Tuesday, September 24, 2013

If You're Rich, Raise Your Hand

In What Ways Are You Rich? (Image from gigoam.com)

From 1 Timothy 6: 6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

We live in an area of the state that has made many people wealthy almost overnight. Oil and gas exploration has paid big dividends to land owners and has brought both blessings and curses to the area. People who once were rich in land are now rich in money. People who had no land and rented from those who owned homes and apartments, now do not have enough money to stay in those homes because the rents have gone sky high for those who come into the area to make big money.

In a worship service recently, the preacher asked the congregation to raise their hands if they were millionaires. Not surprisingly, no one did. Sitting in the congregation I almost raised my hand but with the declaration, "Not in money, but in the things that count."

This epistle is addressing the proper attitude we should have towards God, money, life, and each other. The first verse of the passage says we are rich in the blessing we have in being right with God. We are asked to consider that we all were born with nothing, and we can take nothing with us when we die. To have food and clothing is way ahead of being born with nothing. Yet, there are those who make seeking money or making money their life's goal. Many have plunged into ruin and destruction because of these pursuits. And in this passage is that famous and often quoted, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Older versions like the King James simply says, "the root of all evil." The verse does not end with that declaration, it continues, "And in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains." Paul knows that money does not necessarily provide true wealth. He then lists those things that do; the pursuit of being made right with God and each other, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness, holding the belief in life beyond death; and living a life that bears witness to the presence, peace, and power of the living God through Jesus Christ.

It is not a sin to be rich. It is a sin to love your money in such a way that you leave God out of your life and seek only to provide for yourself. Yesterday's lesson about the rich man and Lazarus took us beyond this life to the afterlife and the consequences that befell the man who loved no one but himself. To be rich is to have opportunity to share and care for those less fortunate. Two of the world's richest men and their wives, have sought to begin to give away most of their wealth to help others in areas of helping cure diseases and providing education to those who might not otherwise have it.

What would God have us do with the wealth we do have? Paul believes it is to "do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share," and in that way we are "storing up for (our)selves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is really life."

A life lived that says I share and care says more than I care only for myself and those like me.

PRAYER: Eternal God, bless our lives to know what true wealth really is before You. Thank You for what we do have and as we are blessed may we bless others. Never let us think that we should seek only for ourselves and our loved ones; we are called to "go into all the world" with good news and good blessings of assistance. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a good and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Monday, September 23, 2013

Care For One Another & Thus Show Love

The Irony of Eternity

From Luke 16: 19 “There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. 20 At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 “The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I'm suffering in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. 26 Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.' 27 "The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father's house. 28 I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don't come to this place of agony.' 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.' 30 The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.' 31 Abraham said, ‘If they don't listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'" (Common English Bible)

Believe it or not, as a little boy in church, I would pay attention to most sermons and certainly to all that was taught in Sunday school. This was one of the stories that always grabbed my attention. As a boy I could not understand how a man with so much would turn his attention away from such a poor, suffering man. And the suffering of the man always disgusted me. He was hungry and he was covered with sores. As one who played in Kingsville dirt all the time I knew all about sores and hated to get them. I could only imagine being so weak that one could not move away from dogs that would come to lick the sores. The poor man, named Lazarus, had the desire to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, but never did. We don't know the exact cause of death, but he did die and as Jesus told the story, "was carried by angels to Abraham's side." (v. 22). The story also has the rich man dying "and was buried." His afterlife was not so pleasant. While alive he chose to ignore God's commandments to help and love one another. He lived a life of preference, so in death he was separated from God and "tormented in the place of the dead (Hades)." To make matters worse he had a window into heaven where he saw Lazarus seated next to Abraham. He shouts to Abraham, "Have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger and water and cool my tongue, because I'm suffering in this flame." How things reversed; the irony of eternity. He, who once had everything, including disgust for the man covered in sores and who, I believe, would never want to be touched by him because of his disease, now begs to have the finger of the diseased man dipped in water and placed on his tongue to relieve his suffering. Too late, he's told, and it's too far from there to here. There's no crossing from there to here and from here to there. The man then begs for Lazarus, who was probably the subject of jest and ridicule between this rich man and his family, to go back and warn his family so they could change and not end up in the same place. Abraham replies, "They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them." In other words, they should pay attention to what God has already shared in Holy Scripture. The rich man knows his family and says, "No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives." Abraham knows the truth and says, "If they don't listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead."

