The Flipside

By Ricky Waller

Ricky Waller aka known as "Fat Ricky" was born July 10, 1957 in Nashville, TN. to the late Mr. James Richard and Mary Frances Waller. He was raised in Preston Taylor and attended Cohn High School where he was very active in sports and a natural with the "basketball." Ricky was destined for the PROS until he glimpsed and fell into the trap that led to a crime. After 20+ years in the life of corruption and addiction, he pleaded with the Lord for help and as expected the Lord answered in a mighty way. He does not remember the day he was captured but he does remember the day he was made free-January 31, 1992. Today, 28 years later he is still going back to the people and communities he once infiltrated to become a beacon of hope. Declaring to all who will listen especially the youth, gangs, and drug addicted that there is hope and a better way. God is the answer! He launched New Way Outreach Ministry, which you will find setting up tents and spreading the gospel of good news around the city and the nation.

Minister Waller is an active member of Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church. He is the father of 3 children, Ricky, Kristian, and Taylor. He is a brother to 5 siblings, Mary, Sandra, Frederick, Vernon, and Priscilla. He speaks fondly of his "Aunt Priscilla" as being his continual guiding light and a very powerful influence. He is also proud to have a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other relatives.

Ricky's phenomenal story has been captured and told in his autobiography book, "Still High." To purchase a copy or to book a speaking engagement please contact Ricky directly at, 615-491-5489. His story will blow you away and is a testament to God's amazing, transformation power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jul 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781490797298

Ricky Waller

Ricky Waller was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1957 at George W. Hubbard Hospital, which is now known as Nashville General at Meharry. Ricky grew up in West Nashville in the projects called Preston Taylor Homes. He lived on Fortieth and Clifton Avenue. At a young age, Ricky began playing basketball and baseball in the front yard by himself. Ricky excelled at basketball and became known as Fat Ricky due to being husky. Ricky became involved in drug dealing and using drugs, and for twenty years, he felt like he was corrupting the community. Pastor James Cooke of Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church invited Ricky several times to attend services. Pastor Cooke would find Ricky on the corner. It was years latter before Ricky would accept Pastor Cooke’s invitation. However, it wasn’t too late. Ricky went from pushing and using drugs to pushing God’s Word. Ricky has been delivered for twenty-eight years. He is determined to save a new breed of black children who are often blinded by the glamour of street life. During his journey from selling and using drugs to ministering to others about the horrors of drug addiction, Ricky never lost his basketball talents, and he was known for throwing accurate passes. The people always reminded one another how they never knew what type of pass he would throw out there. Normally, it was going to be accurate. When the time did come when he threw a bad pass, he would always say, “My fault.” And he would try not to throw that bad pass again. Yet he admits there is one pass he will never again throw to his community. What Ricky wants to instill in youth today is hope. Ricky is not afraid to go around wet faces and wet places (areas where drugs are being used) to save lives. Ricky has never forgotten the harm he brought to his community. “Until I met God, I loved heroin,” he says. Never having forgotten where he came from, today Ricky brings hope to his community and not dope. (Had it not been for God giving me the flip side, none of this would have been possible.)

Book preview

Copyright 2020 Ricky Waller.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible,

English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a

division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-9728-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-9730-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-9729-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019918280

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such

images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Trafford rev. 06/28/2022

22970.png    www.trafford.com

North America & international

toll-free: 844-688-6899 (USA & Canada)

fax: [phone]

WELCOME TO THE FLIP SIDE

1.jpg

RICKY WALLER

To the ones who hold a special place in my heart who had conversations about me—my mother, Mary F. Waller, and my aunt Priscilla Glenn. They had a joyful fight by way of a conversation they had about me being in the church or not. My mother aggressively asked a very profound question that, I found, had very good energy to it. The response of my auntie only increased the joy it brought. Of course, my mother was concerned about me being in the church with the kind of life I was living, while my auntie must have known that if anything was going to change about my life, they had to let me in. So with God using them both as a team, I became aware that there will always be a watchful eye on what I do. I will always love my mother for allowing my auntie to have favor over me ever since I was a bouncing baby boy, and my auntie’s statement to my mother Leave that boy alone is still a bell ringer to me. My mother accepted it with open arms. That was how tight they were. Many years later, when I look back, I know they were preparing me for the flip side, and God has used them to this day in that manner. It still holds good today, and it has effectively changed my life for my good as well as others’.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Have You Tried the Other Side? My Desire Is the Flip Side

