Unemployed

Well Happy New Year! I assume that everyone is like me, bright eyed and bushy tailed this fine morning, eagerly anticipating great things for 2009. This is the first time in nearly forty years that I am officially unemployed; my consulting contract with Horizon expired December 31st.

I like not having the pressures associated with being a high powered CEO, but I don’t like not having the income. I was in church yesterday and when it was time to take up the offering, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I suddenly realized that my tithe is going to be greatly reduced. Tithing and giving offerings to the Lord are perhaps the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Bummer!

I do have a few ideas of how to make some money going forward and in fact have already begun working towards that end. You might be interested to know that I have finally started my book in earnest and have made good progress lately. Recently a well known free lance writer for Reader’s Digest who has written several books and other works wrote an article about me that should come out in March or April. Later he sent me an e-mail and indicated that he thought that I had a great story and that it needed to be told. He offered to help me with my book. Basically he told me that I am a good enough writer to write it on my own, but two heads are always better than one when creatively structuring the book to have the greatest impact and he would be happy to serve as editor and a creative collaborator and offer suggestions along the way as I complete my manuscript.

He asked me several questions concerning the book which really got me to thinking. One was in regard to the type of audience that I hoped to reach. Did I want to reach the old, young, Christian, secular, rich, poor? Hmmm My response was that I wanted as broad of an audience as possible. My best guess would be that it would appeal to those in the 30-65 age range and maybe a little younger depending on the level of interest of the drug culture aspect of the book, but I want to reach all of the people that I can reach.

I want a best seller and nothing less. Why? Because I feel I can help inspire some people who are down and out like I used to be. I do not want to write a book strictly for a Christian audience because they already know Jesus; albeit I could envision the book becoming quite successful in Christian circles and that circle is rather substantial as some Christian blockbusters such as the “Left Behind” series of books and “The Purpose Driven Life” have so aptly demonstrated.

Although I would like to write a best seller and make some money, that is not my primary motivation for writing the book. My motivation is that I want to help people, especially those who are currently like me when I was 24 years old; those who are lonely, disillusioned, unhappy, unsuccessful in most everything, those who are addicted, and to those who are miserable and do not give a hoot about God, religion, or spiritual matters, much less know Jesus as their personal Savior and Friend. Perhaps when they hear my story, they will realize that if a complete reprobate like me can be transformed by the saving grace of Jesus and find peace, joy, and happiness in this world through Christ, that they can do likewise.

Another point he made was concerning how I intend to handle the God issue. If I come off sounding like some right wing religious fanatic obnoxious Bible thumping nut, it will only alienate those non-Christians that I desire to reach and they will not even read the book. My response was that God absolutely has to play a critical role in the book because He transformed my life. Further I know in my heart of hearts that the success of the book, as with anything, is reliant upon being within God’s will. I do not think God would bless the project, (or any project for that matter), if I downplayed Him in order to earn a few dollars more. With that said, I have to write it in such a manner as to not come off sounding like some religious zealot trying to preach to the audience. I have been guilty of that before on occasion both in written materials and in speaking engagements and it is a big turnoff.

I have to write this book in such a manner as to make it interesting to a broad audience beginning with page one right through the end of the book. One thing about my life is that it has been extremely interesting and when you read of so many events happening to one person in one lifetime it comes off as really sounding unbelievable. It is surreal to me too. I am committed to nothing but the truth and will just say that I believe there is a higher purpose for all that I have been through and this is it. I believe that writing this book is God’s purpose for my life and all that has happened to me right up until today has happened in order that I might write it. I will only have one shot at making this book successful and I must give it my all. (Hmmm No pressure, just the way I like it!)

I feel that I am up to the challenge and am confident that I will work it out. I will do my part by supplying the manpower and the hours of work, but more importantly I will be on my knees every step of the way asking God to help guide me along and to give me the wisdom to craft the book in such a manner as to reach the widest possible audience for His honor. It is my hope that many of you will be praying for me as well.

The Bible teaches that the fervent prayers of the righteous are powerful. I am counting on you prayer warriors; please don’t let me down!

James 5:16
The effective fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much