Teaser #1 from the sequel, "A Country Boy Can Survive"

The dust billowed up behind Paul's truck as he barrelled down that ole dirt road toward home. The sun was getting low on the horizon. That was the case more often these days than it'd been in earlier years when life seemed simpler. Back when Pops was still around and Grandad was the judge in town; back when helping out on the farm was an after-school job.

Times had changed, the years flown by, and even the clouds had turned gray and seemed to loom in the pink tinted sky.

Momma stood on the front porch wiping her hands on her apron. Dinner was done and just in time. Her apple pie sat on the window sill cooling. All the while as the sweat upon her brow continued to trickle down the side of her face as a gentle breeze slowly stirred.

Paul slowed on his approach to the farm house. You could practically hear the motor building pressure as Paul began downshifting in his life.

“How, Lord, am I gonna make this work? How can a good ole country boy survive?” Paul shuffled through the late notices and mail piled upon the kitchen table. Momma’s biscuits were fresh and sitting in the middle of the table. Her gravy was still stirring beneath her care. Paul pulled out a chair and sat down to mull over the business he’d come to face. The terms he saw as their only choice.

“Momma," Paul cleared his throat, "I’ve been thinking. Dad wouldn’t want it this way, but he’d understand. Grandad couldn't say it any better, either. I just don’t see any way around it. We’re going to loose the farm.”

Momma finished stirring the gravy and turned off the gas burner. She hummed an old melody as she brought the gravy over to the table and sat it down on a tile heat plate.

“You want some milk, water,or O.J.,son?”

“Milk, will be fine.”, Paul replied. "Are you hearing what I'm saying, Momma???"

A few seconds later she returned and sat down to join Paul as he hurriedly fixed his plate. Momma slapped at Paul’s outreached hands, “Now let’s not get so far ahead of things that we don’t thank God for what we’ve got.”

Those few words framed the conversation Paul had been wrestling with over and over in his head. Applying it took a lot of effort to remember to do. Even the simplest of which in STOPPING; making time to pray.

Paul bowed his head and folded his hands to pray, “ God…thank you for your blessings. This food on this table, the roof over our heads, and time with family in which to share it. You gave us everything we’d ever need when your son laid his life down. May our gratitude and service honor the work you began and will finish in our lives. These things we ask, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Amen.”, Momma responded, “Now pass your momma some of those biscuits!”

Inspirational Resources: People, places, things...

This is where I'll be sharing the steady & true resources I rely on to "keep it real" in my daily life & the occassional new &/or special area/subject matter expert resource(s) that make the authentic approach & appreciation of my writing & experiences truly EDUCATIONAL for myself & my readers.

I hope you will post any resources you've found helpful in your own "good ole country livin" day-to-day life.

God bless!

Reader's Reviews & Personal Testimonies

I've had alot of feedback from readers & their family members on how they loved the book, couldn't put it down, read it straight through; how they'd never thought of things in the same "light"...

This is where I'd love to have you share those precious & encouraging words really reach those who are looking to be more active in their own lives & witnessing oppurtunities.

INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER!
Always pointing to the perfect example; Jesus Christ

The Good Ole Boys: Paul and the Road of Damascus" Introduction

There’s just some things you gotta experience yourself. Ain’t nothing nobody can do, but warn you about them. As much as they warn you on what to do or rather what not to do, you can’t help, but find yourself “up the creek; without a paddle”.

So, on that note I’d like to introduce you to Paul. He’s just a good ole country boy that never meant nobody, no harm. That’s the lull that rocked him to sleep and he woke up to a life that’d gone down the wrong road trying to make it through the shortcuts and back roads we take in life; avoiding the only answer and route we have to truly find contentment in this life or the hereafter (JESUS!!!).

This Paul shares a lot in common with the biblical Saul/Paul of Tarsus who also has a life transforming experience along the road to Damascus (The Holy Bible. Acts Chapter 9). There are a lot of intended biblical parallels that you may notice and others that you will find referenced for further personal study. I’ve likewise included song references to many key songs whose lyrics really help capture the essence of what Paul (and possibly you) find himself going through. Country music and country living really have more fundamentally in common with “country salvation”; something you can’t find or replace anywhere, but on your knees at the altar praying through or raising up from that water baptism under an ole cast iron bridge in running water. Thank God for small country church congregations, Sunday school teachers that teach it and preach it, and lil ole deacons who chide youngsters with lines like “you’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’ young man!”

The characters and events in this fictional work are inspired by real life events, but in no way shape or form are meant to be portrayed as exactly what happened or why it happened. It shall always be my intention that we all seek out our own salvation with fear and trembling and remove the beam from our own eye before we point out the speck in our brother’s eye. Reflecting on lessons learned whether they are our own or someone else should ALWAYS be done with the discernment and application of God’s word with the aid of prayer; seeking the Holy Spirit too!!!

Enjoy and may God bless you!

Paul and the Road of Damascus' Character List and Descriptions

The Planter Family – just your run of the mill, country farming folks of Roadrunner County

•Paul Planter – just a good ole country boy; home grown, corn-fed, Momma’s boy, pick-up driving, son of a gun sorta guy aiming to live life to the fullest, but out to do nobody wrong. Paul is a carpenter by trade, farmer by imposed tradition, self-renowned “Duke boy” by reputation, and on his wilder side of sorts… alcoholic in denial, reckless driver, and risky-frisky spontaneous adrenaline seeking sort in all areas of his life.

•Grandad Planter – retired county judge whose life shares more in common with his grandson Paul than he’d care to see repeated. Grandad (not pronounced Grand Dad, but Gran Dad), as he’d rather be referred to as instead of The Judge (a nickname from his past with a two-fold reference), is Uncle Bob Planter’s brother. Grandad is SEVERAL years older and the “prodigal son” of his generation of Planters.

