still Best at, and Getting Better: How much we gave on Giving Tuesday, to whom, and why. Faith@Work Summit: Tom Nelson reports in on his time in Boston in October. (We were there too!) Check out his whole site for many other resources. Get to Know Ozzie Meza: “What do macaroni and cheese, floral... Read more

Visiting with Mary and Martha: I need help

Last updated on: November 29, 2014 at 6:36 pm By Guest Contributor

By Ann Boyd Books to read. Papers to write. Classes to prepare for. Clients to meet with. And just next week, there will likely be family — functional or dysfunctional — who would appreciate some undivided attention. How will it all get done? Is there anyone who can help with this situation? Let’s see what Martha finds out. As always, let’s begin with the text: Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman... Read more

Visiting with Mary and Martha: Does anyone care?

Last updated on: November 29, 2014 at 6:34 pm By Guest Contributor

By Ann Boyd Sometimes it feels like all the responsibilities land on your shoulders: you’re the only one capable enough or specially-equipped to do the work. There are times when that is true, and there are times when it’s not, and there are times when those responsibilities…well, they don’t strictly need to be done by the day’s end. Let’s see how this situation shakes out for Martha. As always, let’s begin with the text: Now as they went on their... Read more