WE MADE IT!

Good day dear friends.

There we are! We made it! On page 107 of the January, 2006 Texas Monthly. Well, we do find ourselves twice in the Bum Steer Awards, but our town is mentioned! For those of you not native to the state or who do not know about Texas Monthly or the BSA, TM is a thick monthly shopping catalogue with some articles thrown in from time to time. And the Bum Steer Awards is their way of poking fun of those missteps, misquotes, dumb moves, etc. that occurred in our fair state during the past year. The caption usually is a further slap of the content of the BSA entry. Ours reads, "We Always Said It Was Hell to Live in San Marcos." (their choice of words not mine). And the graphic is one of flames over the city limit sign and a rose growing out over the sign. The entry says, "Members of the clergy in San Marcos appealed to the U. S. Postal Service to change the city's major zip code, 78666, stating their concern that, according to the Book of Revelation, the last three digits had satanic connotations." I don't remember being a part of that delegation or meeting. The second entry is on the same page, where a photo of the two presidential Bushes and first lady Laura are shown, the little Bush and Mrs. Bush holding up the hook 'em horns hand sign and the entry reads, "Norwegian commentators expressed shock when President and Mrs. Bush flashed hook 'em signs to the University of Texas Longhorn Band during Bush's inaugural parade, because they interpreted the gesture as a satanic salute." The caption reads, "The Eyes of San Marcos Are Upon You." LOL. That's "Laughing Out Loud" for the nouveau net browsers.

I have to admit I used to tease Reverend Bill Henderson when he was senior pastor here at FUMC. He asked me to send him something and when he told me his zip code I said, "that's easy to remember, 7-8-Beast!" He laughed and said it was a good one. A former staff member would say, "7-8-Satan!"

The reference comes from an interesting chapter in a very complex and interesting book, The Book of Revelation, the closing book of our Bible. The chapter refers to a "beast" coming out of the earth. Here is that whole chapter for your reference:

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have received a death-blow, but its mortal wound had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" 5 The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered. 9 Let anyone who has an ear listen: 10 If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. 11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; 15 and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.

The beast in question has two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. It has the same authority as the first beast and it makes all of the inhabitants of earth worship the first beast who although had a mortal wound had been healed. It performs great signs even making fire come down from heaven to earth. It deceives the inhabitants of earth even making them make icons for worship of this first beast. Those who did not obey and worship this beast were killed. All had to be marked with a sign on the right hand or forehead with this mark of the number of the beast (666).

Actually, I think the 666 is the price of stamps the US Postal Service will be charging in a few years. What this message is intended to tell us varies from scholar to scholar and televangelist to televangelist. Some have referred this past to the Roman Empire and the way it dealt with believers during those reigns of emperors opposed to the Way. Others have said this is yet to come when the earth will lose all true believers to the Rapture, who are to be taken up into Heaven, leaving the marginal and nonbelievers behind who are to endure this test of obedience to God or the beast.

I personally believe the best solution is to be ready at all times to go before the Lord. You and I don't know the hour of our death and most of us want to be pleasantly surprised if not taken in our sleep. But a life lived in Christ Jesus eager to meet him in our service to others and in our dealings with others is the best and only way to live. Do I believe Jesus is coming back? Yes! When? Send me $29.95 and I'll tell you! (just joking!) No one knows, Jesus said, but after sharing that He would return He did talk about what we needed to do in the meantime: Clothe, feed, quench, visit, love, do for others (See Matthew 25-26). We've got so much to do for Jesus' sake we'll never die!

PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus to the busy-ness of my life and make me be busy for You! Let me seek to show You to others as I imitate You in my love and actions for others. I pray that You would let me see this is more important, to be in service to you and helping meet the needs of others than it is to be concerned about our zip code. Let the mark on my right hand be that of love and the mark on my forehead be that of Your knowledge and presence in my life. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

HOW FORWARDS HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE!

Good day dear friends.

