Living in Love, Blessing Others

1 John 4:7-21 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved , Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

This past weekend, Nellie and I fought with a bad allergies or the onset of what wanted to be a cold. On Friday night we felt so bad we did not take our dog, Wesley, on a walk. He loves walks and enjoys our neighborhood. On Saturday I said, "Let's take the boy out for a walk." We got ready and we took out. We have the same, simple route, down two blocks, turn left, and on to the end of that street, left again for two blocks and down the front of our street. Where our street ends is a busy street, a high school is on that street and it is four lanes. Our street and others from our neighborhood continue but you have to turn left and then immediately right to continue on it. As we were nearing our home on our street I saw an elderly lady mouthing as if she were calling to us, and we said hello, but she kept talking. I handed the leash to Nellie and crossed the street. In Spanish she said she didn't know where she was, nor where she lived. I believed her to be the elderly lady that lives across the street from us, so I asked her to stay and i would run and get her family. I began running, and Wesley started pulling Nellie to run, so she's running and this dear lady is walking very briskly behind us all. I rang the doorbell on our neighbor's home and there was no answer. The lady and I tried talking some more and she kept pointing towards the other main street near our home and so I asked if I could walk with her to her house. I also asked Nellie to bring me my phone so that I could call the police. I called 911 and reported a disoriented woman and gave our location. As we started to cross our side street, a man on a bicycle called out to her by her name, "Sylvia! Where are you going? That's not the way to our house!" Sylvia had been saying she lived with Roel and that she had twins. The man said, "She doesn't know where she is and if you listen to her she'll ask you to take her to Kingsville." Another neighbor in a truck drove slowly by and asked the man on the bike if everything was alright, and he said yes, that Sylvia had "escaped by the back gate." Long story short, they managed to convince her to get in the truck and drive home in that way. I canceled the 911 call where they told me her family had also reported her missing.

It had to have been God nudging me to take this walk. I also mentioned at the start of our walk that I did not have my phone and I usually feel safer carrying it in case we need to call for help or take a call from someone. But we usually use our time on this walk to pray and to listen to God, and in this case we demonstrated love to a neighbor in distress. For the rest of the evening and even as we were falling asleep we discussed how sad it was to find this lady in this way, mentioning she might have crossed the big street alone and trying to cross again to where we were. Love is listening to God, and following God's prompts to do for others in love, those acts of kindness that may help save a life.

PRAYER: Loving God, abide in me, as I prayed yesterday, but let me live in love, the kind of love that goes beyond just talking about it, but actually doing it and living it to bless You and Yours. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God is Awesome!

Psalm 22: 25-31 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

I start with confession: Yes, that's my new granddaughter, Adabelle Grace Garcia, in the photo for this morning. Her arrival was so awesome; she is awesome. After a Cabinet meeting that broke all records for finishing in one day, a drive from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, then to Mission, Texas; we were told upon arrival that our daughter and son-in-law, Jorge Garcia, had to check in at the hospital at 1:30 a.m. "Are you coming with us?" is not a question, it is a reminder that is what time we were to accompany them to the hospital. The check-in time was later changed to 3 a.m. and so by 2:30 a.m. we were showered, dressed and ready. Long story short, at 7:53 a.m. our fifth grandchild arrived via C-Section. I don't remember what time she actually made it into touching distance, but we were so blessed to finally hold her and talk to her after waiting nine months for her. We thank God for her and her health; she did all that was expected of her, eating immediately, like her Grandfather, and checks in all the checklists. To God be the glory.

The birth of a child, a new job, unexpected visits from dear ones, all for they who have a grateful heart towards the Lord, are they who praise God for all things. This is done in the privacy of their home or as the psalmist liked to do, and most of us do too, join a congregation to praise God. The psalmist saw all blessings as proof of God's unfailing and awesome love; he states he will pay his vows of support to God's work and sees the sign that God is still at work in all things, including caring for the poor, whom he says "shall eat and be satisfied." He believes all who seek God will find God and join in the praises of a grateful people.

