We Made our local newspaper... Praise God

On Monday, May 18, Ben Martinez, pastor of Calvary Chapel Lubbock, 4218 Boston Ave., was up early.
By 6:52 a.m., he had finished his quiet time, listened to a Christian podcast, and was on his way to the gym. From approximately noon to 1 p.m., he ate lunch at Mi Tierra with someone named Ricky and took a picture of Ricky with his cell phone. From 3:11 p.m. to 3:19 p.m. he listened to a version of "I Surrender All" on the Internet. At 5 p.m. he headed back to the gym, planning to go to Starbucks afterward. He finished his workout by 7:27 p.m.
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It was a busy day.
And if you were one of the currently 98 people who follow him on Twitter, you'd know all about it.
Twitter, an internet microblogging service that allows users to "tweet" their opinions, whereabouts, and plans in abbreviated real-time, is the newest kid on the social networking block.
Friends are made. Lives are followed.
Its appeal is rooted in its haiku-esque functionality, which restricts individual posts to 140 characters.
Church leaders across the country have quickly caught on and more and more are harnessing Twitter's power, as well as that of other sites like Facebook, for the Kingdom of God.
Lubbock pastors are no exception. Some use for it fellowship, some for outreach.
Martinez is one of several local pastors who utilizes the service to foster a sense of community within his congregation and keep church members instantly in the loop, not only regarding church happenings, but their personal lives as well.
"It's a good way to keep our congregation updated on prayer requests or events in the church," he says. "Also people are really just interested in people's lives. Like, 'oh, what's the pastor doing? What's he studying?' "
But most importantly, says Martinez, who regularly cites Bible verses in his tweets, "it's a means to preach the Gospel. A means to encourage and exhort people."
On Good Friday, members of New York's Wall Street Trinity Church twittered the details of Christ's final hours on earth with usernames like @JosephArimithea, @pontius_Pilate, and @_JesusChrist.
A May issue of "Time" magazine reported on tech-savvy churches that incorporated Twitter into their services. They encouraged members to twitter their thoughts on the sermon - which are instantly relayed to church video screens - as a running interactive commentary. Offering a digital spin on the idea that nothing done for God is in vain, the magazine quoted one pastor as saying, "If God leads you to continue (Twitter) as a form of worship, by all means do it."
At that, Martinez chuckles.
"I did hear of some churches that will do that, where you can tweet or text your questions while the pastor is actually preaching," he said. "We're not at that point ... we're just doing it as a means of staying connected in this day and age."

Remember I Love you
Pastor Ben

Hello back to blogging again

Hey everyone... I haven't posted here in a long while... I have been blogging on the Calvary web-site... but I am back... look for weekly updated blogs....
So Hope you all have a great day and be blessed in Jesus...

Remember I Love you...

Pastor Ben

Resurrection Sunday

It is the day in which we celebrate the Greatest Single Fact in the History of the Universe and that is that Jesus Christ was Crucified, was Buried, and on the Third Day Rose from the Dead and He is Alive! What an amazing thing for us to Celebrate! Easter is always a great opportunity to invite folks that normally won't go to church.

May the Bless You and Keep You!

Pastor Ben

Pastor's Conference in Dallas

Hello all, we are in Big D... Dallas Texas for our annual Tx/Okc Pastor's Conference and are having a blast... crazy stories thus far... but the most exciting story of our trip is a employee named Rosie who we got to know today ... Prayed to receive Christ this afternoon... PTL...

more to come on this story...

Pastor Sof & Yvonne, Pastor Terry & Crystal came up today and are praying for a great conference....

Here are some pics from Yesterday and Today... God Bless ... will post tomorrow too...

God Bless

Fasting Part II

Biblical Fasting - Is there a proper method to fasting?Biblical fasting, unlike fasting for medical or health reasons, must be done with an attitude of seriousness and sincerity. When we fast, we willingly deprive the body of nourishment and the pleasurable taste of food. The body requires food for sustenance; therefore our hearts and minds must be totally focused and directed towards God so that He may be the full source of our strength during our period of fasting. Fasting must also be done in an attitude of humility. It is not necessary for others to know we are fasting; it is directed towards God. “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18).

In addition to our attitudes towards God and our stance before man, our motives must also be correct. We should fast in order to further the building up of God’s kingdom by seeking to minister to others. The prophet Isaiah received from the Lord the acceptable motives for our fasts: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Fasts may last for varying lengths of time -- one day, three days, seven days, and more. We should prayerfully seek the Lord about the length of our fast. Fasting should have an object in mind; we should have a clear idea of the need and purpose. One of the most pressing reasons for Christian fasting may be revival -- “Will you not revive us again. . .” (Psalm 85:6).

Pastor Ben

Fasting!

Seems like every time I study or listen to podcast the theme of Fasting comes up... a biblical fast...
So what is fasting... its purpose and how can I get closer go God by doing it... well the bible declares in that a "biblical fast" is abstaining from food for Spiritual reasons....
I came across this article that I thought would help.... Here is Part I of a three part series on Fasting...

Biblical Fasting - Is fasting necessary for today’s Christian church?
Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline which was encouraged by Jesus, Himself, while He was on earth. When questioned as to why the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist fasted while Jesus disciples did not, Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15). Jesus was indicating that fasting would become a necessity when, the bridegroom (Jesus) was taken away. While Jesus, who was God manifested in human form, was still on earth, His followers enjoyed a close fellowship and friendship with Him. Jesus bestowed power and authority on them to the extent that they had limited power to preach, heal the sick, and cast out devils. Similarly, when Jesus sent them out to minister to the populace, He instructed them to take few provisions. “Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one’” (Luke 22:35-36). Jesus was teaching that after His departure, the entire dynamic would change and the disciples would need a different type of preparation and provision.
Fasting was to be a vital part of this new preparation. The new covenant is based on the truth that we have received everything in Christ, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Nevertheless, we cooperate with the Spirit in the working out of our salvation with much prayer, meditation, and the study of God’s Word. In addition to all these spiritual practices, Christians should also employ the humbling discipline of fasting.

God Bless you
Remember I Love you
Pastor Ben

Men's Outreach " Need Prayer" Saturday

Hello all, what a great day we had so far... We put a prayer tent on the corner of Indiana and 70th with a sign that simply said.." Need Prayer" and God moved in a an amazing way... several people stopped by and asked for prayer. One person prayed to receive Christ today... Praise the Lord.

Here are some pics... God is Amazing and I am so privileged to serve Him

Pastor Ben