Jonah Vine

Jonah 4:6 Then the Lord provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was happy. Remember what happened to Jonah after he finally went to Nineveh? He sat back and rested under a vine that God gave him. And when that [...]

Time for God

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17 Christian writers have to make time for God – it’s part of the job description. What do you do when you get a story idea while reading Scripture? I know how some would answer [...]

Interrupted by the End of the World

Admit it, it’s okay. As a writer you know your craft requires years of, early mornings over a keyboard,a nd approximately 6000 gallons of coffee before you even get your first hand written rejection letter. But as a Christian, you know that our tour of duty here on terra firma is temporary at best, often [...]

Thoughts on Passion

It’s a popular perception of writers, based at least a bit in reality, that we tend toward the eccentric. Maybe even a little obsessive. We’re known for things like keeping odd hours and stashing pens and paper in the car or on the nightstand; for saying things like “That’d make a great story,” or “I [...]

Being Great for God

When we think about being “great” for God, most think about participating in great programs and projects while greatly utilizing our talents, abilities and natural strengths. We think of doing. But I don’t think that’s right. It seems to me WHO we are as individuals is of greater importance than WHAT we try to do. [...]

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

  “Where do you get your ideas?” Why is this seemingly innocent question so often cited as the most annoying to creative people? As the first question to come to mind, it is over-asked and comes out sounding thoughtless, both of which are enough to make it bothersome. Beyond that, questions about ideas are difficult [...]

Is it Important to Know the Future?

It was a Sunday morning of my writing weekend. I had just finished a rather good word count and went back and forth about debating whether or not to miss my church’s new series on Jesus, but figured I could catch it on the web. So I flipped through the channels of the hotel television, [...]

Empty My Hands

Our family is in an odd spot. We’re between normals, if “normal” ever actually exists for us. As we leave one stage and embark on the next, I have no idea how my days will form. What will they include? Which path will they take? As it is now, I’m impatient to get this over [...]

Look Up and Enjoy My Present

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalm 139:13-14 Everyone in my family, except my brother, has to wear reading glasses. Our vision is good, but it’s hard to make out words, details [...]

Getting the Words Right

Ernest Hemingway famously said that the problem with completing his classic novel A Farewell to Arms was “getting the words right.” The sentiment resonates with every writer once in a while. Sometimes the words don’t come. The blank page mocks. The perfect phrase dances away, teasing and frustrating from the edge of consciousness. Creativity feels, [...]

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