NOVI, Mich. (AP) _ Week by week, the wives of NFL players watch their husbands take their lumps in the fight for a win.  This week, Detroit Lions wives and other members of the group Off The Field go shopping to make sure lumps of coal don't greet needy children this holiday season.

It's the third year for the charity project called Dream Drive, sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Sam's Club retail chain, part of Benton, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

In southeastern Michigan, the shopping event takes place Thursday at a Sam's Club in Novi.
The Salvation Army is choosing about 10 Detroit-area families for aid. Other NFL cities participating in Dream Drive are Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami and Phoenix.

Al Spinks goes from businessman to minister to author


Lonal X. Robinson
The Houston Sun

It is not often you speak with a stranger and they make an impact on your life.  They say the right words to you and you take a step back and quietly thank G-d for sending the messenger.  Life is beautiful and even better when you decide if you decide to have a relationship with the higher power. some days I get it; and other days I am just as lost as the next person, but my mother taught me that I can always rely on God.  I know He is called by many names and I write this with no disrespect to any other religions.  My readers may be, but trust me, it is all about the message.

I have interviewed many people in my young tenure but none has quite moved me to want to revaluate my personal oh so personal relationship with G-d.  I mean after I hung up the phone with a Mr. Al spinks I called my mother and told her that G-d knew what I needed to hear and this interview about Spinks’ newly published book, “The 3 R’s of spiritual Growth: How To Walk The spiritual Truth” was right on time.

Spinks has been an united states Marine Corps officer, a naval Flight officer eA-e6 Intruder (flew dozens of aircraft carrier based missions), us navy aboard nuclear submarines, and earned a Bs in Aerospace from the University of Texas in Austin.  He worked for IBM as a marketing representative, for Mainframe Computers, as an entrepreneur for 20+ years of Raynor, Inc. which was included in the 1995 Inc. Magazine 500 fastest growing companies.  Spinks was Chairman of the Board of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is also a motivational speaker and a licensed minister.  In his personal life, he been married and divorced and remarried, now a self-published author, who has accomplished all this plus more at the tender age of sixty-one.

The Chicago native has been living in Houston since 1978.  He gives his successes, struggles, and praises to God.  He is a Christian, not by trade, but by faith and is not only sharing but teaching individuals how to have a better relationship with G-d through his book.  The 3R’s of spiritual Growth: How to Walk the spiritual Truth is only a 150 pages long and can be found at www.barnes&nobles.com, www.amazon.com, and on his site www.asapresents.com.

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“I want the readers of my book to learn how to rely on God and develop a relationship with him because it will help in other relationships with people from a day to day life” expressed Spinks.  “I expect them to understand no matter where they are in life, being a CEO or in prison, they can live a life with more abundance, with peace, power, and purpose.”  He continued, "I wrote The 3 R’s of spiritual Growth: How to Walk the spiritual Truth because I had to learn how to develop a relationship with God and it has increased my joy, happiness, wellness, spiritual understanding, and knowledge about things I can change and what I cannot change”.  “It is not about any particular religion, but I am a Christian,” said Spinks.

“I didn’t write this book to tell people how to live their life, but to help them keep a deeper connection with God,” said Spinks.  “Take John 10:10- 11 one of favorite scriptures says, “'The thief only comes to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full'.  And it goes on to say, “'I am a good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep,'” stated Spinks.  “This is for those who were brought up in the church and those who have not been brought up in the church. I believe I have some wisdom because I have had many exceptionally different life experiences from being at the lowest to knowing what success is.  If you make God number one in your life, he will take care of all your light work,” said Spinks.

With those words, you pretty much get the gist of what The 3 R’s of spiritual Growth: How to Walk the spiritual Truth is about. I haven’t received my autographed copy just yet for my online preview.  The 3 R’s are: Recognizing God’s presence in your life, Reconciling your life to Him, and Reconnecting with every area of your life as you rely on your faith in Him.  Spinks has a degree in theology from the College of Biblical studies in Houston, Texas and two of his other favorite scriptures are Matthew 34 and Psalms 139.  He volunteers at the star of Hope Mission and is a minister of Greater St. Matthews in Hitchcock, Texas. Rev. L. Williams Randle is the pastor of the church.

All in all, I believe the book The 3 R’s of spiritual Growth: How to Walk the spiritual Truth would be a perfect little stocking stuffer for your loved ones from what I have read.  The retail price is $12.99 and it is in print, but you must first order from one of those websites stated in the article to get a copy.  The message is plain, clear, and simple.  Spinks has lived a pretty complete life and is giving back some of the messages he has received from God through his book while living, achieving and failing in life while keeping God the head of his life.  He was kind of enough to write it down in a brief easy read so that you may one day, who knows become the messenger.