Where I've Been
Since I started this Substack, my note taking apps and journals have been full of ideas about what I could be doing and how I should do it. Unfortunately, I haven't done anything with all that writing. Basically, I've been doing a lot of vague writing about writing.
My pastor recently preached a message about how our passions and interests intersect with the will of God for our lives. God gives some people interests that would bore me, just like there are things I find exciting that others would find weird. Each of these passions and interests are directly related to the plan God has for my life. His ultimate plan for my life is vocational ministry, but He is showing me how many different ways I can carry out that plan.
Through much prayer and counsel, I've finally concluded that part of that plan for me is to be writing something. However, discovering your purpose doesn't mean living your purpose will always be easy or that every step you take will be clear. It involves hard work, but hard work is a gift from God and therefore a good thing. These next steps are what I've been thinking of lately.
Begin With An Audience In Mind
I finally realized my biggest hurdle to getting started: I lacked a clear audience. For example, who is my ideal reader? What topics interest him? The details will always be a work in progress, but I plan to write with my former self in mind. I've had an interesting intellectual journey and God has given me a lot to think about, so I'm going to write about that.
This all started with interest in the intersection of theology and politics. I've thought a lot about how what we believe (as Christians) should change our politics and why it often doesn't. Unfortunately, it's hard to find a satisfying framework beyond "read your Bible and pray for wisdom." This is good advice, but it's not enough. God answers our prayers for wisdom through His word, and His word says a lot about how His people should live together in society.
However, we have to move beyond day-to-day political stuff and toward how our beliefs should affect everything about the world, not just politics. If we take it seriously, Scripture must produce change in our lives and our culture. That's the kind of stuff I want to explore. I'll write the things I wish I could have read at various stages of my journey but never did, either because I couldn't find them, or they didn't exist.
Framework For The Future
God is narrowing my focus by giving me the structure that I need to pursue here. On that note, here's what you can expect from me when you subscribe to my Substack.
Weekly Digests
We've created a public square out of social media, and the consequences have been good and bad. But once you leave Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you'll find interesting people proposing ideas with the potential to benefit the culture and the Kingdom of God. My Weekly Digests will connect you to these ideas. Every Saturday, I'll publish a rundown of the best content I read, heard, or watched that week and show you why it matters. You'll get this in your inbox for free when you subscribe.
From The Shelves
Nonfiction books represent well thought out ideas, something the culture and even the Church is quickly losing an appetite for in favor of social media hot takes. Fiction, or at least good fiction, translates abstract concepts into what speaks to us in a deeper way: story. From The Shelves introduces you to the books that help me grow, and even the books I’ve read but maybe wish I hadn't. Expect From The Shelves at least twice a month. Just like the Digests, you'll receive this in your inbox for free when you Subscribe.
Essays
Writing essays in school was always a chore because it was just an assignment for a grade, but I've recently understood their true value.
The primary reason to write an essay is so that the writer can formulate and organize an informed, coherent, and sophisticated set of ideas about something important.
Jordan Peterson
Sharing cool stuff and reviewing books is fine, but that's only playing with the ideas of others. Making an original contribution that honors God requires me to formulate my own ideas and learn to communicate why they matter. That's what I'll do with Essays, and you can expect at least one of those per month.
Scripture Journals
Lastly, I will occasionally publish Scripture Journals. They won't be too fancy; just the occasional insight into what God is teaching me as I study scripture. There won't be a set schedule for these, but you'll find them here when they're published, just like everything else.
My Theme For 2023
This is a new way to use the passions and interests God's given me. I may not have all the details, but I am looking forward to what's ahead in 2023 because I'm confident this is something that's part of my purpose and therefore something I must do.
I hope you'll join me on the journey!