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Invincible Youth Ministry Conference Tour

Writing Retreats, Mental Illness and Prayer

Posted on Saturday 19 May 2007 by Greg @ 7:12 am
Filed under: Rants

I’m going crazy.

I spent all day yesterday co-writing our brand new drama "Credo" with Paul Leavitt. It was a good, frustrating, productive and powerful day that I believe, by God’s grace, will provide another blockbuster Friday night drama for the Dare 2 Share tour next year.

Today I have to get to write a 4,000 word chapter for a book. I had agreed to do a chapter in this youth ministry book a few months ago and then totally spaced it out. A gentle e-mail from Jane (our internal editing guru) reminded me yesterday. Suddenly my Saturday is booked!

In two weeks I begin writing my first novel. Now I don’t read novels let alone write them so this is going to be a huge challenge. I’m going to do a four day writing retreat and hope to get a good chunk of it churned out. Thank the Lord that on this project I have a phenomenal co-writer who will make everything look and sound better. But I have a huge task ahead of me in two weeks.

To be honest I don’t know if I can do it. What I mean is that, although I’ve written six books and tons of dramas for Dare 2 Share, I don’t know if I have the writing chops to pull off a novel. It is a genre of writing that I’m not all that familiar with. But as the old French proverb goes, "The most dangerous swordsman in France is the one who has never wielded a sword before."

Would you please pray for me as I wield my sword/pen/laptap/you-get-the-idea over this writing retreat? Pray that God will guide me and use this supernatural thriller to make people everywhere to think about the eternal in a fresh, old way. That’s right old. I’m praying that the ancient truths of the eternal will penetrate deeply into the hearts and souls of those who read this book in an immensely relevant way. I’m praying that many come to Jesus through it.

Actually, to start with, I’m just praying that I can write it.

Pray with me.

Signed, Greg Stier

9 Comments for 'Writing Retreats, Mental Illness and Prayer'

  1. On May 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am Becky said:
    • Greg-I’ll pray for you.I don’t think I would be able to write a novel or even a book.I can write poems but I can barely write essays.Anyways good luck on the whole writing thing.Maybe God will give you some real good ideas for your novel like he does for my poems.~Becky~

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  2. On May 19, 2007 @ 8:57 am random reader said:
    • So, this is a fluke that I am at this site, cuz I was just looking up "youth articles" for my leadership mtg that is in 2 hrs…..but I can’t help but to respond this "cry"…. :-)  I just want to encourage you Mr. Greg….(sorry, i have no clue who you are, never have read anything by you except for today, but i will check out your stuff cuz so looking for some good drama action for kids) Anyway, back to the encouragement…..as I was reading your desire for "revelation" to come and saturate your heart & mind so that you could finish this novel endeavor, I was struck by a line you wrote: "to make people everywhere to think about the eternal in a fresh, old way. That’s right old. I’m praying that the ancient truths of the eternal will penetrate deeply into the hearts and souls of those who read this book in an immensely relevant way."  I so LOVE the Word of God cuz it is old, ancient, yet more living and more relevant to my life than anything cuz a) it’s TRUTH, b) it’s ALIVE, & c) it’s JESUS.  If you are writing from a place of worship….it will be more relevant than anything cuz it will carry the truth & life of the Holy Spirit and nothing is more needed or immensely relevant to our lives/world today!!  So, hat’s off to you Greg, you are a worship warrior with tool in hand and as you begin to step out & worship with your gift/tool, you will write more than you could have ever imagined you could write…..cuz GREAT IS OUR GOD!!  He is the author of all things….what more could you ask for, you have "THE AUTHOR" of all authors LIVING INSIDE OF YOU….come on Jesus!!  :-)   Shalom……

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  3. On May 19, 2007 @ 10:07 am Brian said:
    • My wife and I will be praying for you Greg. We always do. We’ll be praying God gives you the words as well as peace. By the way, I took your advice and I have been reading the book Master Planning (very helpful, thanks!). I’m looking forward reading your book; "You’re Next." Keep us updated on the progress of your novel as we continue to pray for you.

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  4. On May 19, 2007 @ 1:29 pm leah said:
    • Hey greg, i’ll be praying! i can’t wait to read it! :-D so no pressure! :-P

    • Permalink to leah's comment

  5. On May 21, 2007 @ 12:26 am Jeremy said:
    • Is there such a thing as a dangerous sword in France? I thought they melted them all down to have poles for raising white flags. Anyway, I’ll be praying for the book. I’m a first year youth pastor in the middle of your Ministry Mutiny book, and loving it. Can’t wait to check out the novel. Thanks for all you do!

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  6. On May 21, 2007 @ 8:04 am Brittney said:
    • hey greg. don’t worry If i can write a 2,000 word essay about nothing. You can easily write a novel about God, it is only like 50 times bigger. You will find tons to write about. Just let your words come straight from your heart, and they will come a long way. Our daddy will guide you and give you strength to write the novel. Just think of it this way, by writting the novel you are probably going to touch someones life. I’ll be praying for you -Brittney 

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  7. On May 21, 2007 @ 4:35 pm Will Bratina said:
    • Hey, Greg. I would LOVE to see you finish Snoopy’s opening line……"It was a dark and stormy night."  Maybe you could play off that a little, like, "He was a stark and dorky knight"………….just an idea.  ALWAYS prayin’ for the guy God used and is using to keep me fired up for Jesus Christ and share His GOSPEL, buddy.  I pray you wield the Sword of the Spirit in this adventure and together you and our Savior will rescue many captives and pillage the village of Satan! - Will

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  8. On May 22, 2007 @ 7:58 pm Carrie Evans said:
    • About a year and a half ago (at a meeting to discuss the Go Wide! strategy) when I was explaining to you my passion for youth ministry, but complete lack of experience you told me the same quote about the swordsman.  It meant a lot to me, and it’s really true.  To me it kind of relates to the whole "God will use the most unlikely person so that He will receive the glory" idea I’ve also heard you talk about.   I have found my lack of preconceived ideas about how things "should be done in youth ministry" is a huge asset (and also makes life very interesting at staff meetings when I unveil my plans :>).  God has done amazing things in my ministry simply because I didn’t know any better!  I pray and believe he will do the same for you through this book.  I believe and pray this novel could have the most impact yet (and the previous books have been very powerful), because from what you are saying it seems to me to have the most potential to reach those outside the "church circle" as well as those within it.  Huge for an awesome evangelist such as yourself.

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  9. On May 30, 2007 @ 10:20 am David Paschal said:
    • No worries brother. God’s Spirit will write, you just hold on to the pen-laptop- you get the idea… His book, His business, your willingness! You will have an incredible time as His words rush through you and fill the book! In Him, David

    • Permalink to David Paschal's comment

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