Tag: writing ministry

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The Intentional Writer

Looking at Target Audience from the Standpoint of Ministry

The intentional writer

Writers are frequently encouraged to identify their target audience. However, we don’t always look at a target audience through the lens of ministry. In my last post I talked about defining a succinct writing ministry statement. Target audience is one of the key building blocks of that statement.

If you were starting a ministry like a food bank, you would take into account who you were trying to serve from the start. In fact, thinking about your target customer may be the whole reason you started the ministry. You identified a group with a need— families struggling financially, and a way to help them—providing affordable food.

We often don’t think in those terms when we begin writing. It can be a lot harder to narrow down who God is calling us to serve through our writing. Unfortunately, that may lead to wasting a lot of time writing pieces that few people will see, because we weren’t strategic about focusing our writing to a target audience and a well-defined message.

How do I figure out my target audience?

Let’s define target audience as the group of people who will most benefit from the core message of what you are writing. That means target audience and message are often two sides of the same coin. You may have a better idea of one side or the other.  It doesn’t matter which side you start with.

So, if you are clear on exactly what your message is, your target audience includes the people who will most benefit from that message. Who needs to hear your message? What specific issues, needs, or pain does your message help readers with?  

If you’re not crystal clear on your message, here are some questions you can ask to help you identify your target audience.

  • Who feels a similar trauma to one that I’ve survived?
  • What am I most passionate about?
  • What struggles, issues, or pain do I feel called to address in my writing?
  • Are there themes that keep cropping up in my writing (such as forgiveness, second chances, or overcoming fear)? What groups of people would resonate with those themes?  
  • When people give feedback on my writing, what specific things do they talk about?
  • What message can I not help sending out to the world? Who needs to hear that message?

Who is my no-fit audience?

Sometimes it’s easier to identify who your target audience is not. For example, if I write historical mysteries with a thread of faith, my non-target audience would include the following:

  • Readers who primarily read a particular genre other than mystery or historical, such as sci-fi, action thrillers, or Amish romance.
  • Readers who avoid Christian fiction.
  • Mystery readers who don’t enjoy the subgenre of historical, and primarily read police procedurals, paranormal, or legal thrillers. 
  • Historical fiction readers who prefer a strong romance plot or who only read novels based on real historical events.

At first, identifying your no-fit audience can see obvious and unhelpful, but if you look for more specific segments of your no-fit audience, you may get important insights about your target audience.

The Bottom Line

Just like a ministry or a business, the more specifically you can identify your target audience, the more intentional you can be in writing pieces that will have an impact, and the easier it will be to find the people who need to hear it.  

Lisa E Betz

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. Her first novel, Death and a Crocodile, was recently awarded the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her at lisaebetz.com.  Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

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Uncategorized

All Writers Need Encouragement

It’s time for another Third Anniversary Throwback Thursday. One of our goals at Almost an Author is to encourage aspiring writers. Writing is a calling, but it can be lonely, frustrating, and wearisome. Writers face rejection, doubt, and discouragement.

This collection of posts was written with those truths in mind.

Come Out Swinging: Fighting Fear as a Writer

The writer’s life is not for the faint of heart. There are moments that are downright scary. That first writer’s conference, critiques, contest entries, appointments with an editor/publisher, the blank page—all potentially terrifying. If you’re like me, you’ve wasted precious writing time paralyzed by fears and insecurities. But enough is enough. Here are three ways to face our fears head-on: Read more.

13 Things that can Steal Your Writing Joy

Writers have a love/hate relationship with putting words on paper. Sometimes it’s difficult because of the process. Other times we sabotage ourselves. Today I’d like to share my list of things that steal your writing joy. Read more.

What if?

Have you ever ignored the Spirit’s nudge? Opted not to put pen to the thought? Bought into the thinking, “Why bother?” Do you realize you could be the favor, the blessing, the encouragement, the hope, the answer to someone’s prayers? Read more.

Dreamers Wanted

Dreaming is not a waste of time, it is a necessity to rescue and redeem our limited time. I challenge you to ask God to awaken the dreams he’s sown into your soul and spirit so long ago. Stop listening to the naysayers and the doomsdayers. Blow off the dust, take it in your hands, hold it close to your heart, and nurture that dream until it becomes all that God says it will be. Read more.

