Crosland Stuart

In the midst of the hum of generators, the buzzing of chainsaws, and the miserable humidity, Floridians are beginning the painstaking process of putting their lives back together after Hurricane Irma. These can be challenging days especially if you are one of the 65% of Floridians who do not have power.

Gracy Olmstead, associate managing editor at The Federalist and the Thursday editor of BRIGHT, a weekly newsletter for women, challenges us to think more about people rather than labels. The article’s byline of “Why a focus on adjectives, rather than nouns, might be the salve our political culture needs” gives insight into a better way to love thy neighbor regardless of political affiliation. Read all the way to the end to appreciate the pizza graphic. Happy reading or should I say happy eating.

If you have not heard of universal basic income (UBI), you will in the coming months. The article below by Hugh Whelchel is a good entry point to being introduced to some of the larger concepts and views of this idea. As he so clearly states, it is vital that as Christians we understand the important topics of our day. While all the answers to our societal woes may not be clear, Scriptures truths that we were designed for work and that work is good is unchanging.

At The Collaborative we are always talking about connections. How do we remind ourselves and help others to better understand the relationship that ought to exist between our faith and our work. Another way to consider this, is how do we deepen our comprehension of knowing, feeling, and doing. This week’s post is an article by Art Lindsley that I would wholeheartedly commend to you. He does a great job in making connections. I am not going to explain any further for the fear of detracting from the article. So for now, HAPPY READING!

Gisle Sorli has no doubt seen his share of the pursuit of happiness through the accumulations of things or the running blindly after lifelong “dreams” in his role as a Certified Financial Planner and CPA. In the article below he reminds us that we really should be seeking contentment and not happiness, but more importantly, that these two words are not synonymous.

Here is a great challenge for all of us to consider if not specifically, as Stephen Lazarus suggests, at least conceptually.  In the article below Stephen, a member of the Cardus team that publishes Comment Magazine and who is passionate about all things people, public policy, and research, encourages us to take a chunk of time to think and reflect. Or as he puts it, “take time this summer to escape into responsibility and reflection.” What a challenge—sign me up!

“I’m useless. I don’t have any gifts or talents to offer,” sadly this sentiment is strangely familiar for too many of us. Not everyone says it out loud, but we have all thought it at one time another. We are caught in a constant struggle with accurately understanding who we are because we of our short memories and our lack of commitment to grasp who God has made us to be. When we fail to get this, we will never believe or fully embrace or comprehend our true purpose for our work and more importantly our lives. In the article below, Dr. Art Lindsley, Vice President of Theological Initiatives for the Institute for Faith, Work, & Economics, helps us to remember, moves us along a path to understanding of ourselves and our work, and challenges us to take more seriously God’s creation.