Even where I cannot see, God continuously provides - Rohadi

Even where I cannot see, God continuously provides.

I know this is true because it’s happened over and over again. You would think I’d be less surprised when it happens now, but there’s always a layer of stubbornness that eventually gives way to awesome wonder.

I remember a recent season when my first church plant was coming to a close. (Actually, I should say it was changing, not closing, since most of the people remain connected in community.)

I thought to myself, what am I supposed to do now? I wasn't worried about it, but I knew change that I could not see was coming. A new door was about to open.

Some context first. For a couple of years prior, a friend and I were having conversations about a new church community in our city for the, "outsiders". You know the ones, the people that surrounded Jesus, yet were simultaneously outcasts in their regular society. What would a church for the outsiders look like in the here and now?

For me, I had always advocated for a church plant; she wasn't on board for that size of commitment...yet.

Two days before Christmas I got a message from her, "let's do an event.” Basically, an idea for a kind of a service, once a month, to make inroads to the outsider community.

Let me think about it, I replied.

Inside I knew I wasn’t interested in doing an event. It’s easy for a church to do cool events/services to cater to a particular demographic. That wasn’t very appealing, it lacked a level of depth I think is necessary for any community, especially one for the outsiders. We needed depth for longevity, an event wasn't going to cut it.

Two days after Christmas I replied, "I'm not interested in an event, anybody can do something cool. But I'd do a church plant."

This time a surprising reply, "Ok, let’s do it...."

I don’t know what changed in either of us, other than the timing was God ordained. Right when my first church plant closed a new one came out of nowhere to begin.

Two months later Cypher Church launched and we've been figuring out how to live out community with the “outsiders” who’d otherwise never fit into contemporary churches ever since.

God always has a plan. Sometimes we can’t see how far it goes, but we get signposts along the way confirming we’re on the right track. The transformations seen in Cypher Church in our brief time have been miraculous to say the least. The pursuit without a known path has yielded incredible moments.

How did this experience impacted my writing? For one, instead of preaching (which I’ve never really done in a traditional sense) I changed to accommodate a new way of communicating. Rather than 30 minute teaching sessions, I had to distill my ideas down to 5 minute spoken word projects instead. A good challenge to communicate effectively.

The other is the one I cannot see. The work to translate beliefs and language we take for granted in church culture for the next generation who have no religious memory. This work seems to be shaping a future book. Where it goes I don't know because I can't see that far ahead. But even where I cannot see, God can, and I'm happy to meander down the path looking for signposts along the way to confirm I'm headed in a good direction.

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Let's connect. My blog on church and culture. Check out my adult colouring book too.

Do you believe in things unseen? - by Rohadi

Writers do. We can pick floating ideas seemingly out of thin air and then...we turn them real.

Anybody can have an idea, but few people will do something about them.

What we do with those unseen ideas matter. Where most others will spend the time watching Netflix, a writer will satiate their ingrained human trait for adventure by creating.

Artists create, we execute, we produce, we ship. And it takes work.

Not only does it take work, but the craft is work, and if not treated as such, that idea, the book, the poem, the song, will never get done.

It may sound trite, but you have to, “just do it”.

The spiritual comparison would be the vicious cycle that prevents activity called “prayer”. Not prayer itself, but the excuses we use with it like, “I’ll pray about it,” which often translates into the veiled answer of, “I’ll do nothing about it.” We need to pray, “as we are going”….

When I decided to treat my writing as a job I scheduled the time as I would any other important task. It was still hard to fight resistance and do literally anything else, but adjusting my perception from hobby to profession helped me complete. It lead me to the place, through scheduled routine, where the idea planted in my head turned into a tangible work one could see, read, touch, and feel.



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Visit Rohadi at his blog.

Privilege by Rohadi

“To the privileged, equality looks like oppression.” - Unknown

I don't know who originally penned that quote, nor who said it, but I have been reflecting on the words, particularly in our current world.

I also don't know if this is accurate, but it seems the rhetoric in Western developed nations has become exceedingly polarized.

We're fighting to decide who's in and who's out. It's tiresome to listen to conversations that quickly descend into entrenched ideologies.

Jesus has something to say about the outsiders, although those who claim him often mix in criteria of their own.

Knowing I can't change anybody's mind, what I can do is reflect on my own.

I am a product of privilege.

Coming to this country as a tot opened the door to opportunity. That privilege, however, has also come at the expense of someone else, as often privilege does.

Canada150 is a story that celebrates a strong nation. It's being challenged by those who fight to retain what comfort and privilege they have in fear those who are different may gain a little more. We struggle to keep our identity by unknowingly, or knowingly, burying someone else's.

I think about these things.

In order to establish a way to reject the outsider, one needs to ignore stories of those who've come before there was even a Canada. Here's an old professor of mine talking about some of those stories, and the people behind them.






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Visit Rohadi at his blog. Check out his adult colouring book, Soul Coats.

