Category: Article History

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.

Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

If there is one question I hear often in the midst of conversations with prophetic poets, it’s this one: “How can I get my poetry published?” Unfortunately, this is not an easy question to answer. There are no “one-stop-shops” on doing this for any poet (outside of publishing your own work), much less those of us who fall in the prophetic category – meaning we are focused on writing and releasing what we believe God alone gives us.

As many poets already know, the journey to becoming a nationally or internationally known poet is a hit-and-miss one. I firmly believe that prophetic poets who are serious about their craft and getting their work before others will learn to receive criticism concerning their work and act on it when necessary; and position themselves to learn as much about the “industry” of poetry publishing as possible. Your publishing initiatives will remain extremely limited without practical application.

Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Navigating the world of writing and self-publishing can be extremely frustrating for writers regardless of experience level. Depending on the purpose of our manuscripts, we often encounter questions with hard to find answers. And if you are a poet, those questions are often compounded.

There are several books that I believe are invaluable to your growing reference library. They will relieve some frustration when seeking answers surrounding a specific subject, especially in creative projects; and point writers toward professional, sound advice. In addition, most of us would rather spend more time writing than piecing together questionable, partial resources from around the web.

There is an easier way to get the answers you need.

Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

 

Self-sabotage takes on many forms in our lives as scribes, artisans and just plain people of God. It is often drenched in chronic procrastination, extreme excuse making, a flurry of endless unfruitful activity and a host of other bomb-shells focused on self-directed implosion that work wonders in turning dreams and hope to dust.

 

How do I know? Well, because I have had to overcome them. I had to realize that God isn’t a time waster. He IS a finisher. Me, on the other hand, not so much without Him. I knew that if I was going to finish what he had entrusted to me that I had to do it in His strength — not my own. That meant Theresa had to recognize self, work at defeating those “Theresa-habits” and allow God to have his way.

A different pespective on an ongoing debate
Copyright 2015 Theresa Harvard Johnson

I received major chastisement from the Lord last week. I found myself jumping on the band wagon about how bad the quality of “Christian movies” are and how they should be better or as good as Hollywood. You know the drill.

You see, Father has raised me in Him to be an exhorter of present day scribes, a mother and mentor in the spirit realm to many – especially as it relates to strengthening them in the calling upon their lives. I find myself standing at the starting lines with pom-poms all the time shouting: YOU CAN DO IT! But this recent realization, left me standing fully repentant. I firmly believe that God has a purpose for every called scribe; and that we, as a body of believers, should do what we can to encourage everyone at all times — no matter what the small beginning might look like. So it became official, I am no longer a part of the “Christian film-killing” bandwagon. This is why.