Pastor Buddy’s Blog

The Martins through the years…

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Well Journal.

I finally figured out how to upload pictures onto my blog. Thought to myself, ‘What better place to begin than to give a brief picture-narrative of the Martins through the years.

This first picture is of the Martin family in our earlier Christian Challenge days. What a handsome group. Of course good looks runs naturally in our family. We like to call this ‘the curse of the Martins’. Now if you are blinded by all our beauty, this picture includes Betty, Nathan, Andre, Shana, and yours truly, Buddy, Don’t know why we didn’t get a curse concerning money.

But reaching back a bit further in time, this is a picture of the young Pentecostal preacher, with his lovely bride, and their firstborn son. Yep, it really is Betty, Nathan, and yours truly. Aren’t we just the cutest?

Ok, enough already. Where is picture of the now-and now?

You asked for it. Here is a picture of Buddy and Betty in the now-and-now. Wouldn’t you know it — We are just as handsome and as beautiful as ever. And I have it from an unimpeachable source that we are struck with rare beauty.

In fact this picture was taken at Christian Challenge just yesterday by our own beloved Mike and Debbie Campbell. I ask Debbie for a copy and sure enough, she sent me a copy via email, with this note, ‘You guys are beautiful!’

Yeah, I know it. One sister said to me not long ago, “Brother Buddy, you are full of it.”

Ok, nuff on the pictures and the rare beauty. I’m still a bit bumfuzzled over how to move the pictures around on the page. Guess when you are 67 years young, its alright for the brain not to be as spry as it once was.

Thank you Lord…

We had a grand weekend. Saturday evening was our annual Christian Challenge Thanksgiving supper. As usual the food was a plenty and the fellowship was ‘on top of the world.’ In fact we’ve pretty much maxed out the sanctuary with tables. We’ve long since outgrown the fellowship hall. Got to get into the planning mode for additional facilities.

Well, the part that really warmed everyone’s heart was when people began sharing what they were thankful for. (Concerning 2007) We had two mikes moving back and forth through the sanctuary. It was a time for easy tears. Some spoke of their trials and their victories. Yes, Christians do have troublesome times in their lives.

But as disciples we are reminded of a promise that remains. Jesus spoke to His heartbroken disciples saying, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Jn16:33 nasb.)

Got to mention the ‘locusts’ …

Nathan has had us in a series of teachings for the month of November based on Proverbs 30:24-28, which says in part, “Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise; … ants … shephanim … locusts … lizard…”

The theme for the month is ‘Animal Planet - What animal planet can teach you about life.’

Yesterday’s ministry was on the locust. These teachings are some of the most practical, inspiring, and insightful teachings that I have heard in a long time. In fact I can’t wait for next Sunday when Nathan will minister on the ‘lizard.’

Well, you will just have to listen to these teachings via the Christian Challenge archives.

That’s about it for now. Thought about tacking a study on the end of this, but perhaps that would be a bit too much.

Oh wait — About the pictures …

There is something I wanted to get across with the Martin pictures. It has to do with the testimony of David, when he said, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

The Lord has been so good to me and my family. I was twenty-three when we married and Betty was twenty. Here it is 44 years later, four children later, and ten grandchildren later. The pictures tell the tale and this old song says it all …

“When I think of the goodness of Jesus,
And all He has done for me.
My soul cries out, ‘Hallelujah’.
Thank God for saving me.”

Happy thanksgiving to all of you.

May the Lord bless you,

Buddy