Why Focus On Jesus?

As you browse this website, there may be at least two questions you would like to ask. The first might be: "Why another 'Christian website'?" A logical second question might also be: "Why call it Focus On Jesus?" I really would like to answer those questions if you have them, but I would have to say truthfully, "I don't really know the full answer."

I can tell you this, however. I believe that our Lord has both led us to do this and has provided the name for it. Many readers can easily accept that statement without any further difficulty. Others of you may not be at that same point yet.

The Lord did not speak directly to me and say, "Start a world-wide-web site publication and call it Focus On Jesus." However, he has kept it strongly in my mind for several years now. More recently, I have felt an increasing urgency to get started.

I wonder about the scripture, Psalm 37:3-6 . . . Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.

I did not grow up desiring to publish a periodical such as this. I know that it takes much tiring, exacting work to get it done. Some have told me that no one in his right mind would voluntarily take on such a job (no offense intended to other editors and publishers) for free. But, I feel compelled by the Lord now to do so. During the years, God has given me a broad range of experiences that seemed at the time to be quite disjointed, and not related to each other in any way that I could imagine. Now I can see that my divergent background was no accident. God has been there all along, with his hand guiding me into and through varying careers, weaving the unique tapestry of my life, preparing me for this (and other) work. All the time, I thought that I was making all the choices sometimes after careful analysis, and sometimes through what I thought was "plain, dumb luck." I have come to believe that there are no coincidences, and no "dumb luck" plain or otherwise.

There Is No Coincidence!

I am learning that God actively governs the affairs of men and of nations. He shapes events using physical phenomena, as well as men and women who are willing (as he did King David of Israel), and those who are not willing (as he did Pharaoh of Egypt).

What I considered coincidence in the past, I now recognize as the wise, steady hand of God, opening and closing doors of opportunity. I confess, that he has opened doors to me in the past that I did not enter. He opened many others for me that I thought I had done through my own "brilliance". Now, I know better. Have no doubt about it, God is in control. I am nothing. Paul said to those who thought they could find God with their renowned reasoning skills:

For in Him we live and move and are. (Acts 17:28)

The major difference in me then and now, is that today, everyday, I turn myself over to my Lord to do with me as he chooses. To use me for whatever he decides.

Now, I believe it is no coincidence that you browse through this publication and have read it this far. I now believe that the 37th Psalm means, not only that God gives his children whatever they desire, but that he is the one who plants that desire in our hearts in the first place. I cannot explain to you any natural means that caused me to desire to take on this awesome responsibility. I can explain it only by Psalm 37:4. Only God could have given me this desire. I pray that these efforts will be a blessing to you.

Our Intentions

Elsewhere on this site, you see a mission statement. I believe that's what God has given us to do with this periodical. Pray for us to be able to stick to it, and to have the godly wisdom to change, if that is the way he leads us in the future.

We plan to publish Focus On Jesus each even-numbered month both on the Internet and conventional paper and through the US mail service.

Our primary purpose is to help readers focus on Jesus during all normal living activities. That is, in the workplace, in the family, in finances, in personal relationships in everything that we normally do. We believe this effort should be a blessing to you "where you live." It will be written for you, hopefully, in a down-to-earth, easy, and useful style. We believe it would not achieve our Lord's purposes for it, if the writing were to be "stuffy" and overly scholastic in tone. We want it to be scholarly, but not dull; factual, but not tedious; inspiring, but not impulsive. We trust that you and the Lord will keep us on track.

We intend to make the publication free to anyone wishing to have it, as long as the Lord provides the funds to do so. Focus On Jesus will be supported entirely by your voluntary contributions. We will make only a "low-key" request for funds. Since Alice Ann and I believe that we have been led by the Lord to make this publication a part of our ministry, as long as it is doing His work, He will continue to move readers to contribute money and other resources to keep it going. When this ministry is finished, or if we stray from his purposes, I believe that contributions will stop. If or when your funding stops, that will be our "signal" to end this ministry. I invite you to pray, asking God for his guidance and whether you should have fellowship in this work in any way. Then follow what he leads you to do.

