Up and To The Right: Navigating Life's Unexpected Peaks and Valleys
"Up and To The Right" reframes our success criteria. Exploring life's inevitable rises and falls, written by the Mission Men—a group of faithful brothers who gather each Friday morning to share their journeys with raw honesty and biblical wisdom. Drawing from the biblical truth and personal testimonies of divorce, illness, career setbacks, and spiritual drought, this book reframes our understanding of success beyond worldly metrics.
The Mission Men tell their collective stories that reveal how God works through both mountain peaks and valley lows, teaching us to quiet our souls like David, remember God's faithfulness when He seems distant, and find our identity not in circumstances but in Christ. Through vulnerable storytelling and practical spiritual disciplines, readers will discover that true growth isn't a straight line upward but rather a series of death-resurrection cycles that, when viewed from eternity's perspective, reveal an unmistakable trajectory of transformation into Christ's image.
Book Outline
Introduction: ReDefining Success
Chapter 1: The Journey of Rises and Falls - Russell 2/6
Listen to the MM Group Discussion - Audio
The misconception of linear growth in life
Introduction to the "Up and to the Right" framework
How success, failure, hopes, and disappointments create our life's trajectory
Chapter 2: Understanding the Pattern of Life- Danny 2/13
The reality of peaks and valleys
How life naturally cycles through order, disorder, and reorder
Reframing our understanding of progress: death, burial, and resurrection
Chapter 3: The Anatomy of the Spiral
Recognizing when you're in a downward trajectory
Biblical study: The Psalmist's despair in Psalm 77
The physical and emotional symptoms of being in a valley
Permission to acknowledge pain and suffering
Chapter 4: The Practice of Remembering
How remembering God's faithfulness provides strength in difficult times
Creating meaningful memorials and markers of significant moments
The importance of storytelling in preserving our journey
Practical exercises for intentional remembering
Chapter 5: Transparency and Vulnerability
Breaking the masculine stereotype of emotional stoicism
The healing power of tears and emotional expression
Creating safe spaces for authentic sharing
How vulnerability connects us to others and to God
Chapter 6: Living Well in the Mystery
Learning to be comfortable with unanswered questions
The wisdom of acknowledging our limitations
The difference between being content and being complacent
Persisting in relationship with God despite uncertainty
Chapter 7: Humility in Success and Failure
The danger of pride in both the rises and falls
Self-awareness and the circle of control vs. circle of concern
How to quiet your soul and mind in times of anxiety
Finding contentment like a "weaned child"
Chapter 8: Identity Beyond Circumstances
Separating who you are from what happens to you
Finding your steady line in relationship with Christ
Moving beyond measuring success through worldly metrics
Character formation as the true measurement of growth
Chapter 9: The Power of Community
Why we need others to navigate our peaks and valleys
Creating a culture of authentic sharing
How to respond when others are vulnerable with you
Celebrating and remembering together
Chapter 10: Hope as an Anchor
Finding hope in the midst of disappointment
The difference between optimism and biblical hope
Learning to trust beyond what you can see or understand
Placing your hope in the Lord "now and forevermore"
Conclusion: The Upward Trajectory
Recognizing growth even through painful experiences
How our series of falls and rises create an overall upward path
Measuring growth by the person you're becoming
Embracing both the highs and lows as essential parts of your story
Project Timeline and Publishing Plan
Jan-Feb 2026
Initial planning: Mission Men to refine vision, target audience, and chapter assignments
Establish writing guidelines and theological foundation
Each author commits to writing one primary chapter/section and contributing stories to others
Set up shared digital workspace for collaboration
Feb-May
Authors research biblical foundations for their assigned chapters
First round of personal story collection through recorded Friday sessions
Transcribe and organize testimonies for potential inclusion
Weekly check-ins during regular Friday meetings
May
Complete first drafts of all chapters
Begin peer review process within the group
Engage professional editor for structural review
Create initial design concepts for cover and interior layout
May-June
Authors revise chapters based on peer and editorial feedback
Begin compilation of supplementary materials: discussion questions, reflection exercises
Develop marketing strategy and identify endorsement opportunities
Establish partnership with Christian publisher or prepare self-publishing plan
July
Complete second drafts with incorporated stories and testimonies
Final theological review to ensure biblical accuracy and consistency
Begin formal editing process: content, copy, and line editing
Finalize book design elements and cover artwork
Aug
Final manuscript revisions complete
Send to proofreader for final polish
Begin premarketing through Mission Men networks
Prepare website and social media presence for book launch
July-Sept
Complete final formatting and design
Submit for printing and digital conversion
Develop launch events calendar
Create promotional materials and press kits
Receive advance copies for review
Send copies to endorsers and reviewers
Finalize launch events
Begin pre-orders through website and partner channels
Sept
Official book launch with release event
Begin marketing campaign across multiple platforms
Authors available for interviews, podcasts, and speaking engagements
Implementation of small group study curriculum based on the book