EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

Everything I Know About Life I Learned in Sunday School
By Rev. Eradio Valverde, Jr.

1. The stresses and problems of life, even or especially, in elementary school can best be faced with friends who also know and love God.

2. Nothing makes life seem sunnier than sharing a glass of Kool Aid and cookies with a Christian brother or sister.

3. Nothing says you are cared for than seeing your Sunday school teacher in a room waiting and asking how you are.

4. Nothing opens up the world of faith better than learning awesome stories of super heroes from The Bible.

5. Though those days are long gone, though the great stories of The Bible were shared on felt boards*, it was the same as today’s IMAX big screen theatres.

6. Nothing would refresh one’s spirit more than to learn and sing a song about Jesus.

7. There seemed to be something about this thing called prayer that our adult teachers seem to believe as they led us in prayers. It was neat when something was troubling us, to share it with the teacher and she or he would pray for us!

8. You learned about how good it could be to drop a quarter, nickel or dime, into a bamboo bowl. The teacher said it was to help the work of Jesus and you believed her.

9. You knew that you belonged to this place on Sunday morning. The week did not seem the same if you missed one Sunday because you were sick or out-of-town.

10. Where else would you get some neat thing you had helped make, to take home and show off?

It’s early morning Tuesday, and I’m remembering with great fondness, my days in Kingsville in what seemed to be the happiest place on earth, my Sunday school room. Walt Disney may have said that about his Disneyland, but that’s only a one day vacation experience, Sunday school was a life-long experience.

I shared above in ten short statements the things I remembered most about my Sunday school days as a child. My most remembered teacher was Mrs. Belen Flores. She was, in every sense of the word, an imposing, but kind figure. A believer and one who wanted us to believe as well. I wondered if she knew the kind of impact she was having on my life or on the lives of those in my class. Of those in her class, most of us would move to Houston as life changed for our dads. Of those in her class, my best friend from there would die in his high school years in a drowning accident. I know he was ready, thanks to Mrs. Flores and her desire to share Jesus in her way with him, me, and all the others in my class. Of those in her class, one would go on to mother three children, one now a lawyer, the other in college, and her oldest son died in a tragic traffic accident. I know he was ready because his mom knew Jesus, and again, because of Mrs. Flores.

I am now a pastor, and in some ways, thanks to Mrs. Flores. She laid the foundation of a faith that at an early age became very real to me, and it still is, because of her faith. She cared enough to study and prepare for our class, to get up earlier than us, and to arrive at church early enough to be the first in the class. That made it easier for us to hear her voice as she said welcome and as she asked how our week had been.

Now that I am a pastor I am saddened by the number of children who don’t know the same experiences that I had because their moms and dads don’t take them to Sunday school. I have to confess I had to be taken to Sunday school and at first, I wanted more to stay in bed and at home, where I could play with my friends who didn’t go to Sunday school. Now I think my life is richly blessed because of that one hour I spent, once a week, in the class of Mrs. Flores.

Sunday school in my honest opinion is the best deal in town. In many churches every Sunday school class is, for the kids in there laughing and enjoying being together, the happiest place on earth. And that one hour per week spent in the happiest place on earth, will come back to make those lives among the happiest ones on earth, working together to make earth a more livable place, as we look forward to the “new earth.”

Make time to take your children and yourself, to Sunday school. I know there is a class just for you. If you don’t find one, ask about starting one. The blessings and benefits you will receive are out of this world!

__________________
*felt boards were folding board with felt cloth on the front. The teacher would tell a story and add felt cloth characters to the board. Both being of felt material, the character would stick to the board. Quite a tool, some would say better than PowerPoint lessons any day!

PARENTING

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

Read Genesis 3. (The passage will appear at the bottom of this message if you do not have a Bible handy) In this chapter Adam and Eve become parents. The Bible says nothing about their childrearing skills other than what results the children had as you read into the chapter. Do you suppose the two tried to raise the two identically, with showing no favoritism? Why do you suppose some children “get it” and others don’t?

Okay friends, here's my mistake for the day, the passage I meant for you to read is from Genesis 4, not 3, but it never hurts to read more than you want in God's Holy Word. In this story of the first children, Adam and Eve are good parents. I believe they tried their hardest to raise both of the boys in the same way. As I said in yesterday's sermon, you try to raise all your children alike but sometimes you realize not two children are alike, nor can you force them to be. Every child is born with his/her own drives, wants, curiosities, etc., and most will act on those.

What Eve and Adam knew about God, they taught to their sons. We don't know if it was mom or dad that shared with them about giving to the Lord. In my case it was my mother who taught me when I got my first job at 9 years of age, to tithe. I made a whopping $1.50 for working from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Chapa's Grocery Store in Kingsville. I got paid in cash and I was intructed by Mom to ask for one of the quarters in change. So from that quarter I would set aside fifteen cents as my tithe. Mom would bring a church offering envelope with her to pick me up at six and I would place the fifteen cents, seal it, sign my name to it and the next day I gladly gave it to God. I never thought, "That's not fair! I worked for ALL this money, God didn't do a thing!" I was thankful to have the majority of the money at my disposal. I was sharing with my daughters on Saturday, that a reel-to-reel recorder on display at one of our hamburger joints, was the first purchase I made after saving up fifteen dollars. I would also treat my brother, who owes me a lot of money to this day!, to the movies and all that went with that, all with what was left over from the tithe.

Eve may have been the one to say to her sons, "Take the first and the best to God when you offer up your sacrifices." Abel did just that and Cain took what didn't inconvenience him, namely leftovers. The Bible says that God had "regard for Abel and his offering," for Abel tried to please God in his giving. He thought nothing about what he would have left if he gave God the first and the best.

This stirred up anger and causes the first murder in the Bible. What a tragic note to see that fratricide is the first murder; a brother killing a brother. Not a good note on which to start the symphony of life, but it shows the need for all of us to be guided by God in all things.
As we raise children and grandchildren, we should be guided by God in prayer. It is not an easy task to raise children. It not only takes a village, it take the universe of God's involvement to help us do our part. The great thing about our baptism is the promise that we as a church make to parents and to those being baptized, to be their community, their family, their love and support as they grow old with us.

May we seek to be God's people as we make our way through life each day.

PRAYER: Loving Father, fill us with your love today. Guide us to faithfulness and let us show others the better way to live. May we who are parents be the best we can in saying, doing, and modeling that which glorifies You. We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

Genesis 4:1 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO...

Good day dear friends,

First a Happy Father's Day to all the dads who are reading this. I pray God's wisdom, love, compassion, and grace be with you during this day. May you look beyond the new ties, hankerchiefs, plasma tvs, etc., into the loving eyes of those who presented them to you.

