Author: Theresa Harvard Johnson

Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

One of the things I love about being a scribe is the natural gift or inclination to research. Research, at least to me, is a kingly and scholarly activity that the Christ-believing community of literary warriors should dig into as often as possible. As I always say, our prayer and intercessory focus is not to simply pray over our books or that of friends, but to pray into God’s increasing scribal nation (Matthew 13:52).

I know, that was a mouthful, but I am so serious.

I want to encourage you to seek out the “literary roots” growing in your scribal city, state or region. I do this all the time by looking at historical figures that stand out to me. For example, the poets and writers who had the greatest literary influence on my life were Georgia Douglas Johnson, Margaret Walker, Langston Hughes, Sonya Sanchez and of course, Ida B. Wells Barnett. Yes, I know they are old-school. But my love for the voice they carried continues to resound in my creative writings today – regardless of what anyone might think.

Proverbs 25:2 CJB, “God gets glory from concealing things; kings get glory from investigating things.“

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Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

There are families like the Duggars’ all across America. You might be sitting across from them in your local church or standing in line with them at the local grocery store. That family just might be your own.

The situation surrounding the Duggars’ might sound rare, but it is not. Child sexual abuse among siblings is quite common. The Duggars’ are in the spotlight right now because they are “famous” and the feelings of their “fans” – who put them on a pedastal and entered into idolatry – have been hurt. (Listen, I understand what it is like to believe in someone you’ve watched on television. But the reality of what is happening is still relevant.) So instead of facing broader issues in the midst of this media sensation, some people follow the crowd and take sides on who they believe; and why this or that was handled a certain way by the family. In the end, the media gets what it wants: more views, attention and even more advanced opportunities to attack our faith in Christ. Listen, we don’t have to participate in that.

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Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson
 

Suicide is defined globally as the intentional act of killing or murdering oneself. In our country, there is a national push to enact suicide prevention strategies, raise awareness concerning the early warning signs, to educate communities about its devastating effects and to explore every possible option for intervention. There are also numerous, Christ-centered organizations that stand as watchmen for suicide prevention, offering hope for the hopeless and even helping those who have lost loved ones heal. We desperately need these services.

Then, there is also the startling reality of “spiritual” suicide.

Spiritual suicide can be defined as the willfull, intentional act of causing one’s own spiritual death in Christ. Sadly, among the congregation in this nation, we do not have a national push to enact suicide prevention strategies or an awareness campaigns to educate the global church concerning its devastating effects. We do not have visible lists posted on websites or distributed city by city specifically identifying the early warning signs of “spiritual” suicide. We are without unified efforts to explore every possible option for intervention, and it seems that the most blatant signs are often ignored. In fact, there are very few organized programs or Christ-centered watchmen identifying the devastation of “spiritual” suicide among us.

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