World-Wide Grace!

Come to Macedonia

God takes us and sends us to the most incredible places

The Apostle Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia. You can read about this in Acts 16:9-15. In it the man is saying, "Come help us." God has a way of sending us sometimes to places where we didn't expect to go to do things we didn't expect to do. It might be someplace as scary as a Sunday school class or to a choir rehearsal to join a choir. Or it may be to share God's love with people not like us. This past Sunday we celebrated the 40th anniversary of a predominantly Anglo church with a Korean pastor and a Latino district superintendent. The pastor never dreamed he would pastor a non-Korean congregation he confessed, and the district superintendent never dreamed he would pastor or serve as a DS in an anglo conference. God is funny that way.

Obedience is the key. If God says go, go! God will come with us. The journey may be long (training, seminary, licensing school, lay servant school), but it will be worth it. Even if it is one life that is touched for the better by God, then it was all worth it.

PRAYER: Loving God, I can hear you calling and I want to say yes. Help me because my lips and mind sometimes say no. Help me make the journey to the place you would have me serve. This I ask in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The text for today: Acts 16: 9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

The Power of a Shining Face!

Nellie and I with our four daughters, then with our four grandkids, could not wait for their first smile. There is something about seeing a baby reflect back a smile. I suppose that's what the Psalmist said in Psalm 67; "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us." I would hope that as we become aware of that smile from God, we would smile. The world needs to see the reflected smile of God on our faces. Smiling is a part of praise. Join in with people from all over the world in praising the goodness of God!

PRAYER: Loving God, I know You are smiling on me now; let me smile back. Let my smile be one form of praise towards You today, and may it help bring a smile to someone else's face as well. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

We Know The End; We Win!

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (NRSV)

I read a story once about a man who lived in Hawaii. He loved football and being in a different time zone sometimes knew the score of the games, but he would videotape them to watch at his convenience. He would yell, holler, get depressed and mope during those parts of the game when his team was losing. It would get to his wife until finally one Sunday she said, "Honey, you know who won; why do you act like you lost?" The point of the story was about our faith and how we live it. We have the book. We've read the book (or should have!). We know who wins. We, who are in faith and relationship with God, win. The writer of Revelation saw the vision of the new heaven and the new earth and wrote it down for us to have. And yet, some of us live like we lose. For all eternity. We don't!

Here's what today's lesson teaches us: The old will pass away. It usually does; but it is replaced with something new that will not pass away. There will be a wedding celebration where God marries the Church. The new place will be the home of God and we as mortals will be invited to live in it. God will live with us and we will be God's people. There will be no tears, for the reasons we've had here on earth to cry will be removed. There will be no more death. The great separator has been vanquished by Jesus, so the motives behind the crying and weeping will cease to exist. No more mourning. No more crying. No more pain. There will be a king seated on the throne and this King will make a declaration: "I am making all things new!" He will also declare that those things that He ordered John to write will be trustworthy and true. Then, that will be it. Jesus will declare that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. We win.

So, then, how should we live? We should live as victors. We have the results in and we come out okay. There will be no reason to scream, holler, mope, be depressed and whatever else it is that we do while we think we've lost it all; God wins and so do we! Live like it!

PRAYER: Dear Alpha and Omega, help me to live my life in a way that shows that in You I have won. Give me a stronger faith to declare and make true that which is Yours to share with others. This I pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

We Belong to Jesus!

John 10:22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one." (NRSV)

It was an important religious holiday celebration and of course, Jesus was in the Temple. He was sought out by those who wondered just exactly is this man and they asked Him, "Are you the Messiah? And if so, spell it out!" It sounds like those who ask, "Are you for real?" Jesus replied that He had told them and not only that the unexplainable things that He had done gave further witness to Who He was. These folks sadly, did not have a relationship with God nor with Jesus thus they did not know Him. Jesus further stated that His sheep know His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. And, Jesus adds, "I will give them eternal life and they will never perish." Jesus also says that He is the protector of those who love and follow Him and no one can take us away from Him. And this is because of Who Jesus is in relation to God the Father.

We are called to live a life that gives witness to the faith we have in Jesus; that Jesus takes care of us always even after this life. Nothing nor no one can snatch us from His loving embrace. That is the kind of foundation for living a solid life that pleases God and seeks to serve God.

