Category: Free book drawings

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Throw Your Net on the Other Side!

* The give away for free books has finished. The winners will be notified. It was a huge success. Look for further give aways in the future. Free books are always fun to win.

I am back to sharing excerpts from my new book: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. It will be coming out in late August or early September.

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Are You Standing on a Whale Fishing for Minnows?

                                                                             

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service, and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Revelation 2:19

 

One of my favorite pastimes is fishing. I don’t go as much as I would like to, but when my two sons, my son-in-law, and my good friend Jim go fishing each year, we have a great time. We have a contest to see who catches: the first fish, the most fish, the biggest fish, and the prettiest fish. It makes the time out in the boat a little more exciting.

So, of course, I am always looking for that first fish. I never seem to be the lucky guy who catches the first one, but when someone lands that first one, it is the most exciting moment. Everyone in the boat gets pumped. They begin to watch their own lines more closely. It gets the game started to see who will win in the other categories.

Many times in the past, I have looked for something that would help me be a better person—to be a winner. I needed to catch that first fish to get me excited about having a purpose in life. I tried to find ways that I could help others. This was a struggle because of my own insecurities and doubt. I thought at one time that I would not succeed at anything—that I would never catch any fish. I didn’t know what my purpose was. I questioned why I should keep looking for something that would improve me. I also thought that I shouldn’t be trying to help others if I couldn’t even help myself. I wasn’t getting any bites.

I see many people with this affliction. They go through life trying to find their purpose and never accomplish anything. Vincent Van Gogh said, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything.” We spend too much time doubting that we can accomplish anything. But there is one thing we are successful at: Accomplishing nothing!

Teddy Roosevelt also had something to say about this: “In a moment of decision the best thing to do is the right thing; the worst thing to do is nothing.”

            It’s very possible that what you’ve been looking for in your life is right under your nose. It is the old, “I can’t see the forest for the trees” thinking. There are many things God gives us that are part of His purpose, but we never realize they are part of what He wants for us.

Try looking around and see if God has a purpose for you—something that is staring you right in the face. It could be that first fish wanting to bite your bait. It could be right in your home church. Do you enjoy talking to children? There are many volunteers needed in the Sunday school department. People are needed to usher (that’s what I do), sing in the choir, help in your church’s information center, be a greeter, or be on a prayer team.

It could be somewhere at your workplace. Your work is not only how you provide for your family. In fact, your job might be more rewarding if you realized God put you there for a purpose. Since God has placed you there, find ways that you can serve Him as you do your job.

            Many people are Christian soldiers on Sundays—and AWOL on Mondays. We need to think about God and how He may want to use us for His glory. He talks to us all the time, but sadly, many people do not listen. He gives us all we need to catch many fish. We have many possibilities for close encounters with God and we often let them pass by.

            Try fishing in the morning newspaper. Look over the articles. Study the stories. Where is there a spot where you can have fun and still serve God? God may want you to volunteer at the YMCA or as a Big Brother or Sister. There are many children who need adult guidance, who do not have a parent to give it to them.

            As the verse at the beginning says: “I know your deeds ….” I wonder what God thinks of my deeds at this point? Does He think I have served Him well? Am I listening to Him and following His lead? Or am I standing on whale fishing for minnows?

            We need to open our eyes and thinking to what God has in mind for each of us. He wants the best for us, and it’s time to stop fishing for minnows! There are many big fish out there, and He wants us to catch some of them for Him. Let’s not delay. Let’s cast out our lines and catch that first fish.

 

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.

Luke 12:35

 

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in that faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11–13

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9–10

 

Further adventures

Think about what your goals in life are. Do you have something you feel you would like to accomplish? Is it the purpose God has in mind for you for serving Him? Go for it! Step up to the plate and hit a home run.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny that when you give rather than receive you feel much better?

* Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World

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Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World

Ten Books, Many with Autographs, Given Away Free!

Today, instead of sharing an excerpt from my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, I wanted to let you know that I am going to do my fun book give away promotion again. It was very popular that last time I did it. So I am going to throw it at you again. I am going to have a longer deadline this time. The last one I did over a weekend and got good responses. This promotion is going until Monday night the 8th of February. Because I am doing this I am going to give away many more books.

I am giving away ten (10) books to the first 10 people that sign-up for my free online newsletter. Here is how it will work:

  1. The first one to subscribe will have first dibs of the books that will be given away. That means the sooner you subscribe, the more chances you have of getting the book you want for free.
  2. This may be a long process to give out all the books, because some people don’t answer the emails very fast. If you subscribe to try to get a book, please respond to my email letting you know you are a winner, ASAP. That way you will not be holding up the next person down the line from being able to choose a book. If I have to wait too long, I will let the rest of the people choose before you.
  3. All ten books will be wonderful books. Some of them will have the author’s autograph in them.
  4. Here is the list of the books:

 

  • Three Cups of Tea-By David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson.

This book has been a national # 1 New York Times Bestseller list for months. It is autographed by David Relin.

The Shack-By William Paul Young. This book has been in the top five on the New York Times bestseller list for a couple of years. It has sold over 7 million copies. It is autographed by Young.

The Missionary-By William Carmichael and David Lambert. This is a story of a missionary that gets way over his head, and suddenly becomes an international fugitive. Lots of suspense and thrills. I have two books of this. One autographed by Carmichael, and the other autographed by Lambert. You get to choose.

Eyes of Elisha-By Brandilyn Collins. Brandilyn is one of the most beloved Christian Fiction authors in the business. This book is autographed by Brandilyn. Here is a promotional phrase from the book. “The murder was ugly. The killer was sure no one saw him. Someone did.” Gives me goose bumps, and wants me to be all over that book!!

That is all the autographed books I have for now, but the following are books by top authors that sold millions themselves.

