“This is the heart of a true pioneer. It isn’t enough just to have a dream and work hard to fulfill it. The pioneer is willing to leave behind all the known quantities of his present reality because he sees them as limitations. And, those limitations are like chains to him. He might as well be in leg irons in a dungeon with one little window where he can watch the world outside change and grow while he is forced to tolerate in an eternal hell of sameness.
When he sees an opportunity that will enable him to break free of those limitations and latch onto an enterprise with untold possibilities, he has to take it. He is compelled. He will not be able to live with himself if he does not at least give it his best shot. It doesn’t matter that some people will die, others will suffer shipwreck, still more will become discouraged and turn back. He never believes it will happen to him.”
My third book, The Great Idea, applies these qualities of a true pioneer to a great adventurer who crossed the Atlantic with his wife and eight children in 1638, only eighteen years after the Mayflower. This ancestor of mine was one of 20,000 with fire in their hearts to seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is The Great Idea of all mankind.
Launch Date
As of this post, I am not finished with The Great Idea, but I expect to have a launch date by the summer of 2026. I hope you will be looking for it… I will post updates.
Knowing the 7 Qualities of a Pioneer is essential to having a vibrant, productive and successful life. We all know the Pioneer Spirit is essential to having an exciting life. I guess you can be productive and successful without being particularly daring, but all of us share at least some of these qualities, as they are part of the human makeup. For those who have all these and more, I say, keep on truckin’. If you don’t, let these motivate you to get up and do what you have wanted to do all along. Just don’t use them in the wrong way.
It may sound cheesy, but even the Bible says, “without a vision the people perish” Proverbs 29:18. Motivational speakers, network marketers, visionaries, preachers, everyone says you need a dream to pursue. Life has dealt some people so many disappointing blows that they feel they cannot dream again, but don’t let the past win out over your future. Old things have past away, behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Pioneers are willing to leave their old life behind
This is a deal killer for many. They don’t want to leave family, or friends, or what they are familiar with to take the next step. But think of Abraham – he left everything in his old land of Ur to follow God’s promise. For the Christian, it’s more than a new job, or the chance for a promotion – it’s believing you have heard the will of God and you are willing to follow it, no matter the cost.
A Pioneer is compelled to make the effort
Since the pioneer spirit has dreams and a lust for adventure, he always wonders what is out there that he hasn’t discovered yet. If a particular challenge presents itself, he envisions what “success” would look like and realizes that he may not even be able to fathom where life could take him. Then, the possibilities become the prize, and he cannot go through life not knowing what could have happened if he didn’t at least try. He is compelled to try, or he will be miserable the rest of his life wondering what would have happened.
A Pioneer is not content to remain the same
Sameness is a disease, a torture to the pioneer spirit. While he understands the logic of building a foundation and a reputation, once he has done that at one level, he must break out and pursue another level. The adventure is not necessarily at the end of the rainbow, it is in the pursuit of the rainbow. The experience of moving onward and upward is the adventure.
A Pioneer sees present limitations as hindrances to future opportunities
What some people may consider to be normal and reasonable to take into account, a pioneer sees as an excuse to not take the chance. Rather than accepting limitations as constructive or rational, he looks at them as hurdles that are meant to be jumped. The phrase, “Son, we all have to know our limitations” is not in his vocabulary.
A Pioneer knows the risk
Danger on the trail
Far from being naive, or simple minded in his pursuits, the pioneer know full well that his attempts may fail.
To a cautious person, that is enough to make them content to stay where they are. To a pioneer, it is the price of admission to a glorious undertaking. Torpedoes? What torpedoes?
My third book, The Great Idea, applies these qualities of a true pioneer to a great adventurer who crossed the Atlantic with his wife and eight children in 1638, only eighteen years after the Mayflower. This ancestor of mine was one of 20,000 with fire in their hearts to seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is The Great Idea of all mankind.
