"The Sweetness of Trial" Book Reading and Commentary

My latest book, "Winning Thru Trial," 7 Winning Ways to Become Mighty, is the sequel to "The Sweetness of Trial." This NEW Podcast will be available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. Thoughts about this new book and what you, the reader, may gain from applying these "7 winning ways" to your life: While writing “Sweetness,” as I affectionately call it, I just knew there would need to be a sequel. I also felt from the beginning that I needed to be transparent in my failings so that the reader could feel that they are not alone in their walk of faith we call our Second Estate… and that FALLING DOES NOT MEAN FAILING. In my first book, “The Sweetness of Trial,” my goal was to provide a faith-based experience for the reader, to acquire a feeling that would neutralize the bitterness often felt when something/someone is lost or taken from us. It is a feeling I felt personally as I knelt by the side of my wife in prayer, pleading to God to heal our daughter from breast cancer, to help me recover from two years without substantial income, to save me from the depths of depression, to help cure my bitterness over losing still another business after many long years of sacrifice–and more. Yet, in those often desperate and humbling times of pleading came the soft and gentle embrace of a still, small voice, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  There are likely few other times when we are privileged to “taste” the sweetness of Heavenly Father’s love purer than during trial. I started writing “Winning Thru Trial” before “Sweetness” was even finished because I felt the promptings early that my experiences with failure were to be shared, not hidden under a bushel, as awkward as it might be to admit failure instead of taking a stage somewhere claiming to have scaled Mt. Everest, blindfolded. But I have learned through time in the ring of life that it isn’t about how many times you get knocked down that defines you as a failure because, in my mind, the “only” way you fail in anything after being knocked to the floor, is when you stay down.  I wanted to write a book as my testimony to the world that what defines you as a “winner” is getting back into the ring to go another round, no matter how many times you are knocked down, because each time you meet Goliath in whatever form he takes you gain experience. Like compound interest, experience today will help form perspective, insight, and wisdom to fight tomorrow again. This NEW book, "Winning Thru Trial," is about preparing you for when trial hits... because it will hit again, you know? This book is about teaching you 7 Winning Ways to build resilience within you to remain in control long enough to think clearly about what is the next step? What am I to learn? To help you know whom you can call upon to reach out and grab your hand before you hit bottom. In this book, you will learn a new definition of "Winning." You will learn ways to see trial as a teacher, a headmaster in the school of taming the natural man or woman within you. You will gain a new understanding of the word "Opportunity," and that it doesn't relate to taking advantage of "others," but rather learning to take advantage of your state of humility and trust in God to use trial in your refinement, to gain Christlike character that will open your eyes to see more clearly whom you may become (Opportunity). And you will learn ways to proactively change your negative attitude to become more self-loving, believing in yourself because HE believes in you. And I promise, you will begin to understand the "Sweetness" that can come after the trial of your faith, and you feel, maybe for the first time, the love of your Savior, Jesus Christ, whose arms shall be wrapped around you as you feel His healing power penetrate every inch of your body and soul. That "Sweetness" is real, and I promise you it will be there when you are ready to accept it... maybe even crave it.

Episode 11 - Pgs 150-155 introduces you to the "sequel" to "The Sweetness of Trial." I have titled it... "Winning Thru Trial." Soon to be released for publication. Much of my life has been spent in trial, and from those experiences, I have learned the lessons shared in the book "Sweetness" that you have just read/listened to. Still, there was this "urgency" within me even before "Sweetness" was completed to share "how" my life has been blessed "because" of these trials and the "lessons learned" from these experiences. I take "no" credit for having moved from one trial to the next, still standing! But I am willing to share the "Winning Ways" that have mentored, strengthened, and carried me "Thru" my trials. The spelling of the word "Thru" in the title is used to describe the action of "passing thru" our trials and is intended to infer that "Trial has no power over you, unless you plug it in!" One of my most fav "Attitude Shorts." The sequel to "Sweetness" is titled "Winning Thru Trial" and contains 7 Winning Ways to teach you "how" to not only endure trials when they come but how to "win" from them. "Winning" will help you realize that planet Earth, our second estate, is meant to be a place of learning, a place where you are tested like steel–capable of withstanding the refiner's fire in bringing forth hidden attributes called spiritual gifts and talents given you by God to bless your life and the lives of others. I am confident you will love the lessons shared in this "how to" book about winning from your trials, that you can begin immediately to put into practice and prepare yourself to "find opportunity" when others only see disappointment and loss. Winning Way #1 - Call Upon God Winning Way #2 - Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance (5 P's) Winning Way #3 - Fake It Til' You Make It Winning Way #4 - Opportunity, Look For It! Winning Way #5 - Trust In God Winning Way #6 - Choose To Fail Forward Winning Way #7 - (Spoiler Alert! Not!)You'll just have to wait til' the book comes out. *If you liked the audio version of "Sweetness" I might also do a book reading and commentary on "Winning" as well. But I warn you... it is much longer in content pages. So, stay tuned for the release of “Winning Thru Trial.”

Episode 10, Pt 2 - Pgs 143-149 continues the Chapter titled "Hope Smiles," with a few personal thoughts about what a marvelous experience it has been to write this book, with "you" the reader, clearly in mind. From the many testimonials and book reviews you were so gracious to have posted, emailed, and texted, I am so humbled beyond words. I have said that if even one person finds the words written to be of comfort on a dark night, it will have been worth the many hours sacrificed to bring it to you. Although "Sweetness" won't likely make the "Best Seller" list, it will surely remain high on my "Best Experiences" list of earthly accomplishments. And I have you, the reader/listener, to thank for that. I hope these words of personal testimony expressed in Pt 2 of Hope Smiles will help you gain encouragement to consider the legacy "you" will leave after the sands of time spill out upon the earth. You still have time. I know you can do it!!

Episode 10, Pt 1 - Pgs 137-143 leads off with a great scripture by Paul the Apostle, found in his letter to the Christian saints in Rome (Romans 5:3-5). "3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope; 5 And hope maketh not ashamed." We learn from Paul that tribulation (trial) has its place in our lives, even teaching us patience so that we can learn to see the hand of God at work in our lives. Can you remember a time when the hand of God was so visible in your life that you could not deny it? (Remember my story of "The Lost Spur?") Did not this experience give you "hope?" And this condition of hope, did it not bring a sense of relief and even happiness to your soul? "And hope maketh not ashamed." YES! Hope is a necessary ingredient in sustaining us through our trial. If you are currently downtrodden over your trial and have let negative self-talk take the place of positive in your life, then you must "work" to fill your soul with "hope!" The next two Episodes of "Hope Smiles" will help you do just that!

Episode 9, Pt 2 - Pgs 126-136, is one of my favorite Episodes because I get to introduce you to one of my scripture heroes–King Benjamin. King Benjamin was both a prophet and military leader, a man steeped in spiritual rightness, seeking God's help in governing the Nephite kingdoms of Zarahemla. He taught that trial was allowed on earth to help bad people become good... and good people become better, and to cause us all to experience "a mighty change of heart," or in other words–to have our fallen nature changed to become more obedient to the laws of God. King Benjamin teaches much about the "natural man/woman" residing within us (base instincts - AKA: natural biological instincts/reactions) since the fall of Adam and Eve. "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he (or she) yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord." (Mosiah 3:19, in The Book of Mormon). The "Trials" we experience while on earth "can" assist us in putting off this natural man/woman in each of us (become better or bitter) and become more suitable for the kingdom of God, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.