Chapter 2     I’m Taking a Chance Because I Believe in the Flip Side

Chapter 3     Heading in Another Direction Guided by the Flip Side

Chapter 4     Just in Case You Get There Before I Do, Remember I’m on My Way, Examining the Flip Side

Chapter 5     Some Get There Sooner Than Others, Boldly Declaring the Power of the Flip Side

Chapter 6     No Charge, Ready to Learn about the Flip Side

Chapter 7     I Found the Real Me: Stay Humble on the Flip Side

Chapter 8     It Was Worth It Sharing with Others What’s on the Flip Side, Especially Those I Misled

Chapter 9     I’m Going Directly to Hurting People Because of The Flip Side, Never to Return

Chapter 10   The Seeds Growing in the Eyes and Ears of the Innocent: A Special Dedication to the Youth with Hope and Not Dope, the Flip Side for You Only

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This is for the few faithful people who firmly support my journey and my ministry. This is not to say there are not others because they all have value. However, I often wonder what it would have been like had I not had the support of these willing and faithful believers whom I could always count on. I am sure it is an act of God that has allowed me to continue to trust them. Some will call me up and say, I’ve got something for you. God has a faithful few who believe in the work I have been doing, who keep giving me a constant reminder in my daily walk.

• Joanne Davis & Bubba Davis

• Yolanda Barnett

• Rondell Shelton

• Terrance Hailey

• Shelia Gibson

• Pete Brown

• Pam Long

• Jerome Wilkerson

• Tessa Holloway

• Charles, a.k.a. Pooh

• Willie Holloway

• Bill Young

• Kerry Donaldson

• Mr. Lonzo

• Mrs. Lucille O’Neil

• Horace Lanier

• Mr. Bob White a.k.a Treacherous

• Lola Brown

• Renee Joseph

• Tyrone Akins (You still working for God?)

• Doug Bedford (created the book cover; contact information: 336-327-2739, [e-mail])

• Peggy Garner (album cover)

• Rhonda Nelson

• Tyrone Berry

• Ricky L

• Katresa Fizer

• Lora Keesee

• Ms. Tabitha Paris

• Ms. Lovie Micheaux

• Jackie Shivers

• Ricky & Cynthia Nelson

• Mike Chrismon

• June Bug

• Ms. Clarissa Kusi

My family as a whole made sure I stayed firm through the rough and tough times they knew I was having from time to time. Who would step up when they could at all costs? They knew I was used to having and not familiar with not having. Yet in the midst of my learning how to go without, they made me aware and reassured me that they would be right there for me as they were. Much love and big-time respect for them, who kept me rooted and grounded.

These are the ones who believed in the necessities for me to push forward and be that helper our communities desperately need. I would like to thank those I can remember. There are a host of others as well. However, I can see some walking up and willingly giving to me at any time without me even asking.

HAVING A DAUGHTER TO RAISE WITH NO

KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DO HER HAIR

A friend of mine named Angela used to do my daughter’s hair for me when she was a little baby. So when I thought about my daughter playing with the doll and wrapping the clacker balls around the doll’s hair and it going on top every time, it did not take long for me to find out this part was not for me. Every time I tried to do her hair, the clacker balls would end up on the downside. So I want to say a special thanks to Angela and her daughters, especially Christie, who did my daughter’s hair when she was a baby; Thelma, who would do her hair now; and Thamantha and Chasatie, who would look out for her as well.

It’s kind of funny looking back One day I saw my daughter playing with her doll, looking at the grip she had of the doll’s ponytail. I wondered what she was going to do. I saw her putting the clacker ball on the doll’s hair and how it all came together. Everything snapped together as she did her doll’s hair, and she was only a little girl. She was about five or six then, and she did a really good job. I sure could not do it. Had I tried, she would surely have been late for school, waiting for me to get that clacker ball to wrap around her hair. As I tried so many times, it did not take long for me to realize this was not for me, and I went and knocked on a neighbor’s door to ask for assistance, which they gave me. So every morning I would knock on Dee Dee and her mother’s door, and they would take turns doing Taylor’s hair.

Inspiration to the Reader

• I am wrecked with pain.

• I become conscious of the presence of God.

• Learning to trust him takes practice.

• Inspect oneself. God already knows everything about us anyway.

• Acknowledging our wrong is good for us because we open ourselves to a new energy that helps us change our lives. For me, I pray.

• I knew without a doubt that it was time for real action, so I prepared for God’s serious work to enter my mind.

• I did not move too fast nor too slow. I just stayed humble and was ready to go with the flow. I turned from trusting in myself to trusting and delighting in the power of God and his strength alone.

