Why Not Me!: Find the Courage to Change the Definition of Your Life

By Doug Pollock and Kristin Pollock

FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH...AND BEYOND! 

In Why Not Me!, Doug Pollock shares his story of being a drug addict and dealer whose time in prison transformed his mindset and turned around his life. It's a no-holds-barred look at a life gone wrong and the several defining moments that turned it into one of purpose, hope, and success

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: May 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685563899

Doug Pollock

The founders of "Your New Day with Doug and Kristin Pollock" have a passion for inspiring you to find new hope through the discovery of your life's defining moments. They know that the lessons learned from those moments will help you make changes in your life that you have never been able to make before-and they provide speaking events, workshops, two-day encounters, and half-day interventions to provide the coaching and guidance you need.Doug, Kristin, and their children live and love in West Monroe, Louisiana.Learn more at www.yournewday.us.

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Why Not Me!

Find the COurage to Change the Definition of Your Life

Doug Pollock

Trilogy Christian Publishers

TUSTIN, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Why Not Me!

Trilogy Christian Publishers A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2022 by Doug Pollock

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from the author. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Cover design by Jeff Summers

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 978-1-68556-388-2

E-ISBN: 978-1-68556-389-9

Dedication

To my late friend, Dennis Washington, who I met while I was in prison. I believe that the man you were when you came to prison was nothing like the man you were when you left prison. I will honor your memory and good name all the days of my life.

To every one of you hanging on to the hope that sets you free. Don’t let go!

Acknowledgements

It is my belief that our lives are comprised of our defining moments. Some are obvious, others maybe not so much. As I have had the privilege of going back and reviewing many of those defining moments, I realized that I was living with the wrong definition of myself because I did not know who I was created to be.

The good news is that there were many people who chose to see me, through the eyes of faith, as the person I would become if I could change my self-belief. These people chose to believe in me when I couldn’t believe in myself, which is a beautiful illustration of God’s goodness and mercy.

To Mrs. Waters, my tenth-grade English teacher; Mr. Carl Morrow, my adult Sunday school teacher in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Michael Robison and Darla O’Connor, who stood by me through my incarceration—you are all examples of people who may never know the outcome of my life this side of eternity but were instrumental in my life.

Then there are other people who kept believing in me and even poured of themselves into my life to squeeze out more of what they knew was in me. Kathy Biedenharn and Ricky Banks of City of Faith are two of these people. Kathy personally took me to job interviews, and after I’d get a job and realize it wasn’t for me, she said, Well, where should we try next?

To Corodney Specks, Angela Matthews, Dr. Susan Tucker, and Warden Batson—while I was in prison, you treated me with kindness and respect in an environment where it’s about breaking you down in order to teach you a lesson. Even though the back of every shirt I wore was labeled DOC# 319754, I had chosen to carry myself like I was not a prisoner, and I truly believe each of you secretly hoped, and maybe even knew, that my prisoner number did not have the power to define who I was.

To Tony Gilley, an owner and operator of multiple McDonald’s, and my supervisors, Jennifer and Darren—I have realized you had a plan to train and promote me, and the time that I worked for you was so monumental in my transition from prison to the free world.

To my mentor and friend, Dr. Kevin Finley—you opened a door and gave me an invitation to join you on a journey of transformation to become a man who would lead a family, guide multiple businesses, and have a heart and mind that would become more and more in sync with God’s opinion of me.

Let me not forget Mr. Danny Prince and the great trust he extended to me from the very beginning. I will ever be grateful for the love of a Christian businessman who changed the course of my life forever.

Last but most important are my wife and my kids. You allow me to be the most important person in this world to you. I daily walk out what I believe is the greatest blessing ever in being husband, daddy, best friend, coach, teacher, and any other hat I get to wear for you. Together, we are building one defining moment after another that will carry a legacy to last many lifetimes.

What They’re Saying About

Why Not Me!

Very rarely does a person come along whose past life was filled with every kind of self-destructive behavior that can be imagined, yet somehow turns their life around from a place of hopelessness and prison to a place of peace and freedom.

Doug Pollock is one such person. In Why Not Me!, Doug begins by giving us one defining moment after another that led him to addictions, convictions, and a future destined to be spent imprisoned spiritually, mentally, and physically.

He then goes on to tell the most inspiring part of his life and journey. For the past eleven years, I have been privileged to be a part of that, counseling and mentoring Doug along the way. I can attest that when you read the second half of his book, though it may seem hard to believe, it’s all true! I was there and have seen, with my own eyes, God’s favor and abundant blessings that have completely changed the course of Doug’s life.

No matter where you have been or what you have done, no matter where you are right now, you will be truly inspired to take a look at your own life and, like Doug, say, Why not me!

—Dr. Kevin J. Finley

DDS, West Monroe, LA

Reading about a man who was sentenced to hard labor, forgotten and misplaced by society, and branded a criminal and dealer only to become a leader and healer is a story we do not often hear. We are taught that these men who involve themselves with those people are not fit for polite society, and they do not deserve our time, effort, or energy.

Yet despite stumbling time and again, and despite a life often characterized by missing the mark, Doug Pollock sought forgiveness, compassion, and a new beginning. Ultimately, he transformed himself into the man of character and compassion he was always meant to be.

The life story of Doug Pollock is one of true redemption.

—Michael B. Wright, MD

Psychiatrist and medical director, Archer Institute Behavioral Health Unit, Lake Charles, LA

This book is an exciting pathway of how God’s power and grace can take a broken and hopeless case by the world’s standards and turn him into a successful, humble leader—one that not only gets his own life on track but devotes his whole career to robbing back from the enemy of addiction.

I’ve watched Doug from the day he got out of prison and walked into a halfway house, and then rose from manager at McDonald’s to starting a rehab from nothing. I was there when he met his wife and had his kids. He has held true to his recovery and beliefs and is an inspiration to all who are hopeless as well as to businessmen who feel stalled. Doug has stayed clean-shaven, positive, energetic, and always has a smile on his face, even in the tough times of life.

I endorse Why Not Me! because I see a person sitting in jail having no hope reading this book and sparking a belief in a God who has no limits. I believe it can be a tool to bring new drive to a businessman or a father ready to give up and walk away from it all. This book is entertaining, practical, and divinely inspired.

PS: I don’t quite understand how he got it into a PG version. I can’t wait to see the R-rated sequel.

—Donnie Williams

President, DRP Masonry, LLC, Monroe, LA

When I first started reading Why Not Me!, I had initially thought that I would just skim through it for a few minutes and then come back to it later. After nearly two hours, I realized that I had been completely immersed in the story. In short, Doug Pollock’s book is compelling, interesting, and quite insightful. The clarity of expression coupled with the depth of thought make for an easy read that, paradoxically, leads to very deep contemplation.

Going further, Doug shows how the work of God can open our hearts to achieve a sense of purpose, peace, and serenity. He provides a story that shows how even the most difficult of life’s circumstances can, oddly enough, be our most rewarding experiences; in adversity, we can find ourselves, and we can find purpose.

Doug shares how his marital journey with his wife, Kristin, has provided a multidimensional view of life that goes well beyond that of an individual perspective. Together, they demonstrate how a Scripture-based walk through life can provide an enormous sense of realization and belonging. Their story provides enrichment toward a life of quality, happiness, and hope that is inspiring to anyone who considers their message.

—Robert D. Hanser, PhD

Professor and clinician, West Monroe, LA

In his book Why Not Me!, my dear friend Doug Pollock delivers a true testament of God’s heart. He invites you into a world of destruction, lies, and chaos, one where lives and destinies are on the brink of despair and disaster…but God! He makes a way!

A godly man with passions like yours, Doug lives daily by the creed, Why not me! His desire is to see people transformed by God’s great redeeming love, and this book was birthed out of that desire. Doug has an unshakeable and undeniable trust in God’s plan for his life—and yours.

You will be left saying, I have to have more when you finish this poignant and exceptional book. Journey with Doug and his lovely wife, Kristin, as they walk through tremendous, heart-wrenching situations and see how their God answers. You, too, can say, Why not me!

—Teresa Groce

Former host of the television program

Designed For Destiny, West Monroe, LA

Contents

Foreword xv

Prologue: Where Success Begins xvii

Chapter 1. Doug Pollock’s Long Day Off 1

Chapter 2. Set Up and Sent Down 26

Chapter 3. Stuck on Stupid 53

Chapter 4. Bottoming Out 81

Chapter 5. Nowhere To Go But Up 110

Chapter 6. Free At Last—Or Was I? 144

Chapter 7. I Finally Found It 166

Chapter 8. Love, Marriage—and Secrets Exposed 197

Chapter 9. Finding your New Day 225

Chapter 10. Defining Moments and a New

New Day 254

Foreword

Why Not Me! is not only a great title, but it is also a revelation most of us never recognize during the course of our lives. This is often because so many of us tend to think too little of ourselves, our lives, and our purpose. As a pastor and teacher of the Bible for over two decades, I would strongly say that this lack of purpose in our lives flows out of a predominately incorrect viewpoint of God’s love and desires for His creation.

In this captivating, life-changing, tell-all book, my dear friend, Doug Pollock, shares his story. It’s a tale of brokenness, pain, tragedy, bankruptcy, prison, conversion, restoration, purpose, and so much more.

This is a story I personally know because I was there through much of his journey. Doug and I have been through the valleys and mountaintops of life. I have watched as a friend, a supporter, and a confidant as Doug’s life transformed. This story is book-worthy, movie-worthy, and your-life-worthy. You need to hear it, digest it, believe it, and receive it for yourself.

Regardless of your view, this book is going to force you to ask yourself, Why not me? regarding God’s purposes, will, and destiny for you, and exclaim, like Doug so often did, Why not me! You will be encouraged, inspired, and astonished by all God can and will do in your life.

Doug’s story is sincere, compelling, raw, and riveting. Even more, this book will challenge you and prayerfully transform you. I encourage you to read it and then proclaim, Why not me!

What do you have to lose? Better yet, what do you have to gain?

—John Skipworth

Lead pastor of Oaks Church, Monroe, Louisiana

Prologue

Where Success Begins

The day I went to court for my final hearing, I had a pretty good idea of what was about to take place.

