Falling into Clarity

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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    A friend has been selected by the Presbyterian Writers Guild to receive its 2014 publishing "First Book Award" for his novel set in the Civil War called Nathaniel's Call.

    Bob Andrews, a year behind me in seminary and light years ahead of me as an author, is one of the few clergykinds who has captured my esteem generated by his uncommon authenticity, humility, and Romans 1:16-17 kinda courage.

    Anyway, I read about his award in the 4/21/14 edition of www.churchandworld.com which is the best summary of news impacting modern ministry.  The announcement was at the top with the other important links while my column on "Pauline Envy" was on the bottom with...

    While I'm praising the Lord for Bob being recognized for the charismata entrusted to him and feeling nothing pejoratively egotistical aka envy concomitant to Romans 12:3, I was also a tad amused by the PWG's continuing ignoring of my pawn-on-the-chessboard-of-publishing efforts punctuated by six notoriously non-best-selling books along with a plethora of articles, columns, opines, vents, rages, and so on in professional to anal markets without even an invitation to one of their gigs, a gift card to Starbucks, or recommendation to that foundation in Indy that provides sabbatical relief for me to ride around the nation's perimeter on my iron pony to, uh, get, uh, more information/inspiration for another non-best-seller.

    O.K., they did cooperate with Cokesbury on those two GA book-signings.

    Really, I know my place.

    Seriously.

    It was reinforced just yesterday when I got my most recent royalties check for my last book: $3.94.

    Confirmation.

    That was preceded by a Holy Week of glorious proportions; as we set some attendance records despite a few distractions from the pit of...

    Actually, it all fell into clarity on Easter Day at 5:03 a.m. when I turned on a light to go downstairs into our Fellowship Hall to get some stuff for our first service, the bulb exploded, and I fell about 10' or so head first down the steps.

    Lying on my side, I thought, "I really don't need this...I don't have time to go home to change if I'm bleeding...Hope no bones are sticking out...What the..."

    I prayed, "Lord, are you trying to catch my attention or something?  Is this related to my last column on Pauline Envy?  Am I praying or having an OBE or what?"

    I got up, got the stuff, and did what I'm called to do.

    Confirmation.

    I'm a little sore.

    Body.

    Nothing to do with PWG.

    Later that day, I prayed, "I guess I could have died today, Lord.  I wasn't wearing a helmet.  You just keep me keepin' on so I can try to be faithful to Your call upon my life.  I have no doubts about it/You.  I've still got Pauline envy; but You keep me falling into clarity."

    That's why that award and check didn't bother me.

    I praise God for how He works in the lives of others like Bob and how He works in mine.

    For no better or no worse.

    It's all the same for Christ's sake.

    Contextually, it's a Romans 12 thing.

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Blessings and Love!