Dr. James D. Bailiff
A native of North Carolina, grew up in an Appalachian culture that values people, tradition, religion, nature, and a discovery of life’s purpose and meaning. Following retirement from pastoral ministry he turned to writing, to date publishing Mining for Meaning: Harvesting Rich Meaning from Our Relationships with God, One Another, and Nature, Anxiety Yields to Faith: How Faith Helps in Managing Anxiety, Shepherd Blessings: Uplifting Insights from the 23rd Psalm, Journeying Forward Toward Spiritual Freedom, and My Love with a Dog Named Moose. Dr. Bailiff earned Bachelor degrees from both Johnson University and East Tennessee State University, a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Emory University. He lives with wife, Beverly, in Sarasota, Florida, is a proud father and grandfather who loves music, golfing, and writing.
Writing has become a vibrant and life-giving way for me to respond to our life situation in this modern world. From my youth, I possessed a compulsion to respond to the needs around me, whether it was to lend support to a classmate who was being bullied or to a friend who lacked adequate food or clothing. There is something in me that will not let me sit still when I sense a need. As I developed toward and into adulthood my vision of prevailing need expanded to recognize its various forms, for example, the need for social justice in a society troubled with racism, sexism, hunger, illiteracy, and the lack of equal opportunity. It was then that I began to recognize that individual struggle was often rooted in unjust political and social systems. Moreover, consider that our needs are reflected not just in our bumps, bruises, empty stomachs, and bias. Its wider impact is confirmed by the widespread sense of meaninglessness and lack of purpose among us. Then, there is this: our natural world’s need for conservation, with its cry to cease so many of the destructive activities that damage—even destroy—her. With my wider vision, I began to recognize, too, that needfulness includes our hunger for inspiration and joy without which our human heart and earth’s soul remain subdued and rigid.
As a writer facing the prevalence of such need, I had to ask: From what stance does one address the needs of our world? What platform shall an author choose? What core values? In our highly diverse world culture, there are alternative perspectives and models, ranging from secular to religious. Within each of those categories are multiple choices. Where, then, does one begin? From what springboard does the sensitive writer begin to respond?
For me, the choice is the Judeo-Christian perspective that provides clarity regarding such substantive issues as the precious value of all creation—including human beings—joined to a conviction that every thing and every one has a purposeful destiny, and that both our value and purpose are fulfilled in a proper relationship with God, one another, and nature.
From this perspective, all my writing relates to the discovery of life’s purpose through recognizing and honoring those relationships. My first published book, Mining for Meaning: Harvesting Rich Veins of Meaning from Our Relationship with God, One Another, and Nature is, therefore, foundational to those that follow.
Believing that my writing from such a stance is not only important but also crucial I have searched for ways to gain more exposure. So, in cooperation with Stellar Literary Press and Media, located in San Pedro, California, I have established my own publishing company under the name JDB Publishing. I am grateful to Stellar Literary for their support and guidance. This website is a result of such consultation.
With a hearty thanksgiving to you who are expressing interest in my website and my writings, I wish you a purposeful adventure as your life progresses.
As a writer facing the prevalence of such need, I had to ask: From what stance does one address the needs of our world? What platform shall an author choose? What core values? In our highly diverse world culture, there are alternative perspectives and models, ranging from secular to religious. Within each of those categories are multiple choices. Where, then, does one begin? From what springboard does the sensitive writer begin to respond?
For me, the choice is the Judeo-Christian perspective that provides clarity regarding such substantive issues as the precious value of all creation—including human beings—joined to a conviction that every thing and every one has a purposeful destiny, and that both our value and purpose are fulfilled in a proper relationship with God, one another, and nature.
From this perspective, all my writing relates to the discovery of life’s purpose through recognizing and honoring those relationships. My first published book, Mining for Meaning: Harvesting Rich Veins of Meaning from Our Relationship with God, One Another, and Nature is, therefore, foundational to those that follow.
Believing that my writing from such a stance is not only important but also crucial I have searched for ways to gain more exposure. So, in cooperation with Stellar Literary Press and Media, located in San Pedro, California, I have established my own publishing company under the name JDB Publishing. I am grateful to Stellar Literary for their support and guidance. This website is a result of such consultation.
With a hearty thanksgiving to you who are expressing interest in my website and my writings, I wish you a purposeful adventure as your life progresses.
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