Helper, Missionary, Prophet, Teacher: Write to Serve

A guest post by Dan and Denise Harmer:

His writing has been translated into hundreds of languages, sold more than any in history, and touched untold millions of lives, yet we don’t even know his name. Our mystery servant writer was none other than the faithful amanuensis (scribe) of the apostle Paul. At times this author labored in a dank prison cell recording each word. Talk about a collaboration. The Holy Spirit working through Paul while this guy jots down each line, lifting his feet on occasion to allow the rats to scurry by.

Fast forward two thousand years. I would give away body parts to have a drop of that impact and influence for Christ, yet since the time I first conceived this post, I have realized struggles with my own servant’s heart attitude. My pastor is fond of saying “If you want to check to see if you have a servant’s heart, take note of how you react when someone treats you like one.”

Ouch!

I have the honor, right now, of collaborating with a Marine. An officer serving his second stint in Afghanistan. Read more

The Marriage Code & the Life of a Servant Writer/Speaker Couple

Bill and Pam Farrel are best-selling authors and international speakers.  With 30 book to their credit, inlcuding Men Are Like Waffeles and Women Are Like Spagetti, they are still fired up about helping marriages thrive. What I most appreaciate about this Servant Writer/Speaker couple is their passion to help build strong marriages and guide up-and-coming writers whom they mentor.  With a packed writing and international speaking schedule, Bill and Pam still make time to help those of us who share a calling to serve God and others through the power of the written and spoken word.  In this interview, Bill and Pam share about their writing and speaking life and why they are excited about what their new book, The Marriage Code, will do for marriages around the world.

Why do you see yourselves as servant writers?

Writing (and speaking) to serve isn’t glamorous; but we do it to serve God and others. Maybe this true story will illustrate a typical day in the life of a Servant Writer/Speaker Couple: Read more

The Power of a Personal Letter

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With Twitter, Facebook, and email always at our fingertips, personal letters are a rarity. Yet, we all love to receive them. Today, putting away my textbooks and teaching notes to begin my teaching sabbatical (to fully enjoy my daughter’s last year of high school), I was moved — again — by a handwritten note from one of my students: “Thank you for sharing your dreams and struggles. Knowing them makes you more approachable and helps me when I struggle because I know you really understand me.” 

Her note, like others I’ve received over the years, was inspired by a letter I wrote for my College Composition students and share with them the first week of the semester:   Read more

Lessons from the Littlest: Interview with Cherise Bopape

I can’t count the times the children in my life — my daughter, niece, or nephew — have amazed me over the years with their profound, childish candor. “I need to write that down,” I said many times.  But I rarely did until years later.  So when I learned that Cherise Bopape not only saves all the precious gems from the mouths of her children, but has written an entire devotional inspired by them, I knew I had to interview her and share her with all of you. Cherise is one amazing lady.  She has mastered the art of taking her life experiences — both painful and joyful — to bless others and glorify God.

Read more

The Dusty Drawer: A Call to Write

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Teresa Cook, a Servant Writer and speaker who ministers to parents and youth through Porn Proof Your Child.

My husband and I stared at our eighteen-year-old son. What did he say? Addicted to what? Then the words spilled out again.

 ”I’m addicted to pornography.” Brandon raised his head to look at us, his eyes brimming with tears. “I sat down to watch TV one day when I was home alone and accidentally entered the wrong number on the remote. A porn channel came on.”

Both mesmerized and shocked by what he saw that day, Brandon promised himself he would never watch the programs again. Yet he felt drawn back as if by a magnet. He admitted he’d been watching the partially scrambled cable station at every opportunity for more than a year, sometimes sneaking from his room in the middle of the night.

 ”I’ve tried over and over to stop, but I can’t.” Brandon began to sob. “I need help!” Read more

Book Beginnings from a “Confident” Adventurer

Editor’s Note: aspiring writers often want to know how a book begins in the mind of an author, how the idea develops, and how the book finally makes it to the reader. Pam Farrel, International speaker, relationship specialist, and author of over 28 books, contributes this article to answer these questions for aspiring authors and to extend an invitation to the upcoming launch of her latest book, Woman of Confidence: Step into God’s Adventure for Your Life. Keep reading and find out how you can enter for a chance to win a San Diego adventure.

