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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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| OCTOBER 1, 2003 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
Spreading the Gospel message through writing has been a
gift handed down to us over the ages. The words of Scripture
inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by human hands
is an example of this. There have been countless books
written that expound upon the Good News and put the Message
in a way that we can connect with.
I certainly grow by reading such books. There is another
way that the written word can bring us new insight and
understanding. It is through the power of well-written
fiction. It’s a continuation of the method Jesus
used, that of parables and stories. Fiction that has
at its core the Christian principles in living can reach
us in powerful ways. This month we look at this more
closely. The craft of story can reach many who might
not be willing yet to pick up a Bible.
There is also the life that you live that can be a story
of faith lived and learned and shared with others. Life
stories in the form of memoir, testimony, autobiography
and biography has the power to change us. When others
overcome trials and are transformed and then share that
story with us in written form it helps us in our journeys.
Are you writing down your story?
Peace be with you,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature
Article: Are
You in a Position to be Blessed?
In The Spotlight: Powerful Stories
What's New & Coming Soon: Reviews, Links, etc.
Daily Thoughts & Reflections: Quick…and Slow
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Qualities of Friendship
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Are
You in a Position to be Blessed?
by Curtis C. Mosley © 2003
When I was a boy growing up
in the Deep South, I occasionally went fresh
water fishing in the bayous near my home. As directed
by the more experienced fishermen, I learned to cast
a top water fly close to the appropriate target in the
hopes of attracting a large mouth bass; likely under
a low hanging branch or fallen tree. Over the years,
I was as successful as my companions and considered myself
an able fly fisherman.
Many years later, I moved to Georgia, near the Florida border. As I met new people,
I noticed that many of my friends had large stuffed bass on their walls, much
larger than those I had caught in my home state. Soon I had the opportunity to
go fishing with a friend from church. This older gentleman, an experienced and
successful angler, used an entirely different method than I had learned. Rather
than casting flies on top of the water, he used sinking lures that he cast near
the bank and retrieved rhythmically, raising and lowering the lure in the water
as he reeled it in. Sure enough, that morning he caught a prize bass.
What I discovered was that, despite years of fishing, I didn’t know much
about catching the big ones. And to top it off, I had not been fishing in the
best place! Let’s just say that, in Georgia and Florida, five to ten pound
bass are much more common than where I come from.
Read the entire article here
Curtis Mosley is an independent business owner,
college faculty member, and founder of Christians
In Business. Additionally, he is the author of
RainCatcher, Help from Above for Entrepreneurs.
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Powerful Stories
The stories of people who truly take the Gospel message
to heart and follow Jesus can be very inspiring. This is especially true
when we find out how they started in life and what great choices they made
that produced change – change that can influence us.
There are some links to some inspiring books about such people as Francis
of Assisi, Wilber Wilberforce and Mother Theresa (to name a few) at our
Spotlight Specials page. Go there when you get an opportunity.
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| WHAT'S
NEW & COMING SOON |
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In October we are examining fiction as evangelism and
life story writing. Have you read books that express
God’s love and our struggles through powerful
life-affirming living? Have you given much thought
to what your story is? It’s a great idea to
preserve it so that you can share your experience
with others.
Some of the new articles on
our site include:
To Be Continued
Be Attitudes
Don't Despise the Day
of Small Things by Dr. Ralph
Wilson
Wants and Needs
New reviews on the following:
The Love Languages of God by Gary Chapman
Rocket Readers from Heather Gemmen and Mary
McNeil
Finding
God Where You Least Expect Him by
John Fischer
Pierced by a Sword by Bud MacFarlane, Jr
Future Reviews:
"How Movies Helped Save My Soul" by Gareth Higgins
"Price of Silence" by Staci Stallings
”Conceived Without Sin” by Bud MacFarlane
Jr.
“Dawn-Apocalypse Rising” by K.G. Powderly Jr.
“Next Door Savior” by Max Lucado
You can read the various reviews currently on site
at Reviews
New link:
Pathways for Living – Practical Approaches to
Health, Wealth, and your Success. The Mission of PATHWAYS
for Living™ is to help
people improve their lives by providing simple, easy
to follow systems or "PATHWAYS" that will
lead them to the fulfillment they desire.
See more at our links page
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Quick…and Slow
But each of you must be quick to listen, slow to speak,
and slow to be angry. For a man's anger cannot promote
the justice of God. (James 1:19-20)
You have heard that you have two ears and one mouth; that
is the ratio of the time you should spend listening as
to talking. James is saying basically them same thing.
We are to focus our energy on listening and take time;
give thought to our response before we give it. And we
are to be slow to becoming angry. (Ever hear of road rage?)
So why does James wants us to do this?
Living in this world, and our culture, it is so easy
to start reacting to things the way the world does instead
of acting and responding with thought and purpose the
way God wants us to. But we are called, by God, to be
different; we are to be a mirror; to reflect God's image,
His personality to the rest of the world. Reacting to
events in our lives the way the world would does not
show them that there is a better way to live; a more
peaceful way to live. Plus if we really get to the root
of it when we respond to events that happen to us in
a manner other than what James describes we are responding
from a self-centered perspective; you hurt me, offended
me and I am going to let you know about it. The focus
is on us not others.
If we truly are God's people then we need to live like
it and do as He had instructed; think of others before
ourselves and reflect His love to the world that they
might come to know Him.
In His grace
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does. Only those who've never truly tried
it with the proper intentions would say otherwise. We
want to pray for you and your needs. If you have a specific
request let us know at prayer requests.
Of course, we keep you information confidential.
We also like to share testimonies of answered prayers
at prayer results.
You can send us your testimony by
email. Use our form
at contact us.
If you do not want your name to be listed simply let
us know.
By sharing God's love and how He helps us you encourage
others in a powerful way.
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would like
to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
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If you have questions or comments send an email.
Quotable: Qualities
of Friendship
"True friends reveal their thoughts freely, advise justly,
help willingly, take risks boldly, endure everything patiently,
defend courageously, and continue to be friend unchangeably."
- William Penn from "Some Fruits of Solitude"
Copyright 2003 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105
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Practical
Biblical Solutions for life's challenges |
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The Love Languages
of God
by Gary Chapman
read the review
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