Prosperity

My Christmas Eve Wish

jbloustein — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:30:04 -0600

There’s one thing just about anyone in rural America will tell you—life’s tough for family farmers.

If we’re not getting whiplash from commodity prices, we’re busting our fuel budgets, worrying about the weather or nursing old equipment in hopes it lasts one more year.

Balancing Act

admin — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:16:00 -0500

I knew there'd be trouble last weekend when I found myself squeezing to-do's in the calendar margins.

The boxes weren't big enough to fit sightseeing with Dad (who was visiting from Ohio), two parties, preparations for my son's first birthday, finishing touches on an article, grocery shopping, donating a box of old clothes, reading the novel languishing on my nightstand and seeing a soon-to-close play.

Balance—or lack of it—is something I've been acutely aware of since Luke was born a year ago.

Helping Young Musicians Realize Their Dreams

batch — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:05:09 -0500

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine has overcome obstacles to continue doing what she loves, and she is determined to help other aspiring musicians triumph as well.

Growing up poor in Chicago, Barton Pine decided at age 3 that she wanted to play the violin. Despite her family's hardships, she excelled at music and was identified as a child prodigy, playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 10.

Recession-Hit Families Seek Faith and Hope at Church

batch — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:05:12 -0500

In these tough times, families and neighbors have been banding together to confront challenges and find comfort.

One place where Americans have been finding solace, faith and hope is at their local church, the St. Cloud Times reports.

As more people face difficulties with maintaining employment, paying bills and keeping up with the mortgage, there is also a growing awareness of what prayer can do, church leaders said.

Renaissance Man

jbloustein — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:39:41 -0500

I was blessed with three passions in life: history, teaching and religion.

I came from a faithful family of educators—Dad, my brother, both sisters. So to say that my professorship in history at Evangelical Theological Seminary in the rolling green hills of southeastern Pennsylvania was my dream job would be the understatement of a lifetime. It felt more like the familiar and assuring hand of the Lord guiding me on the path I’d been destined to follow.

Parachute Wisdom

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:12 -0600

In the 40 years since it was first printed, Richard Nelson Bolles's What Color Is Your Parachute? has become the classic American text for anyone in the job market.

With more than four million copies sold, it continues to reassure, prod, goad and inform thousands of job seekers and career changers.

5 Ways to Help the Jobless

jbloustein — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:15:59 -0500

As pundits predict higher unemployment figures, the demand for programs for the unemployed rises as well. Church communities don’t need elaborate programs, paid staff, or well-equipped workspaces to reach out. And individuals don’t need to be job counselors to offer assistance.

Randy Siegel, a leadership and communications coach developing job-related workshops for the Western North Carolina Episcopal Diocese, shares 5 ways individuals and groups can help.

1. Provide childcare during job interviews.

People Come First

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:42:00 -0500

Breakfast time at McDonald's is always loud. Cars stacked in the drive-through, Egg McMuffins slinging over the counter, line cooks calling out orders.

Wisdom on the Web

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:27:00 -0600

I needed help. Help with my finances. Sure, I had a steady paycheck from my new job at GUIDEPOSTS, but I was a recent college grad. Juggling school loans with credit-card bills was tough! I sat staring at my checkbook. All those numbers made my head spin. With a wedding approaching I wondered how I'd ever afford a new dress and a nice gift. Then I heard about an amazing group—Elder Wisdom Circle, a nationwide organization of seniors offering free advice through the internet.

Two-Part Harmony

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:33:23 -0600

A dozen years ago my wife, Linda, came home from work one day humming a tune. "What's the name of this song?" she asked. "I can't get it out of my head. You play it all the time on the piano."