I’ve written a weekly column that’s appeared in my hometown newspaper, The Parkersburg Eclipse/News, for over 45 years. That’s 52 columns for each of those 45 years, over 2,250 columns. I’m also grateful that a few other newspapers along the way have decided to publish some of what I write.
If I had but one more column to write, I’d want folks to know what are the core beliefs that have motivated my writing over the years. Let me state those beliefs in something of a succinct and logical order. I believe…
…Everything that exists does so because God made it. To me this is easier to believe than that it all exists without anyone making it.
…God made us, meaning us people, a very special part of His creation. He used His own nature as something of a template when He made us, so that we could be in a relationship with Him.
…We have misused this freedom to love Him by failing to love Him rightly, as well as those He’s placed around us, as He intended. It’s sinful what we have done, and it’s alienated us from God.
…God was not surprised by our falling into sin, and He always had a plan to make a way back to Him. He entered human history as one of us. It’s the event marked “Christmas” on our calendars.
…His primary purpose in joining us as one of us was not to show us or teach us a better way but to BE the better way. Evil, from a righteous perspective, needs to be dealt with, punished, paid for. God took care of this Himself. It’s the event that’s marked as “Good Friday” on our calendars. The death of Jesus was His giving His life for those willing to be rescued by Him.
…Jesus bounced back from the grave, alive again, marked as “Easter” on our calendars. For me this is the final piece of proof that He’s to be taken far more seriously than we take any other person, including ourselves.
…My decision to accept His forgiveness, His leadership for my life, and a relationship with Him unlike any other relationship I could possibly have is the best decision I’ve ever made. It has eternal ramifications.
This is what I believe, and it drives my writing. These beliefs are not overtly stated in every sentence, paragraph, or even every article that I’ve written. But if you’ve read at least some of my stuff over the years, then I hope what I believe doesn’t come as a surprise to you.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” 1 Peter 3:15
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