•Uncle Bob Planter– the great-uncle to Paul, but old enough to be called Paul’s uncle (an older uncle, but in respect and without denying any elder generational respect in the same light). Uncle Bob’s mental capacity is a handicap that the Planters and community respect and are surprised by in many ways…often in ways that only God can explain; miracles, no doubt. He’s not very talkative, but when he does come out of his “shell” he lays down some real “gems”; valuable insights.

•Pops Planter– the hardcore, strictly business sort, tradition dedicated livelihood minded, family man. Pops rode Paul hard as he could raising the boy to do the right thing and eventually take over the family farm. He passed away before either could be accomplished; leaving behind his legacy for others to see fulfilled.

•Momma Planter– the golden example of every good ole fashioned country homemaker, wife, and mother. Widowed and taken in under Grandad and Uncle Bob’s assisted oversight of the merged family farm, Momma doesn’t force Paul to make his life’s decisions or career decisions. A true prayer warrior and great “momma-isms” advice giver, Momma makes everyone’s hearts want to hug her and sit down to her Sunday evening meal and conversation visits.


The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang – a make-shift, unsanctioned and loosely organized group of retirees that meet socially around Paul’s hometown. Most noteably found around the actual “spit and whittle bench” beneath the ole oak tree in front of the post office in center of town. They pride themselves in maintaining the pride and respect of the town and townsfolk which is always under attack from the gossip spread by everyone especially their wives, “The Gossip Queens”.

•Ole Henry Peck– self proclaimed leader of “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang”. Ole Henry is a jokester of unmeasureable scrutiny; he doesn’t know when to stop or what is/isn’t funny sometimes. He means well and by no means desires to be disrespectful to anyone including the target of his jokes and pranks, “Getting old doesn’t mean you can’t have fun”

•Big Bill– the “constable” of the county (a position that no longer exists, but has been grandfathered out of respect by the county law enforcement and community til Big Bill’s life is over). Big Bill is the strong arm presence that “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang” is known to use to intimidate any resistance or opposition. Big Bill doesn’t use his brute size or untested strength unless absolutely necessary to defend others or himself as a last resort…he doesn’t have to. He’s that big and intimidating; no one dares mess with Big Bill. He keeps Ole Henry in line; only person that can outside of Ole Henry’s wife, Ole Biddy Peck.

•Redhead Fred– a wiry ole Irishman, whose red hair has gradually left him with all but a hint and tint of red; replaced by the godly platinum white hairs of wisdom. Fred is more the spiritual leader of “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang”, but finds himself loosing his temper and having to go on a spiritual retreat out in the wooded wilderness or atop one of the neighboring hillsides/mountains. Alone with God Fred is able to refocus before returning to his “children of Isreal” type flock; “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang” and the rest of Paul’s hometown.

•Lil Henry– youngest/newest member of “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang” at 64 years of age. Lil Henry just retired from the Highway Department and can’t seem to settle down to the notion of getting up every morning with nothing to look forward to than standing around talking to a bunch of guys and doing nothing. Lil Henry is of no relation to Ole Henry, but the two of them do enjoy getting under Redhead Fred’s skin; “aggrevating the living fire outta him.”

•*Uncle Bob Planter– the mascot of “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang” embodying everything the gang stands for and serves to protect. Uncle Bob’s mental capacity disability is an unfortunate result of a youthful farm related accident. The gang has well respectful fun with Uncle Bob and one another, but truthfully provide him with compassionate companionship that has prolonged and progressed his ability/disability to a level Grandad Planter never thought would be achievable or last.


Other Significant Characters in Order of Appearance/Mentioning

•Deputy Dan – the latest and greatest reform in local law enforcement. Dan is an outsider from a distant area outside of Roadrunner County who is known for turning around small town police departments; reforming them and their communities into stronger and respectable example places to live in. Paul’s sympathetic rival on the open roads of Roadrunner County. Dan’s recently overcome a significant personal loss; becoming a widower a few years back – in his mid 30’s.

•Elmer Judd– the legally blind gas station attendant; owner and operator of Elmer’s Full Service Fill Station/Auto Salvage and Repair. Elmer loves hunting (especially “wabbits”) and insists on people to LISTEN more to what they’re missing out on in life. “God speaks to us in an audible voice. We’re just too busy with everything else to hear what He’s trying to tell us most of the time.”

•“God” – Elmer’s faithful seeing eye dog and hunting companion. God is dog spelled backwards. Ain’t it funny how He’s literally right under our very noses if we’d just take the time to look or LISTEN for Him?!

•J.C. (the orderly) – a mysteriously surprising hospital orderly at Mercy Regional, the county’s hospital, that is always one step ahead of the triage situations that stress most folks out. J.C. and the staff are responsible for implementing new programs that keep the staff motivated and founded on the fundamental cornerstone of any medical service establishment; personalized and top notch care. J.C. and fellow staff members have “upper management” listening to the true needs of their patients.

•Ole Biddy Peck– Ole Henry Peck’s wife, Ole Biddy isn’t Mrs. Peck’s real name. Nobody knows what it really is either, including her. Ole Henry has always called her that and it seems to fit her just right; gossip queen of the county and all. Ole Biddy stays wound up in the tangled web of town gossip with a group of other women around the county that are simply referred to the Gossip Queens. What would a man be without a woman to give him a reason to live? Well, without Ole Biddy, “The Spit and Whittle Bench Gang” wouldn’t have as much work cut out for them; trying to straighten out all the rumors and such.

•“Peanut” Peter Pan– the local grocery store clerk, known as “Peanut” by the town. Only a few people know P.P.’s real name is actually, Peter. Another P.P. (Paul Planter) gave him the nickname. Peanut is a shy kind of sort that sticks to himself mostly.