Tag Archives: Jack Popjes

The Importance of Creative Imagination by Sandi Somers

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). “…we become what we envisage.” ~Claude M. Bristol Jack and Jo Popjes, former Wycliffe missionaries in Brazil, and Jack now an InScriber, lived among the Canela people for 20 years. They were committed to translating the… Read more »

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A Nice Problem to Have But … by Jack Popjes

It happened again this past week. Not at all unpleasant, quite enjoyable, in fact, but still somewhat disconcerting since there was quite a bit of it. To explain, I need to back up a bit. Right back to the first chapter of Genesis. God’s Example We all want to do a good job. When any… Read more »

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Writing When Life Gets Crazy by Jack Popjes

Shortly after I agreed to write this blog post on the topic “Writing When Life Gets Crazy,” it did. The saying “It never rains but it pours” is apt for my life right now. I received invitations to speak at 7 events taking place within 18 days. Our chronically ill youngest daughter took a turn… Read more »

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A Writer Who Speaks or A Speaker Who Writes? by Jack Popjes

Am I a writer who speaks, or a speaker who writes? I don’t know. What I do know is that the words I write as I tell a story for my readers are completely different from the words I use when I tell that story to a live audience.

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Writing for Therapy by Jack Popjes

The complete title of this piece is “Writing for Therapy, Not for Publication: A Testimonial.” During the summer months I like to take a break from writing for publication, even from weekly blogging. Instead, I like to focus on reading widely, checking out books by authors new to me, stretching my mind with new ideas,… Read more »

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From Picture to Story by Jack Popjes

I just finished reading the second in the three-volume series of Ransom Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Riggs came across some vintage photographs of children and was struck by the peculiarities of expression, bodies, dress, or poses. He collected more of the same style of photos and eventually developed a storyline based totally… Read more »

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A Time and Place to Write by Jack Popjes

You’ll never find time to write, but you can make time. And when you make time, you need to make a place as well. Productive writers know that time and place tend to be connected. It has to do with what actors call body memory.

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Blogging to Further God’s Work by Jack Popjes

Few topics will generate more passionate, potentially divisive discussion among missionaries than money and how it is raised. About 20 years ago, I was the president and executive director of a major faith mission agency. The board mandated me to “bring about needed change.” I soon realized that financially, the organization was in trouble and… Read more »

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Love Your Readers Passionately or Don’t Bother Writing by Jack Popjes

My wife and I occasionally have a cooking date. Instead of going to a movie or having dinner out, we spend our date in the kitchen, making a fabulous appetizer, preparing a fancy dessert, or cooking a meal so complicated and work intensive my wife would never cook it for the family on her own…. Read more »

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From Desperation to a Treasured Tradition by Jack Popjes

“I’m the cookie baker,” my wife, Jo, said, looking up from her flour covered kitchen counter, “and you’re the problem solver, so solve this one and do something to make this place look festive and Christmassy. And, hon,” she added with a rueful smile, “no cookie tree this time.”

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