The Ballestero Blog

“Well, Let’s Suppose You Starve To Death And Die Down There.”

“Well, let’s suppose you starve to death and die down there.

If you do, I will build you a monument bigger that George Washington’s

The ugly, Salmon colored 1955 Ford pushed it’s way southward into the cool October breeze. The clutch slipped a little and the 6 cylinder engine wasn’t making happy noises. That was normal for it though. This was only my third day as a full-time evangelist.

Now, it really is kind of funny that I would have considered myself full-time, because I did not have any revivals scheduled, or any invitations. I did not have an exact destination either. I was driving not knowing literally where I was going. I was having an “Abraham” type moment.

Several weeks prior, I had sat in our living room talking with my parents. My Father, Carl Ballestero pastored Christ Temple Apostolic Church in South Bend, IN. He had given me permission to go “on the evangelist field” and I was thrilled with the open door.

Mother asked, when I had thought about leaving? I was sure I would be ready to go in two weeks.

“Where are you going?” she had asked.

“Louisiana!” I had responded, not knowing really why.

“Do you have any revivals scheduled?” she pushed.

I shook my head no.

“And I won’t ask for one either.” I said.

“Then how are you going to get a revival?”

“The same God that helped you and Daddy when you evangelized, will help me too.” There, I had said what I felt. It had just felt good to say that. I could only hope He would.

The year was 1963. I had just quit my job making $1.25 an hour. I had only saved $85.00. That took several weeks for me. But I was confident I could last a while on that. Dad had offered me the use of a gas credit card. I turned him down. He got very serious and said, “Here is one we don’t use. It’s a DX card. Whatever you charge, you’ll have one month to pay for it.” I took it because I saw he really thought I should.

I was 19 and had only preached one revival. It had been a one-week Youth Revival in a Buchanan, MI, a neighboring church.

I had been invited to preach Youth Services occasionally at other churches since I was 16.

Dad and Mom had prayed for me as I was preparing to go, we all had hugged necks and kissed and then I left. Momma cried.

Now I sat watching the road while my heart kept sinking lower and lower. I had used Dad’s DX card for gas. The last two nights I had slept in my car and washed up in the truck stops. It had been easy to blow $5.00 on Dr. Peppers, Moon Pies and Frito’s. They had been my main food source for two days.

The muffler and tailpipe had fallen off at Eldorado, AR. By the time I pulled into Leesville, LA, my alternator and generator had quit, the distributor cap was cracked and the carburetor needed a kit installed. I could not go on.

The service station guy said he would install used parts for me if I got them. I went to the junkyard and bought what I needed. The parts and the labor came to $75.00.

I now had a grand total of $5.00 to my name and I was over a 1,000 miles from home.

A nearby Bank caught my eye. I walked inside and laid my last bill down. “I would like $4.00 in quarters and the rest in nickels and dimes.” I told the teller. With my handful of change, I went to the closest phone booth.

Too proud to ask for help or call collect, I was determined to pay for this call. “Please deposit $3.50,” the operator’s voice instructed me. I did, counting carefully under my breath.

When my Father answered, words hurriedly rolled from my lips. “Daddy, I don’t want you to know where I’m at because I don’t want you to send me any money. I just have a question for you.

I told him of my mechanical misfortunes and that as of right now, I only had $1.50, I didn’t know what I was going to do about supper, where I was going to sleep tonight, or how I was going to get a revival.

“All I want to know is what do you do now?” that was my question.

My ears heard laughter. I listened in disbelief. I couldn’t see any humor in the situation.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t see much humor here Daddy,” was about all I could manage to say.

“Well, let’s suppose you starve to death and die down there. If you do, I will build you a monument bigger that George Washington’s,” was his reply.

Then he laughed some more.

Still held in a serious mood, I could not see anything funny in our conversation.

“Why would you build me a monument bigger than George Washington’s if I starve to death and die,” I wanted to know.

“The reason I’ll build you a monument bigger than George Washington’s if you starve to death and die, will be because you will have been the first man God ever let down.” he said.

“Oh Daddy! Thank You!! I love and I’m so sorry to have called and bothered you! Good bye!” And with that, I hurriedly hung up the phone.

I knelt on the floor in that old phone booth. It was located on the south side of town beside highway US-171 that runs southward towards Lake Charles.

“Lord, if you’ll forgive me for doubting you, I’ll not do that any more.” I said the words with tears running down my cheeks.

