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Pastor writes guide to Bible
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ST. ANTHONY - Like most people, Brian Tousley is busy.
He's the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in St. Anthony. He's an assistant soccer coach for the Madison High School boys team, and he occasionally writes columns for the religion page of
Standard Journal.
For the past few months he has also been writing a book. The book, "Get Acquainted," is aimed at people like him - busy people with lots to do and little time to get it done.
"I have this idea that we're really busy," Tousley said. "The Bible is a pretty big book. To understand it systematically takes time."
Many people may be reluctant to take that time. But, he said, "They would be willing to study something a few minutes a day in bite sizes."
That's what his book offers: 24 bite-sized explanations of the Bible's most important ideas. As the title states, the book will meet the need of people who want to "get acquainted" with the Bible and do it quickly.
"In ways it's a theological text," he said. "It includes what I believe are the most important first topics in studying the Bible," the minister said.
The references to Bible quotations are footnoted to effectively avoid slowing down the readers. But they provide reference for further study.
"More books have been written about Christ than anyone," he said. "All of those books address different things. There even are books like these. But this one fills a niche for people on the run, who are willing to give five minutes a day for a month."
Tousley, on his Web site, www.briantousley.com, said the book will allow people to learn they can trust the Bible, understand what God is like and why Jesus is special and look ahead to their own destiny.
"Get Acquainted" is Tousley's first foray into selfhelp books. But it's not his first book. Before he began his ministry, he served for 20 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. his first book was an engineering manual for lighthouse maintenance, repairs and reconstruction.
"It was pretty hot in the Coast Guard," he said of the manual.
From 1982 to 1986, he oversaw the design, maintenance and restoration for the 600 lights and lighthouses on the Great Lakes.
He also wrote a thesis for his master's degree in physics on high-energy particle weapons.
He also holds a Master of Ministry from the Temple Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has been a pastor for the past 11 years in St. Anthony.
Writing, publishing and marketing "Get Acquainted" has been an interesting journey, Tousley said. "Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite."
He said he has learned that it is wise for anyone writing a book to have it reviewed critically. In his case he had Brigham Young University-Idaho teacher Robert Bird, Keith Walker of St. Anthony and one of Tousley's uncles who is in the publishing business offer their critiques, Tousley said.
He also had professional help in selecting a cover design, the size of the book, the font and paper used, the cost and the distribution.
The book was self-published by Tousley through Calvary Publishing, which specializes in Baptist books by Baptists.
He still is working on the marketing of the book, advertising it on Google, and selling it in Broulim's in St. Anthony and Rexburg and through his Web site.
jedlefsen@uvsj.com
He's the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in St. Anthony. He's an assistant soccer coach for the Madison High School boys team, and he occasionally writes columns for the religion page of
Standard Journal.
For the past few months he has also been writing a book. The book, "Get Acquainted," is aimed at people like him - busy people with lots to do and little time to get it done.
"I have this idea that we're really busy," Tousley said. "The Bible is a pretty big book. To understand it systematically takes time."
Many people may be reluctant to take that time. But, he said, "They would be willing to study something a few minutes a day in bite sizes."
That's what his book offers: 24 bite-sized explanations of the Bible's most important ideas. As the title states, the book will meet the need of people who want to "get acquainted" with the Bible and do it quickly.
"In ways it's a theological text," he said. "It includes what I believe are the most important first topics in studying the Bible," the minister said.
The references to Bible quotations are footnoted to effectively avoid slowing down the readers. But they provide reference for further study.
"More books have been written about Christ than anyone," he said. "All of those books address different things. There even are books like these. But this one fills a niche for people on the run, who are willing to give five minutes a day for a month."
Tousley, on his Web site, www.briantousley.com, said the book will allow people to learn they can trust the Bible, understand what God is like and why Jesus is special and look ahead to their own destiny.
"Get Acquainted" is Tousley's first foray into selfhelp books. But it's not his first book. Before he began his ministry, he served for 20 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. his first book was an engineering manual for lighthouse maintenance, repairs and reconstruction.
"It was pretty hot in the Coast Guard," he said of the manual.
From 1982 to 1986, he oversaw the design, maintenance and restoration for the 600 lights and lighthouses on the Great Lakes.
He also wrote a thesis for his master's degree in physics on high-energy particle weapons.
He also holds a Master of Ministry from the Temple Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has been a pastor for the past 11 years in St. Anthony.
Writing, publishing and marketing "Get Acquainted" has been an interesting journey, Tousley said. "Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite."
He said he has learned that it is wise for anyone writing a book to have it reviewed critically. In his case he had Brigham Young University-Idaho teacher Robert Bird, Keith Walker of St. Anthony and one of Tousley's uncles who is in the publishing business offer their critiques, Tousley said.
He also had professional help in selecting a cover design, the size of the book, the font and paper used, the cost and the distribution.
The book was self-published by Tousley through Calvary Publishing, which specializes in Baptist books by Baptists.
He still is working on the marketing of the book, advertising it on Google, and selling it in Broulim's in St. Anthony and Rexburg and through his Web site.
jedlefsen@uvsj.com
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