With God in the Workplace

We undertake experiments of everyday life in which we are learning to be with God. And the stuff of our day-to-day experience is the place where these experiments go on. This with-God life takes no time, yet it occupies all our time. When we go to work, we go to work with-God. At work we are learning how to bless those who curse us, how to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, how our very presence can be a joy to others. And the experiments are numerous and varied: "Today, Lord, teach me somehow to bless every person I meet. Show me the preciousness of each individual. Fill my mind with creative new ideas and show me how to break the horns of cruel dilemmas."

[Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe, Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion. (IVP Books, 2009), p. 25]

With God in the Workplace

Good Books: IVP Book Club (Part 1)

 Thanks to a few publishers and some great bargains found over the Thanksgiving holiday, I've added some excellent titles to my library. I think these are notable and so I'll share a list of them here with a note of appreciation where appropriate.

Part One -

I'll begin with InterVarsity Press.  About a month ago I decided to join the IVP Book Club.  They were offering a nearly irresistible offer for those with the "disease" of bibliomania like me.  I chose the following books according to the "Five Books for a Buck" introductory offer:

• Hard Sayings of the Bible by Walter C. Kaiser, Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce and Manfred Brauch. This title was introduced to me years ago by a friend who shared with me his seminary project on Problems of Interpretation.  I've had this on my wish list ever since.
• Dictionary of Biblical Imagery edited by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman, III.  This title was heartily recommended by one of the ministers at my home church.  I always appreciate recommendations.
• Dictionary of Paul and His Letters edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin and Daniel G. Reid.  I'm a huge fan of this dictionary set.  It's expensive, so any bargain on obtaining a volume is a no-brainer.
• A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson.  I am in the midst of a study of the Gospel of Mark and discipleship has been a major theme in my thinking.  The title was irresistible.  This is a study in the Pilgrim Psalms and we have highlighted this title once before here.
• God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts.  This title was also chosen on the recommendation of a friend, Doug Smith.

Along with these excellent books, IVP sent a handy tote for free.  The Book Club does expect that members will purchase books direct from IVP so they also have offered a 30% discount off of list price for members.  IVP has been publishing a lot of good books, so you will be sure to find plenty of options to choose from.

(Part Two: Review Copies)
(Part Three: Bargains Along the Way)

Good Books: IVP Book Club (Part 1)

The Value of Parish Ministry for Theological Students

Nothing demonstrates the futility of a purely academic approach to theology so powerfully as parish ministry.  Working with my congregation forced me to confront the shallowness of my understanding of theology at that time: it proved to be cerebral, dry and unrelated to the harsh realities of human experience; unable to cope with the fuzziness of doubt and the messiness of sin.

Alister McGrath, The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind. IVP Books, 2010, pp. 61-62.   

The Value of Parish Ministry for Theological Students