How are we making our lives count right now? Are we living a life of love and care for others, especially those who repulse us, or are we set on pleasing only ourselves and living a life of preference? The Word is clear on how we should live, as people of purpose, seeking to fulfill all that Moses, the Prophets, and Jesus shared. In other words, as we read our Bibles are we paying attention to what is shared there for our good and the good of all God's people?

PRAYER: Loving God, let my life count as one seeking Your purpose here on the earth. May I set an example for others in showing care and love for all. Forgive me those times of preference where I placed myself and my needs over those of Yours. This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Restoring Relationships with Our Enemies

Not Everybody's Going to Like You Either

From Psalm 79:1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. 5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? 6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.

The word enemy is not a good word. We don't like to think that there are people who dislike or hate us, and many times for just who they think we are without really knowing us. I remember going to college in East Texas, in those days and still today in some regions, not known for its love of nonwhite people. I remember three individuals who hated me and others like me. I need not share what gave them away. It was, as this psalm implies, that I had come from another nation and defiled the holy temple of their realm. Two of these three stooges were in the pre-ministerial organization. The third, like me, worked in the school cafeteria, but I was the student supervisor. They may have truly believed I existed to "taunt" them just by being a shade darker in skin color and had the audacity to sit in the same classes of higher education with them.

Years later, when our firstborn was about six and I was pastor in a new church, she came to Mom and asked, "Not everybody likes Daddy, right?" She took a moment to talk with her and said that yes, she had observed right and the fact of life was that not everyone would like everyone.

As a nation we are hated. We are judged for what we have and for what we do. We are seen as evil for having so much and living lifestyles of excess and outward displays of what are believed to be forbidden in their worlds. The words of this psalm could be interpreted by them as being written just for them. Yet, we know as believers in the God of love, we are called to love one another. We are called to seek justice and righteousness and to not defile the things of God, seeking daily to be made right with God and what God has asked of us. Ours is a journey towards being delivered from our sins, through Christ Jesus, living a life that says FORGIVEN all over us as an invitation to others to do the same. We are called to love and forgive even those who hate us and seek our destruction. Ours is the better way to live, not the easiest.

PRAYER: Loving God, even as we remember those who might see themselves as our enemies, we pray for them rich and wonderful blessings. We pray that we would not see divisions and obstacles to truly being companions in faith. Forgive us those times when we have indeed gone against You and Yours. This in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Weeping Prophet; You Would Cry Too, If It Happened to You!

From Jeremiah 8:18 My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. 19 Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: "Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?" ("Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?") 20 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." 21 For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?1 O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!

Crying happens a lot in the Bible. Stories are told of great sadness and calamity, and weeping is the natural response to loss and hurt. Yet, it is comforting to know that in the last book it says "crying shall be no more."

Today's passage is one of the reasons Jeremiah is known as the Weeping Prophet. His heart was deeply rooted in love for the people of God and for God; his heart broke as often as God's, and part of the reason is shared here. The prophet heard the cries of the poor from all over Israel and the question was, Where is God? God's response, Jeremiah knew, was "Why have (my people) provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?" The people had made their decision and had chosen wrong. Despite all the signs pointing to Door Number One, they chose Door Number Three. Door Number One leads to faithfulness in the Lord. Door Number Three leads away from it. For you younger readers, this is a reference to several games shows, where the contestant is presented with three doors, and they have to choose the one where they believe the prize is located. The difference is, we know which door to pick, but we don't always choose that one.

Jeremiah's grief is mentioned several times. "My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick" in verse 18. In verse 21, "For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me." Then his questions, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? And then the concluding verse of this passage, "O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and nigh for the slain of my poor people."

This passage brings to mind the song "Crying" by Roy Orbison, though that is a song of heartbreak over the loss of a girl; can you imagine God's heartbreak over the loss of His children, who thought still living, have chosen to live as if God were dead. In keeping with the theme of solid relationships over personal profit; this begs the question, what do we gain by leaving the ways of God for the ways we believe will lead us to wealth or fame?

