Faithful Presence

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“Take This Job and Shove It”: Theological Reflections on Work and Vocation

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Premium Podcasts

The Faithful Presence Podcast: "Interpreting Our World Through The Five Lenses of Culture," with Dr. Justin Bailey

Presence Weekly 3/4/2024

The Devo: The Mission of Work (aka Worship) 3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord

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Presence Weekly 2/26/2024

While only Christ blesses through redemption from sin, Christians are called to bless through cultivating the world toward flourishing for all.

Presence Weekly 2/20/2024

The DEVO - God's Word for Our Lives 24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the

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Presence Weekly 2/12/2024

[The Devo] The Bona Fides of Righteousness 3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.  2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the

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A Vision for the High Calling of Investing

By intentionally reminding ourselves of the true purpose of investing, our hearts are directed outward to our neighbors near and far.

Presence Weekly 2/05/2024

The Devo - "What World Is This?" 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11

Presence Weekly 1/29/2024

[The Devo] The Basis for Our Dependence  Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.   It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,   eating the bread

Presence Weekly 1/22/2024

[The Devo] Dependence as Virtue 127 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.  1  Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  2  It is in vain that you rise up early and

Presence Weekly 1/15/2024

[The Devo] Caucusing for Jesus Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. King fought hard for all Americans to have their voices heard and respected in this country.  Dr. King led Christians and everyone in America to face the reality that all lives matter in all aspects of life:

Presence Weekly 1/08/2024

[The Devo] Taylor Swift, U2, and Rethinking Resolutions Most of us take the new year as an opportunity to look forward with a renewed sense of optimism and commitment to improving our lives. It is as though we consider the new year a chance to start afresh.   In an effort

Merry Christmas from Faithful Presence

Merry Christmas to all! To partner with a year-end gift, click here.

Presence Weekly 12/18/2023

[The Devo] The Suffering of Christmas 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad

Presence Weekly 12/11/2023

[The Devo] Who’s on the Naughty List Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord

Presence Weekly 12/04/2023

[The Devo] Waiting and Advent “The waiting is the hardest part.” Tom Petty was almost spot on when he said that.  I say, almost, because Petty’s statement misses an important point about context. It’s not hard to wait for a dentist appointment or an oil change, for example.

Presence Weekly 11/27/2023

[The Devo] Thanksgiving Whiplash As the opening lyric of the classic American songbook standard, What A Difference A Day Makes, states, “What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours, brought the sun and the flowers, where there used to be rain.” The song points out the perspective-changing impact that

Presence Weekly 11/20/2023

[THE DEVO] Thanksgiving: The FULL Spread To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.  How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?  How

Presence Weekly 11/13/2023

The Devo: Proximate Humanity There are several wonderful passages in the New Testament that proclaim the true essence, nature, and mission of Jesus. In John chapter one, we are presented with the externality of the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. In Colossians chapter one, Paul says that

Podcasts Featured

Why Church-Based Reconciliation Services Are A Blessing to the Public Square

How Church-based Racial Reconciliation Services Bless the Public Square - The Faithful Presence PodcastIn this episode, Michael hosts “D.B.” and “Supe,” two Chicago area pastors from vastly different demographic contexts living in the same Congressional District. Together, they explain how their love of the gospel and excellent preaching formed

Presence Weekly 11/06/2023

The Devo: Truth and Elections So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew?

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Presence [Volume 1, Issue 2]

A Journal for Servants and Leaders in the Public Square Welcome to the second issue of Presence! First, a word. For the past year, our President and his wife have been dealing with the life-threatening health concern of a close family member. This has produced long periods of distraction from

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Narcissism in Leadership

Rev. Michael Coggin Note: This essay is from the author's forthcoming book, On Spiritual Abuse, and this excerpt was was given to Faithful Presence for pre-publication use in this edition of the Presence journal. Over the last few years, followers of Christ and those outside of the church

Presence Journal

The Important Contrast of Our Values: Lessons on Faithful Presence from 1 Peter

Rev. Michael Langer My son-in-law is all about Texas. He loves Texas. He grew up on a ranch in Texas. He went to Texas A&M (which I think is a cult). He holds Texas in high regard and always wants to see Texas succeed. Now, he is celebrating

Presence Journal

Excellent Leadership: The 4C Profile

Dr. Charlie Self One glance at the headlines and we see a global crisis of leadership. In addition to the (alas, the almost expected) personal and institutional corruption and oppression, we are experiencing the consequences of two generations of separating personal and professional ethics, and the displacement of personal agency