About Me
OPEN Mike focuses on three areas that are important to me:
- cancer and healthy living
- spiritual questions
- writing as vocation
I am a professional writer—one reason this blog is so stinkin’ good!—with more than a dozen books to my credit (see below). I also do internet marketing, website content and search engine optimization (SEO).
I started OPEN Mike to keep family and friends posted (sic) on my struggle to stay alive. I keep it going as a way to share my journey of Stumbling Toward Heaven (the title of my new book).
In the past four years I have survived three bouts of cancer, a bone marrow transplant, a serious auto accident and the death of my wife of 37 years. Not the best of times . . .
I was raised a Roman Catholic, spent several years as an evangelical pastor, and am now a Jehovah’s Bystander. My personal creed:
I BELIEVE in God, but not in all the doctrines or deeds attributed to him/her/it.
I BELIEVE theology reveals more about its authors than its subject.
I BELIEVE in stars, not constellations.
I BELIEVE curiosity comes from being made in God’s image. If he weren’t curious, we wouldn’t be here.
I BELIEVE asking questions is not a sin, even if we sometimes come up with the wrong answers.
I BELIEVE changing your mind can either be a sign of gullibility or maturity and that it takes some of the former to acquire the latter.
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have four kids and six grandkids at last count. Not a record, but more than a hobby.
I have a Facebook page, but don’t Twitter as I doubt much of lasting value can be said in 140 characters.
Enjoy my musings. Share a comment. Come back often.
“I may not be totally perfect,
but parts of me are excellent.”
- Ashleigh Brilliant
Books in Print:
Book 1 The Sword and the Flute
Book 2 Talis Hunters
Book 3 Pyramid Scheme
Book 4 Jewel Heist
Book 5 Dragon’s Tale
Book 6 Rylan the Renegade
Book 7 Tunguska Event
Book 8 The Book of Stories
Edited Works:
Women’s Ministry Handbook, with Carol Porter
Serving Two Masters, by Bill Pollard
Explore, The Complete New Testament for Tweens, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Yet to be Published Works:
The Lighthouse Company (TLC) series
Book 1 UFO on the Rez
Book 2 Bezer’s Billions
Book 3 The Long Way Home
Lizzy the Leatherback
The Wisdom of Solomon
Hi Mike – Have you seen the latest article of Cancer Today magazine? MoreMarrowDonors.org is mentioned in our article about patients in need of bone marrow transplant. Enjoy! http://www.cancertodaymag.org/Winter2011/Pages/bone-marrow-donation.aspx
Thanks, Tracy.
I haven’t had the time to read everything on your web site, but, I was touched with the fact that you cannot see what good you have accomplished in your ministry. Not till we get to heaven will our eyes be opened to see the seeds that we have sown, and the results of this sowing. God has watered this seed, and made it to grow. Joy comes in the morning, when we see our Lord, when we see the results of our labors. Even your web site here is witnessing to what you believe. God Bless you for your faithfulness to following Him, and trust Him at all times, and with your health always, for God knows what is best, His plan for our lives is perfect. When I pray for healing, I ask for the Lord’s will, not my own. I like this text…1 Jo.5:13 …These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life… That’s a pretty powerful promise to us believer’s. Spend more time in God’s Word, for this will build your faith stronger and stronger. God Bless and I will pray for you also. Sincerely,Connie Allen
My name is Doug Adams and I live in Hampshire Ill. after ready about your health and well being, I discovered that you also broke your back. I broke my L2 (anterior) in a fall and would like to know how long its been that you were injured and how do you feel now
Thanks for sharing,
Griz
I had a 60% compression fracture of L5 and was in a body brace for 7 weeks. PT after that and no last disability. My accident was over 2 years ago. The worst part was 2 rotator cuff surgeries.
How are you recovering?
Mike, It was good to see you guys before the wedding events. Your father-in-law is one of my heros. I am interested in knowing which of doctrines,(perhaps the aposels greed) you know longer believe in?
Good to see you too, Vic. The doctrines that give me the most trouble are inerrancy (I believe the Word is inspired but not inerrant); and hell (I’m leaning toward some form of universalism). I also think modern evangelicalism has a lot of American pop culture in it.
Dear Mike,
Just read Putting a Face on Cancer by Dave Sanford. Sorry to hear abourt your struggle with cancer. It seems you have taken the traditional aproach to treatment. Might I suggest taking a more biblical aproach? Please visit the two websites listed below. I thimnk you will find some answers for which you ahve been seraching. I don’t understand why believers turn to an industry which denies God at its very core. I am praying that you will have an open mind to consider that God may have an alternative avalable for you…but it is not avalable from those who have rejected him.
http://www.gersonmedia.com/DVDs.html
http://www.hacres.com/library/testimonies
Rev 12:11 tells us that testimony is how we overcome the beast. I have researched this subject extensively after watching my grandfather suffer through traditional cancer treatment. The testimony of the AMA is dismal at best, while other natural treatment centers have proven time and again that Gods methods still work.
I’m praying for you,
larry
Thanks for commenting, Larry. I have watched the Gerson DVD and read other resources that emphasize the importance of diet and lifestyle in fighting cancer. The book AntiCancer does a great job of blending ancient wisdom with modern medicine. This is the approach I have taken.