PRAYER: Loving God, help us to stay on the way that leads to life and the blessings that come by following and obeying You. Bless those that may have strayed. Help us to be a light that leads back to You. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Praying for Everyone

Pray. Just Pray. For Everyone!

From 1 Timothy 2: 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all —this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

In my charge conferences I have stressed spending more time in prayer. I believe we miss out when we don't re-claim the power of prayer for our lives. I compare the time we spend with our smartphones and tablets with time we used to spend in prayer. One woman, after one charge conference said, "I used to hate all that Facebook thing, and then I decided to join it to see what it's all about, and now I find I am praying more than I ever did with all of the prayer requests I see my friends posting." Good point.

In this passage, Paul is urging prayer of all kinds, "supplications, prayer, intercessions, and thanksgiving" be used "for everyone." He then urges prayers to be lifted up "for kings and all who are in high positions," his ultimate goal of prayer is for believers to lead quiet and peaceful lives in "godliness and dignity." A leader prayed for, is a leader blessed. A blessed leader blesses his or her realm of authority, and this Paul believed is in line with God our Savior. God's desire is for all people to come to know Him and to have a loving and trusting relationship with Him. And our belief is that there is only one God and only one mediator between God and humankind and that is Christ Jesus, who Himself was fully human and understands our situation. Christ Jesus also gave Himself as a ransom for us all, and for that reason Paul, like us, gave himself totally to the work of sharing the good news with all.

The foundation of a strong faith is prayer. The prayers of faith for faithfulness will lead us to fruitfulness. Notice again, Paul stresses prayers of all kinds, not one particular way to pray. There is no correct posture; it's all good, if we pray.

Pray! Pray for all people.

Start now.

PRAYER: Loving God, let my life be one of prayer. Help me and guide me to faithfulness in my prayer life. Help me to remember all people especially those in authority, that their lives be blessed in ways that lead to good decisions for the good of all. Help me to share that which was shared with me, so that more may come to know You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Monday, September 16, 2013

Can't Buy Me Love?

Putting God Above Money

From Luke 16: 1 Jesus also said to the disciples, “A certain rich man heard that his household manager was wasting his estate. 2 He called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.' 3“The household manager said to himself, What will I do now that my master is firing me as his manager? I'm not strong enough to dig and too proud to beg. 4 I know what I'll do so that, when I am removed from my management position, people will welcome me into their houses. 5 “One by one, the manager sent for each person who owed his master money. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?' 6 He said, ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil.' The manager said to him, ‘Take your contract, sit down quickly, and write four hundred fifty gallons.' 7 Then the manager said to another, ‘How much do you owe?' He said, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.' He said, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred.' 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it's gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes. 10"Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. 11 If you haven't been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 If you haven't been faithful with someone else's property, who will give you your own? 13 No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Common English Bible)

"I'll buy you a diamond ring, my friend, if it makes you feel alright. I'll get you anything my friend, it it makes you feel alright; 'cause I don't care too much for money, and money can't buy me love." (Lennon-McCartney, Copyright: Sony/ATV Music).

Those in Jesus' audience, including and especially the "righteous/religious" men, cared a lot about money. And Jesus knew this. To tell this parable within their hearing, He was sharing a connecting point with those overhearing the story. The story is, at first reading, a difficult one to understand. A rich man discovered his business manager was embezzling money from him, and fired him. But he first asked that an audit be made of that which had been taken and that which was still owed him. The business manager panics because now he will find himself without an income and find himself homeless. His plan is to make right his relationships with those who might welcome him into their homes. And so, one by one, each debtor comes in to find their debts slashed. Some by 50%, others less, but each felt that they had a friend in this guy who first made the deal with them. This then impresses the rich man and Jesus speaks about putting profit above relationships, especially the one we should have with God. Jesus also speaks to our need to be honest in all of our dealings. Verse ten especially says, "Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much." We, as God's "household servants" cannot serve two masters, for, as Jesus said, we "will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Our handling of money is a deeply spiritual matter. Our giving to God is an important part of worship, yet those who tend to favor profit over relationship, scream bloody murder when it comes to giving to God as the Bible instructs. What is our love showing then? Someone has determined that if every church member in every church gave just 3% of their income, the church would have more than enough money to fulfill their obligations and more than they thought possible, yet something holds some back in giving even a percentage of their income and they're content to "tip" God, and tip might be the wrong word because those who truly tip give a percentage of what's owed.

Jesus is calling us to faithfulness and honesty. Where do we stand?

PRAYER: Loving God, all things do indeed come from You, and our prayer is to give gratefully back to You that which you have shared with us. In Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Foolish Heart

The Lord looks down to see if there are any who seek God...

From Psalm 14:1 Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. 3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord? 5 There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous. 6 You would confound the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. 7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

What do you really think, David, about those who do not believe in God? Verse one answers that quite clearly; they are fools. The psalmist goes on to detail just what they do to prove both their foolishness and their misguided ways; they are corrupt and they do abominable deeds. They have gone astray, he continues, they are perverse, not one of them does good, "no, not one." The theme follows the other passages for this week's lectionary texts; humankind choosing to be estranged from God and then suffering the result. God seeks who might be trying to do or be good, and finds none. The psalmist knew it was as easy as calling out to the Lord, but out of their lack of knowledge find themselves farther away from God, for God is in the company of those who seek to live right. The evil might try to further harm the poor, but the poor have God as their refuge. Yet, even the psalmist held the belief that one day deliverance from evil would come and the Lord would restore the fortunes of His people from among Jacob and Israel.

Do you hold that hope? Do you do your part to call people back to God? Our message should be one of love and caring, that God indeed exists and stands ready to enter into relationship with those who call upon God. Full restoration to righteousness is ours when we seek God. Don't give up. Stand steady.

PRAYER: Living God, move among us who strive to serve You and Yours. Strengthen our hope that we might indeed bring Your love and message to those who do not yet believe. This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Skilled in Doing Evil

The Jeremiah Text for a Sad Day of Remembrance

From Jeremiah 4: 11 At that time, this people, yes, this very Jerusalem, will be told in plain words: "The northern hordes are sweeping in from the desert steppes - 12 a gale-force wind. I ordered this wind. I'm pronouncing my hurricane judgment on my people." Your Evil Life Is Piercing Your Heart. 22 "What fools my people are! They have no idea who I am. A company of half-wits, dopes and donkeys all! Experts at evil but klutzes at good." 23 I looked at the earth - it was back to pre-Genesis chaos and emptiness. I looked at the skies, and not a star to be seen. 24 I looked at the mountains - they were trembling like aspen leaves, And all the hills rocking back and forth in the wind. 25 I looked - what's this! Not a man or woman in sight, and not a bird to be seen in the skies. 26 I looked - this can't be! Every garden and orchard shriveled up. All the towns were ghost towns. And all this because of God, because of the blazing anger of God. 27 Yes, this is God's Word on the matter: "The whole country will be laid waste - still it won't be the end of the world.28 The earth will mourn and the skies lament Because I've given my word and won't take it back. I've decided and won't change my mind." You're Not Going to Seduce Anyone.

Today marks a sad day of remembrance over an evil brought to our shores by men of evil. Believing to be faithful to their cause and belief, an attack on several fronts in the northeast of our country killed many, marred many for life, and left us with sadness that a small group of men could bring such terror to our country and into our lives. In Googling an image for todays' text, the above photo was among those one could choose. Yet, the text from Jeremiah was a prophetic call (again) for God's people to return to Him. The vision shared with the prophet is that of a fierce desert wind, a judgment against the people of Judah and Israel for again turning towards false gods and away from God. In no way am I implying that the 9/11 attack was a judgment of God; it was an act of terror. But this passage is an appeal to choose that which brings life and not destruction. How many of us have not faced the gale forces of wind caused by our own passions or stupidity, seeking life in things or person we've tried to place where God rightly belongs? How many times have we not been foolish in the things of God, living as if we had no understanding, and yes, even, as The Message version says, "Experts at Evil," and not knowing how to do good." (v. 22). Our "earth" may have looked "pre-Genesis chaos" and empty because of what we chose to do or follow, all around us signs of that which once thrived, now wilted and dead.