PRAYER: Loving God, may my life give witness to the faith and trust I have in You. May I seek to hear Your voice as I live my life today. Guide me to faithfulness. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Fulfillment of the Shepherd's Work!

Revelation 7: 9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (NRSV)

The words of this vision given to John have a Psalm 23 ring to them. What the ancient psalmist saw in his vision of God, John writes its completion and fulfillment. All we could hope for here on earth is seen by John and shared with us through this book. There is also a Palm Sunday ring to this passage too, a gigantic, all inclusive parade and praise gathering of the faithful from all over the world, thanking God for salvation, and praising God for allowing them to be among that throng. The angels will be leading worship and they will be singing and sharing their eternal praises to God as well. John records that "one of the elders addressed (him), saying, 'Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?'" John reports he did not know but he suspected the elder did and the elder replied, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Okay, so there's going to be laundry to do, but what a system! It's reverse from some of the messes I have made putting in perfectly white shirts in the wash with something red and out comes a very nice pink shirt, ruined for all eternity. This system will be the complete opposite; into the redness of the blood of Jesus will go our robes and out they will come, white and ready for worship! But what has always spoken to me and this is a passage I have used at many a funeral, verse 16 forward shares, "They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

What David saw, felt, and wrote in the words of the most famous of all psalms, will be eternally fulfilled in heaven. There will be none of earth's sufferings and wants. These things that we have been entrusted to provide for those in need, while we are yet alive (read Matthew 25 again), will be taken care of in heaven by God. Our job continues to care for the hungry and thirsty here on the earth. The heat of the sun that has damaged so many who have had no shelter from it, will not suffer the same in heaven. And He who guided us here on earth unseen, will be seen inn heaven, and as David said a good shepherd leads his flock here on the earth, The Good Shepherd will do the same in heaven, guiding us to springs of the water of life. And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

While some may say this inspires me to want to go today, it really should inspire us to care more right now for the least fortunate. We are called to share what we have with those who have not. We are to provide water, food and shelter as well as a loving and caring heart with those who know no such things until that time we are all called to God's presence and receive that which we shared with others for ourselves, for all eternity.

Our work is not done. Get busy!

PRAYER: Lord of Hosts, the image shared with us by John is an inspiration to us to care for each other here on the earth. May we seek to provide as Your Son outlines in Matthew 25; and may be be faithful to that call. We do look forward to when You receive us into that place that John saw where we will enjoy You and Yours for all eternity. Let us share now heaven in each heart. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Easter: The Miracles Continue!

Acts 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. (NRSV)

The power of Easter is the defeat of sin and death. Death was commonplace during the time of Jesus and many died at early ages due to the lack medicine and medical treatments. The power of God through Jesus changed all that even to this day. Most deaths are for the family and survivors, sad, heartbreaking events. Yesterday's bombings in Boston killed it is believed at least one 8 year-old child, with many others injured. Yet, for the Christian, it is a time of separation for a time. The New Testament is filled with promises of life beyond this life. Jesus' words are the most powerful and we find in this story the power of Jesus in Peter as he was called to the house of Tabitha after her death. Peter arrives and brings her back to life. This astounded everyone and even brought new believers to the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't know how much longer Tabitha lived, but we know she died again. I believe her second death was something she looked forward to and expected unlike the first. But the fullness of that life between deaths was something she lived and enjoyed, possibly telling everyone, "You know I died and the Lord gave me new life?" So it should be with us. While we were yet alive but being killed slowly by our sin, Christ came and gave us new life.

What have we to fear?

PRAYER: Like Tabitha, many of us have received new life, free from sin and the consequences of sin. Grant us yet today new life and the fullness of life lived in and through Your love. If anyone reading this has not yet surrendered his or her sin to you, may it be today, so that new life can be theirs. Jesus, thank You for coming to give us new life and the fullness of life. In Your name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Lord is My Shepherd!

Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (NRSV Salmo 23: 1 JEHOVA es mi pastor; nada me faltará. 2 En lugares de delicados pastos me hará yacer: Junto á aguas de reposo me pastoreará. 3 Confortará mi alma; Guiárame por sendas de justicia por amor de su nombre. 4 Aunque ande en valle de sombra de muerte, No temeré mal alguno; porque tú estarás conmigo: Tu vara y tu cayado me infundirán aliento. 5 Aderezarás mesa delante de mí, en presencia de mis angustiadores: Ungiste mi cabeza con aceite: mi copa está rebosando. 6 Ciertamente el bien y la misericordia me seguirán todos los días de mi vida: Y en la casa de Jehová moraré por largos días. (Reina Valera) My mother said I had learned the 23rd Psalm in Spanish by the time I was five. Someone had the patience to calm me down long enough to teach me things like this precious psalm. In Spanish I learned that by following the Lord I would lack for nothing. When I learned it in English, King James Version, of course, I thought I didn't want the Lord in any way, as shepherd or God. I did want Him, but I thought the writer was angry or confused or wanted to, and doing a good job, of confusing me. When I made the connection between Spanish and English I realized that first verse is a declaration of a splendid relationship of trust. With the Lord as our shepherd, we shall lack for nothing. There will be some trying and difficult times, but the point is that we should never lose our trust in the Lord. We should let the Lord guide us. There are times when we should be led to lie down, for rest is important. Jesus demonstrated a work ethic of long, difficult hours of preaching, teaching, healing, etc., but still He made time for rest. The Lord satisfies our thirst with life-quenching waters that we find in prayer and the study of Scripture. With these two combined, our soul is restored, and there is nothing stronger nor better than a restored soul. Now, I've never been a shepherd but I have adopted a dachshund who had a mind of her own. A leash was the best way to lead her anywhere. Not even traveling in a car was a good idea for she knew how to jump out of an open window; she did not know how to be led "in right paths" for my name's sake. I confess that there are times that I have acted like Gweenie. The psalmist says we should be led by the Lord down the right paths for the Lord's sake and ours. There is power in presence, especially the power and presence of the Lord when things seem helpless or bleak. The ancient psalm reads "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." In the way my Dad and Mom were there for me during difficult times, I have tried to be there for my daughters, and now my grandchildren; but my presence and my power are nothing compared to the power and presence of the Living God. The ancient illustration of rod and staff to the ancient mind called the best weapons and tools for protecting sheep. In our terms, God's got it all; God's got it covered! How about a celebratory banquet in front of those who sought our demise? How about a Communion meal after a bout with illness or sadness or things that claimed something precious from our lives? No better banquet to tell our enemy(ies) "God won!" How about those times in church where we have been anointed with oil? Prayers lifted up to defeat our pain and our illness; these have comforted us and given us strength and hope in the God who never loses. Spiritually, our cups do indeed overflow. And with God by our side, "goodness and mercy shall follow" us every single day we walk here on this earth; and when it comes time for an appearance before God after this life,those who have walked with God will have a splendid place to live eternally. Walk and live like a winner today! PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, may the words of this precious psalm be the words that shape and guide my life today; I need it! Let me be a blessing to You and Yours. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen. Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Eradio Valverde

New Ways of Fishing!

John 21: 1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me." (NRSV)

Look to Jesus and follow His lead in reaching others. It may mean doing things in a new and different way. The above picture shows the United Methodist Men of our conference, some wearing grass skirts!, as they barbecued and served a luau style meal for the youth of our conference who came to a beach retreat. The man to my right is the president of the UMM, Brother Clarence Littlefield, whom I've teased since then that I don't recognize him without his grass skirt. It was a bold move and it was fishing from "the right side of the boat." The men care about the youth and they volunteered to feed the youth and spend from the early morning until that night in preparing a true feast for the enjoyment of the kids. This was something new and something that may continue in different ways and in different settings. The key is to trust Jesus and follow the lead of Jesus in reaching new disciples.

The opposite is to do the same thing over and over again and then wonder why nothing new is happening in our churches. This is called a rut and it's pretty much like being a train on a train track. The train will always arrive at the same destinations as long as it is on that particular track. It is not easy to get out of a rut, especially a deep grooved rut that has taken years to make. It takes some work and it takes some convincing of those used to that rut to move out and go in different directions. Jesus was teaching His disciples about reaching those who have not yet heard nor believed. In this story it involved going out yet again, but this time trying the right side of the boat. The result was that many fish were brought in almost to the point of ripping open the net.

