Mountain Valley Ministries

08/06/2022

https://www.facebook.com/Motiversity/videos/783553756136100/

05/28/2022

04/26/2022

Congratulations to Elaine (McConnell) and Christopher Zimmer who were united in marriage in Newcastle, CA on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Wishing you much happiness.

04/14/2022

The Triduum, the three sacred days of prayer, are upon us. I am certain the Body of Christ will grow, but my prayer is that each of us will grow spiritually and our faith will strengthen during these very sacred days.

I encourage us all to open our hearts to the story that we hear these three sacred days. We are participants in this story. We are given the commandment to love. We witness the meaning of that love as our Lord is lifted high upon the cross. On Easter we once again remind ourselves that death has no power over God, and through Christ death has no power over us.

Let us walk together, and with our Lord, these three very sacred days.

(Thank you Fr. Cliff)

04/04/2022

Congratulations to Donna (Piparo) and Devin Darby who were joined in marriage on April 2 in Kelsey, CA. God bless and Godspeed!

03/03/2022

"Don't Fear The Reaper"

I was at my desk working the other day and, as usual, had a satellite radio on low in the background. Realizing that I am a baby boomer and grew up in the 1960s it should come as no surprise that I was listening to 60s-70s soft rock. I refuse to acknowledge these classics from my early life as "golden oldies."

One of the songs played caught my attention and memories. The song is Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult. The song caught me in a pensive mood and, weirdly enough, focused my thinking from the scattered mode that I was in. Let me explain.

When we were young we felt that we were indestructible. Death was somewhere "way down the road" and we didn't think about it. There were exceptions of course. Those of us who had combat duty in the Armed Forces and those of us serving in law enforcement spent everyday with death tugging at our elbow. I'm guilty of both of these exceptions.

Death wasn't something that was openly discussed except on those occasions when the reaper reached out and took one of us. While mourning our lost brother or sister deep down we were glad that it wasn't us that the reaper picked, and we felt guilty because of that.

I successfully completed my law enforcement career suffering only bumps and bruises physically. Mentally the jury is still out. I don't worry about the reaper taking me on the streets of Los Angeles County anymore.

As I got older I found that the reaper had actually grabbed me while I was serving in Vietnam. It took the form of a dioxin then in great use called Agent Orange. Along with thousands of other soldiers this sinister substance stayed dormant within us for years and then started exerting its influence as we grew older.

The reaper has become more of an influence upon me over the years. Some of this is natural; some is not. I have become old (71) which, frankly, has surprised the hell out of me. As you get older you realize that "way down the road" is now "just up the street." Add to that the struggles of dealing with my old Vietnam friend Agent Orange. Congestive heart failure; diabetes, circulation issues and a few other fun obstacles have become huge issues in my life affecting me and my long-suffering love Gail.

I'm having trouble right now dealing with the reality and stress coupled with the administrative B.S. of the V.A. It was in this mindset that I heard this rock song and caused me to think.

I don't fear the reaper. Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior. He has promised me eternal life for my soul and I believe Him. While I am apprehensive and fearful for Gail and others who rely upon me to be a partner in life I am not apprehensive or fearful for me. I know where I am going and I am at peace with it.

I guess the point of all this rambling is that it's normal to be fearful of the bumps and bruises of life. If you are baptized and accept Jesus Christ as your savior then, at the end of your day, you will be fine. There is no reason to "Fear The Reaper."

God bless.

Rev. Jack

Official Audio for "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster CultListen to Blue Oyster Cult: https://BlueOysterCult.lnk.to/listenYDSubscribe to the official B...

02/26/2022

Once again a thug dictator has decided to invade and commit war against a neighbor. This hasn't happened in Europe since World War II. May God shed his grace on the people of Ukraine and lead this conflict to a peaceful resolution.

12/12/2021

As we head into the Christmas season we look back and see that we've had another difficult year. It's important that through all the craziness of the politics and the division raging in America we remember the importance of the true meaning of Christmas: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved. This is a Christmas gift that is unparalleled in human history. My hope is that you turn to your family and your friends. Embrace the relationships that you have. Steel yourself to go through the challenges that meets this nation. And trust in God to help us come out the other side stronger with faith and patriotism and love for each other. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and God bless you all.
Reverend Jack

11/23/2021

Hate and violence. We are flooded with examples of people shouting and supporting hate instead of conversation and consideration and with senseless violence. The terrorism of gossip and threat to life.

Traditionally we look to our government officials to enforce our laws and to provide public safety. It seems today that our officials are more blatantly caring for each other than for the people they are supposed to serve.

I have tried to avoid "controversial" subjects here but, in good conscience, I cannot ignore the increasing threats to my family, my neighbors, my nation and our way of life.

We must pray that God will guide us back to courtesy, care for each other and respect for each other and for our society. Communism abolished open faith in God at all levels and enriched leadership and impoverished the public. We cannot, we must not go down this path to ruin again.

We can disagree without villifying each other. We can return to objective journalism that reports facts and allows each of us as individuals to form our own opinions. We can stop butchering each other in chaos and lawlessness.

May God protect us all and lead us back to safety and prosperity.

Rev. Jack