Making It Work: God and Your Work

Do you work in a job where you have to win? Whether it comes to landing a new account or getting approved for a grant, sometimes there are clear wins and losses in your work. In this context, how can you face a big loss? How can you stay humble amidst a big win? And how do you cope with the day-to-day stresses when winning or losing feels like everything? Our guest Nate Proctor is a campaign director in the very divisive field of politics and policy. He’s here to talk about his experience of defining success in his work, and what this has meant for his faith.

Scripture References

• Galatians 5:16-26
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
  

Additional Resources

• Theology of Work Project: www.theologyofwork.org
• De Pree Center at Fuller Seminary: www.depree.org 
• Instagram follow: @theologyofwork, @depreecenter

Whether or not you’re intentionally forming your habits, your habits are forming you. With constant distraction at our fingertips, our routines around work can add up to days filled with anxiety, restless busyness, and even depression. Our guest Justin Whitmel Earley is a corporate lawyer who has experienced both slavery to bad habits, and the freedom that comes from healthy spiritual disciplines. His book is The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction.

Scripture References

• Romans 12:1-2
• Gnesis 1:27
• Genesis 2:2-3

Additional Resources

 The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, by Justin Whitmel Earley  

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Produced by Fuller Seminary's De Pree Center for Leadership and Theology of Work Project

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/habits-of-purpose-for-an-age-of-distraction-anxiety-justin-whitmel-earley/

How do you lead with faith in a world that is uncertain? The COVID-19 pandemic presented many organizations with levels of uncertainty that they had never seen before. One of the populations that has been hardest hit by the pandemic has been children with disabilities, their families, and the organizations that support them. Our guest today, Laura Whitaker, is the executive director of Extra Special People, a non-profit that has not only weathered the storms of COVID but managed to grow in this uncertain time. Laura's here today to talk about her work, her faith, and how we can all lead better in times of uncertainty. 

Java Joy: https://javajoy.org 
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/java.joy/

Extra Special People: https://espyouandme.org
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/esp_inc/ 

Laura Whitaker: https://www.instagram.com/laurahopewhitaker/

Scripture References:

• Matthew 14:13-33
• Romans 12:12
• Mark 4:38-40

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/leading-in-times-of-uncertainty-laura-whitaker/

Have you found your passion at work? That perfect job or life mission that you're great at, that only you can do and excites you to jump out of bed every morning? If your answer is no, then our guest Liz Forkin Bohannon says, "Stop trying." Liz was once herself directionless and clueless about her purpose, but today, she is the CEO of Sseko Designs, an international ethical fashion brand that works to educate and empower women around the world. Liz says, 'You're never going to get anywhere trying to find your passion. You need to build it.' She is the author of Beginner's Pluck, Build Your Life of Purpose, Passion and Impact Now.

Sseko Designs: https://ssekodesigns.com

Liz's book: Beginner's Pluck, Build Your Life of Purpose, Passion and Impact Now

What do you do when God calls you to stay in a job that's making your life difficult? Our guest, Dave Hataj, obeyed God's call to work in a messy, broken environment. His obedience to God changed Edgerton Gear, a Wisconsin-based custom gear manufacturer, and his community for the better. It also broadened his own experience of his faith and his work. Dave is the author of Good Work: How Blue Collar Business Can Change Lives, Communities, and the World.

Additional Resources

Craftsman with Character Course: www.craftsmanwithcharacter.org

Scripture References

Exodus 211-3:7
Exodus 31:1-5
Luke 17:20-21
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 5:37

There's some magic that turns the work you do every day for a paycheck into something more, something that you actually enjoy, but how do you spark that magic? How can you experience joy in your work when you're working a job that you don't like? Today's guest is going to give us a step-by-step. Shundrawn Thomas is the president of a global investment management business. He's also the author of the book, Discover Joy in Work: Transforming Your Occupation into Vocation.

Scripture References

• Genesis 1:1-30
• Romans 8:28

Additional Resources Referenced

Discover Joy in Work: Transforming Your Occupation Into Vocation, by Shundrawn Thomas

Guest Bill Hendricks discusses the benefits of finding and being a mentor, and gives practical advice for how to do both. He is the author of Men of Influence: The Transformational Impact of Godly Mentors.

Scripture References 

• Proverbs 17:17
• 1 Timothy 1:2
• 1 Timothy 1:2
• 1 Thessalonians 3:2
• Acts 15:36-41
• Acts 9:26-27

Additional Resources Referenced

Men of Influence: The Transformational Impact of Godly Mentors, by Bill Hendricks

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/how-to-find-a-mentor-and-be-a-mentor-bill-hendricks-podcast/

Guest Femi Sokoya flipped a bad manager situation, first by seeing his work as a place where he represents God, and then by inviting his manager into conversation.

Scripture References

• Romans 13:1
• Colossians 3:17
• Mark 12:17

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/mending-your-relationship-with-your-boss-femi-sokoya-podcast-episode-24/

Do you wake up tired or face mental fog midday through your workday? It could be that you're not getting enough rest. But a good night's sleep may not be the solution. Guest Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith tells us about seven different types of rest. A deficiency in just one of these areas might mean that you're not getting enough rest. Dr. Dalton-Smith also shares about how God helped her through her own season of burnout. 

Guests Maya Adolf and Jamie Sturm pushed through these barriers and started an employee-led educational group to foster racial understanding in their workplace. By combining learning curriculum and discussions, they got honest with each other about their differences, their experiences at work, and how to move forward together.

