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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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| OCTOBER
22, 2003 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
What is your story? We all have one. If you are
a believer, one who professes faith in God and a follower
of Jesus Christ then your story is going to include how
that came to be. Your story and Jesus’ story merge
at this point.
Many people grapple with how they should share their
faith. I see a lot of “guilt-tripping” handed
down to Christians about their responsibility for witnessing.
Certainly we should share our beliefs and our faith and
the Gospel message. Before we utter word one our actions
will go a long way towards creating credibility. However,
there is a place for words. I find that the attraction
of a person really living their faith is very powerful.
Reading about someone’s story (testimony) is also
very effective.
Just some words to chew on. Hope you enjoy this issue
of Living the Solution.
Peace be with you,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature
Article: Real Living Through Fiction
In The Spotlight: Telling Your Story
What's New & Coming Soon: Reviews, Links, etc.
Daily Thoughts & Reflections: Real Love
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Parting Thought: The Baseball Game
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Real
Living Through Fiction
by Tom Gilbert
We are all storytellers at heart.
Or at the very least, we are story listeners. The craft
of storytelling is as old as humankind. Before there
was a written language the elders would use the now mostly
lost art of oral history, often in the form of great
tales of adventure and life. From these many stories
grew myths that contain bits of truth and great lessons
in every culture.
As Christian believers we hold to the Truth of God’s
word passed on to us through Scripture. This truth
is powerful and living. Story tellers (authors and
writers) over the years have discovered the power to
affect us and perhaps move us towards transformation
by taking this timeless truth and weaving it into their
fiction. For some reason, many of us better relate
to these fictionalized expressions of real life.
Is this because we recognize on some level the deep
significance of life’s lessons as we read of
the conflicts and troubles that all characters of great
literature encounter?
For me this is undoubtedly true. Give me a good book
and I’ll easily wile away hours transported into
the world birthed from the vivid imaginations of gifted
writers.
All writers of inspirational fiction aspire to communicate
on a deep level through stories that resonate with
the power of God that lifts the protagonist above the
struggle of their human existence. Good fiction is
believable, interesting, entertaining and relatable.
It is always character driven.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Telling Your Story
Everybody has a story.
Too bad most people never tell it.
You've got a story to tell. It's a special story. Who you are, where
you've been, where you are now and how you got there. This is the story
of your life. You should be writing your life story. Or have someone
do it for you.
Have you ever given much thought to this? Preserving your story for
your family, friends and others; recording it so that you can better
know where you are going by looking at where you’ve been; sharing
your experience, strength and hope – all good reasons. Think about
this. Keep a journal. Write your story. Hire a personal historian.
Here’s another site that addresses this: Your-Life-Your-Story.
(Yes, it is a site I created). Maybe it will give you
some ideas on how to proceed.
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| WHAT'S
NEW & COMING SOON |
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November is National Adoption Awareness Month. It’s
a good time to look at adoption as well as sponsorship
and support of children around the globe.
Some of the new articles on
our site include:
Are You In a Position to be Blessed?
To Be Continued
Be Attitudes
Don't Despise the Day
of Small Things by Dr. Ralph
Wilson
New reviews on the following:
Price of Silence by Staci Stallings
Conceived Without Sin by Bud MacFarlane Jr.
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
Future Reviews:
"How Movies Helped Save My Soul" by Gareth Higgins
“Dawn-Apocalypse Rising” by K.G. Powderly
Jr.
“Next Door Savior” by Max Lucado
”When God Prays” by Skip Heitzig
You can read the various reviews currently on site
at Reviews
New links:
Missionary Politics – you can voice your opinions
on a variety of topics at the forum, including "faith
and freedom", "government and the Bible" and "ministering
in socialist and Islamic countries".
God Help Me Please! – Faith resources, articles
and timely news stories, free Bible software, daily
scripture reflections and much more.
See more at our links page
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Real
Love
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love;
let’s practice real love. This is the only way
we’ll know we’re living, truly living in
God’s reality. (1 John 3:18-19)
Have you ever noticed how much we talk about love? We
love our dog, our country, a movie, a restaurant, a ball
team, our mom, dad, brother or sister, our spouse, boyfriend
or girlfriend, our car, church, and oh yes God. Is it
any wonder that we have a problem under standing what
real love is; what Godly love is, when we over use one
word for all of these different feelings of affection?
Real love, the love John speaks of, is a selfless love,
a love that thinks of and does for others before it does
for itself. It is easy to sit around and read, study,
and talk about selfless love, but to live it that’s
a whole other thing. It’s not in our nature to
be selfless; we are by sin nature a selfish being. If
we are going to practice love, as John encourages us
to do, it must be by living in close intimate relationship
with God, and asking Him for His strength and love to
flow through us. Then and only then we will be able to
practice real love.
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.
Subscribe to Living The Solution
– our free twice monthly e-zine. It will come to your
email box. Your email privacy is protected – we never,
ever give it out!
It is our hope that the content of Living The
Solution will stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly
a result for us in both our writing and reading. If you
would like to see articles on a particular topic or you
have comments please let us know.
Living the Solution respects your rights and privacy. We do not lend, sell or
distribute your email address to other parties. We also will never give out any
personal information without your express permission. You can view our privacy
policy online at www.livingthesolution.com/privacy.htm
If you have questions or comments send an email.
Parting Thought: The Baseball Game
Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball
game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.
The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and
it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued
to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love.
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never
fails.
The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because
Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw
the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball
one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom
never swings at what satan throws.
The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told
him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate
stepped Grace. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!"
Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had
won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock
of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.
He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit
him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued
over the fence for a home run!
The Lord's team won!
The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly
Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Freddy answered
that he did not know why.
The Lord explained, "If your love, faith, and wisdom had won
the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith
and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you Home.
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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