If your end goal is market appreciation and you are working with a short term time frame, you may be in for a ride awakening when your property drops tens of thousands in a few months.

Awaken the Giant Within2.  

Most investors do the opposite, but the very best investors apply this concept religiously.  

General race relations in the United States and other issues that don't directly relate to real estate discussions will be removed, just as will political discussions, religious discussions, and other sensitive issues that don't directly deal with real estate.  

Books suggestions to start are: "miracle morning", "awaken giant within".This should give you a head start. 

I've been reading the forums and listening to the biggerpockets podcasts religiously and have now come to the point where I need some advice.

I'm not a religious scholar, anything I say can and should be taken up with your/his preferred scholar of their faith, as well as with God directly, to validate that it will not send them directly to hell.

They weren't able to use traditional financing (religious purposes), so I wanted to figure out a way for us both to be happy.

Chalk it up to folks of the local religious persuasion being naive to certain sinful substances and confusing them with other things.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/storeFrom more of the development and attitude aspect, below are  a couple I'd recommend: The One Thing Zero to One 7 Habits of Highly Effective People   How to Win Friends and Influence People Awaken the Giant Within How to Stop Worrying and Start Living 10XGrit