Author Archives: Rick

Book Review: Creative in God’s Image

Creative in God’s Image: Engaging the Creative Good

What does this mean? When I first glanced at the book title, and for a few times after, I was reading it as “Created…” I know what “created” means, at least partially, but was does “creative” mean? I was pulled in by the curious title, and now I’m glad I took the time to find out what Nate means by it.

The key verses offered by Nate to support his premise are found in Genesis 1:26-27. These verses talk about us as humans being “created in God’s image.” But, I believe what Nate is saying God is CREATIVE and we are made to be like him. God had finished creating and concluded his creating with us. Human beings. People like him. We are not like the other animals. We are like God. Like God in that he is creative. If you doubt God is creative, take a moment to be still in a nature preserve. Take a few moments watching a bug. God is most certainly creative.

“God is not a wasteful Creator. You are designed with purpose. There is not one part of you that God can’t restore and repurpose for the work of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

So, God doesn’t waste, but do we? Do we always follow the path laid before us by God? No. We don’t. God has created us for a purpose, a calling, in this life. Many times we ignore the obvious calling of God, or we aren’t listening when he calls us. We choose to ignore and hide from God. This is Fear. Nate discusses this fear as well. We take this fear and use it to put what God has created for us in a box. We take the box and hide it in a closet. We choose to avoid. But we know the box is in the closet.

At some point in our lives we will remember the box. We won’t be able to ignore the box any longer. But can God redeem what we chose to ignore? Yes. He certainly can redeem and he is willing and ready.

We need to humble ourselves and willingly allow God to redeem what we have chosen to ignore.

Toward the end of the book, Nate offers these words:

“We’ll never realize how ‘good’ we can be until we give everything to God, even our fear and shame, so that something more incredible can be put in their place.”

I believe this sentence is the heart of this book. For us as humans, created to be like God, as creative beings, we need to give our everything over to him. Or as I like to think, we need to give our everything “back to him” on a daily basis.

Nate Pruitt has written a wonderful book. A few times I needed to read over passages more than once to follow his thought process, but he does make valid points. As Nate writes and publishes more, I look forward to seeing how his writing improves.

Nate has something to say. He is actively following God’s call in his life to be creative.

Let us know in the comments how you are following God’s call to be creative in your own life. What do you understand “creative” to be for you?

Learn more about Nate at http://www.natepruitt.com.

Follow Nate of Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/natepruittcom

Creative in God’s Image: Engaging the Creative Good

I’m Writing A Book

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Yep. You read it correctly. I’m. Writing. A. Book.

If fact, I’m planning to write more than one book. For now though, we’ll focus on the first book.

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As most of you know, my life changed last year when I was let go from my job. The time off helped me realize I was limiting myself. I was solely focused on work. A deep down love of writing came to the surface during my brief time off from employment. I love to write. And now, I have something to say.

This first book has been pushing itself to the surface for months. I’ve tried to ignore it while sketching out a plan for a different book, but this book is quite pushy. It needs to be first. It needs to see the light of day before I go on to the next one (which was going to be first).

What is so very important it can’t wait to be published? Encouragement. Inspiration. Filling people up. Pouring myself into others in order to bless them and encourage them in their every day lives and in their Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG)!

Here are a couple of topics I plan to cover:

Don’t pick the people to fill, simply work on emptying what I’ve been given.
How do I fill my own cup so I have more to pour out? i.e. Refilling my cup
Encouragement includes planting seeds you may not see grow to maturity.
Can you encourage, inspire, refresh, pour into others through social media? Twitter, FB, Pinterest, Blogging, etc.? Or, are these solely “in person” activities?

What are your thoughts on the topic? Opinions?

I look forward to hearing from you. I may even ask to use your thoughts in the book.
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Now for some accountability.

My target date for publishing this book is January 1, 2015. While I’m sure you all have an opinion on the time frame I’m presenting, I’m not looking for your opinion. But, I’d love to have your support. Some days I am freaked out by the lack of time with which I’ve presented myself. Other days, when the words are flowing freely, I believe it’ll be a breeze to finish up by New Year’s Day. I’d love your support to keep me accountable. I’m not sure how I’ll gather your encouragement. Maybe through email with a select few, maybe with a closed Facebook group, but I really do want to hear from you along the way.

Keep your eyes on this site, and if you’d like, leave a comment in this post telling me you’d be interested in a more personal involvement in seeing this project come to fruition.

Thanks for all your support so far! Here we go!!

The Simplicity Project

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“Win Your Battle With Chaos & Clutter So You Can Live a Life of Peace & Purpose” Wow. Sign me up! That seems like a big boast doesn’t it? Well, after reading through this new book by Corie Clark, I’m convinced it can be accomplished. Planning and being intentional seem to be the key. How many times have you come home at the end of the day only to walk into the house and be greeted by the “stuff” you didn’t put away before you left in the morning? Pick a room. It doesn’t really matter. I’m guessing a majority of us are living our lives just like Corie Clark. Thankfully, Corie wrote this new book to encourage us all that we can win the battle.
Corie covers five areas of potential chaos and clutter, and how to begin the battle toward conquering each of them. The five areas include: 1. Simplifying Your Health 2. Simplifying Your Home 3. Simplifying Your Finances 4. Simplifying Your Time 5. Simplicity Now While each of these five areas are important, the one hitting home the most for me is, well, Home. I love a picked up, not cluttered, home. I, however, do not enjoy being the one to pick up and de-clutter the home. Odd, huh? A neatly organized home brings me peace. It allows me to relax and not obsess over what I should be doing instead of what I am doing. I find I am able to read and write more when the clutter is gone. Here’s one particular quote I like: “If you start to become disciplined in one area, it’s contagious. You begin to feel the sense accomplishment and let it carry over into other area.” True. True. True. I think we all know this, but many time we need a refresher course. Success in one area of life typically leads to success in other areas. “The Simplicity Project” does a great job of simplifying what you and I have probably read in many other books. There is a great 28-Day call to action at the end of the book to help walk you through your personal journey to simplicity. The book also offers bonus content of a private Facebook Group, printable plans to help you through the Project, and a daily email of encouragement. Corie lives a busy life like you and I do. She’s “normal”. Corie is a regular Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sibling, trying to “do life” the best she knows how. And now, she’s written a book to help you and I do the same thing.

Corie Clark

Click the link below to purchase your own copy. I look forward to hearing how you put the simple, straight forward recommendations of “The Simplicity Project” to good use. <br /> You can follow Corie and learn more from her on her blog at http://corieclark.com/ In the comments, let me know what actions you take in your life (or would like to take) to simplify? #Next3Decades