Here is our text for today:

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

How quickly times flies. It seems only yesterday Nellie and I would travel everywhere in a car filled with girls. Having two daughters with us this weekend allowed us to enjoy old stories and to share those with our new son-in-law, Jorge, Nellie's husband. Jorge has done a lot for us during his weekend with us, and even as we were moving in he took one of our five-gallon water jugs and filled it. Yesterday we drank the last of it, and I said, "Remember Jorge, when you used to buy us water, and we liked it a lot?" The girls started laughing because that was their ploy, usually after school, to get Mom and Dad to buy them something like Skittles or Starbursts. It was Nellie, our daughter, who came up with it as she would say, "Remember Dad (or Mom) when you used to buy us Skittles, and we liked them a lot?" We would reply, yes. "I do like them a lot!" And Nellie would wink at me and we would stop at the store.
Father's Day is a great day to honor and love your dad. Even if your dad is now with the Lord, it's a great day to sit and remember all the good that your dad shared with you, and honor him in that way. If your dad wasn't all that good, this day can serve as a day of forgiveness when you say to God, "I forgive my dad for all that he did against me. Help me to overcome those memories and be thankful for what I learned from it to help me be a better person (parent)."
Father's Day is also a great day to remember our true Father, who is in Heaven. Re-read the text above and be thankful for what God does and is doing in your life.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for Your love. I thank you for this day and I ask you help me be a blessing to all, especially those who call me father. Let me honor my dad today. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Be in prayer for those first-time-in-the-pulpit-preachers in their new churches!

e.v.

MOVING DAY!

Good day dear friends.

As we start our morning devotional time, please be in prayer for Mrs. Donna Steman, from our new church here in FUMC-Harlingen, who underwent open heart surgery. Donna had a double bypass performed on her, and she is recovering well, thanks to God. We also continue to ask prayer for our brother, Mr. Jodie Polk, who is home now but in need of our continued prayers as he battles cancer.

Our text this day comes from Mark 10:29 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, {Or [gospel]} 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life."

Yesterday was the "official" moving day of the Southwest Texas Conference. Though some, like yours truly, moved early, others find themselves at the mercy of movers and circumstances. The Rev. Steve Purdy, outgoing pastor of Harlingen First, won't be moved until next week, but he has to preach in his new setting this Sunday. Thus I saw he rented a large size trailer to haul needed stuff to his new home in Seguin. So I ask prayers for brothers and sisters who are moving during this time. I know the movers are all singing, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus!"
Moving is a big deal. Jesus knew that when He said the words we read above, for He knew that for His sake we would be asked to move for the sake of sharing the good news. My first move came when I was 13. It was a welcomed move only in the sense that it united our family. My dad could no longer find work in the Kingsville area and our across-the-street neighbor had been working in Houston for some time and he invited Dad to go with him one Sunday afternoon to Houston. I picture Dad like Abram having to leave behind wife, five children, his mother, sister, brother-in-laws, etc. to find work. I don't remember him actually driving off, but I remember crying and finding that in prayer I had a needed comfort. Dad worked there for six months, coming home every weekend to be with us. Sometimes he had a ride; other times he hitchhiked. Finally the day come in mid-Fall to move. I was glad because I had told my band director that I was not carrying my very heavy baritone home for the weekend because we were moving. I had overheard Mom's conversation with Dad and I was praying (hard!) for that move to transpire. Mr. Babbit pulled me into his office and promised me death if that move did not happen. Imagine my grin on Monday morning by Mom's side as she signed me out of school!
My second move was for the sake of the gospel. I left Houston for Jacksonville, Texas, to begin my education into ordained ministry. I felt and answered the call in eleventh grade and by the time college rolled around I knew where I needed to be. The move was not easy and I still remember that first night in my dorm crying into my pillow knowing that I had indeed, left father and mother, brothers and sisters, for the sake of Jesus and His gospel. Jesus' words are true. I made many brothers and sisters during that first year away from home, and yes, even had mothers and fathers watching over me, yes, even in college.

Yet today I know there are those in the Lord's work who feel some deep sadness because they are so far from loved ones. I feel it only sometimes, Nellie more often. But I look forward with faith, to the fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, granddaughters and grandsons that I will receive here. I still love mine very much and I'm thankful our oldest is near, in fact, she spent the night to help Mom and Dad make some sense of the many boxes whose contents are being questioned.

PRAYER: Loving God of all moves, I pray for safety and blessing for those who move today. I pray especially for pastors who are leaving family either for the first time or the hundreth time. Bring to life Your Son's words as they find new family and friends in the work to which you have called them and me. I pray for those family members who are staying behind, bring them peace and joy even in the midst of a move. I pray a blessing on the churches receiving us as well as those who have bid us farewell. I pray healing for those mentioned in this devotional as well as others reading this who have a need either in themselves or in loved ones. All in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

RELATIONSHIP BEGINS WITH PRAYER!

Good day dear friends.

Prayer Update: Madeline West, given a grim prognosis yesterday, today sat in a regular room, in a chair, after having morning therapy. Great things happened between our announcing her need and after church. Moral of the story: Prayer Works!

The Scriptures say that it was Jesus' "custom" to spend time alone with prayer. It was a custom that He learned from his mother and father, so at the age of 12 when he was "lost" after a trip to Jerusalem, he was actually in the Temple spending time in His Father's house, in prayer, learning more about God and God's plan for his life, in prayer. A story says that a group of tourists after touring a picturesque village asked an old man sitting on a fence near a lovely picture site, in a patronizing way, "Were there any great men born in this village?" And the man replied, "No, only babies." Jesus was a baby in his prayer life and matured in it, and so should we.

Prayer has blessed many lives for the time we spend alone with God is a time of blessing that will be unleashed later when we need it the most. As was shared in our study of the passage from Matthew 7, our "foundation" or "rock" as Jesus mentioned comes from our relationship with Jesus, not the religious things that we do. Our prayers are intended to develop the relationship we need with God. It will pay off later in great and unexpected ways!

PRAYER: Help me, dear God to make and spend time with You. Let me listen to what You would share with me, and let my relationship with You grow like never before. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

THIS IS THE DAY!

Good day dear friends.

Last weekend Nellie and I walked around the small community of Port Aransas. It was very humid and got hot rather early in the day, but that did not deter our wandering among the tourist shops of that beach town. We didn't have a way to make hot tea in our room so we asked at the souvenir shop if there was a coffee shop in town. The cashier told us how to get there and we were only about two blocks away.

As we sat to await our drinks we noticed a sign above the door leading out of the shop. It said, "Psalm 118:24." I asked Nellie do you know what verse that is? She said, "I think I do." And I said, I think I know too, it must be, "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the House of the Lord." But that didn't quite make sense to have it over the doorway unless the owner is deeply religious to seeing the world as God's house. I used the internet access of my phone and typed in the verse and it came back, duh, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." What a nice way to start the day! Enter into a coffee shop, get your morning pickmeup and then head into the world knowing that each day is a gift, handmade by God, offered to us with the only stipulation to be glad and rejoice in what God offers.

And so it is with today. This is Sunday, the first day of June. It is the Lord's day and we should rejoice in what God offers to us: A nice church family, a church home, a place to worship and be glad.

PRAYER: Thank you for this day, dear God, I accept this day as Your gift to me. Let me do all You would have me do. Let me go into Your house with gladness to worship You and praise You. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

ALL THINGS NEW

Good day dear friends.

