Snow Dog?

My little buddy is out and about checking out the snow. Every Day a little more snow

A Very Tasty Christmas

There are some things that just cannot be adequately described - only enjoyed.....

Thanks Toni Marie for the awesome tortillas.

-John

Name These ESBC Faces

Can you name these faces of our church Family?





Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

-John M

Worship Follows

True Statement:

One of the most pressing issues for a person in the ministry of leading worship is that of skillful presentation of the music. In other words, we musicians work to make sure every note, every song, every transition moves with flow.

Why do we focus on this so much? Because at the heart of it, we desire to see the people in our congregations worship and connect with the God of Creation in an unhindered setting. It is as simple as that. Except its not that simple...

True Confession:

We also get so caught up in the perfection of our craft that we sometimes easily lose sight of the reason for our effort in the first place. We become skillful musicians with no depth of heart.

David was described by the Psalmist as one who led with skill AND heart. Psalm 78:72 "...David Shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them."


One of our (musicians) pitfalls is to overemphasize excellence at the expense of ministering to hearts. In this case, we can at best just be referred to as "church musicians" - because what we do takes place inside of a Church building.

When we allow this skill that God has provided to us to be a multifaceted door of ministry to both God and people then we become musician-ministers.

On the surface it may sound like I am speaking of those "Up-Front" folks, but not true. We all minister.

Just this morning in our church office, I was speaking to my friend John Requa, a senior member of our congregation who loves to share the Gospel with anyone and everyone. He mentioned to me that he was on his way to the laundromat to do the obvious, but he said to us just as he walked out the door, "Maybe I can find someone to witness to..."

That is taking his skill and showing integrity of heart just like David.

Church musicians are constantly touting that they are worship leaders... in other words, they are these self described "up-front" folks taking us to the throne room in adoration, praise, and celebration; they facilitate corporate WORSHIP with music.

But when the heart is transformed and stays fixed on the object of our skill, that is when I believe true worship follows.... and sometimes, but not always, music is involved.

-John

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! What ever happened to all those groups and businesses that were trying to make some kind of statement about Christmas just being another holiday?

I suppose they are still out there making their statements by telling their employees they can only greet using the phrase "Happy Holidays". Whatever!!

I guess I am OK with people saying Happy Holidays, because there are several holidays back to back: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. So I suppose if you look at it from that point of view it's OK to call them the holidays.

As a matter of fact, I have even asked people what they're doing for the "Holidays". I know what I am talking about and so do they. For that matter, I also know what I am NOT talking about.

I am NOT trading the proper title Christmas for the lessor title of 'holiday'. I am NOT denying the reason for the season. Jesus is what it is all about. Duh! That is why it's called CHRIST-mas!!

But the funny thing about the word holiday, it can also mean HOLY - DAY! Even in their attempt to deny, they are proclaiming the essence of the day after all

But what it all comes down to is a couple of things. First of all, Christmas is the biggest holiday of all period. The influence of this day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ drives and even defines our nations economical tendencies, In other words, believer and Atheist alike spend boku bucks giving gifts at Chirstmas, which leads me to my second point: Giving is what Jesus is all about. Jesus came to earth because God was willing to give us His Son. Jesus lived and died to give us the greatest gift of all time- our salvation .

Our biggest complaint as Christians is that Christmas has become a retail holiday. Malls, department stores, retailers and Secret-Santas haul in billions upon billions this time of year.

But our God is a God of redemption. He is a God that works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. While elves, and salesmen were coming up with better ideas of how to make us part with out cash in the name of "giving", God was redeeming this holiday by showing us that "Giving" is the core of Christmas.

I am not saying that we have to rush out and spend all our money to show God how "giving" we are, but when we do get and give those gifts in just a couple of days like we have every year for the last umpteen years, Let God's ingenuity and ability to redeem what was lost, remind us of the greatest gift ever given. Jesus' life for ours.

-John

The Servant

I have been reading a book called The Servant, by James C. Hunter.
The Servant is a book on leadership (not like there aren't a million out there already) that is written in an allegorical style.

Yeah, I thought it was a strange approach too. But it really it a good way to stand back and evaluate from a third party frame of reference a topic that is constantly being touted.

