Richard is the publisher of my latest book, "A Non-Church Goer's Guide to God" is what it's being called at the moment.
Tony Compolo is the famous "speaker, author, sociologist, pastor, social activist and passionate follower of Jesus."
"What did I do? I ask.
"Well," Richard gravely replies, "When you say 'No Savior will ever sleep in the White House' Dr. Compolo didn't care for it because he's slept in the White House."
"No way," I exclaim like Garth did on "Wayne's World."
"Way," Richard perfectly replies.
"Well," I sigh.
"Yeah we can't get anybody to endorse your book. That's never happened before."
"No way," I say again channeling my inner Garth.
"Way," Richard laughs. "We're putting a positive spin on it. If nobody will endorse your book, it must be good. They're scared of it ... so that's what we going to say."
"You mean none of my Seminary Professors will give me a blurb for the cover?"
"None of them remember you," Richard reports.
"What about Guy Sayles or Bill Berry?" I asks.
"They never returned our calls."
"You know Bill's not the drummer for ..."
"I know," Richard cuts me off. "You've told me."
Tapping my finger tips against my teeth I ponder before asking, "You mean there's not one single person in the world who'll vouch for my book."
"No not one," Richard says laughingly, quoting the old Christian Hymn.
"But you're publishing it anyway?" I say a little determined.
"Yeah, it's the alternative view written by a Baptist Minister about a Baptist Church and how screwed up Baptists are ... and it's funny."
"Alrighty then," I say filled with renewed confidence. "To Hell with Tony Compolo."
"That's the same thing he said about you," Richard says and hangs up.
Then the book was released with my favorite introduction of all my books with an explanation of why nobody in the universe supports anything I have to say.
