About the Book

Book: Are You in the Game or in the Way?
Author: Ross Holtz
Genre: RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources
Release Date: March 10, 2017

Are You in the Game or in the Way?

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career as an author?

A:  I am a pastor, and a perpetual student, so I am always writing and have done so for 45 years. I decided to write my first book about 5 years ago. Thought about it for years but never really got started until then.

Q: What was your first published work, and how was it received?

A: My first book was written to pastors and men’s ministry leaders, so the niche was fairly narrow. I haven’t gotten any awards, nor have I made a lot of money. But, some very good people have read the book and recommended it.

Those who have read it liked it. Getting people to read it has proven a larger task than I assumed.

Q: When you are writing, what does your daily schedule look like?

A: I try to start very early in the morning because I seem to be unable to concentrate after 2:00 in the afternoon, unless my publisher is demanding more. I write until my fingers cramp then take up normal life. I drink large amounts of coffee and force myself to stay in my study. I like to write 1500 well-chosen words before I quit for the day.

Q: When writing non-fiction, what kind of research do you normally have to do?

A: Oh, interesting. I have written two books. The one was written pretty much from my life experiences so didn’t require a lot of research, except for good quotes and lines.

My second book required a large amount of research. I read, read, read. I use the internet for stories and examples. I read books on the subject for accuracy and thought provocation.

Q: How do you choose the topic for your books?

A: I choose subjects that I have some knowledge and experience with, and I attempt to be helpful to someone. Relevance is kind of a trite word these days, but I still remember when that was the stated goal of most Christian writers. I want to write something that is of interest, and maybe a need, to a group of people. And, I like learning about a topic as I’m writing about it so I pick subjects I am interested in.

Q: When writing non-fiction, how do you keep the books from becoming “textbook” renditions to making the stories come alive so people are interested in them?

I use as much dialogue as I can get away with. And, I use lines and quotes from current or classic movies; lyrics from songs that most people are familiar with are also aids in creating interest. One can’t use too many lines from a song though, there are copywrite limitations.

Q: When researching the faith of people in history, what do you look for to determine how strong a person was in their faith in God?

A: I use repentance and accountability as the measure of a person. Since no one in the Bible, other than Jesus, was perfect, I find that their willingness to own their sin and take action to restore relationships exciting. I can relate to sinner. I learn from a person who repents and makes restitution.

Q: What book was the most difficult for you to write? The easiest for you to write? Why?

Well, I’ve only written two, but I found the most recent the hardest. The first was kind of a how-to from experiences I knew about. I was writing about things I was very familiar with. The second was harder because I had to research, read, and think about the subject a great deal. I had to work through the subject as it applies to my own life.

Q: The perception is that non-fiction is harder to write than fiction. Is that true for you? Why or why not?

I don’t know, I think they both have their own challenges. Non-fiction requires more accuracy and knowledge generally. But, to write good fiction one also needs to be accurate in the portrayal of certain kinds of characters. I haven’t published anything in fiction yet, but that is my next project, I think.

Q: What is one topic you would love to write a book about but have not been able to as of yet?

A: I want to write a novel about the church in the early years of the tribulation under the control of the Anti-Christ. I have put a lot of thought and written some ideas but haven’t actually started it yet.

About the Author

More from Ross

I’ve been asked to tell something about myself or tell a personal story. I’m not adverse to talking about myself, but I’d rather tell you a very personal story.

There was a show on television, maybe still is I guess, called Overhaulin’. The plot of the show was that each week they would sneak a person’s car away from them, with family help, and overhaul it to make it really cool. It was every car-guy’s dream; to have someone restore a vehicle for you, that was special to you. And to restore it at their expense; Wow, doesn’t get cooler than that.

I never was on that show, but I have a story that I want to tell you. It was late summer in 2014. I had just remarried after having lost my wife of 49 years awhile before. The church that I pastor was having a car show as a community outreach on this particular Sunday. The day had started out rather weird. Several people seemed to be inordinately interested in my movements and where I was going to be as we set up the show.

“Oh, Ross, you need to go into the church, someone is looking for you.” Or, “Hey Ross, would you run get this for us across town?” Yeah, weird things. But I obliged and made myself scarce for the time leading up to the church service before the car show officially started.

