ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Welcome! I am so grateful that you are here! I am an aspiring Christian writer and speaker. My primary goal is to share rare, beautiful and thought-provoking stories that impel my readers to become better people.

I endeavor to share hard-to-find stories that are rich in history, and have values and morals that adhere to Biblical standards. My stories come from various cultures, faiths and time periods. Some are contemporary, some are hundreds of years old and some come from ancient times.

I am working on a devotional book. It will be comprised of fifty-two chapters, one for each week of the year. I will share a story, write a commentary about it, add modern day applications and some Biblical passages to read and ponder for each story.

I attended Bethany Bible college and studied Theology/Church Ministries. I have served in various ministries. I spent a year as the Director of the Ranch with Centrum Ministries (a live-in men's discipleship ministry). I have served in men's ministries and children's ministries. I have also been on mission trips to Mexico and in the United States.

At a certain period in my life I drifted away from the Lord. I felt as if I was the only one truly stiving to live up to the Christian standards I was taught. I lived without compromise, I didn't go to the right or left, as best I knew. But I soon began to see that I couldn't find hardly any kindred spirits. Almost everyone I knew compromised here or there. Many would tell me you're overdoing it and being too religious. "You're too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use," I was told.

The Bible does tell us, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. I simply found the narrow road too difficult. I, like so many who bear the name Christian, decided I could create my own path that would give the outward illusion that I was a follower of Christ but would allow me to keep the sins I didn't want to let go of. Of course I would justify these sins by saying, "Everyone else does it," or even find scriptures I could twist to fit my own desires; a talent, Lucifer, is a master of, may I disturbingly add.

So I began to compromise, only a little at first, but in time I was no different from most of the unbelievers in the world. I can agree, sadly, with Paul in saying that I was, "the chief among sinners." I ashamedly can say that I have been so weak and given in to all manner of temptation. But praise be to God, who can work all things together for good, for in having tread through the mud, I understand and can relate to those who feel they are unworthy.

I would attend church at times during this period of hypocrisy. It was hard for me to even glance at a cross or any image of Jesus. I felt like a lover who had betrayed the one who faithfully and unconditionally loved him.

Though most put on their Sunday best and everyone seems to have it so together at church, once I became involved in ministry, I began to see that everyone had issues and struggles in their lives. Many of the families and couples that seemed perfect were, in fact, full of disorder and some on the brink of divorce or worse. Though it crushed my belief in the happiness and perfection of some, it consoled me to know that I wasn't alone in my struggles and inadequecies. This instilled in me a seed that I wanted to, someway or somehow, help others. A seed that God has kept alive and watered over the years.

Next, I came to a place in which I didn't want to just believe in what I was taught, I wanted to believe because I truly searched for the truth myself, with an open and unobjective approach. I delved into the study of the Bible, many other faiths, philosophies and belief systems. In my research and through much prayer I ended up once again, as a follower of Christ; but this time because I found the truth, not because I simply believed in what I was taught.

I found what I to believe, as truth, in many different sources. Some that many conservative Christians would say I could not and should not find truth from. To me truth is truth, no matter where it comes from. Whether it comes from Confucius, Lao Tzu,Ghandi, Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, Hindu teachings, Muslim teachings, ancient Summerian texts, or the girl serving me at Starbucks I care not. As long as it adheres to the teachings and principles found in the Holy Bible, my standard, I will use it.


I have spent countless hours reading and studying religious books and historical books over the years. Most from the earliest times to the period between the 1500's to the early 1900's. In my opinion they wrote differently in the past compared to many of the contemporary Christian writers of today. It isn't so much in the words they used or the styles the wrote. To me it seemed they had more passion and devotion in thier writings. They also seemed to have more of a genuine care and a sincere love for those they were writing to. It didn't matter to them if their book would become a best-seller or bring them fame and fortune. What mattered to them most was that their works would truly help their readers to become enlightened and lead them to become better and happier people. Knowing they were proclaiming the Gospel, in their own artistic way, was something they could take pride in.

