Rain & Books

Rainy day.  Gonna rain through Thursday I think. Yuck.

Books now available at Jesus Book & Gift Store in West Long Branch, NJ & Iselin, NJ.  What a blessing!!  Should have books available at their Green Brook store by next week.  Praying for open doors to minister.  May you be blessed to be a blessing! rlk

NEWSBOYS CONCERT

       Yup, that's me in the middle with the Newsboys.  

SPEAKING & RACING

     My phone calls have paid off.  Calvary Chapel in Leonardo, NJ is calling back with a Sunday morning they would like me to speak with their congregation.  Small church ... maybe 15 people or so.  That is inconsequential ... it's God's open door of opportunity to minister to His people.  God is continuing to open doors slowly for me.  I shall to continue to say and do things in His name & for His glory.  Without the Lord none of this would be possible.  I am humbled at the charge to minister His word to the body of Christ.  May Your spirit flow through me when I need it most.

   Tonight Wall Stadium opens for the season.  That means we'll be in attendance each Saturday night into September, unless something else important comes up.  Ronnie "The Rocket" Mullin is our friend and the driver of the #39 Factory Stock entry.  He won the championship last season and is looking to repeat this year.  Should be exciting.  If you like local stock car racing at its best on a 3/10 mile, high banked, asphalt oval, stop by.  For all the details, check out their website at www.wallspeedwayracing.com.

THIS & THAT

I am struggling with making cold calls.  I have a plan to help me get over my disdain for making such calls.  Take them on in bite size pcs.  I have 35 more churches to call.  I suppose I get my not liking to make phone calls from my father.  In all the years I knew him he NEVER picked up the phone and called me.  Not even 1 time.  Not a big phone person.  Me neither.  I call only when I absolutely HAVE to.  I must overcome this phobia or I will miss out on viable opportunities to speak at churches.  Anyway ... life goes on.

Wall Stadium opens tomorrow evening with a full slate of stock car racing.  We'll be there supporting our friend, driver Ronnie Mullen.  We are part of his fan posse.  We all sit together and cheer Ronnie on.  Anyway, that starts tomorrow.

Newsboys Sunday night at 1st Baptist Church in Middletown, NJ.  Woohoo.  Looking forward to the MEET & GREET.  Should be awesome.  rlk

I AM MY FATHER'S SON

          I'll be stopping at a couple small Christian bookstore to see if they might be interested in carrying my books on consignment.  I haven't been up to Middletown is a little while.  Since my Dad passed away I have had no need.  When a parent dies life becomes a little bit more empty then it was before.  You'll never see that person again.  All you have are the memories shared.  Mine happen to be good memories.  Places we went, things we did together.  I am a richer person for having been my father's son.  He wasn't my best friend, nor was our relationship particularly close, but I had the ability to see him for who he was and realize that he did the best he knew how to be a father to me.  I call him my dad, but truthfully he was more of a father then a dad.  Once I left for college he really never contacted me, either by letter or phone.  Any contact we had was initiated by me and that was done out of a sense of duty.  I respected my father and credit him with teaching me, by example, how to be honest, truthful and have a high level of integrity.  At times in my adult life I failed in those areas, but when the dust settled on any given event, I always had that to fall back on.  I am my father's son and I am also, more importantly, a child of God.  rlk

BOOK READING - "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom

          Another Wednesday is upon us.  I just finished a book last night.  "Have a little faith" by Mitch Albom.  It's an interesting book that shines a light on several lives lived and how God ended up using those who put their trust in Him.  It's a pretty quick read for a book with over 200 pages.  Short chapters that flow very well.  I recommend it.  I found a few nuggets of truth that I may be able to share in my own writing.  