It has been quite the busy schedule these past few weeks and I've been unable to sit down and write a devotional like I know I need, and like I like doing. I'm rushing to finish this as the movers are set to be here in about an hour and a half. I also have to turn in the cable modem and cable box to the cable company this morning so we will be without internet for a while. I type this on our desktop computer that soon will be dismantled and placed in either the moving van or in our Suburban for the trip South to our new home.

I have to praise God for the weekend and participating in the Seaman-Haynes wedding in Port Aransas. I had never been to PA and must admit it is quite a lovely place. I had never done a wedding in Crocks (a plastic slipon sandal) or seen so many bare feet at a wedding. Of course I had to compete with the ocean's roar (okay the Gulf's roar) but it was a very nice wedding. For the rehearsal dinner we ate in the Dolphin Room of the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. That was so relaxing! Of course if you fear fish or swimming mammals, you'd be scared to death.

The verse that comes to my heart is from the last book of the Bible, chapter 21:5: "And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." While in some ways this is a sad time to be moving from a dear old family to a new dear family, we hold fast to our faith that we serve a God who makes all things new. From a timeless God who makes all things new, you know it has to be good! This applies to all areas of our lives. Last night as we lay down to sleep (except those of us who were packing) at twelve midnight yesterday ended and a new day began! Isn't that incredible. Our yesterdays all end at 12 midnight last night and immediately a new day begins. So it should be with our faith and attitude about our life and that which we face. We are from the loving hand of the God who made and controls all things. In God we put our full trust.

As we pray for one another, ask God to make all things new. We remember the needs of our brother Jodie Polk and we ask God to make all things new for him. May Jodie's healing amaze the doctor! As we pray for those mourning situations in life that seem to be bleak, may God make new the possibilities that can come from Him into even the people who think God cannot.

PRAYER: Lord God, make new all things in my life. You better than even me know what things have been too "old" for so long and now a newness is needed, so come, You who will make all things and make me new. New with love, new with hope, new with mercy and compassion, new with faith unlike the faith I had yesterday. I thank You for the newness of this day and its possibilities. I love you and praise You! I pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

TRADITIONS

Good day dear friends.

Today the daughter of Mary Borm undergoes surgery to repair a broken leg. Her name is Paula, but I don't know her last name (God does!), so please pray for Mary and Paula.
Please continue to pray for all pastors who are neck deep in boxes (or should be!) as they prepare to move. In our conference alone, we have something like 60 moves, so boxes are selling briskly (invest in boxes) and movers are salivating with excitement!

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

In case you've been keeping track, I've dedicated the last couple of devotionals to the letter of Paul to the church in Galatia. They were being misled by false teachings and Paul is angry and addressing their unfaithfulness by way of this letter. Today's part deals with Paul reminding them of just who he is, and how he came to be a Christian preacher after having been quite an infamous Jew. Paul shares how he advanced in Judaism even beyond those his own age and how he thought he was doing what God wanted, but realized he was simply concerned more about the "traditions of his ancenstors" than the things of God. God decided Paul needed to meet Jesus which he did and the rest was history.

New life comes when we put away rituals, traditions, routines, habits, playing church, and the like, and surrender ourselves to Jesus. Jesus came to offer new life, in fact, life in the fullest, and that is what Paul is wanting the believers in Galatia to embrace. What are you willing to surrender for the sake of your life?

PRAYER: Loving God we do thank you for rich histories and traditions and those things that bring some meaning to our lives, but today I seek Jesus and the things that are Yours to bring me into life and life's full meaning and purpose. I ask this as I surrender my very self to You, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great day in the Lord!

e.v.

A WORD OF THANKS

Good day dear friends.

First a personal word of thanks to all who planned and participated in my farewell luncheon yesterday after church. The food was the best I had ever seen and tasted and everyone went "all out" in getting the food table to look so exquisite. A special thank you to all who shared a word of appreciation of the Lord's work through Nellie and I. I was especially touched by the bravery of the youth and children and their willingess to say very kind words of appreciation. I am proud of you! May the Lord continue to richly bless you is my prayer.

My sermon yesterday was from 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. I'll use that as the foundation for my devotional for this morning, but I will preface it with the words of thankfulness that Paul shares with his brothers and sister at the Corinth church:

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

The words we read in chapter three are a bit more harsher as Paul is reminding the readers that they were called into faith of Jesus Christ, which is a spiritual first step. What has happened is they have not taken a second step or steps towards spiritual maturity. All during his ministry there, Paul shared the gospel in baby steps, for they were infants in the faith. Here it is some years later and Paul is hearing complaints from them about how they don't like their new pastor, Apollos. As I shared with the congregation no pastor likes to hear that. It hurts the body of Christ when complaints are being lifted up against those who have come to serve among you. We are called to build upon that which is left for all to carry on.

Have you taken steps towards your maturity in Christ? How do you do that you ask? By following the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, devotional time, time alone with God, worship, tithing, etc. That will take you into the realm of a deeper walk with Christ that Jesus mentions as "abundant life." (John 10:10).

Take those steps today! Become the people God has called you to be!

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my heart and let me grow in faith and in spirit. Let me be guided and directed by The Holy Spirit. Take me into abundant living. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

TRAVELING WITH AND BECAUSE OF CHRIST

Good day dear friends.
Some time ago I asked prayer for Shanna Itz Rodriguez who had a tumor removed while awaiting the birth of twins, well tonight she delivered a boy and a girl, one weighing 3'12" and the other 3"13" born at 8:15 and 8:16 p.m. tonight. We thank the Lord for their birth and we pray for Shanna and babies to be well. I thank all of you who prayed for them.
Today's text comes from Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; 19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. 20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.
It is so easy to get caught up in trying to please people. For some if we can please the right people we believe we get something out of it. Others just for a smile or the right look of approval motivates their actions. No one could ever accuse Paul of being a people pleaser. He would have been fired long ago! Paul's desire was to serve and please God. And that, he said, started even when he was doing exactly what God didn't want him to do, namely the persecution of the Christian church. Paul's calling, as yours and mine, was to be a "servant of Christ." Paul reminds the believers at Galatia that his life was completely opposite of how they knew him now.him.
To travel well, we must travel with Christ and because of Him!
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for sharing Jesus with us. Let us be open to the leading of Christ in all that we do. May we be led by Him in all things. Our desire is to travel with and because of Jesus Christ. In His Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

AN EASIER WAY?

Good day dear friends.

I appreciate your prayers for those we share through these pages. God answers all prayers! I appreciate your prayers for me while at General Conference. I needed them! I got a fever on Thursday night with chills and the works and on Friday was sent to a minor care emergency center where the experience was worse than the chills. Nurse Allstate, as she called herself, proved I was in better hands on my own than in hers! After beating my arm senseless she said she could not find a vein and poked me three times causing me to say loudly, "Ouch, that hurts!" I'm a chicken when it comes to needles but I hate pain even more. What a baby. Anyway, that blood test and others showed I was fine with the possible onslaught of an upper respiratory infection. Antibiotics did the trick and by Sunday I was fine.

Here is our text for today from Paul's letter to the Galatians 1: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!