Souls Perish from Procrastination in Writing

What if Queen Esther had procrastinated instead of facing the king? We writers have plenty or reasons to procrastinate. If God has given us something to say, then it is important. It’s our responsibility. Souls hang in the balance. You better get to writing because “who knows but that you have [been given this story or message] for such a time as this.” Read more.

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The Ministry of Writing

Sometimes the Water Stops

If you are ministering through your writing, then I am certain that at some point in your ministry God has guided you to a certain task. More than likely you are like me — you wrestled with if you were hearing Him correctly. Next, you probably battled feeling worthy for the mission. Then you saw the reality of the difficulty of the task, and were ready to quit. The mountain seemed insurmountable. There was no way you could do it.

But still the Spirit continued to whisper on.

Still you felt called — instructed to move forward.

You had no idea how it would work out.

If you have followed this pattern of thought or better said — patter of freaking out! Then you are in good company. The company that the Book of Hebrews calls a “great cloud of witnesses.” Every follower of Christ before you and every Old Testament Saint faced the same dilemma.

My favorite account of this is found in the opening of the Book of Joshua. The Israelites stand on the banks of the Jordan River. The Promised Land is in view, and they are told to go take what was promised. God gives them specific instructions. The priests are to led the march. While carrying the Ark of the Covenant, they are to step into the swollen flood stage Jordan River. When they do, the water would stopped flowing, and like when the Red Sea was parted all of Israel would then be able to cross on dry land.

A strange plan.

Why not just stop the water first? Why not show the clear path to victory? For that matter why have Israel fight city to city to take the land, when God could have figuratively “nuked” Canaan and just handed it to His people?

Why God?

Why have us wade into the water before it parts?

Why have us feel as if we might drown with the heavy burden you have placed on us?

Pre-parted rivers would make following the Lord so much easier, right? Yet, He calls us into the swift waters with no apparent path to accomplishment. I’m sure you have been there or maybe you are on the edge of that step. Israel wandered for 40 years on the wrong side of the Jordan due to their fear to take the step of obedience.

Five years ago, I finally stepped into the water.

For years, I felt called to write, but I choose to wander in the wilderness of being uncommitted. Finally, I took the step. I took a week vacation to write a book. I finished the week with a chapter and a half with the realization writing a book was ridiculously difficult.

So, I’d quit and then restart. Quit and restart. Start a new project, quit, and restart the original book. I so wanted the water to part. After surrounding myself with accountability, I trudged on. No dry land though. I finally got enough done on the book to send to agents and publishers, again no path to victory — only rejection letters and silence. Then I went to a writer’s conference, and did the book pitch speed dating. Again silence.

Finally, the wind began to blow a bit. The breeze seemed as if it might turn back the tide. I signed with an agent. Then more silence. An empty email inbox is a lonely place, probably much like the desert surrounding Sinai.

Then came the book contract. Miracles do happen. Then came more work than I ever thought imaginable. Still the water surrounded me. I had stepped into the Jordan like those priests, but the water had not stopped.

But on April 4, 2017 the water stops and dry land appears.

Over twenty years of knowing I was called, but not taking a step. Then over five years in the water writing and learning.

But on April 4, 2017 Spiritual Prepper releases nationally.

I’m not sure if the Promised Land is on the other side. Maybe at least a royalty check or two, and more than that I hope for a few changed lives.

But I know this and want to share with you — that water you are called to step in, the water that appears scary, the water that seems only to rise — will one day stop.

If God has called you then He will come through. And in the words of rock n’ roller Chris Daughtry, “Be careful what you wish for, ‘Cause you just might get it all.”

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The Ministry of Writing

Correctly Know the Familiar — Seminary in 5: New Testament Survey

Save money. Learn theology. Become a better writer. Minister more effective. That’s my hope for you. In this second year of my column, The Ministry of Writing, I want to take you to seminary — writing seminary. If you have had the chance to go to seminary, then let this be a refresher. If you haven’t please soak up this tuition free theological education given each month in 5 points. God has called you to write. You want to glorify Him and reach the world, but the problem is that we can easily be false teachers and not know it. Therefore, growing and learning in biblical and theological knowledge is vital to your writing ministry.

In the previous Seminary in 5 post, I urged that as Christian writers we would not forget about the Old Testament. You can find that article here. Just as the Bible instructs pastors to preach the whole counsel of God, so should writers. I spend time each week with multiple pastors around the country. One of the issues I have begun to see consistently from pastors and especially members of their churches is that most contemporary Christian preaching focuses on the New Testament. On several occasions I have been told that Old Testament is obsolete all that matters now is the latest half of Scripture. This is far from the truth — unbiblical. We will deal with how the two parts of the Bible interact in the first point, but I believe my findings prove that the New Testament is familiar.

Familiarity often breeds misuse. We feel we have such a handle on interpreting familiar passages and aspects of Scripture that we often fail to adequately study them thoroughly. I realize due to being accustomed to later testament a basic survey is not necessary, so these five points on the New Testament are to point areas in which we can easily develop incorrect views. Please take a moment a consider these points and let them strengthen your writing ministry.

 

  1. The New Testament Did Not Replace the Old Testament.

One common assumption about the New Testament is that it replaced the Old Testament. This far, far from the truth. I could present lots of arguments to express how that is not the case, but I believe one is sufficient. Jesus said that He and His ministry was not a replacement, but a fulfillment of the Old Testament. Jesus’ words are recorded in Matthew 5:17-19, he said,

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:17–19 (NIV84)

“The Law” Jesus refers to is the Old Testament especially the first five books. He says what He was doing and going to do did not replace the first half of the Bible.

Not only did Jesus explicitly give us this insight, but the writers of the New Testament and those who first received those writings understood that the Old Testament under-girded everything in these newer passages. The New Testament is deeply saturated with allusions and direct quotes from the Old Testament. The Book of Revelation can not be understood without having a strong foundation from the major and minor prophets.

Understanding this point helps provide credibility to the Old Testament in present times, but more than that I hope it would provide a framework for interacting with both testaments.

 

  1. The New Testament Does Not Teach the Church Has Replaced Israel.

Following suit with the previous point is this idea that the Christian church in the New Testament has replaced Israel in the Old Testament. The implications to this theological miscue has a huge reach. By taking this view one completely throws away the promises God has given the nation of Israel. Yes, many things that happened with Israel can be applied to our personal walk with the Lord, but God is in no way done with the Jews. He will keep the unconditional covenants that He made with Abraham about the land, and with David about having a descendant on the throne. These will be realized in the coming Millennial Kingdom.

One of the factors that cause people to believe this is that Jesus states that He is making a New Covenant. He does, but this was not a surprise to anyone in His day. The Old Testament prophesized that God would make a New Covenant. This New Covenant would allow them to possess and enjoy the previously made Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. This New Covenant also miraculously involves the Gentiles who had been outside looking in on the promises of God.

In Romans 11:25-27, the Apostle Paul explicitly explains the present relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. The church has not replaced Israel rather the gentiles within the church have been invited to participate in the promises still to be fulfilled to Israel. Here are Paul’s words,

 

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” – Romans 11:25–27 (NIV84)

 

  1. The New Testament Was Canonized.

To fully appreciate the Bible we hold in our hands we must realize that the inspiration of the actual writing of the New Testament books are not the only level of inspiration of this latest testament. But the early church sought the Lord and followed a set of principles to select what writings actually were placed in the New Testament. This process was called canonization. We find even in the readings of the New Testament that there were other letters at that time. There are other works that have survived that time period. All though these other works exist we can confidentially trust that not only were the words guided by the Holy Spirit, but so was the composition of Scripture as a whole.

 

  1. The New Testament Has at Least 4 Divisions.

In the five points from Old Testament Survey, I stressed the importance of recognizing the different genres in that first half of the Bible. Recognizing the style of writing is vital to its interpretation. The New Testament also contains different genres, although these books may share a closer resemblance in style than those in the Old Testament. Many would list more divisions in the New Testament, but I believe there are four to view as essential.

