Jan 26, 2012
Adventures in Giving Away Something Valuable
When I began giving my latest E-book away, I had to ask an important question: Why am I writing this book?
Giving up on any hope of making a profit had a way of sharpening my focus, training my heart to think beyond bank accounts, page views, and marketing platforms (though I will see a few benefits along these lines in the long run). Giving a book away is all about a passion for an idea, believing in my message to the point that I’m willing to share it as widely as possible at any cost.
I didn’t hold back with my latest E-book project. I created something that has value. Even a free book shouldn’t be a waste of someone’s time. I offered readers a chance to buy it for $.99 because I wanted to both provide a simple download option and a chance for them to support my work. However, the free download links on my site provided the same ideas and the same format.
Part of my motivation for this latest adventure in publishing had to do with helping to clean up a really big mess—a mess that I’ve contributed to over the years—divisions among Christians.
As I’ve shared my thoughts on unity and processed how we can make things better on this blog, a central idea emerged. It was not only worthy of an E-book, it was important enough to give it away.
I don’t plan on giving all of my books away this widely, but I know that I’ll do it again. It has been a refreshing reminder that storing up treasure in heaven and blessing others can sometimes fall aside, neglected while I try to build up financial security. Sometimes we have callings to fulfill and wrongs to set right.
Sometimes I need to try something new—something that doesn’t quite make sense but feels just so right that I can’t resist the call of adventure.
This post is part of Bonnie Gray’s Thursday Faith Jam. Visit Faith Barista today to read more stories about adventure.
Ed. You are a good dude. Your posts always make me want to tell you stories that prove I can relate to what you’re saying. For now, I’ll spare you (you’re welcome). BUT, you ask some great questions: Why do we write? Why do we publish? And what is the worth of our words?
In this case, your words are worth more than you charge because the point is unity. I can only pray that those of us who read it will be agents of that peace. Thanks Ed.
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ed Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 9:55 am
It’s always good to know that my stories have some common connections with good people like yourself Jen.
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“helping to clean up a really big mess”
Many of us have added more than our fair share to making the mess. Yet here you are helping all of us clean it up. Love the book. I’ve been directing others to it. May it make a difference in the Kingdom!
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ed Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Thanks Lisa! I really appreciate your support.
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I appreciate your desire to help clean up the mess we have all made. I have several more messes (personally) if you’re interested.
But seriously: it has often been observed that Jesus still has at least one prayer unanswered: ‘That they may be one, even as the Father and I are one.” Imagine: together, we can become an answer to the Lord’s own prayer.
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ed Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Here’s my thought Ray, what if that prayer for unity is fulfilled in the Spirit but not in our practice. It’s a kind of already, not yet tension that the Spirit brings about and that we muck up.
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