Blog posts

Economic Flourishing Is More Than a Mission Trend

By Charlie Self Scotty is my mechanic. He operates an independent shop in Silicon Valley and is in his 40th year in business. He is cheerful, hard working, and operates with great integrity and compassion. He repairs what’s needed, helps customers plan ahead, and gets them on the road efficiently and safely. Very quietly, he helps those in need… Read More

Exiles in the American Lion’s Den

By Joseph Sunde We have long pointed to Jeremiah 29 as an introductory primer for life in exile, prodding us away from the typical temptations of fortification, domination, and accommodation. As Christians continue to struggle with what it means to be in but not of the world, Jeremiah reminds us to “seek the welfare of the city,” bearing… Read More

Work Weaves the Fabric of Civilization

By Lester DeKoster The fabric of civilization, like all fabrics, is made up of countless tiny threads—each thread the work of someone. Superficially, any given thread might be readily spared or replaced—that could be my job or yours. Thinking this, we go to work on the margin, so to speak, of culture: Who needs me? Is this so? Is the fact that… Read More

Toil as Curse and Grace

By Dylan Pahman According to ancient legend, Sisyphus was punished by the gods for his craftiness in life. “Sisyphus is punished in Hades,” writes the historian and mythographer Apollodorus, “by rolling a stone with his hands and head in the effort to heave it over the top [of a hill]; but push it as he will, it rebounds backward.” Due to the… Read More

Kitchen Redemption: From Spiritual Hunger to Second Chances

By Sarah Stanley The atmosphere at Edwins is calm and casual three hours before opening for business on a Friday afternoon. Someone has piped hip-hop music through the sound system, a far cry from the soft, ambient tracks that diners will hear later. A bartender inspects glasses while another vacuums the floor and others check that tables are… Read More

Will Millennials—Like Boomers—Neglect the Church for ‘Public Service’?

By Joseph Sunde Despite the widespread complaints about the attitudes, ethics, and attention spans of millennials, it can be easy to forget the failures of generations gone by. Not unlike the baby boomers of yore, we millennials were raised in a world of unparalleled prosperity and opportunity. And while this surely has its blessings, it also… Read More