This week’s author interview is with Rush Witt. He is the author of Diehard Sins: How to Fight Wisely against Destructive Daily Habits.

     

• Question #1—Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what you do in your spare time, etc.

In June of 1977, I was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I had a good experience living in different places while growing up. I lived in Louisville, Cleveland, Tampa, and a small SC town near Charlotte. In addition to my work as an acquisitions editor with P&R, I also pastor a church plant in Columbus, OH. Our church is specifically located in Bexley, a wonderful community where my family also lives. My wife and five kids keep life busy with homeschool, family activities, and ministry in our community. We enjoy the Bexley pool in the summer, sledding in the winter, and fishing from a tiny boat on one of the good reservoirs in Columbus. Between all these great ministries and family activities, there’s not much spare time left. It’s a good, happy, busy life we’re living in these days.

 

• Question #2—Which writers inspire you?

I am most inspired by writers who bring biblical truth to bear on real life. Since we only have so much time to dedicate to reading books, I think we should read the best. I have been most helped by writers in the vein of Jerry Bridges, John Piper, Paul Tripp, RC Sproul, J.I. Packer, and others like them. And I always have time and interest for the reformers and puritans, who I find to be very concerned about pleasing God in our day to day lives, experiences, and troubles. These writers inspire me to think and write with a careful eye on the intersection of life and doctrine.

 

• Question #3—What inspired you to write this book, about this topic? 

I wrote Diehard Sins because it was a book I needed for my own life. I believe many Christians like me feel that our sins habits don’t die as easily or quickly as we would like. A common complaint is, “I’ve been a Christian for 10, 20, 30, 40 years and I’m still struggling with __________.” This has been true of my life as well. As a result, the idea for this book continued to grow and develop. I needed a book which could help me and others fight wisely against destructive daily habits (which tend to die hard).

Through biblical counseling training, I learned a three-part plan for personal ministry from Robert Jones, who wrote the book’s Foreword. That plan for discipleship and counseling helps me care for others by entering their world, understanding their needs, and bringing them Christ and His answers. With time, this plan has become my bread and butter, as they say. Along the way, I realized more and more that the counsel I was giving others was the same counsel I needed in my own life.

I’ve found the same three-part plan for personal ministry (enter, understand, bring) which I use in counseling others is also a useful approach to self-counseling. In this book, therefore, I have aimed to provide help and hope to diehard sinners like me by providing a three-part plan for fighting sin.

 

• Question #4—Other than the Bible, do you have a favorite book?

Wow, that’s a hard question; impossible to give just one answer. However, if I think about what books have been most helpful to me, time and time again, a few come to mind. The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall, The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes, and the writings of Cornelius Van Til. These books have helped me understand, apply, and proclaim the gospel more clearly and biblically.

 

• Question #5—What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Make a plan and take small steps. I’ve learned that writing a book doesn’t happen quickly or easily. Apparently, Ernest Hemmingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is still down at a typewriter and bleed.” How clever…and true!. It is grueling at times, but so very worth the benefit to yourself and others. Getting started and keeping the momentum are two important keys. So I suggest that aspiring writers – once they have decided on a topic – first make a plan or schedule for writing. Then commit yourself to small steps every day. You can’t swallow an elephant in one gulp. But if you will keep at it, little by little, your work will come together.

 

• Question #6—Favorite sport to watch? Why? Favorite sport’s team?

I grew up in a basketball family, so it has always been my favorite. I enjoy watching other sports, but basketball is the sport I understand and appreciate most. For this reason, I am interested in particular teams as much as particular players who have a particular basketball IQ. My favorite player has always been Mark Price, of Cleveland Cavs lore. In fact, I came to Christ through a basketball camp which was hosted by his family.

 

• Question #7—Favorite food?

My friends know I love food. In fact, I often ask people what food they have most recently enjoyed, just so I can enjoy the thought of it with me. So I guess my answer to this question is: my favorite food is whatever food I am currently eating.

 

• Question #8—What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

This is going to sound like the classic reformed answer, but I sincerely would like to meet John Calvin. He has been such a controversial figure, though one who has so greatly benefited me through his writing. I just can’t image what that would be like.

---

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

• Website: paramountcolumbus.com
• Blog: http://mynameisrush.com
• Twitter: @mynameisrush
• Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/mynameisrush

---

 

This week’s author interview is with Deepak Reju. He is the editor of our new 31-Day Devotionals for Life series and is the author of one of them — Pornography: Fighting for Purity.

