Calling and vocation are elusive terms shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Who's called? What does calling mean? How is calling and vocation interrelated? Are only paid ministry professionals called? The Adventure of Vocation addresses these topics and more as it offers you a trail map for navigating this terrain. Together we'll set off on this adventure as we explore the connection between calling, place, and identity.

The Adventure of Vocation: Exploring the Contours of Calling, Identity, and Place

Religion & Spirituality

Benesh, Sean

Christian Books & Bibles

Intrepid

What happened to the adventure of church planting? It has been taken out of the hands of the pioneers and explorers and placed into the hands of bureaucrats and people who love spreadsheets. It was tamed. Neutered. Domesticated. Where are the days when it was led by explorers, pioneers, and misfits? Through Barren Wastelands is a ministry travel journal of sorts that details the hunt for these long lost figures.

Through Barren Wastelands: In Search of Explorers, Pioneers, Misfits, and the Apostolic Imagination

Review\nThis is a timely and thought-provoking book, which invites the reader to come on a journey through questions and observations. It is humbly written and feels much like walking through a city with an old friend. The short chapters and beautiful images make it easy to put down and pick up--but it is equally as easy to digest in one afternoon with a cup of coffee. This book raises questions for curious minds and urban practitioners alike and should be read by anyone with an interest of any kind in cities and the world around them. -- Jo Rogers, Town Planner based in North East England and a Teaching Assistant on the Urban Planning MSc at Newcastle University\nFor a lot of people the word city is an abstraction. It's a familiar word but doesn't evoke any concrete specifics. A city is a byline for a news story--or a layover for a flight. From a distance, cities are skylines. Up close they are mostly a navigational challenge. We encounter cities every day in one way or another, but few of us really see them. Fewer still can help others see the city. Sean Benesh is one of those people. Benesh's Intro to the City presents a somewhat misleading title insofar as we think of "Intro to" as a signifier of a laborious tomb foisted upon first year college students. But in another sense, the title is spot on. Through this beautifully crafted book maintaining a syncopated rhythm of text and photographs, Benesh truly does introduce us to the city that, for many of us, has been hiding in plain sight. It's a thrilling read. I recommend it highly. -- Eric O. Jacobsen, Sr. Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, WA and author of Three Pieces of Glass: Why We Feel Lonely in a World Mediated by Screens (Baker 2020)\nCities aren't just places where taller buildings exist and more people live and work; they are an intricate collection of stories, timelines, and personalities built in three dimensions. With Intro to the City, Sean Benesh invites readers to see cities through a deeper lens--one that asks the hard questions like how did this city come to be and who is this city for? This book is ideal for anyone who wants to understand their community more intimately. -- Chris Lazaro, CNU-a and author of Faith in Cities: How Better Places Make Better Neighbors\nHow does one truly study, learn about, and understand the city? It is about observing … seeing … taking mental notes … peering beneath the surface. Intro to the City was written as a field guide of sorts to help you make sense of the urban environment all around you. After taking countless students on exploratory trips throughout the city to study and explore, this book was written to help you begin understanding the city and all of its complexities … from the built environment to on-the-street-demographics to the neighborhood economy to multi-modal transportation options and more. These 150 observations will unlock the secrets to the city.

Intro to the City: 150 Observations to Understand the City

Politics & Social Sciences

Sociology

We desperately need more pastors and churches as Christianity continues to disintegrate in the United States and Europe. At the very same time, the old pools of resources are drying up and the antiquated systems of supporting emerging leaders are becoming less and less accessible. How do those who sense a call from God to ministry move forward in the face of these realities?Many pastors and ministry leaders have begun to do ministry part-time. In some circles the co-vocational ministry movement is being pumped up as the next new thing. To others, working a job outside of ministry feels like failure, or at best, a necessary evil. But in all circles, part-time pastoring is on the rise.Andy and Sean are not new to this conversation. They have been living the bi-vocational life for much of their ministry careers. In this little book you'll find their stories, reflections, lessons learned, and encouragements for those considering part-time pastoring themselves. Whether you are moving toward Christian leadership, making a career change, or supporting someone who is, you'll find Part-Time Pastoring to be a helpful invitation to consider the possibilities, the pitfalls, and God's faithfulness amidst it all.

Part-Time Pastoring: Leading God’s People by Integrating Faith and Work

Littleton, Andy

From the Back Cover\nThe 21st century marks a significant transition for humanity. For the first time in human history more people are living in cities than in rural areas. This ranges from today's global megacities to small cities and everything in between. How do we make sense of the urban environment? How can we better understand the city? The Urban Cartographer's Toolkit is just that ... a book full of tools as well as a framework to help you begin making sense of the city around you. Designed to be highly practical and interactive, this book will lead you out into your neighborhood and city to walk, explore, observe, take notes, map, and unpack the meaning of the city..In this toolkit you will learn to:1. Exegete your community.2. Map your neighborhood.3. Assess your community's livability.4. Identify what kind of neighborhood you live in..With The Urban Cartographer's Toolkit you will learn new things about the city that there were there all along. All you needed was a toolkit to help you see and makes sense of it.\nThe 21st century marks a significant transition for humanity. For the first time in human history more people are living in cities than in rural areas. This ranges from today's global megacities to small cities and everything in between. How do we make sense of the urban environment? How can we better understand the city? The Urban Cartographer's Toolkit is just that ... a book full of tools as well as a framework to help you begin making sense of the city around you. Designed to be highly practical and interactive, this book will lead you out into your neighborhood and city to walk, explore, observe, take notes, map, and unpack the meaning of the city.In this toolkit you will learn to:1. Exegete your community.2. Map your neighborhood.3. Assess your community’s livability.4. Identify what kind of neighborhood you live in.With The Urban Cartographer’s Toolkit you will learn new things about the city that there were there all along. All you needed was a toolkit to help you see and makes sense of it.\nFrom the Author\nI created this toolkit to help you begin seeing your community anew. To don multiple lenses through which to better grasp what your community is like, who lives there (and why), where it is going, and more. Ultimately what we're seeking to uncover is a more holistic and robust way to seek the betterment of our communities. To find what ails your community as well as to identify its strengths and assets.\nFrom the Inside Flap\nThe mission of Intrepid is to elevate marginalized communities and people through training leaders to start social enterprises to sustain themselves long-term so they can seek the betterment of these overlooked and neglected places and people.

