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I Was Playing Checkers While God Was Playing Chess: The Power and Presence of God in My Life
James Bass’s I Was Playing Checkers While God Was Playing Chess is a raw and vulnerable memoir that chronicles the author’s journey from deep childhood trauma to spiritual awakening and redemption. Drawing on vivid metaphors from the game of chess, Bass uses each chapter to map out pivotal “moves” in his life—moments of heartbreak, divine intervention, and personal growth. Through the lens of abuse, addiction, love, and faith, Bass tells the story of how God’s unseen hand was guiding his life’s trajectory, even when he could barely keep his own head above water.
Bass’s writing isn’t polished in the traditional sense—it’s honest. Honest like a wound still healing. There’s power in that. His voice jumps off the page, not like a preacher, but like a man who’s been through the worst and is just grateful to be alive. The early chapters, especially those about his Abuelita and the horrifying abuse he endured as a child, were painful to read. But that pain is the point. You can feel his desperation and confusion, and then—slowly—his transformation. The chess metaphor could’ve easily been gimmicky, but here it’s brilliant. It gives shape to his suffering and makes it feel like maybe all our worst days aren’t just random punches from life.
Where the book really shines, though, is in the sections about Crystal—his wife, his partner, his mirror. Their love is not a fairy tale. It’s messy, cracked, and sometimes brutal. But it’s also real. Bass’s depiction of being a caregiver to someone with a severe mental illness is unflinching and brave. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. And that’s why it works. His sacrifices don’t feel like grand gestures. They feel like daily choices to love someone no matter what. That kind of love—resilient, imperfect, relentless—feels holy. And when he finally connects his childhood reading struggles to his ability to advocate for Crystal later in life? It was powerful. You can’t make that stuff up.
This isn’t a book for people looking for tidy answers or happy endings wrapped in bows. But if you’ve ever asked God “why?”, if you’ve ever looked at your life and felt like nothing made sense, or if you’ve ever wondered whether your pain had a point—this book is for you. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to know the next move. You just have to trust that the board is in the hands of a Master. I’d recommend it to anyone navigating trauma, caregiving, broken family dynamics, or just plain soul exhaustion.
Pages: 78 | ASIN :
Living Love of Christ
El Gran Intercambio (The Great Exchange) is a powerful autobiographical account of your life, vividly chronicling your spiritual, emotional, and personal journey from childhood trauma, abusive relationships, false religious systems, to divine healing and restoration. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was deeply important for me to write because it gave voice to years of silence. For so long, I carried pain that I didn’t know how to release—and writing became both a mirror and a doorway. I wanted to create a space where others who have faced similar wounds could feel seen, understood, and ultimately, offered hope. El Gran Intercambio is not just my story—it’s an invitation to anyone who has ever felt lost, broken, or deceived to experience true freedom through God’s healing power.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One key idea was the difference between religion and relationship. I had lived much of my life trying to perform for acceptance—by people, systems, and even God. I wanted to show that healing comes not from following rules, but from encountering the real, living love of Christ. I also wanted to address the generational impact of trauma, the dangers of spiritual manipulation, and the beautiful reality that we are not defined by our past—we are transformed by grace.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part was revisiting the darkest moments of my life. Writing about abuse, loss, and spiritual deception required deep emotional courage, and there were times I had to step away and allow myself to grieve again. But the most rewarding part was realizing that every page—every painful memory—had purpose. Knowing that my story could serve as a lifeline for someone else made it all worth it. Healing for me came not just through writing, but through the act of sharing.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers walk away with this truth: You are not alone, and you are not beyond restoration. No matter how far gone life may feel, there is a divine exchange waiting for you—your pain for His peace, your shame for His grace, your ashes for His beauty. Healing is possible. Freedom is real. And God has not forgotten you.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Este libro relata la vida de la autora y su lucha contra la soledad y las falsas comunidades de la iglesia. Criada por sus abuelos sin el amor de Dios, luchó por encontrar amor y conexión. Esto la llevó a Estados Unidos, donde buscó la religión para encontrar la paz. Sin embargo, los sistemas religiosos con frecuencia la alejaron de Dios. A través de sectas, falsos profetas y charlatanes, la autora enfrentó numerosos engaños y manipulaciones, pero, finalmente, encontró el camino de vuelta a casa, como el hijo pródigo, a los brazos de Dios. El relato honesto de su vida inspirará a los lectores a superar sus propias dificultades con un corazón abierto y un compromiso con Cristo.
