Where it lands

I've spoken before about whether or not I should stay on blogger as my blogging platform. More and more I'm seeing that perhaps it isn't the best place anymore. In addition to Google constantly abandoning long established products, I can't help but feel that this will be one that sees the chopping block before long as well. While I prefer the setup and ease of use, I know that finding another platform is important now. So that quest has begun. 

So far, the best I've found has been WordPress. While I don't like the setup, it does seem to work easily. And I've seen more growth in people actually seeing my blog there than I have here in years. And I do mean years. It's not concrete. But for the time being it's winning the battle. See what I've posted so far, and let me know if you've followed me from Blogger aka BlogSpot aka Google. Just hit the link I've provided.

Pastor Burton's Blog – The world from my seat (wordpress.com) 

Coffee Ministry

Coffee has been a huge part of my ministry for a number of years now. As a matter of fact, I'm basically a walking billboard for it. You'll regularly see me wearing a hat, a shirt, a hoodie, or even a jacket (depending on the time of year) with the coffee company logo on it. I've been very proud of how much of a blessing Scars & Stripes Coffee has been in my life and what it's meant for my ministry.

Recently there's been a shake up, and sadly I don't know if SSC will continue to be a part of the journey going forward. However, the Lord reminded me that a key part of what SSC has been from the beginning is a company to teach Veterans to become entrepreneurs and build their own businesses. That's when it occurred to me, and to a degree it had been there for a while, that I can actually build and change how the coffee part fits in. 

On the bright side, coffee will continue to be a big part of the ministry! Yay! However, there will be some changes to ensure that the security of it isn't compromised by changes occurring within another company. For now, it will continue business as usual. However, the backend will see some changes coming.

For those of you who have supported this ministry, thank you. I pray you continue to do so. For those who are interested the information will be at the end of this post. If there are ever any changes, I'll be sure to post about them. Remember that every purchase helps our ministry! 

Premium Coffee from Scars & Stripes Coffee, that empowers Veterans. 

www.ss.coffee/Rominger

Or go to ScarsAndStripesCoffee.com and use Veteran Code: Rominger 

Jam Session?

What happened to the Wednesday night jam session? It's a question I've been getting a lot lately. So let's take a look at its short life. Muzzle Guitars owner and I were talking and worked on the idea together. No sales. Free coffee. People could bring their instruments or use the stores for free. Fellowship, praise and worship. A different idea to reach out to the music community, who largely don't feel welcome in a log of churches. A way to mix the music and church community while spreading the gospel. We were creating a new house of worship for the church to reach out.

It had a lukewarm start and started to build. Really, it was surprising to see who would come in. Who would stay. Then it tapered off. The feedback wasn't because of the service. It was because it was the end of the school year. People were tied up going to graduations, graduation parties, going out of town to help their kids move back home from college. There were some from the start that would infrequently come out because they were attending services or bible studies at their own places of worship. So the decision was made to put things on hold for a couple weeks, and then start back up in the summer. Everything was on track to start back up. 

Then an unexpected notification was given. Sadly, Muzzle Guitars were closing their doors for good. So, at this time, we no longer have the facility to continue that service. Nor do we have the equipment to cater to so many people. Prayerfully, one day that will change, and we'll at least have the space to accommodate musicians bringing their own equipment and getting back to the fellowship. For now though, I thank Eddie, Misael, and the Muzzle Crew for their friendship, support, and love. I ask that we all pray for them as they move into a new chapter in their lives. 

Keep making that joyful noise for the Lord.

YouTube Official

Well, for some time I'd been putting thout into adding the podcast to YouTube. So many choices were there as to how to do it best. Take the current ones that are all posted, and load them with a static picture? Re-visit all of them and re-do them all with video? Just start fresh with the current episode and drive on from there?

