Mourning and Joy

At the beginning of this year, I set as one of my goals the completion of the editing process on the book a friend of mine had written. I am glad to say that goal was met this summer, in July, to be exact, when my friend, Barbara J. Forsyth, published her book “Joy Comes in the Mourning.” That book is now available on my website, The Master’s Place, and from Amazon and from Barbara.

The book is based on Barbara’s continuing ministry to women who have or who are experiencing grief over a loss. In most cases, that loss involves the death of a loved one. But it may also involve a divorce, a loss of a job, an estrangement with a child or parent, or any other of a number of real life losses people experience. Barbara’s theme is that God wants to take our mourning and turn it into His joy. This is certainly a theme consistent with Biblical truth, and I appreciate the fact that Barbara is writing from her own experience when she says God can help us find joy even in the midst of mourning and suffering.

There is what I think is an interesting back story to my involvement in the editing of the book. Barbara was my friend 45 plus years ago, when we were both young people at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Park, Michigan. However, we each went our separate ways, she to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana and me to Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary in Michigan. We lost contact with each other. She found her husband at Taylor; I found my wife at Grand Rapids.

I had no further contact with Barbara. Indeed, I did not know where she was, what her married name was, or even if she was alive. In fact, in the good life the Lord gave me with my wife and children, I didn’t even think about her for four decades.

So, how did I come to edit her book? That is the interesting story I would like to encourage you to read. You can read it by going to my website: http://www.blogger.com/goog_217296303

And while you are there, check out Barb’s book, and the other Christian books we feature in our Bookstore. And praise the Lord with me that one of my goals for 2011 has been accomplished, bringing me great joy.

Goals For a New Year

The new year of 2011 started warm and wet here in central Ohio, with temps in the 60s as the day began, and rain, then sunshine and falling temps down into the 30s. Winter will return tomorrow.

Linda and I both have colds this first day of the year; hers is getting better and mine never really took hold, at least not so far. Praise the Lord.

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, but I have set some goals for 2011. Here they are:

[1] I want to distribute at least 12 copies of my books, whether free or in sales. I wrote them; I want to get them out there.

[2] I want to finish editing my friend Barb Forsyth’s book Joy Comes in the Morning, and help her get it ready for publication and distribution.

[3] I want to finish and publish my book The Missing Person.

[4] I want to add twelve new pages to my website.

[5] I want to teach a class on How to Write Your Story.

I may think of other goals as I go along. If I do, I will list them here, and indicate the progress made as we go along.

This is the year I turn 70, on June 5. Three score and ten. It occurs to me that I could either die this year, or that Jesus could return and take us all home. I could be absent from the body, but present with the Lord before 2011 ends.

It is all in the Lord’s hands. Whatever He does is fine with me.

But I need to get to work on these goals.