I have a dear friend who invented the internet. Well, he could have. He was the first person I knew who owned modern enough computer equipment to have invented the internet. It helped that his wife was the computer guru for the school district where we both lived some years back. He's a minister of the Presbyterian persuasion. So, with the latest and greatest gadgets and the money to acquire them, he soon had what had to be a 60 inch color monitor that sat directly in front of one of the first rear projection televisions hooked up to the first disc players that featured record-album sized discs. He had, I believe, The Blues Brothers and Saturday Night Fever on those discs. Keep in mind the personal computer is a relatively new thing. If you graduated from high school in the 60s or 70s, you did not have one at home waiting to help you research and write your essays and papers. I can almost bet money that this friend of mine was the first person to send me a Forward. Little did I or you know back then how these forwards would impact your life. Heck, we didn't know they would help our spiritual life!

Well, it was this friend that sent me this forward and I will just highlight the spiritual effects he mentions in this forward to me:

"As another year will shortly be a memory, my heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of you who have taken the time and trouble to send me "forwards" over the past 12 months. Thank you for making me feel safe, secure, blessed, and wealthy.

"Special thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat crap in the glue on envelopes 'cause I now have to go get a wet towel every time I need to seal an envelope.

Also, I scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason. Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer drink Pepsi, or Dr Pepper, since the people who make these products are atheists who won't put "Under God" on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone might drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from, nor send packages by UPS, or FedEx, since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer answer the phone, because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

" no longer worry about my soul, because at last count I have 363,214 angels looking out for me.

Thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

I no longer have any savings, because I gave it to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital (for the 1,387,258th time)

I no longer have any money at all - but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special email program.

Yes, I want to thank you so much for looking out for me that I will now return the favor!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 7 minutes, a large pigeon with a wicked case of diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM (EDT) this afternoon. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of mine's next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician."

Yes, he is a pastor. And a funny one.

We sometimes treat the Bible as a forward. We can take it or leave it. Sadly, I heard (and now I'm sounding like a forward) that yesterday in a city near here some 'students' were having a "smut for smut" trade - if you brought in your Bible you would get a free men's magazine (whose name I won't honor by evening mentioning it) of the pornographic persausion. This is exactly the time of year we need such campaigns and attitudes towards the personal, love letter from God to you and me sent in the form of the baby whose birth we celebrate Sunday.

My prayer is that our attitude towards God be a special one, not only today and during this season but always. May we realize that Christmas was God's answer to our personal needs. No, it's not a plea from the widow of a multimillionaire financial officer of some obscure country who only needs your personal bank account so that she can deposit her husband's money in it; this is God saying, "I will personally deposit in your heart my love."

PRAYER: Come, God of love and share Your love with me. Let me enjoy it everyday as I realize how much You cared by sending Jesus for me. It is in his name that I pray. Amen.

Have a great day! And forward this to 144,000 (that's biblical counting) of your closest friends.....

Blessings,

e.v.

SO, WHERE'S THE SNOW?

Good day dear friends.

We thank you for your prayers. Carli arrived safely home from Granada, Spain almost on time! Her plane was delayed due to weather in London but she was on the right flight at the right time (not that there was ever any doubt! Okay, just a wee bit!) Thank you also for your prayers for my preaching at The Woodlands UMC in The Woodlands, Texas (north of that hamlet, Houston). The people there were very nice and I enjoyed visiting with my friend, Dr. Ed Robb, senior pastor of the church.

As we pray today please remember to lift up the Kingsbury family. Sally will be remembered today at 4 p.m. in New Braunfels at Oakwood Baptist Church. Please pray for her mom and dad, Leonard and Corrinda Mueller. This has been a most difficult time for them.

Devotional Thought:

Psalm 147:16 God gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?

We left for Galveston on Saturday afternoon. We left after hearing on Friday night the weather forecasters saying that by Monday night we would have freezing rain with the chance of snow on Tuesday! Now, most of you will remember that last year snow did come to Texas. It snowed on S. Padre Island, it snowed on Galveston island. It even snowed in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas where folks made snow angels and small snowmen. But do you remember where it did NOT snow? It did not snow here! Relatives in Houston and the Valley calling and emailing pictures of their snow days, folks here in San Marcos just smiling and grinning and saying, great, thanks, so glad to hear it... All the while thinking, where's our snow? Are we that sinful that God chose to leave us out of the snow storm? Right now most of us are saying forget snow, how about some rain?

Now I like snow. It's good to see for the first time and enjoy all that it brings, but I've lived in Denver where after a day snow loses its appeal. I remember that first snow where it actually stayed on the ground and I remember thinking this is great, I need to drive around all of Denver to see what it looks like. I got in my little four speed manual transmission powered car and decided to take a look around Denver. I drove from my apartment high atop a hill down to the first four-way stop. I thought this is so pretty! And as I'm about five yards from the stop sign applied by brakes. Now when it snows there's usually a slick surface to the streets which would be ice. And when you're doing down hill it's a good idea to start applying your brakes high atop the hill and pray that no one is at the four way stop thinking they have the right of way. I thank God no one was there to hit nor to see my small car make its way up someone's lawn. Thank God that lawn stopped the Texas-licensed plated car! Did I learn my lesson? Of course not! I wasn't married then. I didn't have the luxury of an experienced commentator reminding me of how to drive (and I do appreciate that very much, dear!) I decided it might be safer to drive on Interstate 25. So up the entrance ramp I go and I notice not too many folks taking advantage of this wonderful snow weather! Where is everyone? Don't they like snow too? Their loss, I thought! Well as this Texan approached the first overpass, the car decides to turn the Mazda into the Mad Tea Cup ride at DisneyWorld. I spun around about four or five times on that bridge and all without hitting the guardrail or falling off the bridge. Did I learn then? Yes, thank God. I said, I now know where everyone is. They're in the warmth and comfort of their own home, enjoying the snow from their window.

God is an awesome God. God has all power in all things even in nature. We sometimes don't understand how and why God works in some things but all the more reason to trust Him more. We need to realize that when we come up against something as powerful as nature we are limited beings whose trust and hope is in God and not in ourselves.

PRAYER: Thank you dear God for the gift of this precious day. Thank you for the wonderful blessings that are ours that have come from Your loving hand. Help us to enjoy this day just as it is. We do pray that those dependent on rain would find soon a relief and solution to that which they face. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

THE ROLE OF THE COMFORTER

Good day dear friends. Our prayers are with Mr. Houston Marney as he undergoes a heart cath this morning. Also for those facing unemployment or job changes during this holiday season. Also, for Connie Webb, former member of our church, who will visiting the city and Sights and Sounds, our city's Christmas event, was struck by a car. Reports are that she has left ICU and is doing much better than expected. Prayers for those whose loved ones are battling cancer.

Here is our study guide:

Thursday: Read Romans 8:18-27. This passage speaks of the “sufferings of this present age” which we know to mean those things addressed by Isaiah’s prophetic words. Read this passage and find what God’s message to you is found there. Read and enjoy those verses that proclaim the deliverance and freedom we find in Christ Jesus.

Here is that passage from NRSV: 8:18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

God knows our sufferings. God is with us. However you define or whatever it is that you're experiencing as a suffering, you are not alone, God is with you. In this powerful passage that I recommend in its entirety, Paul is addressing very serious sufferings by the early Church. Convinced that Christ would come back in their lifetime, many believed in Him. Yet as time passed, persecution and prosecution against the church began and many began to lose their lives and their loved ones. These were the greatest sufferings one could imagine experiencing for the sake of the Lord. Paul writes these words of personal faith because he himself had suffered (and would suffer even death) for the sake of Jesus.

