When I find a crack where I can contribute to the conversation, I will – Katie bar the door.
Regardless of my evangelism ministry to Jews and initial education for Christian ministry, I have remained a layman. Having some background in dead languages, I encourage the desire of those who pursue meaning through Biblical languages in an effort to enhance their understanding of scripture. Meanwhile,
2 Timothy 4:2:
…preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
While I have missed out on the camaraderie of the devotional team meetings, I have been fully engaged with whatever they write. As editor, I stand on the sidelines while the devotional team hashes out what the Lord gives them. As the Spirit leads, I enter the fray to clarify for readers what I sense the writer is trying to convey. My task entails sensitivity to the voice of each writer while keeping doctrine in line with what we know from Jesus’ teaching.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him. 1 John 2:27
Backtracking my experience: when I was webmeister and paralegal for a Colorado state agency, I performed considerable proofing and editing of legal documents, where the Lord rode herd on lawyers, engineers and financial analysts to ensure companies and consumers received accurate regulatory service from their government. That kind of writing has been drastically different from my scholarly studies in history, theology and philosophy. More so, my writing in junior high where I was scolded for writing run-on sentences like the apostle Paul. I came by it honestly, from doing my Sunday school homework, sitting on the floor at home by the heat register. Yes, as a lad, I had written Sunday school homework throughout each week.
From my own peculiarities, I have allowed our writers wide berth in their expressions; and it’s often entertaining for you. (And hopefully, a standard for grammar and formatting helps.)
I am honored to interact with such talented writers. I have found that editing enhances the flow of meaning from scripture through the writers, who pray for your interaction with the Word in your walk with the Lord.
by Lloyd Petersen
And yes, my writing has been edited, as well as the others.
