Winter is here - Let me tell you about an exciting last 3 1/2 months! (part 1 of 2)

This site is primarily for family, friends, and whoever cares to read about my journey in Christ. 

Note:  If you are looking for my devotionals go to: http://www.biblefood.blogspot.com/

This blog is long, and I do hope some will still read it since I took the time to put it together.  Thanks :-)

I also have added a video blog right here for those who would rather see and hear me share about these last few months, see attached Video Blog:

As I get ready to share in this blog, I found it interesting that outside of the USA we have had the most visits here from Russia (no way! who?), Taiwan (really? who?), and Nigeria (no surprise here - lol).  I would love to know who's keeping up with my journey from Russian, Taiwan, and Nigeria :-)  Actually, anyone outside of my immediate family and friends, I would love to know who you are.

This update will be broken into two parts  as it is much longer than usual as so much has happened in  the past 4 months, but it will get you up to speed on what's happening in my journey.  This blog will cover September/October. Then, in a few days I'll blog again covering November/December.

I will share the good (mostly) and the bad and ugly some, but I won't go into too much detail since this is viewable by all, and I do want to maintain some level of privacy matters.  You can always email me directly at: biblefood@gmail.com

So here's my new update:

September

Actually, we have to briefly go back to August, as a lot of what I have to share will be connected to an event in August.  Back in August we were told by some friends to watch "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" (1 hr. 37 min. movie/documentary). 

Free on Netflix and Hulu. (http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead) and then the "Food Matters" (1 hr. 17 min. movie/documentary). 

This was the start of a change to my health and weight loss.  Joyce and I watched this in mid-August and we both decided to give it a go.  In order to change our eating habits, we had to rid the house of many processed/junk foods (some of which we may have overlooked as good foods).  So, we took about 3 weeks to slowly transition away from processed and junk foods to mainly fruits and vegetables.  During that transition, I lost 2 to 5 lbs. That was a pleasant surprise! Also, we got the book "Eat to Live" b y Dr. Fuhrman. What a great book of healthy eating and cooking! Then, on September 16th we started "officially" on our juicing, raw foods, healthy homemade soups, and salad diet.  I did the "Reboot" as it is called, and Joyce mainly did the "Eat to Live".  I really don't like calling either of them a "diet".  As diets are all those things we "try" and fail at, and are often not really healthy.  What Joyce and I did was more of a lifestyle change to healthy eating. So, that began a journey that would affect us in many areas of our life, all in a positive way.   Also, as shared previously, we had an eventful September with Joyce's birthday, my birthday and our anniversary.  September was quite an exciting month.

October
What a beautiful month and weather was great too!


Autumn tree from my back porch.  Beautiful!

By the end of October, I had lost approximately 17 lbs. - how exciting!  Also, most importantly, I have noticed that I fall asleep faster.  It used to take me a couple hours, now it's usually 5-15 minutes. I am still tired a lot, but at least I'm not dragging my butt 24/7 like I used to.  I have more energy and looking forward to that continuing to be the case. In addition to that, I have seen almost all of my digestive problems disappear.  So, I'm thrilled with the improvement in my health at the end of October with noticeable positive differences, and will share more of that in my November/December blog that I will be sharing in a few days (then I'll be caught up to the current time :-) in my blog).

Also, by the grace of God and others blessing Joyce with the airfare, Joyce was able to visit her 98-year-old grandmother.  When Joyce asked her, "Do you know who I am", she answered back, "Of course I know who you are, you're Joyce."  That made Joyce feel good, and she enjoyed her visit with her Grandmother, mother, sister, brother and other family and friends :-)

For those who think life is suppose to be a bed of roses, on the not so good side our financial situation is the worse in over a decade, really stretching us to believe God during this time. Honestly, it is quite draining emotionally, as well as financially.  I really don't care about "things" much now.  I just want to pay my bills, enjoy family, and hopefully get to see more of them and more often.  Also, most important of all to me is to live a life that pleases God, which often goes contrary to people's logic.  Being a God pleaser is so much more important than being a people pleaser.

To end this blog, on the more humorous side, here is a pic of our dog Rusty sleeping, he looks like he's dead but it's just one of his favorite sleep positions.



Rusty sleeping

Glad to be able to share with you all, your prayers are always needed and appreciated.

I'll post again in a few days, until then be blessed and be a blessing!

Whats been happening since August - Job, birthdays, anniversary, pool ministry and more!

I'm excited to be blogging here again. I was surprised that so much time has passed since the last blog.

Shortly (days) after the last blog, I got a job at a Christian bookstore in a huge mall close to where I live (20 mins.). It's not that great paying, but it's usually quite rewarding, directing people to their first Bible, a new Bible or to a good Christian book relating to their situation. The only negative is an older register and standing on a hard surface all day at work (never sitting down). I've worked outside in the past, and I have decided that mother earth gives a lot more cushion and support than paper thin carpet over concrete. My legs killed me every day until lately, now they hurt some but only after a long shift.

Also, in late August I was able to visit my daughter in Atlanta (4 1/2 hours from Charlotte) for her 26th birthday. I cannot remember the last time I actually saw her ON her birthday.

That brings us to September which was Joyce's birthday, my birthday, our anniversary and just a wonderful month.

October 1st - 3rd started with another trip to Atlanta, this time to work at a pool/billiards event (pro and amatuers)in the http://www.gospeltrickshot.org/ and http://www.bobbleball.com/ booth, and I also was able to represent my organization http://www.christianpoolplayers.com/.christianpoolplayers.com/

Thousands attended this event giving us quite a chance to minister to many.

I had the added blessing of my son being with me for one of the days of the event. He was excited to get many pro players' signatures and to get to talk to some of them. As for our booth, we had only free Christian material (except for the Bobbleball) set up in our booth and let the Lord use us in ministering to the pool world. Besides our material and gospel shows, and the Bobbleball tournament (huge success), I believe we were a good testimony of Christian unity as THREE Christian ministries worked as ONE.

Also, while there in Atlanta, I briefly was able to see our kids and grandchildren. : - )

For the last couple weeks we have enjoyed the most beautiful weather one could hope or dream for.

Rusty (our Golden Retriever) picture from one year ago. No exercise, never ran, just laid around ALL the time.

NOW - Rusty and I go for bike rides with special attachment with leash attached to the bike. He loves it and is up to 1.5 miles per ride, he's losing his extra weight and is in the best shape he's been in in years. He never knew what it was to run until our bike rides.

As we move out of October (shortly) and into November and December, my job will be busier with the holidays. I'll miss not making another trip to Africa or India this year. Once the financial breakthrough comes, I would like to do more worldwide travel. Just today, I was invited to another part of India, and have opportunities to go to Africa, Pakistan, and likely Philippines, all in 2011 or 2012 as God provides the finances for such. My ministry website is www.goproclaim.com. Please check it out.

These are exciting times we live in!!! Please keep us in prayer for our finances, and family (especially my grown daughter Christine with lupus).

God reigns in ALL our circumstances, and we shall be victorious through it all!!!

I can't wait until the next blog to share what our Lord is doing in our lives which has yet to happen : - )

* My other sites/links:

http://www.biblefood.org/ and http://www.biblefood.blogspot.com/ (Short Bible teachings)

http://www.goproclaim.com/ (My overall ministry page - links)

http://www.christianpoolplayers.com/ (Ministry to Pool Players and Nationwide network of Christians)

www.facebook.com/jim.mazzulla (best place to keep up to date with me daily)

www.twitter.com/jimmazzulla (share scriptures, good sites and short thoughts)