For links to resources, including Maya and Jamie's curriculum, visit this episode at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/ordinary-employees-pursuing-racial-justice-in-the-workplace/

Scripture References

• Proverbs 27:17
• James 2:17
• Mark 12:28-30

Additional Resources

• Black Lives Matter Journey Group Curriculum, by Maya Adolf and Jamie Sturm
• White Fragilty, by Robin DiAngelo

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/ordinary-employees-pursuing-racial-justice-in-the-workplace/

Our guest today, Master Sergeant Russ Gehrlein, made his career in military service, where he not only discovered God's purposes for his work, he also realized he could feel God's presence at work on a daily basis. He is an operations officer for the US Army and author of the book Emmanuel Labor - God's Presence in Our Profession.

How do you weather the news cycle when it seems like just one piece of bad news after another? Or what if you’re in a season of your work where you just keep getting slammed with the negative? Our guest today is here to talk to us about how she fights bad news fatigue in her work. Bonnie Kristian follows the news as part of her job. As a contributing editor at The Week, Bonnie writes about foreign policy, criminal justice, election politics and more. Her op-eds have appeared in publications such as USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, Politico, and Time, among others. But Bonnie Kristian not only follows the news, she reflects on it with the grace that comes from her Christian faith. She’s also the author of the book: A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today. 

Scripture References

• Matthew 6:33
• Romans 12:1-2, 9-21
• Romans 13:1

Additional Resources Referenced

• The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, by Justin Whitmel Earley
• Bonnie Kristian's website: www.bonniekristian.com

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/how-to-weather-a-bad-news-cycle-with-jesus-bonnie-kristian-podcast-ep-20/

How do we escape from the comparison trap? Guest Tim Bongiovanni is a Billboard-charting music producer who is very aware of the temptations in his industry to compare and despair, and he's found a way past these challenges with God's help.

Scripture References

• John 3:30
• James 1:2-5

Additional Resources

The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/avoid-the-comparison-trap-tim-bongiovanni-podcast-episode-19/

What should you do with your money? Should you save? Invest? Give it away? These questions have big implications for your financial security in the future, but also for your faith. Rachel McDonough, our guest today is a certified financial planner who has wrestled personally and professionally with this issue. She's here to help us think about investment decisions and how these decisions impact your relationship with God.

Scripture References

• Matthew 6:33
• Matthew 25:14-30
• Romans 12:9
• Mark 12:41-44
• Matthew 13:31-32
• Ephesians 2:10

Additional Resources

• Faith Driven Investor: faithdriveninvestor.org.
• Make Your Money Count, a resource for Christian Financial Advice with CFP Rachel McDonough: makeyourmoneycount.com
• Make Your Money Count Webinar: Five Timeless Truths for Investing
• Make Your Money Count Webinar: The Power of Investing to Change the World

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/biblically-responsible-investing-rachel-mcdonough-podcast-episode-18/

We have an honest conversation about what it's like to struggle with mental health at work. With guest Johnny Crowder, CEO of Cope Notes.

Scripture References​

• 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
  
  
• Ephesians 6:10-17
  
  

Additional Resources Referenced​

Cope Notes: www.copenotes.com

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/is-it-okay-to-talk-about-mental-health-at-work-johnny-crowder-podcast-episo/

If you can't bear the thought of going to work one day longer, it may be time to re-examine the unique factors that make you you, and determine whether your current work makes space for all of your God-given parts to flourish. Our guest today, Clarissa Joan Middleton, found a way to embrace all her different parts, and integrate them into a life that is truly fulfilling.

Sciptures Referenced

• Philippians 4:6-8 (NRSV)
  
  
• Jeremiah 1:5 (NRSV)
  
  
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NRSV)
  
  
• Proverbs 18:16 (NRSV)
  
  
• 2 Corinthians 1:8 (NRSV)
  
  
• Hebrews 10:16 (NRSV)
  
  
• Romans 8:28 (NRSV)

Donate. This podcast is made possible through the financial support of people like you. Your gift of any size will enable us to continue resourcing Christians with high-quality biblically-based content that applies to everyday work. Donate at https://www.theologyofwork.org/contribute 

Transcript at https://www.theologyofwork.org/makingitwork/episode/make-room-for-your-whole-self-clarissa-middleton-podcast-episode-16/

In the midst of a global pandemic, the last place anyone wants to be is in a hospital emergency room amidst sick people, and yet that's where our guest goes to work each and every day. Dr. Mike Sunu is an emergency room physician in Southern California. He's joining us today to talk about how he has experienced God in the ER during COVID-19.

Soul food scholar Adrian Miller discusses reconciliation and bridging differences through food. Adrian is a lawyer turned political advisor, turned soul food scholar and author. He writes about food history and the intersection of faith and food. He is the author of The President’s Kitchen Cabinet and Soul Food.

Find Adrian's work here: https://adrianemiller.com/

Guest Sue Warnke discusses practical ways to share your faith and work. Sue Warnke is the Senior Director of Content and Communications Experience at Salesforce and the president of Faithforce San Francisco. She speaks to groups around the country about leadership, diversity and how to foster healthy conversations about faith at work.

Sue writes at: https://www.leanership.org/

How can you navigate the tension between people and profit, and what does the Bible have to say about it? Our guest today, Al Erisman, is the author of a new book, The ServiceMaster Story, about a group of managers who did just that.