The Inspiration for the Book

When a book begins in my heart, it is usually a result of a need I see when I am out living in the real world, ministering on the front lines or in the trenches of a counseling session or conference setting. For example, Woman of Confidence: Step into God’s Adventure for Your Life, my newest book, came after a series of events: Read more

Serving Parents and Youth: An Interview with Wayne Rice

I first met Wayne three years ago on the campus of San Diego Christian College where he was teaching college Bible courses.  Then I realized, after I saw him perform at church with Lighthouse, his bluegrass band, that I had been introduced to his music some twenty one years earlier.  Brush Arbor, the successful bluegrass band he formed with his brothers, was my new husband’s music of choice. 

It’s hard to describe the ministry of Wayne Rice in only a few words. My hope is that  by the time you finish reading this interview, you will want to meet a man that is not only a prolific Servant Writer, serving the needs of parents and youth ministry leaders, but is also an accomplished musician, radio host, leader, husband, father, grandfather — a vibrant example that inspires us to use our gifts to serve others and God while having a blast doing so. Read more

Blogging to Serve Part I

This is the first installment on a three-part series to help you take the first step to build writing discipline, an essential habit for the Servant Writer who wants to serve the needs of others.

In a previous article, Five Reasons to Unleash the “Servant Writer” in You, I challenged you to use the power of words to serve the needs of others and honor God with the gifts He has given you.  The challenge focused on the “whys.”  Now I want to begin focusing on the “hows.” 

Is Blogging for You?

If you are passionate about a topic that can benefit others, one of the easiest and fastest ways to begin sharing your message (and building a platform if that’s what you desire to do) is by starting a blog.  If you already blog to serve, don’t leave yet. I have a challenge for you at the end. 

Many aspiring writers get discouraged because the publishing industry is hard to penetrate.  Yet, never before has “publication” been so accessible to so many.  Blogs are a great way to share your message, build an audience, and get used to writing consistently.  Blogging, believe it or not, can also become a source of income if you decide you want to go pro (more on that later). Read more

The Fragrance: A Challenge for Servant Writers

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Dr. Ron Barnes, Servant Writer and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at San Diego Christian College.  

A Persian fable says:

One day a wanderer found a lump of clay. So redolent of sweet perfume, its odors scented all the room. “What art thou?” was his quick demand. “Art thou some gem from Samarkand, or spikenard in this rude disguise, or other costly merchandise?”

“Nay, I am but a lump of clay.”

“Then, whence this wondrous perfume, say!”

“Friend, if the secret I disclose-I have been dwelling with the rose.”

The years of having children had bypassed a God-honoring couple named Zacharias and Elizabeth. But is anything too hard for the Lord? Read more

Five Reasons to Unleash the “Servant Writer” in You

I’m on a mission to start a “Writing to Serve” movement across this country — to ignite a fire to unleash every Servant Writer.  

First, let me clarify what I mean by a “Servant Writer.”  A Servant Writer is one who writes first and foremost with the goal to serve the needs of others, to make a difference, and to bring glory to God — the source of every gift and blessing we have.  Publication, notoriety, monetary success, and self-expression are perks, which may or may not be part of the reward package for your effort.

If you are not already writing to serve, you may be reading these words, mumbling to yourself, “I’m not a writer… I’ve never written anything… In fact, I hate writing… writing is not my thing…writing takes too much time… too much work…too much energy…” Or worse yet, “I do want to write — it has been a secret dream, but… I’m not a good writer…. I’m too old to learn… I don’t have time to learn… I don’t have time to write…”

Let me give you five compelling reasons why I believe there’s a Servant Writer in you.  If you can agree with at least one of them, I have a challenge for you… Read more

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