This passage is a reminder for us to be a people of worship. God is worthy and our role in the grand scheme of things is to acknowledge God and give God praise. There is no exception of anyone living or dead, that should not be a person of worship. His belief, like ours, is that we will praise God while alive and when dead will go before God again, and that should be the greatest praise time of our lives. God is worthy. God is good.

PRAYER: Lord, let no circumstance or challenge keep me from worshiping You. Let me worship now where I am reading this, and let me make plans to join the congregation of my choice in worshiping You on Your day. You are worthy, and You are good. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Abide in Me; Bear Much Fruit

John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

"Where do you stay?" was a question from the late 60s that I encountered in Houston. It's very different from that which I had grown up headed asked or that I would ask, "Where do you live?" The former seems to imply that life is lived outside of where one stays; the latter implies that life in centered around where we stay. In this passage Jesus is stating His truth; we should live in Him, for it is in Him that we find strength, comfort, growth, and blessings. God is our vinegrower, and Jesus is the grapevine. In Jesus, those branches of that vine that do not bear fruit are removed, and those that are bearing fruit are pruned so that more fruit may come from them. If we hear and live His word, our cleansing has already come. If we abide, which means live, in Him, we will bear much fruit. Hear again, His declaration: I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

We have a choice to make daily, to select where we will live and how we will live. Some may choose to live in their careers or work, some in their families and their demands, but those who know that fruit comes from abiding in Jesus, choose Jesus as their dwelling place, for they know that great things come from the Source of Life and Love. Notice that Jesus says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

PRAYER: Loving Father, today I choose to live in Jesus, for I claim Him to be the vine on which I can live and grow. Let me be faithful and fruitful in my living, talking, thinking, and doing. Be glorified in me; for I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

No Hay Otro Nombre/There is No Other Name

Acts 4:5-12 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is "the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Someone wrote a little chorus who taught it to someone who taught it to us, in what seems a hundred years ago. Corito is the Spanish word for little chorus and it was based on this passage. Solamente en Cristo is its name and was among the first of the coritos that our Río Grande Conference churches learned and sang and sang. People of all ages would hear the first word and bam, everyone would sing it. And in reading this passage this morning my heart started to sing that song and to bring back the memories of all who sang it with me. But the powerful part of that little song is the line, No hay otro hombre dado a los hombres, solamente en Cristo, solamente en El. (There is no other name given to Man, only in Christ, only in Him).

Last week we read the account of the healing that led to the arrest of Peter and John, and this week we find them standing trial in front of the most powerful people in the Jewish Church. Their question, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Peter answers, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." Ouch. Not only does he answer their question, he indicts them yet again of their deed of having put Jesus to death, but he adds that God raised Jesus from the dead. He goes on to call Jesus a biblical prophetic name, "The cornerstone" rejected by builders; in whom alone can be found salvation, and whose "name is the only name by which we must be saved."

There is power in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ; He risen and among us, He able to save and restore to wholeness; all we need to do is ask. Salvation is simply being forgiven of our sins and restored into a loving, full relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is being saved from sin and its destruction leading us to death, and being saved into that life Jesus spoke of; life in abundance, life in the fullest.

PRAYER: Loving God, through Jesus I want all that He offers. Forgive me of my sins, heal me of my infirmities and sins, and restore me to wholeness in all things and in all ways. This I ask in His might name, Jesus of Nazareth, my Savior and Lord, the Chief Cornerstone of my life, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Hear that song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyh263U9vzk

Eradio Valverde

How Do I Love Thee? Not That Much?

Image from christthetruth.wordpress.com

1 John 3:16-24 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and her Sonnet 43, this passage talks about true love, and again, it is measured by Jesus and His love for us. The writer says, This is how we can know love from Jesus, He loved us so much, He gave His life for us; and it would serve God well if we would lay down our lives for each other. In essence he's saying, How much do we love God? Can it be measured by the way we treat others and give of ourselves and what we have? The true measure of a believer's love is in what she or he does and gives. Too many speak of love and service, and those words never convince them to do the very things of which they speak. To live in truth and serve in love shows others that this love is real and genuine and comes from God. And hear this again: "For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything." (v. 20).