As the sequel to “From Woodstock to Eternity,”“The Steel Wall” is a great adventure story full of drama and perils in jail, on coke runs, and stings. It is also a great victory story over all these perils, but the main theme behind these victories is to hear God for yourself. Dustin Morgan tries every spiritual tactic he has heard from teachers and preachers, all to no avail. It is not until he sees clearly from the Bible what God wants him to do in this situation that things begin to turn around.
How can we hear God for ourselves? Here are 4 concepts to understand to truly hear from God
1. God is not all rainbows and butterflies
Contrary to popular opinion, God does not want to “bless” us and give us “favor” the way many preachers portray it. We think it will be all positive things like healing and prosperity, but God is not all rainbows and butterflies. His idea of blessing us and showing us favor is to do in our lives what will ultimately be for our benefit. Romans 5:4 says that perseverance produces character, and an improved character is always to our benefit. But why do we need to persevere? Because we have trials. And Who is behind those trials that cause us to persevere so we build up our character?
2. Total faith means total obedience
Hebrews 11:6 says, “for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So, to hear from God, we must be completely committed to Him in total faith, and total faith means total obedience. God is not going to reward a milk toast Christian or an unbeliever who thinks he can play some faith game to get what he wants. He wants us to do what he tells us to do. In Dustin Morgan’s case, obeying God required such a gut-wrenching act of obedience that God sent The Steel Wall as a vision to encourage him and put the fear of God in him.
3. Know that God knows what is best for us.
As stated before, God moves on our behalf according to what He sees we need. It is important to know that God knows what is best for us. He may not answer a prayer to be promoted on our job because he sees we need a little more humility and diligence in our character. On the other hand, He may send you a phone call from your boss offering a lead position that you did not expect. The key is to rejoice in what God gives you or tells you to do, knowing that He is in control.
4. Rejoice in God’s answer
This is a hard one, especially when God says, “No.” I know friends in jail now, serving unjust sentences for crimes they did not commit. Did they pray for deliverance? Of course, yet God saw fit to have them serve time anyway. Was God displeased with them? No, He allowed his most faithful apostle Paul to sit in a Roman prison for years. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,” (Matthew 5:11). If we have total faith and have given ourselves totally over to Him, we can rejoice in God’s answer, knowing we are where He wants us, even if we don’t understand.
5. Not all Doom and Gloom
This is not all Doom and Gloom, however. Sometimes God says, “Yes,” and we are free to celebrate. For Dustin Morgan, after asking, seeking, and knocking on God’s door for an answer, he heard Him. When he heard Him, he obeyed Him, and when he obeyed Him, God moved in the situation and brought about a tremendous victory.
First, the good news. There is a price cut for the Woodstock 54th Anniversary! The 45th Anniversary Edition of “From Woodstock to Eternity” is now available on Amazon in paperback for only $9.96! That’s almost half off the list price of $16.95. This is a good time to get this book at this price, and also the sequel, “The Steel Wall,” which extends the journey, the adventure, and the adrenaline. Also, if you buy both books, you get free shipping from Amazon and save a few more bucks.
Today, August 15, 2023, is the 54th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival. Fox News has an article describing this event which inspired the title of my book, “From Woodstock to Eternity.” For us Baby Boomers, it’s hard to believe how the time has passed so quickly. In relative terms, Woodstock was a mere 24 years after the end of World War II. Now, we are 54 years after Woodstock? Yikes!
More Than Woodstock
While the title was inspired by Woodstock, the book is much more than Woodstock. It captures the air and the essence of the culture that spawned the Woodstock festival. It delves into the psyche that evolved at that time of a desire to bring peace and love to the world. Included in the aura of the age were an unquenchable desire for freedom, the urge to form a brotherhood of like minded people, and the spirit of adventure. Some adventures were physical, like hitchhiking out West. Others were in the realm of the mind… to explore unknown entities with psychedelic drugs. All of this is acted out in this book through the journeys of Dustin Morgan.
