1. Kessie says:

    This article makes me want to pump my fist in the air and yell, “Go get ’em, man!”

  2. Holly Smit says:

    This is such an encouragement to me, Jim. It gives me hope. I remember seeing you at ACFW three years ago handing out your Rooms bookmarks with the big B & H logo on them, and I thought, “Hmm. Sounds cool. I wonder how the book’ll do.” And then I watched–and celebrated. Wonderful to see a match that doesn’t fit the manufactured mode catch fire every now and then in the outside world, even if it burns brightly every time for the one who forms it. 

  3. I’m encouraged, too, Jim. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Hope the new release is just as successful. Next time you’ll have to let us in on what it’s like to write to deadline. 😉

    Just one quibble. I don’t think Jesus will ask us if we followed our passion but HIS. 😀

     

    Becky

  4. Jim Rubart says:

    Thanks, Holly! So glad it encouraged you.
    Now it’s your turn to go get ’em, right Kessie? 🙂
    Thanks, Becky. I see what you’re saying, but I’d argue if we’re surrendered to Jesus our passion IS his passion.

    • I’d argue if we’re surrendered to Jesus our passion IS his passion.

      Or, I suggest: our passions — the God-honoring ones, anyway — will slowly prove to have been His passions all along.

      I’m reminded of the different-gifts-one-Body passages in 1 Corinthians. If your passion is not motivated by sin, or isn’t itself a sin, and you can use it to glorify God implicitly and explicitly, then it was Christ’s passion and goodness working in us.”Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24) Yet anything good we do is only because of Him!

      Jim, thanks much for a great piece. As you can tell, we love words here, so far as they can tell wondrous, speculative stories with echoes of God’s truths and beauties. Also, I was in the audience of one of your workshops at last year’s ACFW conference, in Indianapolis, when you co-hosted the worship with Chip MacGregor.

  5. Jim Rubart says:

    Well said, E.S.B. That’s exactly right.
    In Psalms David says if we’re committed to the Spirit he will give us the desires of our hearts. And in the New Testament it says David fulfilled the purposes God had for him.
    So the two go hand in hand.
    Sorry we didn’t have a chance to chat at that ACFW conference. Next time!

    • Amen, Jim!

      Delight yourself in the Lord,
      and he will give you the desires of your heart.

      (Psalm 37:4)

      Like many, I used to thank that Psalm meant that if one honored God, He would fulfill one’s pre-existing heart desires. While that nuance might also be there, I’ve more recently learned exactly what you expressed: that if we honor God, He will give us those heart desires, new ones — not just Extracting them to make them come true, but inserting them into our hearts from outside. Of course, that means …

      God …

      Does …

      (“… BWWWWWAAAAAAHHHMMMMM.”)

  6. Andy says:

    “Diet Coke?” Riiiiiiight.

  7. Galadriel says:

    I’ve read that book…very interesting take on speculative fiction.

  8. C.L. Dyck says:

    “I suppose what I’m trying to say is, don’t give up believing in Christian speculative fiction whether you read it or write it.”
     
    To answer the closing question, I’ve had to make some tough decisions lately in order to follow my own personal walk with the Lord. So, thank you for this, Mr. Rubart. I’ve been needing a little fortification, and I surely do appreciate this article and the way you’ve expressed your thoughts.

  9. It’s about time you came out of the closet, Jim.  :o)
     

  10. Marion says:

    Jim,
    Thanks for the encouraging article and willingness to stretch the boundary of Christian Speculative Fiction.
    I wish you success on your novels and hopefully a publisher (because of your success story in getting published) will take another risk on another up and coming novelist who will stretch that boundary even more.
    God Bless,
    Marion

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