Pugilism is defined as, the practice, sport, or profession of boxing the art or practice of fighting with the fists; boxing. I recently purchased my first major fight on pay-per-view. I have watched fights from friend’s homes, and I have even been to a live title bout. I love the “sweet science”. There is something about to people going toe to toe, best person wins.

There was one time in particular when it seemed to me to be more than the mono e mono I loved to watch. It was around the first Mike Tyson and Holyfield fight. Tyson was fresh out of prison and a recent convert to the Nation of Islam. Holyfield was growing in his vocalization of his Christian faith. This provided an interesting backdrop.

There was much anticipation for this fight due to the long awaited match up. I was in college at the time, and people were hedging their bets as to who would win. The vast majority of the crowd was convinced that Tyson needed only enter the ring to be victorious. I must admit that I was thinking pretty much the same thing. Then, at a press conference, I heard words that change my mind. One of Tyson’s entourage shouted something like, “Christianity vs. Islam were going to see whose God is the real God”.

This was not the first time a Christian faced a Muslim in the ring. In retrospect neither one of these men were great representatives of their beliefs. But, in my mind I wondered if this guy brought calamity on his own side. Now, I am not saying that God, all of a sudden, cared about these two brawlers. But, in the Bible we do see God showing up for the sake of His name. This of course was the “ear biting” fight. But I couldn’t help but focus on whether or not God was going to step in because He was called into the ring.

It makes me look at my life and that of those who follow me and ask, is God compelled to get involved. Is He being leaned on in such a way that others are wondering if He will show up on our behalf. That is what is means to be a Christian. We should by, the way we live, have a backdrop of God may show up to on their behalf for His namesake. Do our lives scream, “My God is real”! I wonder. 

While in a meeting yesterday morning I was made aware of a tragic loss of life for a young lady at Kennesaw State University. I not only have students at that school, but the school is right up the street from my home. This news rocks me to my core. Every time a student in my city dies I must admit I take it personally as they are apart of my immediate mission field.

What touches me even more is the reality that this young lady has been to our church and is known by one of my staff members who works at Kennesaw. For what I understand, she was killed while riding in the car wit her friend who was said to be intoxicated. None of the young ladies were wearing seat belts. The driver is now in jail. Information is still coming out so I am trying to simply speak to what I understand as the truth of the matter.

Potentially two lives lost one through death and the other by a possible jail sentence. I love college students and have given my life to help them find Christ and live for His glory. To hear that I may have lost two, makes me understand why I do this. College students need to know that God loves them and has a plan for their lives that is bigger then what they can do on their own.

All I can do now is pray for the family and friends of the young lady who lost her life, support and pray for the young lady who is facing the criminal justice system, and work hard to make Christ more known on that campus. If I can by my service do something to decrease or even keep these things from happening to young adults in my area, then I would have done my job as a college pastor. Please pray for me, my team, and the campus as we deal with this loss.

I have been in sales mode since the release of my first book, College Impact: Empowering Collegiate Christians for Campus Influence. Sales is what a person does when they complete a new work that they have worked hard on. The challenge has been the approach to selling the books. With little to no budget for massive marketing strategies what do you do to get the word out about what you believe is important and necessary?

I get by with a little help from your friends. I have started enlisting friends and family to work with me in getting the marketing done. Some have been helping by telling their respective church families and others are buying books to give them away to college students and youth ministries. Others have been telling pastor friends and college ministries about my book and about me as a speaker.

I have seen fruit of this type of support in both the sales of the book and request for me as a communicator. I was initially very nervous about having to market in this manner, but I have learned something important. When people use their influence to validate your life, work, ministry, etc. it makes it easier to enter doors previously closed. So, opportunities that I have desired for years are beginning to open.

It actually feels better working this way because I abhor trying to manipulate my way into opportunities. That just seems slimy and down right ungodly. When people who know, trust, and have seen me over the years lend their support to my work, it is more credible then seeing a flyer or receiving a mass mailing. Not that there is anything wrong with those approaches (I may do that at some point). It just seems that the doors open faster when someone says, “I know and trust him”.  So, the word is being carried on the shoulders of people who know me best. I am getting by with a little help from my friends. After all, our current president won an election using this type of grass roots approach. 

 There is a hip-hop song by a rapper named Rick Ross called Hustlin’. The hook or chorus of the song has as its anthem “Everyday I’m Hustlin’” I can totally understand the sentiment now that I am working to get my first book in the hands of those for whom it’s written. Because many people have attributed nefarious connotations to the concept of hustling or its urban derivative hustlin’, lets use definition of hustle that I mean in this context. “Hus·tle: to proceed or work rapidly or energetically; to be aggressive, esp. in business or other financial dealings.”

 I have always been a bit of a hustler (based on the above definition). For instance, during my middle school years I lived in Camden, NJ. We were very poor, so to get a little extra money I would buy candy from the corner store (you know it’s an urban area when you have a corner store) and sell it to my classmates. I would mark up the price to make a modest profit. There was a need in the market, and I supplied it.  I was so successful that other students started doing the same thing. Eventually the school developed its own store. Hustlin’.

 While in college to support myself, I had several hustles. I noticed that numbers of young ladies were wearing calf and/or knee high leather boots that would be easily scuffed. None of them wanted dull and scuffed boots. So, I started shining shoes. Also as a resident assistant, I had one of two refrigerators in the facility, and I started selling drinks and snacks while undercutting the overpriced vending machines.  I also learned photography in high school and started taking pictures for events and even parlayed that into a freelance job with another local college. Hustlin’!

 Now, I have a new book! College Impact: Empowering Collegiate Christians for Campus Influence. I am hustlin’ again. While serving as a college pastor for over 10 years I have notice that many good church kids leave for higher education and never return to living a healthy Christian life. Then, I saw many collegiate Christians struggling to find a way to make a difference on their campuses. So, I wrote this book to meet both of those needs. The difference is, I really believe in the products end goal. The goal of the book is for collegiate Christians to awaken to the full life in Christ and touch the live of others for the Glory of God. It’s all about the Glory of God! That is something that is worth hustlin’ for.

 So, now I find myself talking to people about the book, so that students will live for the Glory of God. I am asking friends and loved ones to tell others about the book for the Glory of God. I am looking for news outlets and bookstores to take on the book for the Glory of God. I am asking college ministries, Christian schools and conferences to embrace the book for the Glory of God in the lives of college students. Yes, Everyday I’m hustling, Everyday I’m hustling… “Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.” Isaiah 42:12

With the arrival of my first book College Impact: Empowering Collegiate Christians for Campus Influence, we are intensely trying to get the word out. We need your help to let people know about it. How?

By letting every church you either attend or know of about it. Why, because statistics say that most High School church kids will walk away from the Christian faith. Its an important resource for their students.

By buying books for high school and seniors and college students in your life. It is a great graduation gift.

By telling friends and relatives who have college students and high school seniors in their lives about the book.

By getting the word out to any media outlets that you know of that would be interested in this type of books. i.e. Damian is from New Jersey and his home town paper might be interested.

How can you purchase a copy?

http://www.amazon.com/College-Impact-Empowering-Collegiate-Christians/dp/0976273829/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270052317&sr=1-2

http://www.paramindpublications.com/collegeimpact.html

Please know that we both need and value your assistance. This has been a labor of love. Thank you in advance for your support!