A Clean Slate!

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1 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. 2 Count yourself lucky - God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. 3 When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. 4 The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. 5 Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. 6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched. 7 God's my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck. 8 Let me give you some good advice; I'm looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: 9 "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track." 10 God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around. 11 Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! (Psalm 32 The Message)

I'm old enough, and I guess was poor enough, to remember the days when bill collectors roamed our streets knocking on doors. Merchants would hire these guys to come and knock on the doors of those who owed money and demand payment. I also remember sharing stories with friends about proper procedures for those dreaded knocks on the door. At the time, and I guess till now, they made us laugh. Shhh! and a finger to the mouth, would warn the smaller children that to give away our location would mean the bill collector would not easily go away. Those were rough days for our parents and neighbors. Debt was a constant and one not easily removed. Just like sin.

Yet, hear the words of the psalmist in this psalm. So awesome to hear words like "fresh start," "your slate's wiped clean." And even better, "God hold nothing against you, and you're holding nothing back from Him." And hear again, "Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared." And his admonition, "God-defilers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around." All of this is true and all of this is possible. And this is part of the Lenten journey. We can make amends with God and with ourselves. Our sin, like our debt, when paid, is removed. Then let us all, "Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All your honest hearts, raise the roof!" Indeed!

PRAYER: Loving God, for the memories of the past, we are blessed, but more so by the way our debts and our sins were removed. We thank You for Jesus, Who removed our sin. As we journey with Him may our sins be taken away and make us move closer to You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share hope with someone today!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Sandpaper Underwear!

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15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, "You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.' " 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. (Genesis 2: 15-17; 3:1-7 NRSV)

Hi Friend. It was a positive command. It's in verse 16, read it again. God said, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of you shall die." Notice how our enemy changes everything around! In verse 1 of chapter 3, he says, "Did God say, "You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman, to her credit says, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die." That's how arguments start! One person remembers one thing, the other another, and the devil still another (and he's quite the liar!) and bam! You're fighting; you go to be mad, next thing you know you're thinking and or doing things you shouldn't be!

Let's rewind. The man and the woman, later known as Adam and Eve, had been to see the tree. Just like their kids would do later and as yours and mine have since; they were precisely where they knew they shouldn't be. The tree was in the middle of the garden no less, and regardless of what others may have said, we don't know what kind of fruit that it was, we've come to associate the apple with the tree. For some it is the most tempting of fruits. It could have been a tomato and the story doesn't quite sell as well. A famous comedian says that if the apple were covered in caramel that would have been a different story and he might have been tempted to eat it himself. But, as the story is told, the woman saw that the fruit was good for food, and "a delight to the eyes," and could make one wise, she bit it. And she handed it to the man who also bit it. The Bible says their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked. Up to this point, their nakedness was not a big problem. They weren't "wise." They were innocent and trusting, like children. No big deal. But now with the fruit, they were wise and they could judge between good and evil and the very first judgment they make is that God's good creation of humans, naked and all, was good, was now judged as evil. I will never forget the eyes of Dean Virgil Matthew, my religion professor at Lon Morris College, who opened my eyes to scripture, as he told the story. First, excitement flashed in them, then extreme sadness, that God's own handmade creatures, had judged God's wonderful work as bad.

My home church in Houston, El Buen Pastor Methodist Church has a huge fig tree in the back yard. It produced good figs and huge fig leaves and it taught me that to make underwear from fig leaves is much like making underwear from sandpaper. My dad having been a painter in those years had plenty of sandpaper for me to use and as I felt the other side of the fig leaf I realized how sad and comical this drama was. No one in their right mind would make sandpaper underwear.

Humans, for all their wisdom, chose disobedience over obedience and as a result ended up wearing itchy, scratchy BVDs. Okay, Fruit of the Loom, as it were. One or both of the humans could have easily said, "We're in a world of trouble..." And indeed they were. They chose to fall from God's grace and as Paul Harvey would have said, "Now for the rest of the story... they were forced out of the paradise garden by God."

PRAYER: Lord, even now I ask forgiveness for my part in choosing disobedience in my own life over obedience. I know how sin was introduced by this drama and I ask that Jesus move quickly again in me to remove my sin. I pray in His name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share the good news with someone, that we don't have to stay in disobedience!

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

THANK YOU ALL who emailed Nellie and myself your congratulations for our 42nd Anniversary! We had a marvelous day!

Highly Contagious!