Though we serve God not for what this gets us, the writer says, our faithfulness gets us everything that we ask if we are living in His commandments. And in case we have forgotten what that commandment is: That we should believe in the name of God's Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as God commanded us. And through God's Holy Spirit this is made doable.

So, in the spirit of Easter, which has not yet gone away; love one another, and serve God in love.

PRAYER: Loving God of the Resurrection, resurrect our hearts and bodies from a mindset of simply saying that we believe and love; let us be living examples of a people who do love and serve out of love, to make this world a better place. It is in Christ Jesus that we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Like a Good Shepherd, Jesus is There!

John 10:11-18 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

The Gospel of John contains many of Jesus' 'I am' declarations, and this is, in my opinion, one of the main ones. Jesus directly tells His disciples and those listening, "I am the good shepherd." He hit the hearts of many a person listening, much in the same way some years ago had He said I am the good farm worker or good factory worker. People listening either were shepherds or knew of someone in their family who were; just like people could have related to farm workers and laborers in factories or plants. But this declaration says that Jesus is all that a shepherd needs to be for sheep in need of a shepherd. We know and love the 23rd Psalm where David declares his faith in God as our shepherd, and here this is Jesus' fulfillment of being that shepherd.

Jesus would lay down His life for all sheep; and He knows those who are His, and He is always looking for those sheep who are not yet His as well. Jesus, unlike shepherds of HIs day and ours, has power to lay down His life as well as the power to raise it up again, which we believe He did on Easter Sunday. Easter is not over!

PRAYER: Thank you, Loving Shepherd, for all You have, are, and will do for us. Help us to live as Easter people, blessing You and Yours with acts of faith and love. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

How Do You Sleep at Night?

Master Davis J. Barnett of Kerrville, Texas

Psalm 4 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? (Selah) But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. (Selah) Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!" You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Back in July I wrote, "Sleep is the most purposeful of all vices." It reflects a running dialogue with myself and sleep. At times I am like my grandchildren and don't like the idea of sleep; there's too much to do and so much fun to be had - sleeping just might get in the way! Other times I cannot fight staying away or keeping sleep at bay; I just surrender and close my eyes and I am out. The older I get the more that becomes the reality. But I love sleep and I love waking up. I have also discovered that many, while living a life filled with secrets and sins, have trouble sleeping. Nightmares and troubled dreams will fill the soul during the day and come out to play at night, making for a terrible sleep. The psalmist knew God well enough to know the secret to a good night's sleep: Talk to God, enter into God's presence, especially when you're in distress; talk to God some more, receive God's grace; don't be influenced by those not living right, and seek faithfulness as your daily goal. Then seek to live a life that gives away the good you have received from God, for God has filled your heart with joy and gladness and joy and gladness is what you will share. Then, as the psalmist says, "(You) will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You (God) alone, make me lie down in safety."

PRAYER: Loving God guide me to that place where joy and gladness fill my heart, and then let it flow out freely to all. This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Power in the Name of Jesus!

Acts 3: 12-19 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. "And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,

Sin is an awful walking buddy. Sin will weigh you down, slow you down, and eventually paralyze you spiritually. Walking with Christ will no longer be a desired option; you will long only for what sin dictates for your life. Sin makes bad, deadly choices, but your sin-controlled mind will tell you the opposite. It's a long crawl back, or so it will seem, to a life free from sin, but it is possible only in Jesus Christ.

Today's passage showed the power found in the name of Jesus. The apostles Peter and John used that name to free a man from a life of incapacity to walk, condemned to beg for his livelihood. "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6). The man not only got up, he, as the song goes, "went walking, and leaping and praising God," for he knew he had a new life; so can you and me, if we turn over our sins to God.

Peter used this opportunity to preach the Good News, which is all about being forgiven of our sins. The key verse for me is "And by faith in His name, His name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you." And the invitation: "Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out."

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we can send out sins walking. May they walk, better yet, as this scripture says, may they be wiped out of our lives, and may our walking now be with the best walking buddy in history: Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

PRAYER: Loving God, send my sins packing; wipe them out from me,and let me go, as that dear man, walking, and leaping and praising You for the new life now in me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

A Powerful Chapter!

