Effective Tuesday, December 5, 2006

I, Douglas E. Hickman, Ordaining officer of the Universal Ministries, do Ordain, Anoint, Appoint, and Select John Michael McReynolds for placement into our Registry of Ministry.  From this day forward you are a minister with the Universal Ministries.  This being said, we welcome you into our Ministries of Universal Acceptance.

I played Reverend for 10 days and it just didn't work......  
I did something stupid... no way... WAY!  Yeah, way stupid; I paid $20.00 for the name, Reverend, and immediately became a "Changed Person!"  It's almost comical, but I lost two members because of my religious ways.   I didn't quite feel the change, but a couple did; One guy quits SgtMacsBar because I became too religious and the other because I'm abusing the word, Reverend.   I'll agree with the last guy, and will quit using the name.   I was morally wrong; I knew that, the devil just crept into my mind and I didn't listen to sense.  I'm still not sure why I did it, but I'll give it a shot.

First off, I'm not religious and hate bringing that up, because I know most of you are.  I do respect everyone's beliefs and for that reason I use words like Heaven and talk of John and Judy Karr reuniting, not because I believe, but because it's what I think John and Judy believe.   Actually, it makes me feel better too, and I'm not even a believer.  Maybe there's still hope for me?

Somewhere in the bowels of my mind, I remembered my friend getting married by another friend of ours.  Jill and I were married by my cousin and I just got to wondering how they could do this.  Not being religious, I don't know the rules, so I look it up on the Internet and see this church wants to ordain me for $20.00.

Cool, I call up the County Clerk and tell them I'm getting an Internet Reverend License.  They said Cool, that's all you need, as on the Internet, they advertise it as legal in all 50 states.  Once I find out it's legal in Missouri, they got my $20.00 and I became a Reverend.

The responsibilities that come with being a Reverend were overwhelming.  Then the dreams came; First, I needed a place to minister, SgtMacsBar, it can be my Sanctuary and  then I won't have to pay taxes, diabolical!  I can administer spirits (booze) and write it off.  I can make smoking pot part of my spiritual rites, and it's all legal. 

What's a Sanctuary without a symbol?  Since I'm not a believer, this never had anything to do with religion, I needed a symbol that wasn't religious.  There's power in the sun and when man harnessed fire, we started walking up right.  A Fire burning within the Sun signifying Supreme Power and of course we all know where the Lightning Bolt came from. 

The symbol represents The Power Within Yourself and The Brotherhood.  I've seen that Power numerous times and always write about it.  Not to throw my good friend, Bill Frankenberger, under the bus; but he taught me about The Power.

All that got involved with Saving Bill came away a Better Person.  Each time we reached in to help Bill, we came away feeling better, not because we were helping Bill, but because he was helping us.  We all knew Bill was a Dead Man Walking, but his Kick Butt Attitude was contagious and I became a Believer.  I knew Bill was going to live, he made me believe and what saved him was his Power from Within and The Brotherhood united to stoke that fire.  Bill believed in Life and has The Power!

The Symbol, The Power, I had illusions of a SgtMacsBar Coin with the Symbol.  I could package The Power in the coin and send it to ailing Brothers so they could rub it and be healed.   Then we could all get together at the tax free shelter and party our butts off.

It was a good dream and I told Jill about it, she immediately axed the subject.  However, I was obsessed and looking forward to helping everybody.  This was good and while I never meant for anyone to call me Reverend, I thought it might be nice to sign death notifications with Rev. Mike McReynolds bringing more power to the words I use to honor or comfort those affected.

I didn't know being a Reverend could be so easy, I should have done this a long time ago.  I whipped up a web page to announce my new found status and invite all those with problems to come on over and get drunk.  Needless to say, it didn't quite work like that; Jill was Right!

I immediately had a member quit because he didn't want to be affiliated with any religious organizations, while another quits because I'm a mockery to religion.  It was never about religion, but obviously religion is why these guys quit.

