Insult To Injury

I guess you can go ahead and say "Ahhhhhh..."

I just received an e-mail from the person who bid on "Larry Boy Potato" on eBay and below is the actual note:

"...i recently bid on your potato by accident i'm sorry for the inconvience but i will not be purchasing it. I am sorry about the mistake..."

Ok, go ahead say it again. "Ahhhhhhhhh..."

I have a few of choices: I could be mean and complain to eBay and they could force this bidder to follow through with the purchase. I could also place a negative feed-back on this bidders history. But, I will just settle for saying "Ahhhhhhhh..." I could also re-list the Potato and hope for the best, but I think not..

Is anyone up for a nice bowl of Mashed Potatoes?

-John M

SOLD!

Yup! My Larry Boy Potato Sold on eBay! Well.... it sold, but for not that much.

There was one lone bidder from the great state of New Jersy that took it for the simple price of .99

I know, you may thinking "Ahhhhhh..." right about now, but I had a great time in the process.

There were 4 "watchers" in the auction, which made it all the more exciting with over 300 veiws as well.

I beleive that odd-shaped-potatos may have had their run in the auction limelight, that is of course, unless we find one of the Virgin Mary or Abe Lincoln, we may be out of luck. LOL!

Thank you to all who participated even if all you did was to check in from time to time.

Blessings,

-John M

By This Time

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's Word all over again."

I have been thinking about this simple passage, well maybe I should say "meaty" passage for a while now, but especially the past couple of days.

This past fall, our pastor began a preaching-series through the book of Hebrews. I would never assume to speak so definitively on such a difficult and controversial passage in the scripture, but I do want to share what I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to me in my reading time.

We all have a "Comfort -Zone" that we love to live and work in. Ministry is no exception. When I spend time pre-planning for a worship service or prep for a Youth Message for Wednesday night, I have a "Routine" that I go through. I am sure that this is because of MY "Comfort-Zone".

When I was a baby I could only eat soft foods because of my obvious lack of teeth. When I grew teeth it was natural for me to begin to consume harder foods that required chewing.

I couldn't eat meat as a baby for two reasons: First of all, meat is impossible to chew without teeth; I would have choked. Second, when I finally got my teeth, I didn't start with the largest pieces of meat, because I was not skilled in the proper use of my new teeth.

The writer of Hebrews does talk about some very difficult issues here, but one thing that exploded off the page to me was something much more simpler than we tend to controvert in these verses.

Verse 12 uses the phrase "...by this time...". the original readers were obviously living in their "Comfort Zone"; unwilling to progress beyond it. They were being scolded in the highest manner.

Now, when I was growing up in the Martinez Household as a young man, from time to time (more often that I am willing to admit) I was scolded. Not because I was NOT a member of the family, nor because I was in danger of losing my membership in the family, but because I was not living up to what my parents set as the standard for a Martinez.

Now, I know that there are many differing opinions of whether these readers were actually saved and lost their salvation, or whether they were ones who were merely associated with the Church but never saved in the first place - kind of like Judas Iscariot or something, but all I am trying to say is that when we realize that we're living in the "Comfort-Zone", drinking milk and eating soft food instead of meat, then lets do "something" about it.

Verse 14 says: "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

That 'something', is "Constant Use".

One of the men I admire most is my friend Gene Lawley. He has, through the years, spent so much time memorizing the Word, that when you talk to him he is constantly reciting scripture relevant to your conversation. This is evidence, in Gene, of verse 14 and maturity by constant use..

Now, I also believe that all meat-eaters need a little milk to wash down their solid food, but let's build on these and not spend our time re-laying our foundation without going on the the solid exquisite feast of the Word.

-John M

Larry Boy Potato!

What do think about this crazy looking Potato? I can tell you what I think, I think it looks amazingly like Larry Boy as the Bad Apple.

Look at the picture on the right: See What I Mean????

This potato is from here in Twin Falls and I couldn't resist. I had to list it on e-Bay. Yup. It's on eBay as we speak. Check it out at this link: Larry Boy Potato

Ok, I know, this sounds weird, but whatever I get from the sale of the Potato above fees, will go to Youth Missions here at the church. So have a laugh and lets see what happens.

Have A Great Day!

-John

Need More Faith?

I thought recently that I needed more faith to to be a better Christian, so my natural reaction was to ask God to give me more faith. Sounds logical right?

I thought so too.

But Romans 10:17 reminded me that "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17 KJV


If I want more faith I have to spend more time in His Word. The thing I wanted to happen was for God to wave His magical wand over me and pronounce me as "FAITHFUL".

Hmmmmm?

It don't work that way.

This may sound strange, but we have increased faith about what God will do in the future because we see what He has already accomplished in the past. Let me put it another way:

The reason I have faith in the chair I sit in to hold me up is because I can see what it has already accomplished every other time I sat down. Every day I come into my office and flop right down without a second thought. I never worry that one of these times I may sit and fall through the floor, because that chair, and the floor for that matter are trustworthy.

God is just like that. He is trustworthy. He is faithful to provide all our needs and a lot of our desires on top of that.

A dear friend recently called me with a praise. In spite of losing a job in recent months and concerns about finances, they have continued to be faithful and diligent in God's Word daily.

Guess what. God blessed their socks off! Two cards came in the mail on the same day with a combination of $800.

When we worry about what God has already promised He would take care of, we show our faithlessness. Charles H Spurgeon says this: "When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, his thoughts are serving himself. If you would 'seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,' all things would then be added unto you. You are meddling with Christ's business, and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances." Spurgeon goes on to say that we should, "...attend to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing."

Spurgeon was quoting a passage in Matthew 6:31-33 where Jesus talks to us in the Sermon on the Mount about worry: "31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I suppose we "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God," by staying in His Word.

So do you need more Faith? My RX: Read His Word!

-John

Eve

Whats the point of celebrating an "EVE" if the main focus should be the actual holiday itself?

"Eves" have become holiday celebrations in and of themselves in a way that not only supports the actual holiday, but creates for itself a "Stand-Alone" celebration with it's own set of rules and regulations as it were.

Lets dig a bit deeper: There is Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Midsummer's Eve,(the day that proceeds the longest day of the year on June 24th) in fact, Halloween is a major "eve" that has trumped the actual holiday it precedes. "All Hallow Even" October 31st is the eve of "All Hallows Day" -November 1st.

So what about Christmas Eve? What are you planing to do on that night that couldn't be done on Christmas Day?

Well, I guess I'll go first: We have several traditions that our family chooses to focus on during the holiday season, and one of the most significant is the food.

In a Word: (well, actually two words: Clam Chowder)

I have to admit, we borrowed this one from Shari's side of the family, and I love it. We eat Clam Chowder on Christmas Eve. and for that matter Shari makes enough, that we are eating Clam Chowder through New Years.

Several Years ago, however, we took a family trip to the Oregon Coast and I experienced that absolute best Clam Chowder I have ever eaten in my life. We ate at "Mo's" in Newport, Oregon, and I was sold for life.


Shari makes a pretty awesome Clam Chowder from a recipe that was handed down to her by her mother. But there is a slight difference that even Shari agrees on. Well, nonetheless, it's our tradition.

When I was a boy growing up in the Martinez' household, it was our tradition to stay awake till midnight on Christmas Eve and then open our Christmas presents.

Other friends of ours would go to "Midnight Mass" at the Catholic Church.

Whatever your tradition, I wish you the best, but I do want to give you an invitation to our Christmas Eve worship service at Eastside Baptist Church, and then, if you're game, stop by our home for a bowl of Shari's Clam Chowder right aftre the service. It's ok, Shari says I have permission to invite you.

Blessings,

John M

Mary Did You Know?

“Some Tough Questions About Christmas”

#1 How Does Santa Get Into Your House if There is No Chimney or If There is a Fire In The Fireplace?

Well, ok that is not the kind of tough question I’m talking about…. I am talking about the apologetics of Christmas Theology. Things like the Virgin Birth, Origins of Christmas, How Many Wise men, when Jesus was really born, etc...
Ok, here we go again:

Q: What are the Origins of Christmas?
A: The roots of Christmas as a celebration go way back even before Jesus was born in a manger. Huh? It had a lot more to do then with the seasons of the year than a specific person’s birthday. For example: in the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice, (the day that represents the shortest amount of daylight during the year), actually coincided with December 25th. The decline of sunlight leading up to the Winter Solstice and the then increasing sunlight each day after that was reason enough for the people to create a day to celebrate that Winter was at least half over.

In the Roman Empire, during the time of Christ, the holiday had come to be known as Saturnalia. The Romans tried to do away with the holiday without success and eventually in the 4th century the Roman church tried to convert it into a “Christian” holiday by re-naming it “The Feast of the Nativity”. Western Culture still celebrates this tradition. We just call it Christmas.

Q: Why do we use a Christmas Tree at Christmas?
A: One of the main centerpieces of the celebration of Saturnalia was the use of “evergreen” branches and trees. There was a common belief that the evergreens had a special power to overcome death and stay green all year long that other plants and trees lacked. People believed that they needed to surround themselves with this power at a time of year when darkness and cold were increasing. Other cultures associated the evergreen with fertility and new life.

It is falsely believed that the “Christmas Tree” was referred to in the Book of Ezekiel as an artifact of pagan Christmas idol worship. It is important to know that the Ezekiel passage proceeded the use of Christmas trees and the writer of the passage was making reference to a person who would go to the forest to cut down a tree in order to fashion it into an idol specifically for idol worship un related to a specific holiday or celebration. The ‘wood craftsman’ would actually tool the tree down in a way that it no longer even looked like a tree.
Tradition holds that the first person to actually decorate a tree at Christmastime was Martin Luther by placing candles on its branches in order to create a “glow” from within his home to the outside passersby.

Q: Were There Three Wise men?
A: Actually the place we get this idea of there being three Wise men at the birth of Christ, is from a song. “We Three Kings Of Orient Are”. Words & Music: John H. Hopkins Jr. 1857. Hopkins actually wrote this carol for a Christmas Pageant at the General Theological Seminary in New York City.

The assumption is made that since scripture talks about three gifts that there must be three wise men or kings. Actually, if these men were travelling as far as it is presumed, there would more than likely have had a large entourage - More than three people - Scripture tells us what we need to know, there were three gifts: Gold, Incense and Myrrh. The Gold would obviously have served as money to appease a potential King such as Jesus, the Myrrh and incense would also be proper gifts for a King based on common customs of the day.

Q: What about the virgin birth was that just a myth or is this even really possible?
A: Well, it is indeed an unbelievable event that took place. In fact there are miracles throughout the Bible that are without human explanation except to say that with God, all things are possible. The fact remains that in God’s perfect plan for the redemption of fallen man, there had to be a “perfect” sacrifice and it had to be once and for all. Not something that had to be done over and over again, like the priestly sacrifices of the Old Testament, and not something that could ever be replicated by anyone past, present, or future. It had to be a God thing.

You may ask that if God was able to do all things, then why didn’t he just let Joseph be the father. Well, you see that goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 3 with the “Fall of Man”. The “seed” of humanity is passed from the man. And it is in that seed that sin nature is also passed along. It is by one man that sin entered the world. –Adam. This is why Jesus was born without that sin nature. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit – God – Who is without sin. In other words, Mary had to be a virgin so that this sin nature could not be passed on to Jesus. If Jesus was born of Joseph’s seed, at best all He could have been was just a “Good” man; but, since He was born of God’s seed He was perfect, blameless, and capable of serving as the “once-and-for-all-sacrifice” for all who would believe.

I believe it would take more faith to believe that God would allow sin to serve as a perfect sacrifice for sin. This would be against the nature of God and would prove that God is not perfect. This would have to assume that God had to attain His Godhood, meaning that someone or something gave it to Him also meaning that someone or something was greater than God.

Q: Was Jesus really born on December 25th?
A: There is really no way of knowing the exact day that our Lord was born. It would make sense that it was less likely to be in the middle of Winter or a cold month, based on the Biblical account in Luke 2. Since the Shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks and the fact that it was at night would be contradictory to normal ranging practices in the Middle East. Shepherds may have been at the bottom of the food-chain worker-wise, but they weren’t that dumb to be sleeping outside in the middle of December. Some experts surmise maybe late September or even April by other accounts. Furthermore, the year of Christ’s birth was also unlikely to be year “0”. It was likely later than our modern day calendar implies.

The point is that whether is December 25th or February 29th, the point is that we celebrate His birth on a fixed day every year and we all look forward to it with incredible anticipation.

Q: Should Christians Celebrate a Holiday that is all about Commercialism and has Pagan roots?
A: I believe we can and in this modern day I believe we should. In light of the fact that Commercialism is at its zenith with sales, shopping mall door busting, and with Santa Claus on every street corner, and every television show, we now, more than ever, need to celebrate the Birth of Christ at Christmas all the more.
We could hand it over to the money-makers and greedy store owners, and literally the world, but I would encourage you to continue to see Jesus as the reason we celebrate Christmas.

So Finally, Yes! We can and do celebrate Jesus as Lord throughout the rest of the year, but since Christmas seems to be about “giving”, then lets talks about the greatest gift of all. The birth of God’s own Son who was born to die as a sacrifice; a gift that we could never earn. God gives us His Son as the Ultimate gift our gift back to God is our acceptance of that gift by giving Him “Our Heart”.

Titus' Plight ~ Paul's Tenacity

Titus 1:5 "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town as I directed you."

I was speaking with a friend recently about how sometimes we have relationships with people that allow us to speak bluntly and exactly what is on our mind and know that the other person won't misinterpret or be hurt or offended by what we say.

Let me give you an example:

When I was in a ministry in another state several years ago, I had a good friend who was in a crisis of belief. It was discovered that he was the owner of a large quantity of pornographic magazines, videos and paraphernalia that no doubt had a monetary value of well in to the thousands of dollars. He had amassed the collection over the course of at a least a couple of decades.

Without going into the long story and incredible details of how he had destroyed his family and eventually landed in prison after shooting a man. That day, he came to me in tears and begged me for help. I told him quite bluntly: " (Name), You know what you have to do." We spent a couple of hours gathering and weeping and praying and talking.