In his teachings, Jesus had predicted that the day would come when followers would easily fall away for diverse reasons including the hearing of a "gospel" they liked better. And such was what Paul is addressing today. Some of the "Christians" of Galatia were abandoning the faith to follow a different "gospel" and that is of following those Jews who had said that they were not truly following Jesus if they hadn't embraced Judaism. The main issue was that of circumcision and these Jews were telling the Galatians they had to be circumcised to be truly followers of God. Paul stresses there is no other gospel and becomes quite frank in his saying if anyone comes to you with another gospel that person, even if he were an angel, is accursed!

Who or what distracts us from enjoying the grace of God? Is anything worth abandoning the Lord Jesus to follow someone or something else? Do we seek an easier way, less stressful or hectic way to be a true follower of Jesus? There is none, just faithful obedience to the truth we received from Christ about Himself and God.

PRAYER: Loving God we thank you for Your truth and how You have given Your all for us. Let me quit seeking the ways that we think would free us from what we think holds us back in being Christian. As we say in our ritual, "Free us for joyful obedience." Through Jesus Christ we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

Good day dear friends.

Please keep Paul Mayhew in prayer as he has undergone shoulder surgery in Austin. We pray all has gone well and that he is recovering well. Paul will wear a shoulder sling for about six week.

Here is our text for today from Luke 22: 39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."

Today is National Prayer Day in the USA. This is a day set aside for us to be in prayer. The underlying reason is, of course, to pray for our nation and our needs. And they are many. But the day also serves to remind us that we are, and should be, a nation under God. It is God in whom we trust and in whom we find our reason for life and all that we need. It is appropriate then that we read that passage in Luke, posted above, that says that Jesus has a custom of praying. In reality, Jesus had a lot of customs, of going to church, of teaching, etc. Jesus knew what it was to stay in contact with God the Father.

Jesus' favorite place of prayer was the Mount of Olives, a quiet place that lent itself for solitude and prayer. While Jesus prayed everywhere, this place was one in which he could direct his most pressing thoughts to Jesus. It was also a place where he took his disciples so taht they might be people of prayer too. In this passage, Jesus' command was that they "pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Jesus knew what lay ahead, the disciples did not. In the same way, God knows what lays ahead for us, we do not, so like the disciples, we pray.

In prayer we find that which we need to help us be the people of God, rooted in Him and receiving from Him that which we need.

PRAYER: Lord, every day should be a day of prayer for us as believers. Bless our nation and help us to be your people in all things. We ask this in Christ Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

WHAT A GREETING!

Good day dear friends.
Please be in prayer for Emily Lawrence. She was set to undergo surgery last night. We pray all is well with her. Emily is the daughter of Theresa and Steve.
Here is our text for today from Galatians 1: 1 Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the members of God's family who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Someone once said there was a difference between being a disciple and an apostle. A disciple is one who sits at the feet of a great teacher and learns. An apostle not only learns, but goes and puts into practice that which he/she has learned. Paul took his title as apostle as a badge of responsibility and honor. His honor, like that of Jesus, was to serve not to be served, and he did this quite well all through his life. His commission to serve as an apostle was from Jesus Christ and not human orders. He also knew the presence of those who believed like him gave him further authority to serve.
In this short passage Paul writes to all the churches of Galatia. His desire is for them to receive God's grace and God's peace. No greater gift because of Christ's sacrifice. God's underserved favor and love and peace freely given to those who believe and who would receive it.
Paul also lifts high the name of Jesus and expects us to do the same.
All of that in a greeting. What do we convey in our greetings each day? Is it as lofty and heavenly as Paul's? Or do we convey something different?
A great "Good morning!"" goes a long way farther than a grunt or moan showing at least that we're alive.
Let your greeting be one of life and grace and peace!
PRAYER: God of grace and peace, let me today share You with how I greet others. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name and for His sake, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

SALT AND LIGHT

Good day dear friends.
Here is an update on Del Brown. Del was finally released from the hospital yesterday, weak, but no longer suffering from fever. Please continue to pray for his complete recovery.
Here is a prayer request: Emily Lawrence (daughter of Theresa and Steve Lawrence) was admitted into the hospital at CTMC, Monday evening, with a possible infection, in her right leg. Please keep her and her parents in your prayers.
Sadly, the father of Harriett Olson, Charles L. Olson, died on Sunday. Please keep Harriett and her family in your prayers.
Here is our text from Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
I've related the importance of salt in cooking. If you leave out an ingredient of any meal that requires cooking, it cannot be salt, because salt is what gives the entire entree its flavor. Salt for the Jews at the time of Jesus was for flavor, for preservation, and for insulation. Apply these three to the Christian faith and you see what Jesus meant when he said WE were salt: Our positiveness of life as lived through Christ should add flavor to life. Our rootedness in Christ should allow us to share with others the preservation of that which is good for God in the world. And our faith should help us when we feel everything is falling around us.
As for light, that is pretty self-explanatory. Light defeats darkness. To live in Christ is to live in light and that defeats the darkness.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for all You have shared with us to make us who we are. Let us indeed be salt and light for the world through Jesus in Whose name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

OUR MISSION

Good morning dear friends.

Greetings from frigid Fort Worth! Nothing like mornings in the 40s. It is especially funny to hear from delegates from the north US who expected Texas weather to be warmer. You and me both!

Here is our text:

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!' 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. 16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

What authority and power is ours from the Lord Jesus Christ! Like the seventy sent out in this passage, so has Christ sent us. Our is a mission to share first, peace. Let the peace of Christ fill every heart. The peace that "passes all understanding." In other words, the peace Christ offers through us, should be that peace that others will not understand but yet it is still there. It is the calm when others are panicking. It is the joy when others are sad. It is the light of hope, when others have resigned to be in darkness.

Ours is a mission of healing. Lift up in prayer those whom you hear are sick. Yes, you may be asked to pray for people you do not know. My first morning here I had breakfast at the Corner Bakery. The lady who served me asked if I spoke Spanish. I replied que si, and she asked if I would pray for her. She had hurt her hip while working the week prior and was now in severe pain. She had missed several days of work and now was working with much discomfort. I told her I would. I don't know the lady, but I know her need. I am not about to tell her, "I don't know you, why should I pray for you." That is not in keeping with my mission in Christ Jesus. Yes, I prayed and am praying for her healing. Later she shares that her daughter is pregnant and is almost due and now an illness has come upon her that she needs surgery and they're waiting until June to do a C-section and the surgery she needs. I can only imagine the stress that Luisa Fernanda is under, as is her mother Maria. Ours is to share with God through prayer the needs of those who need healing.

We can't forget to pray that God raise up laborers, like you and me, to do the work of God in the world. The harvest is ready, we just need those who will come and do the work of the Lord in our midst.

Not everyone will welcome us and Who we stand for. Woe to them. Ours is just to share with all; some will listen and be blessed, others will suffer life without Christ and then....

PRAYER: Loving God, give me Your courage, wisdom, strength and all that I need to fulfill that to which You have called me. Let me be Your servant in all things. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

NARROW IS THE WAY

Good day dear friends.

As we pray for one another, please pray for John Schaeffer, who has entered the hospital again. John and Dawn are new members but he has spent more than his share of time in the hospital. If any of you work or drive by Austin South Hospital, please go and visit John.