To this day I can smell the pine from the logging trucks and hear their engines in my ears as one after another they vibrated my phone booth during my prayer.

When I walked out, I was shocked to run into a familiar face. Pastor Cranford from Sulphur, LA. He had attended my Dad’s Open Bible Conference in March.

“What are you doing here?” he wanted to know.

“I’m starting out evangelizing,” was all I could say.

“Have you had supper?” was his next question.

“No sir.”

“Do you like Cajun Seafood?”

I didn’t know if I did or not because I had never had any Cajun Cooking before. But my hunger pushed me to say, “Oh, Yes sir!”

“Mama’s got a big pot of gumbo on, come home with me.” He invited.

While I ate, what just happened to be, one of the best meals of my life, Bro. Cranford asked if I could preach at the Youth Service that night.

There was no need to check my Calendar. I knew it was empty. I preached that night and He gave me an offering of $14.50. (I didn’t know for sure if there was that much money left in the world.)

After church he called Bro. A.L. O’Brien in Starks. Bro. O’Brien invited me to come to his church. I preached to the youth before church every night before their revival service. The church was in a revival with C.R. Free. I lived in the O’Brien’s home for almost 9 weeks of that revival.

Bro. O’Brien told me that there was a little place down the road called Lunita. A Bro. Kirkland was the pastor and he wanted me to come. I preached 9 nights there, and 16 backsliders prayed through.

Bro. C.W. Shew sent a message to Bro. O’Brien inviting me to come to Ft. Worth, TX. for a revival.

In all, I was gone 9 months before I returned home. Then it was just long enough to trade cars and go back to the next revival.

This year marks my 50^th year of preaching. In that time I have been blessed to have preached over 900 revivals or series of services, besides conferences, camps and anniversaries.

The first thing God had to teach me, was actually the first thing he had to teach Israel when then came out of Egypt.

To Trust Him!

My Father taught me one of the most important lessons of my life. Thanks Dad!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 8, 2010 at 12:36 am

Posted in Christian Living, Faith, Life, Ministry, Personal Growth

Thirteen Days From Eternity

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Thirteen Days From Eternity

At 3:00pm today, the nurse at the nursing home called Phyllis Crandall’s daughter and told her that her mother had just died. They had last checked her vitals and her oxygen mask at 2:15. She was 65.

Phyllis had been in failing health for a while. She was also a backslider. No one seems to remember for sure how many years she had been away from God, but she hasn’t attended church in over 20 years. That much everyone agreed on.

She had been a member at several Pentecostal churches in the area. For one reason or another, her and her husband had changed churches several times over the years. When he died, Phyllis somehow became unconnected with church and stayed that way.

Then to make matters worse, her health began to deteriorate. After stays in the hospitals, she was sent to a nursing home for her final days.

She lived with an oxygen mask on her face. Her weight problems no doubt worked against her too.

She had called her daughter almost two weeks ago and said, “I feel like I need to pray.”

Her condition was not good. Pastor Kenneth Bow was called to come and pray for her.

When he came into the room Phyllis said, “Bro. Bow, I just don’t know if I could ever speak in Tongues again.”

(Besides her health limitations, she was fearful that God wouldn’t let her because of lack of faithfulness to Him.)

“Yes you can speak in Tongues again, you’re still God’s child!” Pastor Bow said to encourage her.

He laid his hands on her, and then like he’d used Paddles that restart a stopped heart, Phyllis physically jerked and sat up in her hospital bed. Her hands in the air. In 10 seconds she was clearing speaking in Tongues. They pulled the mask aside as she prayed. She continued to speak in Tongues.

That was 13 days ago.

Death walked the corridors of her nursing home today. But 13 days ago, Mercy got there first.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 6, 2010 at 11:34 pm

Posted in Christian Living, Death, Mercy, Recovery

Gold Mining For Dummies!

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Uncle Milo And The Gold Mine

In the 1940’s my Uncle Milo and his brother Bill bought a California Gold Mine. I cannot tell you how excited they were to own a real gold mine. They were thrilled even more when gold nuggets were found scattered on the ground in one of the shafts.

Bill Smith, Milo Smith

The temporary rush of finding gold was the thrill that made them work even more feverishly. Most of the gold was found in an area littered with small pools of water. The constant dripping and seepage of water from the roof of the cave made panning and searching for gold an uncomfortable task. Nevertheless, the gold was on the ground and that’s all that mattered.

