Testimony:
Several years ago, I attended
a Bride
concert in Pennsylvania and bought a Tee Shirt
with a provocative message. "If you were
accused of being a Christian, would there be enough
evidence to convict you?" How profound. I
still have the Tee Shirt.
Like many people, I've
had dark days. I've fallen by the wayside and
live with the consequences of sinful decisions.
My parents weren't preachers or missionaries,
but they were Christians. Good, God-fearing Christians.
It's because of them that I'm writing this today.
It's because of them that I ever cared if the
world viewed me as a Christian.
The Bible calls us to live
beyond reproach (Philippians 1: 9-11, 1 Thessalonians
5:23) and to let our lights shine for the world
(Matthew 5:16) to see. God gives each of us gifts.
Some people can sing well; some become world leaders;
some play musical instruments; some write. Those
gifts are intended to glorify Him.
I've been writing since
I was about twelve. I started with science-fiction,
then shifted to fantasy. I've been fascinated
with anything "fantastical" or "mythological"
since childhood and C.S. Lewis created a whole
new world of possibilities that fostered a passion
for fiction.
Four years of college and
a whole lot of growing later, God decided I wasn't
going to wait any longer. I'd been gifted and
the time had arrived to use that gift. I felt
His calling, felt the Spirit move and guide me.
The time had come to follow my dreams; maybe not
the way I'd envisioned the, but the way He'd intended.
I started writing and
didn't stop until I'd written five books (3, massive
tomes in a Fantasy Fiction Epic and 2 smaller
books, the beginnings of a Children's Fantasy
series in the Narnia tradition). I almost didn't
care if I ever even published a book, I was just
thrilled to be writing again. Then God called
me on it, gave me a message, and put his Word
on my heart.
Those five books helped
reestablish most of the skill I'd developed in
college, but the KingdomWriter's critique group
helped fine-tune those skills while supporting
the desire to use this gift for God. I mean, I'd
never been opposed to the fame that guys like
King, Koontz, Asimov, Tolkein, etc. achieved.
But God had something else in mind.
I'm not motivated by money.
God knows that. But changing lives, making a difference...there's
nothing better. I'm learning more every day, but
I decided that when the world comes calling, the
evidence will speak for itself. My genre of choice
probably won't spark the next great revival, but
I'm going to offer Christian's a wholesome, spellbinding
read and try to snag as many non-believers as
I can along the way.
I am a sinner. I will be
until the day I die. But Jesus Christ paid the
price for those sins--mine and yours. I ask Jesus
for forgiveness daily and I won't stop until I
draw my last breath. I decided to live for Him.
And that means, He gets everything I have to offer.
He endowed my gift. He kept me in His care every
step of my life, even the ones that strayed from
the path of righteousness. He forgives sins and
offers that gift to everyone willing to accept
Him.
There is one way to get
to heaven. Jesus. That's it. Good deeds won't
do it. Donating millions of dollars to charities
won't do it. Being a "good" person won't
do it. Only Jesus.
"I am the way, the
truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me."
(John 14:6)
Being a Christian doesn't
mean you can't enjoy a good scare, or have fun,
or do most of the things you'd like to do. I'm
not going to bash you over the head with Jesus
but I'm also not going to write something that
He wouldn't approve. I remember the "What
would Jesus Do?" fad, and it's a relevant
question. I'm going to write for Christ. I promise
to keep the scares and thrills coming as long
as the good Lord sees fit to allow it. I hope
that you enjoy what I have to offer, but most
importantly, I hope that you decide to shine your
light for the world to see. Give Jesus and inch,
and he'll give you the world!
God Bless,
and thanks for your support.
Daniel
I. Weaver |