Faith and Work News ~ Links to Interesting Articles

• Calling and Burnout. Meryl Herr writes “Could having a calling be bad for you? It may seem like an odd question in an age where books, articles, and podcasts on finding and living your calling abound. But research suggests that having a calling could be harmful in some cases.”
• The Calling of Motherhood. Bethany Belue writes “My calling is to love my children well in this season and to disciple their hearts to know Jesus.”
• How Kids Find Their Calling. Luke Bobo and Sarah Haywood write “As parents we have a responsibility to study our kids and appropriately and wisely guide them to the vocations for which they have been divinely designed.”
• Albert Mohler on a Popular Pastor Who Fell. Albert Mohler shares a word from the heart in chapel to Southern Seminary and Boyce College students about a popular pastor who recently fell.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

• More links to interesting articles
• The Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the Week
• Faith and Work Book Review ~ The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church by Timothy Z. Witmer
• Quotes from the book Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work by Denise Daniels and Shannon Vandewarker

• How Can Older Workers Learn New Tricks. Russ Gehrlein discusses from a biblical lens the following recommendations: be teachable, be flexible, and be strong.
• Called to Lead. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace is available in both a paperback and Kindle edition. Read a free sample (Introduction through Chapter 2).
• The Necessity of Work Even in Retirement. Judy Allen writes “Work, at any and all ages, is necessary for human beings in several ways; economically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.”
• What is Sacred Work? Russ Gehrlein takes a fresh look at breaking down the sacred-secular divide.
• Christian Vocation Disrupts the Culture. Jay Kim writes “Wherever we are, no matter how ordinary or mundane or ill-fitting or unappreciative the environment may be, we set up shop, bare our souls unto the Lord, lean into Spirit-filled artistry, and offer the gift of vocation we’ve received back out into the world as a gift for all, for the good of all, and for the glory of God.”
• The Complexity of Calling. Nicholas McDonald writes “What am I called to do?” It’s a common question for Christians (and non-Christians), and it’s often layered with baggage.”
• Learning to See Business Leadership as “Stewardship.” Terence Chatmon writes “Business leaders who are integrating biblical principles in their lives and businesses learn that their companies exist for a greater purpose: to honor God, to create wealth, and to support the community through Christian service.”

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Top 10 Faith and Work Quotes of the Week

• God’s presence in our work will make a difference in the people and the institutions where he sends us. Russ Gehrlein
• When work is your identity, success goes to your head and failure goes to your heart. Tim Keller
• Successful leadership is a balance of both accountability and encouragement. Daniel Darling
• There may be no better way to love your neighbor, whether you are writing parking tickets, software, or books, than to simply do your work. Tim Keller
• God Himself is a worker. He didn’t create the world and then retire. Consider Christ’s activities as a carpenter and later as an itinerant preacher: fishing, sailing, meeting people, talking, teaching, eating—connecting with His disciples and doing His life’s work. Randy Alcorn
• Our job is not our calling. It’s a place where we can live out our calling. Meryl Herr
• Work of all kinds, whether with hands or mind, evidences our dignity as human beings—because it reflects the image of God the Creator in us. Tim Keller
• To find work now that perfectly fits our callings is not a right, but a blessing. Os Guinness
• The success of your callings and earthly employments is by divine blessing, not human diligence alone. John Flavel

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FAITH AND WORK BOOK REVIEW:

The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church by Timothy Z. Witmer. P&R Publishing. 289 pages. 2010   
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The thesis of this book by a pastor and seminary professor is that the fundamental responsibility of church leaders is to shepherd God’s flock. The author tells us that shepherding is at the very heart of the biblical picture of leadership, but unfortunately this emphasis is missing in many churches. Hebrews 13:17 tells us that church leaders keep watch over the souls of their flocks and will have to give an account for their shepherding (or lack thereof).
This book is designed to prove to the reader from the Bible that church leaders, specifically elders, are fundamentally undershepherds. Having proven that point, the book then helps you to implement an effective shepherding ministry in your church. The book is a practical guide to convince you that shepherding provides a comprehensive framework for what you need to be doing as a church leader, and to provide a practical guide to help you start a shepherding ministry among your people, or to improve the one you already have.
The book begins by looking at a biblical and church history survey of shepherding and moves toward the “How To’s” of what a shepherding plan should look like, including seven essential elements of an effective shepherding ministry. The book then addresses some important implications of having a commitment to shepherd the flock as well as suggesting some practical ways to implement a shepherding ministry.
The author tells us that the biblical imagery of the Lord as the shepherd of his people is plentiful and rich throughout the Bible. If the Lord is the shepherd and the people are his flock, we should not be surprised that he uses shepherding imagery to refer to those he calls to lead and care for his flock. The biblical material makes it clear that the heart of the work of the elder is to shepherd the flock. He writes that in your congregation, it is not only wise but biblical to develop a team of elders who are gifted and called to shepherd the flock.
The author uses the categories of knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting when discussing shepherding. He discusses macro-shepherding (referring to those important leadership functions that relate to the entire church), and micro-shepherding (referring to the personal ministry of the elders among the sheep). The primary concern of the book is the micro, relational, personal interaction of leaders with their sheep. The author tells us that this is where most leaders fall short.
Among the many subjects addressed in the book are deterioration of respect for authority in culture, home visitation, the case against term eldership, church discipline, and church planting.
The author tells us that the church desperately needs elders who think like shepherds, not like a board of directors. The church also desperately needs elders who love the sheep and are committed to providing not only direction for the congregation as a whole but personal care for its members.
This is a well-written, practical guide for the case for shepherding and how to set up an effective shepherding ministry in your church. I would recommend that church leadership teams read and discuss this important book, one of the best I have read this year.

Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

• Failure to shepherd impacts church health.
• A mark of true disciples is that they follow their shepherd.
• All who are called to be elders are called to the sheep-intensive work of shepherding. They are called to exercise their leadership together for the benefit of the flock.
• Throughout its (church) history, when a clear biblical understanding of the importance of the office of elder and its shepherding functions has been absent or impaired, God’s flock has suffered. On the other hand, when leaders have sought to care for the flock, it has prospered.
• Leadership among God’s people is always servant leadership.
• Every member should have a personal connection with at least one elder.
• The foundation of any shepherding plan must be the establishment of a relationship of trust and caring.
• A faithful shepherd moves quickly to address the needs of the sheep.
• A fundamental responsibility of any and every shepherd is to assure that the sheep are well nourished.
• Leading the flock is a key responsibility of the shepherd. In leading the flock shepherds must be motivated by love for the Lord and for the well-being of the sheep.
• The seriousness of caring for the flock must impress the elder with a sense of urgency.
• Most leadership teams are more effective on the macro level than on the micro level.
• The offices of elders and deacons together represent the comprehensive care Christ has provided for his flock.
• Effectiveness in shepherding is only possible when elders are faithful in prayer.

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Faith and Work Book Club – Won’t you read along with us?

Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work

We are reading Working in the Presence of God: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Work by Denise Daniels and Shannon Vandewarker. This book was recommended by the Nashville Institute for Faith + Work.
The Amazon description of the book reads in part:
“How do we invite God into our everyday lives? Working in the Presence of God discusses the incorporation of spiritual disciplines into the ordinary rhythms of everyday experience. God is already present and active, so by becoming aware of workday rhythms and focusing on where various spiritual practices might be implemented in our jobs, we can be transformed into Christ’s likeness through our work.”

This week we look at Chapter 6: Gratitude and Celebration. Here are a few helpful quotes from the chapter:

• Success is never the result of the self alone, but of God’s ability to do in and through us what we could not do by ourselves.
• Your work is meant to serve others.
• Accomplishments and success at work can be impetus for two types of gratitude: expressing our thanks for others and expressing our thanks to God.
• By thanking others, we humbly acknowledge that our work is a way of serving others through employment, livelihood, and purpose.