The story is not complete without us reading the part where Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. It's a tough but touching story. Peter is asked three times if he loves Jesus by Jesus. Peter says yes three times and each time Jesus responds with a command. The first is "Feed my lambs." The second, "Tend my sheep." And the third, "Feed my sheep." Peter denied Jesus three times and here he is given three chances to respond to the question of loving Jesus, whom he denied. This helps Peter with his personal grief about having said three times that he did not know Jesus and it also serves to show him that once the fish are caught, they become sheep who need feeding and tending. It is a call not just to Peter but to us as well; be active in the fishing but also be leaders in that which comes after catching. And the touching end of this passage, Jesus again invites Peter to "Follow me." Daily, you and I receive the same invitation. What are we doing about it?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for showing us the way. Help my eyes and vision to stay focused on You. Help me be a better fisher and once I have caught these new disciples, help me to feed and tend them in the way that leads to fullness of life here, and eternal life in You. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus Is The One Who Could

Revelation 5: 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. (NRSV)

This past Saturday while at retreat, our youngest grandchild, Eliana Beth Garcia (pictured above) came to see Grandma and Grandpa. Nellie said, "Let's take her to where the group is so they can meet her." One of our pastors saw her and immediately said, "Let me hold her." She also said a blessing and mentioned another baby in her blessing. On Sunday during prayer time, she shared how this week she had been with a family who had had twin girls born, only to lose one right away and this past week, the second of the girls died. It was an emotional sharing of a powerful and unexplainable event in the life of this family and in the life of this caring pastor. The Wesley Study Bible in notes associated with this passage from Revelation shares how since our childhood we have learned stories of "the one who could." In the story of Cinderella, it was only she who could wear the glass slipper. In the story of King Arthur, he was the only one who could remove the sword from the stone, thus making him king. It was Prince Charming who could, with his kiss, awaken Sleeping Beauty. All stories with heroic characters who met the challenge of the moment just as hope was slipping away. Long before these stories of slippers, stones, and kisses, we were looking for the One who could. The scripture has prophets hoping and declaring, the psalmists are praying, and the wise ones searched. There is One worthy. It is "the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" He is the one we worship.

The challenges of life sometimes don't make sense and there are tragedies and horrors that we encounter or read about others encountering, yet we join those who hope on this side of heaven who believe, Jesus is the One who could and does, hold us and love us, even when it seems that life does not. Worthy is Jesus of our thanks and praise.

PRAYER: Loving God, for those parents and grandparents who lost that second child, and for those like them who lost children so quickly, bring Your comfort. For those who just welcomed new children into the world and into their families, bless them too with all they need to watch over and protect their little ones. For those facing the end of life, bring eternal hope and peace. For those facing challenges of today, bless with strength and peace. In Jesus' precious and powerful name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Would You Have Said Yes?

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." (NRSV)

This is a powerful story with many miracles in it. For me, the greatest miracles is Paul saying Yes to God even when he knew what he was to suffer for the sake of Christ. Let's look at the miracles within this story. The first is that Saul, a very well-connected, influential young man, with his whole life before him in church politics is given permission to continue his crusade of imprisoning members of the Way (Christians). He is considered by believers as a very evil man, and rightly so. Many would say God can never use a man like that; his life has amounted to only arresting believers and seeing they are brought to "justice," a word used loosely, for he sought the death of believers like the one he witnesses at Stephen's murder. Yet, God chose him. And God changed him. Calling him by name, Saul is literally knocked off his high horse, and when he asks who it is that has done this the answer comes by, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." God gave him a second chance at life, to live it in the right way. Of course it came with a price at first; Saul is blinded by this light and has to be led by the hand to Damascus. And for three days Saul neither eats nor drinks anything. This was a time of prayer and fasting, for Saul had a lot to learn and many questions to be answered about his new life. And, as happens many times, in another house in another part of town, a believer is praying, and in this prayer time, God speaks to him and calls him by name to go and do something. Put yourself in this Ananias' place. You've heard that a wicked man named Saul is coming to your town to arrest you and those like you for being Christians. You pray for your safety and that of your family and you pray that if you die that you go to heaven. And you continue to pray for that is part of being a believer. You were taught to pray, you have been blessed by prayer and you know that is the best way to stay in touch with God. But on this particular day as you pray, God speaks to you, calls you by name and says, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas there's a man there named Saul who needs your help." Wait, Lord, um, I've heard about this guy; he doesn't need my help! He needs You to send a bolt of lightning to come and just zap him away! This is what I might have thought in this prayer time. But God had said, "He already knows your name and he knows that you are coming his way to lay hands on him to help him regain his sight." Yet, God in God's love and mercy says, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel." And the big miracle, "I myself will show him much he must suffer for the sake of my name." How many of us would have still said Yes?

