{"id":1711,"date":"2011-09-25T01:00:21","date_gmt":"2011-09-25T05:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2011-09-23T08:35:59","modified_gmt":"2011-09-23T12:35:59","slug":"a-nickel-for-ten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/09\/a-nickel-for-ten.html","title":{"rendered":"A nickel for ten"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a child, Mr. Milligan’s truck filled with produce and convenience store items came through our neighborhood each day. \u00a0I could buy ten pieces of molasses-nut candy for a nickel. \u00a0Okay, I’m showing my age. \u00a0The convenience-store concept and the economics of sugary sweets has changed in drastic ways over the past 50 years. \u00a0In fact most things change. \u00a0However, some circumstances never seem to change.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>One thing that really grieves me is the number of incredibly talented people and the extremely limited number of slots leading to successful careers. \u00a0In watching current, must-see<\/em> TV shows like “American Idol” and now the “X-Factor,” we must marvel at the number of people who are great talents. \u00a0But there can only be one winner. \u00a0One star to emerge.<\/p>\n

Along the same lines, about once a week, someone approaches me to solicit my help in writing a book for them. \u00a0I love this part of what I do. \u00a0However, I find that great stories are too-often valued at a rate of 50 years ago, “a nickel for ten.” \u00a0Almost without exception, the stories are notable and worthy of publication. \u00a0Yesterday, I spoke to a world-class surgeon who was raised in Cuba by the communist party because he had no family. \u00a0After reaching the top of his medical career, he found Christ and realized that God desired that he share the gospel. \u00a0He left his medical practice and came to the US to study the Scriptures and attend seminary. \u00a0He now pastors a small Spanish church in Melbourne, Florida–hidden from the world but happy to be able to fulfill his destiny in Christ.<\/p>\n

Max Lacado’s advice to would-be writers has been write, write, write. \u00a0You may be published. \u00a0You may not be published. \u00a0However, the exercise of writing about the Lord will strengthen your relationship with Him. \u00a0Lacado also says, “Don’t give up your job. \u00a0Almost no one is able to make a living as a Chrisitan writer.” \u00a0Excellent advice from a successful and highly respected author.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A 1950’s TV series, The Naked City, <\/em>once captured the imagination of our nation with one line. \u00a0“There are 8 million stories in the naked city. \u00a0This has been one of them.” \u00a0Everyone has, at least, one story to tell. \u00a0Most people have many. \u00a0Yet, we will personally be exposed to only a few of these life-changing adventures, unless we make part of our life, inquiring about the past and current events of others.<\/p>\n

Jesus’ encounters with people remains life changing because he is interested in an intimate relationship with us. \u00a0Even though he knows my life-story from the beginning to end, while he could rehearse the circumstances of each movement, he desires that I communicate with him. \u00a0No detail is too intimate. \u00a0No adventure too stark. \u00a0No quiet pause bores Him. \u00a0You–your story–is important to Him.<\/p>\n

In His eyes, you will never be simply another tale-well-told. \u00a0You aren’t a nickel for ten. \u00a0You are a great prize for which He was willing to die, rather than lose you or your story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a child, Mr. Milligan’s truck filled with produce and convenience store items came through our neighborhood each day. \u00a0I could buy ten pieces of molasses-nut candy for a nickel. \u00a0Okay, I’m showing my age. \u00a0The convenience-store concept and the economics of sugary sweets has changed in drastic ways over the past 50 years. \u00a0In…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,186,49,12,212,4,41,243],"tags":[21,688,699,715,701,281,689,282,280,283],"class_list":["post-1711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-religion","category-repentance","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","category-writing","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-max-lacado","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-naked-city","tag-writing-tips","tag-x-factor"],"yoast_head":"\nA nickel for ten - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/09\/a-nickel-for-ten.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A nickel for ten - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As a child, Mr. Milligan’s truck filled with produce and convenience store items came through our neighborhood each day. \u00a0I could buy ten pieces of molasses-nut candy for a nickel. \u00a0Okay, I’m showing my age. \u00a0The convenience-store concept and the economics of sugary sweets has changed in drastic ways over the past 50 years. \u00a0In…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/09\/a-nickel-for-ten.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-09-25T05:00:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-09-23T12:35:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2011\/09\/IMG_0130-e1316780803172-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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