• What I didn’t know was that I was about to become a minister of the gospel. After all I’ve gone through, getting the message to others is now heavy on my mind. The list is very long concerning others in my community. I misled so many people with money, drugs, and other material things. The cost is insane, but now I am willing to pay my community back with the willingness to share my knowledge for all that nonsense, foolish, or unreasonable behavior that absolutely made no sense.

• As I continue to watch innocent, very energetic, active, and dynamic little children in my neighborhood playing, having so much fun as kids should, suddenly, here comes a shift for the worst—a community of gifted kids stripped of the quality of life that was just in reach if they just hold on tight to them yet couldn’t apply it because of the wicked schemes of the enemy that blinded and locked them up without being behind prison bars, paving the way and eventually ending up being sent there anyway. But you are that chosen generation to put it back in perspective because your life and community is truly worth it. I believe in you, just like someone believed in me. Go make it happen; only you can do it.

2.jpg

My mother

3.jpg

Aunt Priscilla

4.jpg

CHAPTER 1

Have You Tried the Other Side?

My Desire Is the Flip Side

I no longer have to wonder how long I would be free; this freedom

can be for a life time. I can’t emphasize it enough, it’s always the

same, it’s always pure. I praise God for that, there’s no need for

me to look any further. This is the greatest high of them all.

—Ricky Waller, Still High

When I wrote my autobiography, Still High, I found myself an unqualified man equipped by God to do a qualified job. Since that time, as I continued to strive on this journey, I had found my assignment to be very interesting. After seeing the struggles of others through my period of training, obedience was at the top of my list. As I continued to follow through with the order given to me by God, I kept this in my mind and my heart for three years while being convinced of the knowledge I was coming into. I found it to be most valuable, and the power of this new way of life caused me to be in a hurry to tell others that I found the answer. Even though I was in a hurry and excited about this new discovery, it wasn’t time to tell them yet. I needed to wait patiently for the manifestation of the power to effectively share with others what I had learned.

I am sure others will receive the same power (guaranteed) once they have the information, and it will no doubt turn their lives around. Some may even ask what the guarantee is. I will simply say, "The key is to stay on the flip side."

God knew I was for real. It was because I brought all my troubles with me to the other side. So when God was ready to deal with and dismiss a particular issue, I wouldn’t have to go back to get my troubles. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8, KJV). So with all that going on, I decided to recognize the importance of what bringing all my burdens really meant. So I brought all my troubles with me and did not leave one portion behind. Believe me, it was extremely heavy; however, I felt it was worth taking the chance, bringing everything to the table that was unlike him. And I knew without a doubt that when God changed it, it was done. I’d admit this was strange yet somehow much better for me. After all, that was the reason I went across to see what really happens on the other side.

I noticed something extraordinary as I continued to do everything on this new turf. The big difference for me was when following God, at that point, he never told me to stop or made me feel judged concerning my bad choices or my lifestyle, even though I expected at some point it would happen. So I kept showing up, waiting, watching, and listening. As a gambler (whether shooting dice, playing cards, or playing the numbers), learning how to wait was a process of learning the ropes and being effective. I also had a habit of believing that I’m going to win no matter what I undertook in life. That was a positive trait that had been a part of me from an early age. In spite of that, I still had a lot of bad habits. I had heard early on in my life that bad habits are hard to break. I found that to be so true. Still, I refused to turn back, even with these heavy burdens weighing down on me. I believed that I was getting stronger, even though I knew I could not really see it inwardly yet. I was really practicing what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7. For we walk by faith and not by sight.

I became extremely determined after hearing this powerful pastor named James Cooke say that God is able. I just couldn’t get that phrase out of my mind. It kept ringing in my head over and over again. It just would not go away, and still, to this day, I remember the power of it. I knew that I was going to have to try him for myself. When I heard him say that, I thought, I know that my chances ought to be much better now that I am on the other side. I faithfully and diligently pressed on with that same I’m going to win mentality, which had served me well in my life before. At that time, I did not have as much knowledge as I desired about the power of God, but the transformative power of the Word was still at work in my life. The strength I received from the Word of God through Pastor Cooke was extremely helpful to me. God knew that in spite of my inability to comprehend it all right away, I was a quick learner; and because of that, I learned how to trust in him instead of myself. (What a big relief that was!)