Freedom From Freedom
The freedom so desperately sought through the wayward lifestyle inevitably led to bondage, requiring freedom from that freedom. The drug usage got worse, the base natures began to reveal themselves, and the dream of Woodstock morphed and twisted and eventually vanished. Now it gets an article on a news app 54 years later. However, Dustin Morgan found the way out. It took a while, and a big whoopin’ stick, but God finally got his attention. The transformation that resulted is in the essence of the title FROM Woodstock TO Eternity. I hope you enjoy it.
I submitted “The Steel Wall” to a Writer’s Digest E-Book contest and received a great Writer’s Digest Review. For people who have not heard about this book, it is the sequel of a two book series. It tells the story of what happened to Dustin Morgan after the cliff hanger ending in “From Woodstock to Eternity.” This review is similar to the one for the first book, and it is from a very reputable source. It delves into many elements that make up a good book, and the point here is to say that Writer’s Digest feels both of these books are exemplary and intense. Here are some of the highlights of this review.
Structure, Organization, Pacing: Compelling
Great Writer’s Digest Review
This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story or information. The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book.
Plot, Story, or Topic Appeal: Unique with Strong Appeal
This book is exemplary in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal for most readers in its intended genre. If the book is fiction or narrative nonfiction, the book is well plotted.
Character Appeal and Development: Layered Motivations and Traits
Good Guy or Bad Guy?
This book is exemplary in character appeal (or interest) and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. Secondary characters are unique and have a meaningful purpose.
This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of the intended genre.
Voice and Writing Style: Unique Voice – The Steel Wall Offers Hope
Angels Among Us
An interesting read, this is an inspirational story offering hope to those who have turned their lives around and have amends to make with their past. Well told, this story pulls the reader in. It helps the reader develop empathy with the main characters.
While an image of a steel wall is powerful and formidable, that one picture, as the saying goes, is worth a thousand words. In this case, it evokes concepts of force, barriers, standards and distinction. It not only implies a clear division between one way or another, but suggests consequences for which one we choose. To give the reader an idea of the principles in The Steel Wall, I composed a “From the Author” page and a “Prologue” as teasers for the rest of the book. The Steel Wall addresses two issues:
1) “What happened to Dustin Morgan?”
This requires a flashback to to the first book, “From Woodstock To Eternity”, to give a glimpse of the early days of hippiedom. For this reason, “From the Author” details the drug culture that accompanied Woodstock Nation and Dustin’s deliverance to freedom. (See: Set the Background: The Mystique of an Era). After Dustin’s conversion, he embarked on the straight and narrow, but was abruptly arrested off the plane he was flying. The book ends.
2) Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers?
The Prologue brings out the deep spiritual issues facing Dustin Morgan as a dark reality from his past hits him in the face. Even though he had believed in Jesus, repented, and been delivered, God was not answering his prayers. Since everyone can benefit from the hard lessons acted out in this book, I have included excerpts from the Prologue that answer the question.
“What’s it all about?”
Job once said, “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” As Christians, we often wonder about God’s seemingly indifferent attitude towards our prayers. The apostle James gives the most obvious reason…
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss.”
What does it mean to ask amiss? It means to ask for the wrong things. Asking correctly boils down to one thing… God works through obedience. The rub comes when God tells us to do things that go against our previously held ideas. What if He commands us to forsake family, friends, or deeply held convictions? What if obeying these directives would bring scorn down on our heads, humiliation, and personal loss?
What If God Tells Me To Do Something That Costs Me Dearly?
Consider God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God certainly wouldn’t tell us to kill the son He gave us… or would He? Most of us would stop right there, but Abraham travelled into a deeper realm of faith. If Isaac died, he projected beyond his lifeless body and believed God would raise him back to life. How about Jesus saying that if we leave family and friends for His sake, we will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life? These are hard sayings and require the right responses.
Do I Have To Do What God Says?
