‘Something for You to Do’

Release Date - February 2021.

Release Date - February 2021.

Brief Description:

Most people pay the bills, put food on the table and take the occasional holiday with the proceeds of paid work that they don’t really enjoy.

However, there have probably been times in your life, albeit short and fleeting, when you were engaged on a project or carrying out a set of actions or involved in an activity and you said to yourself, ‘I think this is me – it feels as though this is what I was made to do’.  You might even have said, ‘I’m in my element’.   

Was God behind those moments of epiphany, when you sensed the rightness, the fit or the timeliness of what you were doing?  Were they clues, pointing to the good works He has prepared for you, that He wants you to enjoy?

We are more important to Him than we know; He has more invested in us than we can imagine; and He has given each of us a unique combination of capabilities for a reason… He has something for you to do.

Recommendation:

“I think this is superbly justified, theologically sound, pastorally necessary and compellingly written. I would certainly endorse it enthusiastically.”
— Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology, St. Aldates Oxford

The Intended Reader

There is no single adult demographic to which this book is aimed, given the intention to help people in general find out what God has called them to do and to be.  The issues it addresses are fundamental – how young and old can discern God’s voice and know that it’s Him; how we discover both short-term commissions and long-term calls matching our unique personhood; how we find that elusive place of being ‘in our element’.

Having said that, I am keen to reach two groups:

a) Young professionals and those contemplating or starting out on a career. This generation is talking in terms that my generation did not – it understands the words ‘vocation’ and ‘calling’ and is more idealistic in its thinking – many are concerned to do something useful that not only provides a livelihood but also gives them joy.

b) Those from early-middle through to older age, who have sensed some sort of calling earlier in their lives but, for a variety of reasons, didn’t follow it up and fear they may have ‘missed their chance’.  Many seem to be carrying this burden.

Table of Contents

The following is a summary of topics & headings for each chapter

  • God’s craftsmanship and His desire to pass it on. The enormous variety of things that He calls men and women to do and to be.

  • An inbuilt sense of purpose, so why are so many of us miserable? Aren’t there enough books on ‘calling’ already? Inherited Craftsmanship and a new identity; Work - redeemed & rewarding; God is relaxed about the outcome.

    Short Biography #1 - Tim

  • First inklings of God’s prompting; Our Father’s business; Work that’s enjoyable; Far-sighted judgment calls; An Altar acceptable to God; God can even use unbelievers; Clues to be interpreted carefully.

  • Defining ‘calling’; 4-fold Usage of the terminology in scripture; Called to someone not to something; Sovereignty and friendship. Personal Reflections on coming to terms with calling.

    Short Biography #2 - Josh

  • Why things and people have names; Meaning through association or function; Some names don’t reflect calling; Some names do reflect God’s purpose from the outset; God’s habit of changing a person’s name, better to reflect their calling. Personal Reflections on name changing.

  • Avoiding unhelpful Bias; What is Christian Work; The ‘Spirit of Skill’; Short & Long Term Calls; The Self-Help Disease; The link between Calling and Sanctification; The link between Calling and Modelling God’s Character. Personal Reflections on craftsmanship.

    Short Biography #3 - Wendy

  • Complementarity & teamwork; God speaks but we are hard of hearing; Uniqueness and the individual; Specialness and Purpose in the heart of man.

  • God’s calls cut across the expectations of Society & Culture; God’s calls cut across the expectations of Gender.

  • God as watchman and companion; Being a ‘Watchman’; How to ‘Stand with’ someone; Does my call or someone else’s have priority?

    Short Biography #4 - RJ

  • God speaks to everyone; The Father’s desire is to give people useful things to do (however late in the day); Don’t try to follow someone else’s; The Bible is full of people being Called and Commissioned - individually & corporately; Does God revoke a calling if it isn’t taken up? Personal Reflections on my own commissions.

  • How would you describe yourself?; True identity comes from Someone, not from the Somethings that we do; Paul’s Identity and Calling; Growing into the somethings that we do; Permissions & influence.

  • A tantalising and elusive (yet real) place; Two ways to get there; Different qualities of outcome; Someone who did lasting work and found their element. Personal Reflections on being in my element.

    Short Biography #5 - Elizabeth

  • Nehemiah gets a call and feels its weight; First and second responses; God knows what you need; Bad people; Starting well; Fearing God; Taking sides; Abundant help; Finishing well.

  • Your story is new and different; Prepare for adventure; A time to be silent and a time to speak; Internal and external Opposition; Prepare to be Tested; Expect Confirmation; Change management; Find confidantes and tell them your story; Teamwork & complementarity.

    Short Biography #6 - Kate

  • God is looking for Craftsmen; Celebrating craftsmanship, not the object; Objects are transient but the one who calls is eternal; This life is transient but the next is eternal; Going & Coming; God’s purpose and our response.