Charles J. Patricoff has worked in the aerospace industry for thirty years and teaches Technical Writing, Political Science, The American Civil War, and The United States Constitution at Colorado Christian University. He is a Messianic conservative and speaks at pro-life and Tea Party rallies. Charles has served as a career, Regular Officer in the United States Air Force. He is the author of Destination Hope, the American Civil War series (OakTara). The first two books of the series, Separation and Emancipation, are available. Book 3, Consolation, releases in August 2011. For more information, please visit http://futurenhope.blogspot.com/, http://www.oaktara.com/CharlesPatricoff, http://www.oaktara.com/bookpage-Separation, and http://www.oaktara.com/bookpage-emancipation.

I work for an aerospace company serving the Department of Defense. We, with our military customers, try to stay one step ahead of America’s enemies—both foreign and domestic. By evening, I have little energy left to offer God, my wife, other family, friends, neighbors, or my two dogs.

I’ve read other writers’ success-oriented formulas for effective and efficient time management, but I do not offer any such advice, because I’ve failed at every discipline attempted; however, as a family man and part-time author with a full-time job, I rely on God to provide snippets of time to write. I write when I can, most often when I fly from one meeting to another. While other passengers relax—some reading an engaging thriller or warming romance—the story characters roaming in my head demand attention and keep my weary being from a much-needed nap.

I want to address two tightly coupled topics: 1) the call God has placed upon the life of a writer, and 2) passion for the subject matter.

Does the Lord want me to be the person described in Psalm 45:1, “the pen of a ready writer”? I do not know. Is it my passion? Maybe, but not the way our culture understands the term. I’ll apply one dictionary definition for passion: “the object of someone’s intense interest or enthusiasm.”

I enjoy writing; however, God has invested a stronger passion in me: What does it mean to be an American . . . not only on the Fourth of July but every day? Americans are a people conceived in liberty. Out of the American Civil War tragedy, we became further defined as citizens willing to sacrifice our lives so others may experience God’s blessing of liberty. I am intensely interested and enthusiastic about doing everything within my being to preserve God’s liberty not only for myself and my family but for generations to come.

I swore a solemn oath to defend America’s Constitution—the exceptional code of God’s liberty for all American citizens. No other nation has as its firm foundation the proposition that God created all men, and all women, equal. I am willing to lay down my life, as Christ did for me, to protect what God has given in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for in Him I find true life and liberty as I surrender to His governance.

I write for a liberty-conscious audience—people who understand that God created us equal, that He granted the right to live, and that His Holy Scriptures reveal His desire for us to live with His liberty and use it to do good in this world. When we exercise faith and treat others with loving-kindness, we please Him and experience happiness.

It is an understatement to say that America, the Christian nation, is in trouble. It is more difficult to explain why. The mainstream media parrots symptoms. Politicians, who are paid well but often do little, accuse any who disagree with their agenda. And pedigreed persons from institutions of higher indoctrination offer green, save-the-planet solutions.

I choose to pray, listen, and obey the Almighty.

I suspect all writers depend, in part, on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, many may not recognize the systematic war our enemies wage against that well-crafted and possibly inspired document. Those hostile to our declared foundational cornerstone—“All men are created equal”—desire to control all messages, essays, and thoughts offered in the marketplace of ideas in the guise of “political correctness.”

But I believe Jesus Christ has given me something to write about—something I’m willing to lose everything for, including my life if necessary. Therefore, if I do not convey the message that “God’s liberty matters” in everything I write, then I should throw my pen away. If I do not declare, “It was for freedom’s sake Christ died to set us free,” then I should stop speaking. If I fail to teach my children and my children’s children that America is good

and exceptional—the only nation on earth that holds to the truth “All men are created equal”—and that we must preserve this great gift for future generations, then I should stop wasting not just my time but God’s.

When I need passion for my subject matter, I ask God to cultivate it in every fiber of my being. I beg Him to grow His courage in the good soil of my life. After I pray with gut honesty, I write as if my words are His and trust that He knows what readers need.

How did I recognize the passion God created in me? I rely on the principle “In the beginning, God created” (Gen. 1:1 NASB). I couple this with verse 26: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” A key character attribute of God is His creative nature. Creating and co-creating (v. 28) seem important to Him.

As a writer, I enjoy the creative process. More important, I appreciate the co-creative process. I surrender my being into God’s hands and become more of a scribe taking dictation from what He inspires, rather than struggling in my own strength to make up something. When I am stuck, I pray and ask honest questions. Does my writing glorify God? Does my writing inspire others to live a life more pleasing to God? Have I shown His goodness?

For example, a friend of mine has a passion for creating wonderful meals. He uses seven different kinds of salt. For my friend, it is natural to cook and serve others the fabulous dinners that he creates, or co-creates, with his Maker.

Another example comes from the movie Good Will Hunting where the main character used Beethoven to explain his mathematic abilities. He said Beethoven could just play—co-creating moving, exciting, and inspirational music. For Will Hunting, complex math problems were simple and fun.

For me, writing comes easy. I do not know why. In Chariots of Fire, the main character, missionary and 1924 Olympic runner Eric Liddell, says, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.”

I love to write. It is my joy, and I feel His pleasure in the process. I am confident He will make a way for what I have written to benefit others as I co-create with Him something of value.

“Author by Night”? Author anytime, I say. When He calls me to pick up the pen or pound the keyboard, it does not matter what time of day or night it is. I will answer. I will co-create with the Creator of the universe, even if I am stuffed into an Airbus 319 middle seat.