When Dustin Morgan was arrested, as a Christian, for crimes he committed in his old life, he found himself facing all these conundrums. His obedience to God would indeed bring down scorn and require him to forsake old bonds. He tried to avoid this with a misdirected faith, but to no avail. Through a chain of harrowing episodes, Dustin discovered a simple truth that explains the mystery of God’s power:
I AM A STEEL WALL FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE FOR ME AND AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU ARE AGAINST ME
I recently submitted “From Woodstock To Eternity” in a Writer’s Digest E-Book contest and received a great Writer’s Digest Review. For people who have not heard about this book, the first in a two book series, this review from a very reputable source delves into many elements that make up a good book. Here are some of the highlights of this review.
This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story or information. The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book.
Plot, Story, or Topic Appeal: It is Unique
This book is exemplary in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal for most readers in its intended genre. If the book is fiction or narrative nonfiction, the book is well plotted.
Character Appeal and Development: Fully fleshed out
This book is exemplary in character appeal (or interest) and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. Secondary characters are unique and have a meaningful purpose.
Voice and Writing Style: Exemplary
This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of the intended genre.
In a few explanatory sentences, please share with the entrant 1-3 things that you enjoyed or that readers will find compelling about this book and why.
This was a well told story which draws the attention of the reader. The suspense was intense. The story flowed well, and you could understand the voice of the storyteller. With all the drama, it was still possible to suspend disbelief.
The Steel Wall is not just an exciting sequel to From Woodstock to Eternity with drug stings, Coast Guard chases and intrigue. It is the real story of what happened when Dustin Morgan was arrested, as a Christian, for crimes he committed in his old life. Most importantly, it is a journey through how he found out what God wanted him to do to get through a baffling dilemma. Why didn’t God protect him and deliver him, since he no longer did these things? He was shooting at the wrong target.
In the first chapter of The Steel Wall, “The Arrest,” Dustin wracks his brain in the jail cell.
Man, this just ain’t right. I live a depraved, immoral lifestyle and skate through all my drug busts, then I turn Christian and get nailed for something I did four years ago. I’m not even the same person! What’s up with that? Is this the way it’s supposed to be… believe in Jesus, repent, go straight, and then go to jail? (See: Set the Background: The Mystique of an Era )
Shooting at the Wrong Target
Shooting at the Wrong Target
What does it mean to ask amiss? It means to ask for the wrong things, or with a wrong understanding of God and how He works. In Dustin’s case, his understanding of how God works didn’t jive with what was happening. Even so, he continued shooting at the wrong target with his prayers, hoping for a good answer. The result? Motion denied, shot down and licking his wounds.
He had been told that, as a believer in Jesus, all his sins were forgiven and forgotten by God. If God forgot about them, then why are they suddenly the cause of being arrested and thrown in jail? Something was wrong. God was not looking out for him like he thought He would.
Answers for Unanswered Prayers
Unanswered Prayers
Job once said, “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” As Christians, we often wonder about God’s seemingly indifferent attitude towards our prayers. So many books have been written about mountains and valleys, why bad things happen to good people, and so on. The apostle James gives the most obvious reason…
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss.”
Hard Sayings
Asking correctly boils down to one thing… God works through obedience. The rub comes when God tells us to do things that go against our previously held ideas. What if He commanded us to forsake family, friends, or deeply held convictions? What if obeying these directives would bring scorn down on our heads, humiliation, and personal loss? Consider God telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God certainly wouldn’t tell us to kill the son He gave us… or would He? Most of us would stop right there, but Abraham travelled into a deeper realm of faith. If Isaac died, he projected beyond his lifeless body and believed God would raise him back to life. How about Jesus saying that if we leave family and friends for His sake, we will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life? These are hard sayings and require the right responses.
The Mystery of God’s Power
Dustin would indeed face scorn, humiliation and personal loss, but these were necessary to achieve ultimate victory. He tried to avoid this with a misdirected faith, but to no avail. Through a chain of harrowing episodes, Dustin discovered a simple truth that enabled him to tap into the mystery of God’s Power.
