Pam from my friends over at Blood:Water Mission has entered a contest which will essentially award B:WM $15,000 if she gets the most votes. Not only has she just entered to get this money for B:WM, she shares an incredible story you’ve got to read.

You can vote every day and it takes a total of 10 seconds to vote.

$15,000 gives 15,000 Africans clean water for a year.

So, please…take a moment to vote.

Click here and use the widget on her blog to vote.

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Also, I’m off to a land far, far away with no internet or mobile coverage…Not even a smidge of it. I’ll be back next week.

Behave!

If, in the arena of promoting a book, there was a line that was between “awareness” and “annoying” I probably teetered dangerously close to the “annoying” side of it when my last book, Mad Church Disease – Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic, released last February.

At least that’s the way I feel.

I’ve been trying to be more cautious with my new book, Permission to Speak Freely – Essays and Art on Fear, Confession and Grace. And still, I wonder if I’m talking about it too much. Sometimes, I wonder if I talk about it too little.

Over the last 18 months since my first book released, I’ve tried to take note on how other authors or artists promote their work. It’s not like we can’t talk about it. Most of us deeply love the message that was released from inside of us into the dark ink of print or the clear notes of melody.

We know this creation isn’t about us…it’s a piece of the world that’s been revealed to us that we think is important to share with others.

During my observation period, sometimes when a project released, the person who released it was a little too loud. I’m not on Twitter all the time, or reading blogs, so if I see someone talking about their own work, or rehashing how amazing somebody else thinks it is over and over and over and over and over and over again, it can be a turnoff.

At the same time, I realize, like me, not everyone spends inordinate amounts of time on their preferred social media outlets. People who I’ve communicated with on Twitter or who leave comments on my blog occasionally would surprise me by saying, “Oh, you have a new book coming out? When?”

Part of me takes comfort in that thinking, “Well, obviously I’m not talking about it enough if this person has no idea.”

But another part of me says, “It’s been on my blog for the last 18 months. I’ve talked about writing it, turning it in, editing it, developing artwork for it, seeing the cover options, getting to talk on this TV show about it, being in this video about it, speaking about it at this conference, when it releases, how much it costs, how someone can get it for free…and they still didn’t catch any of that? Really?”

So here’s the scoop.

I am going to do my best at finding this balance…if there is one.

If I get annoying, please tell me.

If you want more information, please ask.

I won’t be giving away a new car or flashy electronics or flying monkeys.

(You can try to get a free review copy of the book today only on BookSneeze.com)

All I know is I have a meeting with my publisher next week about marketing and I would love nothing more than for you, the people who (I hope!) would be interested in buying my book, to let us know what you find helpful. What you find irritating. How much is too much for you? When does “look at these reviews” or “check out what so-and-so said” become too arrogant?

Enlighten us…please!

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And for the record:

My new book was supposed to release on 8/31.

Amazon is shipping it to those who have pre-ordered it on or around 8/18.  I’m not sure about other stores, and the brick and mortar stores will probably have it in on its actual release day.

It’s a four color book filled with art and poetry and essays and the cover and the paper feel absolutely amazing.

You can pre-order it here (as well as read some endorsements or take a peek inside).

And this concludes this promotional message.

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I need to be led by you.

I need my heart to be moved by you.

I need my soul to be made clean by your prayer.

I need my will to be made strong by you.

I need the world to be saved by you and changed by you.

I need you for all those who suffer, who are in prison, in danger, in sorrow.

I need you for all the crazy people.

I need your healing hands to work always in my life.

I need you to make me, as your Son, a healer, a comforter, a savior.

I need you to name the dead.

I need you to help the dying cross their particular river.

I need you for myself, whether I live or die.

I need to be your monk and your son.

It is necessary.

Amen.

(Merton, Journals, July 17, 1956, III46-47)

I went to a movie by myself the other night. It was the first time I’ve done that in a long, long time.

Intentionally I slid through the doors late, after the movie had started, and was out and in my car before the first credit rolled.

If people saw me alone, what would they think of me?

Friendless?

Unlovable?

Awkward?

Even though now, more than maybe any time in my life, I feel the arms and hearts of friends around me, sometimes I still feel lonely.

My friend Jamie posted this video on Twitter last night. And it helped me realize that sometimes being alone is okay. In fact, it’s more than okay.

Lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless.

I was having a discussion with a friend recently about how, when we share our stories, we often refer to things that have taken place in the past.

I used to be addicted to drugs.

My marriage almost fell apart.

I was an alcoholic.

My kids were headed down the wrong path.

I was the most selfish guy you’d ever meet.

Our stories are important. Nobody can argue the power of God’s faithfulness shown in our past.

May I make a suggestion?

Let’s also begin sharing The Story of Now.

Let’s share the brokenness that is happening in our lives at this very given moment — The places we aren’t sure how God will heal, if he will heal them. The places that frighten us. The places that we think will make a great story in the future…but we don’t want to talk about them in the present tense.

Do you recognize your Story of Now? I’ll go first.

I am learning I am a terribly prideful person in a passive-aggressive way, so it’s not easily noticeable. It has been catching up to me in my relationship with God (“I don’t need you”) and others (“And I certainly don’t need you!”)

Although I’ve never actually verbalized those words with anyone, my actions have spoken them. I need to find humility and express it in loving ways to the people around me.

So, what’s Your Story of Now?