Notebooks for every occasion - by Rohadi

Notebooks for every occasion. Never leave home without one. That and pens. Never leave home without a pen. The last thing you want to do is scrounge up a pencil from your car, or a ballpoint from the bank. 

When it comes to notebook selection some things matter and others don't. I’m more lenient on what qualifies as a “notebook” as I've been in the past, opting to accept the electronic variety in a pinch. 

Here’s a snapshot of of both process and hobby when it comes to selecting my writing tools.

• Every new book project gets it’s own notebook. Not just any notebook mind you. Utility has to outweigh beauty. Thick pages that can take ink from the fountain pen (usually the quickest pen so long as it doesn't skip) without bleeding through. They can be short, 48 pages maybe, and small, 5x5 perhaps.
• Meandering thoughts can go in notebooks that have a certain stylish flair. I’m not picky with quality, albeit the pen needs to run well along the pages. 
• I tend to have different notebooks for different tasks. For example, one devoted to ideas on faith and ministry, another for random reflections. 
• Then there’s the tiny notepad, the one I can fit in a coat pocket or briefcase. It’s for jotting down random thoughts. You know the ones that find you out of thin air. I got tired of using the napkin or grocery receipt, so I have some little pages at my disposal.
• If all that fails, I’ll pull out my phone and use the Evernote app (that syncs with my desktop). I’ve tried OneNote but simply didn’t get the hang of it. Evernote has been useful to organize thoughts in broad categories. That makes returning to an idea and following through a little bit easier. 
• Category use in the app is also why I chose Scrivener to complete writing projects. It's critical to organize ideas, and Word can't match the power and features in Scrivener. 

What I haven’t yet mastered is what to do with all the ideas. Most of them turn into nothing, ideas jotted down that I never revisit. I wonder if some “spring cleaning” would de-clutter the list and increase creative use? 

Finally, how do I approach the regular rhythm of journalling? I don't. In fact, I’ve never consistently journaled. I do it, but merely as a way to reduce the noise in my head by transferring it to paper. I rarely go back into my journals, mostly because I write too fast while journalling. Which is fine because that’s not the point. Journalling is a necessary outlet to keep the writing mind, and the soul, healthy. Rarely do thoughts escape into projects, or new ideas emerge. It's merely a release, a dump of letters to complete the day or season.

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P.S. I would love to reply to comments but I've been unable due to login issues (that I don't know how to remedy).....so thanks for all of your thoughts! 

Visit Rohadi at his blog. Check out his adult coloring book Soul Coats.

The Ordinary Nowhere - By Rohadi

When Lucy first emerged from the wardrobe into the land of Narnia, her first encounter was a lit lamp post, out of place in the middle of the forest. It didn’t matter which direction Lucy took beyond the lamp, it served as confirmation for the path home when she decided to return.

Christians often dwell in the tension of direction, especially when it comes to making important decisions. It’s human nature to consider all of the options in the wake of potential change. It’s also human nature to preserve status quo than to branch out into the unknown. It’s safer to do nothing. That’s why most potential heroines are just that, potential heroines, opting to remain in the confines of the Ordinary World over the risk of crossing the threshold into the Special World.

We want to make the “right” choice, ensuring we hear clearly from God before moving. But unfortunately, this leads to a space where we become frozen in place, never venturing beyond, “I’ll pray about it”.

We pray for the obvious, the proverbial “call" from God, to confirm beyond doubt where we go next. We’re hoping for a literal voice, a phone call from the heavens, something so obvious it makes our decision and direction easy. In our wait for ease we stay put. 

It’s so easy to stay put.

There are certain times of pause and wait, but we must balance these times with the consistent drive to move forward. The mere act of movement, not necessarily the "right" move, is a key to biblical calling. There are a few literal callings in scripture. The church receives one in Ephesians 4. You and I receive a calling at the end of Matthew 28. Then we have the foundational call as believers in John, to love one another. 

What if we’ve received all the calling we need, and what’s left is the movement to “Go”? Could it be that God's already given the pieces we need to make choices as we go? And that our equipping is reliant upon us taking the first step along the new path? 

Maybe we make change harder than it has to be? 

But then doubt emerges and we invariably ask again and again, “which path is the right path?!” So we await confirmation from God and the cyclical cycle of staying put begins again. 

I suppose we can wait. God does speak in mysterious ways but consider this. The next time you’re facing the fork in the road mulling the options consider Lucy. She had no path.

What if we’ve been given all of the pieces we need to choose direction and all that’s left is to, “go”? What if all we get as we go are tantalizing lamp posts along the way confirming that regardless of which path we take God will follow our choice?

She had no path, only the will to move into the allure of the unknown. 

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Rohadi blogs at his website www.rohadi.com. He released an adult coloring book last year called, Soul Coats. Recently, he co-launched a new church plant in Calgary called, Cypher Church. 

