YEAR OF THE PEN

Hey guys!

So my book website is dropping soooon!

I'm excited to share that all future writing updates will be coming from that website address: jordansoliday.com. (If you would like to opt out from future updates, you can just click 'Unsubscribe' when the first newsletter from my new website is sent out.) The website will also double as a blog.

Also—pretty important—I am seven chapters into TITLED. This has been a process; I've learned writing a book takes time, much working and reworking, much reflection. As I continue to progress, you will be updated, and ultimately hold the book in your hands upon completion (same with LETTER). All Giving Levels will be fulfilled despite this project taking longer than originally anticipated.Thanks as always for your support!

Next time we chat, it'll be via my new site. Until then!

An important update for you:

I'm at the point now where I can move forward with my prospectus (book proposal) opportunity with HarperCollins. By the end of June/early July, I will be sending it in along with the first several chapters of the book, TITLED.

I plan to be leaking some material to you all soon as well ;)

Thanks for the support as always!

It's been a minute!

But here I am. Since we've last spoken, I've become wonderfully wrapped up in the book TITLED. I'm disappearing into my own little world of writing, and that's good for all of us—for a book is well on the way.

There's one scene where our main character—meandering through his daily activities—slows to find himself in front of a mirror.

He reflects: "There is nothing more terrifying than looking directly into the face of one's own soul. It is not simply to see the heart, the body, nor the might of one man—but all. It is to step outside of time and yet, right into this exact moment—into what one has been and is, and is not and never will be. It is all encompassing, yet simply, 'I.'
It is also the most courageous thing. The terror and hope that in, or past this soul, there is something.
Something worth facing."

Take a look into the mirror today. May you experience the wonder that you are.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and remain my supporter!

As we are about to dawn into the new year, I wanted to let you all know that the first book, TITLED, is progressing well! I'm very excited about the content I have, and I'm looking forward to sharing specific examples with you all soon.

I've even been recommended to submit a Prospectus to the Acquisition Editor at HarperCollins! So I'm working on that as well.

And beyond the writing, each one of you—via your support and donations through the Year of the Pen campaign—have helped me launch my career in a direction I didn't think would be managed so quickly: I'm now a Teacher/Counselor at a private high school academy in Pittsburgh, PA.

Just a total influx of blessings—one after the other! Truly, I have you all to thank. My supporters. My donors.

Thank you, and Happy New Year to you all.

Best,

Jordan

The campaign is now about to officially close! Thank you to everyone who has helped make my dream to write these two books a reality!

Even though this campaign is ending, this journey is just beginning. Each month during the Year of the Pen, you'll receive updates regarding my progress.

For all of your prayers, encouragement, for spreading the word, and for donating—to you all I say: THANK YOU!

May you be blessed continually.

I am… I am so deeply moved as I write this.

The Year of the Pen campaign is about to close, tomorrow at sunset. For 40 days it will have been up. This is extremely purposeful—for as I mentioned in my first post, I am of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Out of the power of the Sabbath, I launched this campaign (at the beginning of a Sunday). After 40 days, I am now closing it into the Sabbath’s rest (on a Friday evening).

During these 40 days, I have raised nearly $7,500. Much of that has come from people I’ve never even spoken to; much of that has come in amounts much larger than I could’ve anticipated.

But this campaign wasn’t just about raising funds—no, no. Not even close. I am telling you, my mind is blown as I sit back and reflect.

Over the past 40 days, I’ve made 25 new contacts. In one instance, one person got me in touch with another person who got me in touch with the Senior VP at Zondervan. Zondervan is a publisher under HarperCollins. Just so you know, it is a goal of mine to be published through HarperCollins.

I have an interview setup with the CCO and Co-founder of Super Evil Megacorp. He is the creator of the revolutionary mobile video game, Vainglory. It is my desperate desire to write to and learn from people the church might not normally write to/learn from. In these 40 days, this opportunity came up.

I also, via a connection, now have the potential opportunity to work at a prestigious, faith-based high school academy in Pittsburgh, PA.

One could chalk these things up and say, “This is what happens to someone who works hard and follows his/her dreams.” But I know this is the handiwork of God, because He is the one who called me to go.

One night, two years ago, I laid in my bed and had a dream. In my dream, I was in a luminous aura—a place better described as a presence. That presence was the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. I was asked, “Do you want this?” And as I was answering, “Yes”—while still remaining asleep—something happened outside of my dream. I could hear the swooping and sudden rushing of a wind. It swept through the door in my bedroom, around my bed, up over the bed and then blasted me in the chest and threw me back in my bed. I was immediately soaked from head to toe in sweat—terrified. I could not speak. But after a good 20 minutes, I got up. I remembered the words He asked me in the dream, “Do you want this?” I remembered Who the mighty, rushing wind in the Scriptures is: the Spirit.

Six months ago, I had another dream. In it, I got up from my seat to walk to the front of a crowd. One person cried out to me as I was walking: “Tell them who you are.” Once I reached the front of the crowd, that person said it again, “Tell them who you are!” At that point, I was slowly pulled from the dream. I’m telling you this because you are the crowd—any of you who are reading. In the dream there was no speaker intended to speak to the crowd, only a crowd that was sitting. Waiting. Within me, I knew I had to be the one to stand up. Now, within me, as I’m writing this post, I have finally garnered the courage to write you this post. For I know He has called me to stand up. To speak, and not be quiet.