Here is our text for today:

Matthew 7:12 "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
I don't know about you, but in my opinion, traveling alone is not the ideal way to travel. I say this because of the long journey yesterday from SM to Ft. Worth. This is one route that our car has memorized. I could have taken a nap and the car would have known how to get to FW easily. We have made this journey several times going up to Denton to visit Caty at Texas Woman's. I traveled this way to attend General Conference. I am chair of the Committee for Correlation and Editorial Revision, the committee that puts the Book of Discipline together for the United Methodist Publishing House. I have one of the best seats in the house, sitting on stage while all goes on around. I do not get to vote on things, unless one of the reserve delegates wishes to let me go and vote. But I came without Nellie, who is the Chief Administrative Officer of Child Care for the Department of Valverde Grandchildren. Her number one and only client is of course, baby Sarita Evangelina Cortez, the delight of our eyes, ears, heck, all our being! So, while Sarita's mom has finals, Nellie is watching baby. And that's an important job! Pray for her today at 3:30 pm as Sarai has a major exam.

But the road is best traveled with my wife. She's my navigator, critic, food processing administrator (she unwrapped burgers as we eat and drive), narrator, conversationalist, critic, and my overall best friend and travel companion. She wants me to be a cautious driver, friends, which is why I list that as "critic." But our road has some known turns and routes, as well as the unexpected "only one lane open ahead" and I had a couple of those last evening. We usually start our journey northy by leaving 35 to get to Creedmoor and then to the tollway that gets us north of Georgetown. We stop in Temple at one of our favorite Starbucks (the best manager of those is of course Blair Thompson from our church at the SM Starbucks); it's ideally located for a rest and stretch, hot chocolate or hot tea stop. We pass through familiar sights that are still standing 30 years after we made that journey up to Perkins. And the road from Waco northward reminds us of our first church there in Waco. It is a familiar road, best traveled together.

Jesus spoke of life and how it can be traveled. In the above passage He mentioned life in Him and how that can be "narrow" which I take to mean difficult, for it is not a popular way to travel, the wider way is more traveled and you see so many on that way. His way is the way of service, sacrifice, and love. The other way is selfish, self-serving, me-centered, and doesn't offer much in the way of love. My mom first exposed me to that verse talking about the road to destruction she would say, "Is a beautiful road or so we think. It has roses and beautiful flowers all along it. The road that Jesus wants us to walk has thorns and is harder to walk." I first thought "I'd rather walk along the beautiful road, but when she said Jesus was on the thorny road I changed my answer.

I haven't changed my answer to this day. And I trust your changing would be only to get on the road to life.

PRAYER: Loving God I thank You for being with me on the road that leads to life. Speak to my heart about what I should be, what I should do, and what I should share. Help those not yet on Your road to find the way, and if you could, use me to help. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

PS Yes, I miss Nellie very much!

BREAKING THE ARMS OF GOD

Good morning dear friends.

Our text for today comes from Matthew 14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Today's thought is not original. It comes from a great conversation I had with The Rev. Tom Monroe, a stewardship strategist with a company based in Atlanta. Tom was a pastor on the staff at First Baptist Dallas, one of the country's biggest Baptist churches. One of his church members sold real estate and once while cleaning a home to sell, she came across some books by a Methodist preacher. Tom said he received these as gifts and in one he came across a passage that touched his heart. It concerns the above passage about the miracle of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. That Methodist preacher wrote (and I left that name at the office!) that while we know this story well, he came to an understanding that the only one who was in the most secure place was Peter. The eleven were in a boat probably built by their own hands, and it was a product made of wood, tar, and pitch. The waves or the wind could easily sink the boat and take them to the bottom of the sea. Peter, on the other hand, was in the arms of Jesus and this writer asks, "Who can break the arms of God?"

The answer is of course, no one. But we try! We find ourselves at times trying hard and we act like we're almost to the bottom of the sea, but in reality if we have faith and if we have placed ourselves in God's arms, there is no one nor anything that can break the arms of God.
What a secure feeling and thought: You and I are in the arms of God! Friends, there is no better place to be!

PRAYER: Loving God of all strength, thank You for Your hold on our lives. If one of us is feeling like we're almost at the bottom of the sea, lift us up! If one of us is feeling like we're slipping out of that firm grip that is Yours, tighten it! No one can break Your arms! We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day!

e.v.

PS Many leave today for Fort Worth for the start of General Conference. I start work early tomorrow with the committee on which I serve and every day will be a long day with lots to do. Pray that God would bring His strength, joy and peace to us all. Thank you!

A FAITHFUL WITNESS

Good day dear friends.

Our text for today comes from 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

I had the special privilege of speaking at a men's retreat for Manchaca UMC at John Knox Camp outside of Wimberley on Friday and Saturday. It was a great time sharing with brothers in the faith, especially some young brothers. Pastor Steven Sweet, a dear friend and true brother in Christ Jesus, invited me to go and speak about the Christian life and I believe I left more blessed than I hoped to bless them.

One verse that I made mention to is the text for today. It is a verse that applies both to men and women, and contains an attitude for servant living.
If you look at it, here are the key points:

1. We should approach God with a humble attitude. God is everything and we are His and as we come to Him, we should be open, listening, and loving towards our Heavenly Father.

2. This attitude of humility will result in God lifting us up when it is time. No one should come before the throne of God thinking we deserve anything, we don't. We come before God's throne because God loves us and we come to be loved.

3. God is a listening, caring God. We can, through prayer, "cast our anxieties" on God because of the care and protection God offers to us. There is no need to carry around the weight of worry when we can give it to God to carry for us.

4. We need to maintain a discipline and alertness before God of spiritual things. This includes our prayer life, our devotional life, our willingness to study God's Word, to worship God, and to seek to learn more about all God has to offer us. You'll see in the next one why this is imporant.

5. We can very easily become the prey of the devil. From experience the writer shares how easily one can fall victim to the wiles of the devil. Probably not that the writer himself may have fallen, but being an overseer in the faith he had probably seen more than his share of those for whom he cared, fall victim to temptation.

6. We must resist, standing firm in our faith. What we have learned as truth we must hold to. I shared in my sermon yesterday the story of C.C. McCabe who boarded a train in the days of the Old West and found a newspaper headline that said "Churches Across America Are Dying." McCabe read the article and it was an interview with an agnostic Robert Ingersoll, who said America would be better off when the last one closed. McCabe got off at the next stop and fired off a telegram to Ingersoll with the message, "All hail the power of Jesus' Name! We're building more that one new Methodist Church every day of the year and propose to make it soon two a day." What a way to resist!

7. We are not alone, not even in our suffering. Every Christian suffers. Some trials are unexpected and of the kind one would not wish on his/her worst enemy, but we stand firm in our faith, knowing God is with us and our brothers and sisters are with us. Pray for one another. Even for folks you don't know! Just lift up the saints who are suffering for the sake of Christ.

8. Our trials and suffering will not last a long time. In God's time, the Word promises we will be restored, supported, strengthened, and established.

9. Worship God! Amen!

PRAYER: Loving God, we lift You up in our hearts, minds, and spirits. Yours is the power and glory and the kingdom for ever. Remember us today with our needs and joys. Let our lives give steady witness to others, especially those who do not yet know, or who have forgotten. We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

RELIGION IN THE NEWS

Good day dear friends.

