Planes Trains and Automobiles (minus the trains)

I am writing to you from the lonely and very quiet Gate #38 in the Las Vegas Airport. The reason for it's current state is because it's 2:30 am.

I am waiting for my flight which is scheduled to leave at 6:20am (four more hours) to Salt Lake City. I should arrive in Salt Lake in time to take the "Salt Lake Express" ( a bus shuttle service to Twin Falls).

Why the strange schedule? Well, its all mostly in the name of saving money.

As most of you know I drove to Colorado with Shari and the girls to celebrate Shari's mother's 60th birthday. We drove up Thursday and my plan was to fly back Sunday after Church in order to get back to the office by Monday morning. (Wishful Thinking)

Mostly my attempt to save a few bucks has really created a two-day flight and a shuttle tag-on and very droopy-bloodshot eyes.

So, after starting from Buena Vista, (where Shari's parents live) on Sunday afternoon, we drove to Colorado Springs for my flight which left at 10:06 pm to arrive in Las Vegas, NV at about 12:13am to wait for a flight to depart at 6:20am and arrive in Salt Lake around 8:00am to wait for the shuttle which leaves at 10:00am from SLC travelling to Pocatello and then finally arriving in Twin Falls at 3:45pm.

Flight = $150

Shuttle = $32.50

Getting a direct flight to Twin Falls next time = PRICELESS


See you when I get home. :)

-John M

Irreducible Minmum

What would you consider the absolute bottom line gotta know 'irreducible-minimum' for a student who graduates from high school?

Well I suppose that the Three-R's - Reading wRiting and aRithmetic would be the most obvious place to start.

What about the same student graduating from church youth group?

Is there such a thing as the Christian Three R's? Hmmmm? Maybe....

I have been reading a book that has really caused me to think about this very issue. The absolute most bottom line issues that our students need to know before they are sent out among the wolves so-to-speak, no pun intended on Idahoans.

The Book, called The Seven Checkpoints by Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall is a work that is intended to address that very point. Stanley and Hall claim that they have spent years asking this question to themselves as well as church youth workers and have whittled down from roughly 25 main ideas to seven simple "Checkpoints" they claim every student should know before they leave youth group and go on to college and or career.

Are you willing to take a stab at their findings? What do you think tops the list?

Here it is:
1. Authentic Faith
2. Spiritual Disciplines
3. Moral Boundaries
4. Healthy Friendships
5. Wise Choices
6. Ultimate Authority
7. Others First
(Stanley, Andy and Hall, Stuart, The Seven Checkpoints. Howard Publishing, 2001)

I looked at the list before I started reading the book and wondered if I would come up with a different list if I were asked the same question. I imagine that all of us would formulate a different list and maybe in a different order, but as I have read the overview and am now well into the book, I can see that this list is Biblically solid.

The list seems to be self explanatory, but for sake of argument here is my re-word:
1. Knowing Jesus.
2. Having a Daily Walk with Jesus.
3. Knowing how far is too far.
4. Picking your friends wisely.
5. Knowing Right from Wrong.
6. Knowing who really calls the shots (God).
7. Learning to play well with others.

What do think? If you had all these things figured out when you graduated, what would your life look like now? Be honest..... That's what I thought.

Me too.

-John M

"The Rest" of The Rest of the Story.

There is almost always more to every story that never gets told. It is no different in this case.

You read the story of the on-going saga of the missing van earlier this week, well, here is the rest of that story.

The very next day after posting that story Shari and I dropped by TDK to talk with the mechanic and see about the progress of the van.

He mentioned to us that there was one small piece missing: A piece of plastic trim that connects the door frame and holds down the edge of the carpet on the floor board. -Not a big deal, but still a fairly important part.

They suggested that I go back to the previous shops and see if was just laying around.

I have to admit to you that I was not interested in the prospect of confronting these gentlemen, but I did it anyway.

I arrived at the home of the first shop owner and no one was at home. So I carefully walked around the yard where he kept my van parked to see if I could find the part just laying around. You guessed it: While I was snooping, the owner came driving up. He had this look on his face of "What do yo think you're doing?" You get the picture.

When he got out of his truck I explained to him why I was there, and the first words out of his mouth were: "Your van still isn't fixed?" I think it was both surprising and amusing to him at the same time.

My answer was simple, 'Yup'.

I told him about the part I was looking for and he assured me that everything was placed back in the van when he was done. But an interesting thing happened.

He told me that if I couldn't find the part he would be more than willing to go to the local junk yard and get one for me. We chatted for a while longer and walked around his yard like two old farmers mulling over the south-forty, browsing around and looking at a couple of old cars he was working on: a 68 Mustang and and a Cougar. All in all I felt as though he was trying to apologize in his own way for his contribution to the debacle.