As a relief from the water dripping overhead, Uncle Milo and his brother wore rain coats. They looked funny and laughed at each other because they didn’t look like gold miners with their yellow rain coats on. It wasn’t the easiest thing to wear either.

After months of searching, panning, and digging, they finally admitted there was no more gold to be found in their mine. They took off their rain coats, and pocketed a modest but nice amount of cash. The next thing they did was put the mine up for sale after owning it for only a few months. An unsuspecting buyer was soon found, and the mine ownership switched hands.

The new mine owner walked through the mine to have a look at what he’d purchased. When he got to the area where the water was dripping steadily from above into the pools below, he shined his flash up on the ceiling to see where the water was coming from.

What he saw changed his life and made him fabulously wealthy. He had found the ‘mother lode’ just by looking up!

Uncle Milo settled for thousands and later died a pauper. The new owner died a millionaire. Milo could have died wealthy if he’d just looked up.

What are you robbing yourself of by not looking up?

Uncle Milo Smith

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 4, 2010 at 11:28 pm

Posted in Christian Living, Faith, Life, Personal Growth

How To Have The Best Wife In The World!

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How To Have The Best Wife In The World!

It’s true! It’s easy! It works!

Before I can explain how and you gentlemen are allowed to know the secret and get all excited, I have to talk to you about God first. That’s exactly right. I have to talk about God and You. Listen up.

There are seven basic Hebrew words that describe how we are to worship and praise the Lord. Below is a part of a handout from one of my sermons.

The Seven Words Of Praise

1. BARAK Judg 5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

2. HALAL 2Chrn. 5:13-14; It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD;

3. ZAMAR Psa. 21:13; Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

4. TEHILLAH Psa. 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

5. YADAH Psa. 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

6. SHABACH Psa. 117:1 O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

7. TOWDAH Psa 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

The second one listed here is the one we want to really need to understand better. It’s the Hebrew word Halal.

HALAL – haw-lal’; to shine; hence

to make a show, (let every one know)
to be (clamorously) foolish; (enjoy with enthusiasm)
to rave; (to go on and on with excited appreciation)
to boast, (brag in public)
celebrate, (honor every achievement)
foolishly glory, (go overboard in expressing praise)
sing, (to express your emotion as deeply as possible, sing His praises.)
praise, (to say every nice thing you can)
rage, (to be wild about)

When joined with abbreviated form of God’s name “Yahweh” = Hallelujah. That’s where the word Hallelujah comes from.

(Saying Hallelujah is like saying 10,000 praises to Jehovah)

Something special happened to Israel when they began to Halal!

2 Chr 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

2 Chr 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

God wants Exuberant, Joyful and Clamorous Praise!

Halal touches the heart of God so deeply that in the midst of praise… the Glory Cloud fills the place and all the priests are overwhelmed by the response.

If we want the Glory Cloud to enter our church services. Then we must never forget to importance of Halal praise. Not dead church. Not quiet church. Not reserved worship. Not “still waters run deep” kind of singing. But Exuberant, Joyful and Clamorous Praise!

OK! So what does all this Bible Study have to do with having The Best Wife In The World? Why, Everything!!

I Know This Is Lengthy, But At Least Notice The Bold Words!

Prov. 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Prov. 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Prov. 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Prov. 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Prov. 31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Prov. 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

Prov. 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Prov. 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

Prov. 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Prov. 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Prov. 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Prov. 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Prov. 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Prov. 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Prov. 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Prov. 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Prov. 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Prov. 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Prov. 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Prov. 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Prov. 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

This woman was amazing!
She is the one held up to all Christian women as THE role model.
Some men may read about her and marvel. They may even feel cheated.

We often quote the phrase, ‘Her children shall call her blessed.’ That really is wonderful.

But What Every Man Should Focus On Is Verse 28!

Her husband praiseth her! (Progressive verb ending, eth, meaning he keeps on praising her.)

The word praiseth, here is… you guessed it, Halal.

(I will always be indebted to my friend, Bro. Kenneth Bow, in his research he discovered the Hebrew verb Halal in Proverbs 31 and shared that with me.)

How Did The ‘Proverbs 31’ Wife Become So Awesome?

Was She Some Rarity That Only Happens Once Every 1,000 Years? I Don’t Believe So.