That’s probably why what happened next was such a surprise.

The lights in the courtroom were dim, casting a soft, dreary glow over the dark woodgrains of the desks, rails, and the bench behind which sat the older, salt-and-pepper-haired judge who was about to hand down my sentence. Others were there: the attorneys, the bailiff, and those waiting to be sentenced after me. But it was as if the black-robed judge and I were the only people there. I had tunnel vision, and everyone else on the periphery was blurry and, therefore, rendered unimportant.

I shuffled, causing the shackles around my feet to jangle. I must’ve surely cast a striking picture, standing there handcuffed and wearing the familiar orange jumpsuit of the incarcerated.

I knew it had already been determined that if I waived my rights to a trial and pled guilty, all but one of the charges against me were going to be dropped. That would reduce my thirty-year sentence to twenty, with the first ten years spent in prison before, should all go well, the rest of the term was served out on parole.

Never in my life did I think I would be so willing to accept a fate of spending the next decade behind bars. Several months earlier, I’d told my attorney I wasn’t taking a two-year sentence, much less a twenty-year term. That obviously didn’t happen.

I guess that was understandable considering why I was arrested: possession of cocaine, possession of benzodiazepines (a depressant like Xanax or Valium), possession of gamma hydroxybutyrate (better known as GHB, another depressant), and possession of marijuana, all with the intent to distribute. It wasn’t the first time I’d been busted, but the fact that I was done in by a reverse sting operation, one where the people I bought drugs from ratted on me, especially sucked. When they insisted we meet at my business, I agreed to do it. Normally, to protect myself, I met with someone at their house.

But I didn’t do it that way, it was stupid, and now I was getting ready to pay for it.

Dearly.

Yet when the judge declared my sentence, the very one I knew was coming, I suddenly felt as though I was having an out-of-body experience. I was locked in to what the judge was saying, but I was also swept away as some sort of strange, new courage penetrated my being, entered my heart.

I realized this wasn’t the end. It was something else entirely.

A new beginning.

Okay, I said quietly to myself. This is gonna be okay.

I didn’t know at all what okay actually meant. I just knew the dude had given me a twenty-year sentence, and I was good. I wasn’t sad or depressed or tearful. I had a peace that something was going to come out of it all.

By then, I had been reading the Bible for a while, and I was definitely familiar with that passage in Philippians about the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. But at that moment, I think it was also a relief that the sentencing was over. I knew my fate, and I had accepted it.

A huge weight had been removed from my shoulders and my mind. It was totally unexpected.

The judge read his final statement confirming that I hadn’t been coerced or promised anything in return for the plea bargain, then asked me if I had anything to say.

Who in the world would have anything to say out loud after that besides ouch? I thought.

But I did have something to say. Actually, I told him I had two things to say.

You just gave me a twenty-year sentence. I’m going to be sent to the Louisiana Department of Corrections to serve my time doing hard labor, I began respectfully. I am going to prison, but I’m not going to be serving time. That time is going to serve me. I’m not going to waste one single day while I’m there, and I will make the most of every opportunity. I am going to learn all that I can and be a success story for you.

The judge looked at me, chuckled, and said, Thanks, Mr. Pollock, as he waved for me to be escorted out of the court.

I still have one more thing I wanted to say, I politely reminded him, then continued. Not only am I going to prison to not serve time but for time to serve me, but I’m going to spend every day I’m there trying to figure out how to get out of this twenty-year sentence.

He did a lot more than chuckle at that. It was a full-on belly laugh. Good luck! he declared.

At that moment, I believed I could have a twenty-year prison sentence and still be successful. It was there that I began a journey of challenging the normal thought processes that saw problems and difficulties as obstacles, and I shifted my thinking to see them as opportunities and blessings.

It wasn’t cockiness. It wasn’t arrogance. It wasn’t even being naïve. It was the start of a mindset change—one that would end up carrying me for years to come and ultimately change my life.

Most people would readily agree that twenty years of hard labor is anything but an opportunity, let alone a blessing. But people living at varying levels of success know that they had to say yes to things that are hard to do. Yes to things that would stretch them and their minds to find solutions buried deep within them.

I have come to understand that real success is not measured by a big office or a hefty salary (the result or the outcome), but in the decisions and the actions that follow as you face situations that are difficult and out of the norm.

Success starts when you see the obstacle as an opportunity, and it develops as you move toward the destiny before you.

Chapter 1

Doug Pollock’s Long Day Off

I wish I could tell you that the next ten years of my life were easy. I certainly can’t say that. But I can say that those ten years were not only some of the best of my life up to that point; they were also the years that began to shape me into a person I never knew existed.

Up until then, the person I’d always known was pretty much a mess.

Oh, I was smart. I was in all the advanced or gifted classes in school. But my high school principal nailed it when he said, You know who you remind me of? Ferris Bueller. You’re smart enough to excel academically but cunning enough to get around the fringes of what you’re supposed to do, for the most part, without getting caught.

He was right about that—but unlike Ferris and his fictional day off, I rarely stopped. By then, I’d been using and dealing for a long time. In junior high, I was kicked out