This week those verses beginning with verse 26 spoke to the heart of a dear church member whose daughter is facing death because of cancer. We sometimes reach those points where we're cried out or tired out or spiritually drained, and it is precisely at those moments that God's Holy "Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." The best prayers may be those that the Holy Spirit prays for us when we think we can't pray. Paul knew that those sighs of despair and hurt were precisely what God would use to bless us in our situation.

May this Advent journey continue to bless and strength us all. May the promise and hope of He born a baby on Christmas be ours now and forever.

PRAYER: Loving God, come into my heart today. Help those who need Your presence, especially those suffering so much they can no longer pray. May the words of Paul be the comfort needed by so many, that You're there and You understand even the sighs and groans uttered by us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

GOD OF THE OPPRESSED

Good day dear friends. Please remember Pat Dentino in prayer as she undergoes surgery here in SM at the CTMC. Also, Bonnie Blayney of San Antonio undergoing cataract surgery today; may the Lord give her patience as she won't be able to read for a few weeks (no Internet!!). Also, Walker Neighbert may be released from Children's Hospital today. He still faces about four weeks of antibiotic treatment at home. Ryan Tyler Lewis was also mentioned yesterday as having to be taken to the hospital in SA with pneumonia and asthma. It was also his mom's (Tara) birthday.

We continue our Advent Study of "What the World Nees Now is Jesus." Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Let’s visit Psalm 9:9. What do we find there concerning the oppressed? What is God’s interest in caring for the oppressed? There are some 42 verses of God’s concern for the oppressed throughout the Bible. The “Preacher” who we call the author of Ecclessiastes writes in 4:1, words about the oppressed. Who would you consider the oppressed today? Have you personally been oppressed? How were you delivered? What role do you see God playing in delivering the oppressed? How can you share that message with others.

Here are the two passages mentioned above:

Psalm 9:9: The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Eccl 4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed--with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power--with no one to comfort them.

I consider oppression one of the greatest sins humans can sin. Yesterday while reading and reflecting that thought occurred to me. We face an endless debate of this sin or that sin and we worry about which sin will cause a schism in our denomination, etc., but in very real ways, we're divided by systems in place that cause the oppression of some by others. We could also debate this without end, but let me just say, God holds a special place in His heart for the oppressed. As the Psalmist said, God "is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Nellie, Caty, and I toured the Alhambra, a Moorish stronghold in Granada, Espana. During the peak days of the tourist season one can wait hours until you get inside. During the cold days of November the wait was about five minutes to purchase the tickets and walk the grounds of this amazing structure. It overlooks the city of Granada with some incredible views. It also peers out toward the Sierra Nevada, which were beautifully capped with snow when we were there. And for many years, this stronghold protected those inside. The location provided a view to see who might be coming against them. The walls provided the resistance against invading forces. And one could understand why for so long this stronghold was considered inpenetrable. The day came when the Spanish overcame it. But unlike those strongholds made by human hands, God's stronghold can never be overcome. And for those facing oppression no better place to seek comfort and hope than in the presence of God.

You and I have been oppressed in some ways and we've seen deliverance. There are those who don't yet share our hope and our call is to share that hope with them. Our message is God's message: God can set us free! God can see us through!

PRAYER: God of love and hope, thank you for being the God of the oppressed. Thank you for delivering us from those times we've either felt or truly have been oppressed. Help us to help those still in that place. Let the message of promise come to life today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS JESUS!

Good day dear friends. We had a wonderful Lord's Day yesterday. At 11 we welcomed The Jim Cullum Band and they treated us to some wonderful Christmas music done jazz style and we were blessed. Jim is a very gracious guy who donated half of the proceeds from the sale of his CDs (actually he only recovers his cost) to the church. His presence brought back many memories of Christmases past.