Could It Be That The Constant Praising (Halal) Of Her Husband Brought Out The Best In Her? I Believe It Did!

He Invested His Best Praise (Halal) In Her And She Gave Him Her Best!

HALAL – haw-lal’; to shine; hence

to make a show, (let every one know)
to be (clamorously) foolish; (enjoy with enthusiasm)
to rave; (to go on and on with excited appreciation)
to boast, (brag in public)
celebrate, (honor every achievement)
foolishly glory, (go overboard in expressing praise)
sing, (to express your emotion as deeply as possible, sing Her praises.)
praise, (to say every nice thing you can)
rage, (to be wild about)

If you think God’s response of filling the house with his Glory so that the men couldn’t stand because their Halal was great, then sir you just wait till the ‘glory of your wife’ fills your house when you Halal her!

Do it! Do all 9 of them! You’ll never be sorry! It’s never too late to start!

Put some Halal in your marriage and you will have The Best Wife In The World. I promise!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 4, 2010 at 5:59 am

Posted in Life, Love, Romance, Worship

How Do You Know If That Was God?

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How Do You Know If That Was God?

The father of a three year old was hard at work when he said the Lord spoke to him and told him that his little boy was choking to death. The Lord told him that a small toy was stuck in his little boy’s throat.

He said he rushed out of the shop door, jumped into his truck and raced the mile or so to his mobile home. He opened the door and saw his baby boy sitting there playing contentedly with his toys.

“Boy!” the father exclaimed, “I’d rather you be dead than have God lie to me like that!”

That night at church, the pastor, where I was preaching, caught my eye as the father testified. Neither of us allowed our faces to register emotion. The man still thinks God lied. It has never dawned on him that he might be the one at fault.

The question soon arises then:

Are some people misled? Yes.
Do sincere people make honest mistakes? Yes.
Are there kooks in the Kingdom of God? Yes.

Even sincere people often get mixed up. Did their will, their feelings, or their wants get confused with Will of God? If it did, we may never hear them admit that. Are they more spiritual? God will have to judge. I know of a man who is mad at God. He thought he was in God’s Will and things did not turn out well. So he blamed God and has been staying home from church because he is offended at God.

The frightening thing is when we attach the name of the Lord to a thing, and God never actually spoke concerning that.

Ezek. 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
Ezek. 13:6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Jer. 23:21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

I do not wish to be in trouble with Him.

I would rather say, ‘It was LIKE the Lord spoke to me and said…”

But that is just me trying to be careful.

Did they mean well? Yes, I want to believe so.

Did they:

Go by a Feeling?
- Hear a Voice?
- Dream a Dream?
- I don’t know!

Why does the Will of God, to some, always mean; MOVE? Escape? Run? Change Churches?

Some are not careful in Biblical obedience and conduct and yet they can get very spiritual concerning the Will of God. They know assuredly they have heard from God.

In my limited studies in Algebra, it didn’t take long to discover that to find the “unknown”, a student had to use the “known”. It does make everyone marvel how some seek the “unknown” Will of God” while yet ignoring the “known” Will of God as it is written in His Word.

A young preacher in my church approached me after service years ago and said, “Pastor, my wife and I are moving to Wheatland, WY to start a church.” I was surprised. He offered the information that his wife had dreamed that they had moved to a place called Wheatland.

She had shared the dream with him and they both had scoured a big US Atlas until they had found a state with a town by that name. They were sure it was God’s will. They also were very defensive that I had not quickly recognized that dream as God’s will.

The next service, I spoke briefly about Abraham. I said, “And God spake unto Sarah in a dream. Speak unto thy husband Abraham and tell him to get thee up unto a land that I have shown thee, Sarah.”

My message was not readily received by them. THEY were in the Will of God, in their minds, so they refused to listen to me.

I had, prior to that occasion, warned our church of the dangers of coming to me and saying something like, “I feel like it’s the Lord spoke to me and told me to move. What do you think?

It often seems they are trying to pit the pastor against God. In their mind, God has already told them personally, so now it’s the pastor that can’t hear from the Lord.

First of all, when you tell the pastor you are moving, (never asking him ahead of time if you should,) you are taking your soul in your own hands, You are leaving the man of God out of the decision-making process. Even Old Testament Kings included the man of God in their important decisions.

Danger!!

Once the seal is broken between you and God’s man. Once you take life decisions in your own hands, you will never get a Biblical relationship restored between you and a pastor. If you do, you will amaze the law of averages.