We took every bit of what he had hidden throughout the house and his vehicle and created a massive bonfire.

There were many times before and after that day that I could say to him whatever he needed to hear and he would accept it.

This is the kind of relationship that Paul had with Titus. Titus was a man that was actually led to faith in Christ by Paul himself.. 1:4 "My true son in our common faith.."

Paul was telling Titus to do what he knew he had to do even in the face of opposition and insubordination from within the church, especially from the Jews, who were more concerned about issues like circumcision than true conversion. 1:10 "For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers, and decievers, especially those of the circumcision group...";

Titus was encouraged by Paul to take care of business the way he knew it ought to be done. We need friends like this in our lives, don't we? People who allow us to speak bluntly, but more important, we need to have friends in our lives who have permission to do the same to us. To tell us when we're off track, to tell us we are wrong, to tell us when our breath stinks, and know that we will love them for it.

Who is your Paul?

December to Remember

Well, believe it or not, we are in the last month of the great year of 2007. 2008 is looming over us and if you haven't accomplished what you set out to do in January of this year, you have 3 1/2 weeks to Git 'R Done.

I am encouraged by the things God has allowed me to do this past year and especially for the relationships He let me start.

The banner of this year for me is no doubt the Chaplaincy. He inspired me to pursue becoming a Chaplain back in July of 2006 and here we are in December of 2007 well into this new aspect of ministry.

This past week at the Guard unit, I was allowed to lead our entire unit and many of their family members in a time of prayer before we enjoyed a Christmas Dinner. I consider it a huge blessing to even bring up the topic of our great God, and even more special that I could speak about this time of year as being a time to celebrate the Birth of His Son Jesus.

I have always enjoyed praying in an extemporaneous style, but I was given some advice by a Chaplain recently, that I should write down a prayer ahead of time in order to keep the focus. So I did this for the first time ever: This is that prayer...

Almighty God and Creator,

There are many things that bless our lives, but none as much as the blessing of Your Son. It is because of Him that we celebrate this season and because of Him that we gather for celebrations just like this. Thank you for the hands that have labored to provide the food. Thank you for the leaders who have committed to serve. Thank you for the soldiers and their families who will enjoy its nourishment and sustainment.

Allow us to enjoy each other and have a great time of laughter and fellowship.

Place Your blessings on the soldiers of this unit, and those of our comrades around the world who continue to hold guard force positions as well as fight for peace, joy and happiness.

In Your Name, I pray, Amen.

(Prayer for the IDANG Twin Falls Christmas Banquet 2 Dec 2007 b y 2LT John Martinez -my very first prayer as a Chaplain for our unit)

2007 will be a December to Remember.

Guard Weekend

I believe I have finally settled into a routine regarding my Guard duty. The first weekend of the month now has it's designation in my life. The next time you are on you way into church on a Sunday morning you might see the soldiers out on a run near the CSI Campus. Our Unit Commander says we will do PT every month as a unit. Hooah!

I have been so excited and amazed at how God has caused everything to work out so beautifully. I would never have imagined ever being back in the military let alone in such a significant role in the lives of our soldiers.

I do know for certain that I will make every attempt to stay in until retirement as long as the Lord allows. That seems like forever from now, but no doubt I will be looking back and wondering where all the years have gone.

-John M

Go Get 'Em Bus Driver

I know I am not alone when I say I am anxiously awaiting the finish of "A Bus Driver's Memoir -a look into the rearview mirror of the future", the book that our pastor Paul is writing, and I can't wait to read.

I don't know about you, but the "press" on this book has built some crazy anticipation.

Well, Paul? Friday is the deadline for our Novelist in residence. As far as I'm concerned, I'll take whatever you've got.

Pour the coffee and pass the snicker doodles.

-John

Hanging Of The Green

This coming Sunday, our congregation will participate in a long standing tradition held by many churches through the years. It is called:

'HANGING OF THE GREEN".



So what is this great tradition, called "Hanging Of The Green"?


Many churches still celebrate a type Advent to a certain degree. Advent is a time when believers prepare ourselves for the coming Messiah.


Advent means "Coming." We celebrate these days of Advent in expectation, reflection and preparation for Christ's arrival. While the Jewish community may be awaiting the arrival of the Messiah for the first time, Christians celebrate Advent as an expectation for the their King's second coming.


Through the years, Advent has been enriched by Christian tradition to reveal it's distinctive Christian meaning. It proclaims to the world how God revealed His love through the humble birth of Jesus the Christ in a stable. Then on to His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary.

You see, it really points to the HOPE we have in Christ's return as the King of Kings.

Advent and the Hanging of the Green can make an Innkeeper out of you. Asking you to make room within your heart for the King to come in and dwell.

The Hanging of the Green service is a way of taking us through elements that show our preparation for the Arrival of the King. We will actually literally decorate our church sanctuary with Christmas Greens. I invite you to come and be a part of our celebration this coming Sunday December 2nd at 10:30 am.

But remember: the outward "decorations" are only an indication of what has hopefully taken place on the inside. If you have allowed the Christ to take up residence through His holy Spirit in your heart (Your Soul), then you are already a successful Innkeeper. If your are interested in finding out what this could mean for you then click on this link and read my story:


http://www.blogger.com/profile/15544110577385447466


-Merry Christmas

John M

Thanksgiving, Triyptophan and The Cowboys

Tryptophan is a chemical precursor to serotonin, and one of the chemicals somehow manifested during the cooking process of our glorious Thanksgiving Day Turkey. It is more commonly agreed to cause what is referred to as that "Post-Thanksgiving-Dinner-Coma". This is mistakenly referred to by some of our non-Dallas-Cowboy-Fans as boredom.

Whereas, Tryptophan is indeed a chemical that emerges during the Turkey cook-time, it is however negligible in it's dose. You would actually have to consume several whole turkeys to actually get enough of the effectiveness of the the chemical for it to make you slip into a semi-comatose state.

If you did indeed eat that many turkeys in one sitting, you would actually die from food overdose or explode long before the tryptophan kicked in.

Most likely the sleepiness we so often associate with our November meal is probably more the amount of food we ate. After a 2nd helping and an extra slice of whipped cream laden pumpkin pie, almost anyone would want to pass out on the couch as the Cowboys whoop up on whoever dares challenge them on this sacred holiday.

So, fear not, go ahead and take that second turkey leg and don't worry - Oh, and by the way, the Cowboys handled the Jets with ease! Go Cowboys!

-Happy Thanksgiving! or as they say in the old country-
"Feliz Dia Del Pavo Muerto"

-John M.

I Promise If You Promise

One of the best quotes I have heard in a long time is the one made by a elementary school teacher to a new students parents:

"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens here in class I promise not to believe everything he says happens at home."

I got a good laugh out that one, but there is so much reality in it that I almost felt like crying. I am not sure how this ever happened, but I have grown a bit cynical in my old age. (42)

This is actually a tough position to hold when you are in the ministry. You want to hear what people are saying to you; and console and comfort and assure them that God is in control, but at the same time there is an element in your mind that asks: what am I hearing?

I realize this is a risky confession to make on line, but I also realize too that if a person is dealing with an issue and has a need to share it, whether is is real or perceived, I still need to help them and as they work through it.

