My latest project!

I had another post set up for today, but I changed my mind because I wanted to tell you about an exciting project that is now getting to its final stages. I’m publishing my first book!

I’ve known that this was something I wanted to do for several years now, but I was caught up on the issue of self-publishing. I was determined not to self-publish because I felt that it was a second-rate way to get second-rate material to press. And there is some truth in that. But God has been showing me that my reticence to self-publish is more about my pride than about his glory.

Here’s how I see it. God has given me an ability to write and a passion to communicate truth. Yes, it would be nice to publish through an established press and move thousands of copies. But unless God miraculously opens a door to publish through one of the established Christian publishers, I could go a lifetime and never go to print. And I don’t think that’s wise stewardship of my gifts and desires. So instead, I’ve chosen to take advantage of the recent advances in the publishing industry (print-on-demand, eBooks, etc.) to do something now.

I remember years ago reading that Jim Berg made a point of not publishing until after age forty. This, and a hundred other arguments, gives me pause. But I feel like the prophet Jeremiah when he says “there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot”! I’m not sure that’s a good reason to move forward, but for better or for worse, God helping me, I’m doing this.

You’ll be seeing more about the upcoming book here in the coming weeks and months (consider yourself warned!). At this stage it looks like the book will be available in trade paperback through Amazon.com, for Kindle eReader through the Amazon Kindle Store, and for other eReaders through Google Play.

This first project is brief and is adapted from material I’ve written here at InFocus. It addresses the topic about which I’m most passionate: The gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ll tell you more later, but for now the cover art should give a feel for the project. I pray that God will be glorified in this.

Grace to you.