Posts

Posted on

How Do We Measure Success?

There is been a steady surge in subscribers to our RSS feed lately. We have had 13 new subscribers in just a few days. That is wonderful. Keep up the great work by helping us climb up in the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

__________________________________________________________

Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy, with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

_________________________________________________________

I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

____________________________________________________________________

How many books do you need to sell to be considered a success? Some say, 500 is where you can start calling your book a best seller. But what your purpose is, should the most important thing. What if you only had one person who has you book, but it changed their life is such a way, that they are happy, and living a God filled life?

Is it worth all those hours of toil, and writing? I say yes. I have had very good success with my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” Through my own efforts with signings, promoting on my websites, and selling them to stores I have done very well. Plus the eBook  form and sales though my publisher, Amazon,and Barnes and Noble, has the total over 400 hundred right now. So, with less than 100 to reach that magic 500 number, I can say I am close to my goal.

But, my goals aren’t in numbers. My goal is in helping people who are looking for hope. I feel that I have accomplished much more with my few books I have sold, than some people who have sold millions of books could ever want. That is a reader who has changed their life in a positive way. I have letters, phone calls, and emails to prove it.

I’m not boasting. I am declaring it all for the glory of God, who is the master writer of all things that change people.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

Posted on

Dealing With Pain Can be a Witness to Others

There is been a big  surge in subscribers to our RSS feed lately. We have had 12 new subscribers in just a few days. That is wonderful. Keep up the great work by helping us climb up in the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

__________________________________________________________

Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form.  You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores.  You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy, with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

_________________________________________________________

I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

__________________________________________________________________

I did an inventory of my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” I have sold 367 books, through the book stores in my area; online through this site; through eBooks; through signings, and on the publishers website.

The experts say that you can officially call your book a best seller, when you sell 500 books. I need to sell 133 more to do that. I will not these tired bones until that happens.

_______________________________________________________________

How do you deal pain? I have dealt with it for much of my life. I have had six major surgeries including quadruple by-pass heart surgery.

Pain seems to come to stay at my house like a long lost relative who doesn’t know when to leave.  

I have come to the conclusion that I have been chosen to service God through  my pain. I am not saying that I loved for pain to attack me so I can act like a saint and show others how tough I am. I would really rather not have the pain.

I can tell you that I have used my pain and suffering to witness to others that are going through the same things.

I met a man at a dinner party that had just had open heart surgery. He was distraught over the thought of how long it was going to take to recovery completely. I told him how I went through the same trial, and never thought much more about our meeting. I saw him again about six months later, and he was excited to tell me how much I had helped him through his ordeal. My little time with him was far more reassuring than meeting with the doctors after his surgery. I have many other stories just like this one.

You are probably saying: “It’s easy for you to say.” No it is not. Again, I would rather not have gone through the pain I did with each of my trials and storms, but I did, and God is using me through those trials and storms, in a wonderful way.

My favorite verse in the bible has been my pillar of strength for me during my down times, ” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

God has called me to help others who suffer by having “been there and done that,” myself.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

Posted on

There’s Suffering for Doing Wrong; Suffering for Doing Right

There is been a big up surge in subscribers to our RSS feed lately. We have had 12 new subscribers in just a couple of days. That is wonderful. Keep up the great work by helping is climb up in the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

__________________________________________________________

Another shocking announcement! ( That got your attention!) “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, ” is now out in eBook form. I You can acquire it at all the eBook outlets. It is only $4.99 compared to $19.99 in the bookstores. Help it climb the www.amazon.com best selling list. You can even order it right from this site by clicking on the Amazon icon on the right.

If you want a hard copy with the autograph of the author on it, just click on the bookstore tab at the top of this page to order one. It is only $15.99 plus shipping compared to the $19.99 price in the retail stores.

_________________________________________________________

I have a podcast here that I did with John Kremer, the marketing guru. He invited me to share unusual places to sell books. Take a listen and hit those streets running: goo.gl/WGTF7

_______________________________________________________________

I had the misfortune of going to my critique group meeting on the wrong night. They had changed the night from Wednesdays to Mondays. I had all my critiques done, and was excited to share with my group. I got to the meeting place, and bought a hot chocolate drink. I waited, and waited. No one showed up.

I was in the wrong. I didn’t keep up on the emails the leader had sent out to catch the change. Make sure you don’t miss your critique group meetings.

Critique groups are very important part of your writing. You learn so much in those meetings, and your work is polished into a much better form for future submissions.

________________________________________________________________

It is one thing to suffer for doing wrong. The prisons are full of those who have done wrong. It is another thing to suffer for doing right.

When the storm comes, it attacks the assumption that if we do everything that is right we will never suffer.

Think of those who have lost their jobs, not from poor performance, but because of “down sizing.” Think of those who are loving spouses and yet they are dying from cancer.

Even the disciples did the right things and yet the storm hit them and they wondered, “Why the storm, and where is Jesus.” (John 6:19)

Some people feel bad enough to be in the storm, but when they are in the storm alone, it is even worse.

There are sunny days of excitement, and joy, and then there are days of dark clouds and rain. There are days of  t-bone steaks and days of baloney sandwiches.

God has given us a promise:

“God will always give what is right to his people who cry to Him night and day, and He will not be slow to answer them. ” (Luke 18:7) 

Remember:

You are not alone.

You are not forsaken.

You are not unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!