I think most of us, but we would have thought long and hard about it. For pastors there's been meetings where you may have sat and heard the "discussion" and wondered, Why am I here? For lay persons, the same or worse, seeing or hearing things you believe have no place in the church and wondered Why am I here? The reason Paul said yes and so many of us have said yes is that we love God and we know that God loves us. In spite of the dangers and setbacks and push backs, we see the bigger picture of what God is trying to do in our midst and still we labor on. To say No to God is to admit defeat to the enemy of God and God's enemy does not need more allies. The conversion of Saul into Paul the evangelist was one of the greatest things that could have happened for the worldwide expansion of Christianity and his no might have meant God would have looked elsewhere. But God took the least likeliest person and transformed him into the person that boldly went and shared where others would not have dared. Paul experienced things that others would have run from, but Paul pressed forward, as should we.

Whatever God is asking you to do, you will never do alone. God will be with you. And in spite of what seems to be defeat, you will find that God will bring victory.

PRAYER: Loving God, let me life be a blessing to You and Yours. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Why Am I Here?

Psalm 30: 1 I give you all the credit, God - you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. 2 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. 3 God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. 4 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! 5 He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. 6 When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. 7 I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. 8 I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: 9 "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you won't sell. 10 So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" 11 You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. 12 I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can't thank you enough. (The Message)

I love living by the water. As I leave this city to parts north, I make it a point to drive along Shoreline Drive to remind myself that this is my home. I've lived among the mountains and I loved living by mountains. I've lived by rivers and I've loved living by rivers. I've lived in the Rio Grande Valley and I've loved living in the Valley. What I love about all these places is that there has always been a reason and purpose for my living where I lived. The mountains came during a year of re-discovering my call to seminary and I was in Iliff. The mountains were a bonus. The other areas have come as I was appointed to different churches. And I never thought of those areas as bad or unattractive or uninhabitable, for there were already people living there long before I arrived. I arrived in the name of Jesus, sent by Jesus to do what I could to make the gospel real for those who had not yet heard. Never had I moved with conditions or restrictions; I knew that ultimately God was calling me to share God's love with folks and to try and speak about what it means to have a relationship with God.

Easter is a time for re-discovering our purpose for life. The death of Jesus gives us a new appreciation for life and it coincides with the birth of those plants and flowers that for some time have been dormant. As the trees in our yards get the green back on them so should we have that appreciation for God and God's plan and purpose for our lives. The psalmist knew not every day is a perfect or wonderful day, but every day lived in the Lord is a day of blessing and growing. Even the not-so-good things speak to us and teach us. The psalmist came to a point in his life where he thought his prosperity was something he would never lose and even declares, "I shall never be moved," but a move from wealth to less than poverty came his life. It was then he cried out to God and rediscovered the help that God offers those of us who sometimes lose our way.

May this day be a day of dancing and joy even in the midst of things that may call us to things opposite of dancing and joy. May we be clothed with the joy that comes in knowing and trusting God in all things. Don't be silent about giving thanks to God in all things!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for where I am. Show me the purpose for which I was created and for being where I am. Lift me if I am down. Heal me if I am sick. Save me from the disillusionment of prosperity to the reality of Your love in all things. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thomas: Man of Doubt?