Image of Mount Hermon in Palestine

Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

Three verses, and that's the chapter of Psalm 133. But three very powerful verses that I've had to read both for myself and for some meetings that I have attended or presided over. Verse one sums up the desire of God for all meetings. I've often (mis)quoted Jesus as having said, "Where two or three are gathered, there's going to be trouble." Sadly, that's not far from the truth in some instances. You and I have been at special events, i.e. weddings, funerals, births, finance committees, where instead of some celebration taking place the worst in people comes out. The word kindred in this translation speaks volumes of the need for those related in some way, either by blood, marriage, or even faith, but especially faith in God, should interact. The brother mentioned in verse two is the famous one who helped Moses in his ministry. And the purpose of all meetings should be for there to be unity in all things.

The anointing of a person, such as Aaron, meant that the oil poured on his head would flow down from his hair, over his face and beard, to the collar of his robes. Mount Hermon, the highest peak in Palestine is often snowcapped and it provides dew down the mountain. This covering of blessing should cover those who meet together for whatever reason, especially in the service of God. For where the brothers and sisters agree on the positive for the work and good of God and God's people, God's blessing will be there; ultimately "life evermore."

Today, find a chance to speak a positive word about your purpose and relationship with someone who might need to hear it. You will be a blessing from God!

PRAYER: Indeed, loving God, in all of my dealings this day, speak a word of hope and peace, so that indeed unity may be present. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Not a Needy Person Among Them

Acts 4: 32-35 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

First Church Jerusalem should be the eternal model of all churches. The members were so devoted to God and Jesus Christ that the key verse is the very first one above: (They) were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common." Compare that to some churches where 1) Pews are "owned" every Sunday by those who "always sit here!" 2) Offices on committees are "owned" by those "who always have served in those positions."

Compare the next verse: This church gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Some church members are afraid to talk a word about their faith, especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Well, it was a faith event, anything could have happened to make them believe 'something' happened, but we're not really sure, are we?" Grace in many churches is the name of the lady who left to join the Baptists.

The verse that touches me: There was not a needy person among them, for as many owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." Do I really need to explain this in comparison to what really happens today?

The key is for us to truly give witness of this Easter message: Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed. If anything, find occasion to share that with someone in conversation. It's really not that hard to do, and it might just bring a blessing to someone who has never heard. And second thing; if you see someone in need, help them out! It may be a person in line at the grocery store and they don't seem to have enough money; it could be a child you see with old shoes; you know the drill! Serve the Risen Savior!

PRAYER: Loving God of the Resurrection, resurrect my heart and soul to be like those of the first disciples. Help me to live a life of resurrection. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Image from clickseed.com

1 John 1:1-2:2 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

I was quite the marksman growing up. Growing in up in a small South Texas town, it was pretty much expected given our options and resources for entertainment. My grandfather, Carlos, showed me how to make a slingshot out of tree limbs, old shoes, huge rubber bands; all with using just one knife. He showed me how to select rocks for it, and how to aim, draw back, and release to hit my target. Sadly, I came to be one who enjoyed the slingshot, and later a very powerful BB gun. I was hitting all the wrong marks. As my fellowship with God and Jesus grew stronger, I realized I was missing the main mark; I was sinning to kill little animals for no reason. I still remember the day that standing on the street, I cocked my BB gun, aimed at something hopping in our alley, shot and killed what I found to be a bird. I dropped my rifle and never picked it up again. I realized there was a mark that I should be hitting; growing in my love and devotion to God.

It would be later in college and seminary in studies about sin that the basic definition of sin is missing the mark. Yes, we all sin, but the good news in this passage relating to life here and life eternal is that those who confess their sins are forgiven and the fellowship with God continues. Jesus' death was for the sins of the whole world. We represent Christ and should tell the whole world about this fellowship of life and love that is available to all.

PRAYER: Loving God, I confess I am a sinner and I have missed the mark; I ask for forgiveness and that You help me turn my life towards life and love, joy and peace. Help me to spread the news: Easter is not over, and it's all about You! I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Risen Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

John 20:19-31 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." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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." 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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.