I AM A STEEL WALL FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE FOR ME AND AGAINST YOU WHEN YOU ARE AGAINST ME
Most people who have read “From Woodstock To Eternity” want to know the answer to the last line in the book… “Are you Dustin Morgan?” This has compelled me to set the background to round out the context. Some have even become irate that I left the story on such a cliff hanger. After all, they went through the rise of the hippie movement, Woodstock, and pot runs, all to be left hanging. Well, not that I’m sadistic, but that was the point. I wanted to create a great anticipation for the next book, “The Steel Wall,” which is now published and on Amazon. I did this in the From the Author introduction, and I will include some excerpts from it here.
The Mystique of an Era
My previous book, From Woodstock To Eternity, chronicled the adventures of Dustin Morgan through the counter culture days of the 1960’s and ‘70’s. It captured the mystique of an era and why it had such a profound impact on those who lived it. Through the eyes of Dustin Morgan, the reader was able to go to Woodstock, feel the effects of the Vietnam War, and fly over the Atlantic in drug laden planes through real life encounters.
The Spirit of Woodstock
However, the spirit of Woodstock was not all peace and love. It encompassed psychedelic drug use, with all its ups and downs, and the inevitable spawning of a new breed of capitalist… the drug dealer. Dustin embraced this opportunity with open arms, relishing the respect, the adventure, and the money. However, it soon took its toll in jail time and disillusionment with the same old drug fogged routine.
Deliverance
The mystique of an era wore off in time, however. Eventually, Dustin settled down, had a family and accepted Jesus Christ. Through a dramatic deliverance, he made a commitment to raise his family in the Lord. He and his wife, Lisa, went on mission trips, and he was able to regain his career in aviation. Over the next four years, they went to church, started a family, and made honest money.
Then one day, a police officer boarded Dustin’s airplane and asked him, “Are you Dustin Morgan?” The book ended.
The Answer
The implications were not good, and indeed, it was the beginning of Dustin’s worst nightmare. The Steel Wall tells the story of what happened to Dustin Morgan, and it has become a full blooded Christian adventure drama full of heart pounding elements: Intense action, intrigue, inner conflict, and life changing decisions.
It is my sincerest desire that you are blessed with the excitement and revelations contained in The Steel Wall. I want to hear from all who would like to give feedback on either book, so please feel free to comment, and please leave a review on the Amazon book page.
Finally, after much effort to get it right, “The Steel Wall” is here! All the action, drama and acts of God you could want just before Christmas! It is now available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. I know it is a little late, but the Kindle is instantaneous, of course, and the paperback could take a few days to ship.
The Steel Wall Description
“The Steel Wall” is the sequel to the book, “From Woodstock To Eternity.” In that book, I wrote about the excitement of the flower power days of Woodstock and the adventures that came with it through the eyes of the main character, Dustin Morgan. Through a dramatic transformation, Dustin Morgan entered a new Christian life, leaving his mind-numbing hippie days far behind. However, the book leaves the reader with a cliff hanger ending based on an encounter with the law.
In this sequel, “The Steel Wall” answers the question posed by an airport police officer, “Are you Dustin Morgan?” This unexpected visit from his past creates a bizarre dilemma that pits Morgan’s new life in Christ against his old loyalties. It also opens a riveting adventure of cocaine runs, Coast Guard chases, and lawman stings. The intrigue is intense throughout, with drama, double crosses, and internal struggles. Morgan has to rely on God for direction through a monumental trial of kingpins. Through breathtaking visions to visiting angels, Morgan receives guidance, but Legion is there to divert him from the truth. Who will he hear? His life depends on the answer.
Book 2 of 3: Eternal Pioneer
On the Amazon page, there is a link saying, “Book 2 of 3: Eternal Pioneers.” It is now possible to see the page with both books of this series together. Book 1 is “From Woodstock To Eternity 50th Anniversary Edition,” and Book 2 is “The Steel Wall.” Both books in the series are now available in both paperback and Kindle.
Merry Christmas to All
It is my sincerest hope that all of you will have a great Christmas with family and friends as you celebrate the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