I must admit that sometimes when I hear the biography of a preacher, writer or speaker I am inwardly repeled when they appear to have such a life of perfection. Many grew up in strong and healthy Christian families, they attended church regularly and never seemed to get into any real trouble. I think to myself, "How can this man or woman relate to me?" "They did it right, I did it wrong." "Can they understand what it is like to commit a sin over and over again when you know you shouldn't?" "If I was to be honest with them would they judge me for my past or the hypocrisy in my life?" I am not saying it is just to think this way, only that I often do, right or wrong. With some of the wisdom I have obtained in knowing people, I understand that even the best have weaknesses and shortcomings to work on. I am not afraid to share what I have done, knowing that as I decrease the Lord my increase!

Sometimes it is difficult for the average Joe to take instruction from one they feel cannot relate to their life. In humility I can say; that almost anything you are struggling with, I can relate. I have found myself in places and in situations where I felt just like the prodigal son in the midst of his folly. I often asked myself, "What are you doing in this place or with these kinds of people? You are better than this, and you have a loving Father who is waiting for you to come home."

I have two of the most wonderful and beautiful daughters in the world! I have shared many of these stories with them as they have grown into the amazing young women they are today. They have seen me at my best and at my worst and our love is deep and unbreakable. I went through a divorce about ten years ago and I won custody of them. I know the struggles of being a single parent. We have had times of plenty and endured times of suffering. I know what it is like to look in the cupboard on Monday and see just one box of macaroni and cheese left and realize that I don't get paid until Friday. I also know how God always came through and provided for us, when I deserved it and when I didn't. He remains faithful even when we don't. Our God is awesome!

I have had times of financial prosperity and abundance. I have also had times when I lost everything, wound up homeless and had literally nothing but my health and a flicker of hope that God would redeem me yet again.

Two years ago my daughters came to me in tears saying, "Daddy we love you so much but we are not happy in Florida, we want to go live with mommy for a while in Las Vegas." It absolutely broke my heart. I knew I had the legal right to say no, but I didn't want to force them to stay with me. I sadly let them go.

I went through a period of deep depression after that. I kept their bedrooms exactly how they left them. I began to isolate myself and drink alcohol more and more to cover my pain. I would sit in their rooms, with a bottle of wine and cry my eyes out wishing they were with me. I would peep through my shut blinds and see and hear their old friends running, laughing and playing...without my daughters. It was a heart-wrenching time for me.

About a year and a half after they left, I was launching a business I ran successfully in my younger years. It was an auto-delivery company and I would transport cars up and down the east coast. I began to receive calls from my daughters asking me to move and be with them. They would call in tears and plead with me to move to Las Vegas to be with them. With the ecomomy and job market being the worst in the entire country it was at first, a tough decision to make.

Finally I a question came to me that compelled me to move as soon as I could. The question was, "Would I risk sturggling financially and being with my daughters, or succeed with my business, and not be with them?" The anwer was simple and I am now residing in Las Vegas..with my beautiful daughters. And yes I am struggling, trying to find good paying employment. At just 17 years old I worked for a company in which I would drive around and sell frozen food products door to door. I am actually making about what I made all those years ago!

I believe that we can learn from all that we go through in our lives, the good, the bad and the ugly. In losing my girls it helped me understand how God, our loving Father feels when His deeply loved children wander away from Him. I will never forget those times I cried until tears would not come out anymore. I wondered if I fell short in being a good and loving father to them. I always provided for them, went to their games, practices, plays. Even though I worked full-time I was very hands on and active in their lives unlike many parents these days. I tried to instill in them good values and morals. I loved them with my whole heart...but they left me!? It wasn't that they didn't love me either, they just wanted to try something different. How much that is like what I did to God!

Regarding my calling to serve my Lord and my God I have been like Jonah. I have always known that I have a gift from the Lord and that I am called to preach his Word. I have run from this for too many years. I chose not to serve or get involved in the some of the churches I attended because I believed that if you are going to serve the Lord in a ministry, you must be living a pure and holy life. Not that you must be perfect, for there is none perfect but Christ, but that you must be living up to the standards you profess as best you can. I also know that you can allow room for mistakes and sins that will come out here and there. I am not close to perfect and have a lifetime to continue working on my shortcomings. I am just a fellow pilgrim like you battling his way through life trying to make a positive impact on those who may come across my path.

If anyone actually reads this far thank you for your interest and taking the time to hear a little of my story. It is my hope and my prayer that the stories I write, along with the commentaries and applications may bless your life!

~J. Lawrence Finley ~ "A Follower of Christ"