BUT, How much of what we hear (myself included) needs to make it through the filter?

One of the biggest temptations for a gossip is the insatiable need to "fill in the blanks". When they hear only but a sweet-nugget of information- without wasting- time they create the entire story complete with sordid details, "publisher-ready".

I think we are all guilty of this on some level. What do we assume when a person resigns from a job? We think, I wonder if they really fired? What goes through our mind when a person whispers in an other's ear across the room? We think they are talking about us, and we begin to worry about what they "might" know. We begin to fill in the blanks of the story.

Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant with my computer open working on worship service PowerPoint's, (a very typical practice for me). While I was siting there, I could see almost every other table in the place with the exception of the one behind me. Interestingly enough, of all the other "open" tables, one 60-ish lady came and sat right behind me.

She sat there quietly. I felt as though she was peering over my shoulder to see what I was up to on the computer. Then, after about 2 minutes her husband appeared from the restroom and sat down next to her on the same side of the table.

I know she was trying to be discreet, but it was easy for me to hear her telling her husband all her observations. And she was filling in the blanks. But one story caught my attention. She talked about the family across the way where the mom, dad, and daughter (in her 20's) were having dinner with the daughter's baby. She said to her husband: "I think the grandparents must be raising their grandchild".

She assumed that since there was no "father" present that this young girl must be a single mother and the grandparents were stepping in to do the right thing.

Hmmmm? Maybe she was right, maybe not. But what is the point? The point is that for the sake of casual conversation with her husband she was assuming the worst about the people around her. Is this the kind of entertainment we enjoy over dinner?

Lord, forgive me for the times I have assumed the worst for the joy of entertainment.

Edgar Allen Poe was quoted as saying: "BELIEVE ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE AND NOTHING YOU HEAR - Question everything, especially rumors."

Shakespeare said: "This precious stone set in the silver sea, this sceptered isle · Though this be madness, ... While you live, tell truth and shame the Devil!..."

The Word of God says in John 8:32 "Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." The Truth here is actually a person. It is Jesus. Knowing Jesus - the Truth - will set you free.

-John M

Question

Ok, I wonder if I can ask you a question? I guess I just did. How about a different one?

What do you think should happen when a person intentionally enters the presence of a person of great importance?

I mean what if a person got it in their mind that they wanted to make an appointment to meet their most favorite actor. Or, maybe they wanted to visit the White House and meet the President of the United States.

How would YOU react if you were walking down the street and suddenly a Limo pulls up and out steps Elvis Presley. Yes I know, Elvis is dead, but you get the point.

What would you do? Would you just stand there and wait for Elvis to speak first? Would you start screeching like an eighth grader? Maybe you would just faint?

Ok, now what about Jesus? What if the clouds open up and in the midst of angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus and trumpets blaring the 1812 Overture, what would you do? Would you fall on your face and begin to worship? Would you start crying? Would you be glad to see Him or would you be scared?

Well, if it helps, I don't know what I would do either. But I would love to invite you to click on the following link and read a short story. http://64.13.216.130/the_roomtext.php

Blessings,

John M

FREE GIFT!

Ok this is a RE-WRITE on this posting. You can comment and respond to either this one or the original. :)

I was reading another BLOG in recent days by a "Pastor John" from Alabama. He inspired me to do something I am hoping will work for me as well....

Here goes:If you are a regular reader of my BLOG, I would like to say thank you by giving you a gift. Just Respond to this POST by commenting with your name and address and let me know how often you stop by to read my BLOG.If you do, I will send you a FREE gift. It will not be a super expensive gift, but I will try to make it worth your response.

I will try to get the gift mailed out to you before Christmas so be sure to give me an accurate mailing address to your work or home or whatever works best for you.I really want to do this for you if you regularly read my BLOG, so please help me out:

Here is the run down one more time:

1. Comment to this posting.

2. Tell me how often you read my BLOG.

3. Give me your name and address.

4. Be ready to get a gift from me.

If you do not have a Blogger Account name, that's ok too. Just comment as "anonymous" and that should work too but keep in mind you still have to tell me who you are so I can send you the gift.

If that does not work then send me an e-mail to john@esbctwinfalls.com with the same info.By the way for all you "shy" types, I really do want to know who you are so help me out if at all possible. Thanks!-John M

I'm Back (To the BLOG) and FREE GIFT

For the last two months I have felt a necessary obligation to BLOG and keep everyone up to date on my time at Chaplain School. But once I got back and saw everyone face to face, I took a break from the obligation. Thanks for the break - Ahhhhhhhh! I needed the rest.

But I'm Back!

I was recently reading Pastor Paul's BLOG and I see that he is writing his first Novel. Wow, I am impressed. http://bridgebloggin.blogspot.com/

I heard someone say one time that once you turn 40, its a good time to write a book. I am not sure how true that is and if Pastor Paul is reflecting the standard, (40 year old) but I have enjoyed reading what he has written so far.

I am not sure that I will ever write anything in the form of a book whether for fun or study, but I am proud of our Pastor and I think he is uniquely qualified to give us a peek into the world of the wheels going round and round... LOL Go get 'em Bus Driver!

I was reading another BLOG in recent days by a "Pastor John" from Alabama. He inspired me to do something I am hoping will work for me as well.... Here goes:

If you are a regular reader of my BLOG, I would like to say thank you by giving you a gift. Just Respond to this POST by commenting with your name and address and let me know how often you stop by to read my BLOG.

If you do, I will send you a FREE gift. It will not be a super expensive gift, but I will try to make it worth your response. I will try to get the gift mailed out to you before Christmas so be sure to give me an accurate mailing address to your work or home or whatever works best for you.

I really want to do this for you if you regularly read my BLOG, so please help me out:

Here is the run down one more time:
1. Comment to this posting.
2. Tell me how often you read my BLOG.
3. Give me your name and address.
4. Be ready to get a gift from me.

If you do not have a Blogger Account name, that's ok too. Just comment as "anonymous" and that should work too but keep in mind you still have to tell me who you are so I can send you the gift. If that does not work then send me an e-mail to john@esbctwinfalls.com with the same info.

By the way for all you "shy" types, I really do want to know who you are so help me out if at all possible. Thanks!

-John M

CHARACTER

Want To Be A Person Of Character?

Say the Same Thing About A Person When You Close The Door

As You Did To Their Face.

Only You and God Will Know The Difference....

Retreat! 1700hrs

The group of these civilian dressed soldiers are really me and several other Chaplains on our way to dinner. The reason we are standing around that car is because it is 1700hrs.

What that really means is that it's 5:00pm and the flag is being lowered. When we hear the bugle play "retreat" we are to stop whatever we are doing and stand at attention and face the direction of the music or the flag if it's in sight and render respect.

We happened to be on our way to dinner when we heard the bugle play, so we stopped the car and got out and since we are NOT in uniform we just stood at attention until the music stopped.

If we would have been in uniform we would have had to salute.

By the way, on another note, that is the rental car I was issued. A 2007 Chevy Malibu. Very nice and comfortable. It will be hard to go back to the Astro Van, but then again I would have a tough time letting Coda ride in a 2007 Chevy Malibu.

