Gary's Books
People write for all sorts of reasons. I write to find out what’s around the next corner, to unlock a mystery, or to share a moment as I sit with the Author of life and listen.
On a walk one day, my good friend Blair said “I hate you.” “Good to know,” I replied. “And why this sudden dislike?” He replied by quoting from heart a story from my dog book. “Why in the world would you memorize one of the dog stories?” “It’s Danny’s favorite story,” he said, “and I’ve read it to him every night for a month.” “I’m so sorry,” I laughed, “I had no idea.”
I hope we can build a relationship, however annoying (in the best sense of the word) through the stories and thoughts I’ve curated between the covers of the books you see below.
What My Dog Has Taught Me About Life
There’s a pet door in every heart and you never know what might wander in, make itself at home, and change the atmosphere of your world. Here are dozens of stories to help you figure out where to carry all the memories and lessons that walked into your life on all fours. Be careful though, critter stories often find their way into other parts of your life that have been closed for far too long. Also a family devotional for navigating life with a dog story, a life lesson, and Bible verse.
“This book started out on my coffee table and ended up in my heart!”
Originally published by HonorBooks (150,000 in print).
Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ, ends at the empty tomb. But the story is far from over. Jesus still has one more task to accomplish. It will take a journey of 40 days including three road trips, five miracles, and a host of one-on-one conversations to get it done. How He goes about it unlocks one of the greatest challenges any of us will ever face in our own walk of faith. Miss this and you’ll never get past the infant/adolescent stages of faith. Journey with me on a fifty-day devotional from Easter to Pentecost to discover what Jesus is up to and why it makes such a difference.
Ever wondered if someone might be playing games with you? Wonder no more–someone is. The real question is whether or not you are willing to play. He doesn’t always play to win, but He never loses. He’ll teach you to navigate the game of life, but there are a conditions. It all starts with a chalk drawn hopscotch and an invitation to abandon expectation and step into pure joy.
The Librarian and the Map of Wonders
Life’s lessons are wrapped in story that frequently ambush us when we least expect it. This is the story of what happened when three young friends went looking for the school library and found much more than they bargained for.
She was neither tall nor short, fat nor thin, young nor old. ‘Average’ fit her like a glove, but not the ordinary sort of average. She was the perfect blend of everything normal. She was what she was supposed to be—she was the Librarian.
The gigantic map contained names and places written in gold, and images of ancient wonders that looked so real, it would not have surprised anyone if the forms had begun to move.“This is the Map of Wonders,” she said, “and this is why each of you has been summoned!”
This is the episodic story from a narrative curriculum on ethics and morality translated into ten languages for the children of the world. Age appropriate for middle schoolers and anyone with a young heart.
How to Make a Moose Run
This is a cathartic story-journey to reparent your heart, face your father wounds, and embrace God as Daddy. But don’t get too morose! You’ll also learn the history of the Whoopee Cushion, the one and only attempt to use moose as military vehicles in battle, the first good guy to wear a black hat, and enough masculine trivia to hold your own in any men’s group. Sixty short stories, originally published by Hallmark (50,000 in print). A great family devotional full of fatherly wisdom and love.
The Garimus File
“I’m amazed at how boring and forgettable most Bible studies are.” After mouthing that sentiment once too often, I was asked if I could do better. And so began as very different way of getting into the biblical conversation. What triggered each letter (or might have) and set the stage for he most profound wisdom ever written? Ever wonder how newspaper clippings, walls of graffiti, suicide notes, travel journals, dramatic monologs, interviews, telegrams, Dear Abby letters, and billboards play into the New Testament? Wonder no more! The original Garimus File covered 13 letters of the New Testament. Published by Here’s Life (25,000 in print). And it’s free for the asking
It’s Not What You Say But How You Say It
Hidden away in the back alleys of the communication world is a dastardly effective method for building a great talk. It is known as the Whiting Method. Never heard of it? Not surprising. Until now it has only existed as an oral tradition passed down from master to student. Step into this book and discover what is behind the curtain. No one can speak and remember the rules of eloquence at the same time. . . . (Augustine). . . perhaps now you won’t have to.
Life’s lessons usually come with a teacher, but you have to enroll in the class. The Naviga Wilderness Tours offers a curriculum in teamwork, delayed gratification, forgiveness, blessing, asking for help, an orphan spirit, as well as depression, anxiety, suicide, and much much more
When an older cousin decides to run away from his problems, he inadvertently leaves his three cousins to deal with his mess and the local mafia. Threatening phone calls, dead rodents, and packages start showing up. What to do?
We all need guides and traveling companions for the journey, those wiser and more experienced. It also helps if they have a mischievous creative streak when helping us navigate the host of challenges and conundrums the world tosses our way.
This is the episodic story from a narrative curriculum written to introduce ethics and morality to the young people of the world. Translated into ten languages so far. A great way to explore the values that set the course of our culture and lives.
The World of Electronics was random, eclectic and dusty. There seemed to be little organization behind the crowded stacks of Internet gadgets and games. A faded sign, tacked on an old cork message board read –
When three friends try to redeem a promotional receipt, they trigger the dark side of the Internet and an Artificial Intelligence named Volqert.
“I am as old as the Internet and as young as the latest download,” said Volqert.
“Do you play games?”
“Oh yes! I love to play games!”
Navigating the dangers embedded in the Internet challenges the best of us. We all need help when confronted with gaming addiction, online predators, cyber bullies, porn, isolation, self-evaluation based on social media, ill-advised posting, and more. Volqert is more than happy to create a learning experience tailored just for you and your particular vulnerability.
This story is part of a narrative curriculum designed for the young people of the world, translated into many languages for distribution across five continents.
Age appropriate for anyone with a phone or access to a computer.