• Question #1—Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m a pastor for a 1000 person Baptist church, located five blocks behind the U.S. Supreme Court and Capitol buildings. It’s a cool place to live, though I miss trees and rivers from time to time.  I’ve been a part of the church since 1991, and have been on staff as a pastor since 2007.  We’re mostly a young congregation, dominated by 20 and 30-year-olds (average age is 29).

At work, I spend much of my time walking alongside church members who are struggling—depression, difficult marital situations, porn struggles, suicidal thinking, anger at God, etc.

Sundays are a rich feast for my soul—we get fed well with a meaty sermon every week. People sing loud and vibrantly, as if they were worshipping a real God. I often feel like a fat man spiritually because I’ve been so well fed for years.

I am married to Sarah, who keeps me sane and keeps our whole family afloat.  We’ve got five kids. Our boys are obsessed with cars, and our girls are obsessed with anything but cars.

On Saturdays, I play board games with my kids.  It’s a normal past time for us. You might even call me a pseudo-gamer.

And I love to eat. Some call me a foodie. I drive a decent distance (if necessary) to get a spectacular meal. My wife kindly puts up with this (and many of my other quirks).

 

• Question #2—What inspired you to write a 31-day devotional about pornography?

I want strugglers to turn back to God’s Word. I’ve run into quite a few porn strugglers, especially in the height of their struggle, who are not in the Word. Their sin overtakes their life such that their heart is cold to the truth. Or maybe they’ve been lazy and are just out of the habit. Whatever their reason, this 31-day devotional is meant to give a little bit of Scripture each day.

Early in our marriage, my wife and I lived on the top floor of a townhouse, in a small one-bedroom apartment. Whenever it rained, leaks in the roof would drip through the ceiling and onto our floors. I remember placing buckets in different parts of the apartment and watching the water slowly drip, one drop at a time. I put large buckets out and thought, It’ll take a while to fill them.The water built up over time, and often I was surprised how quickly those buckets filled up, overflowing if I didn’t pay close enough attention.

This devotional is just like rain filling up a bucket. It’s slow and it builds over time. Just a few verses every day. Drip. Drip. Drip. Just a few drops of Scripture daily to satiate your parched soul.

 

• Question #3—What book are you reading now?

In addition to my Bible, typically I’m reading a book in three categories (theology or counseling; parenting; fiction).

• My Bible – right now I’m reading through the gospels.
• Theology / counseling: J.D. Crowley and Andy Naselli’s Conscience: What It is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ.
• Parenting: Paul Tripp’s Age of Opportunity
• Fiction: Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere

 

• Question #4—What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Be willing to kill your darlings.

Edit everything you write with a red pen—i.e., be willing to cut wasted words.

Rewrite, then rewrite, then rewrite again.

Commas and semicolons can be your friends.

 

• Question #5—Favorite food?

So long as it is not alive and staring back at me, I’ll eat Italian, Chinese or Indian food as favorites. Though, admittedly, I have a growing addiction to Chick-Fil-A.

 

• Question #6—Favorite flavor of ice cream?

I’m medically not allowed to have chocolate. After the doctor told me this in 2012, I found out there are things to enjoy aside from chocolate. I discovered Butter Pecan. WHAT-A-GREAT-DISCOVERY.

 

• Question #7—Favorite animal?

Dogs. Smart. Friendly (depending on the breed). Loyal, even protective. Loveable. Good company, especially whenever everyone else is gone. Need I say more?

 

• Question #8—What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

Biblical characters – Joseph or Paul. They lived through suffering and difficulties, and proved faithful.

Presidents – Teddy Roosevelt. Such an interesting, larger-than-life personality. Or Abraham Lincoln, for his willingness to persevere and do the right thing.

---

---

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

• Twitter: @Deepak Reju
• Facebook Page: Deepak Reju

---

---

 

This week’s author interview is with Elyse Fitzpatrick. She is the author of our upcoming book, Doubt: Trusting God’s Promises.

She is also the author of P&R titles: Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone, A Steadfast Heart: Experiencing God’s Comfort in Life’s Storms, The Afternoon of Life: Finding Purpose and Joy in Midlife, and coauthor of You Never Stop Being a Parent: Thriving in Relationship with Your Adult Children.

   

---

• Question #1—Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what you do in your spare time, etc.

I am a Southern California girl through and through. I was born in Los Angeles in the 1950’s and apart from a brief and uncomfortably cold stint in Chicago as a 3 year old, I’ve known nothing but the sun and surf of San Diego and the Pacific Ocean my whole life. My husband, Phil, and I have been married for nearly 45 years and we have 3 married adult children and 6 grandkids nearby, whose sporting events occupy most of our free time. During the summer I love going to the beach and riding waves on my body board. It’s always a test of God’s grace to see whether I can fit into my wetsuit another year and so far, He’s been very good to me. When it isn’t beach weather I love to swim laps or take long walks everyday. The SoCal lifestyle is lived outdoors . . . and I do love it.

