WHO WILL REACH THOSE YOU KNOW?

Good morning dear friends.

Here is my study guide for today: In the book of 1 Kings 3:4-15, a man is led by God to ask of God what he would. Please read the story and compare it to how you would have answered. This goes in line with the "if you found a genie and were granted one wish, what would it be?"

Here is that passage from 1 Kings 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." 15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.

Wasn't that a favorite game of yours as a child? The ole "If you found a bottle, you rubbed it and out came a genie and could grant you any wish, what would you wish?" We spent hours talking about that and if we played it on consecutive days our answers would always change. We would wish for money, cars, houses, A's on exams, etc. Even today a distorted form exists: If you won the lottery what would you do? The lottery is just about money. And how you throw away dollar after dollar.

In this passage this new king has a dream from God in which he is asked, not by a genie, but by God, "What would you wish for?" He could have easily asked for any of those things mentioned above, but he asked for wisdom to be a good king. Right answer! God was so pleased with this that He gave Solomon the gift of wisdom and as a bonus, riches, honor and if he kept the commandments, long life.

God offers us wisdom in James 1:5, "If any man lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him." What a precious gift is wisdom especially to know what it is God would have us do to go from being simply members in a church to truly God's servants (missionaries if you please) in serving others. Sunday I mentioned the day of us continually sending missionaries to other countries may be coming to an end, now other countries send missionaries here. Regardless, there will not be enough missionaries to reach those you know; God is counting on you to do it. Loving reach out. Or as the Bible says, "Go and tell!"

PRAYER: Loving God of all people, send me. Here I am. I have weaknesses, fear, shyness, doubt, and any number of things that I could easily hide behind when it comes to serving You, but today remove those and use me. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

YOUR ORDINATION AND COMMISSION

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today: The "Father of the Faith" is the man who said yes to God in moving from a familiar place to a new, unknown place. His story if found in Genesis 12. Make a list of things you would have found in your struggle with God’s leading vs. what you want, if you were this man.

Abraham is the man in question as is his wife, Sarah. Both were the Parents of the Faith as it were, because they both said yes to God. God's request came as a most difficult one for both. In verse one it reads, "Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."

I live in a part of the country where folks born and raise here may leave here for college or military service, but ultimately "come home." The saying is that once you drink Valley water you can't leave. For many, including these, the request from God would come as a difficult one. For me to leave my family, many would say, is just asking too much. In fact yesterday I spoke with a young woman who left the Valley to pursue her education and lived in the Dallas area for a number of years, but after some time of working and going to school, she and her husband decided to come home. She said she missed some of the things that Dallas offers, but quickly added, "It's nice to be near family." Yet, that was part of God's demand, "your kindred and your father's house," you are to leave. Ouch.

Jesus spoke of those willing to leave father and mother, etc. for the sake of the Kingdom and their recompense would be great. Such is the demand of faith: Go where God sends you and you will never be alone, and you will be blessed.

Where is God leading you? Outside your comfort zone? To a conversation with someone with whom you've never before or in a long time not spoken? God is with you and your "mission" may well be to talk about God and what God has done for and with you. Your baptism was your "ordination into ministry and one's commissioning as a missionary. Every baptized disciple has both a ministry to the Body and a mission to the world." (Leonard Sweet, "Not Your Father's Seminary," Rev magazine, March/April 2008 from http://www.leonardsweet.com/)

PRAYER: LORD, with the power you've vested in me, send me forth, even to the ends of the earth. I know I am never alone and I will be blessed. I do it not for the blessing but for the love I have for you. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

STRONG FAITH

Good day dear friends.

Please be in prayer for Kim Kowalski and family. Her husband, our brother in Christ Jesus, Jeff, died yesterday at home at about 1 p.m. Jeff always said he was given an additional twenty-five years as it was that long ago he was shot several time in the line of duty as a police officer in St. Louis. He should have died then according to doctors. This last battle was with cancer which claimed his life. Jeff is being returned to St. Louis where he will be remembered as one of the most decorated police officers in that city's history. Please pray for safe travel and for comfort and peace for his widow and family.

Please continue to pray for Richard Brotzman whose dad, Dean is buried today in Kerrville Funeral there is at 1 p.m.

Here is today's study guide:
The letters of Peter towards the end of the New Testament speak of a man whose faith never waned. Please find and read 1 Peter 5 and see what Peter wrote then and how it could bless you now.

Here is that text from 1 Peter 5:1 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it --not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 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. 12 Through Silva'nus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Peter has been "the man" this week. On Sunday we looked at his life and how he went from being a spectator to being a playmaker. This particular passage shares a perspective on life that benefits all who read it and believe it.

Peter believes 1) Elders (or pastors) should stay on task and do so with a humble servant's heart. 2) For others, we are all to live a life surrendered completely to God trusting God's will will be done. 3) We are not to be people of worry, God can take our cares away. 4) Live a life of discipline. 5) Be alert, know that we do have an enemy who seeks nothing more than to destroy us, or as Jesus said in John 10:10, "steal, kill, and destroy." 6) Resist temptation. 7) Stay strong in the faith. 8) Know that whatever suffering we may be facing, we are not alone. God is with us, and there are others who are going through the same thing. 9) Our suffering ends and God will restore, support, strengthen, and establish us.