Turn to someone today and say, "Easter is not over!" As Christians, we've entered Eastertide; all the passages for the next few weeks center on Jesus' resurrection and teachings that should help us become the disciples we should be. This year Eastertide ends on Sunday, May 24th. This passage is one of those teachings. It was late that first Easter Sunday that while the disciples cowered in fear, Jesus came and stood in their midst. The doors were locked and the disciples thought no one knew where they were, for their fear was that they were next to be crucified. But several things worth nothing: 1) Jesus' message again centers on peace, which builds on even on the presence of fear. 2) Jesus showed them physical evidence of His resurrection, showing them his hands and side. 3) Jesus again shares the word and blessing of peace, but this time accentuates it with a very precious and powerful gift, the Holy Spirit. 4) Sin is still around, so Jesus wants the forgiveness of sins to still take place. 5) Jesus' work continues even when we are absent. 6) Jesus meets our doubts and fears head-on. Jesus wants us to believe. Our belief will allow us to join Doubting Thomas in proclaiming Jesus as Lord and God.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Easter and its message of hope, life, and power. Help me to live in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit to live in me. Easter is not over for those who believe, so let me be counted among the number of faithful and fruitful believers. I pray in the name of the Risen Christ, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?

Image from wheelsms.files.wordpress.com

Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed!

From Luke's Gospel, Chapter 24:1-12: But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

It was a hurried burial, with no time to properly bury Jesus. It fell to the women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them, to anoint the body with the spices according to their tradition. They come to the tomb and find that the stone had been rolled away. Entering the tomb, they found no body. What they did find were "two men in dazzling clothes," who asked the key question: Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Christ is risen. That was the reality and the message these women experienced on that first Easter Sunday. The women heard and believed and rushed back to tell the disciples,who receive these news as something akin to an idle tale and sadly, "they did not believe them." The last verse, verse 12, added by ancient authorities add that Peter was driven to action, ran to check out the tomb and found just the linen cloths, went home amazed.

Today is a special day that some call the Birthday of the Church, or it could be just another day, depending on your faith. Either something supernatural happened, or it is, as the disciples thought, "an idle tale." You can choose the power of life, or the power of doubt. But whatever you choose, don't choose the third option, the deadly power of apathy.

I choose to believe in the power of God to resurrect Jesus from among the dead, and that same power still at work in the hearts and lives of those who still seek to live among the dead.

PRAYER: Loving God, strengthen my faith and let me believe to the point where I can't keep it to myself any longer! Take my mind, body, soul, and spirit to the place of the living; this dead stuff ain't working for me. I pray in the name of He who rose from the dead, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! He is Risen!

Eradio Valverde

While You Slept

You thought the First Communion was Everything last night...

From Luke 22:39-62: He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!" Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

The Passover celebration ended with this unique twist given by Jesus; the breaking of the bread and taking of the cup as a remembrance of His death. They sang a hymn and as was the custom of Jesus to pray, He brings them to the Mount of Olives and Jesus asks that they join Him in prayer, with a specific prayer in mind: "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Jesus then prayed in great anguish so much so, that it says an angel came from heaven and gave Him strength; but in His anguish, His sweat became great drops of blood falling down to the ground. His prayer was a heartfelt one, asking that the Father "remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but Yours be done." When He finished praying He found the disciples asleep. He got after them and urged them to pray, and a crowd arrives.

This crowd was led by Judas (remember him?) and he approaches Jesus and kisses Him. The disciples know what is happening and one asks if they should use the sword. Tradition says it was Simon Peter who uses his sword to strike the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. Jesus will not allow that, and heals the ear. Jesus then asks why they chose this time of day to arrest Him. They answer only by arresting Him and leading Him away.

Then comes the heartbreaking part of Peter following Jesus and finding that an earlier prediction of Jesus comes true. The prediction said that by the time the rooster crowed, Peter would deny Jesus three times. Three times Peter is asked if he knew Jesus or was one of His disciples and three times Peter denies Him. The last verse of this passage sums it up: "And he went out and wept bitterly."

