My Very First Book!

There’s a lot of really crazy stuff going on in the world, and I have clearly not had a haircut in too long, but there’s some really crazy good stuff going on, too. One of those things is that I’m officially a published author! The book is called Who Am I, Lord?: Finding Your Identity in Christ. It’s available right now as an eBook, and I just received word that the print edition (which exists, and which I’m holding!) will be available on June 15th.

As you might guess from the title, the book is a blending of Christology and spirituality. The basic idea is this: every one of us has a need for an identity, a sense of who we are, and how we are to behave in the world. Identity is complicated, and has many layers. You act differently in different settings, you’re asked to step into different roles, etc. But if we’re not going to be entirely “two-faced,” there’s a need to have an integral or integrated identity, some underlying identity that defines who we are. Everyone grasps for them, believers and non-believers alike, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. The premise of this book is that (a) that search is good, (b) our answers are often bad, and (c) that we can find better answers in Christ.

Partly, that’s just common sense. If I want to know how to change the timer on my oven, or how to use a feature on my coffee maker, I might have to pick up the user’s manual or talk to the manufacturer. Likewise, if I want to understand myself, I need to read the Bible, and talk to God in prayer. But it’s more than that. If I want to understand my identity, I have to understand Christ’s identity, because Christ expresses the fullness of what it is to be God and the fullness of what it is to be a human being.

So I have a few things to offer, and a few things to ask. First, here’s what I’ve got to offer:

1. On Monday, I’ll post the introductory chapter. It’ll give a better feel for the book, and if you’re on the fence about whether or not to spend your hard-earned cash, it’ll help you decide.
2. On Tuesday, at 1 pm Central, I’ll be doing a webcast with Tracy Stewart of Our Sunday Visitor. You can register at the link, and there’s a number where you can call in to listen live.
3. On Tuesday, at 3 pm Central, I’ll be reading part of one of the chapters live on Facebook Live. Join me over on my Facebook page. It’ll also be recorded if you have (for instance) a job.
4. Next Monday (May 18), we’ll have an episode of The Catholic Podcast up in which I talk with Chloe about the book. If you have any hard-hitting questions you want her to ask, leave them in the comments below, and she can take a look and maybe use them!

And here’s what I’m asking of you:

1. Could you buy the book? Obviously, I’m going to need tip money for when I can get a haircut again.
2. Could you review the book? I don’t pretend to understand the algorithms that places like Amazon and Google use, but apparently, if you like and review the book, it makes it that much easier to find when other people are looking for books on identity. (Also: it’s free!)
3. Could you share it with others? That could be as simple as talking about the book on Facebook or Instagram or… whatever that TikTok thing is that young people are using (when did I become so old?). It could be as dramatic as actually buying copies for your loved ones.
4. Could you pray for the book? This book has been a labor of love, but its success or failure is in the hands of God right now. I’m keenly aware of this – the original release date was mid-April, but then life happened, in the form of the big shutdown. Psalm 127:12 says, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” In other words, this will prosper if, and only if, we turn it over to God!

That’s all I’ve got for now. Get the book now, come back Monday for the intro chapter preview, do whatever you want! So excited!