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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Theology

Theology

Love As a Christian Author

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 2, 2023
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As Christian authors, we have many opportunities to put into practice the list of the attributes of love that St. Paul listed in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love:

Is patient: After submitting proposals, we do ourselves, our agents, and editors a favor by exercising patience. In Submissions Land, editors may feel as though a month is five minutes. Agents might say a month is a day. For an author, a month feels like six months. We get it, and we appreciate your patience. Think of each submission as a gift. Work on creating a new present for another editor while you wait. As for nudging? Try six weeks for an agent and three months for an editor.

Is kind: Strive to be gentle in all communication. When you’re under pressure and feeling less than generous, try to step away so you can come back and communicate with a calm demeanor. When offended, work to arrive at an understanding. If that’s impossible, the Lord is showing you the best individuals to have in your life. People are too numerous for us to serve them all!

Does not envy: Writers can view successful authors with jealousy. Envy is a natural emotion, especially when you feel awash with rejections and low on funds. Note that famous writers gaze upon authors they sense are more successful. No matter how high you fly, someone else will soar higher. When feeling envious, love yourself. Reflect on your present circumstances and enjoy your moment. Triumph and its ensuing migraines will arrive soon enough.

Does not boast: Bragging so that someone struggling feels even worse is never a good look. When there’s boasting to be done, let others praise you. Then, don’t be like the Hollywood starlet who believes her own publicity.

Is not proud: You may not strut, but secret pride can be debilitating. If you carry a concealed superiority complex, that trait will show itself at an inopportune time. Instead, to God be the glory. Everything here is His, anyway. He is gracious to lend His creative spirit to us.

Does not dishonor others: We all make statements we regret. The best idea when you’re upset is not to send an email or make a phone call. Take the time you need to see the situation rationally. Then act. Or not.

Is not self-seeking: When you put others first, your heart soars much higher than when you look out only for yourself.

Is not easily angered: Less anger = fewer regrets = less stress = lower blood pressure = better physical health = better mental health = less anger.

Keeps no record of wrongs: I know people who’ve held onto grudges for so many decades that the grievance itself becomes part of their identity. If Grudge Holder is what you want on your gravestone, never letting go of any insult is an excellent way to start; but this is not a good position for a Christian.

Does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth: Christian authors are privileged not to be asked to glorify sin. Rather, our business is to honor the Lord with the truth. This is the greatest love of all.

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

365 Days to Sing God’s Praise

By Dan Balowon January 1, 2023
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Happy New Year! Today marks the 250th anniversary of the first performance of “Amazing Grace,” written by pastor John Newton to accompany his sermon. It was originally written as poetry. The familiar melody was added in 1835, though the words were sung to various traditional tunes before that. At the time, Newton was parish priest of the Anglican church in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. (If you …

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Category: Inspiration, Personal, Theology

Christmas Questions

By Dan Balowon December 22, 2022
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When Christian singer/songwriters Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene collaborated on the modern Christmas classic “Mary Did You Know?” they hit on some meaningful themes that inspire millions each year. Honestly, I think they were a little presumptuous asking a pregnant lady or mother of a young child so many questions, but at least the song doesn’t wait for her responses! She had enough on her mind. I …

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Category: Creativity, Theology

Incarnational Writing

By Bob Hostetleron December 21, 2022
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It’s that holy time of year when followers of Jesus around the world contemplate and celebrate the truth of the Incarnation, the miraculous, mind-boggling moment when the Son of God, the Eternal Word, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14, NIV). So, first, I wish the readers of this blog a merry and holy Christmas. Second, I’d like to opine for a few moments on the …

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Category: The Writing Life, Theology

4 Ways to Be a Grateful Writer

By Bob Hostetleron November 16, 2022
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How great is it being a writer? Sure, there are downsides. Rejection. Revision. Poverty. And so on. But all in all, writers are a privileged bunch. We get to write! We get to “live and move and have our being” among words, sentences, magazines, blogs, and books. We know how to use semicolons and apostrophes (well; some of us’ do anyway). We sometimes even experience the joy of knowing someone has …

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Category: Personal, TheologyTag: thanksgiving

Just Write the Opposite

By Dan Balowon October 27, 2022
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From season five of the television sitcom Seinfeld, a revealing quote from the character George Costanza: “It all became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I’ve ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to …

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Category: The Writing Life, Theology

Four Short Prayers for Writers

By Bob Hostetleron October 13, 2022
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From time to time, because I believe that prayer is the Christian writer’s first and most important task, I post on this blog a prayer that I’ve written and prayed for my writing. Some, however, are so short that they don’t lend themselves to the kind of superior quality I regularly achieve in my blog posts. (Okay, so I’ll pray for humility—happy now?) So I thought today I would post four—that’s …

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Category: The Writing Life, Theology

The Transfiguration of Jesus

By Steve Laubeon October 10, 2022
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In a change of pace today, I thought I’d post a link to an online guest lecture I did on the Transfiguration of Jesus. It is part of the “God’s Glory, Our Delight” Gospel Spice series hosted by Stephanie Rousselle. Click here to be taken to the hosted page for the study. I originally recorded it 18 months ago (in the midst of the pandemic shutdown), and it was used in one …

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Category: TheologyTag: Bible study, Transfiguration

Food vs. Medicine Books

By Dan Balowon September 7, 2022
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Even though this topic could be applicable to just about any type of book, we’ll be looking at those in the Christian publishing category today. Categorizing books has been part of publishing for a very long time. Officially, there are over four dozen primary book categories designated by the BISAC coding system, which spin off to thousands of subcategories. For example, one of the primary …

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Category: Book Business, Christian, Creativity, Theology

Against Laziness (A Writer’s Prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron August 24, 2022
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God, save me from laziness as a writer. Save me from the error of thinking my first draft is good enough. Save me from settling for second best. Save me from low standards, pedestrian thoughts, stale words, and pat answers. Grant me the grace to reread and rewrite with diligence and insight. Grant me the courage to invite and accept valuable and insightful critique from others. Grant me the …

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, Theology
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