Luther's Day

Happy Reformation Day. On this date in 1517 Luther nailed his 95
theses to the Wittenberg door. John Piper says Luther then took his
hammer and nails home and went to bed. Let me add, Luther fell
asleep; the world woke up.

If the Lord gives me strength, I will live long enough to celebrate
the 500th anniversary of the moment. Maybe Ruth and I will make a
pilgrimage to Germany that year. I wonder if the original door still
exists. If it does, I would probably stand in front of it and weep
like a blubbering idiot. Martin Luther, we stand at the salute.
Thank you.

Treatsville is ready to happen. We have about 170,000 pieces of
candy, and expect about 1200 trick or treaters. Come join the fun
5:30 to 8:00 pm.

Twitter @john316marshall
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MO Baptist Conv 2009

This year's convention is over. I feel it was the best in recent
memory. Having long traversed troubled waters, it was good to hear MO
Baptists laughing again.

The preaching and singing were superb. The high water mark was the
installation of Dr. David Tolliver as our new Executive Director. His
sermon was powerful, as was Dr. Bruce McCoy's President's address.

All four convention officers were reelected. I think this is a plus
for Missouri Baptists. It provides good stability for our convention.

The lawsuit issue was referred to the Executive Board. I think this
is wise. It gives authority to the group that is privy to all
information about the lawsuits. Pray for wisdom.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Ruth Jammin'

Ruth has bought an electric guitar. All through our married life she
has often said she wanted to learn how to play the guitar. She is now
finally taking the plunge.

I'm proud of Ruth. If she plays the guitar anywhere near as well as
she plays the piano, she'll be snatched up by a famous rock and roll
band, making so much money that we'll be able to retire early. Rock
on, Ruthie.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Don't Dabble

Since the missions revival began at Second 12 years ago, I've been
repeatedly saying a church not directly involved in China and India is
not in earnest about the Great Commission. When it comes to these two
nations, if you want to please God, don't dabble. Go whole hog.

I've been to both countries, and Second has been deeply involved in
each. Now that my cardiologist has given me a green light for travel
in Asia, I'm heading back to India next year with a group from our
church.

I feel like I'm back in the game. The adrenalin is pumping. Look
out, Asia.

Twitter @john316marshall
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While I slept

Where have I been these last few years? Social networking changed the
world while I was comatose.

I've learned things this week about Twitter and Facebook that are
numbing my brain. I'm seeing glimmers of the possibilities they offer
for tremendous Kingdom impact.

They are not a slam dunk though. Neither is for the faint of heart
nor for those who want to stay cloistered in their ivory towers. Nor
should they be the instrument of choice for the undisciplined. If you
can't set it aside and walk away from it in a timely manner, don't
start it. It can be addicting.

What about me? Put your ear up against this computer screen. Do you
hear barking in the background? This old dog is getting ready to
learn some new techno tricks.

If you want to run in this pack with me, try out Twitter
@john316marshall
and www.facebook.com/john316marshall

Mo Baptist Conv 2009

Missouri Baptists gather next week at FBC Raytown for their annual
meeting. It's shaping up to be a huge convention. Controversy
regarding the lawsuits seems to be a motivating factor in large
numbers of messengers planning to attend this year's meeting.

My three fellow officers and I are running for reelection. Working
with them has been a delight. President Bruce McCoy, 2nd Vice
President Mitch Jackson, and Recording Secretary Jamie Hitt are very
deserving of having a second term.

These are good days in MBC life. Our new Executive Director David
Tolliver is doing a good job of bringing us together. I hope the
messengers in Raytown will let our current officers have another year
to work with Dr Tolliver as we try to continue making forward progress
as a convention.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Techno Learners

Ruth and I are struggling to find our way in this modern age we live
in. Blogs boggle the mind. Emails emaciate energy. Texts are a
Texas-size pain. Twitter twittles away time. Facebook fans are
fanatics.

Ruth and I love every second of it, but scramble to keep up. Last
night we spent the evening alone, reading in Twitter and Facebook
books for dummies.