The Cross For All - by Rohadi

This Lenten season I’ve made my way through a formidable book called, “The Day the Revolution Began,” by N.T. Wright. Everyone has the handful of books that have been formative, those watershed moments, for either skill or faith. This one fits the bill for me. Surprised by Hope, another title by Wright, would be another, but the former book has redefined my approach to critical questions of our faith—why the cross, and how does it solve anything?

The typical reformed answer would be, to deliver us from our sins by taking the penalty of death on the cross. The Sunday school answer, however, only works within a context of an already churched person, someone who knows the church language and stories. I am curious to know how someone would explain the why and how of the cross without using church language. 

Could you do it? Explain the value of the cross without using words like ‘sin’, ‘wrath’, ‘fallen’, ‘blood sacrifice’. It was a challenge for me, questions I was asking because my ministry tends to operate outside of the confines communities full of career Christians, and towards those who’ve never heard the stories. These people hear, ‘Easter’ and think bunnies, chocolate, and a stat holiday. 

Isn’t there something more? And can I even make sense of it?

Of course, there’s an answer. Actually, let me rephrase. An ‘answer’ to the cross implies a level of formula that we try to impose to make sense of something that cannot be placed into a formula. The cross cannot be fully explained, which is part of the point, there is a mystery that one must discover on their own accord. It would be better to say, of course there’s a story, and the cross sits as the fundamental climax of that story, one where the church picks up the unfolding pieces. 

The cross makes no sense if it’s taken out of God’s story for creation and shoehorned into theological preferences. 

Writers are acutely aware of the formation and power of story, and the scriptures point to a grand unfolding narrative. God begins with a purpose for creation—to bear the image of the creator—and it is our return to this purpose (or ‘vocation’ as Wright uses) that God is fundamentally trying to restore. This story has remained unchanged since creation, unfolded with the nation of Israel throughout history, yet was never fully realized in their care. Jesus becomes the fulfillment of God’s promise to reconcile humanity back to the covenant made with Abraham—a blessing for a multitude—an uncountable sin-forgiven family. Jesus does this through the work on the cross, choosing to take the powers of evil, both seen and unseen, to prove they could be beaten, at the cross and at the empty tomb. 

There were so many moments of, ‘oh wow’, in this year’s Lenten journey, connected with the devotions through Wright’s writing. I’ll trail off with a mere, Happy Easter to all, and a hearty encouragement to read the book! It will challenge you in the least, and change you for the best.

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Catch Rohadi as his blog, and check out his adult coloring book with Biblical themes. 

The weird love for writing - by Rohadi

“What do you love about writing?” This month’s writing prompt.

I had to think about this, and then think about it again, then think about it some more. But every time I tried to think about my ‘love’ for writing all that came up was how writing was/is work. Work that beckons me to participate most days. Work that I couldn’t live without, but work that requires constant struggle through resistance to complete. 

I don't always like my work.

Not only is writing work, but it’s also a part of me. I can't get away. It’s how I get my ideas out, and I don’t really have a choice in the matter. I either write something or become a discombobulated mess as ideas amass themselves in the limited space between my ears. 

Ah, the 'joys' of writing….

But then it dawns on me. If writing was an instant success where every word came naturally and perfectly, what would the point be? What kind of love measures itself on whimsy and ease? A love that’s fleeting, that’s what.

Most of us would know that the quality of love is rooted in its substantive essence. The choosing you have to do day, by day, by day, to love. This is why even on those days you don’t like to write, you still love writing. Then one day, sometimes by chance or miracle, the love offering of words produces the reward—the book, the perfect sonnet, beautiful paragraphs…. 

It's why we keep returning, we choose to love writing. An odd kind of love, no doubt, since I may need writing, but writing doesn’t need me. 

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Connect with Rohadi on his website, and check out his adult colouring book.

Give Thanks? Fake it till you make it - by Rohadi

I remember sitting in a service of a rather large church and couldn't help but notice how repetitive the lead preacher was. On three separate occasions he reminded people to smile, not to anybody in particular, seemingly suggesting it was somehow reflective of a superior faith.

“As my grandpa used to always say, you don't want to look like you've been baptized in lemon juice!” noted the preacher.

Why did this bug me? It struck me as disingenuous but it also alluded to the notion if someone didn’t meet the smile quota then something was wrong with their faith. I didn't roll my eyes, but I did make a mental note to frown for the remainder of the service.

Why did I respond in this way?

Maybe I indeed lacked joy and needed to smile more like the preacher said. Or more likely, maybe I prefer when someone reflects their authentic spirit in the moment, and many times we just don’t feel like smiling. 

We've all gone through, or are going through, present or past struggles. No faith is worth its salt if it hasn’t travelled through the ‘valley of death’ once or twice. In those experiences smiling is hard and sometimes forced. We give the illusion of joy but it's fake.

While traveling through tough times you may have heard something like this, “fake it till you make it.” Advice used to maintain momentum when picking up a new skill or beating an old habit.

Does it work? Have you 'faked it until you made it?'

I have. I think it does work, but the mantra is a bit of a misnomer. 

When we walk into the valleys, when joy seems far from us, it requires real intention to constantly remind ourselves about joy and practice habits of joy.

If you’re ‘faking’ you’re actually entering into an activity—you’re doing something. Doing is participating, an activity that’s less ‘faking’ as it is a liturgy of reclamation. This kind of liturgy practices joy in an attempt to discover joy. In this sense, the rhythm of ‘faking it till you make it’ is a spiritual act of worship! Soon enough (God willing) joy emerges as a prominent reflection of our authentic selves.

Whether you want to smile about that or not is up to you.

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 You can catch Rohadi online at his blog on church innovation. Check out his adult colouring book, Soul Coats, now available. 

Hidden Gifts Locked Away Inside of You - by Rohadi

Christmas is the season of hustle and bustle. Thankfully, the measure of our Christian faith isn’t how many things we can do. In fact, we have no measure at all. Rather, our call is to be faithful with what we’ve been given.

The fourth chapter of Ephesians had significant implications and applications for the early church, ones that remain critical for you and me today. 

In verses 1-3, how a Christian faith should pragmatically look like is described. Verses 4-6 are a brief theology in what many call one of the earliest church creeds.

Then in verse seven a statement--a reminder almost--that everyone (all believers) have a gift….

“But the grace was given to each one of us, according to the measure of the king used when he was distributing gifts.” Ephesians 4:7.

What gifts are these? Verse 11...Some to apostles, prophets, pastors/shepherds, teachers, and evangelists. 

Verse seven already said you have at least one of these gifts (I believe you have all 5, some merely more prominent than others). Not only do you have one, your gift specifically is critical to the function of a healthy church (v. 12).

Christmas is a time to gift others, which is wonderful in itself. But let’s stop to reflect how we can enter the New Year and go deeper with gifts we already have. The ones that when lived out become real and tangible glimpses of the reason for this season—the gift of hope here and now and to come. 

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Rohadi is a bi-vocational pastor in Calgary. His first publication is an adult colouring book called: "Soul Coats: Restoration", available on Amazon.

Smashing (into) the writing wall - by Rohadi

I’d hit the wall. It was a recent Spring, the unofficial kick-off to ‘fun' when activities ramp up and outdoor adventures begin. You hibernate and slow down in Winter, that’s acceptable, but Spring/Summer?! Creativity should be at your fingertips! Just look at the trees, that sun is shining, BBQs are in full swing! 

After publishing my colouring book project everything in my writing life ground to a halt. There were things to do—there are always things to do—but finding momentum and inspiration to do the work was nascent at best. 

I'd hit the wall and could do anything but write.

In that space I knew something needed to change, I needed to change, anything needed change. So I tried to make some changes to shed the weight of nothing. 

I thought, maybe I should buy a new computer, that’ll get me writing. (I’ve run out of rooms to put the old ones….) What about a trip to the pen store? That might inspire me. Maybe I’ll start drinking in the morning? I’m sure some famous writer needed a shot of something to start the day? Even without a morning mimosa I wasn’t thinking clearly.

Writing is work, and sometimes you don’t want to go to work. In fact, there are seasons, particularly when you’re not a daily professional with outlined deadlines that someone else depends on, when doing nothing is easy. We've all faced these kinds of struggles, but this time was a different somehow.... Lots to do but so little desire to do them. 

Maybe I'll quit?

Too harsh.

Maybe I'll take a break.

I took a break from it all and rested. Rather than being mopey all Summer I paused to reflect on the past and what was coming in the future. In that time I did a few little things on purpose to prepare for a fresh start even when I couldn't say when that would be. I re-arranged my office; better to look out the window rather than an empty wall. I found a new notebook and some books to read. I took a vacation.

Change and pause are instrumental to capture the new while balancing the old routines. (In case you're wondering, there's no timetable when a 'pause' should end.)

Think about this: nobody walks into a winery or liquor store and exclaims, “Where’s your newest bottle of wine?! I’m looking for a 2016 vintage!” Ignoring the fact '2016' and 'vintage' don’t go together until 2066, the notion remains ridiculous. Nobody values new wine.

There’s a parable where Jesus talks about old wine and new wine skins. The two don’t mix. But the thing is, neither is regarded as better than the other. Old wine has vintage and value. New wine is fresh with possibility although requires the new package for accommodation. 

Balancing new habits with a combination of the necessary ‘old’ is a constant rhythm in my writing journey. I have to re-articulate goals, remind myself of my necessary writing routine (and stick with it), commit to deadlines, read voraciously, and constantly improve my prose through input and review, find new challenges, (for the record there’s no pen store), and take moments (or seasons) to get away from it all. 

Then, and maybe then, I'll break through the wall.



