15. Interview with Peter Martin: Marine Combat Veteran and Biblical Counselor

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion Today we interview of Peter Martin, a Marine combat veteran who currently serves as a Biblical counselor at Calvary Christian Fellowship in Tucson Arizona. Using his own unique experiences, Peter has a heart to show people healing and growth through broken past and present difficulties through relationship with Christ and the church. Resources: Running Light Ministry Setting Captives Free Fellowship of Suffering Rooted in Sin, Rescued by Love Sabastian Junger: Tribe The Terminal List JRR Tolken/Lord of the Rings/Trauma Peter Martin's Perspective on Afghanistan Withdrawl A Reason 4 Hope” Podcast: Live Bible Podcast  Cavalry Christian Fellowship Episode Notes: Peter's testimony and background: Parents were strong Christians but Peter fell away from God due to sexual sin. Enlisted in Marines at 18. Disconnected from world on combat deployment and started reading Bible. Faced challenges from military alcohol and sexual culture during 2 combat deployments to Afghanistan and at back at home. Peter struggled with sexual sin: legalistic foundation, feeling of failure, desire to earn worth, envy of friends' hedonisic lifestyle. Started Running Light ministry and Setting Captives Free to break struggles with lust and pornography. Realized God wants to give us better pleasure, not deprive us. But higher pleasures require discipline and sacrifice What are the biggest struggles you’ve experienced while serving as a Christian? Military alcohol culture, sexual sin culture, life and death situations in combat. Struggled with suicidal thoughts and concepts of death since he was 3 years old and while deployed in combat zones. Recognition of PTSD behavior helped Peter feel responsible, not like a victim.   How have you seen God working through your successes and failures in your military career? Met wife while recovering from PTSD and she exhibited PTSD behavior from toxic family environment. Wife encouraged Peter to write his first book the "Fellowship of Suffering." Contrary to what American culture teaches, we can grow in relationship with someone through trauma. Although we understand neurology and psychology behind trauma, cultural factors impact recovery. Tribal cultures tend to have lower PTSD rate: Israel ~1% whereas America ~20%.  How do you apply your faith as a pastor and family man? Make time for veterans because of PTSD experiences. Seek long term relationships. Opening counseling facility. Writing books: "Rooted in Sin Rescued by Love" and "Fellowship of Suffering." Using Christianity and the Arts to express inner person. What book of the Bible do you go to in times of difficulty? Jeremiah and Lamentations: how to express honest emotions to God and see beyond life circumstances. How do you make spiritual growth a daily priority? Get in God's word every day and surround yourself with positivee community. What advice would you give to other believers in the military who are struggling? Get and stay involved in a church community, and invest in positive long-term relationships that will hold you accountable. Contact Peter REFLECT: What does this episode reveal about God’s character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior?  How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ “Choose this day whom you will serve...” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ✝️ “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬  Next steps: SHARE with another armed forces member FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion