'There is no space for iceberg lettuce in the kingdom of God', says church planter Ryan Fasani. In addition to explaining why that is the case, he speaks with Will about how his experiences in ministry and his own soul searching have changed his understanding of his calling. One element of his self-understanding involves reconciling the demands of his work with paying attention to the people in his daily life, including developing his relationship with and witnessing the wonder of his children growing up. Although his work on the front lines of ministry is often misunderstood, he finds nourishment in finding like-minded people in his tradition who support him.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pastor and writer Tim Harvey speaks with Josh about his calling of being a pastor. After describing how he first became a pastor and what it means to be one in his tradition, he describes supporting the vocations of members of his congregation, including helping people to find their vocations later in life. Then Tim explains how writing is also a calling for him, illustrated by the essay he recently published on Foreshadow, 'And by What We Have Left Undone', which he reads at the end of the episode. Finally, Tim describes the challenges of ministry and where he finds spiritual nourishment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will and Josh continue to map an understanding of calling by reviewing the podcast season thus far. After answering a listener's question about finding one's calling later in life (including a response from Jeff Compton-Nelson), they develop their model of vocation, examine the relationship between vocation and career, discuss what it means to 'put God first', unpack the parable of the talents and explore the priesthood of all believers and the relationship between ordained and non-ordained Christians.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vocational guide Jeff Compton-Nelson speaks with Josh about his role in supporting seminary students to discern who they are and how they will live into the life God is giving them. He also shares his personal vocational journey, which has brought surprises and gifts. Developing a concept map of calling, they explore the universal callings of all people, the relationship between vocation and career, ordained ministry and chaplaincy, the vocation of art and writing and the importance of community and renewing the mind in discerning God's will.Jeff Compton-Nelson is the Assistant Director of Field Education and Vocational Formation at Duke Divinity School, North Carolina. An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Jeff is married, and they have two children. Jeff welcomes feedback; his email address is [email protected] are the books mentioned in this episode:A Ray of Darkness by Rowan WilliamsLet Your Life Speak by Parker PalmerLive for a Change by Francis DeWarJosh Seligman is the founding editor of Foreshadow. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Farm manager Sarah DePhillips speaks with Will about sharing the good news of Jesus through sustainable farming. Through Sarah's work supporting young people in Virginia and farmers in Zimbabwe, she embodies her message that God has given us everything we need to flourish, and our task is to steward our resources well, whether they are material, such as soil and water, or immaterial, such as our relationships with people, our gifts and our good passions.Sarah DePhillips is a farm manager with Hope for Suffolk, a ministry that serves and empowers young people in Suffolk, Virginia, through agricultural work (learn more here). She also works with Foundations for Farming, a stewardship programme for farmers in Zimbabwe (learn more here). Consider thanking our contributors by leaving a comment, sharing this episode or buying them a book.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Piano technician Jarel Paguio speaks with Will and Josh about tuning pianos and being a new dad. For Jarel, piano tuning is about more than just the piano, as central as that is; it's about the quality of his relationships and interactions with his clients. In the words of his mentor, 'It's all relational.' Just as Jarel and his wife seek to create a harmonious home for their newborn, to a smaller degree Jarel seeks to establish an atmosphere of trust and harmony with his clients.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Chapter 4 of Echoing Silence: Thomas Merton on the Vocation of Writing edited by Robert Inchausti, Thomas Merton reflects on the work of contemporary writers. For him, a mark of good writing is having something worth saying, which comes from writing for God. One aspect of this approach is being inwardly transformed so that we write out of our experience of the life God gives us. At the heart, the Christian who writes must first know that they are loved by God. This episode includes a poem written and read by Foreshadow contributor Matthew J. Andrews.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jon Seligman speaks with Josh about how teaching primary/elementary music, at its best, brings 'cosmos out of chaos', to quote author Madeleine L'Engle. Jon finds purpose and hope in helping students to find their voices and become self-confident through music. Jon's Christian faith and work are inseparable. He also explains how other areas of his life, such as volunteer worship leading and taking photographs as a hobby, can similarly bring cosmos out of chaos. Jon Seligman is a primary music teacher in Chula Vista, California. You can listen to his podcast on music education advocacy here.Josh Seligman is a co-host of Forecast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ryan Weiss speaks with Will about how he prioritises his responsibilities and callings, whether as a professor, a parent, a husband, a musician, a worship leader or a researcher. Each of his roles gives him the opportunity to connect with and nurture others. Looking back on his life, he observes how openings have forced him to ask who he really is and what he really wants to do, forming a path that has become his identity. He also describes how his faith in God and his work in science complement each other. This episode features music by Ryan's former band Tularosa.--Dr. Ryan Weiss is a professor in the biochemistry and molecular biology department​ of the University of Georgia. He is also a musician, a dad and a husband. You can learn more about his lab here.Will Shine is a co-host of Forecast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author and speaker Alina Sayre speaks with Josh about the intersection between her Christian faith and her writing. Although at one point, she wondered if creative writing distracted her from pursuing God, she now believes that God has given it to her as a gift to use and develop in various forms. Alina also describes her experience as a theopoetics student and then reads and discusses her new poem 'Sleepwalker', which is forthcoming on Foreshadow. --Alina Sayre is the award-winning author of five books and a graduate student of theopoetics at Bethany Theological Seminary. You can learn more about her work here. You can also read her poem 'Keeping Vigil', recently published on Foreshadow, here.Josh Seligman is the founding editor of Foreshadow and a co-host of Forecast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.