Our text for today is from John 4: 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

My morning internet routine goes as follows. 1. I read the morning devotional at The Upper Room (www.upperroom.org/devotional). This morning's devotional is very good as they usually are. 2. I go to CNN to see what are the headlines for today. http://www.cnn.com/ gives an update of the headlines around the world and here in the USA.

Which is why this morning I write about religion in the news. The Pope's visit has been major headlines all week. It is his first visit to the United States and so that is headling worthy news. He has celebrated two major outdoor masses in huge arenas and that is worthy news. He is, as the Catholic church, the direct descendant of Saint Peter, the "rock" of the church. Just thinking about that and how, imperfect as the line got in some eras of our history, still the one recognized by that church as having had hands laid on him that were first the hands of the fisherman called by Jesus. That's worthy of headlines. The other news are more local, a polygamist ranch outside San Angelo (which is in the Southwest Texas Annual Conference of our church, and the children of that ranch are being helped by many UMs), has been raided by the authorities, and thankfully another "Waco" incident didn't happen.

In another part of the world, Buddhists originally slated to participate in the Olympic torch relay, have withdrawn in protest of the treatment of monks by the Chinese government, the hosts of this summer's Olympics.

The greatest news of religion today? How God is using you to make someone else's world a little better by your kind words, kind act, or listening, caring ear. These things won't be on tomorrow's headlines nor should they be, for we do things for Christ not for the fleeting glory of humans, but for the eternal glory of He who sends us out "to make disciples." And the best way to make disciples is to be one.

PRAYER: Loving God, we praise you and thank you for Jesus. We pray that in all we do today we might show that we are indeed, your disciples and in that way, help to make someone new a disciple. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: LIVING WATER

Good day dear friends.

Prayer Updates: David Gish underwent successful surgery yesterday. Karen reports the doctor was pleased with the results of shoulder reparation. Pastor Ryan is home in Austin and not driving to Chicago as was shared here originally. The "encounter" with the deer occurred between Lake Travis and Austin. Ryan's car is in the shop and Ryan is resting at home. He is in severe pain (throat) and needs our prayers. On Thursday he flies to Chicago for his vacation.

Our text for today:
John 4: 5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

One can only imagine the stress and strain put on Jesus' body during His ministry. Travel was not by private jet or limo. It was by foot, from place to place. The weather was hot at times, mild at others, but always dusty as the winds blew around Him in the land now called Holy. Jesus knew of the need to rest and in the passage for today, as his disciples had gone on to buy food, He rested near a well. The well was famous to the locals, but also the place to draw water. As Jesus rested a woman comes to draw water and He asks her for a drink. The woman of a different ethnicity was surprised by His request. A Jew would not ask a Samaritan for anything let alone anything that would touch their lips! Jesus' reply was of love when He said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

All of us know the importance and goodness of water. We live in an age where any supermarket will have an aisle full of different water in different containers and claims, though my suspicion is that they've all come from the same bathtub of one who knew early enough to market the city water they now claim is spring water. It was when I was a child that I had an illness that to this day I can't remember what it was or what caused it. All I remember is the severe thirst that I had during the whole time I was sick and how for some reason did not get to enjoy the quenching relief of water. I remember the moment when I finally was offered a glass of water and how I felt as the cool water finally quenched my thirst.

Jesus offered to that woman in that encounter on that day, the quenching of the thirst of her soul. For too long she had sought relief from the thirst of sin with different "waters," and here she encounters He who offers to us, "living water." The water that quenches once and for all, the thirst of our soul. Never again will we thirst for we have received the longing of our very being.

Jesus offers that water to you. Will you drink?

PRAYER: Living God of the living water, quench my soul today. Let me cease from seeking relief in the waters the world offers. Let me find that which will quench my thirst now and forever. It is in the Name of He who offers us this, Jesus my Lord that I pray. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

WHO DO YOU FOLLOW?

Good day dear friends.

As we pray for our morning, please lift up Art Amey who is having eye surgery in Austin this morning, and for David Gish who is having major surgery here at CTMC. Last, but not least, some of you knew that Pastor Ryan our associate was not feeling well Sunday and he suspected mono, well the doctor confirmed he had it. He left for a driving vacation to Chicago and somewhere between here and Austin he hit a deer. His car is in the shop and he borrowed his parents' car and is driving to Chicago. Pray that when he gets there he might have some rest and time for healing while enjoying his friends and his beloved Chicago deep-dish pizza!

Our text for today comes from Matthew:

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

In Sunday's NY Times Magazine, page four, two full-page ads for an insurance company that struck me with the first page being a picture of a majestic-looking elk at the top of some steps, with the caption under it saying, "The question isn't how you reach your goal, it's who do you follow?" I thought then, a Sunday morning, as I do now, a Wednesday morning, how appropriate! I always imagine the Sunday Times Magazine as being read by men and women in bathrobes, sipping coffee as they await their morning brunch. The thought of bathing, dressing, and going to church possibly far from their minds. Yet, I pray that this ad make them as it did me, "Who AM I following?"

The text from today comes from the passage of Jesus' encounter with the one we've come to call "the rich young ruler." That title gives him away: Rich, young, powerful. Was there a question as to how he reached his goal of being rich? Not really. Youth came naturally. The power? Hmm, yes, the power. His problem was that he had NOT yet reached his goal. Overcoming his fear of his mortality. He had the riches of this life, yet his joy was not complete; something serious and something sacred was missing from his life. The joy of the knowing that this life is not all there is. Was the young man ill? We don't know. Was someone he knew and loved ill? Maybe. Something made him think that one day he would find himself leaving this world and he wondered what lies beyond this life, and if all he had heard from and about this itinerant preacher about life and its true meaning, what did he have to do to attain it?

The question asked, the response came quickly. Sell what you have. Give the money to the poor. Come, follow me.

Could you make it any harder Lord? The young man lived in the top 1% of his society. He had things others only dreamed of, yet in the lap of luxury there was missing the comfort and joy of being alive and having hope for tomorrow.

Sell what you have. Part with what makes you comfortable. Part with what is killing you.

Give the money to the poor. Did you stop to think that what you have could be used to feed someone who hasn't eaten in some time? Could your money be used to help pay for the medical treatment of someone not being able to sleep because of pain and discomfort?

Come, follow me. You haven't really reached your goal if your life is empty. Full of things, empty of life is no way to live. And it's no way to die.

PRAYER: Loving God of all things, You own the herds of livestock on the hills, and You even own the hills, yet, Your desire is for us to live this life in abundance. Help us all to realize what true abundance really is. Let us know it is not in things, but in that which You have provided for us. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

DINNER WITH TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS

Good day dear friends.

I know there has been quite an absence in my sending this email devotional and I pray forgiveness and I ask continued prayer for me, my family and our preparations for General Conference, the transition between here and Harlingen, our new appointment, etc.