          I am about to start reading a book by Jeannie L titled "I'll try tomorrow".  It's a testimony of a live poorly lived that found redemption in the Lord.  I will speak more about it once I'm finished.  I have a number of books I would like to read.  Reading the right books can be a vehicle to expanding your mind.  God can be found everywhere and a statement or two in an unsuspecting book can be a wonderful blessing.  rlk

SLOW PROGESSION

Two radio interviews today.  Had a good one yesterday on iHeart radio out of Charlotte, NC.  Ran over ... 33 minutes with Arroe* Collins.  If you live in NJ, visit my website (www.breadoflifemin.net) and find out where I'll be in May for book signings.  If you do come to the store at that time, say HI and let me know you follow me on my blogs.  Things are progressing slowly.  However, I have accepted that things are right on time according to the Lord.  He knows what He's doing and has only asked me to trust Him ... and I do.  Things will take place as He wills it.  I gave my life over to Him many years ago and though I have wandered off the path a time or two, I have been led back to where I belong.  Ministering for the Lord.  May His will be done and His name be praised always. rlk

* pronounced 'Arrow'

BROKEN FOR HIS GLORY

Monday ... the start of a new week.  We're going to the Newsboys concert this coming Sunday evening.  Have VIP passes ... doing the MEET & GREET thing.  Using it as an opportunity to give my books to the group as a gift. My publicist says "maximize every contact".  That's what I'm doing.  I really believe in what I've written and what I say about Christ.  I am hoping this is an open door of opportunity that God is providing to help me become known among the body nationwide.  Not so I become famous, but so that more doors will open for me to be used to minister for the Lord.  If it happens, so be it.  If nothing comes of it, again, so be it.  May God's perfect will be done in my life.  I'm far from perfect but I serve a perfect God who loves and forgives and uses the broken things of this life to help mend lives.  I am humbled by the charge by God to minister in any way for His glory.  Have a super blessed day!!  rlk

GO & SIN NO MORE

          Easter is a most blessed time for the believer.  Resurrection day.  It commemorates the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God to new life.  In doing so He conquered death and the grave, thus making a way for us to enter into heaven.  It's through faith and faith alone that we are able to enter into a personal relationship with our God. It's through that relationship we learn more about our Heavenly Father; who He is and who we are IN Him.  We are His children.  Cleansed of our sins by the blood Christ shed on the cross.  Enjoy this most blessed weekend and rejoice in the fact that if you have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you are free from the burden of past sins.  Now go and sin no more.  rlk

         

MAUNDY THURSDAY

For orthodox churches across the world it is Maundy Thursday; the Last Supper and the washing of the feet as found in John 13:4-34.  It was fairly common in Jesus day to wash the feet of a guest in your home when he arrives.  The wearing of sandals and the dusty roads that folks travelled on foot made this a hospitable practice. Jesus washed the disciples feet for a different reason.  He did it as an act of servitude and humility.  It was meant as an example to his followers to serve one another in a spirit of humbleness.  We have gotten far away from the sentiment of the day.  Today there is infighting and divisiveness within the body of Christ that would have infuriated the Apostle Paul.  We're making the devil's job a whole lot easier as we stunt our effectiveness as ambassadors of Christ by our insubordinate attitude to the things of God.  Let us listen to the words of Christ and then do them so the whole world may know that God lives and loves them.  rlk

BELIEVING IS SEEING

          My publicist has gotten me 8 radio interviews from across the country in just the first 2 wks of a 12 wk publicity campaign.  That is awesome!!  God is at work.  Today I must continue to call churches.  May God bless my efforts.  

          We are going to see Heaven is Real tomorrow evening.  Looking forward to it.  It's a true story of a Pastor and his family whose little boy has a near death experience and visits heaven.  I'm not real sure how I feel about God revealing things of that nature through man, but I go with an open mind.  All things are possible to them that believe (Mark 9:23).  Have a super blessed day!! rlk

GOD'S NOT DEAD!!

     My Iselin trip was a smashing success.  I secured another book signing event and they took every book I was carrying in my trunk and placed them in a prominent display right inside the front door.  So my book tour is complete.  West Long Branch on May 10th, Green Brook on May 17th & Iselin on May 31st.  Check my website (www.breadoflifemin.net) for details.  