Each edition of Focus On Jesus, will feature one or more articles with a "spiritual" focus, such as some characteristic of Jesus, or something he teaches, that we can apply to living. This is contrasted to other articles that will fill most of the publication that will have more of a "practical" focus. That is, they will direct attention to some part of our normal living activities and our daily challenges, where being led by Jesus could drastically change how we would handle those situations. I make this distinction only for convenience and easier understanding of our intent. I don't really believe we can separate our lives into such "compartments" as "spiritual" or "practical". I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

We expect to write about: family relationships; finances; parenting; children; being children; work (on the job) relationships; dealing with problems of drugs or alcoholism; sexual misconduct; homosexuality; civic responsibilities; abortion; politics; education; home-schooling; questions from readers; health and medical; nutrition. I expect that will not be all. You will be suggesting other topics you want someone to write about. You may also be writing some of them yourself. We want to touch on anything that concerns you in trying to keep your own focus on Jesus.

We hope to make the articles long enough to cover the subject, but keep them brief enough to be interesting. We will attempt to have each article complete in that edition of the publication, rather than have continued articles with Part I, Part II, Part Infinitum.

You are reading this edition of Focus On Jesus because you are a friend or acquaintance of ours, or your name was given to us by a mutual friend or acquaintance. Or, perhaps you stumbled upon us while surfing the net. Come back as often as you like. Refer your friends. Feel free to send us names and addresses (Postal or E-Mail) of others whom you would like to see this publication. We will continue to add names to our mailing list as long as there are funds available to add them. You, and anyone whose name you send to us will receive two or three traditional editions when we begin printing later this year. During that time, decide whether or not you wish to continue receiving Focus On Jesus. If you don't, do nothing. We'll drop you from the mailings. If you do want it to continue coming to you, then let us know and we will make your name permanent on the mailing list. In order to subsidize publication costs, we plan to make some space available in each edition for advertising. Such advertising will be strictly limited to articles or products consistent with the mission of this publication, and space will not be opened to general advertising. At some future time, a form of classified advertising may be in- cluded, but if so, that also would fit with our overall mission.

Non-Denominational Inter-Denominational

Authors contributing material will not be compensated. They will be from as broad a spectrum of denominational and non-denominational backgrounds as possible. However, their backgrounds or present affiliations will not be emphasized and may not even be noted. I believe that such broad and varied sources of material will be of more benefit to readers, and would have the corollary effect of not "identifying" this publication with any particular denomination, allowing it to continue and grow without a doctrinal or denominational identity nor slant to its material.

Some writers may be pastors, ministers, preachers, or others who teach, evangelize, or edify as a livelihood. Many others will not be. We hope to maintain a balance. We invite and encourage you to contribute written, graph- ic, or other materials if you are led to do so. Please do not feel that you must be a professional or experienced writer or artist to share with others what God has given you.

This publication is not affiliated with any other church, denomination, nor religious organization. Alice Ann and I consider it to be a part of our ministry. We belong to the body of Jesus Christ that body of his disciples without denominational barriers, no denominational doctrines, and no walls to separate us from fellowship with each other.

Some of those who write in these pages are and will be members of particular denominations. Total agreement with me or with each other is not a requirement for a writer or other contributor and certainly not a requirement to be a reader.

Glory To God . . .

Our efforts are entirely for the honor, glory, and praise to God, Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit. We also wish either to introduce you to the broader fellowship of all children of God, believers in Jesus Christ, or to encourage you to continue in that fellowship. I expect that we will grow and learn more from this effort than any reader will. In any case, I dedicate this publication and our mutual efforts to God. I pronounce God's blessings on all who read it, work on it, contribute to it in any way, and upon each one who prays for its success. May God bless you, and all those whom you know and love. -- Art

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