When Do You Make The Big Bucks?

Since the official release date of my book on July 6, the number one question I have been asked is,

"When do you make the big bucks?"

In answer to that question, I was always taught that it wasn't polite to ask a person how much money they make.  Other questions I am continually asked to answer after a book-signing event are:

1. Did you make a lot of money?
2. How many books did you sell?
3. Do you get paid to be a guest speaker?
4. You have to pay for your own books?
5. Since I've been your friend/family for "x" amount of years aren't you going to give me a book for free?

 I prayed over these questions all week long and decided to respond in a way that may step on a few toes but after all is said and done, I am just the messenger.

Money cannot buy loving relationships or peace of conscience.  It can support a Christian college, send a missionary to Africa and help fill a food pantry.

 It is not money that is "a root of all kinds of evil," but the love of money (1Timothy 6:10).  Jesus condemns money when it becomes an object of devotion equal to God (Matthew 6:24).

 God is the ultimate supplier of all wealth.  He enables us to have it and has a right to say what we do with the money.  The questions I would love to hear are:

1. What is your book about?
2. Was your story God inspired?
3. What is your ministry?
4. What is it like being an author?
5. You can fill in the blank with your own question... _________________________?

When God asks you to step out in faith and gives you a passion, which in return creates an income, I promise not to ask you, "When do you make the big bucks?"

What ever happened to Christmas in July?

It is believed that it actually started in Europe as a way to celebrate Christmas in the summer.  The untimely Christmas festival is also linked to a group of Irish tourists who vacationed in Sydney's Blue Mountains in the summer months of July 1980.  Being away from the summer heat in their own country they were overjoyed at the sight of snow.  It is said that the tourists convinced the proprietor of a local hotel in New South Wales to hold a party called
 "Yule fest".
On the other hand it is commonly said that retail merchants who wanted to benefit from a holiday in July, which is otherwise a dull season for business and has few marketing opportunities, dreamed up the occasion.
Then there are others who are reluctant to acknowledge the event in July.  They argue that this untimely celebration of Christmas makes a mockery of the birth of Jesus Christ.
My suggestion:
During this scorching month of the year, you might want to head on out to an air-conditioned mall and do some retail shopping.  Better yet, why not hike to your favorite mountain retreat, pop open a cold refreshing beverage of choice and have a chat with Jesus?
I don't think He will mind if you celebrate Christmas in July...

 

Why The Brown Paper Bag?

Do you know that when you order a signed copy of my book, A Beggars Purse, you will receive an additional gift?  For those of you who have already received your copy, you are well aware of the gift.
That's right, it's a brown paper bag!  Here are some ideas for the use of the bag...


* Place your book in the bag and carry it with you wherever you go.  It's a great icebreaker.
* Pack a lunch in it and hand it to a homeless person.
* If you can't afford to pack a lunch, place a bottle of water and a food bar in the bag.
* How about some toiletries or even a clean pair of athletic socks?

I realize not all of you have a passion for the homeless population like I do and some of the above mentioned ideas may make you feel queasy or even weak in the knees.  I challenge you to just try it one time... let the paper bag do the talking for you.

* Place some canned goods in the bag and drop it off at your local food bank or the food pantry at your church.
* Use it as a visual reference as an act of gratitude.  Attach the bag to your bulletin board, refrigerator or the dashboard in your vehicle.  Be thankful my friends that you have a roof over your head and a satisfied stomach.

The majority of my friends know that whenever a homeless person approaches me and they ask me for food, I will not hesitate to find them a meal.  On the other hand, some of my friends have told me that "those street people" are using me.  I am embarrassed to say this quote has been conveyed to me numerous times by people in the church.
     My question to them is, "How is a person being used when in fact God gives us freedom of choice?  Am I being used by the so-called street people, or am I being used by God?"  I believe the Bible refers to the term as being a servant.  Page 87, excerpt from A Beggars Purse.

Today is the official Birthday for 
A Beggars Purse!
Join the Celebration at 
Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.


http://www.youtube.com/v/w55G0Qy57MQ&hl=en_US&fs=1

Take the Lifestyle Lift to the highest level and minimize the signs of aging…

Laughter is a gift of God that brightens our good times and lightens the rough ones.  Laughter even has a healing quality to it.  People have recovered from serious diseases by learning to laugh each day.

Proverbs 17:22 says that a cheerful heart is good medicine.  Laughter can draw others to you.  When you begin to laugh at life and at yourself you gain new perspective on your struggles.

A life without laughter quickly becomes a breeding ground for depression and a critical spirit.  But a laughter filled life unleashes the spirit of celebration.

So cultivate the spirit of celebration in your life by making room for laughter.  Smile at someone today and find something worth laughing about.  You just might discover the meaning of another proverb:  “The cheerful heart has a continual feast” (v.15).

This post and photograph is from an actual believer.
A Beggars Purse, page 41.

Time To Press On...

Carpe diem… do you know that carpe actually means to pick or pluck?  Horace used the word to mean,  “enjoy, or make use of.”  I must admit while entertaining the idea of my first pre release event, the word never even entered my mind.  Often times our minds wander as we walk and I definitely did not see the boulder that was strategically placed in my path.  No one else in the parking lot saw it either.  I did not cascade gracefully as one does in a ballet but rather as if I were sliding onto home base. The contents of my purse and book basket were spewed across the parking lot as well as the blood dripping from my kneecaps.  Even though my black silk pants looked as if they had been plucked and picked apart, I knew all my body parts were still in tact.  A knight in shining armor, actually he was wearing a three- piece suit ran to my rescue.  He helped me up from the black top and asked if I was all right… through the embarrassment, tears and laughter, (you know how you laugh when it hurts so bad), I managed to shout, “oh, its going to be a great day!”  I will always remember my pre release event and yes, I did enjoy it… moral of my story is to always carry an extra set of clothes and band-aides.  Perhaps its time to start a blog…