Distractions
Focused for Purpose is a Christian inspirational guide that combines scripture, personal testimony, and spiritual coaching to help readers cultivate a mindset of intentional living for God. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was written first as a help to myself, with the hope that it would also help someone else. In all honesty, I was the focus for writing this book. In chapter five the topic was ‘Distractions,’ which are primarily designed by the enemy to pull you away or delay the God-given purpose for your life. In my book, I mentioned how the Holy Spirit guided me through the scriptures and advised me that not only will writing this book help me but anyone who reads it as well who may be battling with distractions. Let’s face it, distractions is not a new or unfamiliar territory that the enemy uses. We have all faced this struggle at some point in our lives. One of the scriptures used in the book is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: This means there is nothing new under the sun that you experience, that someone else has not gone through or will go through. I always want people to know that they are not alone on an island by themselves; and God is always ready to guide you out of whatever circumstance or situation you may find yourself in. God will provide a way of escape, but it is up to us to take it.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing to write about, I would say, is admitting to the fact that after being born-again for over fifty years, I still could have an issue with distractions. I would think after being saved for all these years I would have had this battle well fought. But let me tell you, the moment any one begins to think you have any area in your life taken care of or think that you have somehow arrived because of your many years of walking with God, let me tell you to stop right there. Never boast of where you are in your relationship with God, if you do, this may be your biggest distraction of all. The enemy (Satan) would love for us to think we got this, he wants us to relax in our prayer time, and to slack off from reading God’s Word. I always say, we need to be in the habit of repenting and asking God for forgiveness every day. There is not one day that goes by in a 24-hour period, that we do not either say, do, or think something in a way that does not meet the standards of our Holy God. The problem with some may be that they fail to be honest with God. When you fail to be honest, or come clean with God; you are then opening yourself to succumb to whatever distractions the enemy brings your way. If you cannot be honest with God in the quiet times of prayer, then you will never be free. In John 8:32, it reads, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This is one of the reasons why I give scriptures throughout my writings. Any book can be a help or an encouragement to whomever chooses to read them, but it is only the Word of God that will have the truth and the power of God’s anointing to set you free.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
In this book, I shared what I know has helped me through the years, and that is having a solid foundation in the principles and guidelines from the Word of God. This has been a bedrock for my journey as a believer of Jesus Christ. Whether you have been taught this early in life or in your later years, whenever you are a doer of God’s Word it will help you in whatever you set out to do. To be frank, nothing else can give you the direction that is needed for you to have a life of abundance where you receive the satisfaction that will last throughout your lifetime. Jesus came that we might have life and that we would have it abundantly. The key word here is ‘might,’ which means it is available but you must surrender your life to Jesus, to receive it.
Another point discussed was knowing your circle. I found this to be an important help that can have an impact on how you are influenced. Your circle can influence you in a positive or negative way. This is why you must be diligent in how you maintain the right associations that can help or hinder the outcome for what you want for your life.
I mentioned also the importance of protecting your heart, and committing your ways to the Lord. Protecting your heart is really where it all begins. Our heart is where our life is shaped, it directs our decision making. When we guard our heart by protecting what we see, hear, and allow in our thoughts, we can better control its effects before it produces wrong or negative actions.
Lastly, we must not leave God out. In Proverbs 16:3, (NLT) it reads, “Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Here, we see the importance of including God in all we do. As I mentioned in my book, there are many who care nothing about God, and have no desire to include or acknowledge Him in any of their ways, and some of them have plenty of life’s treasures, but are not satisfied nor have the peace that passes all understanding. I will be the first to tell you, that even when you commit your ways to the LORD, this is not a guarantee that everything you do will go your way, sometimes it goes the opposite of what you wanted or thought it should go. But when your trust is in the LORD, you can rest in knowing that God has your best interest in mind and will work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). Trusting God comes with a peace that the world knows nothing about nor can they take it away from you.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Focused for Purpose?