The fictitious setting is rather interesting; A 'former' fortune 500 CEO turned monk hosts a leadership seminar at his monastery in Michigan for a widely varying group of leaders. A public school principal, a drill sergent, a pastor, a nurse, and a woman's college basketball coach.

The essence of leadership, as taught by 'brother' Simeon is that of leading from the Biblical perspective of Love. Yup, Jesus' style of leadership was the central focus of the seminar, but the characters didn't know this right at first.

As you can imagine the Pastor and the Drill Sergent were naturally at odds with each other in their personal styles of leadership, but it was the unique personalities of each of these characters that I believe will capture the attention of a wide base of readers.

Hunter puts his thumb on one of the most critical aspects of the nature of leaders. They lead either from their endued POWER or from the aspect of influence and authority given to them by those they lead. In other words, a leader can make you do your job as in the case of employer to employee, because he is the one who signs your paycheck, or they can lead by authority or 'influence' which is given to them by those whom the serve.

Hunter also clarifies that a servant-leader meets valid needs and not necessarily wants; it is their task as servant leader to see the difference.

If you're looking for a quick read (1 or 2 days) and a fun but intruiging look at leading the way Jesus led, you may enjoy reading The Servant by James hunter.

-John M

Pomp and Ceremony

Shari and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Chaplain School Class Banquet tonight. This is not my first time in Army Dress Blues but today was the first time for me as an officer and a Chaplain.

Tomorrow Shari will hear the Chief of Chaplain's Major General Carver speak tomorrow and then on Friday I graduate and pin on the Chaplains' Regimental Crest:



Then finally we will be home to Idaho!!!

-John M

Ladybug Picnic

Shari and I are at the Lifeway Conference Center also known as Ridgecrest. Everything is beautiful in this mountain setting near Ashville, North Carolina. It is a little chilly outside and as we woke this morning it was a measly 24 degrees, I think that the ladybugs knew this too, because as we lay in our bed in our room we looked up at the ceiling and noticed this huddle of ladybugs all snuggled in a corner.

We don't mind sharing our room as long as they stay put, especially through the night...

Update: Shari arrived OK on Thursday evening just fine, but her luggage only arrive this morning (Saturday).

(Shari and I on the bus with a couple of prankster Chaplains hamming for the picture)



-John

Final Stretch

Starting the last half of Chaplain School in October, I assumed that it would be over faster than I thought... BUT... It has felt like I have been here for a year. It seems like forever and I am very anxious to get home.

Nevertheless, I am in my final stretch. I know its true since Shari will be here tomorrow.

Woo! Hoo!

Shari is in for a very busy time of training while she is here as well.

She gets here Thursday night and we leave for North Carolina on Friday morning for a three day Conference. Then on Monday morning she will be in a Spouses' Seminar for another three days while I finish up my final week of classes.

I am so glad she will be here, but she may have second thoughts after next week.

Here are a couple more pics:

-John
Here we are going through a Sand Briefing. Basically, the command lays out a 2-D map on the ground and they walk us through the battlefield.

Room full of PRAYING Chaplains.

More Praying Chaplains.. I am wearing my black Field Jacket.

-John

Final Two Weeks

Recently we spent our final time in the field doing some practical training. Above is our "Ramp Ceremony" to honor a fallen Soldier. This is typically held on a Airfield or chopper-pad where we offer a short ceremony as the Soldier is loaded on to an aircraft to travel home for his final Funeral Service/Ceremony.

In this picture our platoon is huddled in a concrete bunker after our area was hit with mortar fire. (not real) Our procedure was that once we heard mortar fire we moved to the bunker to get accountability. (Take Roll) in some cases we would have to gear up in our Pro Mask (Gas Mask) if we heard the command "Gas". We were smiling, mostly because it was a false alarm. We ran after we heard mortar from another FOB. (Forward Operating Base). What can you expect from a bunch of Chaplains...

We have less than two weeks remaining before we finish this phase of our training. Shari is coming up for part of that training. Yup, you heard me right. Shari will be here in two days to join me for a time of training in Marriage Strong Bonds Training, as well as spouse briefing and of course my graduation.

She arrives here in Columbia on Thursday evening, and I will have to pick up my dirty clothes and spruce up the place before she gets here.

-John