Here is today's text:

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

In case you've awakened from a long fog of a sleep, today is tax day. And I can proudly say that for the first time in my history of being a taxpayer, I filed early! And my taxes have already been processed! What a miracle! I also have overcome what I used to do, that of filing for an extension giving me til August, then in August I would file for an October extension, then I would file. It is so much better not worrying about which post office will be open until midnight so that I can rush over there with my extension form filled out and ready to mail.

Paying taxes have never been a popular thing except for those who work for the IRS. Even in Jesus' time the calling of Matthew to be a disciple meant calling a man away from the tax table. Matthew may have been among the wealthiest of the disciples for the common practice, and he may not have been one who participated in it, was to set a "tax" higher than due the Roman government and keeping the difference. But Matthew's call into ministry also meant that his former co-workers were invited to a dinner that night. Here is where the criticism begins. Jesus was sitting at the same table with tax collectors AND sinners. What's the difference you might ask? Jesus was in violation of keeping clean by sitting with those considered unclean. Jesus' response was to tell the folks there that he had come to be with those in need of mercy, those considered "sick" by others.

Our hope is in Jesus who invites us all to His table. One of the beautiful things, of many, is that as United Methodists every time we celebrate the Lord's Supper we say that the table of the Lord is open to all who desire to be in communion with the Lord and no one is denied. And the same is true in our spiritual life.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for the openness of Your love. Help me to model that in my life today. I ask it in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

PS Don't forget to file your taxes! Or extensions!

CHURCHES FOR SALE

Good day dear friends.


Matt. 21:13 - "My house shall be called a House of prayer."

Some realty company discovered my email and sent me an email with the subject line just like the subject line for today's devotional: "Churches for Sale." I opened it to see what they were offering and more importantly, where. The first was Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Apparently, these guys and gals specialize in selling churches. I can think of nothing sadder in real estate than to sell a church. It says a lot without one knowing the full story, but the result is the same; this church is no longer able to function as a church, and we have no other option but to sell it.

In this week's conference newspaper, The Witness, there was a sad article about the Falfurrias church, El Buen Pastor UMC, that is closing its doors. No longer able to attract enough people to sustain it financially, the conference had no other option but to close its doors.

Jesus knew the day was coming when the very Temple that He had loved and cared for and even called a "house of prayer" would one day find itself with not one stone left upon another. He knew that His church would continue in other parts of the world, but the very Temple, symbol of worship and power, was destined to close at the hands of foreign powers that would close it down.

Could it be that churches have forgotten how to pray? And as a result of losing communication and contact with God, have forgotten to love? To reach out in Christian love to others? To share the Good News with a world that needs to hear? More importantly, have those people who make up the church, forgotten how to pray?

I say dear friend, that we can never forget to pray. We can never be too busy to lift up even a thought prayer to God about our needs and concerns along with a thought of thankfulness to God! God loves our prayers and God answers our prayers. We must be people of prayer!

It was a very moving ceremony yesterday morning as Kate McWhirt presented a prayer shawl to John Morrisett. Kate and some other ladies of the church, knit a shawl and all the while they are knitting, are praying for the person recommended by the pastors and staff of the church. As I told the congregation to receive a prayer shawl does not mean one is dying or going to face terrible situations, it simply means that because of some health issues and trials, their name has been lifted up to God in prayer. Rev. Jenna Heart who comes as the new pastor here in June is having a prayer shawl made just for her. If you know of someone who would benefit from a prayer shawl, please let me know.

PRAYER: God of living prayer, we thank You for listening to our prayers and concerns. Let me never be too busy to pray. And may the day never come when I believe I have forgotten to pray. I pray for my church and the needs it may have. May our doors always be open because of my prayers and love. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

ON LEAVING DEAR FRIENDS

Good day dear friends.

"I call you friends..." John 15:15

It is in knowing one is leaving that the hurts and joys of church members become deeper in my soul. I rejoice with those who are rejoicing in wonderful ways, but the burdens being carried by others hurt me deeper than before. I suppose it is the knowledge of knowing I won't be pastor for much longer and while I will still carry you in my hearts and prayers, it is not the same.

While we are praying today, please lift up Preston Connelly to your prayers. Preston is being moved to a special care unit as his Alzheimer's has become worse. He will stay at Merrill Gardens but may be separated from Doris. This has caused Doris great pain as you can imagine. As we pray prayers of thanksgiving, lift up the hearts (if they can get any higher!) of George and Bobbie Gilbert, who yesterday received a new great-grandchild into their lives.

The Lord Jesus as He taught His disciples spoke about servanthood and friendship. He Himself was a servant to God first, then to us as He ministered the new way of life we are to live, but He reached a point where He knew that the servant title of the disciples had to be expanded to include the title of friends.

Do you ever see your role as a friend as a special title in your life? Do you take being a good friend seriously? I know and love dear friends who would do anything for me. I know the ones I could call in the middle of the night and they would get up and come and help me. I also know the ones who I can share the deepest and most serious of secrets and they will go to their graves with them. What a blessing to have friends, and what a more awesome blessing to BE a good friend.

I would pray we would be the friends of Jesus today. And while being the friends of Jesus we would be the friends to those in need. Jesus knew it's easy to befriend and love those who befriend and love us; Jesus calls us to love everyone and be a friend to all.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the friend I have in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray that I might be your friend and a friend to all today. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

TAGGED

Good day dear friends.

Someone "tagged" our wooden fence that is located in our children's playground at church. Being wooden it lends itself to tagging, that is, the marking with graffiti. This one was done in chalk and I'm guessing it was by the hand of an older person, not a teen or a child. The tag reads, "HE LIVES!" Sunday, between services two little boys playing on the grass stopped when one of the boys saw it and pointed it out to his friend. Having been the first to spot it he read it to his friend, "HE LIVES!" The two just nodded and smiled, then went back to running and playing.

What in your life says HE LIVES? Are you a living "tag" for the risen Christ? Do people see in you the living Christ or are you a living Snopes? Snopes.com is the site one can check out the validity of those million forwards we get and send. Some of the emails contain the most precious stories of faith and warm feelings and someone will always "check it" at snopes.com and discover that it may have been a great story, but it just didn't happen.

He Lives is part of a great story that faith says did happen. It tell of God's power and ability to help us rise above our deepest challenges and setbacks, to higher ground and to higher living. He lives is an eternal story that will bless all who believe.

May your life be tagged today with the line that frees us all: HE LIVES!

PRAYER: God of life, thank You for Your power and ability to lift me above what I am facing today. I may be weeping and weak, but Your love and grace make me strong, strong enough to move forward. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

WHEN LIFE PAID DEATH A VISIT

Good day dear friends.

Again, our thanks for your prayers for our son-in-law, Eric Cortez, as he
recovers from
his appendectomy. He should be home this evening if all goes well. I know he
must be
doing good because he ate some barbecued chicken and ribs that I made for
Easter. That
was his biggest regret about being sick, he said, not being present for the
family BBQ!

Rev. Barbara Aziz is out of the hospital and I'm sure resting today after all of
her activities
at her church in Bishop, Texas. She was hospitalized with a bout of food
poisoning this
past week, but was out on Friday.