This family moved to Wheatland, WY. Nothing ever got established there. In fact, today the whole family belongs to the Church of the Brethren. They’ve backslid. They’ve lost their children too. Yet they’ve never felt better. They are in delusion and don’t know it. They left Wheatland years ago, but I am still the bad guy to them. They seem to hate me and the church.

Headship

The will of God will always include Headship. We can’t be saved without a pastor. I have a pastor!

God’s will never:

Go around or bypass ministry
Contradict the Word
Remove you from your headship/pastor
Put you in a spiritual position like Hosea talked about. Israel was like a wild ass – snuffing up the wind. Meaning they lived a life without controls or guidance.
Jude called them “wandering stars.”

I would be afraid to seek after the Will of God and my pastor not be the central ingredient in my search. I would feel safest by saying, “Pastor, I’ve been thinking about changing jobs. (Or whatever the subject.) I would appreciate it if you would pray about that with me. If the Lord tells you what I should do, let me know!

I thank God for every sincere person who desires to please the Lord by being in His Will. I pray that none of us ever confuse our wishes and dreams for His Will.

Attitude is everything. The safest approach with any pastor is to ask, not tell. Let him help you. Then you can comfortably feel and know you are in the Will of the Lord. Like the Apostles said, ‘It felt good to us and to the Holy Ghost.”

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 2, 2010 at 11:20 pm

Posted in Christian Living, Personal Growth

You’ve Committed At Least Seven Sins…

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You’ve Committed At Least Seven Sins When You Fail To Win Souls

I inherited the library of my father Carl Ballestero and many books from my father-in-law, William R. Starr. I purchased several thousand on my own, bringing the total to well over 7,000.

Books are very special to me. I miss them now that my life is completely mobile and I have given them all away. But I still have in my memory some books that even the very titles nag at me after nearly 50 years.

I had most, if not all of John R. Rice’s books. He was an Independent Baptist that didn’t water his sermons down much. Like him or not, he had guts. As a matter of fact, some of his sermons may make a few Pentecostals uncomfortable today.

It’s hard to recall everything word for word, but he wrote one about the importance of soul winning that impacted me as a teenage preacher. Here is my condensed version from memory with apologies to the author.

Sevenfold Sin of Not Winning Souls

I. Sin of Disobedience to Christ’s Command

Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2. The Sin of Lack of Love for Christ

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

3. The Sin of Not Following Jesus

Matt. 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

4. The Sin of Not Abiding in Christ

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

5. The Sin Of Being A Slothful Servant

Matt. 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Matt. 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Matt. 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Matt. 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Matt. 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Matt. 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Matt. 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

6. The Sin of a Being A Fool

Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

7. The Sin of Spiritual Manslaughter

Ezek. 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
Ezek. 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezek. 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

(And then he closed with a statement like this…)

May God convict us of our sin in not winning the souls who are dying all around us!

**(This writer feels that we may not be able to win all those we witness to, but we sure ought to try!)

Written by Martyn Ballestero

March 2, 2010 at 4:36 am

Posted in Christian Living, Personal Growth

Intercessory Prayer, We Miss You!

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Intercessory Prayer, We Miss You!

This is just a line to let you know how things are since you’ve gone. It’s not the same without you, nor will it ever be. Although our lives seem shallow and empty when you’re not here, we’ve learned to make up for you in other ways. We’ve learned to live without you.

We now run the aisles, leap for joy, jig to the music, sing catchy choruses, and tap our feet in time to the rhythm of the drums. We use sticks, banners, black lights and our sign teams do a tremendous job acting out recorded music. We’ve learned to worship without you.

The prayer rooms are mostly silent now. Those that do go there, for the most part, come away dry-eyed. A lot of praying now is chanting and singsong style. That’s how we know we’re in the groove. We pray memorized phrases that come automatically. We love what we call Prayer Walks. Most of us don’t even close our eyes anymore during prayer. We just walk and pray while we look around. We pray because it is required. No one prays till they break through anymore. We just pray till our ten minutes are up.

Family altars are almost unheard of now. You can’t imagine how busy we are and how hectic our schedules have been. It’s unbelievable. We get up in the morning and never stop till we go to bed at night. We do try to make it to church most services and get some praying in there during the service, but prayer at home is kind of out of the question. That may be another reason you haven’t heard much from us.