     Saw God's Not Dead last night.  Very solid Christian movie.  Strong message.  Much better than Noah.  Noah was a Hollywood movie that took WAY too much theatrical license.  It only faintly resembled the actual account in the Bible (It's in Genesis ... you should read it.)  God's Not Dead dealt with the issue of God's existence and did an excellent job laying out the message.  I understand some atheists are upset about this movie.  Now they may know how Christians feel when our beliefs are ridiculed.  This movie confronted the issue in a class setting and there was no ridicule involved from the Christian side of things.  The professor was sarcastic and insulting.  Just what you would expect from someone who didn't understand.  Actually, some Christians become atheists because things don't go the way they want them to or think they should go.  That is precisely what happened with this professor.  As you understand the way things work with God more and more you begin to accept that you don't understand and may never, but you also understand that God loves you and knows what is best for you all the time.  Surrender is a difficult thing for some folks, but it is exactly what is required to serve God.  Have a super blessed day!  rlk

SLOW PROGRESS

Today's the day I travel to Iselin to the Jesus Book & Gift Store there.  I will pin down the time and date for the book signing there.  Progress is slow, but there is movement.  If you watch a turtle long enough you see movement as well.  I remind myself constantly that God's timing is nothing like ours.  We want to bolt ahead of the pack and do do do.  But God knows better and I know that, so I bide my time doing what I can at the home front until the doors begin to open.  I know I will be ready, cuz I have a passion and drive to touch lives for Christ.  He doesn't NEED me, but rather has chosen to use me in spite of myself.  I am nobody's champion, but God uses the lowly of this world to do that which needs to be done.  I seek no accolades, fame or fortune; I only seek to do the will of the Father.  The wreckage that is my past life is behind me, never to be brought before me again.  God will see to that.  And it's the same for you as well.  Have a super blessed day!  rlk

NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

Saturday has arrived. 65 degrees and sunny.  Niiiiice!!  Pups are lolling in the sun outside.  I am indoors writing ... what else is new?  Formulating new concept for Obedience book.  Not liking original direction.  Doing some digging online.  Looking for interesting angle.  May have found it.  Not divulging it yet.  Will at some point.  Have a super blessed weekend!! rlk

HERE'S WHAT'S NEXT

       Friday is here once again.  The Devils didn't make the playoffs for the second year in a row (NHL - NJ DEVILS; ICE HOCKEY).  We're going to their game against the Islanders tonight in Newark.  Last game is against Boston Sunday afternoon.  Couldn't get tickets.  So the long season winds to a close.  I know the players are very disappointed.  Us too.  Oh well, baseball is next. Go Yankees!!

       Faith and patience go hand in hand.  Our faith isn't supposed to wane the longer things take to come to fruition.  I've been praying for open doors either on the job front or on the ministry front and nothing of any major significance is happening yet.  I know God won't fail me or forsake me.  I trust Him to provide for and sustain me.  So what's the problem?  My humanness.  I get in the way of what God's trying to do.  I am trying to do that which I feel I must do to achieve what I believe God wants me to do.  I am working hard at not getting ahead of Him.  So far, so good.  The next step is my least favorite one ... cold phone calls.  Yuck.  But they must be done if I have any chance of speaking at churches.  Now that I'm no longer coughing my head off, I can start making my calls.  Today is the start.  Go get 'em Tiger.  rlk

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR

       Here we are ... another Thursday.  My virtual book tour is being prepared for me.  I've written a few pieces and written answers to blog interview questions. My 3rd book will be highlighted on a certain day.  It will be reviewed and I will be able to copy and paste whatever is said on this virtual tour wherever I want as a means of marketing the book further.  A lull with interviews for the moment.  A woman from AZ is trying to secure a date to interview me for her Sunday radio program.  Nice.  30 minutes live.  Once my cough is completely gone I can start calling churches in the attempt to secure speaking engagements.  God has a plan.  I'm awaiting open doors.  rlk

INDWELT BY GOD

Nearly all better. Yeah!  I hate to be sick. Not that I know anyone who likes it.  Anyway ...

