The Book Journey | A Friend of the King

Long Distance … Friends Forever

My mind is filled with wonder about the day and the way the Spirit is leading me in the book adventure. Today two friends joined up with me before daylight at the Fort Smith airport, and we flew at sunrise to Cabot, an hour and twenty minutes east, for breakfast and to celebrate our friendship with Charles, enjoying our camaraderie in Christ, something we’ve been doing for almost a decade now. We usually drive to Russellville, the Cracker Barrel, which is about half way. This we do once a quarter for the love, friendship, joy, and spiritual encouragement it brings each of us. But today we flew! Friendship is such a treasure! At this moment it’s all I can think about, and I’m having trouble thinking of a segue to what’s on my heart and mind to share about the book. How about I just dive in?

The flight attendant was making her way down the aisle serving beverages, as my wife and I were returning from DFW to FSM last week. I was reading “A Friend of the King,” “David and His Mighty Men,” for the first time in months, and so engrossed that I didn’t see her standing there, smiling and looking at me. When our eyes met, she said with a smile, “Is that a good book?”

I was so shocked and surprised by her presence and the question that I smiled sheepishly, paused, and then said, “I think so!” 🙂 And that was all I intended to say.

But she lingered and wouldn’t let it go, saying, “Is that David the David of the Bible?” I looked back up at her and said, “Yes, it’s the David of the Bible.” She lingered and looked deep into my eyes as if asking, “There’s more isn’t there?” I felt like I was busted, and just came out with it, “Well, I wrote it.” “It’s my first book.” She smiled and nodded like she had won some contest of wills, as I told her the gist of the book from the table of contents.

A few minutes later I felt the Spirit impress me to sign and give her the book when I deplaned, which I did, saying, “Remember it’s a men’s book really, but several women have read it and liked it.” “If you don’t like it, you can give it to your pastor,” I said with a smile, moving on out the door to keep the line of people behind me moving down the aisle.

This funny little event gave me pause, and made me consider the question, “Is it a good book?” As I pondered the question it came to me: [1] There is plenty to be humble about. I’ll give a little more attention to the King’s English should I write again. Parts of it didn’t flow as smoothly as desired. But, [2] The Lord impressed me to write the book and gave me the message. [3] The Lord helped me as I wrote, again and again. [4] It’s about ninety percent Scripture. So, yes, I believe it is a good book that has a place in the kingdom and might be used of the Lord to awaken men to their call and purpose in life, while encouraging and equipping them to run the race with vision.

I can in good conscience champion it, and speak up for it. I see the need for it, and the good in it. That’s how the Lord is encouraging me to speak up for the book in this chapter of it’s life. Like this morning, around the breakfast table with men — friends old and new, discussing our times and what we should be doing. And how we all desire to become better friends of the King. I was pleased and gratified that the little book spoke to almost every need and issue being discussed. The LORD will speak through His Word by His Spirit, to men He chooses, and men who choose Him, causing life to flow, and fruit from His Spirit…

“… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NASB95)

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)

“to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27, NASB95)

Paul near the end of his life said, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;” (Philippians 3:10, NASB95)

Abram was told during his life, “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”” (Genesis 15:1, NIV)

A friend of the King gets the King as his friend. “Befriend the King!”

His peace [shalom, שלום] to you all!

PS While we were looking for the verse that says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” Drew found a verse that also applies to the book:

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27, NIV)

Joy! 🙂

It seems as if this book has taken over my life, at least in this season or the last few weeks. 🙂 I thought when it was published, it would be done, and I could go on to other things; things new, fun, and interesting. Well, when I think about it, this book chapter of my life is new, fun, and interesting. I would never have dreamed I would be here really!

I’m still in the first months after retiring early from my job as an American Airlines’ pilot, and entering the Psalms 23 chapter of my life. That’s what I tell my friends who ask, “What will you do?” Psalms 23 says a lot, but right up front it says, “The LORD is my Shepherd,… He leads.”

He has, and He is, and He will. So back to the book. I feel like writing it was an act of obedience. That He directed me to write, and that He helped me to write, and helped me persevere until published. So I need to do due diligence in getting the word out there about the book. Not to spend lots of money on marketing, or self promotion, or anything like that, but to humbly do what the Lord shows me to do to get it in the hands of people who could be helped, encouraged, and guided by the Scripture and related thoughts it contains.

It occurred to me recently that you might be interested in this part of the journey, the journey of writing and publishing a book, as it is happening. I’ve been humbled and touched by many friends and relatives who have received the book with enthusiasm, many having read it already and providing positive feedback. So I’ll start chronicling some of the continuing saga under the category, “The Book Journey.”

Here’s some current activity! Yesterday I headed to a local Christian radio station to arrange for a radio interview in preparation for my first book signing later this month, which I also arranged at a book store a few minutes later. That store, The Solid Rock, had sold all the books I’d left them a couple weeks ago, so I dropped off some more. While in the parking lot I headed next door to say “hello” to a good friend who is a bank president. He surprised me by asking me to sign three books he’d purchased for family members.

And so it’s going, and gone. I don’t expect too much from these type activities. They are time consuming and humbling. But humility is good. And it feels like obedience. Obedience is good. I feel the Lord gave me a small vision about the process last Sunday. It’s akin to starting a campfire, which takes small, small pieces of wood, several puffs, and patience. But soon you have a fire that roars and is self-sustaining to the point you can throw about anything on it for fuel, and it’ll keep going.

The Lord is my Shepherd; He leads…

It’s my prayer and purpose this humble writ goes out into the kingdom and world, making better friends of people, and of the King.

I sense the book is doing that for me. His shalom to you all. And His joy!

A Friend of the King

David and His Mighty Men

Category Archives: The Book Journey

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