-John

Going Home - Coming Home

Today is Wednesday and I can almost taste the fresh Idaho air. Everything is shaping up for my departure from Fort Jackson here in South Carolina and on Friday evening I will be in Twin Falls and I can't wait.

I have had the most tremendous time with these Godly Chaplains as the Cadre have worked to develop us as the next phase of the Army's finest.

We have no doubt developed relationships that will last the rest of our lives. I don't know if we will see each other again on this side of heaven but I do know that while I will be doing what God has called me to do in Idaho, they will be working to do a similar task in a whole other part of the world.

"Rick" has been one of these men. He is a published author of a great book for pastors/ministers. He has been a true friend and I think the world of him and what God has called him to do.

I did have a chance to meet his family and even spend some time walking the mall and having dinner with them a couple of times. They are really a blessed support system to him more than he knows. They are visibly proud of their Chaplain-Dad/Husband, and it is really cool to see them watch him.

His first posting will be abroad with his entire family, and I have not seen a more eager group to leave home and live on the other side of the globe. Thanks for being my friend "Rick".

There are equally many more with similar stories and goals of serving the King. I am humbled to be counted among these Godly Chaplains, and I also amazed once again that God has graciously called me to this great task. Pray for me.

-John

I Didn't Need That Anyway!

Evidently there are few body parts that a person can get along without. The Gall Bladder is on that list, and it is no longer in my body.

Yup, The Dr. said he was in favor of removing mine since it was a little on the 'angry-side'.

It all began on Wednesday of this week: I attended a commander's briefing during my lunch break for a "Prayer Breakfast" coming up at the end of Phase One.

After the meeting, I realized I didn't have enough time to go back to my room and prepare a lunch, so I took the easy way out and zipped over to Burger King.

I don't know if I consider that providence or the straw that broke the camel's back, but it set into motion an event in my life that is of grand proportion.

The Double Whopper with Cheese and Extra Large Fries and 44oz Dr. Pepper sat at the top of my 'gut' for the rest of the afternoon.

It literally felt like it was stuck in my stomach and it began to hurt a whole lot. That evening our platoon went for a 'Run' for extra PT and it started to feel a little better.

But, later on that night the pain came back and by then it was getting worse and it wouldn't go away. I couldn't sleep and the pain in my belly made the rest of my body ache.

By 2230hrs (10:30pm) I was in the hospital telling the ER Doctor my story and the rest is history. After several tests and some X-Rays, she recommended that I receive an Ultra Sound the next morning and it was at that time they discovered my Gall Bladder was full of stones.

By then I had seen three doctors and they were all were saying the same thing. Surgery!

By Thursday afternoon I was in surgery and by dinner time that night I was waking up in a room with several Chaplains standing around my bed smiling and wanting to pray with me.

Today is Monday and I have to admit that I have no idea where the weekend went. But this is what I do know:

• I only stayed in the hospital one night.
• I was checked out the next morning by 9:00am.
• I know that I went back to my room and did as much sleeping as possible.
• I think I remember going to Church on Sunday morning.
• I don't remember Sunday afternoon or evening (very well).
• I spent all day on Monday (today) in class. (I'm pretty sure).
• I took a test today (and I passed).
• I did a Commander's Briefing this afternoon (and I passed)
• I attended a Platoon Dinner in honor of those students leaving after Phase One.
• I recall coming into my room about an hour ago and sat down to finally write in my BLOG.

Other than that, I don't remember much. LOL

God is good. It is amazing how His timing is perfect. Through His providence, I was able to extend my time at Chaplain School to include these past two weeks.

Had I eaten the Whopper in Twin Falls, I would be laying in a hospital in Idaho and I would be paying my share of the hospital bills and not allowing my dear Uncle Sam to pick up the bill 100%. Thank You Lord! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Plus when it comes to my Gall Bladder, "I Didn't That Anyway!"

-John

Friends from All Over

God has truly blessed me with a whole new set of friends. Some of these men are the Godliest men I have known. They show a deep desire to be in the thickest of situations meeting the spiritual needs of soldiers under the direst of conditions.

I don't think it's because they are Hero-Wanna-Be's; I believe most of our Chaplains are here because God has called them to be Chaplains. Think about it, these are a bunch of preachers.

I am told that according to a new standard and formula, Chaplains should be able to predict how frequently we will be "DOWN RANGE" -this is Army talk for being in combat.

The formula for National Guard works out to be once every 2 1/2 years. Yes, that's what I said.

For me this may be a little different since I am still a "Chaplain-Candidate". Candidates are non-deployable assets until they complete Chaplain School and their educational requirement. I am about 33 hours into my 92 hour M-Div (Master of Divinity). Additionally, I won't be back to finish CH-BOLC until sometime in 2008.

I am also a 2nd LT; Chaplains have to be at least a 1st LT. This takes at least 2 years - time and grade for the promotion as well as completion of the educational requisite. So for now know, you're stuck with me.

I do want to say thank you however, You as a church as well as family and friends have been completely supportive through my application process. I have felt nothing but your encouragement and the occasional question of concern sandwiched in support.

This would be so difficult knowing that I didn't have your backing and especially your time on your knees.

Blessings,

-John M

End of Initial Phase

Friday morning marked a bit of a milestone. Our class completed the intial phase of Chaplain school. "CIMT" (Chaplain Initial Military Training)

We marked it by a modified version of our normal PT. (Physical Training) We played competitive Ultimate Frizbee Football. From the picture above it may look like we were there at night because of the stadium lights, but actually it was 5:30 in the morning. We really did have a good time. Some of these Chaplains are very competitive.

We have the weekend off and we start back on Monday morning with "Phase 1" or otherwise known as "Death By Powerpoint". We spend a lot of time in the classroom during this next two weeks drinking from the Fire-hose of Army knowledge, so pray for me to drink it up and stay awake.

-John M

Back From The Field

I have had the most glorious three days I have had in some time in God's beautiful creation.

Our Class arrived back for three intense and "Fun-Filled" days of building soldier skills and applying what we have learned in the classroom.

Yes we did a lot of crawling in the dirt:

Yes we also did our share of building team:

And we even did what came natural: (Sleep)

But all in all we had a great time. And despite feeling like an 80 year-old at a track meet, I have had truly been blessed by the comradery of the future Chaplains I am training with.

We are currently enjoying a 3 day weekend and I am spending most of my free-time working on "Homework". You heard me right: We have homework assignments while we are here and those keep us quite busy with research when we're not in the classroom or on the range.

...

I think that's The Snoopy Dance:

DISCLAIMER!

I have been asked to remove all reference to names and locations and dates of all the soldiers pictured in my BLOG.

I will also be going back and making a few changes to some previous entries.

So please do me a favor, if you read any of my previous BLOG entries and remember names, dates, and locations, then please delete these from your memory banks or I will be forced to disavow any knowledge of you when the men in black suits come to get you.

Thanks

Signed: ...secretagentyouknowwho...

Week Three

Our third week is shaping up to be a great one. Much of the training we have been doing so far will be put to the test this week. We will be in the field for three days.

Our plan for the week includes some really "fun" stuff like marching with our full packs, sleeping in the middle of nowhere, navigating through a swamp, doing PT and not getting to take a shower after, all the regular things that make for a wonderful vacation. LOL

Well, actually there really will be some cool stuff about this week: We will have an opportunity to set up a worship area in the field and have a worship service. I hope we learn how to create an outdoor pool for baptisms and some other related things. -Maybe we'll have to recruit some volunteers to get baptized. But I hope it won't be in the swamp.


John M

Every Day Is A Good Day

Waiting in Line to go in.

Today I had an extraordinary experience. I was gassed with CS Gas. Well, most people wouldn't consider being gassed as 'extraordinary', but God is good and everyday is a extraordinary day when you give it to Him.

The answer is YES! It burns, it hurts, and it makes you want to run and hide. But after it was all said and done I actually was glad I did it.

CS gas is the common name for 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile) (chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), and used primarily in riot control and military training.

The point of our training believe it or not, is not to gas us, as much as it is to build our confidence in the equipment we are issued. When we walk into the gas chamber we all have our gas masks donned. As you stand there, you begin to realize that they work quite well at keeping the gas out. But once you are given the order to remove the mask all bets are off. You know at that moment that you want the mask back on or to get out.

Here are a couple of quick shots of the day:
In the Smoke House

This little vacation of mine makes me want to say..."Wish You Were Here"!

-John

Gas! Gas! Gas!

Here are a few pictures from our course yesterday We worked on "TEAM" development by working
together to make our way over and through obstacles.

I sit here at the computer but I am not able to take my mind off the fact that tomorrow morning I will be making my way through the Gas Chamber.

It is CS Gas. It will burn and make me want to run out but in only a matter of a minute or two I will be aout of the chamber and it will be all over.

Still, I can't help but think about it. I'll let you know moe about this later. ;)

-John

Here We Are Marching

Watch the Video of us marching down the Road.

-John

Week Two

One Arm Push-Up.. ugggh!


Well, the training goes on. This morning we marched out to a range called "The Confidence Course".


Mostly designed to build our self confidence through achievement. We tackled walls, towers, ladders. And everything was done in groups of five. There would be no way to pull some of them off without help from your buddies.

Here are some more of the various pictures I have not posted yet:





Me and My Chaplain
"Battle Buddy"

The Pictures I Promised You!

Here are a few shots some of the other Chaplains have been taking.

These guys are great to be with and are very motivated.

I am blessed to be counted among them.

Chaplain Luis Figueroa and me.

Trying it on for the first time

Here I am on Belay as Chaplain Wakeland

Rappels down the tower.

Making our way up and down the ropes!

Our first week came to a close with with a great day on the ropes course. What a time of motivation, and quite honestly a lot of fun. Can you believe they are paying me to do this stuff?

After a long day it sure is nice to get back to my very comfortable room. I feel ashamed that our rooms are so nice when the privates that are going through basic training sleep in barracks with 40 to a room. But that only last for a second or two after my head hits the pillow.

Yes, that is a TV in my room,

And there is another one with a

DVD/VCR player in the living area

Of my apartment as well.

One Week - HOOAH!

This is the Chaplain Logo and Crest
Pro Deo Et Patria means:
"For God And Country"
(in that order)


Today is one week! I arrived here at Fort Jackson last Saturday night and stumbled around in the dark finding my building; most of the stumbling-around has subsided, but everyday is a new day.





In about one hour our class is marching out to "Victory Tower" for a day of rappelling down a 60 foot wall. WOO HOO! sounds like a lot of fun. I think I am going to like this. I hope to also have pictures from this in a later post. (we'll see)





Tomorrow may actually be our first day off (Sunday), but we are still required to visit worship services of different faiths from our own. Everything from Muslim to LDS to Catholic Mass. This I am sure will be very educating.

Keep Praying For Me - I really do appreciate even the brief prayers whispered as you go about your day.



Thanks for Faithfully Reading,

-John M

APFT - Army Physical Fitness Test

(Theses are file photos of what it looks like - not actually our class)

This morning I got up at 3:30am to be ready to head out on time for my PT (Physical Training)Test. By the time we made it to the field and track area, it was still dark for the rest of time we spent there.

I knew I would not pass the weight requirement but I gave it my all on everything else. I completed the required 30 push-ups for my age and fell short on sit-ups but I came in over 2 minutes early on my required time for my run. I did it in 16:11 and it had to be done within 18:30 for my age - 8 minute miles. By the way, I am 42.

This was the initial test and does not count for the final grade, however those who did not pass will be assigned extra PT. WOO HOO and HOOAH!!!

Keep praying for me...I can feel it.

-John M

HOOAH!

The first three days of Chaplain School have been mostly easy and full of paperwork, getting equipment issued (Kevlar), buying uniforms, hearing about military protocol and just settling in.

I have to admit, I am happy about how light the workload has been, however, I am told that after Friday, that all changes.

Friday morning we take our initial physical assessment: 2 mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups etc. I hear that after that day, the Drill Instructors have very little mercy from then on.

HOOAH! This is a phrase that we yell out when our drill instructors give us any kind of information that is "HOOAH" worthy. It generally means everything except "NO".

I hope to have some pictures posted in the next few days.

HOOAH!

-John

SWAT

The Twin Falls High School Bible Club is called SWAT. "Students With A Testimony"

I really enjoyed my time with the students today, and even more so by encouraging them to stand up as believers on campus.

We talked a little about Overcoming the temptation to live like the world on campus and to live with the Mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-7)

We talked a little about a strategy to beat temptation when it strikes by using the "5 Second Rule".

When you are tempted - at that very instant, you take the first 2 seconds to say "No, Get out of My Head" then take the last 3 seconds to say "God, in the name of Jesus, help me. Save me now, I am yours."

When that doesn't work, and if you can't physically escape the situation or environment, then you set your mind on things above or replace the image in your mind with a more appropriate image.

For example: If I have the temptation to lust, and you use the 5 Second Rule" and the temptation is still present, then you can replace the present visual in your mind with Christ on the cross suffering for the very sin you are tempted to make.

You immediately transport youself to Calvary instead of the place your mind is fighting to keep.

It is very tough to sin when your mind is filled with the image of Jesus' sacrifice and his love for you.

We closed our time by singing some worship songs. All in all it was a great day at SWAT. I hope I will be invited back soon.

Youth/Student Ministry

I had a great time in Youth Group on Wednesday of this week. The students responded well to our lesson time and I am so excited for them to be back on their campuses again.

Our students are at a place in time in their lives that we have all been at one time as well. They are, in a manner of speaking, on a mission trip to a country that is closed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When several of our church members were in regions of the world this past February where sharing the Gospel is punishable by death, we knew that if we made an attempt to intentionally convert people to Jesus Christ we would get kicked out of the country or go to jail and possibly be killed for our "crimes".

But at our public schools you and I are still barred from coming on campus and talking about Jesus.....Except for the students... They are still free (for the most part) to be who they are, and talk about what they want to talk about. They can have Bible studies, sing praise songs, and share the love of Christ with each other. Not even their teachers have this freedom.

But..... They also have one more freedom that is really cool. They can invite and adult to come on campus to talk about Jesus. Yup you heard it right. I was invited by the President of the Student Bible Club at Twin Falls High School, Chance Requa, to come and speak to the SWAT Club (Bible Club) this Thursday September 13th.

I asked Chance what he wanted me to talk about and he said that he wanted me to talk about worship. I asked him if I could bring my guitar and if we could sing some praise songs, and he got really excited and said yes.

So, here I go on a "One-Day-Mission-Trip" to a "Closed-To-The-Gospel-Country" by invitation of the locals. Pray for me... Pray for them...


-John M

Chaplain School

The Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, SC.

(For God And Country)

This week I depart for "Chaplain School" at Fort Jackson in Colombia, South Carolina.

This will not be the first time I have been on this base. June 6, 1983 I entered the US Army and the New Mexico National Guard through the processing station at Fort Jackson and I went through the wonder 8 Weeks of "Basic Training". I was also stationed there following 'Basic' to complete "AIT" (Advanced Individual Training) where I played with the 285th Army Band.

24 years later it's Deja Vu All Over Again. Well, except that this time I'm an officer and this time I am focusing on becoming qualified as a Chaplain and not a bandsman or fighting soldier. I will take as many opportunities to keep you updated through this BLOG as possible. I am not sure that I will have any great frequency at Internet access, but I will do my best.

I would greatly appreciate knowing that you are praying for me. You don't have to tell me that you are, just pray when you think about it. And I would really love it if you would check in on Shari and the girls while I am way. Coda would appreciate that too. It is an awful big job to serve as "Guard-Dog" when all you really want to do sniff and make friends with everyone who walks by.

-John Martinez

Feels Like Canada

When I woke up early this morning and made my way to Gold's Gym (routine), it reminded me of my trip to Canada this summer. The clouds, the coolness, the light breeze...

Thank you Lord for weather like this after long stretches of heat and dryness and forest fires.

Our friends in Washington (state) may disagree to a certain extent, but I love the rain and the clouds. It confirms to me that God is in control. He's got a plan working in the world today. Jeremiah 29:11. I know the plans I have for you... - They're His plans and He knows them.

God confirms the plan He has for us as individuals in His Kingdom. He does that by the way He works in our lives. By the way He affects others through us. By the way He allows circumstances to re-direct our attention to Himself.

I am thankful for the way He has confirmed His plan in my own life by the way He is working in me in Twin Falls and at Eastside, and through the people of our church family and the way they affirm that to me.

I praise God for for my Church Family.

-John

What a Sight!

When I woke up this morning I was amazed to see an incredible sight. The moon was in total eclipse and had a reddish brown tint to it. By the time I left to workout at Gold's Gym it looked like this. (above)

I love what God allows us to see in our lives. I wanted to run in and wake up my girls of which I have done in the past for other similar events, but I didn't.

When I was done with my time on the treadmill, I came out and the moon was just about in "totality". There was only a remnant of the shadow that was cast during the eclipse and it was still as magnificent.

But I have to be clear that although I have been amazed at the astounding beauty of this world and the unbelievable intricacy and detail in which it is fashioned, I worship the Creator and not the creation.

Romans 1:25 says: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator -who is forever praised."

Join me in praising Him for all that He is - all that He does - all that He has planned - and lets enjoy what He has given us to enjoy.

-John

I participated along with hundreds of soldiers from across the country at Boise's Gowen Field for a "Warfighter Exercise." This type of training uses the latest technology to mimic real-life combat situations and allowed soldiers to practice operating a command center. The event lasted over a week and combined lessons from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I, however, was present only on the final weekend with the National Guard unit from Twin Falls.

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When you step into the tent it feels as though you are stepping out of time and into another reality. There is a sense of busyness that captures the undivided attention of the soldiers as they communicate back and forth via laptop, radio and phone regarding strategy, position and actions that are displayed on a large screen as a simulated battle-field in progress.

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There is an emotional intensity evident and when you observe the soldiers doing their job and it is difficult to believe that there are not 'real' counterparts being captured, taken as prisoner, or encountering an IED (Improvised Explosive Device), until you hear someone mutter the phrase "Real-World" in their conversation. It then that you realize it's a training exercise.

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I had several "Real-World" encounters at the training exercise. It seems that a Chaplain is a coveted officer whether it's training or the real thing. When I showed up about 18:30 (6:00pm) on Friday, I was taken aside and briefed on a real-world situation relating to two soldiers that were in immediate need of their chaplain.

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I thank God for the ministry He has allowed me to have in the lives of these soldiers and their families. By the time I was finished with the weekend I had counseled with four individuals about 'real' issues in their lives.

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Oh, by the way, I was informed later that the Chaplain and Chaplain's assistant in the warfighter simulation were 'taken-out' . I assume that was not good. LOL

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We'll, like I recently said to my father-in-law, you can't win them all, especially if you don't win the first one.

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LOL

-John M

It's Monday

Well, you have to admit I am getting better at more-frequent postings. It has actually been less than a week. Well, 6 days is less than a week. ;)





Monday mornings have always been good for me. I am ready to get into planning for the Sunday to come and believe it or not, I am usually fresh despite how busy Sunday was the day before with only a few historical exceptions.





I am thrilled for our youth Canada ministry team. Last night Silas Thompson made a motion to the church at our monthly ministry meeting that our church "Partner" with the Canada Baptist Convention through 2010 to help in the process of planting a church(es) in the greater Vancouver Canada area before 2010.





Our church unanimously agreed. Woo Hoo! Now the work begins.
Here is a copy of the motion:

The "Youth Canada Ministry Team" would like to make a motion that Eastside Southern Baptist Church formally create a partnership with the Canada Southern Baptist Convention, The Point Church, Simon Fraser Community Church and Kelly and Jeanne Manire of Burnaby Canada, BC for the purpose of ministering through 'ministry and mission teams leading up to and through the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC as well as to partner in planting additional outreach ministries and or churches in the Canada Southern Baptist Convention in the greater Vancouver, BC area.

This was the awesome thing. Right after our church finished voting on the partnership, one of our members, Gen Ennis stood up and announced to us that earlier this year she had read that the Canadian Baptists were asking for people to pray for them to plant churches; she has been praying for the Canadian Baptists and now God has answered her prayer by allowing her own church to become involved in that very endeavor for which she was praying .





Be careful what you pray for Gen, you just might get more than you bargained for. Thanks for praying for the Canadians, now we can begin to pray for the Idahoans and the Canadians.





-John M

It's Tuesday

Well, this may sound strange, but I have decided to be a bit more regular in posting to my BLOG.

In the past I have typically made entries when there was a significant event or similar to report. However, I have realized that consistency is preferable.

So other than it's Tuesday, here I am to post so here goes nothing, literally. :)

This past week has held a great reminding lesson for me in the finer details of body chemistry. I have re-discovered the joys of lactic acid build up in my muscles. Saturday was filled with climbing Mt. Borah (Idaho's highest peak). Although I was exhausted when the 14 hour 21 minute climb was done, I was still in store for all the pain that ensues.

Monday was the worst. I felt like I was a candidate for the nursing home. I would sit down and not want to get up for fear of pain. I would stand up and not want to sit down for fear of not being able to get up if I sat down. uggh.

Although I did manage to stay free of blisters on my feet, I did end up with bruises on the balls of my feet. And the new hiking boots I took on the hike now look as though I have owned them for the past five years.