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Visit rohadi on his blog and check out his adult bible colouring book.

Local Connections by Rohadi

I've attended conferences before, but I can't recall one that was particularly memorable. They seem to be a great way to generate new ideas and maybe even spark new momentum/excitement. I remember a decade ago at a ‘Leadership Summit’, a fantastic resource that benefitted, ironically, my small business, yet was largely irrelevant for the intended application—church. I’ve been to numerous church planting conferences, but those have been more of chance to visit a new exciting city (although I still don’t know why I went to Dallas…), over listening to a particular speaker. Ultimately, the conference experience hasn't provided me with any source of significant insight. Maybe I’m attending the wrong ones….

One can certainly get caught up in the excitement of the conference fanfare. In particular, seeing how people with similar problems found wild success doing steps A, B, C. Inspiring, perhaps, but generally speaking the same people go to the same conferences to hear the same results over and over again. Application of the celebrated examples lacks. (After all it's easier to consume new ideas and hear about them vicariously, it's quite another to do something about your new idea.)

Conferences can turn into the 'junk food' of your field: awesome when you consume the first bites, but lack substance and impact over the long haul. Turns out it takes a lot of work and unique circumstance to go from zero to hero and we tire at the thought before we even get started.

But there's something that can't be consumed in tactics or strategies, and perhaps is the single reasons why you should ever attend a conference to begin with--developing new relationships.

Developing new connections with like minded people that will last beyond the 2-4 day conference affair is not only critical, but provides the greatest potential for lasting impact. Not only are relationships key to making the conference experience a win, sometimes we don't have to venture far from home to find what we're looking for.

We usually attend a gathering to garner insight shared by ‘experts’ in the field. Assuming you live in a major city, you may be surprised to find, hidden amongst 1+million people, are local experts.

For example, as I venture further into the realm of church planting and leading change in a post-Christian world, the re-emphasis of the local expert is proving invaluable to development. It’s not necessary to seek out the American guru on a subject that requires unique insight to specific context. It’s far more insightful and beneficial to be collaborators building new ideas tailored to your city or neighborhood with local leaders who can offer insight and complement your weaknesses (and vice versa).

Chances are you can find someone nearby to share ideas, expertise, and praxis, which is what the very best conference experience could ever hope to offer.


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Catch Rohadi at his blog on church, community, and culture. Check out his recent adult colouring book: Soul Coats.

Your Who - by Rohadi

Imagine yourself as an Olympian, I'll let you pick the event.

You probably started training in your teens. Some years later, if you're among the best in the country, you qualify for the Olympic stage. There it's another monumental challenge as you face the world's best in preliminary rounds. If you're really good, and I mean REALLY good, you go 1-on-1 with the best of the best to challenge for a medal. All of this for a single Games. If you wish to return then rinse, wash, and repeat a four year rhythm of training your body day in and day out to inch closer and closer to gold.

Imagine doing all of this work, building your entire life around mastering a craft, and actually making the final. The climax of your career at the world's centre stage, and in the face of unimaginable pressure, when the gun goes off, you come in 4th....

Some will rightly remind you, after all, it was THE Olympics you achieved. But that's hardly a consolation for a world class athlete who trains to be 1st not 4th. Your entire life's focus--your identity--wrapped exclusively into your sport yielded nothing. Decades with a singular definition, and then one day, nothing.

Maybe it's not so dramatic, but it does beg the question, where do you derive your identity?

Ask yourself this question, ‘WHO AM I’?

There are a variety of places we may define our 'WHO'.

Your WHO can be defined by your work/career.

Your WHO can rely on the affirmation of others.

Your WHO can be defined by a partner or children.

Your WHO can be your creations or busyness.

None of these are wrong, but the trouble is, they are all fleeting. They disappear, will never be enough, or at some point will disappoint us. They all fall well short of gold.

However, a 'WHO' rooted at its core in Jesus has a depth and steadfastness we can not only latch on to, but trust completely and eternally. This trust doesn't come easily. We continuously struggle with the promises we find so hard to accept. Yet thankfully, gracefully, it need not be this way.

“And the Lord is now calling me...affirming me, enabling me, encouraging me, challenging me all the way into fullness of faith, hope, and love in the power of His Holy Spirit. Ignorant, weak, sinful person that I am, with easy rationalizations for my sinful behaviour, I am being told anew in the unmistakable language of love, I'm with you. I am for you. I am in you.” Brennan Manning, Ragamuffin Gospel, pg 174.

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Visit Rohadi's blog and take a look at his recent publication, a Christian adult coloring book.

Create, create some more, then don't stop creating - by Rohadi

I saw the new Finding Dory flick and enjoyed it. Dory’s mantra, ‘just keep swimming, swimming, swimming’ resonated with me.

You know that idea you have? Just do it.

If you really wanted to be, do, create something, then you would.

Want to be a writer? Then write! Watch less Netflix, don’t play video games, (but read more) and you’ll find the time to write that book. OK, maybe I’m oversimplifying things. There are certain luxuries, particular time and finances, that enable dream pursuits, but what ultimately makes someone a writer, musician, or an illustrator? A special gift (maybe)? Years of practice (definitely)? Or the capacity and activity of creation? If the latter is the case then everyone who chooses the creator path will succeed to complete what they set out to do.

Creativity is capturing and grasping ideas, then letting the magic happen (to borrow from Elizabeth Gilbert).

Ideas. So many ideas….

Many people have so-called good ideas ranging from products to projects, to books and songs. What separates the doers from the wishful thinkers, (there are few of us who are doers), is giving those ideas life. This is the key—the constant process of turning ideas to reality. For professionals of their craft they not only do but they keep doing, and in beast like fashion—non-stop with reckless abandon to prevent any ideas from slipping into the unknown never to be discovered.

Create, and create some more, and don't stop creating.

"Create like a beast,” a line coined by a professional illustrator friend. I'm a professional nothing. The difference between the two of us is he's spent years investing in his craft that he loves it (and the talent part). I have a lot of small steps, and some big leaps, to catch up. Some of that took shape early last year. I made the decisions to spend some significant time putting scattered ideas into a cohesive body for my first non-fiction manuscript. Committing to the writing routine was the step I needed to hit the next level. I didn’t complete the book, but I did get an important, “oh, I can do this” moment that has propelled me forward. The focus helped me turn around the next project (my adult colouring book) into a publication, in just five months. The routine of writing, committing to continuous completion of new projects, along with necessary and valuable critique, will hopefully increase the quality and reach of every new work.

Where does this take me? I don’t know. But I do know I get a sense of joy and contentment when I can take ideas, make them real, and carry on swimming.


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You can visit Rohadi at his blog, and you can check out this recent Christian coloring book released in June.

Creators Create - 10,000 Hours to Make a Difference, by Rohadi

I asked myself, “how can I cheat?”

Using Malcolm Gladwell's often touted 10,000-hour rule of mastery, what were my passions that gave me a head-start, and could I turn them into a career? I made a list.

It wouldn't be woodworking because I only had a couple hundred hours there. Writing was a possibility. Then there was music. Not quite 10,000 hours from the years mom planted me in front of the piano, but it was close. Then I dug deeper and realized I know too many incredible musicians who make, literally, hundreds of dollars a year. I don't have enough love for music to put in the extra 1000s of hours to make that kind of money.

Finding a passion I can 'cheat in' hasn't happened, but this fact remains: I love to create. Artists just can't help it.

Art forms don’t need to be a source of income, they can just be your passions. But there is an underlying commonality that’s more important than money. It has something to do with the uniqueness all artists have.

We are creators.

The classic Sunday school song ‘This little light of mine’ has a line, “…hide it under a bushel, NO!” that serves as a reminder for Christians. Often we're more prone to settle in our world that rarely meanders beyond the confines of the church walls. It's easier to share community with other Christians, only read Christian books, only listen to Christian music, and on and on. There’s something eerily consumptive about the whole experience that, to me, seems disconnected from how Jesus lived — a life for others.

What does this have to do with creative activities?

Too often Christians are described by what they stand against rather than what they stand for: creators created in God's image tasked to beautify the world around them.

Creators are not perennial consumers. No matter the size, we leave something behind rather than taking from this world. We offer our contributions, collaborating with the unfolding Kingdom of God to add beauty.

The exercise of simply creating is profound and intimately connected to God’s dream for you and I, but for all of creation as well. The dream and hope to restore all things is glimpsed every time we say, “yes”, I’m going to make that pie, I’m going to write that sonnet, I’m going to fill that canvas, I’m going to pen that song…and on and on.

Creators create and that’s the difference our world needs.


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Rohadi’s first publication is now available: "Soul Coats: Restoration” is an adult Christian colouring book with over 64 beautifully illustrated scenes and scriptures from the Bible.

Impact and Measure: The Writer's Call - by Rohadi

Over seven years ago, the late Michael Spencer wrote a three blog post series with a prediction: the collapse of evangelicalism was imminent The series garnered incredible interest and critique including a feature in CSMonitor. With three years left before his prediction expires it appears he won’t be right--a cataclysmic collapse isn’t imminent.

At the same time I penned a response to the very same question, but from a Canadian perspective. Given the cultural differences between the two countries, I reasoned, if there was a coming collapse, Canadian evangelicals should be the first to go.

Unlike Spencer’s articles nobody read mine. That wasn’t the first time when I thought I had a hit but got *cricket*, *cricket*, instead. All that work and nobody reads my stuff, I thought. Is it even worth spending the time writing?

Blogging for a particularly niche area generally means writing to an empty room. Recently, I've been reminded that's not the case as friends and acquaintances started to engage with new thoughts and ideas they pulled from my blog. It was then I realized two things: more people were being impacted by my words than I expected, and my words could harm.

