GO: YOU AND I ARE NOTICED BY GOD AND WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH

Loving God of mercy and peace, shower Your gifts on this dear reader in all they may be facing right now; in Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Our text for today is from Galatians 3:1-9: 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing. 5 Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you." 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.

You and I are creatures of free will. We can choose whatever it is we want to do or believe. We can choose to believe and love God or we can choose to say that we have no time or even belief in God and walk away from God's fellowship. We can choose to believe what we were taught as children by those parents who loved us and wanted the best for us or we can choose to believe and follow the "teachings" of others that mock what our parents taught us. As siblings we sometimes see that in our brothers or sisters and as parents we sometimes see that in our children. If you've seen something like that you can begin to understand the Apostle Paul's opening lines of this chapter. The folks who were once believers in Jesus Christ by faith have now, somehow, been convinced that they need to be more works oriented rather that faith oriented. They've started to look away from the cross and what it represents: God's ultimate love gift to us so that we might be restored to a full relationship with Him because of the sacrifice of His only Son, and to look towards themselves in what they can do on their own; a struggling to "work out" their salvation by following the Jewish law. The influence of the Jews has not easily faded in this community and it is now coming to the forefront and this is troubling Paul. The reality was that this was killing their faith. They had seen miracles being worked among them and still they think that by relying more on themselves they can achieve more.

Paul appeals then to their historical faith by referring back to Abraham. Abraham was the father of the faith simply because he believed and trusted God. It was God who called him to leave his family and country and to follow him to a new land. That act of going after God gained him the name of father of the faith. And Paul, from having studied their faith as Jews now with the perspective of being a Christian can say that Abraham, even in those days, was told by God that his faith would bless even Gentiles (non-Jews), and that this faith the Gentiles would receive would be by faith not works.

You and I are blessed by our faith and this faith has come freely (at a great cost to Christ Jesus) to us. It came by our simply believing. After we received faith we set out to tell others and to do the things that would bless God and God's people. This was the result of faith not of our having to so that we might become saved. We're already saved. We're in a right relationship with Christ when we ask to be. Our temptation is to try and do works that show or say, "Hey, I'm a good person and this what I'm doing is so that God will notice me and see that I am worthy of being saved." Paul would tell us. God has noticed you and that's why we celebrate Christmas. And Easter. And it is precisely because of Jesus that we are saved.

PRAYER: Loving God, again I thank You for Jesus. May my faith increase in belief by my asking not by my trying to do something worthy. May the lessons Paul tried to share with the Galatians be my lesson in knowing more just how much You love me. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

GO GIVE THANKS!

Loving God, may Your ears be filled with the thanks received from this dear reader for the ways You have answered and worked through their needs each day in which You received a prayer on their behalf; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen!

Happy Thanksgiving, dear loved ones and friends. May the spirit that made possible this National Day of Giving Thanks be behind all your celebrations, reunions, and feasts. May your unending prayer for today be, "Thank You, God!" What a wonderful thing, and a rightful thing it is, for us to give thanks to the One who provides all things. Our attitude should be one of gratitude towards God who shares all things with us. Every Sunday when we gather for worship I ask us all to take a deep breath and it's a reminder that we're still alive and being alive isn't a bad thing. Sunday I said we should give thanks we didn't wake up in the funeral parlor (I used "parlor" for our Winter Texans' sake!). If our prayers were phone calls, what would Heaven's switchboard* look like today? I would imagine God's heart and ears are being blessed by all we offer up in our thankfulness for His being our God and a loving God in our lives.

Here are some ways in which I am blessed and I pray you are as well:

Thank God for being our God. This is worship, the offering of thanks towards a loving God. We thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ. Because of His Son, we have received not only life, but life in abundance (see John 10:10). We thank God for the presence of His Holy Spirit. This is God's way of being involved daily in our lives. The Holy Spirit is here to help us with our prayers (see Romans 8:26-27). We thank God for life and our being alive. We thank God for the gift of love, especially the one we receive from God and the one we're able to share with others. Thank God for the love we receive from others. Never take it for granted, enjoy it and be blessed in it. We thank God for the dear people in our lives and for the memories of those who were dear but who now reside with Him in glory. May any tears we shed today be those of grateful remembrance and for the promises of life beyond this life. We thank God for shelter. We may not have a home, but we're thankful for the places where we can lay down and rest for a night or for a time. For those with homes, thank God for that wonderful blessing. We thank God for food, wonderful and nourishing as it is for our bodies. May that old time prayer of thanking God for the nourishment of body truly serve to nourish our souls.