At 8:30 we had our traditional service and yours truly shared an Advent message with the above title. Using the passage from Isaiah 61:1-11, we made the case for the world still having the same needs for Jesus. We also talked about God's neverending desire to be in relationship with us, desiring children, not grandchildren. I stressed how important Advent is as a time to receive Jesus as being real and our personal Lord and Savior and to stop keeping Him at arm's length as a good idea or concept. We need to keep Christ in Christmas in our hearts and homes and not be worried about retailers who have chosen not to use the word "Christmas" in their stores or ads. The real danger comes when we remove Christ from our hearts and homes. The same is true about prayer. We can still complain that we cannot pray in schools, but sadly, some kids don't pray at home.

Here is our study guide for today:

Monday: For today let’s go to the Psalms. In Psalm 34:18 what do we find there? Is there a connection between what God said in yesterday’s Isaiah passage and this one? Do you think God really cares about the brokenhearted? Now let’s go to Psalm 147:3. What does it say there? I ask again, do you believe God really cares for the brokenhearted? Why do you suppose this is?

Isaiah stresses God's promise to care for all who are hurting. The first verses of chapter 61 read, "61:1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn." We hear God's concern for the brokenhearted. I asked if in 2,000 we had finally overcome heart break. The answer is no. For differing reasons we know brokenhearted people and every day brings a new crop of brokenhearted folk. Their plight is the Lord's delight. That's precisely what the Psalmist says in Psalm 34:18:

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."

Is there a connection between Isaiah and the Psalms? Yeah. It's the same God sharing His concern. It's the God of hope and life calling for those who find themselves far from hope and living in despair to come out of that situation and back into the fullness of life. Does God really care about the brokenhearted? Yes! God knows what thoughts go through the minds of those brokenhearted. Last Wednesday morning, Rev. Del Brown shared with the United Methodist Men at our monthly breakfast about the 22 year-old grandson of one of our retired UM pastors, who because of the breakup with a girl, committed suicide. The heart break of this young man led him to do something terrible. And his actions led to the heartbreak of his parents and grandparents and all of his family. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted." The key is knowing and claiming that. When we're at our lowest, God is at His highest, and if we take hold of Him, He will lift us up.

The second Psalm for this morning says, "He (GOD) heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."(147:3)

Again, God cares and heals the brokenhearted. God cared so much He sent Jesus, who identified with our hurts and pains. The One who cried at graveside for His friend, is the One who comforts us when we cry for our loved ones. The One who carried our hurts and shames, is the One who can lift us up.

Let the message of Advent be your personal message from God. God is with you and will lift you up. Receive that today!

PRAYER: Loving God, bring comfort and hope to the brokenhearted. comfort those who mourn. Bring the promise of a new, better day to those who think their world has ended today. Use me to share that message. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

A SEASON OF PEACE

Good day dear friends. A cold day here in Central Texas! The high today is expected to be 38 and San Marcos schools will open today at 10 a.m. This is something we Texans are not used to! We went to Wel-Mart last night and in the 20 minutes we were inside ice had formed on our vehicle! Please stay safe.

We continue our study of Advent, All Signs Point to Jesus!

Here is our study guide for today:

Thursday: Read John 14. This is an awesome chapter of Jesus’ love for His disciples and us, especially as He has revealed to them the need for His death. Notice there is nothing final in those words of promise and hope that the Lord offers to us. Note especially Jesus’ promise to “come again” in verse 3. If your “Point A” is centered on loss and sadness because of someone’s death, let the Lord loving speak to you through these words from Jesus in this chapter. If you’re already at “Point B” please be in prayer for those who are still languishing at Point A.

Here is that passage:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep {Other ancient authorities read [me, keep]} my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, {Or [Helper]} to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in {Or [among]} you. 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Iscar'iot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

This was Jesus' P.E.P (Pre-Eternity Promises) talk to the disciples. Jesus had revealed to them that He was to suffer much and die and the disciples reacted much as we would; so Jesus shares the words of this chapter. If ever there was a "Point B" it's found here. Jesus covers the essential. He begins by addressing the heart. Jesus knew the heart is troubled at the loss or thought of the loss of a loved one. He then shares about His Father's house and how it has many rooms (mansions in the KJV) for those who believe in Him. Jesus mentions that this place is being prepared for us and that His desire is to have us with Him, a continuation of the invitation of God to be in relationship with us. This is the eternal relationship God desires.