At times we were too dumb to be called dummies. At other times we
were good dummies. Of course, even a gifted dummy is still a dummy.

And then, to top off our night of frustration, someone tweeted me a
quote from John Piper saying Twitter and Facebook are God's way of
proving to us we are not too busy to pray. Good grief. In addition
to frustration, now I bear guilt.

Before you take time today to check my blog, tweets, and Facebook,
please take a moment to pray. I will feel less guilty that way.

Twitter @john316marshall
www.facebook.com/john316marshall

Victory Garden 2009

2600. The number of families our Victory Garden helped feed this Summer.

When Bob Roberts first talked to me about our church putting out a Victory
Garden, I flinched. I spent enough time on Grandpa's farm to know how much
work would be involved. My optimism was nonexistent.

But then the summer developed. People by the scores began volunteering to
help till, plant, and sow the 3.5 acres. Day after day trucks left the
garden with food for Salvation Army, Victory Mission, and Grand Oak Mission.

Bob has kept meticulous records throughout the summer. Here are some of the
totals. 3379 tomatoes, 700 squash, 800 sweet potatoes, 1240 gallons of
beans, 64 gallons of carrots, 548 gallons of Swiss Chard, 266 gallons of
okra, 36 gallons of jalapenos (hot), 182 gallons of Zucchini, over two tons
of corn. Yes, that's right, two tons. There's more, but this will suffice.

In 12 minutes I'm heading downstairs to the youth area for our celebration
with the volunteers who worked in the garden. There will be a lot of people
present. Majors Grainger of Salvation Army, Jim and Mary Harriger of
Victory Mission, plus Bob and Dinah Ensor of Grand Oak Mission will be here
to thank everyone. The Lord is good and greatly to be praised.

Follow me on Twitter @john316marshall
Read my blog at www.secondbaptist.org

The Iliad

Ulysses has nothing on me when it comes to travel adventures. Even Gulliver
would have been impressed with my saga yesterday. When I made my itinerary
to Knoxville, I had four legs of the trip to make it through. The first
three clicked like clock work.

Then came leg number four. We were delayed in boarding the plane. Then we
slowly taxied down the tarmac, about a mile the pilot said. Right at the
end of our snail's pace crawl, the pilot suddenly announced, "We have to
return to the gate. We have a fuel gauge light on."

We sat a while as the mechanic came off and on the plane. Then he gave up.
The stewardess told us we would have to deplane and await another plane. We
waited and waited. Plane arrived. Made it to Springfield three hours late.
Had done a lot of emailing, reading, calling, tweeting, facebooking, and
missing Ruth.

Humor helps. I could have used some yesterday for sure. Street oddities.
Corner of Grinn and Barrett Drives in West Chester OH. Hickory and Dickory
Avenues intersect Dock Street in Harahan LA. Corner of Ho and Hum Streets
in Carefree AZ. Haveteur Way in CA.

Follow me on Twitter @john316marshall
Read my blog at www.secondbaptist.org

TN

I'm at a Hampton Inn in Morristown, Tennessee, waiting for my ride to
the Knoxville Airport. Last night I preached for the world missions
conference at Manley Baptist Church.

In all my 42 years of preaching, this is the first church that's ever
had me come preach for them a third time on missions. I'm running out
of missions sermons. Just kidding.

My flight, of course, goes through Atlanta. Remember the old joke?
At the Rapture, everyone will go through Atlanta on their way to
Heaven. I made up a new joke. At the Rapture, everyone will go
through Atlanta on their way to Heaven, and be delayed for two hours.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Mom's Adjustment

Ruth and I will return home this afternoon. We're pulling off an
overnighter to visit my mom.

Mom is home and doing better physically, but is overwhelmed with the
vast amount of information being thrown her away about heart trouble.
I feel for her. It truly is a whole new world.