I have a three pack of mini books written by some of the top authors. Why God?-By Charles Swindoll; America Looks Up-By Max Lucado, and When Tragedy Strikes-by Charles Stanley, will all go to one subscriber in one bundle. All of these books are very timely for what is happening in our world today.

Where is God When It Hurts?-By Philip Yancey. This is one of my personal favorites. This book is a national best seller. It speaks about the physical pain many of us endure, and how we can be blessed through it. It was special for me when I went through six major surgeries.

The Power of a Praying Parent-By Stormie Omartian. Stormie has several best selling books on the theme of prayer. We as parents need to know what we can do to help when our children are going through trials, no matter what their age is. This is a must book if you have children.

The Revelation-By Beverly Lewis. Arguably the top Christian Fiction writer on the planet. One of you will have this new book for you to read, just by being one of the top ten to subscribe.

90 Minutes in Heaven-By Don Piper, and written by Cecil Murphy. There are more than a million copies of this in print. It rose to the top over night. Don Piper was trapped in his car after an accident and he was pronounced dead. Then a friend happened to be driving by, and stayed by Don and prayed for an hour and a half…. I will let you read to find out what happened.

Summer-By Karen Kingsbury. Again one of the top Christian Fiction writers in the business. You can have this book if you are one of the top ten in subscribing to my free online newsletter and it is still available.

There you have it. Ten of the most loved books in the business, and you can have one of them if you subscribe to me online newsletter. The newsletter is free, and it will have excerpts from my book coming out in late August or early September called: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. The newsletter will also have a page just for writers. It will have rough drafts from my new book, Becoming Famous before you are Famous. It is about how to build your platform and do your branding long before you even think of approaching a publisher. There are two other pages that will have sports from my home state of Oregon, and ideas on how to cope in this troubled world.

The next time I post I will have an actual excerpt from the book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. So go over to the Facebook networks icon and click on follow. You will then be able to come back and read the excerpts as they come out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top selling Books with Autographs Given Away Free.

5 Top Selling Books Given Away Free to Five Lucky People

I am going to try something totally different for the next few days. Starting now 12-11-09 until 12-14-09 I am going to give away five top selling books with the author’s autographs and personal notes in them. These will be excellent Charitmas presents or for yourself.

In the past I held a drawing to see who will get them. I am not doing that this time. These books will go to the first five people who sign up for my free newsletter.

I am going to describe each book to show you that they are not just any book, but top quality, and nationally known:

The Shack: Written by William Paul Young

Yes I said, The Shack. I met William Paul Young at a writer’s conference, and two other times after that. He not only wrote a personal to you the reader but he autographed it. I will be giving away two copies of this book. 

This book has sold over 7 million copies so far, and is still on the top selling list of many of the top selling lists.  This book started out as a book just written to his children and close friends. Some of those friends told him to send copies to some of the other friends on his list. He did and the rest is history. The book took off faster than Young and his partners could handle.

The book is about questioning God, and how to survive after you have lost a loved one. It has a very unusual approach as what God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit look and act like.

The Shack is a little cabin up by a lake, and the symbolism of the shack is that it has the door to your heart that you sometimes need to open to grow.

( I looked for the prices of  The Shack, in the stores, and the cheapist I could fine was $10.50 at Walmart. You can order it right off of this site by clicking the Amazon icon. It is only $6.00 here. Even with shipping it is cheaper than any store, and delivered right ot your door.  Great Christmas present.)

Three Cups of Tea: By David Oliver Relin.

Three Cups of Tea, is one of the top selling books for the last three years. It was number 1 on the New York Times best selling list for many months.

It is the story of Greg Mortenson, and his quest to build schools in Afghanistan. He felt that if the children had a proper education that there wouldn’t be many going into the Taliban terrorist camps as soldiers. He was doing this to promote peace one school at a time. The troubles and trail he went through to get this project started, and the burden of getting all the equipment need to the sites is well worth the read.

Not only did David autograph the book, he also wrote a personal note. I met him at a signing, and we had a nice conversation.

The Lord of the Films: by J. W. Braun.

This is the unofficial, official guide to the several movies about The Lord of the Rings. The author put in many hours of research, and study to give you everything about the background and making of the films.

It is autographed by J. W.  It is full of pictures from the sets during the film making, and statements by the actors, and producers. The forward is written by Clifford Broadway who played a soldier in the movies.

A must have for anyone who has followed these fun and exciting movies.

Creed of Old Montana: by Stephen Bly.

Stephan Bly has written over 100 books. He has won the prestigious Christy Award. It is even written in large print, so it will be easy on the eyes.

I met Stephan at a writer’s conference in Oregon. He is a great keynote speaker, and easy to sit and talk with.

Here is the exciting part. This will not be a drawing. These books will go to the first 5 people who sign up for my free newsletter. The first one to sign-up will have the choice of any of the five books, and then each one after that will choose.

To do this is very simple. Go over to the right sidebar, and click on the icon that speaks about signing up for the newsletter. Notice that it also says you will be able to download a free eBook, called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World.

So, you will get a free book if you are one of the first five people to sign up; a free newsletter that has excerpts from my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. Plus excerpts from my latest book, Becoming Famous Before you are Famous, and a free eBook called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Trouble World.

Becoming Famous before you are Famous, is in process. I am writing it with Michael Clark from Jacksonville, FL. It is like a manual on how to build a platform, and get known long before you even consider approaching a publisher or an agent. It will speak about Facebook Twitter, My Space, Friendster, Linkedin, etc. You will be able to read each chapter as it is first written, and will help by making suggestions on how to improve it. It will be “our,” book.

Take time to sign-up, and receive one of these wonderful books. There is no obligation to stay with the newsletter. There is an opt-out area at the bottom of each issue.