Then the day came when I heard Pastor Cooke teaching and preaching again with authority, unlike what I had ever seen or heard. He held his hands out as an example. Of course, I didn’t have a Bible, nor did I know anything in it. I will never forget the illustration. Picture this: In his left hand, he said, Hold on to this. And in his right hand, he said, Until you get to that. What an awesome man of God. He broke it down in such a way that it seemed a tailor-made, special message for me. That was what I got out of that message. Even though I was going to church one day a week, I continued to listen to the voice of God saying through the messenger, Hold on to this, which is the street lifestyle, and keep showing up one day a week until you get to that. So I did what he suggested. I didn’t know God at that time, so I put my full trust in Pastor Cooke and his recommendations.

Not only was it very meaningful but it also had the power to instill in me that the help I needed was on the way, and being extremely determined at that time, I knew all I had to do was wait. Let me explain the concept better. In the left hand is bondage, and in the right hand is freedom from that bondage. So I kept coming back for more and more of the necessary things I needed to break free from what had me bound, which seemed like it would be that way for a lifetime.

Soon after that, the power to change and the strength to change became more evident as I realized that a great opportunity had come my way. It was time to really check my mindset and to take a closer look at how it would be and what it would take to get to that. I didn’t break my stride. Had I not stepped out in faith, I never would have known this was available. I was experiencing and being exposed to new things during this time like the power from the Word of God. The whole arena was different and superseded anything that I had been getting over there from that bondage lifestyle. Still doing drugs, I was bold enough and fully aware that I was also practicing righteousness and seeking freedom from the drugs that was trying to destroy me. Nevertheless, every day I hoped with a sincere heart and believed without a doubt that I was going to experience being fully delivered from those extremely bad habits.

Finally, it happened. What a magnificent moment! I will never forget the day I got free. I mean, I went a whole day, twenty-four hours by choice, of not using drugs. This was when I received the evidence of the flip side. This was something that I had never experienced, and it was extremely different. It was completely amazing. It was January 31, 1992. It was a new lease on life. Let the flip side begin. What a day to remember! Although I was undergoing treatment in a specialized rehabilitation facility (which was not the reason why this was so special and monumental to me), I could have easily gotten drugs, even in there.

I had to remind myself that it was God who gave me the flip side and welcomed me to it. It was not for me to deviate or stray from what this new life was doing for me. The style was unlike anything I could match or what I had experienced previously. I wanted to make sure it worked. My job was to keep it to myself until I found out all that this process would entail before speaking a word to anyone. I knew it was worth telling and sharing with others. So I trained daily and utilized every moment. A whole day without using drugs was a reward to me. Nothing could compare to that after all I’d dealt with in life.

As I continued to collect a reward every twenty-four-hour period, I saw what God had given me. As I came out of the gate, the Lord knew that I was for real. Not only did the Lord know I was real but he also knew I was ready and that this special day would come. That was a huge turning point in my life. After all, that’s why I’m here today, declaring the truth of God’s Word and the power of the Lord to change lives in the streets, where it’s most needed. The familiar places where I dwelled, the ground of old, amazingly became a place for a new approach. It also became a place for me to exercise what I was trained to do: to help restore great communities where it seems there is no hope.

Just like anything else that has never been in existence, the flip side may be foreign to some until they get a chance to experience it for themselves. Unbeknownst, at that time, to Pastor Cooke or me, this outstanding parable God gave him was most definitely the flip side. Years later, I found out that it was in the Word of God, James 4:15. For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. The word this is what bondage is, and the word that is what freedom is, and the flip side caused it all to happen.

There are still times when I wonder if Pastor Cooke knew the profound effect he had on me. There are many times when I look back on my life and become in awe because God used the leadership of Pastor Cooke to increase my faith in him. That’s when I had to admit that I had discovered him. I found that he is merciful and kind, not to mention always on time. Let me break that down a little bit.

Pastor Cooke did extraordinary things to make sure that I would be delivered. What a fine job he performed! One day I heard him preach the Word of God once more, and it seemed that he was getting excited. He said with great authority these three words, God is able, which were his signature words. I did not have to look for anyone physically because I got it when I heard those powerful words, which no one could ever take away from me.

I also learned how to live a life away from the unique form and attractive appearance of bondage. No matter how you try to fix it, stir it up, or dispute the quality of what I have learned, this new way of life is the real deal. For example, there is an enemy. Just in case he appears, he will not be able to be effective and cause me to think twice or give way to doubt when it is already settled in my heart how my life will change and where I will get the information from. I fought diligently for this freedom and deliverance.

There were many things I did not see in the Word of God that I eventually learned, even though I did not have a Bible at that time, but the most important thing was I had an ear to hear. So I had to continue to trust in this dynamic pastor, who had up to this point never steered me wrong. I heard Pastor