http://www.buddymartin.net/blog Comments, Observations and Musings on the Journey of Life Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:21:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Journal, Some of you may remember the song, 'Zaccheus was a wee little man.' It is a children's song that has made its way around the globe. I found several versions of it from different countries, mostly by small children. Anyway, here is a version of it by a classic trio called 'the ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/07/02/zaccheus-was-a-wee-little-man/ Journal, Isn't it odd how we sometimes look back on our life and wonder what direction our life would have taken had we made a different choice than the one that we made at a certain time. (Hope that makes sense.) Well, the problem with that kind of thinking is that it achieves absolutely nothing. It simply goes with ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/24/dont-waste-time-on-what-might-have-been/ Journal, Several years ago I had a dream that I knew was from the Lord. That dream played a great role in helping me with a better understanding concerning 'the finished work of the cross'.  In the dream of the night --- Jesus is standing at the pulpit. I am behind Him to His left. While I ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/18/i-had-a-dream-holiness-to-the-lord/ Journal, Today is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all you dads. I was reading our local paper this morning (Alexandria Town Talk), when I saw a most beautiful picture of a painting done by a daughter of her father. It was part of an article entitled, 'Dad's time to shine.' The painting ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/15/the-wonder-of-it-all/ Journal, It is time for another Bible study. In this case I wish to provide some insights on how the Bible treats Jerusalem as God's redemption time clock. It was known and foretold by the prophets that the Jewish nation through its leadership would turn her back on God's Messiah. Jesus had something to say ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/12/jerusalem-the-time-piece-of-god/ Journal, Guess it may be good to share some heart secrets again. So here goes... What continues to amaze me is how time seems to be moving at a faster pace as it races for the finish line. A year and a half ago I passed the mantle of Senior Pastor of Christian Challenge to Nathan. Doesn't seem possible that it ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/10/adventures-of-the-heart/ Journal, The Bible teaches that laughter is good for the soul. It is also healthy for your faith walk. People who never laugh live sad lives. So it seems to me. Jesus said that His sheep could hear His voice. Has the Lord ever put laughter into your walk of faith. Boy, ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/06/can-we-have-a-moment-of-laughter/ Journal, I've noticed that while the greater part of my readers are in the U.S., I also have a great many readers from Western Europe, and from Australia, with a number from other countries. The one thing I've noticed in particular is that the largest percentages of my readers are from Christian based countries. (With some from Israel.) If ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/05/a-musical-tribute-to-my-uk-and-aussie-friends/ Journal, This entry may be a bit lengthy for some, but I believe it will be well worth the reading. There is a mystery that exists between Christianity and Judaism. And because of this mystery there has been a love-hate relationship between the two religions from the time of Christ Jesus. If you were to basically categorize the two ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/03/what-notable-jews-say-about-jesus/ Journal, Well, its time to check everything out with our new server. It appears that things are up for go. So let's begin with a devotion. A word from the man after God's heart... David said, "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/06/01/your-gentleness-makes-me-great/ Journal, The switch-over to our new server has been made. Its time to check things out. Thanks Jenni for jumping in to save a submerging fella.  Let's begin with Zaccheus the Great. He will soon be coming home with Betty. Looking at this picture makes you wonder if Zaccheus is thinking, 'Gosh mom, do ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/31/update-from-the-martin-family/ Journal, My blog is changing servers. So as my new server says, 'Pardon the dust.'  : )    I'll be back on in a short bit. All I can say is 'Praise the Lord!' Love, Buddy   http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/28/changing-servers/ Journal, Ok, readers. This entry takes on something very personal. It has to do with the lady of my life. But if you don't care for the romantic side of life, just delete this entry. The rest of you 99.9999% of humanity can read on.   :) Let's see. What happened on May 27th, ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/27/to-the-beautiful-lady-of-my-life/ Journal, It seemed like yesterday but it happened about 20 years ago. Christian Challenge was in a transitional phase. We were meeting in two sections of a mall while our new facilities were being readied for occupation. It was a Friday evening. I kept noticing that this gentleman would slip in and sit at the back of ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/24/a-jewess-sings-of-jesus/ Journal, Look closely at the world map. See all the red dots. Some are larger than others. The dots represent the numbers of people who are reading my blog. The larger dot (Louisiana) represents 100 to 999 visits in the last 24 hours. The smaller dots indicate anywhere from 1 to 99 ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/22/lord-dont-take-us-back-to-the-old-brush-arbor-days/ Journal, In my library I have a book that is forty-five years old. It was given to me by a Navy chaplain, early in 1963. There is a story behind this book. I had been aboard my ship, the USS Calvert (apa32 - Attack Troop Transport), for nearly a year and a half. We ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/21/the-dark-night-of-the-soul/ Journal, Stand by for a Bible study.  :) I want to provoke my readers to consider what the term 'Christian' really means. The term 'Christian' has to do with a new humanity that has been created in Christ Jesus. But I have a second purpose for this study. I want to encourage my Christian brothers and sisters ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/19/the-believers-song-soon-and-very-soon/ Journal, On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department. The day selected would be the third Saturday in ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/16/a-tribute-to-our-warriors/ Journal, Some many years ago the Lord began giving me songs, and each song carried a message from heaven. It was sort of like preaching the gospel in music. Because I knew where the songs came from, it was my desire to make them available to anyone who would benefit from them. ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/14/hear-the-trumpet-sounding-2/ Journal, There is nothing that makes me happier than to see my sweet Betty happy. And happy was what she was yesterday on Mother's Day. Yep, here's a picture of the lady of my life with the newest addition to our family. "Jigger" was born Thursday, May 8, 2008. In this picture ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/12/happy-mothers-day-to-the-ladies-of-our-life/ Journal, I enjoy reading Billy Graham's column in our local paper. Someone wrote him asking, "How can I know if God has really forgiven me? I did something several years ago that was very wrong ... Maybe I have committed the unforgivable sin. I worry about this all the time." Dr. Graham's ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/07/the-only-sin-god-cant-forgive/ Journal, In the book of Ezekiel, we read, "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one." Ezekiel 22:30 nasb It took me a while to find a certain Scripture ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/05/i-searched-for-a-man/ Journal, Don't know what it is, but something just jumps on me about having some funning. Reckon I need to dedicate this part of my entry to two young ladies who are in the process of moving to Louisiana to be part of the Christian Challenge family. By the way this entry ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/05/01/just-got-to-have-some-good-ole-louisiana-fun/ Journal, This evening I will be ministering on the subject, 'It's About The Children.' (6:30 p.m. Central time. Go to: http://christianchallenge.org/live/index.html Don't let the title throw you. The emphasis involves the original purpose of creation. The story of creation is the story of Jesus Christ and the children of God. If you love ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/30/its-about-the-children/ Sorry Journal, I need to run a test on my blog. Seems each time there is an update, my next entry (or two) fails to go out to subscribers. Hope this is just a fluke. Anyway, I'm sending this out for a check. (Yesterday's blog was titled 'How God Shapes Our Life in ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/29/testing-my-blog/ Journal, In my last journal entry I shared a devotional study entitled, 'The Footsteps of Messiah.' I also wanted to offer a study that shows how the Lord helps us make our transformation from being a newbie believer into a mature believer. With that in mind here is a short devotional study on... How God ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/28/how-god-reshapes-our-life-in-christ/ Journal, First for an update on my fishing excursions. I was up at 4:30 a.m. this morning for another jaunt to Cleco Lake. This time Andre, Judy and me were going after white perch. The time of compassionate fishing was over. Sure enough, we caught twenty-four beautiful white perch and two channel catfish. The picture ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/26/the-footsteps-of-messiah/ Journal, My apology for the last blog. It was sent accidently with nothing in it.  On well - You live and you learn. How's about this for compassionate fishing. I went white perch fishing yesterday afternoon with my son, Andre, and my grandson, Justin. There were a number of boats in the area ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/24/dont-be-a-mule-headed-believer/ Journal, Ok, so it wasn't a twenty-five pound bass. So, how's about a picture of a four pound bass that I caught on Cleco Lake, Saturday morning. Tried to take a picture of an alligator swimming near by, but the sun was too bright for a good picture.  :) Anyway, it was me and my youngest son, Andre', out ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/21/ever-seen-a-twenty-five-pound-bass/ Journal, Guess its time for another laugh moment. Been laughing with my kids. Thursday at noon has been our family get-together time for a number of years. We use this mostly just to catch up on personal family stuff. It is important to make sure that we are in touch with one another ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/17/watch-out-here-comes-the-martins/ Thats right Journal, I came into this twenty-first century clawing and clinging on to everything I could get my hands on that spoke of old-timey ways. You should have picked up on that by now, with all my memory sharings and such like. In fact my theme song was, 'I shall not ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/15/had-to-be-dragged-into-the-twenty-first-century/ Journal, I'm sending a shortened version of this entry for the purpose of testing my blog-journal. Recently had an upgrade but it appears that my last two entries did not make it to my subscribers. Hopefully everything is now fixed. By the way, I had my check up today on my cancer healing. Everything ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/14/i-just-love-old-churches/ Journal, Isn't this about the cutest little fellow you've ever seen? Just look at him -- a perfect picture of innocence. Why, what mama would not want this little tyke to be her own little boy? Such a charming young fellow. Sorry to all you mamas - He has already been taken. And there ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/12/testing-use-of-pictures-etc/ Journal Readers, In all my learnings while passing through this life, there is one thing that seems to stand out the most. It is a lesson that I keep having to come back to time and time again. But for the most part I have taken this awesome lesson to heart. And what ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/11/did-i-really-need-to-say-that/ Journal, The Lord has been so good to me, even when I wasn't as good as I should have been. But one thing I've found out above all else is that I need Him, every hour I need Him. So, in view of all this, think I've truly discovered the real key to triumphant faith. ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/09/i-need-thee-every-hour/ Journal, Thinking back on my Navy days in the Philippine Islands, there was something I saw that has troubled me all these years. Some of we sailors were at a carnival and in one booth was the tiniest man and woman I had ever seen. They could not have been much over a foot tall.  I'd never seen humans ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/08/think-i-may-have-unraveled-a-puzzle/ Journal, I think its time for a bit of fun with this one. Each Thursday in our newspaper we have the 'Rapides Senior News.' Course being a senior myself, I enjoy reading the wherewithals, and my favorite writer is Betty Dekeyzer. She always has the most interesting things to say. This week in her 'Straight ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/05/it-is-useless-to-try-to-explain-southern-things-to-northern-people/ Journal, As far as I know tomorrow is kick off day for our studies in Hebrews.   Just wanted to remind my readers that I am preparing a series of studies on the book of Hebrews. These studies will be offered to our Hebraic-Foundations study group. (We presently have 180 subscribers.) To any of my journal readers ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/04/03/today-if-you-hear-his-voice/ Journal, We had an awe-inspiring service this morning. Nathan ministered on the subject, 'Communion at the Cross.' His teaching was anchored in something that Paul wrote: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He  comes." (1Co11:26 nasb) The heart of Nathan's message ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/30/your-debt-was-nailed-to-the-cross/ Journal, Ok, let's get started. Seems some folk miss the stories on my personal life adventures. I'll just begin with some off-the-wall jabbering. So, who is this guy??? Rather handsome I'd say. After all this is possibly one of my fore-bearers. Just can't figure out which one. We have a number of Billy Martins in my lineage. And ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/24/who-is-this-guy/ Journal, Have you ever had this thought go through your mind, 'Why did they have to grow up?' Well, I certainly have. Then I wonder, 'Could it be that God has had this same kind of thought?'  Well, of course not. We know that God doesn't think those kinds of thoughts. After all, He IS God! ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/23/keep-it-simple-sweetheart/ Journal, Last evening I provided at study at Christian Challenge, entitled 'What Are You Afraid Of?' The study was not a new message. It just seems to have become lost in much preaching and teaching today. I would encourage my readers to take time to listen to the message. It may well provide some answers ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/20/dont-be-afraid-to-trust-the-lord/ Journal, It was February, 1975. We had left Lafayette, Louisiana, to pastor a small country church in Central Louisiana. Betty and me and our three children literally walked through a gate of faith that I've come to call, 'our gate to miracle land.' Yep, we ventured into a territory of faith that was totally new for ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/17/was-that-a-song-of-love-that-i-heard/ Journal, It is said when a Jewish person reads the New Testament that they begin to hear a Jewish voice.  There is a reason for this. It is because the New Testament is written in Hebrew thought form. Not all Christians are aware that the Bible we love so much, from Genesis to Revelation, is actually a Hebraic document. And to ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/16/an-introduction-to-hebraics/ Journal, Yep, we finally found out the truth behind the big foot legend. It was right in my home from the get go. Isn't that amazing that you can be looking at the answer and never realize it. And all it took was one picture. Well now, here it is. The legend ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/13/putting-the-legend-of-big-foot-to-rest/ Journal, Wow, what a weekend! Wonderful beyond words. And Betty and I are both tired plum to the bone, but a good tired nonetheless. Think next time we'll run our guests off no later than 10 p.m. each evening.    :) Our 32nd Homecoming Jubilee really was a day wonderful. The worship was so uplifting. Pastor Joel Dyke from ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/11/reckon-its-time-for-the-unwinding/ Well now Journal, Can you believe that it is snowing just north of us? Wow - Snow in Louisiana. Course that won't do narry a thing to hinder our 32th Homecoming Jubilee. Yep, we have us some guests coming in from Arkansas, Michigan, Texas, and Florida, and possibly other places. Plan ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/07/jambalaya-and-a-crawfish-pie-and-fillet-gumbo/ Journal, Yup, its that time again. Sunday, March 9, 2008, is our 32nd Homecoming Jubilee. What a venture it has been. It all began in an old storefront building in Boyce. Our very first service was on March 9th, our daughter Shana's second birthday. As for the building, we held it together with ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/03/03/youre-invited-to-a-happy-jubilee/ Journal, We had located to a small town in Central Louisiana to raise up a ministry. It was 1976. We had no sponsor, no congregation, and no means of support. I had my wife who loved me and trusted me in my calling, our three children, my guitar and Bible, and not ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/02/29/how-lovely-are-your-dwelling-places-2/ Journal, In my devotional time this week a portion of Scriptures really stood out to me. I've been thinking about it quite a bit. It was as though the Lord were reminding me of what my walk with Him is about. Listen: "And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and ... http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/2008/02/23/the-green-green-grass-of-home/