The Urban Cartographer's Toolkit: How to Map, Study, Exegete, Analyze, and Understand Your Neighborhood

How do you land on a startup idea? When there are endless ideas and opportunities around ? how can you cut through the noise and pick one? Does it feel overwhelming? Rest assured. You're a lot closer than you realize. Finding Your Flow was written as a guide book to help you navigate the terrain of startups. More importantly, to help you uncover your own journey. To see that throughout your life there have been signs leading you along to help you determine what to start. This book not only helps you uncover those trail markers, but shares a map of your own startup adventure. Sometimes the way forward begins with assessing who you are, where you've come from, what you're good at, and what you're passionate about and interested in.

Finding Your Flow: A Trail Guide to Help You Figure Out What Kind of Startup to Launch

Business & Money

Business Development & Entrepreneurship

URTHTREK

I've had more awkward and uncomfortable conversations with church planters than I can count. Often times we're sitting in a coffee shop where in hushed tones we talk about the kinds of topics that everyone knows about ? but no one really wants to say out loud. These are the elephant-in-the-room types of conversations. You don't hear these questions and topics in typical denominational meetings, church planting conferences, network meetings, and more. Questions like ?Why do white church planters get more funding than minority planters?Why do church planters avoid low-income communities as a whole and instead plant in hip gentrified neighborhoods or nice suburbs?Why do most church planters fail (even though we're told otherwise)?Why is there so much competition between church planters over fundraising and resources?Why do church planters succumb to celebrity culture?Why?AWKRD was written in order to bring to light the kinds of conversations we're all having ? but no one says out loud publicly. It is time. I invite you into the conversation. Let's make a commitment to say these things out loud so we can change them ? for the betterment of our communities and the furtherance of the gospel

AWKWRD: Uncomfortable Conversations in Church Planting That We Avoid

Often times books on theology offer a map of sorts of territory explored. There's a finality. "X" marks the spot. Treasure found. We know from church history that most of theology was hammered on the anvil of life and ministry as we sorted out what we believe and why. This happens as we're confronted with new territory and reality. On the Backside of the Desert is a theology book. In particular, a theology of church planting. Too often, books on church planting are how-to's, techniques, models, and success stories. Instead, we're starting from the beginning. The foundation. The origin story of church planting. Throughout On the Backside of the Desert, we'll together explore different doctrines as we map out a theology of church planting. The goal is to inform the what, how, and why of church planting. Theological foundation plus cultural exegesis and contextualization then leads to application.

On the Backside of the Desert: Searching for a Theology of Church Planting

Many people feel stuck at their jobs. It’s not what they thought it would be when they entered their careers. Now what? How do you pivot? What do you pivot to? Many are embarking on the road to launching a startup. However, the idea and task of establishing something from scratch are daunting and overwhelming. Where to even begin?Ten Low-Cost / No-Cost Startup Ideas to Help You Ditch Your Day Job was written to help give you ideas and inspiration that you can do this! Ten ideas. That’s it. They are enough to stimulate your thinking and imagination. Starting a new business or non-profit is about finding the meaning, purpose, and lifestyle you want to live. Let’s journey together.

Ten Low-Cost / No-Cost Startup Ideas to Help You Ditch Your Day Job

Cycling as a way of life and mode of transportation is on the rise in city after city around the world. For those looking to dip their proverbial toes into the waters of urban cycling the prospect at times can be rather intimidating. What kind of bike should I ride? A skinny-wheeled high-end road bike? A fixie? A chunky city commuter bike? A department store bike? How about fashion? Do I have to wear brightly colored skin-tight Lycra outfits? Can I just wear normal clothes? How do I lug my gear around? The Bohemian Guide to Urban Cycling takes the reader into the world and workings of cycling in the city to uncover the essentials to how to join in on the cycling revolution. Your bicycling guide on this journey is a card-carrying bohemian living in Portland. By using the bike-crazy city of Portland as the backdrop, this book covers all of the basics needed to bike comfortably in the city and to know what the heck you’re talking about ... from bike selection to fashion to bike lanes to gentrification and more. After reading this you’ll know precisely what to ride, how to ride, what to wear, and how to talk like an insider. Well, maybe not, but it’ll still be a fun journey together. But this book is more than about urban-cycling fashion and high-end bikes. It also plunges headlong into conversations about mobility, equity, race, and justice. If there is going to be a book about all-things cycling in the city it must delve into these uncomfortable topics in order to develop a more holistic view of urban cycling. The bottom line must be to affirm all kinds of people pedaling through the streets of our cities on anything that rolls.

The Bohemian Guide to Urban Cycling

Urban Loft Publishers

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