This is my last article.
My best conservative estimate is that over the years I have written about 1,500 bulletin articles. I began in about 1986 and, except for the time I was in school, I have published weekly articles almost every week, year after year. Very few of them were typical articles, in that I always wrote longer articles than could be used in the format most churches use for the bulletins.
I wrote them as a form of self-discipline. Writing is a very good way to study and to grow. I’m not saying I am an expert writer–far from it–but the exercise has been a real blessing to me. I hope along the way some of those articles were a blessing to you as well. While there were some exceptions, most of those articles were like an extra sermon each week. Writing them kept my thoughts focused and kept me in the word when I otherwise would not have been.
I am thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity to publish them over the years. I am more thankful for all the kind expressions of encouragement that I have received from so many of you through the years.
Solomon closed out the book of Ecclesiastes with some observations about wisdom, words, writing, books, fearing God, and keeping His commandments. Solomon said of himself, “The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly” (Eccl. 12:10). There is very little comparison between the wise sage of Scripture and me, but I do think that this verse is a rare exception. I, too, have tried to match the right words with the thoughts I wanted to convey and with the audience I wanted them conveyed to. I have always wanted to write the words of truth correctly, and that burden has been borne every time I wrote.
Solomon also wrote, “So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:19-21). In a feeble way, and with missteps and errors on my part, I’ve striven to do the same thing.
So, if you read the occasional article that resonated, explained, challenged, encouraged, or corrected, then the efforts were worth it.
Remember Debbie and me in your prayers, and you will be in ours. Thanks for the experiences of a lifetime … so far!
Keep studying. DC Brown ©2017