God has something for me to say, because He is the one with something to say. But you must understand that this message He has to share is something I have learned up out of Scripture, and not by dreams. I have had many other dreams and occurrences—and they verify that this is indeed something He has to say. These dreams verify a message He has brought to me up out of Scripture—and not the other way around.

Tomorrow, at sunset, the Year of the Pen campaign ends. But it is only the beginning of the actual Year of the Pen, out of which the two books LETTER and TITLED will go forward. In them, is the message. And forward unto the whole world this message will go. For it is His.

“The TITLED one has something to say. A LETTER is to go forth to the church. Is she listening?”

Just 7 days are left in the Year of the Pen campaign! Check out the site! Tell a friend! Donate today. And be a part of something bigger than yourself—yet entirely special because of you.

The time is now for the #Yearofthepen

We have now reached more than 25% of our goal at Yearofthepen.com! Thanks to all of you who are supporting, donating, and interacting with @yearofthepen on social media platforms! 3 weeks left... we can reach this goal!

Take your seat and join the #yearofthepen campaign today!

Major update made to the campaign story at www.yearofthepen.com!
We're now officially 10 days into the campaign and have reached 15% of our goal!

Thank you all for your wonderful support! Join the campaign today! Just $10 makes a difference, and it gets you the LETTER e-book too! #yearofthepen

Ever received a letter or an e-mail that changed your day—even your life? Perhaps it opened your eyes to view things differently. There is such a LETTER being written that can change your day, even your life, even our world. Take a minute and read through the following post. I guarantee it will spark at least one thought or question. Feel free to message me on Facebook or at [email protected]:

There are walls that exist. Between the church and the world and many people—these walls tower high. In the church, there are countless denominations, interpretations, and debates. Many men and women often stand their ground on their respective sides of the wall when talking to another of differing beliefs—careful not to be influenced or challenged. And outside of the church's own set of walls are the most paramount walls the Earth has ever known—those separating the church from the rest of the world. Gen Xers and Millenials especially are sensing the presence of those walls. And many of these people are in some way dissatisfied or disillusioned with the church. Within the hearts of these many, there is a movement stirring that needs to be revealed. It is the longing toward what should be, yet it comes with an unavoidable reality.

The church is not what it needs to be. It is written that it is to be the embodiment of Jesus Christ, but it has become the embodiment of itself. Now there are many beautiful people doing the sincerest things, but as a whole, the church has become more about maintaining church culture than trailblazing to the places it must go, to do the things it must do. And so it has become the very thing it was warned not to become: self-reliant. Church is a place where people are meeting, and is not the people themselves.

If church is but a service that runs an hour long and then ends—let it be known: There is no church! For church is never left—it is wherever the believers are, it is whoever the believers are. The time has come to say it: "I am Church. We are Church." Many ages ago, men and women understood this. They lived it, day in and day out. They knew it was the only way.

I believe in a church that meets and asks tough questions, unafraid to face the unscripted.
I believe in a church that is willing to speak to and learn from anyone, without sizing them up.
I believe in a church that takes its sermons and songs and dances into the streets with flash mobs, marches, and authentic conversation.
I believe in a church that doesn't just have a screen presence, but the most relatable and enrapturing cinematography ever presented.
I believe in a church that doesn't settle in as one of the world religions, rather it only accepts itself as the answer and always upholds that standard.
I believe in a church that knows it can be the very desire of the world, because it knows the Desire of the World.
Yes, like Mali Music, I believe.

Today, the mention of something like this is chalked up as "idealistic." But there is nothing written in Scripture that calls the church to less. In fact, it is called to this end alone: To be greater and greater still.

There are men and women around the world who believe this can actually happen. Do you?

Understand that LETTER is not suggesting a new church. LETTER is not suggesting a new denomination. Nor is LETTER suggesting that all churches become one and accept various different beliefs.

But in a way that is different than all of these—and in a way that was long ago spoken of—LETTER will show the church what is next and how the church is going to get there, while evaluating how it's gotten to where it is now. It will also unpack and document the underlying movement called "Convenient Truth" that is influencing the entire world. LETTER will also convey how to rightly break down the walls within the church, and consequently the walls between the church and the world. And finally, LETTER will point the church to a height it has never before reached.

This is the movement unrecognized that needs to be revealed. This is the movement I am speaking of in the Year of the Pen mission statement. While LETTER is but a book, and in itself nothing, it has a mighty purpose. Its time is now. And that our time is now has been affirmed to me in an absolutely mind-blowing way that you'll definitely want to read about in the book itself. I have no doubt that once you read LETTER, you'll see very clearly how this book is going to change our world. For this message is not my own.

It tells your story.

Join the movement and get the book today at yearofthepen.com #yearofthepen

I am thankful to all of you who have been sharing and helping promote the Year of the Pen campaign! I want to begin sharing with you content that is going to be influencing the books LETTER and TITLED:
You should know I am of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Many of you are of various different beliefs. Yet as it is laid out in the Year of the Pen campaign story, the overarching body of Christianity influences us all. There is a serious disparity between the church and the world, and many people—including many who consider themselves believing in God—are in some way dissatisfied with the church.
What if I told you that it was long ago spoken that it would be this way? And what if I told you that where it was said that the church would find itself in this state, that in the same breath it was declared that something incredibly powerful would be on the brink of bursting forth?
What if I told you that some of the craziest things have happened in my life to assure us all that the time spoken of is Now—would you weigh it? Would you consider it?
I believe and consider that you must.
More to come in next post. yearofthepen.com | #yearofthepen