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Thursday, October 1, 2015

Ever Thought About What It Would Be Like To Live Backward?





Enjoy this Interview of Angelique Cooper McGlotten as she shares with us her new book Living Backward: The Gift Of Hindsight In Building A Truly Significant Life 


Imagine looking back on the sum total of your earthly years . . . and realizing that your reasons to rejoice are far greater than your regrets. Living Backward is your invitation to discover the powerful gift of future-oriented hindsight and reap the incredible rewards it offers. As we grapple with today’s fleeting problem or tomorrow’s important choice, the ability to “live backward” provides us with not only a new perspective on our lives but also a powerful tool for creating true joy by fulfilling God’s plan for us. We desire to matter, and God knocks on our hearts, beckoning us to open the door to a life of eternal significance.

By way of word pictures, analogies, and personal anecdotes, Living Backward facilitates a head-to-heart understanding, helping us internalize key biblical principles so we can truly experience their life-changing power. Only then can we achieve genuine success, weave enduring significance into our lives, and make the most of the precious time we’ve been allotted.

LORILYN:  What inspired you to write Living Backward? 

ANGELIQUE:  Remember what it was like many years ago to read book after book—some biblically sound and some not so much—in my earnest attempt to live a life pleasing to God. I could never seem to figure out how all the advice and directives in the books fit together. 

After reading hundreds of books on all aspects of the Christian life, I was finally able to gain a solid biblical understanding of God’s eternal purpose for me and how to live what I learned. Many years later, I discovered that many sincere followers of Christ have the same struggle I once had. Namely, how do I practically walk out God’s plan for my life? What does a Christ-exalting life look like? How do I grow from who I am into the person God created me to be? 

My heart also ached that so many of God’s people don’t really know Him, nor have they truly tasted and seen that He is good (see Psalm 34:8) and infinitely worthy of our lives bringing Him honor and glory. That’s when God birthed the desire to write this book: a discipleship tool that condenses into one volume those major topics and key principles a person needs to know and understand in order to fulfill God’s purpose for creating us. In short, a book that contains the essentials that I desperately needed to know those many years ago when I was searching. 

Drawing on God’s Word, my spiritual journey and experience, as well as the wisdom and knowledge gleaned from my extensive reading, I wanted to help others connect the dots in their own lives without having to pore through so many books.

LORILYN:  Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?





ANGELIQUE:  Like anything else, we get better with practice. So write and rewrite, then write some more. Put time and effort into honing your craft if it’s truly important to you. Consider joining a writer’s group where your writing can be objectively and constructively critiqued. If you intend to publish your work, do your best to understand the ever-changing publishing landscape and to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with traditional versus independent publishing. Lastly, join the John 316 Author Network! J You can’t possibly know everything, so it’s great connecting with other authors/writers to share, learn, and grow together. I personally have gleaned much from the wealth of information that is shared amongst this wonderful group of people.

LORILYN:  What is your favorite time of day to write?

ANGELQUE:  Late at night—for some reason I think most clearly in the wee hours of the morning when the house is totally quiet.
  
LORILYN:  What is something most people don’t know about you?

ANGELIQUE:  I love to play the drums. Many are surprised when they discover I play in the worship band when we gather on Sunday mornings.

LORILYN:  What are your favourite types of movies?

ANGELIQUE:  I really enjoy movies that are inspirational, paint an engaging redemptive story, or highlight the triumph of the human spirit.

LORILYN:  Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

ANGELIQUE:  We all know that a GPS works based on a reverse principle—starting at the intended destination, it works backward to our current location. In a similar way, Living Backward challenges us to chart the course of our existence from the end of our lives. Then working backward, we engage life through the lens of time elapsing, not accruing, as we typically do. This mindset enables us to grasp that with each passing year we haven’t just gained more time to live—we’ve also lost some of the precious, irretrievable time we’ve been allotted to create significance in our life. So if we truly want our lives to count, we must wisely redeem the time as we pursue our God-given purpose.

LORILYN:  What is your favourite Scripture verse and why?

ANGELIQUE: Isaiah 26:8-9 because for me it encapsulates the longing and passion that God desires us to have both for Him and the advancement of His glory.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

LORILYN: What authors have inspired your own writing?

ANGELIQUE: John Piper, Elisabeth Elliott, Randy Alcorn, Jerry Bridges


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Angelique Cooper McGlotten, originally from Liberia, West Africa, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia. Having woven the gift of future-oriented hindsight into her own life, she knows firsthand its power to both shape our purpose and infuse our lives with joy and meaning. Through a variety of venues, the author has mentored (and continues to mentor) hundreds of adults and young adults alike. Angelique regularly speaks at women’s retreats, women’s groups, and conferences on various topics pertaining to the Christian faith. She is also the author of a book of poetry titled The Weaver’s Thread. Angelique resides in northern Virginia with her husband and the three children entrusted to them by God.

You can learn more about Angelique at the links below:

Angelique will be hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday night at 9pm EST (October 1, 2015).  Join in the conversation using:  #LivingBackwardChat

Angelique is also giving away a free copy of Living Backward to someone who leaves a comment on why he or she would love to read her book. We need ten comments to give one away. I hope you will participate and possibly win her book Living Backward.

To purchase an ebook of Living Backward from Amazon, click here.


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