email : Webview : Cec Murphey's February Newsletter

More Than Surviving: Courageous Meditations for Men Hurting from Childhood Abuse

Cec's upcoming book, More Than Surviving, is now available for pre-order. The publisher sent Cec a box of bookmarks, and now that he's not traveling and speaking across the country, he's looking for other avenues to distribute them. If you are part of a group or ministry that would appreciate knowing about Cec's book, and you're willing to hand out his bookmarks, please email Cec and send him your snail mail address.

Cec's interview with Patrick Baker of The Divine Rescue (Toronto)

Thanks to Karen Baker for sending us the link to an interview Cec had with Patrick Baker of The Divine Rescue when he was in Toronto several months ago. To watch, click on the picture above.

Have you read this book Cec wrote for Dr. Ben Carson? Millions have. It was first published in 1990.

It's Okay to Fail

Like almost every person in the world, I hate to fail.

I’ve had my times of feeling remorseful, discouraged, and indulging in self-pity. In looking back over my career, I’m also learning the benefit of those failures.

For example, I learn about myself. When I failed, I used to fall into the self-condemning mode. What did I do wrong? My first attempts at writing professionally were abject, and I assumed that wasn’t for me. And yet, the desire stayed with me.

Twenty years later, I had learned about the publishing business and sold my first article. Within a year I sold regularly.

Had that original disaster not helped me see how much I wanted to be an author, I wouldn’t have continued. When it’s something of great significance, the pain level helps me grasp how important something is to me.

Sometimes disappointment yells, “Try harder.” Other times it whispers, “That’s one more thing you didn’t want.”

Once I applied for a job as an editor with a publishing house. I didn’t even get interviewed. When I received the news, instead of disappointment, I felt relieved. I’d applied because several people said, “You could do a great job.”

In retrospect, I’m grateful for those flops. What if I had succeeded at something that didn’t stir my passion? Worse, what if I made a vast amount of money but despised my work?

For me, the biggest lesson in not succeeding has fostered compassion for others who face fiascos. I can sense their pain because I’ve felt it myself.

I’m grateful for failures—and the more they hurt, the more I learned. Or I could say that I learned life’s most important lessons by succeeding.

But that would be a lie.

Personal News

This is my second month of being officially retired. Yes, I’m still writing—and I’m being highly selective.

My agent has sent out a book proposal for Don Piper (90 Minutes in Heaven) with the working title: People I Met at the Gate: How Earthly Actions Made a Heavenly Impact.

I’ve agreed to write a book proposal for a well-known movie casting director this spring.

I taught the Open Door Sunday school class in January; this month I’m teaching the Discipleship class.

February 25, I’ll again participate in a Hunger Walk. Each year 25,000 people participate in this 5k walk to raise money to feed the homeless. If you’d like to donate money, click here.