John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (NRSV)

Jesus made various appearances after His resurrection. This is John's account of the first one made to the disciples. He had first appeared to Mary Magdalene, according to this gospel. The setting is the Upper Room where the disciples had had the Last Supper and where they pretty much hid from the authorities out of fear that they were next. The appearance was a miraculous one for the doors to this room were locked and without knocking or using the door, Jesus is there. His message is simple, "Peace be with you." And to prove it is really Him, He shows them His hands and His side. This made the disciples believe and belief brought them great joy. Then, for a second time, Jesus says, "Peace be with you," but He also adds, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then Jesus breathed on them and said for them to "Receive the Holy Spirit" with instructions on sin removal. This in itself is a powerful message. If this were set in today's times, we need a message of peace. We need to receive a message of peace and we need the peace that comes spiritually when we surrender our sins to the God of love and mercy.

Yet, there was a component that John feels is very important. One of the disciples was not in the room when Jesus made His appearance. After he heard about this surprise visit of Jesus, he does not believe and says he will not believe unless he can see the mark of the nails in Jesus' hands and can put his finger in the marks of the nails and his hand in Jesus' side. These were the wounds of crucifixion and death. They had discussed this and so were aware of where Jesus' flesh had been pierced. So, one week later, again the group is in the upper room, this time Thomas had joined them. Jesus again presents Himself and again shares the message, "Peace be with you." Then directing Himself to Thomas says, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas' response was a classic Christian conversion and confession for he says, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus then asks, "Do you believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

The works of Jesus continued as John states in a simple sentence, and confesses he did not write them in this book, but what he did write he did so so that you and I would come to faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and by doing so receive life in Jesus' name.

Jesus' message of peace is still strong and still needed. We need the peace of God as only Jesus can provide. We cannot be influenced spiritually by the messages of those who still doubt or do not believe at all. We should have our eyes set on Jesus who is risen and yet present among us. Life, as Jesus promised earlier in this gospel, comes through faith in Him but it is also a form of life that others will not have, a life of abundance.

PRAYER: Lord, fill my plate with faith and opportunities to serve and move among You and Yours. Help me to reach those whom no one else wants or even sees. Yours is a message of truth and peace that we all so desperately need. I pray in Your precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Christ has died; Christ is rise; Christ will come again!

Revelation 1: 4b-8: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (NRSV)

At least once a month, those who worship regularly in a church read one of two sources of this truth; "Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again." This is part of the Communion ritual, "The Great Thanksgiving" that prepares us to receive the body and blood of Jesus in our sacrament of the Last Supper. The other is said whenever an affirmation of faith is used, the most common being The Apostles' Creed which has the words, "from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead." This passage from Revelation comes as a source of strength to our faith in that God who created everything and is in charge of everything, will complete all things according to His will. Jesus who was crucified and Whom we declare as alive and risen, will, at the end of time, come again. It is a message to all who believe (it comes from "the seven spirits who are before His throne," indicating the wholeness and completeness of God's plan), in the form of God's grace and peace. It also comes from Jesus, "the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." It again states what we should all know about our faith, that Jesus loves us. Jesus freed us from our sins, and that Jesus made us to be His kingdom, as priests serving God; "to God be glory and dominion forever and ever, amen."

No better way to start a day than to hear and know again that we are loved by Jesus. No better information can we receive than that we have been liberated from the prisons of our sins, and that we belong somewhere, to a great thing we call the Kingdom of God. Our faith further believes what we said above, that Jesus will come with the clouds and every one will see His return, good and evil alike, making some glad and some not glad at all. The declaration from God is, "I am the Alpha and the Omega. This from the One who is and who was and who is to come, God almighty, amen.

May we face all we need to face with joy and expectation and complete trust in God. Amen!