We thank God for our places of worship and those who labor in them. We thank God for a day in which we can rest, relax, refresh and renew ourselves for today and tomorrow. We pray and ask God to be with those who have to work today. Our public servants of police and fire fighters need our prayers that as they respond to needs, may God bless and protect them. May God bless our nation and all nations. We pray God's blessing upon those who represent us in uniform in dangerous places; may God bless and protect them and keep them out of harm's way. May God work in those who work for our peace bring fruit to those labors that one day we might not know war and conflicts between nations. We pray for those affected by war, the citizens in other countries who are affected by our actions. Keep them safe and blessed too. We pray for the hungry. Most of us will sit at a table filled with food and joy. Some know only a "feast" given during the holidays; may we pray and act on making sure those who are hungry might find food every day.

We thank God for all we have and we pray that our hearts would today be more thankful for the gifts of Spirit, friendship and fellowship than in material goods.

May this be a truly blessed day for you and yours.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GO: CHRIST LIVING IN US; SAVED BY FAITH NOT WORKS

God of peace and patience, visit this dear reader with those two precious gifts in all they may need today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Galatians 2:11-21: But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; 12 for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. 13 And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17 But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

One of the things that scares parents is how much our children learn from us from the very first day. I've shared how when my girls were born I spoke to screaming babies and upon hearing my voice they stopped and looked around as if to say, "Hey, I know that voice!" I was pleasantly surprised that that also happened with my two grandkids; Saraí Evangelina lived with us before her birth, and Liam from hearing Grandpa preach every Sunday, both knew my voice and stopped to listen to see who this voice belonged to. I tell parents at the brief Baptism class that I hold, that in a very real way their having chosen to baptize their child may be the last spiritual decision they make for their child; the decision to become a Professing Member of our Church will have to come from them, but that the child is already learning from them, so for them to show how real and important God is and to show that by living that way.

Paul saw in Peter, above called Cephas, a life that was not quite the Gospel and he told him so. This issue was whether a person had to become a Jew first, then a Christian or if the two were separate. Peter lived a life in the presence of those in Antioch as one who was a Jew primarily and wanted the others to do so as well. Paul didn't buy it and spoke of the importance of realizing that our faith comes by faith not by works. We can be the hardest workers in the church, first there and last to leave, but that will count for nothing if we do not have faith. After we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, we must invite Him in and then allow Christ to live in us a life that is the Gospel to others. That will be the best and most important sermon or witness we can give to others. That will show how real and important Christ is to us.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me today receive You as Lord and Savior. I have faith in You and I invite You into my heart and life. Live in me and through me so that my hands become Your hands, Your thoughts become my thoughts, my deeds become those guided by You. I pray especially for those on My Most Wanted List of those who I know need You and have not yet realized and accepted Your great love; may my life make a difference in their lives today. I ask this in Your precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

GO: WHAT IS CENTRAL TO OUR FAITH?

God of our blessed assurance, reassure this dear reader in the challenges of faith that may come their way; in Christ Jesus, amen.

My apologies for my silence these last few days, for they found me to be under the weather and unable to do much, but thanks be to God I am feeling better. Our text for today comes from Galatians 2:1-10:

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 But because of false believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us— 5 we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. 6 And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.

Many of us grew up with traditions and practices that we considered laws of the faith. More than likely these were the teachings of former pastors or family traditions taught by earlier generations of believers. I trust that behind each of these traditions, practices and laws, the truth of God's love was felt by you. Paul is sharing how God led him through a revelation to make another trip to Jerusalem, the capital of Christianity at the time, and the place where the first and leaders of believers lived. Paul takes with him Barnabas and Titus, a Gentile convert to Christianity. It sounds like Paul wants to make sure his message is in line with the faith as these leaders in Jerusalem are teaching it. Paul also wants to know if holding to the belief that men do not have be circumcised to be Christians is also in line with true faith. Titus, some footnotes say, came along as a "test case." If he were compelled to be circumcised then Paul would work to make sure all male believers were as well. But that was not the case. Circumcision was still a part of the Law which Paul now sees and calls "bondage." True freedom was in knowing and experiencing the love of Christ Jesus in the heart; this was the central message of the Gospel. If anything came of that meeting was that the "leaders" in Jerusalem recognized the need for themselves to continue to preach among the Jews and for Paul to continue to preach among the non-Jews. The other important thing was that these three received "the right hand of fellowship" with the understanding that Paul would "remember the poor," in other words to collect offerings to help those believers in areas that were hurting from lack of financial resources. Paul was already committed to that and gladly accepted that charge.

We can easily hide or get lost in following traditions and practices and forget the centrality of God's love and salvation as offered to us. And what have we gained if we've missed the main part? This happens for some each Sunday in church, certain orders have to be followed for any comfort or experience to be truly had, but those awaiting or watching for those things have missed the most important part, that feeling of joy and forgiveness that comes to the hearts of those who are hurting and in need. And if truth be told, that means all of us. So, look beyond what our hands have made as required practices and laws to the hands of God at work in our lives that we might be blessed.

PRAYER: Loving God, the message in Galatians is to go, and today it was to go beyond what we impose on ourselves. So, help me see where it is that I am to go, and give me the strength to follow and do exactly that. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

GO: JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH JOY FOR WHAT JESUS HAS DONE!

Loving God of peace, bring lasting peace to the heart and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text today is from Galatians (The "Go" in Go Eat Peaches & Cream) 1:11-24:

11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; 19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. 20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.

How passionate do you get about good news? We have all seen the range from a smile to a yelling, jumping, screaming response to hearing news of which one awaited. It's all good, yet the one who hears, lets it sink in and then reacts honestly tends to get the attention of others because of what the news means to them. Here Paul is sharing how he responded. He begins by explaining that the "good news" we're talking about here, the gospel of Jesus and how God loved him and us, comes from God. With the sharing and hearing of the gospel there is great power in that. How you choose to receive it determines your reaction and your response. Of course some may say, Paul was that way in so many things, including his former life! Yes, Paul says that too. He at this point was not particularly proud of rounding up and arresting Christians, but he does admit that he was good at what he did and it came about because of his zeal for anything and everything he did. But now that he's had his encounter with the fullness and truth about life as Jesus offers it, he says, "Hey, this is the only reaction I can give to God. He deserves it!

How does that compare with our church's response to the good news? And what a comparison I'm asking you to make. Sunday morning, Reverend, that's a dignified hour, solemn, sacred, quiet; to react any other way is to invite the ushers to come and escort us out of church. Yet, if the Cowboys are kicking off at 12 noon, "Reverend, could you please make the sermon short? The '"Boys" are starting early and I've got to go see them!" And exactly at 12:00 the mood changes; there's excitement and anticipation, nervousness even, for our very lives and our contentment with the world will hang in the balance on how the Cowboys do on that day. Once in front of the television the dignified, solemn, sacred, quiet hour has ended and whoops and hollers are the order of the day. Grown men "high five" each other, laugh, smile, dance, and celebrate a man successfully carrying a pigskin across a white line on a green playing field. Hmm. What's wrong with this picture? Let me try to win back some enemies, there's nothing wrong with the celebrations that go with football; I'm asking why don't we see this in church? Paul knew that to have his sins removed was great cause for celebration. His having been added to the Book of Life meaning he would spend eternity in Heaven was assured caused him to rejoice and rejoice again. We seldom see that, if ever, during a message where life in its fullest is shared with dying people. Paul understood the power and importance of the Gospel. Do we?

