"Straight From the Heart….Born to be Me" is a testament as to how it is possible to fall into a state of bondage which kept Jim alone and in a spiritual wilderness for a long time. There are also many stories, journal entries and poems, etc., of life in general throughout 69 years of life. Most importantly, it tells of a way to gain spiritual freedom and learn how to live again. Jim says, "I am convinced that many people live in a state of some kind of bondage and it is impossible for them to break free without the help of others. There is a spiritual warfare happening all around us and, if we do not attack life as God directs us to, it is virtually a certainty that fear, bewilderment, frustration, despair can gain access to our hearts. I also believe that if you hang in there and read this book that there is hopefully a lesson to be learned in exactly how to plug up that crack. If this did not hold true I'm sure that I never would have been asked to write my story. It has been noticeable that my life changed dramatically when I learned to listen. Living in bondage is a nightmare that you can so used to that your heart knows nothing different. When you are at this pointthe help of others and God is the only way out. It is virtually impossible to run the race alone. If you walk twenty miles into a wilderness you must walk twenty miles back out. The neat part of the trip out though is that the help of God and other people can make the journey much shorter. It also holds true that you will develop some really special friendships along the way and recognize there are people all around you that are quite willing to forgive if only you ask."