Author and pastor Allen A. Blyden with his inspirational book 'Tried, Tested & Tempted' that will be launched at the Breezeway of the Central Administration Complex at 5 P.M. tomorrow, Friday September 13, 2013. Photo: VINO

Allen A. Blyden believes his book 'Tried, Tested & Tempted' would be a great benefit to anyone who reads it because of the various testimonies mentioned, including his own. Photo: VINO

The 6-chapter, 128-page inspirational book will be launched at the Breezeway of the Central Administration Complex at 5 P.M. tomorrow, Friday September 13, 2013.

Noting too, that one of his motivations is to encourage people, Mr Blyden said he received the inspiration to write the book about two years now but actually only took two months to finish it, once he finally got started.

“So this book ‘Tried, Tested & Tempted’ deals with a lot of the things that we go through, whether we are being tried, whether we are being tested or being tempted and how we deal with the trials, tests and temptations that come our way.”

The man of God said the book is applicable to any one, whether young or old, rich or poor, saved or unsaved as everyone, including the successful man with money and material possessions cannot escape life’s challenges.

“I think there is a big misnomer that people who are rich and well to do in life don’t have any problems but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I have heard of so many testimonies of people who were rich, successful and they committed suicide because the pressures of life got to them and they had no avenue to turn to. One of the ways that I mentioned that we can deal with these things is for first of all to turn to God because he is our help in the time of trouble.”

However, the book teaches more than just turning to God when faced with troubles or temptations as life’s not so pleasant situations can be like recurring events that come in different forms.

“Life is full of ups and downs, hills and valleys, highs and lows, so the moment you get over something here comes something else. So it’s like a continuous series of trial and testing and temptations and you have to be able to know how to cope with these things because if you don’t you would do like some people who turn to alcohol, drugs, have sexual escapades and so on to try to deal with the problems they face,” Mr Blyden explained.

The author believes his book would be a great benefit to anyone who reads it because of the various testimonies mentioned, including his own.

Writing about being tempted, Mr Blyden said he spoke mostly about sexual immorality and drugs and noted that these were the two common problems plaguing Virgin Islands youth. Not giving away too much, Mr Blyden revealed that he was faced with both of those temptations, including the situation of being faced with the advances of a young lady when to yield would have been to sin.

He is hoping that his testimonies, along with a few of his friends as well as those from the bible, such as those of Joseph, would motivate readers to overcome their own challenges just as those real life characters in his book were able to.

“One of the things that prompted me to write the book is that you talk to people on a daily basis and sometimes you hear they are going through some things and one of the things that encourages me is when I talk to somebody and they themselves have gone through something and their testimony now encourages me to know that I am not the only person that probably lost their job, or going through financial difficulties or the only person that all sorts of bad stuff seem to be happening to me.”

Important to note, Mr Blyden reveals, us that all of the trials, tests and temptations are not designed to kill us but rather to strengthen us. “When we have storms in life and we can hold in the back of our heads that at some point this is going to be over, thanks will be fine in the end. “That is what keeps me going.”

Tried, Tested & Tempted has been published by Holy Fire Publishing of the United States of America and is already on sale on Amazon.com. The book also goes on sale at the launching tomorrow for $18 and can be bought after at the Beacon Bible Book Store. Other distributors are being sought, Mr Blyden noted.

Highlighting that the book comprises 6 chapters and 128 pages, Mr Blyden noted that it can be completely read on just one weekend.

The local author and pastor said he feels good about completing his assignment some two years after being given the inspiration but says it would make him feel much better when he hears that people have read the book and have been blessed by it.

“This is part of my Ministry of encouraging people. Like I have said, there are so many people going through so many things in life and there is sometimes no one that they can relate to but if you were in a situation and you came out of that situation and relate it to someone else as a means of encouraging that person to overcome their own situation, that gives them much more encouragement to overcome.”