This time of year is especially difficult for so many who are grieving the loss of a significant person in their life. The coming holiday of Christmas is one that most do not like having to spend alone without that loved one. We pray that God's comfort be with those who are facing the first Christmas without a spouse or parent or family member. May these words of promise from the Lord be yours.

PRAYER: Come Holy Spirit with Your comfort to all who feel the pain of the season. Come to all of us and bring to us the hope that Jesus desired to share with us. Speak to us tenderly and give us your peace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

e.v.

ORPHAN MOMENTS

Good day dear friends.

There is much celebration in our household, even in the midst of this intestinal bug that Nellie and I share, because Caitlin was accepted to Texas Woman's University in Denton. This is answered prayer for mom and dad as we have trusted the Lord to allow for us to provide a college education for the four and this is our baby now assured that come next fall she will be leaving for Denton. (That's mixed emotion for us!) Please keep Carli in prayer as she travels to Italy for some days there, and then returns to Espana to complete her last week there.

We continue to study the Advent message of "All the Signs Point to Jesus." Advent is our spiritual journey of awakening to the hope that is ours from God as found in Jesus. If we prepare during Advent, the full message and blessing of Christmas will truly be ours.

Here is our study guide for today:

Tuesday: Read how God’s love for us is so awesome. The passage from Isaiah on Sunday spoke to our hearts about God’s plan through Jesus. For today, read how Jesus speaks to the needs of His disciples and us in John 14:18-19. What are your impressions on reading those words from our Lord? Do you ever fell left “orphaned?” How could God be your loving, caring parent during those times?

Here is that passage from John 14:18-19:
18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

Just a reminder about Sunday's Isaiah passage, it came from Isa. 40:1-11. God's love is awesome. If you stop and think about it, it makes no sense, how God could possibly love us after some of the blunders we commit! The story of Israel with their I love you God stance one day, the Leave us alone stance the other, is enough to make you think that God would have been well within reason to either destroy or dismiss them. But the messages that we now associate with Advent tell us, God never gives up on us, for God sent Jesus. For those twelve that got to walk with Jesus and hear and witness all that Jesus could do, to hear in this 14th chapter of John that Jesus was to suffer death and to go and "prepare a place," was a terrifying moment. Jesus captured their fears well by comforting them with the words found in 18 and 19 above. "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live."

I think we've all lived an "orphan" moment when we felt completely alone and helpless and thought we had nowhere to turn. We may have cried or worried more than we should, but in the midst of that turmoil came the quiet but strong presence of the Lord to reassure us that we are not orphans, God is with us. Advent is a time that prepares us for a birth. God provided Mary as the mother, Joseph as the father, with God being for all eternity the parent that really counts. Jesus was aware of that and shared that with the twelve and in turns shares it with us.

If you're going through an orphan moment, get out of your system all that is troubling you. Nothing wrong with a good cry or a yell. Please limit it to that. Don't do anything rash. But do pray. And do trust God. Know that His word is true. Even in orphaned moments, God is there. His love, peace, strength and comfort is ours. Christmas will allow us to say no only does the Christ child have loving parents, we do too!

PRAYER: Come, loving God into our moments of despair and loneliness. Come when we feel alone and helpless and bless us with that that Your Son offered to us, a Parent of love present with us always and everywhere. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

MOVING BEYOND POINT A

Good day and welcome back! Actually you all expressed your welcome backs to us yesterday in worship and we appreciated that. We had a great trip and had we not all caught some sort of bug upon arriving here we would have been fine yesterday! For those of you who didn't know, we took a ten day vacation to London, England, and Granada, Espana. Marvelous trip! It was great seeing Carli and she should be home on the 18th. Please keep her in your prayers.