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12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:12-19 NRSV)

There is a long line for face masks in South Korea where fears of the dreaded coronavirus are high. Italy has more than its share of affected people with the disease. Fears of travel have a lot of usually filled planes are empty. My daughter who travels from Austin to Dallas often last week had an empty plane on Southwest and all passengers were told they could have a row to themselves if they wanted. Cruise passengers have found themselves quarantined for days and the number of infected passengers who died from the disease was alarmingly high. Friend, all it takes is one person to bring the disease here. And, if we look at the passage above again, that's all it took for sin to gain the hold it has on our sins. The first Adam introduced sin to the world, and with it the full consequences of sin, death. Through the second Adam, Jesus, we were introduced to life and the grace of God. Are we as afraid of sin as we are of the coronavirus? Many think that illness it "over there," and "not here." But sin and death are right here, right now. What are we doing about it?

Lent is the proper time to help us realize the contagiousness of sin and its consequences. As I have been preaching in the past few weeks, God acted in the fullness of time by sending Jesus to share hope from sin and despair. Instead of the darkness of the realities of life, Christ offered light and hope. And He came so that the Church would also engage in that offering, not follow the example of the religious leaders whose sole purpose of existence seemed to be to "feather their nests," and protect their self-interests. And that means that all who are baptized have to share in that responsibility; that God is love and God cares enough to have sent Jesus to live out His life, share His teachings, and suffer much for our sins and then die for us. As we fast may it be for our strength and energy so that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus as the world hungers to hear there is hope.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fill us with Your grace and shower us with Your hope. May we reach the world for Jesus on His behalf and with His joy. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a beacon of hope today.

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE: Dear friends, today is the 25th day of February and it was on this day, 42 years ago that the most beautiful bride in history walked down the aisle of El Mesias United Methodist Church in Mission, Texas. It was the most wonderful day of my life knowing that God had richly blessed my life with this outstanding woman of prayer and faith as my wife. It seems like only yesterday that his blessed event took place and I cherish all days because of my partner in love, Maria Nellie Valverde. Happy Anniversary to you my dear! May God grant us many more! I love you!

How Strong Would You Be?

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1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you,' and "On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NRSV)

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of Lent, the forty days of spiritual preparation that leads us into a deeper understanding of Jesus' passion and resurrection. Your church will certainly be planning a celebration of that special day and the blessings of attending such are awesome.

Sunday brings us the first Sunday of this period. The scripture is the one above and it deals with the temptation of Jesus. It is a well known passage but the more we study it the more we learn. You ready, Friend?

Fasting is a key component of this forty day preparation period. Fasting means giving up a physical nourishment and replacing it with a spiritual practice or discipline. For example, instead of having a Coke or Pepsi, one drinks water and while drinking it reads a passage or two from the Bible. The trusting in God and Heavenly things makes one stronger spiritually. Jesus observed a very strict fast, where He did not eat nor drink anything for forty days and nights. The entire forty day and night period was spent in prayer and reflection and the nourishment that came from heaven. Others have followed that example, including Gandhi and Cesar Chavez. The latter suffered to the point where his health declined and he died shortly after his last 40 day fast. The greatest need in Jesus' life when He finished His fast was hunger. Nellie and I had the privilege of walking in the same wilderness where Jesus fasted and water is plentiful there but there is no food source other than stones whose shapes are similar to breads of the time. So, naturally, the tempter chooses the obvious. "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Feed yourself by using your superpowers! Prove that You are indeed the Son of God. But not so, Jesus replies, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" The devil knows Scripture.

The second perceived weakness is to place the Son of God at the highest point of the Temple and to tempt His trust in His Father. "Throw Yourself down because "He will command His angels concerning You; nothing shall harm You." Jesus replies, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

The third point is to tempt the Son of God as to Who really rules the world. "All of these I will give You, if you fall down and worship me." Jesus replies, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." Temptation over. Jesus 1. Devil 0. Angels come down and wait on Jesus.

Our Lord always wins. Jesus sets the model for us in all that He did while on the earth. He began His earthly ministry with prayer and fasting. Our Lenten journey should include our deep commitment to prayer and fasting, as well as a deep trust in God. The more we know God's word the more we know about God and what God can do for us. Jesus modeled that. His trust came from His knowledge of God. Lent will provide that time for us.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we approach the start of this special time, help us prepare in all ways for a closer walk with You. Strengthen our weak spots and make bright the parts that are weak. We seek to know You better by knowing what Your Son did for us during His passion. We pray in His name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Lent is not so much about what we give up as it is what we take up that will bless us spiritually.

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

God Rules!