PRAYER: Creator and Redeemer of all that is, in You we find that which we need to face the living of this day. Speak to our hearts again and make us strong. This we pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Doing As God Asked Us

Acts 5: 27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us."29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." (NRSV)

Easter was for some a very quiet, peaceful, reflective time; for others it was the squealing of kids, the hurrying here and there, hiding eggs, retrieving eggs, peeling eggs, etc. Easter was for the disciples a time to be called into action for the sake of God. After the resurrection, their work had only started. They had to testify here and there and give witness to what Jesus had done for them. The arrival of the Holy Spirit gave them the power to be bold and to preach and teach that which they had seen to help the Kingdom of God grow. Some of them even spent the night in prison only to have the prison doors open miraculously. And did they run to the hills to escape? No. They went back to the Temple to continue their work! They were arrested again and brought before the council. There the first question posed to them, "Why have you continued to teach that which we forbid you to teach? If you all don't shut up, the blood of this Jesus was be on us (in other words, don't blame us!). How did Peter and the apostles answer? "We must obey God rather than any human authority. It was God who raised Jesus from the dead; and it was you who killed him by hanging him on a tree. But now God has exalted Jesus as Leader and Savior so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. All we can do is give witness to these things, as is the Holy Spirit a witness, given to those who boey Him."

Believe it or not there are still people troubled by actions taken, words said, evil thoughts, and other things that we know are sinful, who seek to have these taken away by what we can forgiveness and repentance. Some do not know what to do about these feelings and thus go their lives living in bitter ways because they have not yet had the weight of these sins taken away. So, the work started by the Holy Spirit with the apostles is not over yet; there is still much to do to share the truth of God's love and compassion to those who would receive it and change their ways from a certain path to death, to a certain and eternal path to life. That is the continuing Easter message.

What is your role? To be a part of those who give witness to God!

Are you ready?

PRAYER: Loving God, include and use me! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thought for the Day

Put me in, Coach! I'm ready to be a witness to those who still hurt and suffer from the weight of their sins.

Who Can Praise God?

Psalm 150 (New Revised Standard Version): 1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord." (NRSV)

You have to love King David! I can only imagine the type of leader he was from reading his psalms and his history in the Old Testament. But you know from his psalms that he loved God and loved to praise God. He was a praise-happy guy! His joy was the Lord and praising God! In this psalms, he lets you know. Praise the Lord! What a command! It's a "come on, people, join in this praise thing we got going on!" If you've never been to a youth gathering, you've missed this kind of join or lose out invitation that happens whenever youth get together to praise God. There is an excitement and a joy that is not easily duplicated in most churches. One of the sadnesses I've had as a pastor was to see a great gathering of youth in a retreat setting praising God and making important decisions for God and God's church, only to return home to a church that is neither open nor knowledgeable about such praise. But that excitement was David's and he knew it could happen in any setting, regardless of format. It's within one's spirit to say, "Let's praise God!" And David's invitation is to come to the sanctuary/temple and praise God there, and then outside, wherever you might find yourself, praise God. Why? Because God has done great things for us, and for God just being God! How? With whatever you have! If it's a trumpet, use it! Blow it loud and hard and use it to invite others to join the praise! If it's a string instrument of some sort, use it! Banjo, mandolin, ukelele, lute, harp, use them! And if the music moves you, move! Dance! Use a tambourine and dance; and while you're at it, get other instruments involved. Bang the cymbals, and slam them loud! Let the world know that you're involved with God. Who? Everyone and everything with breath can praise the Lord! In a word: Praise the Lord!

Okay, now that you're back in reality, what holds us back? What are the "rules" and who made them? It was not too long ago, Nellie and I sat through a "lecture" where a renowned seminary professor railed against clapping in church. I could see his points against it (he believes all the praise should be directed to God not to choirs or soloists), but sometimes the clapping is a part of the praise directed to God. I experienced that yesterday in worship; the choir sang a great anthem to the Lord and the response from the congregation was a "shall we clap or not" applause. The point is not to discuss or argue clapping or not clapping in church, but to say that we should be open to the Spirit's leading to getting us to praise God as a genuine expression of our gratefulness to God for all that God has done for us. This is set in the context of Easter, which by the way did not end yesterday at 12 noon or with the last Easter egg found or cascarón cracked. Easter is a season of the Christian year where our gratitude towards God and God's victory at Calvary and at the tomb continues through this season as should our praise to God.

PRAYER: Loving God, let me not hold back. I want to be a part of a worship and praise that never ends. May I employ all my being and all of what I can, to praise You and invite others to come and join in. You are worthy for all You have done. Thank You for Easter; life beyond life comes from You. I praise You and pray to You in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thought for the Day

Will I praise God with what I have in ways that invite others to join?