The Jeremiah text fits in the midst of all the lectionary texts recommended for this week; we matter to God and God never gives up on us. Use this text to remind us that we do not have to make foolish or damaging choices. We can prayerfully consider the things of God for the things that bring to us, through Christ, life and that in abundance.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my heart and mind. Forgive me those times I have been too skilled in choosing and doing evil; lead me to faithfulness and fruitfulness. I seek to do and live the life of good shown to me by Jesus Christ, and it is in His name that I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Grateful for God's Mercy

Learning in all things to give thanks to God

From 1 Timothy 1:12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our church membership vows now include our promise to support our church by our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. The last one was added about six years ago by General Conference. It's a powerful addition, for in reality how we live, how we interact with others speaks louder than any eloquent sermon we might share with anyone. It is our witness that tells others about what God has done for us, and what God can do for them.

Paul had such a life story prior to Jesus. On many levels one could say he was very successful. He was young, brilliant, well-connected, had influence, was held in esteem and in positions of responsibilities by his peers. But on the inside, Paul confesses, "I was...a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence." Ouch. He could openly share that now, because of God's grace and mercy. But notice the word grateful in the first verse of this passage. Paul's heart, which once held hatred and anger, now holds gratitude. Paul was always grateful to Jesus for showing him mercy and giving him a new start on life. Paul was thankful to be what he was because he was doing it for the One who showed him a new way to live. He went from a spiritual ignorance to an overflowing faith filled with love in and for Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ fulfilled his mission in Paul; "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." And notice the other label Paul places on his life, that among those sinners saved, "I am the foremost." Sadly, that stops many today from asking for forgiveness because they feel that what they have done can never be forgiven. But that's not true. Paul claims and rightly so, that because he was "the foremost" Jesus showed him mercy in the way that He shows that mercy to me and to you. Where we think we might get shown impatience, Jesus shows patience. In thinking that Jesus might use us as an example of wickedness, we are shown as examples of what God can do to turn around our lives for the better.

What witness are we giving of what God's power in Jesus Christ has done for us? Is our heart filled with gratitude for the change that has come over us?

PRAYER: Loving God, change my life for the better. For what I have said, thought, or done, I don't deserve much; but show me your mercy and forgiveness. Fill my heart with gratitude so that I may faithfully serve You. Make my witness a powerful sermon of the possibilities that are found in You. I pray this in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Monday, September 09, 2013

You Matter to God!

Two Parables That Say Jesus Loves Me...

From Luke 15: 1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The old comedian used to say, "What a crowd, what a crowd!" And that applies to the crowd gathering around Jesus as He prepares to share three wonderful stories that illustrate the importance sinners (that's you and me) have before God. On the one hand, here come tax collectors and sinners, an all collective term to describe those looked down upon by the "right people." And on the other come these "right people," Pharisees and scribes. The second group could not believe that first group should even be considered by Jesus or hear Jesus. So, to this crowd Jesus tells two short, but powerful, parables. The first one is one of common identification. Most people in both groups had a relative or a friend that worked with sheep. It was a very common profession and to use it in a parable would get the attention of those who thought of Uncle Judas who was a shepherd, or even Dad who had been one. The parable is that all sheep matter to the owner; and in this parable, Jesus is sharing who all sinners matter to God, regardless of the crowd in which you find yourself. The good shepherd leaves the 99 in the wilderness to seek the one who is lost, and looks for it until it is found. When it is found, this shepherd lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. It is a cause for celebration. All friends are called as are the neighbors and he shares the news, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost." Then Jesus says, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

The second parable concerns a woman. This story catches the audience's attention because women were not usually the central characters in ancient literature. Women mattered to Jesus and the idea of a woman in a story might catch the attention of those who might think of their mother, a grandmother, an aunt or a female friend. This woman had ten silver coins, which was a lot of money in those days. She loses one, and does all that is required to find it. She lights a lamp, for it is hard to find a coin in the dark. She sweeps the house, for it may be under a table or another piece of furniture. The point is that she seeks carefully for it until it is found. When it is found, Jesus says, she, too, calls friends and neighbors and says, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost." Then Jesus ends the second parable with this precious words, "Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

You and I matter to God. We are seen by God as precious treasures that cannot go on being lost. The joy in our being found shows the sadness in God's heart as we wander away or hide from God. God searches for us, even as we seek to hide or think that we do not matter. When we are found there is great joy in heaven and in the presence of the angels of God, and in God's heart as well. You and I have lost things and sometimes we even give them up for being lost forever. They may be little things that to others might not matter much, but to us they do. And sometimes, these lost things show up and great joy fills our heart in having found them. On a bigger scale, sometimes we have lost loved ones to a disagreement or argument. A child may run away from home or might not call home from school where he or she is studying. The moments, days, weeks, months, and sometimes years of separation cause us great pain. The sound of a doorbell or a phone from that loved one or even better, the voice of that loved one, bring us extreme joy. In the same way, dear friend, God rejoices when we seek to be found.

Living lost is a sad way to live for us and especially for God. Whatever may have caused our wanting to wander away or to hide from God is not worth the pain that we live with; come into the fullness of joy and the fullness of God's love when we allow ourselves to be found.

PRAYER: O God, for those of us wandering or hiding from God, speak to our hearts. We thought we knew more than God and sought to hide; or we thought we knew what was best for us and we chose the wrong things. Call out to us in ways that we can hear and in ways that invite us back. We want joy in heaven over our being right with You. This we pray in the name of He who sought us back, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Thursday, September 05, 2013

How Do You Shape Up? Need a Trip to the Potter's House?

A Trip to the Potter's House

From Jeremiah 18: 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 "Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,8 but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. 9 And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.

"Crackpots I Have Known and Loved" is a blog article written by a Perkins professor that I know and appreciate, The Rev. Dr. John Holbert. Way back in the 80s upon his arrival to Perkins, I invited him to be lecturer for The Elliott Lectures that United Methodist Campus Ministry used to host, and he did an outstanding job. In his article of reflection on this passage, Dr. Holbert says that the potter in this story probably made the everyday sort of pottery that was useful and available for the everyday tasks of holding grain or water. So, this trip to the potter's house may have not been a new adventure for Jeremiah. He had probably been there before, but this time it's with a prophetic perspective. Dr. Holbert also says that prophets were funny that way; their outlook on life was a bit different from ours, which is why God chose them!

The experience that day was to see how this artisan worked at his wheel. Jeremiah saw the clay being formed into a vessel; "spoiled" at first, but re-worked by him into one that "seemed good to him." God then asks Jeremiah, "Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." The point is that God is powerful and sovereign over Israel. God's desire is for the vessel of Israel to be that which contains love and purpose for God, but what God was seeing was a vessel cracked to the point of not holding love and purpose for God, instead that leaked out and other things were leaking in. God's question, what are you good for now? A vessel that lets the good water seep out in cracks, will also let the sweat from our hands seep into it, spoiling the water meant for drinking, and in the same way, that which we were meant to hold in and also share with others has left us; what has taken its place?

We must remember that God is still the potter on us. If we feel that we are not where we were meant to be in our relationship and service to God, we can ask to be remade. The Bible has that clear message that we are given second, third, fourth, one hundredth chances to be remade and made new. Cracked pots that we are, God still loves us!

PRAYER: Loving God, remake me today. I want to hold You and Your love in so that when an opportunity to share You presents itself I can take full advantage of it. Thank You for loving me just as I am, but You are the Potter and I need to be made new. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Reconciling with God Means Freedom

Showing Grace Means Sharing Life

From Philemon 1: 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. 8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Philemon is a tiny letter from Paul to the namesake of the Epistle. It has only one chapter, and it is basically a letter asking Philemon for the freedom of a slave named Onesimus, whom Philemon owned. Slavery is deplorable and sinful. No one can nor should own another person as property. To have developed such a notion and made it into an international business is one of the worst chapters in human history. John Wesley was a strong advocate against it and through his sermons, many were converted against it, including William Wilberforce, Britain's greatest abolitionist. In fact, the last letter written in his life, Wesley wrote to Wilberforce and referred to slavery as "that execrable villainy," and his concluding remarks in Thoughts upon Slavery has this prayer, "Thou Saviour of all, make them free, that they may be free indeed!" Other converts by Wesley include the hymn writer of Amazing Grace, Captain John Newton, former slave ship owner and captain.

