I’d Rather Be Wearing Shorts And A Tank …
The problem is the photo. Just about everyone I know laughs at it … it’s one of those corporate “look at me pics”.
For one thing, most people figured since I graduated from the military, they’d have to wait until I died to see me in another monkey suit.
So after all these years of working in marketing and sales, I finally work for the King of Kings.
Who Could Ask For More?
Suits say, “Conventional.” To look at the pic, you’d think I probably have a degree in something spiritual, maybe even have some special letters after my name. You’d think I read all the “right” theology books and mindlessly parrot verbose pontifications like “facilitate synergistic edification.” And, you’d probably assume that I live in a holistic corporate-monk environment. Well, I do some of that stuff … especially the pontificating … and my wife makes fun of me for it.
The truth is, the military was my only way into college. Since then I’ve had 5 career changes … I’m crazier then you know … and I quit a ginormously successful career to follow Jesus. And in the last year since I did, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
In truth, I’m the antithesis of the suit. I believe that suits are – forgive me – kind of religious.
That pretty much sums me up, I guess …
But my life, so far, has given me opportunities that few people ever have – and at times, these “opportunities” resulted in some remarkable memories …
- I’ve seen missiles and mortars drop and felt the peace of God. I’ve even seen sunrises in Iraq during the height of the Desert Storm hostilities that would silence a general.
- I’ve seen the suicide of a German foreign exchange student bring salvation to another a year later in a way that could only be orchestrated by God.
- Last year I experienced my 6 year old son calling out to his parents to ask if he could repent and give his heart to Jesus at the dinner table.
- I’ve lived for weeks at a time with the U.S. Army Special Forces. Personally jumped from helicopters and fired more weapons then I could count.
- I’ve started businesses and worked in positions that have made thousands of dollars in a day, only to realize that God is greater.
- I’ve had the privilege of confessing my sins, serving those in need and relying on my God for the rest of today.
… But I think you’d probably like me anyway.
… So back to the suit.
I figure that anybody can put on a suit and tie. In fact, thousands do, every day of their lives. To me, and to anyone worth his salt, clothes shouldn’t matter. Only belief and performance should matter.
If we ever meet personally, I’ll probably be the guy in flip-flops and a t-shirt (I am from California).
… So why did I engage
in this weird act of misrepresentation?
I had to take a picture. But that posed a problem: What should I be wearing in my photo?
Well, I reasoned, my goal in Time for God is to help three kinds of people get more focused on what they do with their lives: 1) Busy-trying-to-break-free Christians, 2) Unfocused-yet-driven Christians, and 3) Lukewarm followers of Christ.
Most Christian writers work in what’s most comfortable and couldn’t care less what they wear as long as they can focus on the message. Furthermore, most people know this – and to them, my selection of clothes wouldn’t matter.
But for a significant few who still place high value and their purchase of Time for God on cutting a professional author figure type and the chance, that they might be affected by pages 139-141 – and for those who would find an image of me in a tank top, swim trunks and flip-flops troubling – I decided on the suit.
So there 
To contact Joe - email the following address:
requests (at) timeforgodbook.com
call 712.314.1536
or mail P.O. Box 413, Council Bluffs, IA 51502-413