PRAYER: Loving Father, I am thankful for the things and distractions that cause me to yell joyously, but I ask You forgive me for those times I have done little to nothing about the great, eternal things You have done for me. Let me, like my brother Paul, rejoice in the news that I have gone from being a condemned person to one embraced with life and the fullness of it, and add to that the promise of eternal life! May Your Spirit move through me and my church so that the joy Paul had can be mine as well. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

GO EAT PEACHES AND CREAM!

Lord of life, breathe the fullness of life into the needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Yesterday we concluded our study of Romans and for today I thought we'd "Go Eat Peaches & Cream," (a learning device of the order of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Yes, I said we'd start with Ephesians, but we need to "GO" first.

Here is our beginning text for today: Galatians 1: 1-10

Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the members of God's family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! 10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I had dropped off Nellie at her school, Robert E. Lee in Dallas, Texas, and I was making my way to the seminary when the radio station announced the death of drummer Keith Moon of the British rock group The Who and proceeded to play "Who Are You?" At the time it was a sad announcement as The Who has been one of my favorite groups, and this then-new song was my favorite of what I thought would be their last album. The title is fitting for today's text; Who Are You? Paul anwers the question as he begins to address his brothers and sisters in Galatia. Some believe Galatia is as much a geographical location as it is a political one. These believers were a result of his preaching there on his first missionary trip through that region and so he cares about them. He has also heard that discussion and arguments have arisen about salvation and sanctification. Can a man/woman "save" themselves? The clear answer, of course, is no, we're too weak. Paul will address this and other topics through our study, but for today he reminds them of who he is. As a pastor from time to time, especially the first Staff-Parish Relations Committee meeting of the year, I like to remind them who I am. I share a little of my call into ministry and the education I've received that allows me to serve as pastor, along with the ordinations I received to be a fulltime minister. Paul is doing the same. Paul's authority he explains, has come from God, not any man. In a real way, most of us have received the same through our baptism and our participation in church. God has shared with us that calling to be in ministry (fulltime!) to sharing the Good News with others. Paul's urgency is no less present today as we continue to read and experience the falling away of so many from following and doing the will of God.

Paul shares grace and peace, needed daily ingredients for a great day (not to mention life) and he reminds them again of just what God did through Jesus Christ His Son: v. 4 "gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." Our sins are taken away and our lives free from the demands and pressures of this "present evil age." For Paul that means rejoicing and giving thanks for having a better option for living our lives. It also means our responsibility is to share those great news with others; to be a believe is not to be of a secret cult, it's one of the most public groups to which we can belong. Yet, Paul continues, I hear that many of you are so quickly and easily walking away from Jesus towards a "different gospel," not that one truly exists apart from the one we heard and received. Some were going back to "hide" in the law and some were attracted to the gnostic view of Christianity (a different man-centered view). Whatever their reasons, Paul says he remains true to God not for human approval, but only for God's approval.

Who are you? How do you live your life? Do you seek to be approved by everyone as a people-pleaser or do you seek to do what you know God desires? Do you easily share your faith in such a way that others are responding? Do you at least invite someone to church from time to time?

PRAYER: Lord God, I thank you for the life and writings of your servant Paul. May life model such a faithfulness in the joy and excitement and commitment he held for You. May I have the boldness to share my life in a way that saves lives. I ask this in Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

37 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: CHRISTIANS ARE FAMOUS FOR HOSPITALITY??

Lord of the Universe and all places, visit with Your glory the needs of this dear reader on this day; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Today's text is from Romans 16:1-17 in The Message version:

1 Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for. I heartily endorse both her and her work. She's a key representative of the church at Cenchrea. 2 Help her out in whatever she asks. She deserves anything you can do for her. She's helped many a person, including me. 3 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me in serving Jesus. 4 They once put their lives on the line for me. And I'm not the only one grateful to them. All the non-Jewish gatherings of believers also owe them plenty, 5 to say nothing of the church that meets in their house. Hello to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first Christian in the province of Asia. 6 Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be! 7 Hello to my cousins Andronicus and Junias. We once shared a jail cell. They were believers in Christ before I was. Both of them are outstanding leaders. 8 Hello to Ampliatus, my good friend in the family of God. 9 Hello to Urbanus, our companion in Christ's work, and my good friend Stachys. 10 Hello to Apelles, a tried-and-true veteran in following Christ. Hello to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Hello to my cousin Herodion. Hello to those Christians from the family of Narcissus. 12 Hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa - such diligent women in serving the Master. Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ. 13 Hello to Rufus - a good choice by the Master! - and his mother. She has also been a dear mother to me. 14 Hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and also to all of their families. 15 Hello to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas - and all the Christians who live with them. 16 Holy embraces all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings! 17 One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. 18 They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. 19 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters - I couldn't be more proud of you! - I want you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, 20 and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus! 21 And here are some more greetings from our end. Timothy, my partner in this work, Lucius, and my cousins Jason and Sosipater all said to tell you hello. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter at Paul's dictation, send you my personal greetings. 23 Gaius, who is host here to both me and the whole church, wants to be remembered to you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our good friend Quartus send their greetings. 25 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long 26 but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter. 27 All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes!

Something must have happened somewhere between the writing of this letter and our having received it. Paul writes about Christians being famous for being hospitable people. And in some places that's never changed, but in some it's a new thing that is being stressed in a way that is being called "radical hospitality." The serious lack of hospitality caused folks to ask, whatever happened to welcoming all people and making them feel welcome? Is it all that hard to say "Hello" to someone we don't know who walks in to worship with us? It wasn't all that long ago in this nation that all the churches on Sunday were filled. And sociologists wrote that Sunday morning 11 o'clock was the most segregated hour in America. Churches in those days were friendly to the folks who looked and talked, dressed and acted like them; they were welcome. Others were not because of "obvious reasons." Paul is writing to a city like most cities and towns today: Made up of diverse people. And in the midst of this diversity, Christians were famous for being hospitable.

Can we make history again? I should ask, can YOU make history again by being known as a person who goes out of your way to make everyone feel welcome and to say Hello and share a form of greeting that Paul mentions above? As our churches grow smaller, there are still lots of folks who are wanting a place in which to feel a part of some greater good and they may just walk in our doors on Sunday. How will YOU make them feel? Will you fight about your pew? Will you sneer at them because they're not dressed like you? Or will the light and love of Christ Jesus Himself be reflected on your loving face in such a way that a guest will say, "I'm glad I was here today because I was made to feel at home." Remember visitors are those people who ring our doorbell unexpectedly and we peep out and panic. "We weren't expecting them! Let's pretend we're not at home and maybe they'll go away!" A guest is someone for whom we prepare a place and excitedly expect their visit. That's radical. That's Christian.

PRAYER: God of neverending hospitality, You make all people welcome in Your kingdom. We await the day when You will welcome us home. For now our task is to welcome everyone in radical and exciting ways to a life that can be theirs if they open their hearts to You. But help me realize it makes it easier for them if I first open MY heart to You. I ask this, asking forgiveness for the times I have failed, in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

36 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: SO MUCH STILL TO DO

God of peace and joy, bless the needs of this dear reader in whatever s/he faces today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for this day comes from Romans 15:14-33:

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done-- 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." 22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's people there, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

A recent issue of "The Week" magazine had a disturbing article about the growing size of the Nones. Quoting from that magazine as they answer your question, Who Are The Nones? "Your neighbors. A new study by researchers at Trinity College found that 34 million adult Americans—about 15 percent of the population—have no religious affiliation. In 1990, just 8 percent of the population claimed no affiliation with a religious denomination. In terms of education, income, and marital status, Nones are similar to the general population, though they are more likely to live in the Northeast or Pacific Northwest. In Vermont, they actually make up the largest single “denomination.” Nones are, on average, younger than the general population—a factor helping to make them the fastest-growing segment of the religious landscape. “Nones are not a fringe group anymore, and are now part of Middle America,” says study co-author Barry Kosmin. “They’re present in every socio-demographic group.” ("The Week:"Losing Our Religion;" Oct. 29, 2009).

