BILL'S COLUMN

The Master's Plan!

      I am a reporter at heart. My job is to ask the tough questions and get straight answers. That's pretty much my relationship with God. I ask tough questions and He gives me the answers. Sometimes my questions come with a lot of sweat and emotion (I'm Irish). Many times the answers come back the same way (God must be Irish too).

      I don't want layers of stuff piled on before I get to the point. Which brings me to Luke 7:7-8: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; to him who knocks, the door will be opened." I love this scripture because it's so to the point. What's upsetting is how many people don't get it. They pile all kinds of stuff on their faith. The answers come but the questions are forgotten.

      This email came to me from someone working at an area nursing home. "...these Christians run around work, pretend to be religious but don't treat the residents like people."

      Yes, I understand we all sin. We all fall short of the glory of God, but how are we ever going to get past it, if we don't stop for a minute to remember Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrated His own love for us, in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us".

      My three best friends in the entire world are two Jews and a woman. (There's a Fox movie in the making.) They are Jesus, my wife and Ralph. Ralph is one of those people I work hard to keep in my life because he reminds me of what sacrifice is all about. He has a unique perspective.

       "I had been numb for so many years. It took a lot to make me feel anything, all or nothing was my goal. Being the son of Holocaust survivors comes with much baggage.

      I was born in Munich, Germany, September 24th, 1947. My parents lost all members of their families. Only my dad's father survived Hitler's master plan.

      There was always a sense of loss, and only after years of struggling to seek the truth, did I understand the depth of that loss; the loss of my mother and fathers ability to deal with that small boy growing up. Hitler took care of those abilities.

      I used to listen to the song "Feelings" and not totally understand its meaning. Now, I was so overwhelmed by them, that I prayed again to God to make them tolerable. I always knew I was Jewish. I had no extended family because of that.

      My middle name Israel means, "struggle with God", but the good news is, it is with God, that all things are possible."

      On my journey, as I struggle with God, I learn my Christian walk is supposed to be on firm ground. I walk in the newness of Life. (Romans 6:4). I walk by Faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). I walk in Truth (3 John 3).

      I have to admit my ground is more like quicksand sometimes but I talk with God everyday. I also listen to Ralph.

Bill Martin is a multiple winner of Emmy and Associated Awards for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. He was also included into the Ohio Television/Radio Hall of Fame in 1999. Comments to: bmartconnect@aol.com