The message in How to be a Christian in Today's World is one that God had been developing in my heart and my wife's simultaneously. We would begin to talk about something and start sharing what we had been thinking and it was always the same. That gave me the confirmation that this was indeed a message that God was giving me.
I wrote it much like I do a sermon. I knew what the starting point was. But as I wrote and researched, sometimes I would hear something new or different. Many paragraphs or even chapters ended up being completely deleted as the manuscript took shape. Sometimes I feel that the Lord is calling me in a completely different direction. Then I explore that and do my research share what I find and am convicted to write. The tugging to get out this message came from hearing the pain of many people. Some had been warming a pew for more decades that I've been alive and felt something was off for them. Others were either wanting to serve and move forward but held back by their guilt or shame. Something that we've seen is that in an attempt to help people and minister, many churches emphasize one message. Often its either Grace or Obedience. The problem is that when either message is the entirety of your belief system the true beauty of why God made you and wants you to grow in this life is lost. Of course, I hope you'll read How to be a Christian in Today's World and share it through giving a copy to someone or leaving a review, or better yet, both. But more than that, I hope that you will find the true beauty of God's amazing love for you and live in the glory of being in relationship with Him.
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Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/people/99858941@N00 I opened my eyes at 6:19 this morning. That had been akin to zero dark thirty not long ago. But I've been waking on my own as early as 6:00 most days lately. It's pretty rare the alarm clock has the opportunity to do it's job. (OK, an app on my phone, but let's not nitpick.)
As soon as I opened my eyes, I thought I woke to a knocking on my door. So, I got to vertical quicker than normal but only as quickly as this body allows. I went outside and went out to the front of the drive to check the van door. (It's a thing, don't ask.) Then I looked out and perched on the mountain across the way was the constellation Orion. I immediately grinned and said, "Thanks God! That's worth getting up for." A friend in college that I probably never let know what kind of friend I wanted to be told me, "With good friends, I like to pick out a star. Then when we see it, we'll always remember each other." I am thankful for that memory and her friendship. Because of that, Orion always held a special place in my heart. And as I held my young daughter in my arms, what seems like yesterday, we loved looking at the stars. And Orion was the first constellation I taught her and it's her favorite too. All week though, I've just found myself having very thankful moments or just a general attitude of thankfulness. Last week, I reached out to a couple of my mentors because I was struggling with a decision. I felt like I had to make a decision about ministry and where I would be putting my time and efforts. When I reached Dr. Tippie, he said, "Take that burden off yourself!" He made me realize there didn't need to be a decision. I was weighing down my own heart simply because I was creating a dilemma in my own head. We do that you know. Instead, he said I needed to take the work God gave me and enjoy it. The words of Solomon echoed in my head. (ECC 5:18-20) So, I've been grateful. Monday, I approved the final details of the book for the publisher to go ahead. And I've been checking Amazon daily even though I know it's too early for it to show up yet. That brought a wave of thankfulness for the cadre of friends that encouraged me and helped with getting the book published. Then I was thankful as I remembered the friendship of each of them. And of course, on Thursday I was so thankful when my mother-in-law made a comment about this feeling like the most normal family dinner we've had in a long time. And I'm so thankful for the hands that translated my wife's love and skill into finished dishes. There's so much to be thankful for. We just sometimes have to get out of our own way to see it. I'm thankful that Dr. Tippie gave the counselor his own advice, because standing in the cold for 30 seconds to see a constellation that feels like an old friend should be a blessing to be thankful for. How to Be a Christian in Today's World is currently in the formatting stages and should be available online within a couple of weeks. I can only hope that the message will reach many hearts and encourage God's people.
While I continue to counsel, I continue to write. The first draft of When God Says No: Finding Glory in the Ashes is complete and I'm excited to see how it develops. It's a personal journey through learning how to see both how He moves and indeed His Glory in the darkest of times. And a project is in the planning stages regarding marriage counseling. I'm really looking forward to getting the help of my mentor and friend, Dr. Robert Tippie on that one. So please stay tuned! |
AuthorRev. Matthew Hogan has 30+ years of experience in ministry and is now bringing God's messages as an author. Archives |