FREE: Download the Companion CD

As a way of saying thank you to all who are supporting this project, The Exodus of Our Lives: Finding Your Promised Land, we are happy to provide a FREE download of the companion CD of music for your journey.

DOWNLOAD the complete album or any song in your favorite format: MP3, WAV, and others.

PRE-ORDER the book here (and get some freebies): www.exodusofourlives.com

ANNOUNCING: Book Release Party Wed, Oct 24th

I am excited and getting ready to release this press release in a week to central Florida newspapers announcing the book release party. If you pre-ordered and live local, you will be able to get your copy on the day of release, Oct 24th right here in Sanford at the Breezeway restaurant. Of course you can always get more information on Exodus of Our Lives at the exodusofourlives.com website. Here are the details in the press release:

Click to see and print the press release

SANFORD, FL, Sep. 26, 2018 — Local author, pastor and a retired veteran, Jan Puterbaugh, will host a book release party from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday, October 24th at the Breezeway Restaurant, 112 E 1st St, Sanford.

In this book, Puterbaugh describes three major journey’s we take in life. The journey out of a bad place, like addiction or abuse, the journey out of our own status quo and the journey into a good place he calls the altruistic journey. In Exodus of Our Lives, you will learn how to prepare for the many journey’s in life so you can make it to the destination, your promised land. As you read these pages, you will see yourself in this narrative so many of us share.

This book signing party is free to the public. Come enjoy an evening in quaint old-town Sanford surrounded by great food, coffee, drink and fun as you listen to the soulful chill sounds of musical guest and Sanford recording artist, Heather DeSanctis.

Puterbaugh will have all pre-ordered copies of the book for distribution, and copies will be available for purchase. Special guest, the “REV MC” Matt Clark will conduct a live interview with the author.“Our Journey in life is not about the quantity of miles we walk, it is about the quality of our daily walk,” Puterbaugh said. Exodus of Our Lives will help you make the most of each step you take toward your promised land.

Pastor Joseph Thompson, Executive Director of Spiritual Development for Action says, “If you’re asking questions like: Why is this happening to me? What’s the purpose of my life? Even if you’re simply challenging the religious status quo in search of a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus, then this book is for you! I recommend that you invite your friends and family to take the journey with you in reading Exodus of Our Lives.”

Jeff DiMario, President, LARK Global Ministries says, “No matter where you are on your path, be it addiction or just a stagnant life in general, through his real-life experiences, Puterbaugh takes it step by step, helping you recognize the obstacles in your way and how to navigate through them.”

Dan Mastrapa, Lead Pastor of Sent Church shares, “Jan’s transparency and humor are both refreshing and impacting. Wherever you are in your journey, you will glean valuable insight in getting unstuck from the fear, failure, and status quo that is keeping you from moving forward. I commend Jan’s work to you, it will serve you well.”

For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact jan@pastorjan.me or (407) 353-1742.

LIVE READING: The Introduction

Join me as I sit in the studio reading the Introduction fro Exodus of Our Lives: Finding Your Promised Land.

Introduction

There are times in our lives when we recognize we need to regroup to move ahead, when we need to embark on a journey. Maybe we find ourselves in bondage on some level; maybe we feel called to step out of our familiar existence and move into uncharted waters. Or maybe we are simply moving into a new phase of life.

The question is this: How do we prepare for the journey so we can make it to the destination?

A few years ago, as my wife and I embarked on a journey through Atlanta, Georgia on our way to a mountain cabin deep in the Chattahoochee National Forest, memories from my youth started flooding back to my mind. You see, I was fifty-seven years old, well adjusted (whatever that means), happily married, and living the life of my dreams as an associate pastor in a small church in Longwood, Florida. I thought about the many journeys it had taken in getting to this place in life.

The traffic was heavy that day as it flowed through downtown Atlanta like a stream snaking down the mountains carrying everything caught in its current. I was taken aback as I remembered my life in the 1980’s. I was in my twenties then and felt like I could tame the world. I have always had an unwavering passion for life, for experiences, and the unique beauty of my surroundings, whatever and wherever that might be.

I never doubted I could “make it” in life. The world was mine to conquer. Though my ambitions were tempered by the reality of daily living, I woke up each day with a drive to plow through life on my own, like an explorer headed out into the wilderness hoping to discover a vast paradise.

I was passionately in love with my high school sweetheart and had moved to Georgia and joined the Army just so I could be near her. While this might sound romantic and adventurous, I was also becoming a drug addict and making terrible decisions. I was an impulsive, passionate, drug addicted young person without a clue. It was a dangerous combination.

So here I was in Atlanta once again. More old memories and ghosts of their experiences flooded my mind: hiking up Stone Mountain and camping on the steep side (even though we weren’t supposed to camp there), looking at the vast expanse of God’s creation from Kennesaw Mountain and feeling the presence of soldiers who skirmished in the fields below, walking through Underground Atlanta—an entertainment district under the viaducts deep in the city—and experiencing people from all walks of life; all of these overwhelmed me. I had thought all these adventures were the answer to fulfillment in life. In reality, I was navigating on my own aimlessly.

When I was young I was taught to be my own man, to be independent, that anything I achieved would be done by my own willpower. My parents didn’t necessarily teach me this, society did. The message is everywhere. From Burger King’s motto, “Have it Your Way,” to every store trying to personalize your experience so you will buy more, we often grow up feeling like we are the center of existence. Even spiritually, we often feel we are the center of God’s world. In fact, some preachers want you to think that. Why? Just like the stores, it’s savvy marketing. When everything is centered on you, the more likely you are to keep coming back for more in that elusive quest to reach the top of the mountain.