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1 God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne - take notice! 2 God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. 3 Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy. 4 Strong King, lover of justice, You laid things out fair and square; You set down the foundations in Jacob, Foundation stones of just and right ways. 5 Honor God, our God; worship his rule! Holy. Yes, holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were his priests, Samuel among those who prayed to him. They prayed to God and he answered them; 7 He spoke from the pillar of cloud. And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them. 8 And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins). 9 Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain. Holy. Yes, holy is God our God. (Psalm 99 The Message)

Happy Friday, dear Friend! To say, "God Rules!" is to say a lot. Given what most of us have experienced, it's to stop, step back, and give God His due place. God rules! That statement says God is in charge, not you terrible colds, coughs, fevers, aches or pains. God rules! Not you disease nor death! Not you heart attacks, or helicopter rides to San Antonio; it's God! God rules and God has the last word on all things. God rules! Not you anxiety, worries, or despair! It's God. This has been quite the week as many of you know for folks you know and love. The cold references have been for me and this fun cold that I have had. A dear friend, Mr. Daniel Soliz, who's battling cancer found himself in the hospital with pneumonia. Thank God today he was doing better. Our brother, Jimmy Borrer, is awaiting God's will on his health and life, with family having difficult decisions to make. Another brother, Mr. Bob Clark found himself having a heart attack and was airlifted from Gonzales Hospital to San Antonio, where he's doing much better after heart procedure. And whatever it may have been you have faced, affirm, God rules!

All the scriptures from this week have affirmed our faith. God is in charge. The God of Moses who shared His law is the God of the Transfiguration who shared His love to His Son and to us. The families of faith link us all together, from Moses and Aaron, Samuel, Deborah, Anna, Mary, Martha, Peter, Andrew, James, and John; you and me, family united in Christ Jesus. Our joy should come from worshiping God in thankful ways and dedicating ourselves away from sin and into righteousness. Praise God's Holy Name.

Friends, let us close in prayer: Father, You rule! You have spoken lovingly and powerfully against all we have faced. We have not been left alone, for in all things You have been standing by our side. Lord, we pray for those whom we have mentioned above in name and need. Be the final word in all things. We pray for comfort, healing, strength, and peace. Lord, thank You for forgiving our sins and for granting us Your peace. We pray that in all things we might praise You; in Thy Son's name, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Please share with someone that God rules!

For those who have asked, yes, ConCafe will be narrated starting Monday if my voice cooperates!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

There's Just Something About Mountains!

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12 The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:12-18 NRSV)

It's a classic ice-breaker question, Friend; Are you a mountains person, or a beach person? I'm a person who likes both, but if I had to choose I might choose mountains. I've shared how growing up I never saw a mountain until we vacationed in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; but it was a short trip and I was very young and I remember the mountains being more like clouds in the horizon, so I looked forward to summer camp in Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country, where I believed the hills were more like mountains in my opinion. And later in the year I spent in Denver, I once again experienced the beauty and majesty of the mountains. Don't get me wrong, in the Bible both the ocean and the mountains played key roles in the story of the geography of the Messianic Event. Yet, in key events in the Old and New Testaments, it is on the mountains where God reveals Himself. Moses' story is rooted in the mountain; the Law was given to Him while there as we read above, and this is tied to the gospel lesson of this week, where Jesus is transfigured. It makes sense that the expression "mountain top experience" has its roots in this passage. You may have used it after a wonderful spiritual experience at a retreat or church meeting, and my weeks at Mt. Wesley each summer were mountain top experiences for me. It would take about two weeks for the spiritual high that I felt to wear off. And later as a preacher at those same youth events I would hear from my own youth group kids, "Why isn't the experience at our church like camp?" Great question. At the camp we would have rock quality bands play, and the setting for the sermon allowed for props and antics that most traditional congregations would not necessarily tolerate, but I would emphasize that the the blessings from a mountain top service or an every week service both serve the same purpose.

The glory of God is all around us. We will find and be blessed with mountain top experiences whenever we humble ourselves and surrender ourselves to God. God has a way and a desire for you; we just have to stop and realize it.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to our hearts in ways that discern Your will for our lives. May I never been blinded of Your glory all around us; use us to bless others into knowing You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a revealer of God's glory to others.

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

We Were There and We Heard It with Our Own Ears!

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16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:16-21 NRSV)

Good Wednesday, dear Friend. I apologize for not letting you know earlier about the crud visiting Nellie and our household. Thankfully, I am on the mend and I feel well enough to write a devotional. Thank you for your prayers. And as we pray, I respectfully ask for prayers for Mr. Jimmy Borrer, who continues in ICU in Kyle, TX. Prayers that a treatment he is receiving be that which he needs. Please pray for his wife and family. Also, Mr. Percy Pettus, longtime member of FUMC Gonzales passed away yesterday. I pray for his widow, Arlene. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.

This is a letter from the head disciple, Peter, to the Church about his faith and his purpose in sharing what He saw and heard. The mutterings from doubters and even among Christians who were beginning to doubt; "We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of His majesty." In other words, this is the real deal and we know this because we saw it and we heard it from God, Who said, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Heaven called us! And we heard it! Just reading that again gives me chills. We were on that mountain top where Jesus and His inner circle of Peter, James, and John heard the voice. What a blessing to stand on that mountain where these fishermen from Galilee were blessed to hear the voice of the Almighty. Imagine having been one of those three. In your List of Top Three Things I Will Never Forget, hearing the voice of God declare Jesus as God's Son, and Beloved, would top that list. No one else in the whole world would ever have that same distinction. I think that Peter at this point in his life listed that above, "I betrayed Jesus three times..." Peter can assert that he along with two others, heard, understood, received, and believed the message that Jesus was Lord, Son of God, and the Messiah. This was the "lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star (Jesus) rises in your hearts." And all of this was from the Holy Spirit.

This epistle reading confirms the gospel lesson on the Transfiguration. It shows that the three disciples who witnessed that event received a blessing strong enough to keep moving forward in faith. They could say, "I was there and I heard it with my own ears!" And as loyal evangelists took it as their responsibility to share those news with all who would hear.

You and I have had our own personal experience with the Lord. Something has confirmed to us that Jesus is real, that He is alive, and that He still is that bright lamp shining for all who need it. For those living in despair, they need to hear everything about Jesus and what He offers to all in need. It falls on us to share with all who will listen.

PRAYER: Awesome God, shine Your light brightly on us and on those who need to know about Who You are and what You do for those in despair. Bless our faith, bless those for whom we are praying. We lift up Jimmy Borrer for Your healing touch to be with him and Your comfort with Kathleen and family. Bless our sister Arlene. In Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help us be light bearers.

Receive my blessings of peace and love.

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Transfiguration: Listen to Him!

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1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." (Matthew 17:1-9 NRSV)

Hi Friend. I pray your weekend was nice and that you made time to worship the Lord and fellowship with other believers. Nellie and I were blessed to be in our home church of First United Methodist Church of Gonzales; it was nice to see the hometown crowd again. I was very sorry to have missed dear saints who are injured and recovering from surgeries and procedures. I could feel their prayers but I missed their beautiful faces. I would ask for prayers for Mr. Jimmy Borrer who is in the ICU of Kyle Hospital. Latest word I heard was that he was a bit better and expecting more tests. A sweet young lady asked for prayers for a Ms. Lindemann, who is battling breast cancer. We heard in church that the original tumor has shrunk to half its size and I quipped that we hadn't even prayed yet! We trust God would heal that dear teacher. We were treated to lunch after church by a sweet couple and we thank them again for their kindness!

Peter, James, and John, were on the ride of their life. From the daily drudge of commercial fishing, now these gentlemen were with an itinerant rabbi who is saying and doing incredible, almost unbelievable things. Now they find themselves as the inner circle of this traveling rabbi and are now privy to incredible sights and experiences. Where once they were outside the established church, now they are inside the inner circle of the Son of God, also known as the Messiah. In today's passage they are taken by Jesus on to a very high mountain. Their prayer life had changed for the better and now on this mountain they are about to take part in a very unusual spiritual retreat. And it begins with Jesus transfigured right before their eyes. That means the outline of His body was evident as the inside shone like the sun; Jesus' clothing became dazzling white. We believe this was to show those disciples that Jesus was both in and of this world, but also in and of the spiritual realm, like Heaven. And it gets better! The disciples saw appear before their very eyes, Moses and Elijah, talking to Jesus. Because it is a spiritual retreat, the Holy Spirit opened their minds and spirits to truly understand that two key figures from their biblical history, who have been dead for centuries, are now alive and talking to Jesus. However spiritual the moment, human frailty was still present for we see Peter, though knowing who Moses and Elijah are, doesn't know what to think about how to relate to them, and so, he suggests that he build three dwellings there, one for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This gets interrupted by the appearance of a cloud that speaks these words, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!" The disciples fall to their feet in fear, but Jesus came and touched them with the words, "Get up and do not be afraid." The retreat is over. On the way down the mountain, Jesus orders them to keep quiet about this whole experience until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.

This passage shows us several things. The first is that when you walk with Jesus, anything can and will happen. Some things you will not be able to explain, but the point will be for you to enjoy them. The second is that you might begin to recognized God's word come alive. No, I'm not promising that figures from the Old or New Testament are going to visit you, but God's voice may tell you things you need to know, so listen. You may also get an idea of what you think is proper for a certain setting, like building dwelling places, but if you think about it, staying put may not be what is best for God's plan. God is a God of action. You will also find that Jesus is a man of touch. His touch says both I love you and do not be afraid. And just when we need to hear those the most. And the work before us gets done by the loving hand of the Lord.

PRAYER: God of grace and God of Glory, enlighten us on our journey with Your Son Jesus. We want to grow in our spiritual life. We want to touch more people for You and Your kingdom. Grant us Your vision to see things others may not, and to believe the things that will bless our walk with You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a vision-caster and a vision-receiver!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

PRAYERS FOR THE OLD MAN AND HIS LADY! Right after our delicious meal with church friends I got into our vehicle and drove home and quite frankly, I was dead tired, weak and had trouble keeping my eyes open. I fell asleep as soon as we were home and I woke up with a bad cold. Yuck. Pray for Nellie's healing and mine. Blessings!

