Episodes
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Summary
On this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we learn about cultivating creativity and imagination from cartoonist Mike Maihack. Mike is best known for his series Cleopatra in Space, originally published by Scholastic and later adapted by Dreamworks into an animated show. Through our conversation, Mike shares some of the ways he views his creative work in light of the gospel, shares how he has navigated public criticism of content creation and recounts some of his own personal journey with being a cartoonist.
Highlights
On Superheroes and the Gospel:
“What I love about superheroes... is that there's these characters that have these immense abilities, these things that we can't even imagine being able do ourselves. And yet, instead of using these abilities for selfish purposes... They use it to do things that Jesus would do. They would help the poor. They would make sure they're saving those that cannot save themselves, they're sacrificing themselves. They're always looking at the greater good despite maybe the hurt that causes them. They're always looking at every single other person that they're around is a much greater person than themselves, despite them having these abilities."
On Making Beauty:
“My spiritual drive is God, he's a working God. He spent all this time creating us, creating the world. He is still working on it, and I want to please Him by cultivating that as much as I can. Really trying to contribute to that world, mak[ing] sure that world stays beautiful because I think that's the ultimate end goal right there, is to make sure this world is ready when a heavenly realm appears. And it is we're putting things in this world that he wants to see. And so that's sort of spiritually how I approach my work."
Resources
Download the episode transcript
Instagram @mikemaihack
Mike’s Website
Mike’s Graphic Novel Recommendations:
Infinity Gauntlet
Bone
Called To Create By Jordan Raynor
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This episode concludes our AI Series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work. This episodes guest, Andy Crouch, is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books including, The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World. Andy and Jeff discuss how AI can be used for redemptive purposes, and reflect on some best practices as the increased use of AI will impact our future.
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Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, but will it ever be sophisticated enough to replace the human? What does it mean to be human?
Welcome to part two of our three-part AI Series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work. In this conversation we explore what it means to be human and how that definition challenges and interacts with Artificial Intelligence technology. Please enjoy this multi-faceted dialogue among host Jeff Hoffmeyer, speaker and writer in science and faith, Greg Cootsona, and Reuter professor and computer scientist Noreen Herzfeld, PhD.
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Artificial Intelligence is inescapable in todays workforce and is impacting both the marketplace and the church in significant ways.
We begin this three-part series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work with a conversation between host Jeff Hoffmeyer and Stephen Presley. Stephen is an author, professor and senior fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy. Together they discuss the importance of considering how AI is impacting our lives and our souls.
On efficiency and formation:
“One of my concerns is if we’re just trying to get better and better and better, what is it that we are trying to become? What kind of person, or what kind of people, is scripture calling us to be? Efficient is not the only virtue that scriptures are calling us to be.”
On how technology asks us to improvise:
"So our institutions are facing remodeling through a whole variety of technological advances, and that improvisation is built on the assumption, like I use the image of a jazz player, where only someone who is skilled in jazz can know how to pick up an instrument and just go. If I were to do it, it would not sound. Well, the assumption there is that it is Christian virtue, Christian mores, Christian assumptions that are guiding the performance. So I think the same needs to apply to any new technology, particularly the implementation of any sort of AI, AI programming or any of that that underneath it, you're still dealing with questions of virtue, questions of morality, questions of spiritual formation."
Download the episode transcript.
"Is AI Changing the Work of Pastors?" article in Common Good
More from Stephen Presley
Stephen Presley's Website
@sopresley on X
@stopresley on Instagram
Recommended Further Reading
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Alone Together by Sherry Turkle
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Stephen Presleys Recommended Readings
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Summary
What are limiting beliefs and how do they affect my work? In this episode, Joanna Meyer talks with Charlena Ortiz, a life & business coach, writer, and the founder of Grit & Virtue. Together they discuss the importance of who we are as workers but also who we are as sons and daughters of Christ.
HighlightsOn limiting beliefs:
"I would say that limiting beliefs are our biggest enemy. Limiting beliefs often paralyze us from becoming who God has created us to be and from doing what God has created us to do."
On starting the process of identifying limiting beliefs:
"...it requires self-awareness. Sometimes we hear self-awareness just thrown out, but really, I would encourage every person listening to really peel back the layers of what it means to be self-aware. For me, journaling has been a great tool to help me become more self-aware of what's going on in my inner world. "
On choosing behaviors that lead to freedom:
"...when we can operate out of freedom and choose the behaviors and decisions out of our true identity, then we're able to move forward from that place [of limiting beliefs] and really know that freedom is something that is transformative and can only come from the father."
ResourcesLearn more about Grit & Virtue and The Manifesto. You can also download our free Study on Calling.
Download the episode transcript.
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Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights.