 

• Question #2—Have you always enjoyed writing?

I’ve met people who love to write, who find great joy in James Michener’s “swirl and swing of words”, and who love nothing better than constructing a sentence that’s such a work of art it makes one cry. That’s not me. What I am is a person who senses that there is something that needs saying and that I’m the one to say it. That’s probably why my writing is more didactic than poetic. I wouldn’t say that I’ve always “enjoyed” writing. I believe that over the years I’ve gained some skill and there are certainly days that I love being able to communicate truth, but even though I’ve written a couple dozen books, I still wouldn’t say I “enjoy” it. It’s simply a tool for me to use to fulfill the Lord’s call on my life and I am grateful for that.

 

• Question #3—What inspired you to write this book, about this topic? 

“Doubt: Trusting God’s Promises”  I chose to write about doubt because although Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, is most famous for it, when we’re honest we admit that we all should be. No matter how strong our faith or how long we’ve walked with the Lord, we all have times of doubt. That’s the distressing truth I wanted to drag out into the light so that it would lose its power to condemn or fill us with guilt. I also wanted to encourage my readers that faith doesn’t mean 24/7/365 complete certainty. It simply means a bedrock assurance that the God who is there loves us through Jesus Christ . . . even though there are times when we can’t figure out where He is or what He’s up to. I also hoped to demonstrate that there are good reasons to maintain faith, though sometimes it’s really weak and barely hanging on by a thread. I want to encourage women and men to believe that they are loved and welcomed by the Lord who understands our frailty because He lived it, and who is also strong enough to sustain us even when we feel like we’re freefalling into confusion, despair, and unbelief.

 

• Question #4—Do you have a specific spot where you enjoy writing most?

Because Phil and I are empty-nesters, I have an entire room in our home that I’ve claimed for my office. And in that office, aside from beautiful bookshelves, I have a brick red leather recliner . . . and that’s where I write, nestled in with my laptop, coffee or tea, and most of all quiet. I know that there are people who like to write with music but I can’t. I’m so easily distracted that I have to have utter quiet and even then it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to settle down enough to start thinking about what I want to say. So, for me, it’s comfort and quiet and long (5-6 hours) of uninterrupted time.

 

• Question #5—Other than the Bible, do you have a favorite book?

This is a really hard question because I do have several favorites that I re-read fairly regularly. But I suppose the one at the top of the stack has to be Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Obviously, he’s one of those writers who loves words and finds enjoyment in structuring sentences and describing events in such detail that you feel as though you’ve been there yourself. And to think that he wrote it all with a quill pen! Perhaps that’s why his work is so beautiful? The aspect of Les Mis that I really love is the conflict between the law and the gospel that’s woven so artfully throughout. The clash between Javert (the Law) and Jean ValJean (the Gospel) is an unrelenting portrayal of the tension between law/justice and grace/forgiveness that plays itself out on a daily basis in every believer’s life. It continues to ask whether I will try to strive to stand in my own righteousness and law-keeping or submit to the righteousness of Another and receive undeserved forgiveness that causes me to love my neighbor? That’s the question at the heart of every Christian’s life and the pulsating battle lived out on Hugo’s pages.

 

• Question #6—Favorite food?

Because I live in SoCal, my favorite has to be Mexican food and in particular, fish tacos. When I’ve been busy writing all day and have no clue what to make for dinner, fish tacos or machaca burritos are my go-to. A perfect day? Sitting on the lawn at Del Mar, watching the surfers and the sunset, eating fish tacos. Yep. That’ll do it!

 

• Question #7—Favorite animal? Why?

I love dogs. We’ve had a number of them throughout our life, but our favorite was Taz, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix. She was intensely smart—I wouldn’t have been surprised to find her reading a magazine in the evening when there wasn’t anything on TV she liked. She was the dog of a lifetime and we miss her dearly. Sadly, I’ve developed significant allergies since her death and can’t really tolerate them anymore.

 

• Question #8—The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia? Why?

Lord of the Rings. Aragorn.  Seriously though, the deceptive allurement of the Ring of Power, the way that its influence twisted its wearers, is a perfect analog to the struggle we all have with the deception of sin and temptation. The difficulty in trying to destroy it and the way that it penetrated the heart of any who wore it should serve as a warning to us.

---

---

 

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

• Website: www.elysefitzpatrick.com
• Twitter: @ElyseFitz
• Facebook Page: Elyse Fitzpatrick
• Instagram: Elyse_Fitz

 

---

---