We choose to sleep and deny Jesus so many times in our lives; some of us weep bitterly when we discover this, others simply go on. Good Friday should have us all reflecting on what we have done to bring about Jesus' death.

PRAYER: Lord, this is the day You sent Jesus to fulfill. May it be a day of deep reflection on what I am called to do and be. Amen.

Eradio Valverde

Silver, Bread & Blood

A handmade Communion set made by my daughter, Nellie M. Garcia while at Southwestern University.

Why is This Night Different from Other Nights?

From Luke 22: 1-23: Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it." They asked him, "Where do you want us to make preparations for it?" "Listen," he said to them, "when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, "The teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" ' He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there." So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

Judas' problem was that he tried to outthink Jesus. He sought a way to be a step ahead of He who knows all things. We ourselves, sometimes think that we know more, or at least when Jesus should act on our behalf. Jesus knew the plan of God and was living it out. Judas, many believe, was acting out a plan that some from that previous Sunday had expressed and hoped would come soon; a political uprising that would restore Israel to freedom and greatness. This passage begins with the heartbreaking story of betrayal. This particular gospel does not include the amount, but tradition tells us it was 30 pieces of silver. Judas left with an agreement to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no one was around.

Then came the Passover, which required much preparation, and to their surprise, like Palm Sunday, everything was in order. There was no need to worry when Jesus was in charge. Then the hour came and Jesus took His place among the 12 and says this, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." So, this is the reference to the first Communion; the best is yet to come. The with the cup, Jesus said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." It is coming! The supper continued and Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, and broke it giving it to them saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant of my blood." Precious, powerful blood of the Lord, poured out for you and me.

The drama intensified when Jesus said that one among them was to betray Him. All asked, "Is it me?" One knew already.

PRAYER: Loving God, tonight is different from all nights because of what we read above. Jesus gave us this sacrament as a reminder of what He did for us on that Friday, to help us celebrate tonight every time we can; and to look forward to that which is coming someday. Be glorified in me and my life today, tonight, and all days. I pray this in the name of He who is the Lamb of God, given for all the world, with no exceptions, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Giving 'til the End

For God so Loved, He gave...We should too!

From Luke 21: 1-19: He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on." When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and, "The time is near!' Do not go after them. "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

This is Wednesday of Holy Week. And we find Jesus teaching on two important subjects, giving, and living faithfully. It is becoming very clear to some churches that the giving of some older members is what is sustaining the church, and who are not too long for this earth. In several churches in our district, for example, Mom has reached the age where she needs help in her daily chores either because of age or because of the onset of a mental disability, and she moves off to the big city far from the church. The children who were caring for her and her finances make the decision that now the money once set aside for God and God's work would better serve the family and the church no longer can count on Mom's gifts. The pastors are left wondering if Mom ever taught the children to give. She may have, the kids chose not to learn or worse, not to give. Jesus, at the treasury, saw rich people putting their gifts into it. These were the days of coins and the treasury being metal, each gift made a loud sound. Then comes what the Bible calls "a poor widow," and she "put in two small copper coins." This pleases Jesus for He says, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on." Her faith in God spoke volumes of what God was going to do for her, more importantly, all that God had already done in her life.

Jesus then turns to a prophetic moment when He declares that a day was coming when not one stone of the Temple would not left upon another. This piqued the disciples' curiosity: When will this be, and what sign will there be?" Jesus' response is to live faithfully and fearlessly. Yes, Jesus mentions that some would be arrested, some persecuted, and some put on trial. View these, Jesus is saying, as opportunities to give witness to God. Jesus added there is no need to prepare for He would give the words that are to be spoken. Even in the midst of betrayal by those we love and trust, even unto death, we should not be afraid, for "not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."

Give as you live, with faith and love, to God; but give all things: Yourself, your money, your witness, your service; and many will be saved and blessed because of it.

PRAYER: Lord, let me live life to the fullness by doing as Jesus taught; help me to give as I live, with faith and love all things of mine, as first I surrender myself to You. I pray in Your Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde