Book: Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith
Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I’m Tony Crouch, Christian by choice, accountant by trade. I’m currently serving Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas as the Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer, however I am fortunate to work from home and reside in Catoosa, Oklahoma. I have been married for 35 years to my lovely wife Vicki and we have four kids, nine grandkids, and five great grandkids.
I grew up in Alva, Oklahoma where I was introduced to Jesus at First Christian Church. I was baptized at the age of 10 and have spent most of the rest of my life trying to learn God’s Word and His will, but only in the last few years have I learned to surrender myself to Him. He is the one in whom I place my full trust and confidence.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith’ book?
Actually, I didn’t know I was writing a book when I started. I set out to answer a calling the Holy Spirit and write a regular article on Facebook devoted to Christian thought. During my daily Bible study, I would note verses or parables that spurred ideas. I wrote about them as they came. Sometimes, the articles were timed close together, sometimes days apart. As the number of articles and readers grew, one of my good friends suggested it was a book I was writing. I dismissed the idea, but she wouldn’t stop insisting that was what was happening. To show her it was not, I sent the book to a Christian publishing company, and it turns out she was right.
The hardest thing for me, once I was done and everything submitted to the publisher for editing was accepting the editor’s suggestions. She did an incredible job, but she took out many of my prepositional phrases. As it turns out, I really like prepositional phrases.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I specifically like the Book of John in the Holy Bible, but also James. I appreciate how they make understanding who Jesus is practical and relatable, but they also offer room for personal thought and exploration for deeper meanings.
In secular writing, I appreciate Andrew Wommack and his straightforward, no sugar-coating style of teaching. Greg Mohr is another writer who is very good with relating scripture to life.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I don’t know that I have a favorite spot. I live in an incredibly diverse state – Oklahoma – where you can find national forests, sand dunes, flat plains, salt beds, caverns, mesas, lakes and hills. But I’ve also lived in Montana and Kansas. Montana is a beautiful state as well, especially from the Rockies and west. Forced to choose, I’d probably go back to my childhood and pick my granddad’s farm in early morning when the cattle are asking for breakfast and the sun is peeking up over the cedar trees a few canyons away.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
As noted above, I didn’t set out to write a book, so in my case, the real preparation was opening my heart to hear God’s voice.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith’ book?
The chapters are mostly from my Facebook writings, but several are unique to the book. The process was about a year from the first article until I send the final text to the publisher, and then about six more months through the editing and creative process.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith’ book to buy?
The book is available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and as an e-book on Barnes & Noble. I see it on other online book retailers as well.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith’?
The cover was created by the publisher. We talked through ideas, but the design was truly all theirs.
The title morphed a bit as we finished up the editing. I didn’t have a name (because I didn’t’ set out to write a book). My friend who suggested the book had mentioned the phrase “when God speaks, listen” as she encouraged me. I feel God’s greatest attribute is His grace, so I had tentatively titled it “When God Speaks Grace”. As the editor finished her work, she suggested the book was really more about hearing God speak. As we talked back and forth, it became “Letting God’s Word Speak: Lessons on Deepening Your Faith”.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
In my case, every chapter is its own story. There is some references back to previous thoughts or experiences, but as a rule, each chapter is fresh and stands on its own. Because I was inspired by scriptures throughout the Bible, the topics are many and varied. But, of course they all tie back to God working in our lives and how we should respond to that.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
God is speaking to each of us through the Holy Spirit, but we have to be an active listener to hear. His voice may come to us in scripture (often for me), through song lyrics, through teachings, or maybe something someone randomly says (although God’s work is never random). If our minds are open and seeking, we will hear His voice and grow in relationship with Him as we respond.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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