It's one thing to announce the emperor has no clothes, which I readily do, but any loudmouth with a keyboard can do the same. It’s quite another to use words and ideas to point to a better alternative (or better conversation). Very recently, almost ten years after starting my blog (I’m a slow learner), I came to an intentional decision: I can write about what I’m against, or I can write for what I’m for. The subtle difference makes the world of change in my words, but more importantly my heart.

Our words, especially when they hit the public, can be used in many ways. We certainly want to be agents of change in a land that sorrily needs beauty, but sometimes it’s not entirely evident when our work makes an impact (which is normal). Consider this next time you pen a thought or paragraph: the number of page likes, views, shares, or books sold doesn’t matter. The impact of our words isn’t our measure. What matters is whether or not we were faithful in penning them to begin with. What happens after that is up to God.


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Rohadi can be found at his blog sharing ideas on church planting and the missional church. His first book hits shelves this June. Soul Coats: Restoration is an adult coloring book with Bible scenes and scriptures.

Don't Stop Cause We Can't Stop - By Rohadi

Write.

A lot.

And don’t stop.

If you can find peers and mentors along the way even better. I wrote briefly on the exceptional value of having like-minded artists to share your craft with in my first post on Inscribe. In this post I'll share my rhythm and tools that have helped me create over the years. Maybe an idea or two will work for you….

The habit of writing is perhaps the single greatest tool to become a better writer. Being a voracious reader is a close second, but honing your craft on a daily basis is crucial to continuously improve your prose. In what manner you put those words down isn’t so much important as the exercise itself. This routine is not only a job to improve, but it feeds the appetite of the writing soul. I’m one for journals/notepads (see below). I rarely leave home without a pad of paper--it’s my method to deal with the constant swirl of ideas in my head.

Whimsically jotting down odd ideas is one thing, but the opposite end of the spectrum includes the arduous labour pouring through draft after draft of a piece of work. Whether you have a publisher lined up or not, the task of producing crystal clarity in a completed work is a necessary task to hone writing skills. Sending that work to an editor (or critique group) so it can be gently torn to shreds is another step in growing tougher skin and improving by leaps and bounds.

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Write—a lot—and don’t stop.

If you open the tool chest of the writer what will you find? Here’s a glimpse of mine.

Notepads for every occasion (I have a weakness, I know). The pen and the paper are better for my mind over electronic versions. Each one of my projects has a separate notebook that I can pick up and insert brief ideas or long thoughts, that in their scattered form, start to take needed shape.

Writers and artists are also picky in a manner that few people can relate to. Your tools are important and even the type of pens used (quick and don’t skip) are necessary features. I’m a creature of habit and when I find something I like I’ll buy 5. Right now I'm partial to Pilot VPens in blue (not black, it doesn't flow right) to scribe.

Although the tactile feel of paper and pen are my primary choice, I rely on important apps and software as well. Evernote is a powerful tool that can neatly categorize ideas based on tags (or electronic notebooks). Play around with the app and you’ll always have the resource so long as you have your phone. I generally build most of my blog posts within Evernote before transporting them over to Wordpress.

Eventually the computer comes into play. I've found dictation to be an interesting method of getting large portions of text down quickly that have been sitting dormant in my mind. (Although dictation doesn’t always hear the right word which leads to lost ideas as you try to remember what you were dictating 15 seconds ago.) My writing software of choice is Scrivener (I’ve essentially abandoned Microsoft Word as a writing tool). The capability of separating ideas into folders for quick access and clarity works wonders to build ideas and narratives.

These are some of the pieces I like to use in my writing endeavours. What are some unique tools in your arsenal?


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Catch Rohadi at his missional church blog, and check out his Christian themed adult coloring book coming out in June.

I’m a business, man. by Rohadi

Jay-Z, rapper turned multi-millionaire, has this lyrical statement on branding, “I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man.” He is, and so are you.

New writers are easily stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place: publishers invest in authors who sell well, but you need to be published to sell. My first manuscript is collecting dust because first-time authors (I don’t want to self-publish this one) usually need a sizeable following to mitigate the risk of investment. That means in the business of books, if you’re not a minor celebrity before you publish, take a hike. Thankfully, I enjoy a good hike, and although a seven figure advance and monthly royalty cheques worth more than a nice lunch may be out of my reach, there’s plenty of opportunity to write as career. Full disclosure, writing as career takes considerable work, and at times you will feel like a used car salesman, BUT you have the necessary tools to make it happen with or without a big publisher.