The Nones are those who check that box that asks about religious affliation; in other words they enjoy none. Sad. The article goes on to say as this groups grows the churches grow empty and the character of the nation changes for the worse. It's as if we need a visit from Paul himself. Wait, he's dead and has been for a long time. Who could God possibly use to take the good news to those who have reaced that point in their lives to check "none?" Wait. Paul is recounting what God has allowed him to do while he's been on the road traveling and we have to ask if we've even been on "the road." By that I mean, have we been occupied in sharing Jesus with others? Paul had traveled most of the known world with the sole purpose of sharing Jesus. His goal was to finally go and visit with the believers in Rome on his way to Spain. Can you imagine such faith? What are we doing? I lament that we sometimes, for whatever lame reason we come up with, don't cross the room to share Jesus.

If we want the Nones to win America and the world, continue to do exactly what you're doing. If you want Jesus to win, then do something. I would suggest we be the ones whose lives have been "checked" Alive, instead of None, and we show that by living a life and sharing the life of Jesus with those who have already been checked None.

PRAYER: God of the Nones and the Alives, forgive me for not doing more. Help me this day come alive and be the person You need me to be. May my witness show a life that has received a second, third, fortieth chance, so that others might seek the same. Save me from my comfort. In Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

35 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: THE GOD OF HOPE

Lord of the day, may this day be a day of wonderful discoveries for this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Here's our text: Romans 15:1-13:

1 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. 3 For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; 10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; 11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; 12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the things that I love about being a minister is dealing with hope. I love to discover amazing things that happen when others said they could not. I love standing with folks as dreams come true and prayers get answered. I stand amazed when the impossible becomes real. This was part of Paul's message today. Those with hope should never abandon it, but need to share it with those who suffer from a lack of it. We belong to God! The God of life and love, the God who made all things. The God who not only owns the cattle on the hills, He owns the hills! Look at verse 4: "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." My oldest granddaughter surprised us with a visit (oh yes, her mom and dad are here too - I forget!) and so in the short time she's been here I've tried to be with you, talk with her and show her movies whose characters she loves. I discovered she has "railroad blood" just like her great-great-great grandfather, great-grandfather and grandfather (it skips a generation it seems). Those mentioned have all worked or volunteered in railroading, so when I saw her fascination with trains I had to show her a movie I just recently saw, "Polar Express." I had resisted watching it because of its format and thought it looked sort of creepy, but at Wednesday night fellowship several said it was a "have-to" movie and so I borrowed it. It is a great movie (okay, it's a great Christmas movie) about a train that helps children have hope. It arrives on the eve of discovering the truth about Santa and that's all I'm going to say about it. It takes children to a place where they receive hope.

Paul says the Bible is such a vehicle. We can climb aboard and ride for the adventure of a lifetime and receive on that journey amazing hope. Or we can gripe that it seems to be blocking traffic just when we need to be getting somewhere else. I've climbed aboard. All aboard?

PRAYER: God of hope, share with me again and again the gift of hope. May Your presence, Your actions in my life, and Your Word share with me anew those promises of hope when I most need it. Let today begin a great adventure of hope. I pray this in He who brings hope anew, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

34 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: CAN DIETS KILL RELATIONSHIPS?

God of unending love and wisdom, may those be special gifts to this dear reader today in all that she or he faces; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text for today comes from Romans 14:13-23 and we'll us The Message version again:

13 Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. 14 I'm convinced - Jesus convinced me! - that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it. 15 If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? 16 Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning! 17 God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. 18 Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you. 19 So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; 20 don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. 21 When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love. 22 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. 23 But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe - some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them - then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong (a sin).

For the ancient believer of Paul's time, dietary concerns were important as we discussed in an earlier devotional. To eat something used first for the worship of an idol or false god didn't sit well with some believers. Others thought, if you're hungry, you're hungry and you eat; food is food. The disagreement between the two brought about conflicts that shouldn't have happened in the first place. Here Paul addresses those again. Verse 19 is key: "So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each others. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault." Hey, isn't that the "fun" in church, finding fault with others? For some, it may seem to be. Paul said, we have a bigger enemy to fight and that's evil. In order to better fight evil, we should have no space or room between us, join hands and hearts in the worship and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Exchange love with one another, for was that not the new great commandment given by Jesus, to love one another?