Yesterday we had a great time in church turning folks away from our eleven
o'clock
worship and sending them to our contemporary worship service. The sermon was
called
"When Life Paid Death a Visit," and I took folks on a tour of Eden and reminded
them that
through the first Adam, death paid life a visit, and it wasn't until the second
Adam, Jesus,
that life could pay death a visit. Ours is the victory as we trust God's desire
to be in
relationship with us and to walk with us all our lives.

We talked about our reluctance to talk about our own death and how Easter is
about our
trusting God that even in our death, God is with us and we have nothing to fear.

At our Good Friday service we had someone (maybe more than one) who said that
after all
these years the idea of forgiveness did not sink in until a service such as the
one we held.
It was very Wesleyan to hear someone say, I finally realized that Christ had
died for even
my sins!

Amen. And on Sunday, He rose again to give us complete victory over sin and
death!

PRAYER: Father, for lives touched and transformed, we give you thanks. May the
Resurrection Event be ours now and forever. Let my life touch others this day
and all days.
I pray in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Good day dear friends.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday.  In fact, it's the last game of the World Series.  It is the final game of the Final Four, the final game of the World Cup (most of the world participates in that!), and the last game of any championship game you want to compare it to.  It is Resurrection Sunday.  Easter to others.  Jesus rose from the dead.  It is the birthday of the Christian Church, it is the affirmation of life winning over death.

Name it what you will, God acted on your behalf and mine, to rid the world of sin and death.

What have you done about it?

Santa, The Easter Bunny, a man in distress

Good day dear friends.

I don't know if we can attribute this to March Madness or simply keeping Austin Weird, but it was on Saturday we were at Austin's Barton Creek Mall.  Our son-in-law, Eric, is a police officer in that sector of town.  We were making our way to the mall entrance to Sears (it's part of our ritual walk that takes us to Sears' yummy flat screen tv display), and I notice that there is what appears to be a tall, slender, homeless man, walking in the Sears entrance wearing only his tidy whiteys.  As I approach I notice he is wearing pants, but they're around his ankles.  It was then I notice that there was a display of what may have been Sears credit card applications thrown all around the floor and there were two mall security officers motioning all who approached to go through their upstairs entrance.  Our daughter Carli calls Eric to see if he is the officer that certainly has to be on the way.  Eric responds that there is a call from the mall but that another officer was responding to that call.  But being a cop he wants Carli to give him full details of the situation.  Carli covered the phone and said, "He's in Cop Mode!"  We laughed because we know the Cop Mode.  Eric is a happy-go-lucky guy when he's not in his uniform and on duty.  The first time I rode along with Eric it was in Galveston when he was on duty and I was surprised and amazed, and yes, impressed with the Eric I was riding with!  Back to the situation.  We stayed for a bit longer than I think the mall cops wanted and the Austin police did arrive soon there after, but we were being strongly encouraged to enter Sears from upstairs.  We moved upstairs. From there we could sit see the situation.  What makes this even stranger was that as I looked to see who had moved upstairs to continue viewing the situation, there was, I kid you not, a man with a Santa cap looking down.  I pointed that out to my family and as I turned my gaze towards Sears, the Easter Bunny came walking out of Sears.  Yes, the costumed guy who poses with kids for their Easter pictures came walking out and I remembered I was in Austin!

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we were so blessed to have such a great group of kids participating in the procession of palms.  So many kids waving their palm branches and a time for reflecting on what God did through Jesus during this week.  Yesterday's entrance was a culmination of all the events in which the rumored rabbi made his way into Jerusalem putting a face on the one who had done so many unexplainable things.  The sadness coming in knowing that most of the ones who shouted Hosanna on Friday cheered for Jesus' death.  The one question I had to posed to the congregation at 11 was:   If  a parade were held in your honor, how many people would line for you?  How many people have you touched during your life for the benefit of their faith?  

I also announced to all three services that Nellie and I are leaving San Marcos.  I will be the senior pastor at First UMC in Harlingen, Texas.  We have mixed feelings as we leave our grandbaby behind.  We would appreciate your prayers during this time of transition.  We also ask prayers for the new pastor who will be named publicly soon.

YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU BUT IT WILL MELT!

Good day dear friends.
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;Matt. 6:20
Part of our Lenten Journey should be about what we have received and what we should be giving. Many of you have "given up" something, say a daily cup of very expensive coffee or a soft drink. You have, no doubt, replaced it with a spiritual discipline in its place and you are being blessed. But where has that extra $3.45 or $1.09 gone?
Monday and Tuesday I attended the last Bishop's Convocation with Bishop Joel Martinez. He invited a couple of presenters to come and speak about re-igniting our ministries and on the last morning he himself presented his thoughts on the theme. It was the second presenter that spoke of stewardship and the line in the subject of this devotional thought. After years of ministry he reached the point where he would tell his congregation, "You can take it with you, but it will melt!" Think about it...here it comes. Did you get it?
Jesus said our treasures should be "stored up" in heaven, where nothing can destroy them; to try to hold on to our treasures is to live a life where heaven does not matter and to die with our money may make our money melt. (Those of you that still don't get this, please ask somebody!).
Okay, here it is: Are you storing up treasures in heaven or will you try to take it with you to the fires of hell?
PRAYER: Loving God, You have shown us how to live and how to give. You sent Jesus to further show us and to pay the price for our sinfulness. May we not take anything nor You for granted. Let me live a life that reflects heaven, not the place where we are aliented and separated from You for all eternity. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.

WHAT WOULD YOU PREPARE?

Good day dear friends.
Here is our text for today: 1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." (John 12 NRSV).
Entertaining guests for many is fun. For those who love to cook it is especially challenging to prepare the best you know how to prepare and with hopes that your guests will be surprised and delighted that they were invited to your home. Who your guest is makes a big difference in the kind of meal you prepare. If it is your family, it is special, but if your guest is your boss and you're wanting a promotion, that makes it a bit more special and stressful. But what if your guest was one who brought you back from the dead? Such was the case in this text up above; Jesus was in the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. I think they pulled out all the stops in preparing a meal that, I can't resist, was out of this world! Yet, here is the home where Jesus had been before and already there had been seen a difference between the two sisters. Martha was the cook and chief bottle washer. Mary was not so inclined to the kitchen as she was towards knowing more about the spiritual. On one visit, Martha asked Jesus to order Mary to go and help with household chores; Jesus replied that Mary was seeking that which was important. And now, Martha is again serving and making sure all the guests have their food and Mary wanders in with another chore in her heart.
Mary has brought in a pound of very costly perfume and began to anoint Jesus' feet with it and then dried it with her hair. This filled the house with the fragance of the perfume. I am sure Mary asked herself, "Is this enough? Have I done enough? How can I ever thank the man who talked to me about spiritual things and then brought my only brother back from the dead?" In her mind I think she knew she could never do enough.
We can never do enough for the man who has talked to us about spiritual things and who will raise our loved ones from the dead, ourselves included. But that does not mean we give up and just say, "Oh well, I can never do enough!" On the contrary it motivates us to do all we can, everything we possibly can, to show our love for God and for others.
PRAYER: Lord, I realize I can never do enough, but I will do what You would have me do. Let my life be an exercise in showing my gratitude for all You have done. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.