Are We Supposed to Live Up to Our Potential?

A big welcome to RevTrev Readers. If this is the first newsletter you’ve seen, it’s great to have you with us! Be sure to drop me a line so we can have a conversation. I’m still working through meeting with people over Skype, so if you haven’t heard from me I thank you for you patience. I’ve been working on a few major projects I’ll be telling you about shortly…but let’s get on with the newsletter.

Are We Supposed to Live Up to Our Potential?

I don’t think I’ve told you about this but the book is with the publisher and it sounds like it’s about to be released so I can let the cat out of the bag…FINALLY! I helped Greg Musselman from Voice of the Martyrs write his book. It shares stories from people Greg has interviewed around the world who are being persecuted because they are Christians. It’s a book all of us in North America need to read because we need to connect with our brothers and sisters beyond the point of them being statistics. I’m quite pleased with how the book has turned out. It will be a good resource for Bible Study groups as well. I’ll let you know when it’s out. I should have a few copies to give away if you’ll agree to review them.

I mention that…well, because it’s time to let the cat out of the bag…but also because those stories have me re-evaluating a few things I thought were priorities.

Another friend of mine is Dwight Lagore who has been a missionary in Mozambique for just about as long as I’ve known him. He said something the last time I heard him speak that got me thinking as well. He pointed out that it’s only in the developed world where people have the best chance to reach their potential.

I know I have readers all over the world… but I know the five countries where most my readers are from are the US, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We are the ones who have the best chance to reach our God-given potential. We generally aren’t worried about being attacked by a mob because of faith and most of us – even with a large mortgage – aren’t too concerned about eating only once this week.

If you look at our place in history the developed world is relatively recent, and in the early part of the last century we were more concerned with fighting wars than being all we can be. Should we be asking “What’s God’s will for my life?” Didn’t that just become popular in the 70’s? I guess I get a little cynical with ethnocentric theology.

Still it was Ignatius – a student of Cyprian who was a student of John – who wrote “The glory of God is man fully alive.” He was living in a time when Christians we’re not accepted by the Roman empire. They were called cannibals because they ate of the body and the blood. They were labeled atheists because they only worshiped One God. They were thought to be in incestuous relationships because they called each other brother and sister.
And it was Jesus who said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

Is “life to the full” and “being fully alive” one thing for people in the developed world and another for people in the developing world?

That’s what I’m thinking about now. Leave you comments and help me work this through. I have a few ideas but would appreciate hearing yours first.

Mind If I Pray For You?

Lord help us to be fully alive…and not conformed to the patterns of our world. We know we’ll be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Help us to renew our minds with your Word.

This Week’s Q&A

This week I tried to answer the question from a revtrev reader, “How Can I Develop Better Bible Study Habits?”
Share your experience in the comments.>>>

What Are the Major Steps to Get My Book Published?

I answer this question in this week’s episode of Book Shepherd Online Radio. Check it out if you’re interested.

On Last Thing

I’d appreciate prayer. We’ll be launching a new site very soon. It will train authors on how to build a platform, create a fan base, and market their book effectively. I’m very excited as I create the training. Can’t tell you more right now, but appreciate your prayers. It’s a God-thing happening.

~Trevor