The appeal of Paul to Philemon is for reconciliation. Apparently Onesimus, whose name means "useful," ran away seeking his freedom, and found himself imprisoned with Paul. Paul shared the Gospel with Onesimus and he was converted. As part of his conversion, Onesimus felt the need to return to his owner, but Paul in this letter makes the case for Philemon to receive him back, but not as a slave, rather as a brother in Christ. Philemon was a Christian and Paul's comments on this faith are part of this letter trying to convince him to receive Onesimus back without the harsh and cruel punishment that slaves expected to receive if they escaped and were caught.

The message of the letter to us is the importance of God's grace, and the centrality of grace in reconciliation with God. As Onesimus ran away from God, so do we at times, seek a place to hide from God and what we perceive as harsh demands of God on our life and freedoms. Yet, as we pray about it and listen to God, we may realize that a life lived away from God is no life at all. We, like the prodigal in the story, feel the need to return home; and like the parable, God receives us back not as slaves or indentured servants, but as children. In our dealings with loved ones and friends who might be estranged from us, we have the model to receive and love them as sisters and brothers without the retaliation or revenge we sometimes hope we can exert on those who have hurt us and left us.

Wesley believed that when we reconcile with God we receive unexplainable joy and hope for a life that embodies the promise of Jesus in John 10:10, that we have life and that to the fullest. As we deepen our faith and faith walk with Christ, so too do we develop the ability to show grace, forgiveness, and mercy to others.

PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God, for the model of reconciliation shared by Paul in this letter and by those in our lives who have shown us mercy, grace, and forgiveness as well. But above all, thank You for Your grace and love to us when we did not deserve it. May we be a people known for forgiveness and reconciliation. This we pray in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The photo above is the baptismal font from Wesley's Chapel in London, given to him by a former slaveowner, who returned home and tried to free all his slaves, but the government would not allow that. He kept them as employees and sent one of the front steps of his plantation home as a gift to Wesley in gratitude for the change of heart and thinking towards and against slavery. The step has a hole carved into it to serve as the holder of water for baptisms still done to this day in that chapel.

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

How Much Will It Cost to Follow Jesus?

Putting prayer and a pencil to Discipleship

From Luke 14: 25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Grace is free; but it is not cheap. "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves...the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship...Costly is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock... It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." (The actual quote comes from German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book, "The Cost of Discipleship.")

Jesus' sermon includes a pricey list; we must let go of our fathers, mothers, wives and children, sisters and brothers, and "yes, and even life itself." If we cannot do this, Jesus said, we cannot be His disciples. He then goes on to illustrate the counting of the cost we anticipate it will cost us to truly follow Him. Can you build a building or tower without first sitting down and seeing how much it will cost and if you have enough? To have a half-built building is a shame and embarrassment. The same, Jesus says, with kings who wage wars without counting the lives it will take to wage this war. Then He starts meddling; you (we) must give up all of our possessions.

The fullness of life comes from surrendering all to Jesus and living a life that gives Him supreme authority over our lives. The person who says, "I'm a Christian," but chooses other things, including family, over following Jesus, is not a disciple. The person who says, 'I'm a Christian," but limits his/her area of ministry to the community in which he or she lives, is not a disciple. "Here I am" should be more than the words to a beautiful song; it should be the surrender of self to service.

Jesus never said it would be easy. And then again, Jesus was not looking for crowds; He was looking for true followers (and not on Twitter or Facebook), who have realized the great sacrifice it takes to be a Christian in the face of comfort and popularity. The first sacrifice is to put ourselves in Jesus' hands, realizing that He took our place on the cross, and paid the price we should have paid. The rest is easy compared to that.

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to place You in first place in my heart. Help me to realize that I must sacrifice whatever I have as leading and guiding my life, so that You might lead and guide me to faithful and fruitful service. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde