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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Writer's Challenge (NOT the FaithWriters Challenge) (06/10/10)
The gray haired minister sits with his back to a tree. A daily visitor to this forest and this particular tree but today he brings a visitor: his laptop.
Watching and listening to the nearby stream he meditates on God, the Creator of all this beauty. Wondering how someone so omnipotent could be interested in him, his amazement brings his faith to the surface and he begins to talk to his Saviour.
“Okay Lord, how do I answer his question? Lord you called me to preach 34 years ago and the only reason I ever gave anyone was that you called me. Do I need more? You know what’s going on, after all these years of writing nothing more than sermon outlines I feel you tugging at my heart to write, I sign up for a writing class and on day one the teacher tells us to write 500 words on why we want to write.”
Opening his laptop the man of God begins to type.
I need to write because God has called me to write.
“Eleven words Lord, only 489 more. God, I don’t think this is what the professor is looking for.”
With the highlighting of the sentence and a press of the delete key the eleven words are gone.
“Lord, I expected going back to school after all these years, even for just one class wouldn’t be easy but I did not expect a challenge like this on day one.”
Several minutes pass as the Pastor watches the water flow down the nearby creek.
“Is it the challenge Lord? Is that why I write? Is that why you called? People are going to hell. Christians struggle with sin every day, so many Christians fall to temptation so often, that many times it’s impossible to tell the difference between the righteous and the wicked. Lord, your word needs spread to every nook and every cranny in the world and if I can write a short story, a tract, a novel, a Bible commentary, a magazine article that helps the lost see your salvation or help Christians live a holy and righteous life then my writing has met its purpose. My “why” is you and my neighbor. The task before me, the challenge of every Christian, my calling is you and others.”
With hands back on the keyboard, the fingers begin to flow.
I write because God has called me to spread His word. I can scream from a housetop but more can read it in a magazine. I can preach a series of sermons but more can read it in a book. God has called me to preach and now He has called me to write, not because I am talented, not to provide me with an income but as one small tool in His tool chest to help bring lost souls to life, to help fix broken hearts and lives, to help repair the damaged testimony of Christians.
“Well, Lord, it’s not 500 words but it is more than eleven and it looks like a good start. Please Jesus help me keep perspective that the challenge of my life, getting the gospel out to as many as I can in as many ways that I can is the challenge of everything I do, everything you have commanded me to do. Dear Lord please guide me in all this. May I write only words that are pleasing to you and fulfill your will? Help me meet the challenge of being a writer by helping me meet the challenge of being a Christian. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.”
Among the singing of the birds, the bubbling of the creek and the crack of a squirrel chewing on a nut is the sound of a keyboard pounding out 403 more words that spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 872 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/19/10
You make so many wonderful points. This is a message that needs to be heard.

I think it'll be easier to read if you double space between paragraphs. You might also want to put your talks to Jesus in italics and possibly even the words written on the laptop. This will make it easier for the reader to understand and follow your work.

A message this good needs to be out there. I'd hate to think some people might skip over it because the lack of white space. Keep listening to God and keep spreading His message through your wonderful words.
Sara Harricharan
06/20/10
You did good with the atmosphere here. The message is indeed excellent. The "Why" sometimes is the hardest part of the challenge of a writer and sometimes it's the one most easily forgotten when in the throes of inspiration or creative slump.

I like the setting you had here, taking it and bridging the gap between technology and the Lord. I could picture the writer sitting down, musing and thinking, while having this conversation and his laptop nearby. Good touch of reality!
Colin Swann
06/21/10
Your piece of writing gives the priority reason why Christians should be writing - sometimes we get carried away on a dodgy diversion - we need this teaching to keep us on track - Thanks - Colin.
Ann Stocking
06/21/10
Lovely message - wonderful imagery.

(Double space between paragraphs to help make it "reader friendly.")
Catrina Bradley
06/21/10
I love the forest setting, and the old pastor sitting with God and His creation, having a conversation with Him. And the message is wonderful--one I need reminding of too often.
Susan Montaperto
06/22/10
It is a wonderful story, with a life-saving message. But white spacing is definitely needed to make it easier to read. Keep writing and God bless.