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1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. 2 You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. 5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6 Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. 7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. 8 I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me. (Psalm 119:1-8 The Message)

Life is a journey. Life has more than one path anyone can choose for themselves. But a loving Savior said, "I am the way, the truth and the life," and lived, taught, preached, and demonstrated the narrow path until He paid for us with His life. His way, His path is the better way. Too many may neon-light other options, but in truth only one gets the job done. What makes it more inviting is that He says to us, "Come and follow me." Once we do we discover the many blessings that are ours for simply following Him and His way.

Dear friend, you want blessings in your life? Re-read verse 1 and what does it say? If you stay on course, you're blessed because you're walking hand in hand with God. How else are you blessed? By following God's directions. One travels best on God's highway, when we let God guide us. Then we can join the psalmist as we say, "God, you prescribed the right way to live' now you expect us to live it. Steady our steps Lord that they may adhere to the path. A life well-lived has little to no regrets, for God has spoken, we have listened and we're on the path that leads to life.

PRAYER: Lord, continue to guide our paths so that we may follow You. Grant us strenght and courage to be faithful; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone on the path today!

Receive my love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Door Number One or Door Number Two?

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15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20 NRSV)

Happy Wednesday Friend! May the full blessings of God be with you on this special day.

Perhaps you remember the game show where the contestant had to choose between opening one door or another, and the host of the show would pressure the person by offering money instead of the door. The fun was being at home watching the poor contestants having to decide between doors and a surprise cash offer. Sometimes the door held behind it the ultimate prize and the contestant would be ecstatic if s/he opened that door. Othertimes, the door had a live goat behind it and well, that was the prize.

In today's passage, the host, as it were, was Moses, and he wasn't playing games. Moses says, "Here are your choices!" And Moses shared them frankly and openly: Life and prosperity or death and adversity. They seem very clearcut and most people would know to choose the first "door" of life and prosperity rather than "door" two of death and adversity." To be honest, it's like being in church on Sunday. You hear a rousing sermon and in the context of being with other believers, we leave content we will be faithful and fruitful. All it takes is the wrong word or gesture in the car, and an entire family forgets the sermon and begins a trek home that has destroyed the message and made a mess of all members of the family in the car.

Moses lays out the way to enjoy door number one. "Obey the commandments... by loving the Lord your God, walking in His ways, observing His commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." Show God you Love Him by doing what He asks, and you will be alright.

The way of door two is the opposite. Moses says, "If your heart turns away (from God), and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in th eland that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings an curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him; for that means life to you and length of days."

If you're one of the passengers in the car what transpired may not have started with you, but soon you were a part of it. Moses is sharing the word of God showing that sometimes, whether we know it or not, our hearts do turn away, and our ears may get distracted and closed to God and we don't hear what God wants us to hear. And before you know it, we have chosen door number two, and instead of the blessings of life and prosperity, we are receiving the adversities and junk of death. Not where we wanted to be. We have to take care and indeed following that which blesses us in our walk with Christ. And if we can, we should walk with other believers and seek to bless one another to that no one strays off the path to life.

PRAYER: God of Life and prosperity, we seek to follow You and the way that leads to life. We acknowledge that sometimes the path gets hazy and difficult; guide us to faithfulness and fruitfulness. Help us walk with others who know the path; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek the door that leads to life and help others find it!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Of Milk or Meat?

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1 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4 For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9 For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:1-9 NRSV)

Happy Tuesday, dear One. I don't know who taught me to give thanks for anything special done for me. And whoever it was said that done in my handwriting was a good thing. (They obviously did not know my penmanship!). For instance, this past Sunday after worship, our family drove to Moulton, a small town near Shiner that has a nice Sunday-after-church restaurant. Some Sundays they even have turkey and dressing! And when they don't, they have nice fried chicken. By family, it was Nellie, two of our girls, our granddaughter, and our son-in-law. We sat at a table and enjoyed a good meal. As it was nearing time for the check, a waitress that had not been ours, showed us the back of our bill that had written on it, "The Phantom strikes again!" I asked was this so-and-so? She said no and told me the name of the Phantom. Once I got home I wrote the Phantom and his spouse a thank you letter.

