THIS BLOG: SHOULD i LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE AND PACK UP, OR AM I CALLED TO KEEP THIS UP?

These painted dogs (Cincinnati Zoo) are as active as this blog has been the past month!

 Yep, this blog has its ups and downs. At times it has its planned three blogs a week, and sometimes more. Then there are times that it's weeks between entries.

For example, you notice the "Saturday Controversies" series seems to have fizzled. But I also haven't had any interviews posted. There's a few that I sent the questions and never had the answers sent back. There's some I've got set up to send the questions, but just haven't gotten to it. Same with the list of people I'd interview but haven't taken time to ask.

Another "yep" as far as the future of the blog. In times past, the questioning is based on discouragement. This time, time's the reason. I'm debating whether I should keep this up at all, or if I should just aim for one a week. 

I've talked about getting guest bloggers. True, I haven't taken time to ask, but when I do I don't have any takers.

What's the answer? Please pray for me on what I should do with this blog. Thanks. God is able to use it, but He doesn't need me blogging.

I'll close with this - there will be more blogs this month. After all, I've got my end of the year lists!

BOOK REVIEW - "SHADOW CHRISTIANS: MAKING AN IMPACT WHEN NO ONE KNOWS YOUR NAME" BY JEFF IORG

Have you ever felt that you have no impact on the world? I have, even in the age of social media. If you're a Christian, you may feel that you have no value in serving the Lord, and even wonder how God could love a nobody like you (I've often felt that way). 

"Shadow Christians: Making an Impact when No One Knows Your Name" by former president of Gateway Seminary and current President/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee Jeff  Iorg (pronounced like "forge", without the "f") is a major encouragement for those dealing with such thoughts. 

Iorg deals with people in the New Testament that we're familiar with but we don't know their names (e.g. the leper Jesus healed, or the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment), and applies them to us. He divides the book into two parts:
1. God loves Shadow Christians

2. God uses Shadow Christians

This book is written so the everyday Christian can read and follow it, and so they can be encouraged by it. I recommend this book.
 

IT'S THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER! AND THIS COUNTRY (AND THE REST OF THE WORLD) NEEDS PRAYER!!!

At Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis. On the left of the bouquet on the Communion Table is the American flag, and the Christian flag on the right.

First blog in over two weeks, and I get inspiration on the National Day of Prayer!

I'm sure you've been reminded how divided our country is. Are you, like me, sick of all the negative political ads going on, making you wish the election is over? Not unusual for me to feel that way early November, but early May? After the primaries?

For those who aren't in the area, we have an open Governor's race (like many states, we have a term limit on governors, and the current one is finishing his second term), and an open U.S. Senate seat (the incumbent announced two years ago he would be leaving the Senate to run for Governor), as well as all the congressional seats.

Now, I find the Senate race peaceful. Basically because all the Republican candidates except one dropped out, and the two Democrats have been very quiet.  In fact, I haven't heard or seen any ads by Democrats. 

Unfortunately, the Republicans aren't so quiet. There are six candidates for Governor, and some of them have hit the airwaves on how bad the other candidates OF THEIR OWN PARTY are. The one that grieves me is the current Senator is paying for attack ads on a challenger, though he also is running positive ads promoting himself. One of the U.S. Congressional races is no better.

Of course, I'm chuckling. A couple of candidates are using the support of Former President Trump as a reason to elect them. Five months from now, the Democrats may quote those ads as a reason to oppose the same candidate.

I used to like primary elections, though I felt the purpose was to weed out the good candidates. I had seen some Primary fighting - years ago the Marion County GOP leader would send out flyers tearing apart one Republican candidate, but this takes the cake. 

Yes, I'm discouraged. No, I don't think the country's going in the right direction, and the in-fighting of the Republicans is, I believe, hurting their chances of having an influence.

But the solution is to pray! I'm weekly praying for the people currently in office, whether Democrat (which most of them currently are) or Republican. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 encourages us to pray for our kings and those in authority, and to give thanks for all people. 1 Peter 2:17 tells us to honor all people and to honor the King. (You want to hear a bad joke? It's those who say that we have a President, not a King, so we're not obligated to honor and pray for them.)
 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 13 OF 48 - PSALM 60

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Indianapolis

1    O God, You have cast us off;
     You have broken us down;
     You have been displeased;
     Oh, restore us again!
2   You have made the earth tremble;
     You have broken it;
     Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
3   You have shown Your people hard things;
     You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
4   You have given a banner to those who fear You,
     That it may be displayed because of the truth.
                                                                    Selah

5   That Your beloved may be delivered,
     Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
6   God has spoken in His holiness:
     "I will rejoice;
     I will divide Shechem
     And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
7   Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
     Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
     Judah is My lawgiver.
8   Moab is My washpot;
    Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
    Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me."

9   Who will bring me to the strong city?
     Who will lead me to Edom?
10  Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
     And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
11  Give us help from trouble,
     For the help of man is useless.
12  Through God we will do valiantly,
     For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
                    Psalm 60:1-12, New King James Version

One fascinating tidbit - Psalm 108 is a combination of part of Psalm 57 and the last seven verses of this Psalm. A second is that I remember a worship chorus based on the final verse.

This Psalm deals with the Psalmist feeling Israel has been cast off, which is obvious in the first three verses as well as verses nine and ten. There are times we feel that way as well.

What is the answer? The final two verses of this verse gives us two facts to remember.

1. Man's help is useless. Our help doesn't come from man's ideas or man's activities. Some of that human philosophy comes from people who want to help, and some comes from people who want to manipulate, but that is at best flawed and fallen and at worst in opposition to God's ways.
2. God/Christ needs to be our help when we're in trouble. He is willing and able to help, and anything we accomplish is from Him.

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 7 OF 48 - PSALM 27

Christmas "plate" - A Thomas Kinkade painting with lights in the windows.

1  The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    Whom shall I fear?
    The LORD is the strength of my life;
    Of whom shall I be afraid?
2  When the wicked came against me
    To eat up my flesh,
    My enemies and foes,
    They stumbled and fell.
3  Though an army may encamp against me,
    My heart shall not fear;
    Though war should rise against me,
    In this I will be confident.

4  One thing I have desired of the LORD,
    That will I seek:
    That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    All the days of my life,
    To behold the beauty of the LORD,
    And to inquire in His temple.
5  For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;
    In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;
    He shall set me high upon a rock.
6  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
    Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
    I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
    Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8  When You said, "Seek My face,"
    My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
9  Do not hide Your face from me;
    Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
    You have been my help;
    Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
    Then the LORD will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
    And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
    For false witnesses have risen against me,
    And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
    That I would see the goodness of the LORD
    In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
    Be of good courage,
    And He shall strengthen your heart;
    Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:1-14, New King James Version

 This is a popular Psalm, for good reason; it's one of my favorites. And the last two verses have been a reflection of my heart for decades. But let me make one point on this.

From the first verse on, it's full of the Psalmist's confidence. But when I read the whole Psalm, I don't see that confidence being consistent. In verse 7, David's asking God to hear him and be merciful to him. Two verses later, and there's requests for God not to hide His faee, turn him away in His anger, or leave or forsake him.

This reflects the Christian life. There are times I have a head full of knowledge that God will keep me yet my heart doesn't have assurance. But we need to remember that God has promised to deliver us; we need to bring our experience and emotions in line with Scripture, not the other way around.

Permit me to close this blog with a pair of housekeeping items for this series.

1. WHAT  YOU  MAY HAVE NOTICED. I have been going in order for the Psalms, with the first half dozen being 1, 4, 11, 12, 18:22-28, and 20. And part 7 is ... 27? Did I skip a particular, highly popular Psalm that's half way (more or less) between 20 and 27? Good eye, but it's not skipped or ignored. I'm saving it for later in this 48 part series.
2. WHAT I  HAVE NOTICED. I have been using Bible Study Tools and copied the Psalm, as opposed to typing out the whole Psalm. It took working on over half a dozen of this series to realize something: The Bible Study tools do not capitalize "Lord." Let me explain. There are three Hebrew words referring to God: Elohim, translated "God;" Adonai, translated "Lord;" and Yahweh, God's personal name, which the Jews won't say because the name is too holy, and many English translations will translate as LORD (all caps) or, when used with Adonai, as GOD. Well, when I'm using that set-up, then you can't tell when the text reads Yahweh. 😭
   

Friends Of The Prophets And What Is Our Focus?

  

Jon Wyclif giving the "poor priests" his translation of the Bible by William Fredericks Yearnes The "poor priests" (aka the Lollards) distributed Wyclif's translation of Scriptures in an age prior to printing presses.

 

Raise your hands if you noticed the blog's new name! Funny, I don't see any hands.

In a post about two weeks ago, I mentioned I debated changing the blog's names, and gave the two options :

1. Keeping the original name "Faith, Facts and Fiction."
2. Changing it to "Friend of the Prophets."

You would not believe the response I had (or maybe you would). After the days (or was it seconds) of counting the votes, my vote proved to be the tiebreaker. (Zero to zero is considered a tie, isn't it?) 

What is the idea behind that name? Because those that fill the role of a prophet are often friendless, but I have a desire to be a friend to those types of people. And you'll notice the new title is in the plural? My hope is that I not only encourage fellow believers on the front line of Spiritual Warfare, but I also encourage others to join me.

But what does it matter? Does it matter if I change the blog's name? Does it matter if I write this blog? Does it matter if anybody reads it?

Would you believe me it's discouraging for the blog to more often than not land in the lower single digits on people who see it? (That's when I post it on my Facebook page, otherwise it wouldn't have any.) I'm sure you have discouragements about your endeavors at times, asking yourselves "What's the use?"

The reality is WHY am I taking the time to do this? Is it to build my platform for writing? Even more so, is it so that my name means something?

I'm rereading The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer, and the chapter I read today deals with that issue. Is God the ultimate reason for what we're doing, or are we trying to build our own kingdom?

Hopefully, this blog not only has a new name, but a new direction on the part of the blogger.

A Question For My Readers, or "1,000 Words A Day?!"

 I started this blog almost a year ago. At first, I thought of doing it weekly. Then, I thought of things to add that made it four times a week. And the reality? Weekly was a nice goal. Monthly is a little closer to reality.

I also will admit - maybe blogs are past their prime. The blogs that had the best response were those where I interviewed someone else, and all the friends of that someone else came to check it out for that interview.

So for months I've been between forgetting about this blog and thinking about this blog. Writing it was in another dimension. Maybe the Twilight Zone. Maybe the place a fast-food co-worker mentioned: The Fry Light Zone.

Well, I happened to read a pair of summaries on books about blogging. I have yet to read them, but they're on the list. I don't know how they differ, but both agreed on this:

You should contribute to your blog daily. Preferably 1,000 words each post.

Okay.

So should I get back on and give a daily submission to a non-existent audience? Or should I give up?

My goal is the former.

One thing I'll check on doing is changing the name. I came up with a quick name, and I'll confess that while I wanted to get the essence of the purpose of this blog, I didn't think a lot about it. I have another name in mind, and it also fits once you know where I'm coming from, but it may be more vague.

So, though I might be stuck with the name, I'll ask you, reader, the question. Which do you like better? And I'll give the rationale for the titles.

FAITH: FACTS AND FICTION (Current name). No, I am not at all questioning whether faith is fact or fiction. Rather, the purpose is dealing with faith - even some apologetics - and doing it through preaching by pastors and apologists and the like and through artists like novelists and songwriters. Or...

FRIENDS OF THE PROPHETS. By prophets, I'm not talking about people predicting things, but those who communicate the Word of God, and again that includes traditional preaching/teaching and via the arts.

So what are your thoughts on those titles?

DR. EEYORE AND MR. TIGGER? OR IS IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND?

 

"You are Winnie the Pooh, and you've won free professional counseling. Since you are well adjusted, you don't need them for yourself. So do you give them to gloomy Eeyore or to bouncy Tigger?"

This was a Table Topics question presented at a Toastmasters meeting I attended fifteen years ago. (Table Topics is a portion where one Toastmaster asks questions to other members and with no prep time they give a one to two minute answer.)

No, I wasn't the one who received this question. But I did come up with an answer: Neither. I would rather get Eeyore and Tigger to work together so they would help balance each other out, and give the counseling sessions to grouchy Rabbit.

But would my idea (the one of pairing Eeyore and Tigger, not the one of sending Rabbit to the shrink) actually work? Or would they irritate each other so much that it would make both worse? 

While you're trying to pin that tail on the donkey, one possible title for my autobiography would be "Dr. Eeyore and Mr. Tigger", with apologies to Jekyll and Hyde. Of course, that would assume that in reality I'm an Eeyore, who changes into a Tigger alter ego. Is that correct? Or is it vice versa, with Tigger being the real me, convinced that I'm really Eeyore instead?

Whichever is the case, this year has brought out my inner Eeyore, with Tigger quarantined - all the social distancing and stay at home orders took the bounce out of him. COVID-19 and the elections are factors, but they aren't alone - this has been a year of change in many ways. 

I don't want to go into all that's going on, but I want to deal with the artist part of me. I finally dusted off my novel, re-worked it, and submitted it to some potential publishers and agents. And I'm still with it published. I would have loved for my Dad to have been able to read the published book, but he passed away last year. I'm wondering if it's that I just haven't reached the goal line, or is it that I'm either not a publishable author or that my WIP (Work In Progress) for the past fourteen years won't have enough of an audience to get the support of a publisher or agent?

Add to this that I'm a former songwriter, visual artist, and ceramist. I've done some drawings off and on (including my favorite characters, posted about a month ago), but I've been too busy with my novel and other activities over the last few decades to write songs, and I haven't touched clay since taking a college level ceramics class in Spring of '78 (unless you count getting to play with Play-Dough once in '86). 

To be honest, this blog hasn't been the most encouraging either. Part of it is time. My goal is to have four blogs a week, and I'm doing well when I get one up. Another part is that I'm still not having a regular readership, with many blogs in the low single digits of being viewed, and even fewer comments. 

May I ask you to help in one of the following ways? 

• First and foremost, please pray for me, that the Lord directs me. 
• If anybody wants to read a few chapters of my novel, and let me know if they want to read more, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! And should you want to read the rest of it, I'd be glad to let you.
• Please pray for this blog. Should I keep on, or give it up? And if you want to read regularly and leave comments at times, it would be appreciated.

Thank you very much for reading this blog.

Have You Encouraged Your Favorite Author/Musician/Minister/Friend Lately?

Has anybody found 2020 to be disappointing, discouraging, depressing, or all of the above?

So I'm not the only one?

I want whatever I do to be for God's glory, and not mine. Which leaves me struggling with the novel I started in '07 and am still trying to get published. Am I seeking its publication for God's glory or for me to have the sense of accomplishing something? 

Even if it's for the former reason, is it what God wants me to spend the time writing and editing and rewriting and re-editing and submitting to one or two or three hundred editors/agents hoping I finally cleared the hurdle? Or is it taking the time from what God really wants me to be doing?

I feel the same way with my Facebook posts and even this blog. Is it impacting anybody? There are times when the response to my contributions is drowned out by the chirping of the crickets and even the noisy communication of passing by of a herd of giraffes. Oh, and a free zoology lesson - giraffes make no sound - they're mute.

I gave an alliterated adjective list above, and I could add a fourth - debilitating. Sometimes those concerns can paralyze me.

First, let me say that anybody trying to accomplish something feels the same way, be they a novelist, a non-fiction author, a musician, a pastor, a missionary. I have a hunch anybody reading this (all three of you?) occasionally asks the same questions. We all need encouragement.

Second, let me give one thing that helps me, and that is encouraging others, hopefully giving them an oasis in the desert of the 'd' adjectives previously mentioned.

Do you have a favorite author (fiction or non-fiction)? You can encourage them by corresponding with them. An Amazon review would also help - I try to write my reviews pointing out the specifics of why I enjoyed the book. So can mentioning it on Facebook and getting the word out. I've had the honor of being mentioned in acknowledments of books by Kerry Nietz and Donna Fletcher Crow.

Similar methods help with musicians and other artists. Tod Moses, a musician friend of mine, has commented that I remember some of his compositions that he's forgotten. If it's a local singer, make a request for something they've written. I also have brightened the spirits of artists like my church-planting painting friend Kerry Jackson by mentioning art by them that moved me.

The same is true with ministers. I have a hunch that pastors are blessed when they see someone take notes and then make comments or even ask questions as a result. (Another way is staying awake during the sermon, one which I need work with at times.) Also, missionaries are blessed by correspondence as well.

Are there various things you do to encourage others, including authors, musicians, ministers, and the like? Do you have any story of how you have blessed someone else's life, or how somebody else encouraged you?