The Devil Needs No More Advocates

Today’s reading: John 20:24-29

Since I was a teenager, I have envisioned myself publishing a newspaper. But outside of a precarious and poorly funded 13-week venture in 1999, I’ve not had much luck with that dream.  (Memories of the Brazosport Sun may make for an interesting book one day, however. Of particular note is the man who came to us saying the U.S. government owed him $5 million for foiling an assassination plot against President Clinton. Much of his story checked out!)

I’ve had significant trouble convincing others to support my vision for smart journalism paid for mostly by readers rather than advertisers.  It seems the devil has no shortage of “advocates” who worry that my ideas are just not marketable. No one’s interested in journalism these days, they say.  I’m too visionary, too naive. I’ve even been called “too clever.”

“Newspapers have been drying up and dying for years, Don,” I keep hearing these days. “No one is reading them. Now is not the time to be starting one — especially one readers are going to have to pay more than 25 cents for.” (Interesting. The daily in my city gets 75 cents per copy these days.)

For the 20 years before that, the story was, “Our local newspaper is too powerful. They’ll put you out of business in a second.”

It’s funny how many times I’ve heard something like this: “I love your ideas, Don. I’m a big believer in good journalism too. I would support his personally. It’s exactly what we need! I just don’t think we can sell enough other people on it.”

Answering these Doubting Thomas’s is impossible, except through Jesus.

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  (Verse 28-29)

I, for one, have such faith. So I know my idea for a newspaper is a blessed one.  I’ve come to the realization, however, that finally getting this venture running will require much more time, work — and discipleship — than I figured back in 1984. (That’s when I wrote my first plan for a publication — one that would cover all the local sports leagues for kids elementary and junior-high aged kids. Everyone I showed it too said something along the lines of, “That’s a great idea, but it’s too large of a project for a 16-year-old boy to take on.” My response was always a frustrated, “I know it is! That’s why I’m asking you for help!” )

Dear reader, I pray that you will make the lessons of today’s reading a permanent part of your being. I know, if you study your friends and family carefully, you will find in them plenty of great ideas that are dormant only because of a lack of faith. Bring those ideas to life!

In my time as a teacher, I was amazed at the great poetry I saw written by students who loved to write but who never thought they were any good at it. Are you sure, dear reader, you don’t have an Emily Dickenson in your household naively writing masterpieces right under your nose?

My guess is that you do. But, then, that’s just my faith talkin’.)

Thanks be to God for staying true to His word in all things. May the devil lose all advocates among Christians, and may I (and we) always let faith be my only guide.