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Author! Author!



 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  (Acts 3:15)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(Hebrews 12:2)

AUTHOR OF LIFE, AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH
          Some people say that there is no meta-narrative, no over-arching story tying everything together. There's no main character. There are no plots or plot twists. Above all else there is on "happily ever after" ending. My writing coach's basic instruction on writing a story (adopted from Dean Koontz) is to get the character(s) in terrible trouble as quickly as possible and have everything done to fix the problem make it worse. Require that the characters solve the problem; no cavalry, no deux ex machina, no last minute rescue by the Enterprise. This is what I see as I read Scripture, with God as the main character. Those same people who say there is no meta-narrative claim that those who see a meta-narrative or an author are deluded. I believe they are the ones deluded, and they are no more able to prove the reality of their meta-narrative that there is no meta-narrative than they think I am to prove that there is.
         As interesting as exploring that issue is, that's not the only understanding to be gained from these verses. It may not even be the primary understanding to be gained. "Author" comes from a Latin term, augere which doesn't have to do with stories at all. It has to do with increasing or causing growth. As the author of life, Jesus causes life to increase or to grow. As the author of faith, He causes faith to increase or grow. 
       As we wonder why things happen in our lives, these passages come to mind. God causes things to happen in our lives in order to cause a growth or increase in faith or life. Another reason God causes things to happen in our life is to reveal growth or increase in our life or faith. That should mean that we should see our lives as real "page turners."

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