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At the time of this writing, I would be considered a young man by the world's standards -- just not my wife's. Some may say, "What is a young fellow like yourself doing writing autobiographic material? Aren't autobiographies written by people in their golden years to pass along wisdom to future generations? Aren't autobiographies self-serving? Aren't autobiographies full of half-truths and intended to make money? Wouldn't decent folks wait until they die and let someone else tell their life story?"
When I resolved to write a book, I was prepared to write historical fiction with a strong Christian message. Someday I'll return to that path, but this book is written from a heavy heart. Is my story unique? Unique, yes, but not uncommon. I am convinced that countless others have untold miraculous stories that would eclipse my simple experiences.
So why did I bother to write an easily overshadowed work? In part, I write because thousands of Christian laymen with greater stories to tell are silent. Silence is drowned out by the smallest noise. So is the silence of Christians overcome by but a single voice in a sea of unbelieving, unchurched humanity.
The disciple, John, wrote in 1 John 1:1-4,
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.John wrote from his personal experience, having seen, heard, touched, and been transformed by Jesus, himself. John wrote out of his desire to expand the circle of fellowship and to make his joy complete. I write because I am compelled to acknowledge God's grace experienced firsthand to all who will listen. I write not to elevate myself, but solely to magnify the one and only true God who knows the number of gray hairs on my head, who has woven a divine path for my life, and who guards my future. What will make my joy complete? My joy will be complete when my simple story is overwhelmed by a flood of compelling testimonials of God's grace too great for the world to ignore. There will always be God's messengers in the pulpits across America, but it is when the laypeople of God's church proclaim God's goodness, the world will indeed stand up and take notice.
If the Lord grants me a daily extension of this life, there will be more chapters yet to write. Meanwhile, I rejoice in the fact that I have a testimony.
Writing this book has been a blessing to me. If it has helped you in any way, I'd like to know. You may either use the e-mail provided with this web page, or see the contact information linked to my HOME page.
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