A prayer needing an answer. Really, it's just another way to reach people that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. I'm always looking to better be able to do such. Last week I logged into the service I use to post and distribute the podcast, and to my suprise, without notice there's a new distribution button! To my surprise, it's the answer! A few clicks to link it to the ministry YouTube page. Allowing certain permissions. Then lo and behold every episode was individually able to be distributed not only to YouTube, but also YouTube Music! Exciting times! 

It took the entire week to get every episode up, but they're all there now! Each using the episode picture it was released with as a static picture with the full audio! Once video get's to a point that's actually nice to see, we'll start recording video episodes to post there instead. Perhaps even look at doing some live broadcasts. So many options! 

We're growing. Grow with us! If you don't already listen on a podcast streaming service, head over to YouTube and check it out! Just search up "Healing Scars with Pastor Burton" and it'll show up! Don't forget to give any episodes a like as it helps the algorithym to get us out there. And of course, subscribe to it and share your favorite episodes! 

A name change?

Today's post is a quick one. I was recently asked why the ministry changed its name a while back. The answer is actually pretty simple. So, it wouldn't get lost in the forest for all the other trees. You see, the previous name was great when the ministry started. We're in a desert and a very high elevation. A mile up and higher in some areas. However, as the years went on, I noticed that other churches and ministries had were also using "High Desert" more and more. As a matter of fact, if you did a search online, you'd find them littered around the country. Not just places of worship, but various stores as well. Change was needed. 

We needed something new, and it needed to reflect our values. Something I've always preached is that we all need to be the light in other people's darkness. To reflect God for those who are hurting. I've said it in interviews, training people, and preached I don't know how many times on it. The choice became clear, and the Lord presented us with a new name. High Desert Ministries became Be the Light Sanctuary. With that change, a new chapter in our ministry's life began. 

What would you do?

      What would you do if you knew you only had 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, or for that matter 1 hour left to live? A question asked throughout the ages. One of the first times I remember hearing this questions was in a movie. I don't remember which, as I know something similar has been in several over the years. I want to say Heathers, maybe? 

    The answers people give vary. Some realistic. Many unrealistic. But I came across a what if version of this very question again recently and I got me to thinking, what would I do? I know there are several things that come to mind. Most of which involve spending time with family. However, I feel that in general we all look at this question from the wrong angle. Really what we should be asking is, what's the most important thing we should do with our last sliver of time?

    What would you? What could you? What should you?

    This brought me to a realization, that the most important thing that any of us could and should do is to look out for others. To love. Now, personally, I'm a Christian so I know not everyone will agree with me as to what that means. But to unapologetically love others and tell them of Jesus. To me, that is the single most important thing we can do with our lives regardless of the time we have left. One day, or decades, it doesn't really matter. 

    Then a memory came to me. Someone lived this very question out. I used to follow this person on their social media. She was young, very sick, and was referred to hospice. Hospice being something very close as I spent years working in it, both inpatient and outpatient. And while I had never met this person face-to-face, they did something unexpected and beautiful. They started new social media pages on a couple of the most popular platforms. I'm sure you can guess what they are. And in her final few months she not only documented her experience in hospice, but also her love of Jesus. Every post pointed to His light! This person was facing death with a smile because of her faith! If only we could all be this strong!

    In her weakest state, she was her strongest because of her faith! This is so biblical! 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 says exactly this! That in our weakest moments we will see the Lord do His greatest work! And it's because we're looking at Him more and the world less! Something we should be doing all the time, but it's not until we've hit rock bottom that we realize He truly is our rock. That we lean into Him more than at any other time.

    Her final post was done by a loved one who posted a final picture of her smiling, and let the world know that she had finally been called home by the Lord. Her love for others, and a gift for writing was a blessing to all of us who were able to witness the example she set for us all. A servant leader until the end of her time here, sharing hardship and pointing to Jesus through it all. Answering the Great Commission. Answering the questions, what would you do, and what's the most important thing you could do? Thank you, Brooklyn, for your love and light.