Combat Controllers come from a wide range of personalities and beliefs as mentioned above, but we all have one thing in common and that's Each Other.   I got a bit over zealous in trying to serve you, but thanks to your involvement, I'm back to normal, whatever that is?

Being a Reverend wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, so again, I Quit!   Too much responsibly, however if you want to get married I can still perform a non religious union and would be happy to sign the certificate, Brother!



Have you ever read the above?  A CCTer's Incessant Babblings of Incorrigible Thought meant to Entertain, Update, and Provoke Involvement!
I certainly provoked some involvement with this fubar and maybe that was what I needed?  I've heard from so many of you that have been quiet for so long and you've re energized my batteries.   I thank each and everyone of you and wish I could print all the comments, but I think Barry says it all.  Besides that, he strokes my ego and I like reading it; passing it on is almost like sex..............

From Barry Gayles; Mac!  I won’t hijack the list, even as much as much as I want to this time!  But, for the record, if I could hijack the list – this is what I would say to the brotherhood. 

Hey Ya’ll!  I thought Mac had just added another credential to his long list of accomplishments and another role to the many roles he serves as our bartender, psychologist, and friend!  We need Mac, and I feel privileged to be able to drink at the bar with him and the brotherhood, all while gaining new understanding of who I am from his analysis of my multiple personalities, and now – each of my personalities can confess to the best bartender at the best bar any of us has ever known! 

Who else other than Mac can best understand all of us!!  Who else can best bring all of us misfits together under one beret? 

We should all remember that Sgt. Mac’s is a sanctuary for the brotherhood!  Brothers stand together!  I stand with Mac and the all of the brotherhood.  Sgt Mac’s sanctuary was created for all of us by Mac.  Sgt Mac’s is sustained by his generous commitment of time and energy.  Mac is the master of the sanctuary, whatever you call him, brother, friend, reverend, or minor eccentric.   

We are fortunate to have Mike on our side.  Once you join the club, no one should ever leave – we need each and every member and each member needs this club house.  Let’s all show our support for the cause and the club house built by Mac by letting him know how much we appreciate what he does for all of us as a team and for each of us as his friend.  Write to him.  Send a card!  Call him!  Send money to support the clubhouse!  Just do something positive!

Barry Gayles, Mobile Alabama



My Sanctuary is SgtMacsBar and I believe the worlds problems could be solved here, however, I'll work on myself first.   Recently I had the devil crawl into my head and through lots of guidance and numerous tequilas, I was finally able to see the light.  Of Course, I'm talking about Death and Depression, I work with it all the time and it can certainly put a damper in your Mood.

And to think, some of you thought I had a wild imagination, what's to imagine with stuff like this going on in my head, it's normal Mac.   I'm not minor eccentric, maybe major weird, and some say my mind's not all there.  Doesn't matter, I'm an expert in mindlessness and if you're not all there or had thoughts of being a Reverend, we need to talk.

To all you guys who said you don't mind calling me Reverend, you must be misguided and in need of counseling too, meet me at the bar, I owe you a few.   I never wanted to be called Reverend, I thought of using the title for Death Notices to sound more official and spiritual, but when it comes to death there is no easy way to pass it on........... I try to make it as easy as possible for all those who first read about their loss of a Brother.

There is no easy way, but then I think about how I want people to regard my death or should I say the end of my LIFE; Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened!  I believe most of us feel this and would rather us celebrate your life rather than mourn your death.  I know that's how I want Jill to feel, as life goes on and we should live each day as if we were dying!

When I pass, if there's any crying you better be singing, There's tears in my Beer and it will be done at SgtMacsBar.  Sorry, no Reverends or Funeral Homes for me..... My fair well will be at the Bar and will consist of stories about me from YOU, as you ravage the Bar.  But, we'll worry about that later................ I Love You Guys!

  Your Friend; Mac.....................I'm Just The Bartender!