You Write Like You Think
My thinking has changed, so I'll be writing more (effectively) on The God Factor
I started this newsletter / publication about two years ago because it was something I thought I should do. After numerous brief starts and long periods of stops, ideas are now flowing and I’m seeing the purpose here much more clearly than I have previously.
In my unpublished drafts is a post titled “Life is a Rough Draft.” Much of uploading posts here has been a rough draft or like driving slowly through a dense fog and trying to find direction.
I couldn’t write well because I wasn’t thinking that way. My thoughts, though, have changed in recent weeks and it seems that the fog is lifting so stay tuned.
Here’s what to anticipate and the themes I’ll be showing that God is a factor, or THE factor, in:
history
my life
your life
the art of living for Christ
the art of serving
and how that impacts:
our use of the Bible
the ups and downs of church
the challenge of prayer
the need for wise counsel
our relationships
how we’re affected by difficulties
highlights of Christians serving others
and much more like:
what we can learn from Paul’s view of the kingdom
passionate longings from women like Hannah, the mother of Samuel
how Moses prayed while leading a tough crowd through uncharted territory
what it means to have joy
and still more:
how the resurrection is central and Christ’s truth is the best motivator
For me, God’s leading has been a tougher adventure rather than an easy one and this has been probelmatic because:
Many of our churches in the U.S. seem to be geared more toward personal development rather than tackling issues that are brought on by following Christ’s leading into tough circumstances.
During my lowest points of the last twenty years as a foster and adoptive parent the last thing I wanted to hear were sermons that were geared toward a more intellectual, higher income audience who appeared to be in firm control of their lives.
My life was out of control, my career gone, and I was deeply affected.
I want to explore depth and challenge myself, as well as non-Christians and Christians, about God being active in our lives through telling stories of people I know from around the globe.
But this isn’t a downer. I want to know the truth that no matter what we face, there is God who sees beyond what we see and has a kingdom that we’re longing to experience more fully than what we have in our physical lives.
God may call us into difficulties, but he doesn’t toy with us.
I don’t believe he toyed with me during my hardest moments.
Redemption is often a tough and grueling work just like it was for Paul and his counterparts who God used to transform Greek and Roman socities based on the worship of many gods, their own intellects, and the Jewish world based on the Law.
People often cry out to God when they’re facing trouble.
I’m convinced that for some of us, God leads us into trouble.
Read Hebrews 2:10 (NKJV)
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
My thinking has become more clear and now I’ll be able to write more effectively and delve into other areas, quite likely, like podcasts and books.
What I’ll write for tomorrow:
Rapid fire prayer
In 1993, we faced conflict with social workers due to our daughter being black. The court ruled she was to be in our home as an adoptive placement and this led to anger unleashed.
We needed immediate prayer.
Eventually, we had a positive ending with the most vocal opponent.
This week, I wrote about prayer carried out over the long term but there are many times when we pray in the here and immediate NOW !!!
Upcoming:
40 years ago from September to October 1995, I ran across the U.S. with several friends (Jim and Chris both subscribe) and why we did it; highlights; lessons learned.
Now that you have a better understanding of where The God Factor is headed, please subscribe for soul-stirring, hopeful commentary and stories.
P.S. I’ll be cleaning up the Welcome pages and more.