The first four books are called Gospels. They are accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. I will say more about their connection to one another in the final point, but these should be recognized as histories or eye-witness accounts of Jesus’ time on earth. The book of Acts is the history division of the New Testament. It follows from where the Gospels end until the end of Paul’s ministry. The rest of the books are considered epistles and most of them were penned by the Apostle Paul. An epistle was a letter that was circulated throughout multiple churches or multiple home churches. These would have been brought to the church by messenger and then read in its entirety before the body.

I am nearly alone among Bible teachers to include Revelation in the epistles. Most classify the final book as an Apocalyptic book. In that time period there was a “genre” of apocalyptic books. There were certain characteristics that described that type of writings. Revelation definitely fits, but it was circulated as a letter at least to seven particular churches. I find it helpful to approach Revelation as an epistle that way one is encouraged to interpret it more straightforwardly.

 

  1. The Gospels in the New Testament Do Not Contradict Each Other.

There are four books that tell about Jesus’ time on earth — Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John. They are the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, & Luke are very similar and are referred to as the synoptic Gospels. John provides a stark difference. Because each Gospel covers the same time period, but do so differently many have felt they are contradictory. This is far from the case. One of the most helpful tools a student of the Gospels can have is a Harmony of the Gospels. I prefer the classic written by A.T. Roberson. A harmony seeks to show how the events in each Gospel fit with one another.

Although the subject is the same in all four books, they are told from four different eye witnesses. So there are variations, but no contradiction. Also each writer has a different purpose. Matthew writes to prove Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. So he involves a lot of the Old Testament prophecies. Mark seems to stick with just the facts and events. He provides the most action packed Gospel. Luke is focused on sharing with Gentiles Jesus’ humanity. John writes to prove that Jesus is the Son of God. With such different purposes, one can easily see how they would be different.

Conclusion

The Bible has two testaments, but it is one book. It is awe striking how that across so many centuries the Holy Spirit could move human writers to write these works that vitally connect. I can not stress enough how amazing God’s Word is for us. We have in print the reality of this world from its Maker. We need to know it, and then teach it correctly.

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The Ministry of Writing

Know Your Manual — Seminary in 5: Old Testament Survey

Save money. Learn theology. Become a better writer. Minister more effective. That’s my hope for you. In this second year of my column, The Ministry of Writing, I want to take you to seminary — writing seminary. If you have had the chance to go to seminary, then let this be a refresher. If you haven’t please soak up this tuition free theological education given each month in 5 points. God has called you to write. You want to glorify Him and reach the world, but the problem is that we can easily be false teachers and not know it. Therefore, growing and learning in biblical and theological knowledge is vital to your writing ministry.

One of the beauties of being a Christian writer is that we have a manual for all the instruction we provide and all the stories we tell. This manual is, of course, the Bible. Yet, this beautiful resource should also reign us in. For our, writings should be based on an accurate use of that manual. The manual is authoritative and therefore we are not to manipulate it for our own ideas. Therefore, it vitally important that you know your manual. Even the first half of this manual — the Old Testament.

Knowing this manual begins with reading it — reading it all, but we must also go deeper into an intensive study of the Bible. Even when this deeper study occurs sometimes we tend to jump to the details of particular books, passages, narratives, principles, or persons; and, by doing so we miss the big picture. I urge everyone to take a “survey” class or pick up an Old Testament and New Testament survey book. A survey study gives a bird’s eye-view of the text. It helps see the greater picture of what God is up-to and how each individual book fits together. There are also Bible Studies out there that accomplish this task such as The Story and The Gospel Project. The Story focuses on the greater history narrative in how all of the Bible fits together. The Gospel Project aims to trace salvation history throughout Scripture. I highly recommend Paul House and Eric Mitchell’s survey of the Old Testament book. There may be books that give more details, but this book perfectly pieces the books in the Old Testament together.

Here are five key points that you would learn in a survey of the Old Testament.