As I drove off and on my way to the "other guy", I was even more leary of showing my face there. Unlike the previous week when we pick up Shari's assembled van he was at the shop.

I told him, once again, why I was there, and so he took me out to the yard to look for the missing part. When we couldn't find it and he was convinced that it must be at the first guys place, he said something that totally blew away.

He told me, and I quote: "I feel I owe you an apology for the way I treated you." Wow. can you believe that? Although he did sort of come up with a couple more "excuses" why he did what he did, I could see that he was really trying to be sincere.

So I shook his hand and said, "I accept your apology." I wish I could tell you that he said something like let me refund you some money, or let me make it up to you in some way, but he didn't, and I guess that's ok too.

Did I mention to you? I got a call about an hour ago, and Shari's van in finally finished.

So $3,500 and 9 1/2 months later, Shari can have her van back. Wave at her next time you see her driving, you'll know it's her, she'll be the one grinning and waving like she is in a parade.

-John

Shari's Van

Well, I guess it's time for that long story to be shared:

Last year about this time, a small mission group from Mississippi took their Spring Break to come to Twin Falls and do Adventure Bible Clubs in the park around town. They did a great job and we hope they will consider coming back again.

It was near the end of that week, after a long tenure of Jessica driving with a permit, that I allowed her to drive through an area near South Park Twin Falls in order to allow her practice time driving in "neighborhoods".

The experience was more intense than we expected. She pulled out after coming to a stop sign and a vehicle T-Boned us. She had her first accident and she didn't even have a real driver's license.

Unfortunately, we were without insurance at the time, since we had let it lapse. (Very Dumb) So we were left with the task of finding someone to fix our van at our own expense.

Our first instinct was to find someone cheap and fast. The van was drivable so we continued to drive it around town for about a month getting bids and looking for that All-Illusive-Cheap-Deal.

I was in a restaurant on a Saturday morning having coffee and studying, (a normal for me) when I ran into a neighbor in the restaurant who asked if we had Shari's van fixed yet. I said no and she told me that she had a "friend" who did body work and she called him on the spot.

Within a couple of days he came out to our house, looked at the van and told us he would do it, and then he asked those magical words: "How Much Do You Want To Pay".

This was too good to be true. By the way, it was. I asked him if he would do it for $1,000. and he said no problem. I felt great and I was sure he was a God-Send. (yes, I still believe he was - more on this later)

So off our van went to the back yard of a our neighbor's "friend". The van stayed there for the next 6 months, yes I said 6 (Six) and I also said months. Only half of the job was finished, and after constant visits, and conversations with this "friend", he finally relented and said he would not be able to complete the job.

We had payed him $250. and he said he would call it "even" and we should come pick up our van.

OK, here is the problem: Our van was in many pieces at this point and with the doors off, his cats had made their home in Shari's van not to mention the fact that it had rained several times throughout the 6 month period. The van was filthy and the battery had to be charged in order to even get it started.

Enter new body-man: One of the original body shops that made a bid agreed to come tow the van to their shop and take over the job. When we spoke to them and told them our "sob-story" about the first guy, they assured us they could and would finish it up and it should only take 2 to 3 weeks. Wow, we could handle that especially after waiting months.

Sounded great! We said "Go For It" and beleived we were in good hands.

A few weeks later, the van wasn't finished, but they assured us once again that they would have it done soon but they were just starting to get busy with other vehicles. We trusted them and said we would check back.

This same scenario repeated a few more times and a few weeks turned into a few months. Long story short, they had the van for almost 4 months and never finished it. Finally along with the accompaniment or my friend Paul Thompson, to visit the Shop owner "one more time", He agreed to sign a document stating that he would finish the van by March 15th 2008.

Shari and I went back on the 15th and the van was "finished", sort of... but he refused to put the parts back together stating that he had lost money on the job by under bidding it. Correction, he did put the driver's seat back, with only a couple of bolts and no seat belt.

So off we go to to yet another shop.

Note: There are details I am omitting for the sake of time and boring you to tears. Mostly dealing with they disrespectful way we were treated and names we were called by the shop owner. I have also not mentioned names of owners and business names as well and a few other details concerning the unprofessional manner in which we were treated. I am sure this is mostly our own opinion, so I'll leave it out.

Now as of 5:00 Friday evening March 15th Shari's van has been at "TDK". They started work on the van this morning and they are done reassembling it with the exception of a couple of missing parts, (easy stuff) and the tune-up and detail which we asked them to do.

What a difference integrity makes.

In retrospect: If I had it to do all over again knowing what I know right now, I would never go to either one of those guys again. But, that is precisely why God didn't consult with me. I would have walked right past an opportunity to be tested without batting an eye.

What Satan intended for evil, God intended for good. I have been severely tested in many ways over the past nine and half months on all sides. He has tested my character in front of the shop owners, their workers and other employees.