       Did you know that our lives are not our own?  Once we enter into the family of God we are His child and we are never alone.  His spirit now dwells within us.  So the next time you wonder where God has gone, know that He hasn't gone anywhere ... He is still right inside you in the form of the Holy Spirit.  How cool is that?  Got bunches to catch up on today.  Have a super blessed day!! rlk

SICKNESS PART TRE'

Still not 100% but doing better today.  My whole schedule has been turned upside down due to illness.  Bummer.  Gonna try to get some things done with my writing today.  Money is becoming a mild concern.  I will start calling churches I sent the mailings to in 2 days, giving me a chance to feel all better.  I have 2 more review copies of my 3rd book to mail out.  Perhaps a book review will come of it.  No interview this time.  Gotta run ... much to do and don't feel like doing it.  Have a super blessed day!! rlk

SICKNESS PART DEAUX

       Still battling whatever has we under the weather.  Had to postpone my trip to Jesus Book & Gift in Iselin, NJ today.  Not sure what I have.  Not flu I don't think.  Could be allergies, but it's pretty severe for allergies.  Could be mild form of flu since I DID get the shot a few months back.  Who knows.  This too shall pass.  You just take want you can, pray for a healing touch and keep moving.  

       Have done 2 radio interviews re: me 3rd book already.  A 3rd is scheduled for a couple Saturdays from now.  A Chief US News corespondent asked my publicist for a couple of my book.  This person, located in New Delhi, India, is an interesting contact.  We'll see what happens with all that.  rlk

SICKNESS

       Glad I got my flu shot.  I shudder to think how I would feel if I didn't.  I feel yucky ... but not as bad as some friends of mine who never got around to getting their shot.  They've missed 3 days of work and counting.  Sickness inflicts us all from time to time.  We either take over the counter meds or see a doctor and take prescription meds and ride it out, all the while asking God for His healing touch.  Sickness is part of the fallen world we live in.  Everyone gets sick from time to time.  Even if you take really good care of yourself you will get sick, only perhaps to a lesser extent.  As the saying goes: 'this too shall pass' ... and it will.  Before we know it we are back on our feet running ever which way to do those things that must be done.  But for this weekend, we will do as little as possible and rest up for the new week.  Be well ... rlk

BOOK SIGNING TOUR is coming!!!

You need to check out my web site @ breadoflifemin.net ... go to my scheduled events page to see where I'm doing book signings.  I have a 3 store tour coming up in May with two dates confirmed and one pending.  They will be at the 3 Jesus Book & Gift Stores in West Long Branch, Green Brook & Iselin, NJ.  I'm excited to be going there and hope to meet many brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Book sales will come, I just want to intermingle with people and try to be a blessing to someone.  Please pray that things go according to God's will for those days.  Thanx.  Have a super blessed day!! rlk

OBEYING GOD

      I have many ideas jotted down for future books.  One is STARK RAVING OBEDIENCE.  I believe I will work on that one next.  Obeying God is something that is critical in the life of a Christian.  First we must know Him, I mean really know Him.  Read the word.  Find a spiritual mentor, someone who is older than you in the Lord and tap into his knowledge and wisdom.  Pray for wisdom and discernment.  Seek the will of God.  Listen more than you speak, for we learn nothing new when we speak.  Reflect on the goodness and greatness of God.  Study creation about you and marvel at its majesty.  God wants to bless you, not simply so you are blessed, but so you can also be a blessing.  rlk

BOOK SIGNINGS COMING

I will be signing books in 3 different Jesus Book & Gift Stores sometime in May.  The details still have to be nailed down, but this will constitute a mini book signing tour that will touch central, north and northwest New Jersey.  So if you are reading this and live in the West Long Branch, Green Brook or Iselin areas of NJ, come and see me.  Get yourself one or all of my books and get them signed by me.  I'd love to meet you.

My publicity campaign is ramping up.  3 radio interviews are already scheduled and we're only in the first week of a 12 week campaign.  This is getting exciting.  I will be listing when and where you can hear my interviews just in case you happen to be in the listening area.

Tomorrow at 1:30 EST, or 11:30 MST, I will be live on the Bill Martinez Show from California.  I did an interview with Bill last fall for my first book, There's No McDonald's in Heaven: Waiting on God. He's invited me back.