Life is messy…
We are messy…
Thankfully, God pursued us, is pursuing us, and will continue to pursue us.
Likewise, the stories I write are filled with messy people.
Come join in the journey of people, often not interested in following God, and how God pursues them.
Check out the first book for free (no strings attached):
click on picture to go to download page
Wait a minute, you might ask. I want more details. Who are you? What kind of books are these? Why do you write?
Paul Brandt, once born in a seven passenger van, now lives in Louisville, KY where he works overnight to achieve his dreams and sleeps, at random times. Growing up, he often had motivation to create things, whether it be writing or music, and continued that passion into adult life. When he is not writing, he enjoys reading, music composition, and biking. Paul is growing into a greater inclination to be Christ-like, and aims, while often failing, to follow him every day.
Why I Write Books (Part One) – Are My Books Glorifying to God?
When I began writing in High School I wrote for enjoyment, but I also wanted to create books which would honor God. So, are my books glorifying to God? Years later, I ask—before, during, and after writing—whether my books glorify him. That’s the main reason why I write books. A secondary reason is for the enjoyment of others, and my third reason is because I enjoy creating books.
How can a book be glorify to God?
This can be a tough question to answer because, for example, does a book need to be focused completely on God to be glorifying to him? Can a book touch sensitive topics like drugs, violence, etc, and still be glorifying to God? Do I have to make it obvious I’m writing about God? What about Jesus? What about the Holy Spirit? Or the Father?
These are questions I wrestle with, but I try to remember:
- God’s worth is not given by me. How can I give glory to God when he already has it?
- If we love God, we will follow as he commands.
- If we share with others about God’s goodness, majesty, holiness, faithfulness, etc, we are loving God
- Telling others about him, ascribes worth to him. (At least from our eyes)
This is why my books focus on God, his stories found in the Bible, and his goodness
But…
Are my books glorifying to God?
My books have violence, drug use, demonic warfare.
This probably means I’m not glorify God, right?
I do not agree:
- My books do not glorify those aspects.
- My character’s lives “fall apart” because of these things, or people’s lives are changed because of these things.
- I strive to have redemptive qualities included with my writing.
- Gospel-gap: if we understand how evil we are, and how much we are distant from God, the good news of God’s salvation for us through Jesus increases. We more easily see the gap the more we understand how our true nature does not desire God.
- In short, I desire to show that separation from God.
- I believe it’s more realistic to display “worldly sins.” Again with my mindset being to not glorify those sins.
Check out Encountering Darkness for free:
Why I Write Books (Part Two) – My Manifesto
For a few weeks, I’ve been pondering the question, “why I write books.” With my initial thought, I wrote on the topic of whether “Are My Books Glorifying to God?”, but I believe that purpose is only part of the equation.
But what is my greater purpose to write books? For success? If you browse Facebook you’ll inevitably notice the ads. For me, the ads often focus on writing, such as, “how to write a successful book,” or, “how I turned my business into a 6-figured income by writing a book.” If I gather and follow what those ads tell me, then the key to success is to write an affluent book or create wealth through writing.
Is that a good enough reason to write a book? In my opinion no because success runs out after the great equalizer of death. No matter how successful we are in this life (or not successful), we will all pass away.
Okay, so maybe the key is to enjoy life and, through having success with book writing, I can finally achieve that purpose? In the same way, with the other Facebook ads, I’ll see ads with statements such as, “how to quit your 9-5 day job you dread,” or, “How I vacation for 47 days out of the year.” Maybe I can be successful with publishing books, and then I can enjoy life and take vacations? Maybe I can quit my night job?
Is this a good reason to write a book? No, because if I don’t enjoy life now, why would I enjoy life if I quit my “9-5 job.” I believe we can enjoy life in every circumstance whether it’s writing a book or continuing at a job. Please note, I’m not saying you should be miserable where you are at because if you don’t enjoy your work, then there’s nothing wrong with finding a more fulling job. But, if our identity is found in our work, then we will never enjoy our present life or in the future.
So my purpose, for why I write books, shouldn’t be to find success or enjoy life.
Maybe my purpose can be to help people through my books? I mean, that’s what the Facebook ads, I’ve already mentioned, state. In short, they declare something like this.
Hey! I’ve found a great way to become financially successful so you can enjoy life. So, let go of your day-job and let me show you how I did it.
The reason, to help people, is more admirable, but I believe the final goal is still misguided. In short, it’s not to help people find success, so they can enjoy life and then help other people.
So what is it?
Our purpose must be a greater calling than ourselves and other people. It must be to declare the truth about Christ.
Therefore, my manifesto is that every person on Earth would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Sounds ambitious and impossible, but if I claim this goal, when I write, my purpose moves beyond myself and instead focuses on what Christ did for us (to save us from our sins), and gives glory to God (since the purpose is outside myself).
I can only hope to achieve this purpose, with my writing, through God’s help because I desire, like I believe many do, to fall into the trap: I find success, enjoy life, and tell people about my success so they can achieve success, as well.
God calls us to something greater outside ourselves.
He calls us to follow him, love others, and declare his truth of the Gospel, so people might experience the joy we have.
Whatever I do, whether I eat or drink, I do it all for the glory of God.
That is my manifesto; that must be how I live.
Ready to read Encountering Darkness?
