NaNoWriMo 2019

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month where armature, professional, and hobbyist writers from all over the world attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Since I was in High School, writing a book has always been on my bucket list. I wanted a career as a writer and danced between writing and going into electronics. At the time, electronics engineering was more of a logical choice, but writing was always on the back of my mind. Since leaving one crappy job for another "crappy" job, I thought I made the wrong choice many years ago.

Getting back into writing has been really good for me, both physically and mentally. It allows me to free up my mind and become less stressed. Between working with Optavia as a weight loss coach, and writing, I have lost about 50 pounds, and have never been this stress free in my life. Though I am not making the money I used to when I was working as a Field Service Engineer, I am not worried about it. The sum of a man's life is not based on riches. I am a rich man because I am a Christian child of God, I have a great understanding wife, and good health with my wife never seeing me this thin.

So you're probably wondering what my book is about. Well, I am calling it Parallel Lines, a memoir of my first year and a half as a newly married new Christian. When I got married my wife and I were not Christians. The Pastor who we wanted to marry us said that he couldn't because after taking a personality test, our graphs never intersected on anything. It was if we were two parallel lines going in opposite directions. So, when the Lord found me, and I became a believer, that pretty much sealed the coffin of my marriage. But through the things God led me through, and using my new Pastor, his wife, and Christian friends, we were able to come to the other side beat up, but alive. I am writing this memoir to give hope to believers married to unbelievers and maybe some of the good guidance I received along the way.

So this is the reason why you haven't seen me in a while. I'll try to post some more things, but in the meantime pray that I can see the other side and this work of art published. Also I will be writing another article for the Gideon's International Magazine, which is exciting.

Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style

I recently took this personality test to find out what my personality type is according to the Myers-Briggs - an introspective self-report questionnaire with the purpose of indicating differing psychological preferences in how people perceive the world around them and make decisions. It classified me as an INTJ-T, which is:

• 78% Introverted
• 59% Intuitive
• 64% Thinking
• 51% Judging
• 75% Turbulent

This put me in a category of only 2% of the population with the likes of C.S. Lewis, Dwight Eisenhower, and Thomas Jefferson just to name a few. Pretty good company I would say.  Here are some of the unique characteristics of being an introvert:

Introverts Reach Inward To Gain Energy.

Introverts gain strength and build up energy during their downtimes in quiet environments. They like social gatherings, but with the least amount of people as possible. We like people, but not too many. 

Introverts Enjoy Quiet Environments

Put an introvert in a noisy environment, and watch their energy drain quickly. When the action in at the climax, they start to yawn and get tired. If they are driving and need to concentrate on directions, they always turn down the radio. 

Introverts Think Alone

Introverts can work with people, but when it comes to sorting their thoughts, they need time alone. They are usually good listeners, and are deep thinkers. 

Introverts Don't Like Shallow Relationships

Introverts prefer having a few close friendships rather than a multitude of acquaintances. They really care about what people think, and how they feel. Introverts want solid relationships and to thrive in one-on-one conversation. 

Introverts Prefer to Communicate in Writing. 

Introverts prefer to communicate in writing because they care about what is being said. They want to be able to look at it from different points of view, and analyze what is written. Since they are deep thinkers, they may write a few drafts of an email before sending it out. They prefer to write instead of talk face-to-face. 

They Tend to Focus On One Thing At a Time

Multitasking is difficult for an introvert and get overwhelmed very quickly, especially under too much stimulation. Introverts need to focus on one thing at a time in bite-sized pieces. Too many tasks can lead to procrastination and needing to recharge by playing video games, reading, or working on something like a puzzle or coloring. 

Even though I am very introverted, and this list describes me to a T, it doesn't excuse me from evangelism. I just do it differently than those who are extroverted. It's not that I have to do it a certain way, but it's the way that is most comfortable. Let's face it, evangelism and sharing Christ with strangers is difficult and uncomfortable no matter how it is done. But I can do it in a way that is most comfortable and fits my personality.

Introverts, like myself, care what people think. So we are very sensitive in how we approach others. I don't like just sitting on a corner and passing out tracts. I've done it, but I hate it. I would rather have a deep one-on-one conversation with someone instead of shoving a tract in their face. I am a quiet person who thinks deeply and wants to reach others who think deeply. So instead of talking to every person I see, I am more selective in the people I want to talk to. I would rather pick someone who is alone, rather than someone who is with others. Someone who is resting and not on the move to the next thing. We may reach fewer people in a witnessing night, but those interactions are much deeper and meaningful. At the end of an evangelistic outreach, it's the introverts who are going to have the cooler stories about the people they talked with.

For example, lets say I go to the Des Moines Farmers Market to share my faith. It's super busy, and thousands of people there. An uncomfortable environment. As I walk through the crowds I immediately feel the weight of the atmosphere around me, and I am getting drained. I people-watch just trying to get through it all. What can I do to make this situation better for an introvert like me? First, I find that if I pull off to the side somewhere and put my back to most of the people, I can have a comfortable conversation despite the environment that I'm in. I try to pick the quietest place in the area, even though it may be noisier than usual.  It helps me focus on just a few things in front of me, like a tree, a building, etc. Second, I choose a person who I feel would be the most comfortable to talk to. I choose someone who is sitting alone, not in a group, and someone who is sedentary and not on their way to somewhere else. Lastly, I am concerned how I may approach them. I think through some things I could say, tracts I can give them, but I have to be careful not to take too much time, and blow the opportunity. Maybe I spent time writing a tract and will present it to them at a more perfect time. When the conversation is done, if it was a good talk, it fires me up and excites me. If it's not, I may feel even more drained than when I started, thinking too much on what was said, and analyzing it to the point I am worried about what I said or didn't say.

Even though I am very introverted, it doesn't stop me from trying new things and new ways of sharing my faith. I have open-air preached at least ten times in my life to thousands of people. I have shared Christ with a groups of teens, and even had heated debates with atheists and homosexuals. It's important to at least try something new, and see what works. It's part of finding ourselves and developing out own style of witnessing. This way us deep thinkers at the end of the night or a conversation can step back and analyze how things went and what we can do to improve for next time.

But my point is that your personality style is not a blessing, nor a curse. It is yours. It is how God created you to be. He knew what He was doing when He formed your innermost parts before the foundation of the world. Use it to your advantage and hone in on those strengths for God's glory. Just get out there and share your faith while you still can. 

Some Things In The Works

For the past few weeks I have been wanting to write and blog more on Honest Answers and Iowa Seed Sowers, especially on a more consistent basis. Like anything we want to do for a career or hobby, life always seems to get in the way. I like my part time job [still not telling you what it is] that it gives me some income and allows me to be flexible so that I can pursue my dreams of being a writer and author. It's been good too that I can spend time witnessing and sharing my faith before or after I get home from work.

Why I'm Not Roman Catholic Any More

It was mentioned on Facebook a few times that I should elaborate more on why I left Roman Catholicism. Some of the quotes were:

"You should give examples as to why you left Roman Catholicism."

"What part of the Catechism contradicts the bible? Please be more specific."

 Looking back in the Honest Answers blog, those were some of my most viewed and read posts. Some of you probably wonder why I didn't pursue it more and get into even more detail as to why I left. To be honest it is a hot-button issue with some of my family. Some of my cousins took it as being divisive and attacking Roman Catholicism. In my mind I was just telling a story as to why I came out of it. But I realize now this is important. Since so many people read it, and have asked me to elaborate, I've decided to make an exhaustive list of the reasons I left, and a comparison between the Catechism and the Holy Bible. No matter what, I do maintain that Roman Catholicism is in no way, shape, or form, a denomination of the Christian faith. It is not Christian. But it is really important that I state why. So stay tuned and I hope to have a downloadable copy soon.

Book Writing

The books have been coming around, but writing has been slow. I am really good at coming up with new things to write about, but when it comes to fleshing them out...it takes a lot of time. Especially since I've never done this before. The book on conquering fear has been gaining ground and cutting through the first draft has been good. Conquering apathy book has hit some roadblocks, but with some experience I am gaining lately at my church, and praying through it, those hurdles should be minor.

As a side issue with the book writing, I am in the process of creating an author website in which I would feature my writing, and talk about points in the books. Talking with author friends of mine, they feel this would be a good time to start the process. Not only to let people know of what I am doing, but it would also help me be more accountable to my readers and writing. If this were to happen I would probably transition out of Honest Answers and push all my material to the new site.

Witnessing and Evangelism Events

Ankeny Summerfest in Ankeny, IA has started today so I will be out there after work to share the gospel. I do plan on being off Saturday and Sunday to make the most of my time there. Last weekend at the Des Moines Farmers Market, a friend from church went with me to pray as I shared. It was really eye-opening for her being that people who we were witnessing to prayed for us. It was a good time, and I think she feels the process isn't as painful as it may seem.

The Iowa State Fair will run from August 8 - 18, and I am looking forward to spending time at the Answers In Genesis creation booth in the Varied Industries Building during that time. The Gideon's will also be giving away bibles underneath the grandstand and I will be there as well. Last year there were many "Jehovah's Witnesses" out and about and I would like to engage more of them this year.