The one thing that I want readers to take away, not only from this book, Focused for Purpose, but every book I write; and that is the importance of having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ before they leave this earth. This is why I place in the back of every book, the ‘Prayer of Salvation,’ so it is available to anyone who chooses to receive Jesus Christ, but may not know how to go about it or what to say. But to answer the question regarding, Focused for Purpose – I would want readers to be clear on the reason why they were created; and that is to give God the glory with their living. When you do this, God will guide you in the direction that will lead you into fulfilling your God-given purpose.
Author Links: GoodReads
Every person at some point has dealt with distractions where it became the enemy to their focus. Distractions can become the stumbling block that prevents you from fulfilling your purpose. However, when we guard our heart, as Solomon speaks about in Proverbs 4:23, we begin to recognize the importance of what God has called us to do.
In this book, Focused for Purpose, I want every reader to know that God has already equipped you with the ability to finish the good work that He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Therefore, live your life to glorify God, and He will guide you in the direction necessary to fulfill your purpose.
Focused For Purpose
Jacqui D. Williams’ Focused for Purpose is a Christian inspirational guide that blends scripture, personal testimony, and spiritual coaching. At its heart, this book is about living intentionally for God, discovering the reason we exist, staying focused on it, and filtering distractions through the lens of faith. Each chapter feels like a heartfelt conversation, meant to help readers realign with God’s plan and rediscover their purpose with practical encouragement and biblical truths.
One aspect of Williams’ writing that stood out to me is her clarity and sincerity when addressing the concept of purpose. From the very beginning, she states it unequivocally: “Your purpose is to give God the glory.” There is no ambiguity, no unnecessary elaboration, just a direct and powerful truth. It’s a bold approach, and one that feels both honest and refreshing. Williams does not merely present abstract ideals; she offers her own experiences, including times when she was uncertain about her calling. Even in moments of confusion, she remained committed to keeping God at the center. That level of humility is deeply moving. Her reflections on individuals returning to the altar particularly resonated with me, prompting personal introspection on how easily we tend to complicate what is, at its core, a simple and profound truth.
The section on distractions resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Williams explores how effortlessly we allow people, busyness, and excessive commitments to divert our attention from what truly matters. Her candid discussion about the importance of saying “no” without guilt served as a sobering reminder of the necessity of boundaries. It was both illuminating and affirming. She effectively illustrates that distractions are not inherently negative; rather, they often reflect a misalignment of priorities. The example of Jonah powerfully underscores this idea: God did not revoke His calling despite Jonah’s initial disobedience. That message was both challenging and reassuring, reminding readers of the enduring nature of God’s purpose in our lives.
Williams speaks candidly about the significant impact our relationships have on our mindset and personal growth. Her tone is gracious and respectful, yet unmistakably firm in asserting that the people we surround ourselves with can either propel us forward or hold us back. What I found particularly compelling was her thoughtful balance between spiritual accountability and personal responsibility. She does not encourage blame, but rather urges readers to make intentional, discerning choices about their influences. Her guidance is delivered with both warmth and conviction, much like a trusted mentor offering honest insight with a genuine desire to see others succeed.
Focused for Purpose is not just for Christians trying to figure out their life’s calling. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or like they’re just spinning their wheels. I’d especially recommend it to women of faith who crave both encouragement and a nudge toward discipline. It’s a soulful, practical, deeply personal book, and it’s clear Jacqui D. Williams poured her heart into every page. If you need a reminder that your life matters and you’re made for more, this one’s worth reading.
Pages: 96 | ASIN : B0FCTHR59Z
I Was Playing Checkers While God Was Playing Chess: The Power and Presence of God in My Life
I Was Playing Checkers While God Was Playing Chess is part memoir, part testimony, and all heart. It’s the story of a man who lived through a mountain of trauma. Abuse, racism, addiction, marital struggles, and found God moving in places he didn’t expect. Every chapter uses a chess move to explain a turning point in his life, like how his grandmother giving him an encyclopedia set as a boy set the stage for him to one day decode complex psychiatric info and care for his wife. It’s deeply personal, packed with emotion, and reads like someone sitting across the table, telling you their truth.