Yesterday we continued our study of Advent with a sermon entitled, "All the Signs Point to Jesus!" And Advent is that spiritual journey that allows the wonder of Christmas to made full by allowing it to "come home" into our lives. As an illustration I shared how I had missed a Boy Scout camping trip while still a grade schooler in Kingsville. This trip had taken our troop to Mathis where the boys who attended got exposed to the deliciousness of persimmons. I had only heard about persimmons through Deputy Dawg or one of those 1950s cartoons. (I justed checked and one online source says that Musky used to get in trouble for stealing persimmons from the Sheriff's tree.). My friend could not describe the persimmon with enough detail. He used words like "juicy, delicious, wonderful," and he talked about how the fruit had just squirted everywhere and run down his face onto his uniform and his jeans. And for some forty-some odd years I took his word for it. Persimmons didn't grow in my neighborhood and the little grocery store where we shopped didn't have much beyond bananas, apples and oranges. And those times I happened to be in a fancy grocery store and saw them I just left them there. But one morning while in Granada, Nellie and I ate at the hotel's breakfast buffet. We had pretty much thought breakfast in Espana was a "tostada" which is a Subway 6-inch sub sized bread cut in half and toasted. You get to put butter or jam or both on it and eat it with coffee or tea. There were other versions but we didn't know of them until later. We thought a buffet might have more "American" fare like eggs, bacon, etc. This one was like a cold cut buffet with all kinds of cold cuts and cheeses, cereal, juices, and fruit. In the fruit platter there was a huge persimmon. I thought, "If this is included in the price I will at long last discover what a persimmon tastes like!" I asked the waitress if everything on the table was included in the price of the buffet and she said it was, so onto my tray comes this huge fruit. I didn't quite know how to eat it so I cut a piece for me to see if it wouldn't ruin my teeth by biting into it. And I discovered in 2005 what my friend had known since about 1963 or so. Advent is that journey of faith that brings into our lives that which has been "out there" for so long. Advent means preparing to taste, as the Psalmist says, "that the Lord is good."

So, here is today's study guide:

Monday: Please read Matthew 3:1-6. In this passage we find what many believers call the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in yesterday’s text. Read that passage and see how the messenger in Matthew can be compared to the messenger mentioned in Isaiah. Why do you supposed God needed to foretell His people of this need in their lives? As was covered in yesterday’s sermon, God knows that in our Point A there is a need. What is at your point A?

Here is the Matthew passage: 3:1
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

We also talked about Advent being our realization that there is a Point B to our Point A's of faith. And in this passage we find what many believers hold as the fulfillment of Isaiah's text from yesterday (Isa 40:1-11). Could John the Baptist be the messenger with the message from Isaiah? Verse two declares that he is, and from verses three and four, John's dressed the part. More importantly, the coming of John as a messenger before Jesus' public ministry is important for the people to know that God has not abandoned them nor given up on them. God still desired relationship with them and in Jesus was making that invitation to them. God very much wanted people to move before their Point A's, their starting points of faith, to a realization or awakening point (Point B) for their lives.

What we find surrounding us at our Point A is what makes our journeying with God difficult. Doubt, worry, confusion, illness, fear, etc. all serve to keep us from venturing out with God. And Advent is that time that says God has, as Isaish foretold, "paid the price," and we should trust God.

What is at your Point A today? Are you standing still spiritually because of what you find surrounding you? Let God speak to you to let you know, everything's been taken care of. God has paid the price and God has made every low point high, and all the challenges of what seem to be mountains, low. It's your call!

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for being with us regardless of where we are. If we find ourselves stuck in a place spiritually right now, come and lovingly take us to where You would have us be. Let us not be overcome with fear and doubt about today or tomorrow but let us know all has been paid through Christ Jesus. For it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.