 

  1. The Bible (therefore, the Old Testament) is about God.

After reading this point, it’s likely you replied, “duh.” But before you skip to the next point, take a minute to think about how you utilize and approach the Bible. You may know the fact that the Bible is about God, but very few people actually approach this supernatural text in such a way. We read the Bible for inspiration, historic truth, or life principles. All of those things are there, but they are secondary.

First and foremost, the Bible is a revelation of the eternal God to his creation. The common cliché, that “It’s not history, but HIS STORY” is so true. The person and nature of God, along with His interaction with mankind is the purpose of His Word. We shouldn’t read “us” so much into the text, but rather look for God to reveal himself to us.

Throughout, the Bible and especially the Old Testament we learn characteristics of God. In the Old Testament, we learn He is the Creator and is sovereign over that Creation. We learn that He is just and punishes sin, but more than anything He desires to show grace, mercy, and love. The list could go on and on. By following, God’s relationship with Israel presented in this testament we receive a large sampling of how God works. The prophet Malachi instructs that God does not change. Our God is the same today as He was in the past.

 

  1. The Bible (therefore, the Old Testament) is Supernaturally Composed .

This is a reiteration of my posts on bibliology and interpretation of the Bible, the Bible was inspired by God. Throughout, the Old Testament this is revealed in notes on each book’s composition. Often the prophets speak on behalf of the Lord when they say, “Thus says the Lord.” We get insight in how God’s people like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and others communicated with God.

This first testament in God’s Word was penned over 1,000 years by over 30 different authors from different backgrounds and locations. This is a task that is impossible by man alone.

I point out the supernatural nature because biblical scholarship has difficulty accepting the prophecy which has been fulfilled, the miracles, and the scientific knowledge displayed. Various explanations are made to undercut these supernatural aspects, but doing so goes against over a millennium of accepted understanding. Many books on the Old Testament that you might pick up would present ideas and conclusions that does discount its transcendent claims.

 

  1. The Old Testament tells of the Special Calling of Israel.

If you read the Old Testament literally and straight-forwardly, it becomes unarguable that God has a special relationship with the nation of Israel. Drastic changes to how one interprets the Bible has to be made for anyone to believe anything on the contrary. For in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, the foundation of the world and all the nations are presented, but following chapter 12 the rest of the Old Testament zeros in on the descendants of Abraham — Israel.

In Zechariah 2:8 and in other similar passages, God declares directly this special relationship. Zechariah 2:8, “For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye’.” This is also seen in the calling of Abraham found in Genesis 12. Then in following passages, this special relationship unfolds. The law is given to them, their history is shared, and prophets come to call them back to God and His law.

This special calling does not cease in the Old Testament, but that section of Scripture makes that calling crystal-clear.

 

  1. The Old Testaments Show the Centrality of the Covenants.

 There are many details and different narratives throughout the Old Testament, but this portion of the BIble cannot be understood apart from the covenants God makes with Israel. Three of these stand out. The Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants provide the background for the direction of history and the words of the prophets. The Mosaic Covenant is a thread that stitches each and every facet of the Old Testament together.

The Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants are unconditional promises God makes to both Abraham and David along with their descendants. We find the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12:1-3. Paul House and Eric Mitchell write in their survey textbook that God promises three things to Abraham. God promises an heir, land, a relationship. It is promised that Abraham’s name would be made great and he would have many descendants. This would require an heir. Next, God swore to give the land in which he would lead Abraham to find. Lastly, this covenant stated that the people of Abraham would be blessed and those who blessed them would also receive that blessing.

The Davidic Covenant is recorded in 2 Samuel 7. This covenant guarantees the lineage of David to be the rightful kings of the nation of Israel. God promises to establish David’s throne forever. Through this covenant the promises to Abraham are reiterated and connected to David.

These covenants are like a computer app that continually runs in the background while the display on the screen frequently changes. The law taught the Israelites how to live in the land, the history books showed the unfolding of these promises, and the prophets constantly referred to these covenants as a source of hope.

The Mosaic Covenant is the law. This covenant is summarized and formalized in Deuteronomy 26 – 30. This covenant was conditional. If the law was obeyed blessings would follow, but if God’s law was broken there would be curses. In the pages of the Old Testament that follow this Mosaic Covenant is front and center. The history books showed this fleshed out. The wisdom books called the people to follow the law. The prophets preached judgment because the covenant had been broken.

 

  1. The Old Testament Consists of Multiple Genres.

 One of the key principles in interpreting the Bible is to realize the different genres that are used. Each genre has its own set of interpretative rules. The Old Testament is full of multiple genres. There are basically four divisions in this first half of Scripture.

Genesis – Deuteronomy presents the Law.

  • Understanding that these five books make up the Law helps in interpretation. This was the foundation on which Israel’s history was judged, and the basis for which the prophets preached.
  • These books are prose, but feature declarative statements of the actual law mixed with narratives of history.

Joshua – Esther are the history books.

  • These are narrative history of Israel.
  • All those these books are prose, they do contain elements of poetry at times.

Job – Song of Songs are the wisdom or poetry books.

  • These books are forms of poetry and lists of short proverbs.
  • It is important to understand their prominent poetry structure, as well as, the nature of wisdom proverbs.

Isaiah – Malachi are the prophets.

  • These are divided into two sections the major prophets and the minor prophets. The only distinction in this classification is their sizes. The 13 minor prophet books were one book in the Hebrew canon.
  • These books contain prose and poetry. Most of them are divided into “oracles” which were spoken messages by the prophets.

Understanding these different genres is vital for the correct interpretation.

 

Conclusion

These points fall flat in capturing all that needs to be known about the Old Testament, but one of the strongest concepts that needs to be taken to heart is that the Old Testament should not be neglected. The Apostle Paul stressed that he preached the “whole counsel” of God. [bctt tweet=”We need to include the “whole counsel” in our writing.” username=””]

So, first of all used the manual God has given us. Then don’t skip the first half, but know this part of your manual.

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The Ministry of Writing

Ministering Through Writing Doesn’t Always Mean You Write

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I am writing this article and you are reading it because we enjoy or at least are comfortable writing. Writing is a safe place for us. It may not have always been a safe place, but after time we become at home at our keyboard.

I also believe you are doing what you are called to do, but ministering through writing doesn’t always mean you write.

[bctt tweet=”To be a faithful writer we have to often do things that are not writing.” username=””] More than likely these things will take us out of our comfort zones and that is okay.

We often need to shut our lap tops and leave the coffee shop to perform tasks that are far different than writing.

Tasks like:

  • Go to a conference
  • Give a speech
  • Have a one-on-one conversation
  • Make a phone call
  • Ask difficult questions
  • Promote
  • Learn social media
  • Make a pitch
  • Go to school
  • Ask for favors
  • Create a website
  • Create business cards
  • Keep up relationship networks

 

And the list could go on. Now, we writers come in all shapes and sizes we are both introverts and extroverts, but I believe mostly introverts. If that is you, you may be fearless — but not me. I have phone-phobia, not much on promoting my own stuff, and find life easier if I can avoid having any contact with other humans. So living in a distant cabin with a Keurig and Pandora writing works for me, but as a Christian writer I am not called to just write — the calling is much, much bigger — it is to be an ambassador of the One True King. Therefore, the message I have been sent to write is important, and I must commit to do whatever it takes to further that message.

So please don’t just write — follow God.

In that He will lead you out of your study and into other tasks, but tackle them with the same fire in which you write. They are one in the same, all ebbing to the same goal. In the same way in which God empowers and sustains you to write He will do the same on the podium or on the phone.

Fulfill your calling — write — but also fulfill your calling by following wherever He leads.

 

 

 

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The Ministry of Writing

Souls Perish from Procrastination in Writing

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One of the most beautiful passages in Scripture that expresses God’s providence, as well as, being one of the most challenging passages to me is Esther 4:14,

             For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family            will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

I am sure you are familiar with the story, but Esther who is a Jew is providentially brought into the position to be the Queen of Persia. Esther’s uncle receives word that a plan was underway to exterminate all of the Jews. He approaches Esther and requests that she speak to the King and intervene on behalf of her people. The words recorded in verse fourteen are the words her uncle used the encourage her. He tells her that God has placed her in her position at the right time for the very purpose of saving her people.