One chapter that really hit me was “The Fork” about his abuelita. She steps in during his horrible childhood, gives him love, and literally hands him books when no one else believed in him. That whole section had me teary-eyed. It reminded me how sometimes the smallest gestures change everything. And the way he ties it back later, like decades later, to how he understood medical texts to help his wife, was amazing. That’s not just a good story. That’s fate with a plan. I could feel how much those books meant to him. It wasn’t just about reading. It was about survival.
Then there’s Crystal. She’s not just his wife. She’s a whole force of nature. That part where she tells him, “I love you for the man you’re going to become,” after he’s cheated and blown up their marriage? I had to put the book down for a second. That line wrecked me. You feel the weight of what they’ve been through, but you also feel the hope. The love between them isn’t pretty or easy, but it’s real. The mental health stuff is raw, too. He talks about psychosis, ER visits, and disappearing acts. And yet there’s faith threaded through it all, like a lifeline.
Later on, when he talks about writing his first book and speaking publicly, it’s a total shift. That’s when you realize the guy who used to think he was worthless is now lifting other people up. There’s this full-circle moment when he reconnects with an old boss who turns out to be a pastor. The way it all lines up? It’s wild. It feels earned. I could see the gears turning in his life even when he couldn’t. That made me look at my own life differently. Like maybe all this chaos has some kind of pattern.
If you’ve ever felt like you were getting hit from all sides and couldn’t see the bigger picture, this book is for you. If you’ve ever loved someone who was hard to love, or were that person yourself, this book is for you. It’s not fancy or polished. But it’s real and full of heart.
Pages: 78 | ISBN : 978-1963737240
Tough Fatherly Love
Dead Men Walking: A Stairway to Life is a raw and deeply personal appeal to Black men and their communities to rise from spiritual death into a life of purpose and redemption through Christ. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was important to write because I am tired of seeing young black men dying needlessly on the streets via homicides. This is impacting the very essence of the black family. Black Fatherlessness pandemic is real and we as a race are better than this. It’s us killing us. It is unacceptable that it’s ingrained in our culture that Black murder is normal I am on a mission to save black men and to turn this thing around. Turning them to Jesus Christ.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Jesus Christ is a chain breaker and he will change your life. He is the answer.
The book is also is an encouragement to women using the example of Priscilla as a strong woman of God modeling faith and character and training children using God given wisdom.
The importance of having a father in children’s lives versus those who don’t.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
My father gave me some tough fatherly love. When I graduated from high school, my father sat me down and said, “So, what are you going to do with yourself? I said, “I want to work in the steel mill like you.”
His response was, “I figured you wanted to be like me, but I want you better than me. Because you want to be like me, I want you out of my house now, or I arrange for you to go to college.”
I chose college. I attended Marian College a Catholic college and graduated with my BA degree. I got hired in State government and held several executive positions. My highest accomplishment was as executive director of the Medicaid Waiver program for the state of Indiana. In that position, I received a National award from the health care financing administration under President Clinton administration for my management overseeing thousands of patients receiving needed home care services. My father’s tough love caused this to happen. He wanted better for me.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Dead Men Walking: A Stairway to Life?
One thing I hope readers take away from Dead Men Walking a Stairway to Life is that Jesus provides us with a whole new way of life. He can make your life better. He is ever present.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
There is an old saying, “Enough is enough, and too much is too much.” The book was written by a Black man for a Black man. You no longer have to remain on the road of death. For a dead man fears nothing, not even death itself.
Doing without an awareness of God’s judgment and no sense of urgency to get your life right. A prayerlessness life with no worship, no fellowship, and no appetite for those things of God. A loveless life.
Love is expressed by one’s actions. The actions of a dead man is not love. God is love, and he desires your love and commitment to him. The book reveals the importance of placing God at the center of your life. God can take you from being beneath and cause you to be above. You will move from being the tail and becoming the head.