Oh sure, we still believe in prayer, as such. But not very many of us are anxious for you to come back. (You were always the polite type, you know, never forcing yourself on anyone. You never came uninvited. You only left because you were ignored.)

The sad truth is you’re not really needed anymore. You see, most of us have hospitalization insurance now. (It sure takes away that old desperate feeling we used to have.) So now, there’s no need to pray more than the few minutes it takes to drive to the Emergency Room. Also, we don’t have to ask for our daily bread like we used to. We now have better jobs with good benefits and government programs to fall back on.

If we lose our jobs, there is always Unemployment or Welfare. If we retire or become disabled, Social Security now supplies our needs. So, you can see, we’re doing OK. Other things have filled the void in your absence. Sure we miss you. But we’re getting over it some how. Actually, we’re too busy to entertain you right now, even if you tried to come back. I hope you understand.

We are having revivals now without you. It’s not hard. The pastor fasts and prays, along with a couple others. The evangelist preaches mostly just to sinners now. Most of us try to get to church in time for the first song or two. We justify the fact that the number of new converts is down. Yes, there seems to be diminished conviction, less lasting victory, fewer miracles and many young people are backsliding. We agree, however, that it’s not us that are at fault here; it’s just the times we’re living in. It’s like this everywhere.

As your friend, I’m writing this to you, knowing how much it must hurt you to have folks say they miss you… and yet in their material and intellectual progress, they’ve weaned themselves away from the haunting memory of you.

What hurts, I know, is that we were children you personally raised. You were always there when we needed you. (But now… we don’t.) You taught us about faith. You taught us about miracles. You taught us about a move of God. You taught us about revival. You taught us about how to touch God. Thank you for that, but you see, this is a new day and we are trying to go to the next level. Our services are structured differently now.

Do you know… can you believe, that now when you are ever mentioned in church, everyone gets real quite? They all feel guilty I’m sure. It’s like they experience a momentary twinge of guilt while they consider their part in your disappearance. Once in awhile some even get misty eyed when we talk about the old times you shared with us. But all that feeling vanishes along with the pizza right after church.

No, Intercessory Prayer, your coming back really wouldn’t work right now. We’re too blessed. We’re doing too well. We’re comfortable. In your day, you served your purpose, but the sentiment of most today is that we can manage OK without you now. We’ve got better clothes, cars, homes and prettier and bigger churches than ever.

By the way, do you remember all the folks of yesteryear coming into the sanctuary with red-rimmed eyes? Remember the baggy looking knees in men’s’ suits? Remember all night prayer meetings? Remember the depth that was in worship? Remember when sinners couldn’t sit in their pews any longer, and would run to the altar? Remember when you could feel unity and brotherly love? When folks helped bear one another’s burdens? When the saints didn’t watch the clock? When they could hardly wait to enjoy the after service atmosphere, praying around the altar until the wee hours of the morning? Boy, those were to good old days. We call that “Old School.”

Well, it’s pretty much all gone now. But you ought to see our new Hammond C-3, our new drum set with a cage and everything. Electric bass guitars are just awesome and the electric guitars too. We use Praise Singers to help cover up the fact that our congregations don’t sing like they should or used to. We let them do most of our worship for us. Our Choirs just do terrific on the new style songs. Old saints don’t like the new songs much, but the younger crowd seems to like them. Many music directors don’t even know some of your old favorite songs, so they don’t get played much anywhere.

You would be proud of our church buildings. Carpet on the floors, there are pews now instead of benches and they are padded too, besides. The arched beams are beautiful, we also have the loveliest of imported chandeliers. Our pastor has polish too. He doesn’t preach long. We are more concerned about sermon length now, than content. Our pastor spices up his sermons with cute sayings… but I guess that’s progress for you. “Win some, lose some.”

Speaking of “lose some”, we’re losing a surprising percentage of our young people. An unbelievable number of marriages have gone on the rocks. Many lives have been in jeopardy. But that’s to be expected I guess. Teenagers seem to be at war with their parents and want to dress more and more like the kids at the public school. Our youth meetings may not have much in the way of prayer, but we have great icebreakers, skits and games.

We have plenty of medicines nowadays to help our aches and pains. What more could we ask for? Sure we miss you, but I guess we really don’t NEED you right now.