Let's make today a day to commit to love the Lord our God with all that we have. Secondly, let's love each other in the strong, positive, uplifting way we should be loving ourselves. Imagine a world filled with love, working together against evil.

PRAYER: Loving God, I confess that I am guilt of sometimes looking at the faults of others and trying to address those. Your Son, Jesus said I was to look first at myself and the plank in my eye before removing the speck in my neighbor's eye. May that be true for me today. Let me join my hands and hearts with my brothers and sisters to fight evil and share in love with each other. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

33 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: ON YOUR FAULTS AND MINE

Loving God, bless the needs of this dear reader in whatever they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Today's text comes from Romans 14:1-12:

1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6 Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

How big is our welcome mat? By that I don't mean the one that says either welcome, or "Don't Make Me Come Out There! - The Dog." How do you welcome those who believe a little different from you on certain issues. In Paul's day the issues were a bit different. There was the issue of dietary practices. Most of the meat available for purchase came from places that had first offered it as idol sacrifice. That is to say your steak might have been first on the altar to a Roman god before it hit your plate and you might not be kosher (sorry) with that idea. So you became a vegetarian. Then you get invited over to a fellowship meal with fellow members of your church and you discover they're having steak. Oopsy, what to do, what to do? Or the issue was that of following the Lord's Day. No established church on the Christian side for that yet. Jews had Saturday and still do; some Christians believed that they should too. Others said, No, we're Christ's people; He rose on Sunday and so we should worship Him on the day of His resurrection, after all we're Resurrection People! And you could see where the fellowship, meal or otherwise, might get a bit tense and the welcome mat slowly shrinks.

Paul says, in all matters, even death, we belong to God! Why spend valuable time judging one another? We don't have that much time. Our time is better spent in worship and serve to the living God, reaching the lost, the least, and the last. In the End it will be He who judges, not us. Meanwhile, let us sing praises to the living God in hopes of reaching as many as we can. Let us also be mindful that we are to be held accountable for what we did with our time.

PRAYER: God of love, may my day be spent in doing that which is pleasing to You. Not all people are pleasing to us and I should be mindful of that, but not in condemning thoughts or tones, but in terms of knowing that what I do today matter in Your kingdom. Let me serve and praise You while trying to reach as many as I can. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

32 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: THE DEBT OF LOVE

Gracious God of wholeness and peace, share Your blessings on the needs of this dear reader in all they may need or face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Our text today comes from Romans 13:8-14: This morning we use The Message version, which is fresh and challenging at times:

8 Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. 9 The law code - don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of - finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. 10 You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love. 11 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. 12 The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. 13 We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. 14 Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

We're all in debt. To God, that is, for His great love for us. Dont' you love the summary given in that short passage about the debt of love? You owe me love! I owe you love! How many times have we said or heard that? Probably slim to none, right? Yet, what a wonderful message for Christians to hear, have, and live: Living as if we were in debt to each other out of love. With the debt of love message we can better understand the Ten Commandments; Paul says (in Message form): "Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love."

The rest of the message in this passage is a call to action. I was joking with my Sunday school class (Sundays at 9:40 a.m. in the RCC Meeting Room. Hint) about the number of retreats the church has had and still has. Many have said, Why don't we ever have charges or advances? Have we lulled ourselves to sleep awaiting something to happen? The truth is that God awaits our faithfulness to come to life and our willingness to go out and love folks! If we were to live our lives based on love and treat others as we treat ourselves in positive, loving ways, the results would be great for Christ's church.

So, as Paul said above, "Get out of 'bed' and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger...dress yourself in Christ" and get busy!

PRAYER: Loving God of love. I am in debt to You and others in love for the great love you always have for me and all of us. Help me to arise, dress, and go be the person of love You've called me to be. In Christ Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: For baby Allegra McCallum, in the hospital with roto-virus. For Mom and Dad and grandparents. For Nicho Salazar, who has a blockage in his brain. He's in the Floresville hospital.