The Apostle Paul loved to write thank you, and what is wrong with you letters? The majority of the New Testament, in my opinion, is the latter. Or as I like to say it, "Behave!" letters from the Apostle. And this is one of those. The passage starts with an admonishment, "Why can't you be more spiritual?" I should get one of those at least once a week, to be honest. Paul is saying, you haven't shown much spiritual maturity; you're still babbling on like infants, and you're fighting and quarreling like jealous children. And you've been arguing about baptism! And if we think about it, the spiritually immature find it easy to argue and fight about almost anything. But Paul says, each of us that you mention who baptized him or her, that's all we did! We planted, and some watered, but it was God who gave the growth; we are just God's servants doing God's work, working together. And for the good of God's kingdom.

It's a call to maturity, spiritual maturity. We are to trust God and yearn to be like Him and then work all that we need to work to mature and begin to work with others for the good of God's work here on the earth.

PRAYER: Awesome God, we seek to mature in our spirits and in our hearts. Touch us with grace, joy, and peace that we may truly grow to be like You. Bless us to be a blessing. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show some maturity towards others; show them how easy it can be to ask and receive from God.

Receive my blessings of love and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Intro into the New Life Continues...

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21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 "It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be "Yes, Yes' or "No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:21-37 NRSV)

Happy Monday, dear Friend! I pray you blessed the Lord this weekend with your worship and praise. I pray that whatever sermon you heard kick-started a response for Jesus! I also pray that worship and praise continue today as we pray and reflect on God's word. As we pray, I ask for prayers for Cary Boddeker, of Austin, TX, who was United Methodist Men Conference President of the Rio Texas Conference. On Friday, he underwent surgery and is recovering in the hospital with hopes of returning home on Monday or Tuesday. Cary is a servant of the Lord and has blessed many with his life and witness. Pray for his healing and recovery. Prayers continue for Eva Boscamp as she continues to deal with pain from injuries on her ribs in Gonzales, Texas. Pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.

Yesterday's gospel lesson covered Jesus' comment on the Law. Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. And in today's passage we begin to see what He meant by this. What Jesus shares is nothing less than radical and revolutionary. The Law, namely The Ten Commandments has the solid Thou Shalt Not Kill. There is really no way around that word from God, the Author of Life. Jesus shifts from actual murder to the killing that happens when we are angry with one another. And if you've ever been really angry, you know that Jesus is telling the truth about the impact anger has on our souls. Anger that leads to insult and name calling leads to a liability with God; as if we had indeed killed that person.

Then Jesus addresses adultery. Another of the Big Ten! Jesus says, "Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. It was some years ago, during this time of presidential posturing and campaigning that one of the candidates admitted in a men's magazine, that he was guilty of having lusted in his heart. Oh, the scandal that honest response created; yet, President Jimmy Carter was elected as president. Jesus continues, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away." Ouch! And more, "It is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Jesus says the same thing about one's hands. The purpose behind these is to emphasize how important self-control is over our thoughts and actions. We should control our eyes to viewing that which blesses rather than condemns. And our hands in the same manner, should be used for good rather than bad.

Jesus then really meddles by addressing divorce. Jesus asks that a finalization of divorce be shared with the woman because since the time of Moses, a man was allowed to take his wife's possessions out of the dwelling, usually a tent, and place it outside. This was a sign that she was no longer welcome. The women were, as one can imagine, shocked and dazed by this act, and did not know if they were fully divorced or not. To have a certificate of divorce, Jesus said, was necessary. But, Jesus also said that those men who for any other reason, other than unfaithfulness, would be guilty of adultery if he remarried. Jesus is stressing the seriousness with which we are to undertake marriage. A television show that I watch on Sunday nights had one gentleman say that in his family, no one has divorced in over 500 years. Quite an accomplishment and blessing, is it not? The late Ruth Graham was asked if she ever considered divorcing her husband, the Evangelist Billy Graham. She replied, "Murder maybe, never divorce."

And the passage concludes with vows and swearing. In Jesus' time just like now, there have been times when we have said something that someone else has not believed, and because we didn't know better, we have said, "I swear!" or more seriously, that Jesus discourages, "I swear to God!" And countless others that Jesus says we need not and should not do. "Let your yes be yes and your no, no." Beyond that, you've used Satan.

We are part of this life regardless of what the world and society may say to us. We are committed to living like Jesus to glorify Him and God. We should invite God into our lives and live out a different and better way that gives witness to God.

PRAYER: Loving Father, Your Son Jesus, has truly shared with us a new way to live. It is not an easy way, but it is a better way. Bless our faith so that we may be faithful and fruitful. We want to help share with the world the truth about life as it can be truly found in You. Bless us and those for whom we are praying. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live a revolutionary life that blesses God and others!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

A Generous Life Blesses!