For our third encore episode this summer, we explore key questions about calling. How do we discover our calling? What's the difference between our occupation and our vocation? Can they even be the same thing?
This interview was recorded at one of Denver Institute's earliest events where author, educator, and organizational leader Steven Garber, joins us to talk about a broader vision for vocation.
Highlights
On exploring my calling:
"This question of 'my calling before God and service to the world' has to be marked by a deep honest sense of humility."
On vocation and occupation:
"I make a distinction between vocation and occupation: vocation is the deeper, longer word that makes sense of your life and mine. It's the deeper reality. It's the deeper story that makes sense of who you are, that makes sense of why you are different than your brother and your father and your best friend and your wife and your neighbor...Occupation is a word that gets at what I do day-by-day."
On the tension of work:
"Everybody, everywhere has some sense of tension between what I think I was meant to do, what I really want to do, and what I have to do."
Resources
Download the episode transcript.
Denver Institute's FREE Downloadable Resource - “A Study On Calling”
More by Steve Garber:
Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good
The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of Love and Learning, Worship and Work
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Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series. In these episodes we will be featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights.
For our second conversation we hear from scholar and nonprofit leader Amy Sherman. Amy is a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute, where she directs the Center for Faith in Communities. She is also the author of the book Agents of Flourishing: Pursuing Shalom in Every Corner of Society.
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Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series. In these episodes we will be featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights.
To kickoff this series we will hear from Shundrawn Thomas, founder and managing partner of The Copia Group, a bespoke investing firm based in Chicago, IL. At the time of the interview, he served as the president and CEO of Northern Trust, a trillion-dollar global investment management business. He is also the author of the book Discovering Joy in Work: Transforming Your Occupation into your Vocation.
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What bearing does our work have in light of eternity? How does our theology of heaven shape the way we show up to the needs of the world in the here and now?
Tune in to hear an honest and eye opening conversation with Jordan Raynor, author, speaker, and Executive Chairman of Threshold 360. In this conversation we discuss 'The Great Commission', Heaven, and Jordan's most recent book The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Work Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing The Gospel).
Resources:
Continue your learning, check out "The Gospel for Our Work" by Ryan Tafilowski.
Episode Note: Jordan Raynor referred to the "Romans Road" throughout this episode, which may not be familiar to all listeners. It is an evangelism method developed in 1970 by Dr. Jack Hyles that uses verses from the book of Romans to walk a person through the process of salvation. Learn more about the Romans Road today.
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Join us for our second conversation on Faith In Public Life, featuring Karen Swallow Prior Ph. D., reader, writer, and professor.
In this episode we discuss Karen's most recent book, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis, in which she outlines some of the cultural influences that have shaped our understanding of the role faith plays in public life.
Resources
The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis
Free e-book to continue your learning Politics at Twilight.
Faith & Work Podcast: "Leading with Christian Distinctiveness in a Pluralistic Society" with Stephanie Summers, CEO of Center for Public Justice"
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How might the example of Christ as a servant shape the field of law and those who have made justice their profession? These is the types of questions Robert Cochran addresses in his most recent book titled The Servant Lawyer: Facing the Challenges of Christian Faith in Everyday Law Practice. Listen in as Bob shares insights from his career, encourages Christians working in this field, and frames the importance of law for the common good.
Robert F. Cochran Jr. is the Brandeis Professor of Law Emeritus at Pepperdine University and a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, he clerked for Judge John A. Field on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced with the law firm of Boyle & Bain in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Resources:
Check out Bob Cochran's book The Servant Lawyer.
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What does it look like to be a faithful presence in the field of education from a leadership level? How can community college help address the labor shortage in the state of CO? Listen in as we interview Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, the sixth President of the Community College of Aurora, as he shares his thoughts on the role that community college can play in filling the gap between earning a degree and finding employment opportunities.
Resources
If you enjoyed this topic and would like to learn more watch the video: The Soul of Education with Dr. Mary Poplin.
Learn more about the amazing work of the Community College of Aurora.
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What is the call of the Christian in this political moment? What do our politics reveal about us and our world?
Join us was we embark on a short series titled "Faith In Public Life." For this series we will explore themes related to politics, Christian imagination, and public life. As we enter into an election year it is our hope that we would engage this season thoughtfully and in light of God's grace for the whole of our lives.
In this episode, Joanna Meyer and Ross Chapman interview Micheal Wear, Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity in Public Life. Micheal is also the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life.
Resources:
The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christby Dallas Willard
The Politics of Neighborly Love (2016) With a keynote from Justin Giboney (AND Campaign) and a panel discussion featuring Gov. Bill Haslam, Scott Sauls, and Stephanie Summers (Center for Public Justice), this presentation helps to develop a biblical, non-partisan framework for understanding our role as Christian citizens.
