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My First Book Ever and How I Almost Missed It

I felt unknown and misunderstood at church. It was autumn. I also felt a bit gloomy when I thought ahead. The winters are long in Iowa and community quiets in those dreary, sunless months.


In my online community, the GCD Writers' Guild, editor/coworker Benjamin Vrbicek said he was collecting articles on the blessings of the local church. I decided, no, I have nothing to celebrate, although I continued to write on other spiritual topics during that season.


Later, Benjamin announced this group of articles would become a book collaboration. Did I have anything to contribute?


Perhaps it was the-fear-of-missing-out, or maybe the Holy Spirit convicting me to consider my attitude toward my church. I started drafting a piece, slowly, and with many restarts.


What grievance did I have against my church? I disclose in my actual article—which became a chapter in the book Benjamin compiled—how my outlook partly blocked me from celebrating small graces.


Perhaps that's why prayer should include thankfulness, as Philippians 4:4-7 instructs.


My chapter is called "The Local Church Is a Sandbox." A friend from small-group Bible study helped me ideate aspects of the article, particularly the "sandbox" concept, along with one of my brothers, who is a faithful reader of my blog.


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Whether you belong to a local church or not, will you get a copy of my first book ever published? It's called, Broken but Beautiful: Reflections on the Blessings of the Local Church.


This compilation of voices includes excellent writing and honest narratives. You'll see the Church, not as varnished, but as it is, comprised of imperfect people because we have a perfect God who invites us into fellowship and calls his Church beautiful.




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