So, we do the obligatory service; it ends, and my new wife and I start walking through the grassy field looking at the custom and restored vehicles that had come to the show. I, as is my style, was meandering along the cars talking to people I knew and folks with their fancy cars. Athena, my wife, seemed to be hurrying me along which was not like her at all. And, which was like me, I was just strolling along enjoying the cars.

Then, down the row a few cars, I spot the open hood of a 1961 Chev pickup. That year had a very distinct hood which was used only one year. “Oh, look at that. I had a truck like that years ago. Wow, and look at that, it’s yellow. Isn’t that gorgeous.” Funny, I failed to see the horde of people and cameras set up in front of that vehicle, all looking towards me.

Anyway, I hurriedly moved towards it and recognized it as a limited addition of that year’s Chevy truck. I said, “Hey look at that. It’s the same model that I had. That’s not your normal ’61.” I wondered if someone had restored my old truck.

I must give a bit of back story on my old truck. It had been purchased new in Los Gatos, California by my dad. He had needed someone to drive it home so he pulled my out of school to do that. I was 14. My father was not a stickler for legal technicalities. So I was the first to drive his new truck. It was new, but it was ugly. It was painted an ugly shade of puce. I mean it was really an awful color. My mother called it “Rosebud” because it reminded her of some kind of flower.

In 1975 my dad gave me the truck because he had no further use for it. So I drove it until about 1988 when it was totally worn out. So I sold Rosebud to a friend named Randy who had plans to restore it eventually. I sold it with the understanding that if he should he ever sell it, I’d get first right of refusal.

Fast forward Twenty-five years. A bunch of guys were sitting around a campfire talking and Randy announces that he’s moving to another state and getting rid of everything he owns.

“What about my truck? Are you taking it with you?” “Oh,” he said, “I gave that truck away a while back.” Those who were there said I looked disappointed, or something. I don’t remember feeling that, but it was said.

Now, back to the story. I was looking at this beautiful truck, wondering if it was the same truck, when I saw Randy on the other side of it. “Randy, you son of a gun, you restored my truck.” He said, “It’s your truck.” “Yes, I can see that. You’ve done a beautiful job with her. But why didn’t you tell me?” He said once more with strong emphasis, “It is your truck.” “Are we playing games?” I wondered out loud. And, to make it more cruel, someone had entered the truck in the show under my name. That wasn’t nice.

I was not very situationally aware at that moment. I didn’t see all the cameras and people that were focused on me. People were laughing and cheering. I didn’t notice. I was focused on the pickup that had been my dad’s. It took them four or five time to finally get across to me that this beautiful bright yellow, completely restored truck was a gift from the men of the church to me. Randy had given it to the men’s ministry of The Summit with the request that they make it new for me as a gift for nearly 30 years of ministry to the church. Dozens of men had spent 18 months completely disassembling and rebuilding it from the ground up. It now had a fresh corvette motor, disc brakes, power steering, and a custom paint job. I had been Overhauled. Not by Chip Fouse, but by a group of men, and boys, who cared enough for me to invest months of blood sweat and tears. Not to mention the thousands of dollars it took. I wept. I still weep when I think about it.

One final part of the story that needs telling. I remarried after Cathy died, as her instructions (another story). I guess I didn’t wait long enough for some people, or something. People, about 100 people, abandoned me and left the church. They might not call it abandonment, but I do. I asked some of the more prominent people, “Is there a sin issue here?” “No,” They said, “We just don’t think it’s good for the church for you to remarry.” As you might imagine, it was an extremely painful time for this 67-year-old guy. I had found another person to finish off my life with, which I didn’t think possible, and some people considered it wrong for me to do. They didn’t consider my feelings, and needs, only thinking of  theirs. Or so it seemed.

But all the while this tragedy was taking place, a whole bunch of good and committed friends, were investing their time and efforts, in secret, to rebuild my dad’s old Chevy truck. All the time I was in such pain, these good men were giving up evenings and weekends to do this wonderful thing for me. Isn’t that like God? Sometimes while we are in the dregs of misery, He is working, unseen, to bless us, to encourage us, and to show His love for us.

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