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What does it look like to collaborate well in the workplace? What challenges do men and women face when working together? And how can we as Christian workers strive for a better and more complete picture of redemptive collaboration.
In this episode, you will hear from Rebecca Johnson, Sarah Evers, and Darius Wise as we listen to a session from the past year's Women, Work, & Calling event titled "Better Together: Women and Men at Work." This conversation is rich with practical insights and takeaways anyone can implement in their day-to-day work.
Resources:
Download the episode transcript.
Learn more about Women, Work, & Calling.
Learn more about Rebecca's work on gender equity through Bold Belonging , Sarah Evers work with RKE Partners, and stay connected with Darius Wise.
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What does it look like to collaborate well in the workplace? What challenges do men and women face when working together? And how can we as Christian workers strive for a better and more complete picture of redemptive collaboration.
In this episode, you will hear from Rebecca Johnson, Sarah Evers, and Darius Wise as we listen to session from past years Women, Work, & Calling event titled "Better Together: Women and Men at Work." This conversation is rich with practical insights and takeaways anyone can implement in their day-to-day work.
Resources:
Learn more about Women, Work, & Calling.
Learn more about Rebecca's work on gender equity through Bold Belonging , Sarah Evers work with RKE Partners, and stay connected with Darius Wise.
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What role can prayer play in an organization? When it comes to leadership how might we implement prayer as a key practice?
In today's episode, we share the stage with our sibling podcast Teach Us To Pray hosted by Jeff Hoffmeyer, Denver Institute's VP of Advancement. For this conversation focused on prayer at an organizational level Jeff interviews Peter Greer, President & CEO of HOPE International about his newly released co-authored book Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders.
Resources:
Download the episode transcript.
If you enjoyed this conversation buy the book Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders.
Looking for even more resources on how to implement some of these prayer practices in your life? Check out the Lead with Prayer website.
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What does it look like to bring hope and life to those who are seeking home ownership? In this episode, we hear about a company and an individual who is doing just that - Stephen Phelan, Chief Pastoral Officer at Movement Mortgage. Movement Mortgage is not only addressing system issues in the mortgage lending space but it's also taking an innovative approach to culture-building and employee care.
Resources:
Download the episode transcript.
Stephen Phelan will be joining us as a keynote speaker at Business for the Common Good. Tickets are on sale now! Join us on Friday, March 8 at Hyatt Regency DTC (Please note, this year's event is in-person only)
Denver Institute Books:
Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and For Others by Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski
Women, Work, & Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World by Joanna Meyer
Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to the Inner Work that Transforms Our Outer World by Jeff Haanen
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What does it mean to be shrewd? Does the Bible really tell us to work in this way? In this episode, we discuss Luke 16 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager, and learn more about how this quality can inform our work. Listen in as we hear from guest speaker and longtime friend of Denver Institute, Dr. Ryan Tafilowski. Ryan currently serves as assistant professor of theology and chair of the Theology Department at Denver Seminary and pastors Foothills Fellowship Church in Littleton, CO.
Resources:
Download the episode transcript.
Business for the Common Good Tickets are on sale now! Join us on Friday, March 8 at Hyatt Regency DTC (Please note, this year's event is in-person only)
Book Sale! Our publisher InterVarsity Press is offering 3 of Denver Institute's recent books for 25% off the cover price with free economy shipping through January 31st. Visit the website HERE and use coupon code: IVPWORK
Featured titles are:
Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and For Others by Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski
Women, Work, & Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World by Joanna Meyer
Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to the Inner Work that Transforms Our Outer World by Jeff Haanen
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As we start the new year, it can be easy to get wrapped up in setting new goals and intentions, implementing life hacks, and recording plans for all you can accomplish this coming year. But how might we begin to reflect on our relationship with productivity in a world where we are rewarded for our non-stop activity? And what does scripture teach us about what it means to be productive? Join Joanna Meyer, Abby Worland, and Brian Gray as they discuss what they have learned about this topic and share some of their practical advice.
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The internal health of our lives deeply affects who we are becoming and the quality of work we can offer to the world. So how do we practice emotional and vocational health in our lives, and what might it look like? In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we discuss Denver Institute's founder Jeff Haanen's newest book Working from the Inside Out.
"Working from the Inside Out pulls back the veil on the deep emotional and vocational challenges faced by the majority of workers and shows how work can become a way to love God, serve our neighbors, and demonstrate the gospel to the world. Bringing together emotional, relational, vocational, intellectual, and civic health through the seamless thread of vocation, Jeff Haanen offers a way out of the disintegration of our culture and toward a reintegrated life lived in response to God's voice."
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