I find it almost impossible to read my Bible without getting caught up in possibilities. Such unique settings! Fascinating characters! So many complex themes! Idea after idea tumbles through my mind…. A mystery novel retelling the story of Cain and Abel with a modern setting. A Bible study or devotional where you can share what you've learned. A poem similar to those in Psalms.A drama about Joseph. And on and on….
My guess is that simply by reading the Bible every day, most writers would get enough ideas to keep them busy for years.
So why not simply use the Bible for ideas all the time?
Well, the possibility is that other people have had the same idea that strikes us. Let's face it, there are only so many ways you can rewrite the "love"' passage in I Corinthians 12 into modern language. Or are there? Whether you're writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, a play…you need to be fresh, and that means real and honest. Don't write what you think you ought to say—write what's in your heart.
