What career....

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Michael, May 11, 2011.

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  1. Michael

    Michael Member

    What career or job does the following describe/sound like/fit?

    "When I get up every day, I want and feel called to....

    Seek for/explore answers about God, life, death, the hereafter, the universe, meaning, purpose, the Resurrection, the creation;

    Discuss this and share with others;

    Write about it -- in poetry, songs, journaling, essays, etc. "

    Does this describe a writing career, a teaching career, both? Or maybe a ministry career?

    If a teaching career, does it describe a creative writing/English/literature teaching career, or a religion/theology teaching career?

    If a ministry career, in pastoral ministry, or something else?

    Thanks for any and all input.

    Just trying to decide what the things I would be passionate about doing every day translates into, job-wise.
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Maybe someone would pay you to watch Discovery Channel all day. :smile:

    Seriously, the only career I could think of for that would be working for ICR. http://www.icr.org/
     
  3. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    Sounds like either a ministry career or a career as a Christian author. (These two aren't mutually exclusive.)

    Academic careers don't really tend to address these factors very well. The creative/spiritual side isn't as prominent in academic theology writing.

    A music minister, perhaps? A music/education minister? A pastor? All seem to be options here.
     
  4. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    It seems like you'd rather be a student than a worker. Nothing wrong with that. Despite the fact that I have a job, I look at myself more as a student than a worker, and always will and I suspect that many people on this board would say the exact same thing.

    If you want to "explore" answers, take courses in theology. If you want to know the answers, well, there is a particular book I would encourage you to read :wink:
     
  5. Michael

    Michael Member


    You may be right. I have long felt that the pastorate would combine all the areas I'm interested in -- theology, counseling, writing (including creative writing), social service, teaching, music, the meaning of life. I am already an independent minister but without a congregation. I ended up on this path because I felt like I didn't fit into the established denominations, although i tried for many years to do so.

    Maybe I now need to simply pick one that I think I can live with and go for it. I've been thinking maybe the Church of the Nazarene, or the Salvation Army, although the Salvation Army may be out for practical reasons.

    I grew up in a congregationally-governed church structure, so maybe the Nazarene church is a good compromise between congregational and episcopal polity, as in the United Methodist Church. I can't go back to the Southern Baptists for various reasons -- my views are more moderate, I believe women can serve as pastors, I don't believe in the eternal security doctrine, etc.

    Also, if I go with the Nazarene Church, I could take Northwest Nazarene U's degree in spiritual formation. :)

    Sorry for rambling, but your post got me to thinking further.
     
  6. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I think Ministry and Christian or similar mentoring in the school.

    Priesthood as well.
     
  7. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    join a christian organization and teach in another country: china, vietnam, india, somewhere in latin america. I know christians who teach english in china and they incorporate a lot of religious instruction into their english classes

    and you could certanly include "poetry, songs, journaling, essays, etc"
     
  8. Michael

    Michael Member

    I can't relocate, as I am caring for an elderly parent at this time. But I appreciate your input.

    And I appreciate all the responses I've gotten so far.
     
  9. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    Plant a church, maybe?
     
  10. Michael

    Michael Member

    I'd like to do that, but I have found that my social networking and organizational skills are not the strongest, maybe due to my personality.

    An introverted minister? Doesn't seem to fit, does it? :)
     
  11. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Perhaps you need to take some kind of aptitude test that has to do with ministry. At the church I attend we take a test regarding "gifts" that we have and can offer the church. Since we all don't have the charismatic personality it takes to be a minister, it helps you find your place within the church. This may be voluntary or may be a paid position. Anyway it may lead you to a part or full time job until you find your true "calling".

     
  12. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Dianetics? LOL
     
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Or you could procrastinate forever and never need to decide. I'm sorry Michael but how long have you been coming here looking for some perfect answer to this question. There is no perfect answer. Life doesn't work that way.
     
  14. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    If you are called to do it, you would be amazed at what would happen. There are plenty of examples of people who have risen to the challenge.
     
  15. Michael

    Michael Member

    Thanks for that.
     
  16. Michael

    Michael Member

    Not looking for a perfect answer. Just haven't been able to find a denomination in my location that I could serve in where I wouldn't have to compromise some deeply-held principle. Now if I lived in another part of the country, where there were Friends United Meeting churches or American Baptist churches, for example, I could serve.

    Sure, I could join some denomination here and do a lot of good work. But what would that mean if I had to lie to be a part of something?
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'm sorry. No one wants you to lie. It's just that you seem very stuck.
     
  18. Michael

    Michael Member

    Yes, unfortunately it seems I am.

    I actually wouldn't blame anyone for being tired of listening to me. I'm rather tired of the whole thing myself.

    Well, best wishes to you and everyone else here.
     
  19. perrymk

    perrymk Member

    Another option is to help the disadvantaed. One doesn't have to be an extrovert to do this.

    For example, set up a Meals on Wheels type project. You would have a reason for meeting people and conversing but also a reason to keep it short.

    Approach a homeless person with a meal and a message. Im not suggesting you do anything that would jeapordize your safety. But a meal with a short note/tract expressing your beliefs might work for you.

    Volunteer at a non-religious or non-denominational homeless shelter. If that is to extroverted, get a job, even a minimum wage job, and donate most of your earnings to the cause of your choice. I've heard there are people that prefer this approach and certainly it is appreciated by the charitable organizations.

    Join Big Brothers or a school mentoring/tutoring program. Again, the reason for meeting is provided. My thought is that introverts like you and I are a little more comfortable in a one on one situation.

    These are just ideas. You will have to decide what is right for you.
     
  20. GeeBee

    GeeBee Member

    Being an introvert myself, I have this advice for my introverted brethren: Get over it.

    Being an introvert doesn't mean that you are not capable of speaking before a large audience. It doesn't mean that you are incapable of meeting people at a party and having pleasant conversations with them. It doesn't mean that you are incapable of building a network of friendships.

    Being an introvert simply means that you will have to work a little harder at these things, and that you will need to make sure you have adequate "alone time" to recharge yourself in between doing these things.

    I've had a successful career in sales, and I'm not the first introvert to do so. Some things that come naturally to extroverts are not natural to us, but they are skills that we can learn.
     

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