As I have looked at my own journey and the journeys of so many others, I have seen so much in common with the Exodus story in Scripture where Moses led God’s people out of bondage through the wilderness to the promised land.

Jesus wants us to view life as a journey and to embrace each season on this journey. Jesus wants us to be free from the bondage of ourselves. He wants us to find true fulfillment in life—fulfillment that can only be found in Him. When we make our lives all about God, all about Jesus and others around us, we find true fulfillment and freedom. This, my friend, is the promised land!

There are often several legs on the journey that make up the pieces of our larger quest to reach the promised land. This book will help you identify the journey you may be on or about to embark on, prepare using Biblical principles, and lay the groundwork to help you navigate the many obstacles and pitfalls which often keep us from reaching the sacred place God has for us. Additionally, I want you to know the secret of living in the promised land once you arrive.

As you read these pages, as you possibly see yourself in this narrative so many of us share, my prayer is you will be given the strength to depart on this journey and the knowledge of what to expect along the way, so you will be able to enter and live in your promised land.

Let’s prepare for the Exodus of our lives.

First Print Proof Arrived!

PROJECT UPDATE: I am excited to announce that the first printed proof arrived today from Amazon Print-on-Demand and I have to say, I am very impressed! Tonight or tomorrow I will also receive the printed proof from my printer, Total Printing Systems. This will be the very last opportunity to find a misplaced space, comma, or misspelled word before Exodus of Our Lives goes into full production for a tentative release date of October 24th.

Needless to say, I am beyond excited! I have a big bowl of chili and a plate of sushi to keep me company as I pour over every page letter-by-letter and word-by-word to look one last time for anything that fell through the cracks during the vigorous copy/content editing, proofreading, and interior design editing process.

AGAIN,  I want to thank the team of people who have helped this project come to fruition:

My local team: Pastor Phil Ayres (support and expertise in more ways than I can list here), Melissa “Izzy” Lamprey, Kelly Puterbaugh (Beta readers as well as proofreaders), Jeff DiMario (beta reader), Greg Martin (mastering the surprise bonus companion CD of songs that will accompany each pre-ordered book), and Stacy Edwards at Design by Stacy graphics design.
 My “Away” team: Stacy Covell at One Word Editing in Pennsylvania (copy/content editor), Melinda Martin at Martin Publishing Services in Texas, and the team of professionals at Total Printing Systems in Illinois.
My family, church family and friends: For listening to me share about this book journey day-in and day-out. I am also extremely thankful for your constant encouragement and excitement as this publishing process has played out over the last months.

AUDIO BOOK: I have started on the audio book and hope to have it finished and completed soon.

BOOK RELEASE: Barring any major setback, the book release date is set for Wednesday, October 24th. More information will follow.

That’s it for today…chili and sushi and a good book to read is the top of my list for this evening!

God bless!

~~ Pastor Jan

Surprise CD & Update

SURPRISE: I am releasing a companion EP CD with the book (if you pre-ordered, you will get a copy) that is being mastered by none other than Greg Martin the “Tweak Meister”!

LISTEN TO THE THEME SONG, ChangeMe-Rearrange Me, HERE

PUBLISHING UPDATE:
Great news! The editing and proofreading of the final manuscript has been completed! Thank you Stacey Covell for your deep insight and skilled editing capabilities! The book has been submitted to the Interior Design editor down in Texas for the final step before printing.

I want to give a big shout out to both of my diligent proofreaders, Melissa “Izzy” Lamprey and my wife, Kelly for for their intense hard work in ferreting out all the last little errors left over by the editing process. An extra space here, a misspelling there–You both rock!

SCHEDULED RELEASE: We are just a little behind schedule (don’t most things take longer than expected) so the release date may be pushed out a week or two (beginning to mid October). But the excitement continues! I am thrilled with the edited manuscript and looking forward to seeing the printed book as well as the Kindle and electronic versions.

BOOK RELEASE PARTY: We are currently evaluating venues for the book release event and planning the activities. It is sure to be a fun gathering with music, coffee, food and giveaways!

AUDIO BOOK: Recording for the audio book begins this week!

THANK YOU everyone for your support! This is an exciting journey we are all on and my prayer is always that each of you will come closer to finding YOUR  promised land through the Exodus of your life!

Editing Amost Done!

The custom bookmarks and have been printed. One more task down.

PUBLISHING UPDATE: June was a busy, busy month and July is the same! What an exciting time as this book comes together.

EDITING: I have the most awesome editor, Stacy Covell at One Word Editing! We have completed the hardest part, the first pass edit, on all the chapters. We are now compiling all the final edits and are almost ready for the interior design editor.

GRAPHICS: Stacy Edwards at Designs By Stacy has completed the cover, the chapter dividers, the custom bookmark and the interior artwork.

PRINTER: I found a book that has the look and feel in paper and cover quality that fit Exodus of Our Lives, mailed the sample book and received a quote for the work. This part of the journey will be exciting!

INTERIOR DESIGN EDITOR: Stacey Covell and I are now compiling all the chapters and other parts into the finished edited manuscript to send off to the interior design editor, Melinda, at Martin Design Services. I will also be sending her the sample book pages that has the look and feel we want so she can select the right font family as well as other things to complete her task.

Additionally, I have been busy at work on the book website, copyright, ISBN and preparing for the many marketing task once the book is printed.
I again want to thank each of you for your prayers, your support, your pre-orders and for all your notes of encouragement as you join me on this journey! Without you, this book would not be published!

That’s all for now! Talk to you soon!

~~ Pastor Jan