He has tested me in front of many of the members of our church who have out of great concern for us continued to check in and ask us about the van. He has tested me in front of my family in the attitude I have shown at home and while driving back and forth to the shops.

He has tested our family's ability and desire to share one vehicle with three drivers

Finally, He has tested me in front of myself. I know the thoughts I have had, the things I have wanted to say and do, the attitudes I have borne in my spirit, and the way I have allowed my concern for a personal possessions to have more bearing over my concern for the salvation of these shop owners.

How did I do? Maybe you don't want to know everything. In spite of the time I did spend praying for the shop owners and their employees, I know I need to continue to pray for them. Maybe you would join me in praying at least one time for these souls for which Christ died.

By the way, God knows where we need to be tested and He allows it for our benefit, so thanks Lord, I needed that.

Oh, about Shari's van.... we got a call earlier today from the shop at TDK (the guys with integrity) to let us know they were almost done.

So in the words of of Paul Harvey, "Now You Know The Rest of The Story".

-John

Good Boy Coda - Good Boy.

Sometimes bad things happen with good results.

Last week, I was home briefly to pick something up for lunch as well as Shari because she needed the van. As many of you know, we have been sharing one vehicle since last year because Shari's van has been in the shop. (Long story for another blog entry)

Shari had made this delicious soup the night before, that we love here in the Martinez household. It's call "Turkey Wildrice Soup" and it is really yummy. I decided to take some of it as a lunch.

We love our dog so much that we let him ride in the van quite often so Coda got to go too. On our way into town to have Shari drop me off at the Church, Shari and I decided stop at the Oasis to get a soda. We were only in the store for about three or four minutes.

When we got back to the van, we discovered Coda was also a fan of the "Turkey Wildrice Soup".

Naturally we were very angry to say the least with our dog. But there was nothing we could do at this point, so Shari finished taking me to the Church.

Later, Pastor Paul asked me if I had plans for lunch and I had to admit what Coda had done and so he felt real bad and invited me to lunch, and on top of that, Paul picked up the tab. What a nice guy.

So lets review:

• Soup leftovers for lunch, $2


• Sodas from Oasis $3


• Family pet from Pound $50


• Lunch tab for Pastor Paul $14


• Getting taken to lunch by a thoughtful pastor: Priceless

Good Boy Coda, Gooood Booooy!

-John

DONE!

Took my last test this morning and finished one up last night about 3:00am. What a relief and what a joy.

The girls were very happy as well. I went home for lunch and when I walked through the door, I was dumped on by a storm of confetti and cheers. I think they were cheering as much for themselves as they were for me.

The next two weeks are fairly busy, but its a good-busy. As you know, we have Palm Sunday and Easter and Pastor Paul will be away on his missionary journey with Silas, and these weeks are typically a bit more involved.

Gene Lawley preaches this week, Greg Blair on Easter and I can't wait to see all the extra folks in church.

Its good to be back to the land of the living, but it won't be long and I'll be back in to a new set of classes.

-John M

Almost Done ~ For Now

The last 8 weeks have been a whirlwind of intellectual intensity making my brain tired and worn out from overuse and trying to stuff too much in without warning. I'm talking about? School.

I am only a few days from finishing up my semester of Systematic Theology and Church History. I can assuredly tell you that I have packed away an incredible amount of information, but don't ask me to tell you what, because most of it is still swirling around in my brain and if I opened any little part of it to peek in I am afraid the rest would come flying out.

I am sorry, I know that sounds too graphic, but if I didn't know any better, I would say I was working on a PhD and not a Masters degree. Maybe I don't want to know what a PhD is like.... My hat goes off to all those PhD's out there.

Everyone has been so supportive. Paul and Dawn have been so forgiving to allow me to be buried in the books when I needed it. And somehow God has been so forgiving of my limited time and has almost "multiplied" it when I needed it.

But Shari and the girls have taken the biggest hit. Jessica and Julia will respectfully turn the volume down on the TV when they see me glued behind my computer and will sweetly ask me if I need to study so they give me room at the kitchen table.

Shari has encouraged me so many times when I have had this obvious look of exhaustion in my eyes. She asks me how everything is coming with the books.

She has "shared" me with the other "Shari" when I come dragging in at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning from studying at "Shari's" Restaurant - Twin Falls only 24 hour "House of Coffee". And in the words of John Lennon, "...I'm not the only one..."

She gives me a compassionate sigh when I come to bed and tell her I just took another test and I didn't score as high as I thought I should have.

Even Coda has been supportive enough not to bark when the garage door opens in the middle of the night. "...Good Boy, little buddy..." He knows its just me coming and going at all hours.

But, in just a few days all this will be over. Over, at least until next time. I am in the process of registering for my next round of classes. Next time is already here. I am must be crazy.

-John