I would like to share one particular focus referencing my experience not as a writer, but a businessman who’s operated a marketing consulting firm for over a decade: the foundation to any marketing venture is your BRAND. Writers, of all professions, are potential experts in branding. How so? Brand is the story why someone should believe in you (or your book). (Your brand is most likely your name.) Writers are storytellers. We have the capability to build captivating narratives. A powerful brand opens the door to develop connection with readers, cultivate relationship, and ultimately grow a tribe that will not only buy your stuff, but evangelize for you as well. The payoff is huge. Established tribes (read Seth Godin, 'Tribes’) may not be massive in number, but together they offer longevity necessary to continue writing/producing without the need to hit anybody’s best seller list.

Building the story is the easy part. The hard part? Growing your brand into a platform. If brand is the story of ‘why’, platform is the equity you generate from it. Thankfully, there are a plethora of tools to help build platform. Unfortunately, there are a plethora of tools to build platform, so many in fact, that it can become tiresome sifting through the noise. Building platform is a lot of work, especially when your market is especially niche. (The pro and con when writing to a specific niche is you can build an effective tribe quickly, but it may not be big enough to support your craft. It doesn’t hurt to conduct market research for particular projects to see if the audience is enough to justify the time investment.) It’s time consuming to post content to your blog, write on your Facebook page, and send out some tweets. The advent of social media increases the opportunities for exposure, but you have to be certain your time is worth the effort, and you’re reflecting your voice. For example, the single most important aspect for blog posts is the title (headline). But how far do you go? Should you use gimmicky click-bait titles? Would it reflect your voice or will it only cheapen your content? (My initial title for this post was, "15 Ways First Time Authors Can Hit the Best Seller List…or not” simply as an exercise in clickbait.)

We look to build platform because the allure for our work to 'go viral', hit the best sellers list, increase market share, etc., is appealing, but it also means means learning how you 'sell'. That might mean putting on your greasy car salesman jacket and using tactics learned from that newsletter of some marketer turned writer promising ‘killer tactics’ to write the best 'top ten lists' that will produce 'incredible results'…. To be honest, although I’ve never seen any of these bloggers produce seminal work, they certainly attract an eager tribe, and here's the thing: so can you. The question becomes, “what sized tribe will I be content with?"

Writers write because we can’t think straight without putting pen to paper, and most of us, dare I say, want to change the world we live in. Who better to lead the charge than storytellers beckoning readers to confront their tensions and leap into an unknown? It’s funny in a way, the business of writing has a goal for more, which inevitably leads to a struggle with discontent. But if writing is about changing the world in our world, we can do that, it’s achievable, attainable, but perhaps only for a chosen few—that tribe ready for adventure, and you.


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Rohadi is currently completing a Christian adult coloring book slated for release this June. He blogs on church innovation, particularly topics on the missional church, and can be found on Twitter.

Writing For Pints and Discipleship - By Guest Blogger Rohadi Nagassar

It's very exciting to introduce another guest blogger today, new Inscribe member Rohadi Nagassar. Enjoy this very eloquent piece:

What helps you turn dreams and ideas into reality? Which prompts give you fuel to score page after page? Being gluttons for punishment, writers require a certain self-imposed loneliness to transform pen and paper into words. Sometimes those words string together in coherent sentences. Other times they amount to nonsensical riffs. Unless you dictate, the entire enterprise can descend into a quiet routine where whole days slip by without having a single meaningful conversation.

That’s my reality being self-employed, but it wasn’t the quiet that became the problem, it was the ideas—they kept hitting roadblocks. Solitude and silence are powerful tools, but I realized that even the ardent introvert needs to connect, perhaps for the sake of sanity, but certainly for the sake of defusing the tension of stuck ideas. My writing lacked a rhythm that permitted new life to infuse my narratives. Off I went to search for that new rhythm, reading everything I could find about the routines of the greatest writers. It all boiled down to this: set your routine, create like a beast, work hard, and then play hard, just like Lewis and Tolkien musing over pints.

Clearly, my rhythm needed more pints.

I applied the ‘more pints’ to the ‘work hard’ part of the recommended routine, but that quickly proved to be a wasted effort. Instead I tried to locate fellow writers to gather and share their craft. I admit, it’s me, but being an outlier and writing nonfiction doesn’t fit the average writing group (whatever average might be….) But I did know artists, and good friends at that. They were illustrators, of the comic book variety, and although they weren’t writers themselves, they knew their way around narratives and stories. Because we were already friends, sharing dreams and ideas was normal, only now I could open the doors to my vulnerability and share my writings complete with the tension, the stuck, and the ridiculous.

It was they who saw my first draft. They were the ones who heard about the new dreams first. What I received was what I offered: the odd note of feedback, but more importantly, affirmation to stay true to the journey and break free from the ‘resistance’.

What helps me turn dreams and ideas into reality? The sharing of life on life with a trusted few. In essence a kind of discipleship for writing. In fact, why not just call it discipleship? Doing what you love with people you love while the next story unravels.

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You can catch Rohadi at his blog www.rohadi.com discussing topics on church innovation in a post-Christian world. His newest project coming out this Summer is called: Soul Coats. An adult colouring book meandering through Biblical scenes of restoration.