Esther’s privileged position as Queen now is a double-edged sword. She has a dreaded and difficult task of approaching the King. The buck could not be passed she had to be the one to do this, and to cut the suspense — she did it.

But what if Esther had drug her feet?

What if she continued to question God, asking if it really was what He wanted her to do?

What if she lingered praying to make sure she was hearing God right?

What if she spent time waiting on the right words?

What if she didn’t think her speech was good enough and never spoke to the King?

What if she just put the task off?

If she had procrastinated for any period of time, regardless of how good her reason would have been then her people would have perished. Esther had been given a task. It was difficult. It could be considered unfair. She faced it alone. She was in unprecedented territory. She might be mocked. She might even be killed. Esther’s God-given task was vitally important, and so are the words God has told you to write down.

It is easy to feel as if our writing is no big deal and that we have valid excuses, but [bctt tweet=”souls hang in the balance in need of the words we have not put on paper.”]

I just finished a blog post I was “given” over a month ago. Heck, I just began taking writing serious three years ago when I have felt I needed to for fifteen years. I am the chief of procrastinators. I also have good excuses.

  • I am not the best writer.
  • I need to become better at my craft.
  • I am busy as a pastor. I am already doing ministry.
  • My family needs me.

I could go on. All valid excuses. All reasons to procrastinate. All causes for souls to perish.

If God has given you something to say, then it is important.

He gave it to you. Therefore it is your responsibility. At the minimum if you don’t do it, someone else will get that chance.

But even at that souls will perish in the meantime.

But it could be that the message is not given to someone else.

Our procrastination in writing is costly.

Souls hang in the balance. You better get to writing because “who knows but that you have [been given this story or message] for such a time as this.”

 

 

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The Ministry of Writing

Writers are Bad to the Bone

Photo by Pierre Lognoul permitted for reuse.

If you have flown then I imagine you know the feeling. You sit down in your assigned seat and the seat next to you is empty. You then look forward at the stream of passengers working their way to you. Immediately you access their size and hygiene, then you look deep into their eyes. Somehow five to seven rows before yours their eyes will give them away. In my case I see their eyes saying “oh no I have to sit by him.”

A few weeks ago I was in that situation, I saw one of the biggest men I have ever seen and hoped he was not assigned seat 17B. His eyes told me he was.

So next to me sits this mountain of a man. Tall, bowed up, covered in tattoos. Tattoos that said this guy was bad to the bone.

He easily engaged in conversation, as a pastor I can’t let my seat neighbor sit in silence. The conversation immediately went to where he was headed. He was going to a dangerous part of the Middle East to drill for oil. When I suggested that sounded dangerous, he told me about his last job in the jungle where armed guards protected him around the clock. He said it was common to hear of a national being slaughtered by a bush knife. Then to top the machete murders he shared about his time in the Special Forces.

It was somewhere in his second Iraq tour when I began to panic. Knowing he would soon ask where I was headed. In light of his manly stories I dreaded saying I was headed to a writer’s conference. I knew my story would conjure up the intense dangers of paper cuts so I thought about making up something more exciting.

He did ask, and even as I sheepishly told him where I was headed — I knew he couldn’t hang in my world. Because writers are “B-B-B-B-Bad”.

My kids will have a bumper sticker that says, [bctt tweet=”“My Dad can beat up your Dad, because my Dad is an author.””]

Writing is hard work.

When I began working on my first book, I took a week’s vacation. I planned to finish my book in six days 5:30 am until Starbucks closed. At 9:41 pm on the fourth day while finally beginning chapter two, I said to myself, “Writing is ridiculous.” So I Googled “encouragement for authors”, and I found an article that spoke truth into me. In a different phrase not suitable for a column entitled The Ministry of Writing, it said, “Authors are bad to the bone.” It continued, “Regardless if a book gets published if someone finishes a book they are one of the Baddest (Butt) people in the world.”

I smiled and got back to work.

That was two years ago. Those two chapters would get revised over thirty times. Then they were thrown in the thrash when agents encouraged me to go in another direction, which I gladly did because [bctt tweet=”I am a writer and I am BAD TO THE BONE.”]