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1 Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God, Who cherish and relish his commandments, 2 Their children robust on the earth, And the homes of the upright - how blessed! 3 Their houses brim with wealth And a generosity that never runs dry. 4 Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people - God's grace and mercy and justice! 5 The good person is generous and lends lavishly; 6 No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. 7 Unfazed by rumor and gossip, Heart ready, trusting in God, 8 Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, 9 They lavish gifts on the poor - A generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life! 10 Someone wicked takes one look and rages, Blusters away but ends up speechless. There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing. (Psalm 112 The Message Bible)

God is the most generous person I know. Okay, we can debate "person," but think about it. The Bible says God created everything, and thereby, owns everything. And if we think about it some more, God has given you and me all that we have. God's generosity knows no bounds. I love hearing and reading about how at the last second, God has stepped in and provided someone just what they needed. A scholarship check. A can of Spaghett-O's. An invitation to a meal when one didn't have food. A job offer when one had given up hope. Rain when you thought you'd lose everything if it didn't rain. And what I love more is hearing stories about men and women, boys and girls, that have learned from the generosity of God and now live generous lives. They have taken their blessings as lessons, and shared with others. And a generous person shares hope and light with those still living in despair. The psalmist shared his lesson with us today!

The psalmist knew the key to hope. He knew to start his day with a word of praise, like "Hallelujah!" He also knew he could be blessed with light if he had a respectful love towards God, and who daily sought to know more about God by reading and learning God's precious word. And that brings blessings beyond the person - it carries on to the children of that person, and on the homes of the upright, God's blessings, and wealth with a generosity that never runs dry. No darkness, just light in those homes and souls. He knew that the generous person keeps on giving - back to God, to God's people, to the less fortunate.

You gotta love the verse where it says, (v. 9) "They lavish gifts on the poor - a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life!" Indeed, and amen.

PRAYER: God of love and hope; Father of Generosity and Blessings; rain down Your grace on me so that it pours out in generosity in my back to You and to Yours. In Jesus' name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Live a generous life today and all days!

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio Valverde

Set the Captives Free!

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1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:1-12 NRSV)

A terrific Thursday be yours, dear One, is my prayer. I pray you konw you are surrounded by God's peace, power, and love. And that you are responding with what this passage says we are to do as our fast before the Lord.

I knew of some very loving ranchers, who owned property on or near the Mexican border, who set out daily portions of food and water, for those who might cross their property on their way to a better life. Their acts were acts of charity and not judgement. They knew that more than likely the "visitors" would be hungry, thirsty, and scared. They had experienced something they did not want their family to experience and so risked their very lives to cross a border to find the resources to stay alive, and maybe just get ahead a bit in life. In another state I knew of a retired, older man, who every day bought gallon jugs of water and placed them in the regions known mostly as hot, arid areas of the country so that visitors here would not perish from thirst. These acts were Christian charity, not political statements, made by true citizens of Heaven, who voted for life in sharing food and water. These acts shone the bright light of God's love carried on by the hands of those who love and trust God. These are the ones mentioned thousands of years ago, as those who would be guided continually, whose needs would satisfied; their pasts forgiven, and their future a time of rebuilding. A future with hope.

The prophet never had an easy job. He or she, called by God, had to share the truth about what God expected and it was not to win any popularity contest; it was to call people to righteousness and to a right relationship with God.

As I mentioned yesterday, dear one, we are living in what are perhaps the most despairing of all days. Just yesterday we saw a documentary on the consequences of despair. A son of a pharmacist, acting out of despair, became addicted to an opioid. His addiction to it drove him to a major city where he was killed by his own dealer. The film is more about the pain that has stayed with that family and the family of that killer. There were no winners in that entire situation. All now live captive to that loss and pain. Who or what can possibly free them from their prison cells? If we are willing, God can and will use us to share the good news of hope.

The Lord's last Commandment was that we love one another. Pray and think on that. And as we assess ourselves, correct what is lacking and share love!

PRAYERS: God of love and justice, touch our hearts and minds. Let us touch others with Your love and Your mercy. Allow us to break the chains of hate and ignorance. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a person of love to all people!

Pastor Eradio

Is Your Faith in the Wisdom of Men or The Power of God?

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1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. 6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13 And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:1-16 NRSV)

Happy Wednesday, dear Friend. I trust this day finds you well and enjoying the peace and presence of our Lord Jesus. May our time together in God's word be like having a quiet time in God's garden of tranquility and peace. May it serve to strengthen us and embolden us for battle against all that has come against us by the enemy.

I love the Apostle Paul. He and Peter were identical brothers from different mothers. Paul was always truthful and never had any airs about himself or his abilities. In this first verse he tells it like it was; "I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling." I so identified with those words as I started my internship. My first language was español and I learned English along the way and in school. The more English I learned the less Spanish I could use. And then to come from 12 years of public school, 3 years of university, and two of seminary to a very proud and proper Castellaño setting called El Mesias; well, I was like Paul. Weak and afraid. My meetings with my Internship committee were first about how well I could preach in Spanish. I knew I could get my point across but it weren't pretty. My not-yet-to-be my girlfriend was on the SPRC and she defended me even before she knew me. And she was on the same page: "Does he get his point across?" Yes, the committee sheepishly admitted. My standing in the pulpit was a testament to the power of God and not human wisdom. My friends and MYF acquaintances didn't give me a chance to succeed. One said I was boring and would be a boring pastor. Thanks, God, for getting me here!