I decided to go to the gym to work through some of the pain and possibly work it out. All I accomplished was creating more pain. I don't ever remember getting and staying this sore for this long when I was a teenager.

Tuesday is better on the scale of pain factorability, but now my chapped lips from the day in the wind are ready to take me the distance. I should go look for some carmex, and some Ibuprophen.

-John

My Apologies

The world we live in today is rather socked in with sin. We have to navigate our way through deceit and deception and then we are even faced with the blatant as well.

But sometimes it is the subtle approach that is the most cunning of all. In the process of providing a BLOG site to be for our church to read about it's pastors, the site we use has within itself a 'backdoor' to the evil of this world.

We were informed that on the home page of our BLOG there existed a link to what could eventually lead a person to view inappropriate material on the Internet. Thank you to our observant readers and their quick response to us.

I want to apologize that this was even remotely possible through our BLOG and I sincerely apologize if you may have stumbled across this while reading the BLOG. However, the navigation bar where the link was located has now been removed and as far as we know, it should not pose a problem in the future.

-John

12,662 ft!

At the risk of sounding like I am bragging, --- I Did It!

It felt great and the view was well worth every step up and down the mountain. Thank you Pastor Paul, for encouraging me to participate in this year's WAM trip. Which one is Next?

-John

What a feeling. So Surreal and tough to believe what has taken place.

I love this picture. I want to print it and hang it in my office. It will help me to remember that there are some Godly men that are praying for me.

-John

My Family and Hummers Galore

This has been a tremendous week of visiting with both sets of parents. My father was here to participate in my Commissioning Ceremony. My dad, who is retired 33 years from the military, was the one who issued me my first ceremonial salute. It was great.

Shari's folks have been here as well. One of the really cool experiences we have had with everyone was the trip into the South Hills to see the Humming Birds.

There is a group of researchers that are here every year to 'Catch" the birds and "band" them and take measurements and read the information on the existing band of those they catch that are already banded. It is an incredible process. The tiny little bands weigh nearly nothing. The gentleman told us it would take 5,000 little bands to weigh only one ounce. That is tiny.

But one of the best parts of the trip is when they take the humming bird and put in your hand and let it sit there until he is ready to fly off. Really Cool!

To see the intense details of a humming bird and to see how something that small has the ability to travel at such high speeds and such great distances with such amazing accuracy is unmistakably God at work. Wow!

-John

Commissioning Ceremony Set

This weekend on Sunday July 1, 2007 at 6:30pm I will be ceremonially commissioned as a Chaplain Candidate into the Idaho National Guard and the US Army. I say 'ceremonially' because I was actually already commissioned earlier this month.

While the official event took place in the Chapel at Gowen Field, the commissioning ceremony will be held at the Eastside Baptist Church this Sunday evening.

I sincerely would love to see you there to help me celebrate a very important day in my life and for my family. At the very least there will be snacks and giveaways after the ceremony. ;)~

But seriously, I can't wait to see how this will open yet another door of opportunity and ministry for our church, and I am thrilled to know that God will have another facet of my life to use for His glory.

One of the greatest requests I would have of you as my church family is that you pray for me to have strength and enthusiasm to be there for everyone and everything that God intends through all He has allowed to take place in recent days and especially in the days and years to come.

God Bless You,

-John

One hot and dry afternoon back in July of 2006 a couple of soldiers came into our church building asking if they could hang a poster on our bulletin board. They were actually recruiting a chaplain for the National Guard Unit here in Twin Falls.

What began with a simple conversation has now become a reality for me and my family. Yesterday afternoon on June 6, 2007 I was given my Oath of Office as a Chaplain Candidate in the US Army and more specifically the Idaho National Guard. Interesting tid-bit of trivia: It was 24 years ago to the day, on June 6, 1983 that I arrived in Columbia, South Carolina for Basic Training at Fort Jackson, my first stint with the National Guard.

Beginning next month, July 2007, exactly one year after that fateful afternoon I will don a uniform and begin a relationship with the soldiers of our city and state of which I truly hope will bring glory to our God.

I have no real idea what this will mean in a tangible way for our church and for the Kingdom, but I do hope to have an impact on many of the men and women in our Twin Falls Community.

Shari and my girls have been so solid in their support and I can't express how much that means to me in any kind of words. They have celebrated with me and I can see how proud they are by their reaction.

One of the most amazing things took place yesterday afternoon. I discovered I have a real friend. Let me tell you more.

This past Sunday afternoon I received a call from my recruiter SSG Sharrai informing me that the State National Guard Board wanted to meet with me that following Wednesday at 1:00pm. SSG. Sharrai said I should expect to be there at least two hours and that I would take my oath of office once I was approved by the board.

I began to realize that if my family came along it would be awkward at best if they were standing in the hall for two hours while I met with the board, so we decided reluctantly for me to travel alone.

In reality, I was only in the room with the board for about fifteen minutes after waiting for an hour for them to call me in. Once I was done, they didn't actually give me my oath of office as I expected, but my recruiter took me over to the Chapel there at Gowen Field where we met with several other chaplains. The officer who actually gave me my oath turned out to be a friend I have known for years, Captain Rob Morris. What a blessed surprise.

But the amazing thing was when my friend Paul Thompson walked through the doors. He had traveled all the way to Boise to be there at one of the most important times in my life when, because of circumstances, my family couldn't.

Thank you Paul, this really meant so much to me that you took the time to stand with me. I hope the Whopper and fries I bought you for dinner won't mess up your training for the Sawtooth Relay this weekend. ;)

One of the really neat things is that we will have a ceremony in a few weeks on Sunday July 1, 2007, here at our church to mark my commissioning as an officer and Chaplain Candidate. This will be attended by a few military types and hopefully by many of my friends and family who are able to make it.
-John

Too Long Since My Last Entry

I am almost positive that if I had any regular readers to my blog, they have long since abandoned me.

It has truly been too long since my last entry, so it is possible that I am only writing to myself. I guess I am ok with that too. It does have a theraputic effect and I find that I learn so much more about myself when I wirte in my blog. So here goes nothing.

Since the last time I made an entry there have been a few noteworthy events that have taken place:

I finished my Greek class! Whew! What a semester! I am so relieved and I was so happy to receive a C+. When I took my Midterm exam, I was afraid that things were not going to turn out so well. I got a D. ugggh! But the A I received on my Final Exam was what really pulled it all together.

I am still boggled as to how that happened.

My status has changed as well with the National Guard. I have been waiting to hear from the Guard for a several months now about whether they would accept me as a candidate for Chaplain for the Unit here in Twin Falls.

I received a call this week telling me that I have been "Green-Lighted" to meet with the State Board.

I meet with the board this Wednesday at 1:00pm at Gowen Field in Boise. Once I interview with the borad, they will give the final approval and I will take my "Oath of Office" on the spot. In other words, I will be sworn-in as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army this Wednesady afternoon. Sounds strange to think about it but it has been a long 10 months.

Jessica has all but officially raised all her Continental financial support. Jessica leaves in 12 days to begin her tour with the Continental Singers and eventually on to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. We are so proud of both of our girls and it is exciting to see them have a heart for ministry.

-John