It's a busy time for gospel megastar KIRK FRANKLIN. Here we publish an extract from his book Church Boy.

The song "Blessing In The Storm" is one God gave me for the new album. It says, "When I cannot hear a melody and I can't feel the sparrows sing..." Instead of saying, "feel a melody" and "hear the sparrows sing," it's the other way around. That's different. Normally we only hear a sparrow's song; we don't feel it, but that's the way it came to me. The line after that says, "There's a secret place that's full of grace; there's a blessing in the storm." Then the second verse says, "When the sickness won't leave my body, and the pain won't leave my soul/ I get on my knees and say, 'Jesus, please!'/Because there's a blessing in the storm."

Now, I'm talking about the fact that there's joy in going through stuff. Remember the words of James? "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4) You know, that's an incredible thought!

But that kind of thinking doesn't make a bit of sense in this world. Only a Christian could make any sense out of that kind of talk. And maybe that's why so many people think we're all crazy! But it's true, so very true. It's a message God wants us to understand and I think that why he gave me this song.

That's what I enjoy: the music and the words coming together. I am grateful for the music. I honestly think that for me it has been an incredible opportunity to express who I am, a young man who has something to say. I'm not saying that I'm where I need to be or that I've already arrived, but that I'm working hard to get there.

I don't want to just play a part, to give lip service but live an empty life. I don't want to wake up one day and realise that everybody else is getting to know Jesus but I didn't make it. You know, when it's all said and done, there are going to be some people who are won over to Christ but won't be spending eternity with Him themselves because they never claimed that gospel truth for themselves. Isn't that a horrible thought? Some people who know all the right words and have lived in the church all their lives are going to be the one's outside looking in because they never really claimed the promise of eternal life for themselves. They may have walked the aisle and they may have sung the songs, but that isn't enough. Only humble repentance before the cross can do it.

There are times when life can be too much and you want to quit. I know that. There are times when it's easy to cave in and go along with stuff that God hates. I know that too. But if you can claim what Jesus is offering and let Him turn you around in a new direction, then you have real peace with God. And even in the storms of life, God's blessing will see you through.