GroshLink

Spirituality, Vocation, and the Powers. I had the opportunity to share about Graduate and Faculty Ministry (GFM) at Harvest (IVCF-Western PA's undergrad fall conference), note the previous entry regarding a conversation with and article by Durwood Ray. Here's notes from one of the presentations by the tremendous speaker Kevin Oro-Hahn

Seeing the whole duck. Spirituality is important. It can be oriented toward good or bad . . .

Story 1: Chef for 4 Star N.Y.C. Restaurant, over 100 hours a week work competing with marriage and newly married.

Story 2: Single Mom waitressing and living in NYC. 12 year old son demands high cost sneakers.

Story 3: NY Times article on young men's sexuality and internet pornography, preferring sex through fantasy.

Story 4: MTV executive frustrated about destroying his kid's generation.

Something not us is controlling our lives. Not one other person, but something we can't see. E.g. it's not simply replacing my boss, but the powers get in the way. The things that we use to bring fullness to life don't always work.

How do you make your life matter in the midst of the powers?

Ephesians 2:1-3: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

In the political and academic spheres, people are too busy to think. Reflection seems entirely impossible as social obligations are so intense. Hard to find well rounded professors to speak to the larger issues on campus and the lives of students

These are not bad people by nature. Their life is being squeezed out. The powers are active. Are they really that bad? C.S. Lewis, Spiritual perspective, we're going to live eternally it we get slightly worse over an infinite period of time these things make a difference in our lives.

Ephesians 2:4-9: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.

God's character is such that when He saw great sin instead of getting angry he poured out love. This is the Gospel. In Islam deeds are placed on a ledger. To what are deeds calibrated, e.g., helping an old lady cross a street versus lust.

My story: I grew up as a pastor's kid. I loved my dad, but I hated the expectations. At 11 my dad passed away from stomach cancer and I had all these questions. I became involved in social justice causes in my first year of college, but finished the year with an IVCF conference. The speaker focused on Elijah versus the false prophets who were without power. God came to Elijah in his time of weakness; He wanted relationship with Elijah anyway. God if you happen to be real and you're anything like that then I want you. Something happened after that prayer as change and transformation came in my life.

Bono on faith: As I look at the world and the range of religions. The one that makes most sense is Buddhism, what you put in is what you get out . . . Karma seems like it is the way of universe . . . There is something deeper in me that longs for something else. I'm holding out for something to come out of nothing. Because God is rich in grace and mercy.

We are given spirit, creativity, community to be transformed step-by-step.

Story 1: A young pharmaceutical salesman turns in his first car expense report. He given the report back and encouraged to to over-expense as we're all underpaid, so you need to expense everything. If he expenses the actual cost, red flags will be raised. The salesman realized that a small thing such as this sets direction, so he chooses not to keep his report the same. The manager's response, I assume by this report you don't want to work here anymore. The employee's counter, If I cheat on this form, how will you ever know you can trust me? He kept his job, but was ostracized.

Story 2: NYC Chef in church asking for direction. God gives us help to take on the powers. 2 recipes given by God during worship, a mark of grace. Confronting the powers.

Story 3: God cares about you. Subway advertising designed by the MTV executive for a Christian ministry, another opportunity to use gifts.

Story 4: Singing Psalm 13, brought to mind Karen Richards, a pastor's wife, who met a survivor of the Sudan crisis 15 years ago. She's been seeking to mobilize efforts to address Darfur ever since. When you're open and sensitive to the Spirit, God can work through you and bring hope.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand to be our way of life. In all your gifts, talents, shortcomings, quirks, God desires to work through you to be influential in the world.

William Stringfellow, Every created thing has two purposes: 1. To love God, 2. To care for people

Practical suggestions: 1. The entertainment industry needs to understand its purposes in relationship to these 2 purposes, 2. NYC's food industry segmented by nutrition and wages needs to be addressed, 3. What is the purpose of the industry/organization you're entering (e.g., engineering)?

So, press into your calling. Often it's hard to see how your studies connect with loving God and people but start thinking about it. I'd recommend reading Os Guinness' The Call (link to a rich interaction with this piece by the Navigators), Parker Palmer Let Your Life Speak. Marcus Buckingham's First Discover Your Strengths. Talk to somebody about your calling. Pray for specific opportunities. And start to observe the powers (start reading the paper with spiritual eyes, try out an urban summer project such as the one in NYC). Lastly, Put yourself in places where people are coming alive, ask for mentoring (even it's 1x a year).

What is God calling you to do?