Archives For unemployed

If we reclaim the doctrine of vocation…then the specific ministry of:

The Christian banker or financier will be to find realistic, technically not utopian ways of implementing jubilee amnesty; there are people doing this.

The Christian realtor or developer will find ways to house people according to need; there are people doing this.

The Christian judge will open the court system to conflict resolution procedures, and resist the trend toward more and more litigation; this is being done.

Technical vocational sphere expertise in each professional area will be needed not to reinforce but to undercut competently the claimed sovereignty of each sphere by planting signs of the new world in the ruins of the old. Baptism is one of those signs, and so is open housing. The Eucharist is one, but so is feeding the hungry. One is not more “real presence” than the other.

John Howard Yoder, Body Politics

Do You Have a Job or a Vocation?

Hard Times

Chris —  February 16, 2009

Right now, I’m going through what could be called “hard times.”  According to the news, we all are.  

It’s hard because it shows how little I really trust God.  I say I believe in God.  I read my Bible, and claim to believe it’s promises.  The reality of my situation can be scary, and promises “to prosper you” and to clothe you like “the lilies,” even the promise to “bear your yolk” are hard to take seriously.

It’s hard because I want to fix it.   I’m a type-A, take charge kind of guy.  While there is a lot to be said for that, it can only get you so far.  Waiting on the Lord is hard for anybody, but especially those of us who are used to fixing things.

It’s hard because there are no words.  Sincere people try to comfort you when your scared, but,  it often comes across like platitudes from people who have never really faced hard times.

It’s hard because you put off all other hopes  and dreams to deal with reality.  The book I was going to write, the relationship I was going to pursue, the race I was going to train for; all of that seems like it has to be put off.  

How do you deal with hard times?