I hope you’re not offended. I don’t mean for you to be. You’ll always have a special place in my memory. You were very kind and generous to me. You sure got me out of some hard times. I can’t thank you enough! Still, this is a generation now that doesn’t know you at all. Your coming would probably scare them.

Remember the night when my mother sat at the piano bench and you joined her there? Remember how she wept and groaned in the Spirit and slumped to the floor during the revival service and how some tried to call the ambulance because they thought she was sick? They never knew you and her were talking.

That’s what I mean. A good many never got to know you well. And most never knew you at all. Those that knew you personally have waited so long to talk to you that they are now, to say the least, embarrassed.

So while we are trying to work out our feelings about you, and see where you might fit into our plans in the future, you might try your luck someplace else. Try Brazil, Ethiopia, or how about the Philippines? You might have better luck in Third World Countries, or behind the iron Curtain. You might even luck out and find someone to talk to you in some little storefront on the other side of the tracks. Surely someone somewhere needs you.

We’re terribly sorry, Intercessory Prayer, we miss you, but we really don’t NEED you… right now!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

February 28, 2010 at 5:28 am

Posted in Christian Living, Personal Growth, Prayer

God Has A Diaper Bag!

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God Has A Diaper Bag!

One of the joys of parenthood is to take your little “precious” out of the house and show them off to family and friends We take them to church as well.

An earthly father is often pretty clueless about how much time, patience and effort goes into getting a baby ready to go out of the house. He often is frustrated that his wife and infant are not ready for church in the same amount of time it took him to shower and shave. But, that might be a story for another blog.

When they get to church, friends are quick to show the baby attention and some even ask if they can “hold it.”

Imagine then the service progressing and a friend on the same row is enjoying holding the new baby. Then something happens that distracts and demands immediate attention. The baby has just made a mess. Immediately the child is handed back to the parent that has the diaper bag.

What does mom (or dad) do now? Their ‘pride and joy’ has just made a mess. Stink is in the air (that is why you want to have a diaper pail with a lid at home). Everyone looks to see what is going to happen next. The congregation’s nose hairs are getting glued together by the aroma. All eyes are now on the parent too. How long will they wait before something is done? Where will they take the child?

Parents never say, “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe this child would EVER make a mess! I never dreamed on of my children would ever do something like this. I am so embarrassed. Maybe I should throw this one away and try to make another that won’t do this. I’m mortified.”

When “Junior” makes a mess, the first thing that is reached for is the diaper bag. That bag was packed before they left the house. It was probably packed before the baby was dressed for church and before leaving home. Mama was aware that babies make messes. Sometimes they make lots of messes. Mommies don’t think less of their babies because they make messes. The actually have a ready made plan to provide for such an event.

Mommy takes her bag and the baby back to the area with the changing table. She holds the baby safe on it’s back with one hand while she reaches into the diaper bag to get what she needs. Do you have a clue what all is in one of those things?

There’s:

Diapers (disposable or cloth) LOTS of them
Wet Wipes (make sure they are baby wipes and not just wet wipes. Baby wipes are larger, softer, and gentler on the baby)
Bibs
Bottles and infant formula
Bottled water, to add to bottle
Snacks for baby
Rash Ointment
Nose syringe
Medicine dropper
Nail clipper
Baby Tylenol
Toys rattle
Receiving blanket
Extra set of clothing for baby
Pacifier, if baby uses one
Johnson Baby Powder
Baby Magic Lotion
Anti-bacterial hand cleaner
Cosmetic-type bag stocked with teething aids, extra pacifier and nail clipper
Zip lock bags for many purposes, including storage of dirty diapers if no convenient disposal is possible

All of this is in place BEFORE the baby ever makes a mess.

After the baby has been cleaned up, it is brought back into the service. It now is acceptable in polite company everywhere. It now is clean, looks clean and smells clean. Thanks to Mommy’s Diaper Bag and her foreknowledge of what babies may do.

If we understand that concept, then why is it a struggle for us all to conceive that there is a sin or a sinner that God is not able to take care of?

There is no sin common unto man that He can forgive. Before we were ever born, God had a “Diaper Bag” of sorts. Before we ever made a mess of our life, He was already prepared to clean us back up and restore us anew. Calvary provided for all of that!

I’m happy to tell you that He doesn’t throw those away that make a mess. He just cleans them up and brings them back into the service!