Another disconcerting item is the huge number of pills she will now
have to take. We arrived last night in time to see her opening her
pill bottles one at a time to take her pills. Ruth promptly headed to
Walgreens to buy four pill holders for Mom. Did I mention I love my
wife? She is an angel. Pray for Mom. Thanks.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Still Sad

It's been almost 24 hours since the Cardinals went down to ignominious
defeat, thereby eliminating themselves from the playoffs. I thought I
would be over it by now, but the sadness won't let go. Good grief.
It's a game.

Jennifer Rothschild blessed us in worship this morning. She had 1400
women attend her last ladies conference in Springfield. They are
expecting even more November 13-14. I am glad Second is hosting this
next event.

I've been figuring. You know how we mathematicians are. I have a new
fascinating number: 1,400,000. That's how many calories we need for
Treatsville October 31.

Go figure. We need 70,000 pieces of candy. If each piece has 20
calories in it. You do the math.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Cunning Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa has the Los Angeles Dodgers
precisely where he wants them. He well knows overconfidence has been
the undoing of many.

By letting the Dodgers win the first two games in the playoffs, we
have lulled them into a false sense of security. They are in serious
jeapordy.

Here's my prediction. The Cardinals intend to score 20 runs in the
next two games, thereby totally crushing and demoralizing the
Dodgers. With their self esteem gone, the Dodgers will limp home,
where the Cardinals will overwhelm them in their own lair.

Never underestimate the value of a vivid imagination. I find it an
effective means of escapism.

Twitter @john316marshall
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On the road

What a soggy trip. Ruth, Rebekah, and I left Springfield at 6:30am
headed for Jefferson City. Had a Missouri Baptist Convention meeting
till 2:30pm.

We are now on our way to St. Louis to see my mom. She is doing
better, and might come home this evening. Thanks for praying.

Our goal is to be home by 10pm. We have been in rain the whole way.
I don't want to overstate how much rain we have driven through, but
even the armadillos are crossing the road two by two.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Mom's DNA

My mother is in a St. Louis hospital. She has an irregular heartbeat
( A-Fib). Ruth said we now know where I got it from. It's hard to
overcome your DNA. Please pray for my mom. Thanks.

Fortunately, the good news for me is that my cardiologist has given me
permission to travel again. Amen. Lord willing, I will be going to
India in 2010.

Speaking of missions, we have a lot of travel going on among our
church missionaries. Our Indonesia family is home for a family
wedding. I will eat lunch with them today.

Our India family is bringing their new baby home for everyone to see.
Our Puerto Vallarta couple is heading this way soon. Our new
missionaries to Thailand leave Monday for the Missionary Learning
Center in Richmond. Pray safety for all.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Baptism Sunday

We baptized 53 people today. Four at the 8am service; 14 at 9:30; 8
at 11:00; 27 children tonight. The morning baptisms were impromptu.
People left their seats and came to be baptized. We provided clothes,
towels, hair dryers, and everything else they needed.

In each service, the moving of the Spirit was overwhelming. At 9:30
two young ladies came running to be baptized when they saw their dad
go under the water. At 8:00 one lady held out till the very end of
the invitation, but then suddenly gave in and walked quickly to the
front.

At 8:00 we baptized an Anglo woman, Anglo man, Hispanic woman, and an
African American man. In the morning, we baptized more men than women.

The very last baptism tonight said it all. One of our ordained
ministers baptized his daughter. He was so overcome with emotion that
he barely was able to speak. As the girl came up out of the water,
her dad lifted her from the tank, and the two enjoyed a long embrace.

This is one of those rare days where you want to stay up until
midnight to glean every blessing available on a day when God is
obviously at work.

Twitter @john316marshall
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Camp Scrap

Another Camp Scrap has come and gone. The scrappers have to be, along
with our quilting group, the happiest, most sedate group that ever
uses our building.

I always feel safe and calm among them. No security needed. I did
have my little $3 pocket knife with me, but even with only it, I felt
over-armed.

I know what you are wondering. $3 pocket knife? Yeah, I've donated
about a dozen pocket knives to the federal government in airport
security lines. I got tired of sending money down the hole.

I now buy my pocket knives used at flea markets. Fear not. I soak
the little toothpick in bleach before I use it.

Twitter @john316marshall
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