Check One More Off the List

Lists, lists, lists. Folks live them, make them endlessly, hate them, avoid them and they generate all types of emotions. As for me, I usually have some type of list stuck in a pocket or in my backpack so that I'll know what to pick up at the grocery store. There's a list somewhere on my desk at work with my 'to do' stuff on it and usually with a number of priority assigned. If you look closely at home, you'll also find a list of home and yard projects to do during the upcoming season. Admittedly, I tend to get a bit obsessed with my list-making, but they are a big help to me in planning out my days and weeks ahead.

Now, I think we all have some type of list of things which we'd like to accomplish in our lives. It may be extreme activities like bungee jumps or sky diving, or it may be equally importantly list to be a good parent and role model.

Two of the things that have been on my "do before I die" have now been checked off. One of those items was done about 15 years ago which was to record an album (not a CD, not a cassette, but those old vinyl LP albums). I've always been a musician and loved the gift God gave me of music, so the time and opportunity presented itself to record an album with several friends of mine.

Another item on the list came to pass yesterday (Friday) at 9:38 a.m. (EST). I signed an agreement with a publishing house for "Being God's" to go into print. If all goes well and if I can keep on schedule, my book (whoa, that sounds sooo bizarre), will be out mid to late summer of 2006. But, regardless of the exact date, it will definitely be out for you to give to all your friends and neighbors for Christmas next year. Hey...I gotta start marketing now, there's a whole lot of money and effort involved here.

For those of you who have published before, you know what lies ahead of me and I ask your prayers for patience during the editing and rewrites, for enduring sleepless nights and being able to keep my day job, and for the creative juices to flow as never before.

For those of you who just visit "Being God's" here on the internet, pray that many of the articles and writings you've read here and others that have not been blogged, will be a blessing to at least someone somewhere. Even though I am proud and excited about this new adventure, I only want to be able to share what God has done for me and what He was taught me to be used as an encouragement for others. It isn't about me, it's about God.

So, my friends, because of the encouragement and pressure I've received from many of you, I'm taking this next step. And we all know what new adventures bring to me....strange and odd things which somehow God helps me turn into a blog, so stay tuned.

And so for today (and tomorrow), this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.