Be thankful and be encouraged!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

February 26, 2010 at 11:39 am

Posted in Christian Living, Overcoming, Personal Growth, Recovery

The Children Of Bitterness

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The Children Of Bitterness

The Instructor for our marriage seminar was still talking about bitterness. For 3 nights he had brought up the subject and lingered there a good while.

He said that young couples might have an argument and say something stupid like: I hate you, or I don’t love you anymore! There may be a time of repenting and forgiveness for them, but that memory will linger for 40 years. Staying resident just under the surface.

I appreciated the subject being covered for the couples, but tonight was the last night. Bitterness again was still the theme at a marriage seminar. Why? He explained that bitterness gets you in trouble with God, God’s man, and also destroys your home.

It all came together finally for me when he asked for the big chalkboard and drew a family tree down to the 4^th generation.

He wrote the name Ted, at the top level, saying that Ted had attended his church for many years. He had also known all 4 generations of his family.

The reason for drawing the family tree was to point out the sad truth that none of us contain our thoughts, feelings and emotions so guardedly that no one else is affected. Like a hereditary cancer, negative emotions and attitudes can grow and contaminate others. It’s a generational thing. Unless someone breaks the cycle, there will be many injured.

“Look,” the preacher said, “at Bro. Ted’s life story.”

(My wandering mind was brought back to reality.)

“He was a hard working, middle-aged Pentecostal. He had a good wife and had 2 children. For a while their home was a haven.

“Bro. Ted was liked by the good folks in the church and was selected to be a trustee. He seemed to enjoy the job and was very active in the church.”

In the 3^rd year of a former pastor’s tenure, it just seemed to him that the preaching was getting a bit too conservative and personal for his liking. His preaching felt personally directed to him and Ted resented that. He found himself feeling a strong dislike for the pastor.

It was an unmentioned fact that Ted was slow to forgive and was known to “hold” grudges for a long time. When someone hurt him, his reaction was to hurt back. He always did that.

At a church workday one Saturday, the pastor had said, “Brother, could I get you to sweep up that trash over there, please?”

“What trash?” said Ted looking in the general area, “The only trash we have around here is what stands behind the pulpit!”

God paralyzed him so that he could not move or bend and Ted was carried away like a log. Some of the men tried to put him into the car to take him to the hospital, but he couldn’t bend to close the door. He asked for the preacher to come and pray for him. Ted repented to his pastor, he was prayed for and God restored him to normal health.

I wish that the story ended there. It seemed however, that it was just the symptom of a deeper deadly disease.

Not long afterwards, he felt his wife disapproved of some of his ideas and actions. They argued. Harsh words were used. That hurt him. She needed to be hurt back, he felt. Ted found a woman at work that was sympathetic and appealing. His romantic fling with this woman shattered the marriage.

The children watched the parents argue and destroy their relationship. They saw the bitterness displayed. They heard the bitterness expressed.

Ted’s two children struggled in their relationships. The girl became an unwed mother several times before marrying. She married several times. Her brother was never faithful to his spouses either.

His grandchildren all experienced multiple divorces, affairs, had babies out-of-wedlock, and continued the holding of grudges like their grandfather.

By now, only one or two would even sporadically try to attend church. Holidays were about the only time.

All of the 4^th generation, experienced similar marriage, moral, and God problems.

Their bitterness towards God was not contained at that, it had spilled over into all of their homes.

No one broke the cycle. The bitterness, the holding of grudges, the retaliation, and the desire to hurt back descended down from one man.

A few years after the marriage seminar, I went to visit that church one Sunday. Ted had been buried on Friday, two days earlier. None of his children or grandchildren went to church. Ted had died backslidden.

The truth is, children watch their parents. They know whether they forgive or hold grudges.

Openly repenting and forgiving allows children to see that Daddy was not less of a man. Not only would Daddy, or maybe Grandpa be more of a man, he might just be the key reason his children and grandchildren are still living for God and have good marriages. Forgiving others opens us all up to receiving God’s forgiveness.

Matt. 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matt. 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

There’s no hope for the children of bitterness!
The children of bitterness don’t stand a chance.
How long will you let your war go on?
Don’t live like Ted!
Don’t die like Ted!
If you are bitter, what future does your marriage have?
If you are bitter, what future do your children have?

Heb. 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Children of Bitterness…What will your Epitaph be?

Written by Martyn Ballestero

February 24, 2010 at 9:03 am

Posted in Bitterness, Christian Living, Family, Personal Growth