When I was preparing my first book for publication, I kept reading and hearing from the "experts" that every author ought to have a blog. I was a bit queasy about diving into such an undertaking. My unease was caused by my constant desire to be somewhat consistent (if not first-rate). I didn't want to be one of those guys and gals who only blogged every few weeks when the spirit moved them.

After much prayer and consternation, I opted to follow the advice of the specialists and began my weblog. I decided to be disciplined about it if nothing else. My goal was to produce three blogs per week that would each be 500 words or less—quickly readable, but with enough substance to be interesting. After diving into that project, I found it to be rather enjoyable and discovered I had a lot more to say than I had guessed.

A few weeks later, I began running across more of these writing professionals who were adamant that a newsletter was the ticket. I was already blogging thrice per week and was a bit concerned that a newsletter would be over the top—both time wise and creativity wise. The incessant drumbeat in favor of the newsletter was thundering loudly in the ears of my soul, however, and almost five months after instituting my blog, I formulated a weekly e-letter that I named, "Pulpit Man @ Large."

I've been e-mailing it out every Friday since that fateful day. Much to my surprise, people began to read it, and some even respond. I was a bit flabbergasted, amazed, and pleased all at the same time. It has even become a labor of love for me.

Well, that was several years ago. Since most of the world has, undoubtedly, never read these little missives, I decided to go all out and put them down on paper. This book is a collection of many of the weekly thoughts, challenges, and questions that have arisen in my pea-sized brain.

I hope you enjoy reading them nearly as much as I did writing them. While they are of no great, political import, they might just touch your soul from time to time. It is my experience that our souls need a lot of touching.

Dave Zuchelli