Throughout the book, Philippians 4:13 reveals, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Everything God has called me to, he gives me the strength to accomplish, no matter how difficult it is. Author Elder Walter Thomas has made it through many things in life by remembering this verse and trusting it to be true.
Changing your life not only makes you a better man but also a better husband, a better father, which results in a better family, making a better community. Families, pastors, teachers, politicians, governmental officials advocacy groups, mentors, lay individuals, and others will be able to exercise the usage of Dead Men Walking a Stairway to Life to turn this thing around.
The Great Exchange
The Great Exchange is Aneasa Perez’s deeply personal and spiritual memoir that explores her journey from trauma, deception, and religious bondage toward a more authentic relationship with God. Through candid storytelling, she walks the reader through childhood neglect in Trinidad, manipulation by false prophets, abusive relationships, and ultimately, emotional and spiritual healing. Her message is clear: God is not found in ritual or human institutions but in truth, freedom, and love. This book is not just a testimony—it’s a warning, a lament, and a triumphant cry all at once.
Reading this book felt like sitting across from someone baring their soul without a filter. Aneasa’s writing is raw and emotional, sometimes scattered, but always sincere. There’s a kind of aching in her words that hit me hard, especially when she described feeling invisible as a child, or the chilling recount of abuse cloaked in religion. Her voice is tender and broken in places, yet unwavering in its hunger for God. At times, I wished for a bit more structure, but then I realized that this is about a heart cracked wide open. And that’s what makes it stick with you.
What really struck me was her critique of religious institutions. She doesn’t just point fingers, she names names, churches, and systems that exploit the vulnerable. And yet, her goal isn’t to burn it all down. It’s to call people back to Jesus, stripped of theatrics and power games. I found myself nodding, grieving, and even angry at how often good people are led astray under the guise of “serving God.” There’s something incredibly brave in how she wrestles with guilt, shame, and the idea of divine punishment, only to find mercy waiting for her every time.
The Great Exchange is a book for those who’ve been burned by the church, but still believe in God. It’s for anyone who has loved and lost, trusted and been betrayed, and still dares to hope for healing. Aneasa Perez writes not from a pedestal, but from the trenches, and that makes her story all the more powerful. I’d recommend this to spiritual seekers, survivors of religious abuse, and anyone wondering if grace still has room for them.
Pages: 98 | ASIN : B0DKQVJS49
Hacking the Hologram: Challenging Age-Old Beliefs & Behaviors on a Journey Through the Illusions of Reality
Stephen Davis’s Hacking the Hologram is a bold and mind-bending exploration into the idea that our reality might not be real at all. Davis doesn’t attempt to prove the theory that we live in a holographic universe; instead, he walks readers through what life would mean if that theory were true. Drawing on quantum physics, spiritual philosophy, religious critique, and personal anecdotes, Davis invites us to question everything—from our sense of self to the very existence of God. It’s part science speculation, part spiritual unraveling, and part rebel manifesto.
Davis writes with the kind of no-holds-barred energy that demands attention, and I found myself nodding, frowning, and occasionally muttering, “Wait, what?” His writing is clear, but his ideas are anything but simple. He’s got guts, taking shots at organized religion, childhood trauma, and New Age optimism with the same irreverence. At times, the bluntness felt refreshing, even freeing. Still, the questions he raises—about whether our suffering has meaning, or whether God is even necessary—are real and raw. He’s not trying to impress physicists; he’s trying to wake you up.
The book sometimes drifts into a swirl of speculation that felt emotionally driven. I admire Davis’s conviction. Some arguments rely on personal pain or pop culture parallels (like The Truman Show), which can be engaging. The narrative loops through theories of simulation, critiques of the Christian God, and the mysterious Demiurge as the possible director of our lives, which is fascinating.
I think Hacking the Hologram is best suited for readers who aren’t afraid to have their worldviews shaken. If you like your spiritual inquiries laced with attitude, doubt, and a wild blend of science fiction and soul-searching, you might find this book exhilarating. For those willing to question what’s real, it’s a trip worth taking.
Pages: 205 | ASIN : B0F7GSCVWJ
LITERARY TITAN 