Most authors have one key message interwoven
into all they write.
In some ways I’m no different in these Books by Jim Fredericks,
Freder’s Favorites, except…
…I also believe in “layer learning” as the natural way God designed our minds to learn. By “layer learning,” I mean first learn a solid framework, then build upon this one layer after another. Too often in school, especially higher level education, I experienced the opposite approach. Take math as an example. You have a well-educated teacher who knows his stuff. In a few days, he’s teaching advanced math concepts that have your head splitting. The math geniuses in the class gush over how great the class is, while you’re wondering how to bail out!
Does this experience resonate with any of you as you have sought to follow that recurring inner desire to know God’s Love-Letter?
There’s a better way to learn, the natural way that aligns with God’s design.
Look at nature. A tree springs up as a small trunk that may look like a single blade. As it grows, small branches are added as the trunk grows taller and stronger. Then these small branches grow and sprout blossoms that become immature fruit and more branches. As the trunk expands broader and higher, it multiplies branches and grows more mature fruit. A small beginning births a mature fruit tree. A small amount of yeast or leaven permeates the entire loaf.
If you wanted to learn the rivers of North America in some depth, I would suggest you begin with a globe or at least a topographical map of North America. Begin with the BIG. After gaining an overall impression, then focus on one geographical area, say central USA. Begin with the Mississippi River and get a grasp on it. Then focus on its major tributaries like the Missouri, Ohio and Arkansas Rivers. Now put these smaller details back into the BIG overview or framework for context. Now take your pick with the next step smaller, whether you focus on the Missouri, Ohio or Arkansas River in more detail. This is natural learning on any subject, almost without end over a lifetime. BIG-small-BIG learning in any subject, including the Bible, aligns with how God wired our brains to learn naturally.
I attempt to organize Freder’s Favorites like this to cooperate with God’s natural design for learning, not against it.
I write to restore an accurate Christian worldview through natural learning so we see God, ourselves and the world more like our relational Trinity does.
That’s why I write, and why I gather thoughts from a bevy of authors. Our focus as followers of Jesus is the presence and provision of the relational Triune God in and with His redeemed and restored image-bearers. Then we multiply disciples, face-to-face like Jesus.
A relational Trinitarian, incarnational understanding of God with a high view of God’s restored and fulfilled new creation as one new man in Christ weaves itself into our everyday lives and all my writings. I write to influence all who God has stirred toward becoming radical followers of Jesus. Nothing releases more life and resonates more deeply in the heart of every human being than such an intimate relationship with our Family-of-Three who delights in us.
Jesus Christ teaches that God has spoken reliably and authoritatively (John 10:35; 17:17). No matter what society says, everything is not relative. There are absolutes. God’s Word as interpreted by the life of Jesus is our final standard for life and ministry. We can know some things for certain because God has spoken and Jesus has modeled, even if there is a measure of relativity in our perception and understanding of what the Bible says. Let the Spirit of God Himself teach you (John 14:25). God generously pours His gifts and provision into our lives.
Why?
Then we are able to know God more easily, love him more readily and partner with Him more fruitfully. What I have written are tools to help you engage Scripture on the heart level. Our only desire and our steadfast choice is to yearn for what leads to God’s deepening life within us.
I have published many of these for a low cost on Amazon.com (Author’s Page). I have a number also available below in PDF for free. These are in different levels of completion, from a rough draft to an almost finished product. ENJOY!
CLICK HERE for Amazon.Com Books by Jim Fredericks
For Free PDF of Freder’s Favorites Unpublished Manuscripts by Jim Fredericks, CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE for Christian Growth Tools