Paul had more reason to be scared for he traveled alone into areas not yet familiar with God or God's Son, and the ones who knew God were his Jewish brethren, and they had no love for Jesus. The wisdom of men would have told any other man, go home, take it easy and let someone else do it. The power of God said, Head right into what no one else would do, and tell the world about Jesus.

It won't be wisdom to win people over for Jesus; it will be the power of God. I know that means all of us reading this are qualified to share Jesus. Just open your heart, engage it, and then open your mouth. Pray and give witness to what God has done. A great theologian once said, "Evangelism (telling others about Jesus) is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." Indeed. Start today.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for helping me once upon a time to find bread; the Bread of life. My life has not been the same since. Now, please put me to work in sharing Jesus with others hungry for bread. Empower me and use me; in the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share the bread of life with the hungry in your midst.

Receive my blessings of love and peace.

Pastor Eradio

BONUS: Song about The Apostle Paul:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxv0XGa1tV0

Salt, Light, and Righteousness; These Count for Much!

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13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:13-20 NRSV)

Happy Tuesday, dear Friend. I know this arrives a day late, but what happened was... Nellie and I left Seguin on Saturday and spent the night in San Angelo, where at the gracious invitation of a dear friend and colleague, The Rev. Scott Bradford, I preached two services at First UMC. This was my first time in that awesome church, and Nellie and I were warmly received. Immediately after worship, we left for home where we had planned a family Super Bowl watch party. Long story short, we were double tired from the travel and the party. I thank you for your understanding. Prayers again for this old man as next Sunday I preach in Shiner, TX; then on the 16th of February, I preach at home in Gonzales FUMC.

I hope you read last night's prayer update as I shared the death of Ryder Purlee-Heather at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis. Please continue to pray for his family and loved ones who prayed nonstop for his healing. I ask prayers for healing of our dear sister, Eva Boscamp of FUMC-Gonzales, who has had some serious health challenges which have left her in much pain and discomfort. Pray for her healing.

The theme and focus of my sermons has been on despair. Our country is living in days of despair. A recent major newspaper article called it the number one killer in the USA. Several factors contribute to it; economic realities and challenges, depression, the opioid epidemic, the high suicide rate, et al. And the scriptures from the Lectionary have served to remind us of the hope that God offers through Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount was the introduction to this new hope available in Jesus. And this week's gospel passage, which we read above, strengthens the hope.

Jesus begins talking about those hearing and believing this, are "the salt of the earth." Salt, Jesus knew that we should know as well, has its purposes; flavor, preservation, and insulation. We use salt to flavor our food in a positive way; the same way our lives should positively flavor life. Salt is the same as the positive outlook that we can share through our words and lives with others. Salt was used as a preservative on meat and other foods. Salt was also used in Jesus' day on the bottom of the ovens to more evenly spread the heat and thus help more thoroughly cook the food as well as speeding up the cooking process. Jesus also knew that if salt looses its saltiness, it was no longer good for anything. Old, used salt, would be thrown out into the streets and trampled by those walking on that street. We should ask ourselves, "Am I being salt in the way that I live."

Jesus then addresses light. Jesus says that believers in Him should be the light of the world. Light, as in that which can break through the darkness. As in the love we radiate from God that brings hope to those in despair. Jesus knows the power of light and mentioned several ways to destroy darkness (despair) and hopelessness. Jesus also then refers to the role of the law, with a key punctuation Jesus makes, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not abolish but to fulfill." And then Jesus addresses the need for believers to be righteous people, the kind whose righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Quite the task for us, no? On the contrary, we are simply responding to what we accepted at our Confirmation, and for most of us, our parents at our baptism. To live a life that glorifies God and serves the needs of others.

PRAYER: Loving Father, we confess our need to be forgiven for that which we have taken for granted or otherwise ignored. Grant to us Your power and peace to serve You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name. We pray for the family of Baby Ryder. Lord, we cannot understand fully the why behind his death, but we rejoice in the promises of Jesus of life beyond life. We pray healing and comfort for our sister, Eva Boscamp, along with all anywhere who suffer illness and distress. And Lord, help us be those who alongside You can battle despair. The Church, namely us, should help dispel the darkness and bring forth the light of hope. Hear our prayer that we lift not by our merits, but through He who paid it all, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Break despair with a loving smile for someone today.

Receive my blessings of peace and love,

Pastor Eradio