“But You” is a novel and has three parts. The first part is a wonderful story that carries an intriguing mystery involving a local church. The other two parts take you on a journey back to the first century church, and then forward again to the twenty first century church. All three parts are laced deliberately together and are based on Paul’s letters to Timothy, who he addresses as, “a true son in the faith.” I chose the title “But You” because of what Paul wrote several times to Timothy referring to the difference between the wacky way the world was living and what, “you, o man of God,” Timothy, was being reminded of how to live out his faith in the midst of it all.

The three captivating parts included in this epic novel, “But You” are The Journal, To the Beginning, And Beyond, and they are uniquely connected. Each section could be a start-to-finish tale on its own, but are in fact deliberately tied together, and are written for the same intent so as to tell one overall story. The first part, for me, was a storyteller's dream. “The Journal,” is an intriguing tale of the involvement of people just like us in a church setting, with a mystery that needs to be discovered. A pastor of a local church hands over his handwritten pages just days before he dies for our mystery buster to unravel. The second section will take you back “To the Beginning,” on a journey to the 1st century church where Saul of Tarsus is dead set on destroying all of the rebellious followers of Jesus. This part is written with an innovative, novel take on the life of Saul/Paul and his involvement with that early church. Although the story is based completely on Biblical facts, you will get to read, not just about Paul and his involvements, but actually get to walk with him as he interacts with both the Christians and the Sanhedrin. It's a very interesting way of viewing our Pharisee of Pharisees. Then the third door “And Beyond” that is opened for you will continue your journey, but this time back from the 1st century church to the 21st century church. This section will bring home to you a multitude of relevant real-life issues that all of us deal with and put them in perspective in relationship to your personal walk with the Maker of the rain. You will be led to take a long look at that one person you think you know so well. That being the one who is staring back at you from the other side of your bathroom mirror. The words that Paul wrote to Timothy, but you, O man of God, are more crucial for all of us to put into action now than in many, maybe even most, eras in known history.

I am blessed to enjoy my life with my wife, Marilyn, who is not only my best friend, but also my perfect soul mate. We love and enjoy our children and grandchildren and all the activities that life deals to us with them. I have three main passions in my life. First is my heart's desire as a Christian to continuously learn and grow in faith and knowledge of the Word of God, and to daily seek to serve Him. I have, for years now, been involved with our local jail ministry, several street ministries, the Rescue Mission, our local Crisis Pregnancy Center, and have been very active in our local church. I am a Gideon and have a great compassion for the lost. That passion additionally has also been for my fellow Christian to be discipled and trained to help disciple others. My second passion is my love for my family, and third is my immense pull toward writing. I have been writing my entire adult life, but it wasn’t until I retired that I decided to dive head long into that. My side interests have been in sports. Mostly golf when my father was alive, but my real lifelong love for fishing trumps any other sport.