PRAYER: Give me the faith of what Peter speaks. May I trust completely in You for all that I face. Thank You for being with us and I ask you be with those who are facing the same. Grant us wisdom, courage, peace, and patience; in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

COME AND SEE

Good day dear friends.

Please be in prayer for Richard Brotzman and his family as Richard's dad died yesterday in Kerrville, Texas. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Here is our study guide for today:

This past Sunday we looked closely at the life and ministry of Peter while a disciple. How did Peter’s life compare with the others? How does Peter’s life compare with yours? Have you taken brave, bold steps towards faithful service or Jesus or are you still in the shadows. Please read the story of another two brothers in Jesus’ service as found in John 1:43ff. Have you brought your brother/sister to Christ Jesus?

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Peter's life was different in some ways to the other eleven; yet he came to be known as the "Prince of the Disciples." Peter had a bold leadership style that made him among the most trusted, yet even that trust was, like in our lives, misplaced. Ultimately, Peter proved that the Lord had selected the right disciple.

Today's passage shares the calling of Philip by Jesus. Philip in turn, goes and calls his brother Nathanael to come to Jesus. Nate's a bit reluctant at first and then follows. In Time magazine this week there is a section called "Ten Questions" and the answerer is Alec Baldwin. One of the questions has to do with the radical conversion of his brother to Christianity and Alec's opinion of it. Alec responds that it can be a political one but that he is happy about his brother being devout now. How do your siblings feel about Jesus and your relationship with Him? Have you invited them to "come and see?"

PRAYER: Loving God, help me today live my life in a "come and see" mode, where my words, actions, and deeds help others know I am in relationship with You. Let me care enough for my brothers/sisters to help them "come and see" as well. I ask and pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

THE SUN BEYOND THE CLOUDS

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today: In the Old Testament in the Book of Esther, we find a brave woman who went from being a “bench warmer” to being truly a “Play-Maker.” Please make time to read this brief but powerful story about how God used this woman to save His people.

The story of Esther goes beyond a beautiful young lady winning a beauty contest. It is the story of faith and how her faith and that of her uncle saved the people of God. I doubt Esther ever dreamed she would become the co-ruler of her country and even that of being her people's savior. The story if filled with politics, racism, hatred, pride, etc. and teaches that in spite of all that we face, faith triumphs over all things.
May we have the faith of Esther as we live our daily lives.

PRAYER: Loving God, increase my faith. Let me be Your person in all things. May I see beyond the negative into the positive of faith. May I be patient to see the sun beyond the clouds. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF PRAYER

Good day dear friends.

As we pray this day, please be in prayer for these in need: Our brother Jeff Kowalski has taken a turn for the worse and needs our prayers. Please keep Kim his wife in your prayers as well. Our sister Joanne Kullin Smith also took a turn for the worse and was not expected to make it through the night. Please keep David her husband in prayer. Our sister Alma Lightly, Darlene Topp's mom, is set for a long surgery this morning.

Recovering nicely is Danielle Brandon who underwent an emergency appendectomy on Monday. All of these mentioned are at Valley Baptist Hospital.

PRAYER: Loving and Healing God, we turn to You in complete faith for unexplained healing. May You move with gentleness and wholeness in each person mentioned above as well as those we have in our hearts. May Your comfort bless those at those bedsides. As we have studied this week, let me be guided to glorifying You in all things. May our lives reflect the presence of Christ Jesus with us. We ask for Your mercy as we confess our sins. We pray this prayer in Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

e.v.

PS Please keep the ministers and professionals of the McAllen District in prayer as we travel to Falfurrias for our monthly meeting.

ME, WORK FOR THE LORD?

Good day dear friends.

As we pray this morning please be in prayer for Peg as she undergoes tests for breast cancer. Also, my wife Nellie, is undergoing a stress test today at 1 p.m.

A joy! My dad's electricity came on yesterday afternoon (Finally!) and he was most happy. Please continue to pray for those in Ike's path that still await electricity and other necessities.

For today we'll be reading Matthew 20:1-16. Here is that text from Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, "Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, "Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, "These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

In most big cities there are areas where day laborers can gather to await being hired for the day. Those needing workers will pull up, usually in a pickup truck, get out, explain what type of worker they are looking for, and most, if not all of those looking for work will hold up their hands and say, "Me! Me!" The person looking for the workers will choose those s/he believes will do the best work and chooses them and they pile into the back of the truck and off they drive. Times have not changed since Jesus' day. The parable told by Jesus spoke of those who needed work and the one who needed workers. The man needing workers hired a group at nine in the morning and off they went to work. He did the same at noon, at three o'clock and finally again at five. All hired to do the same work in the same vineyard. When it came time to pay them, all were paid the same. Those who were hired first at nine a.m. received the same pay as those hired at 12,3, and 5. By human standards that's not fair, as those nine o'clockers pointed out. In reality they were right; they had worked more hours and perhaps produced more than those hired at the other hours.

But Jesus' story was not about human pay, it was about the kingdom of heaven as he pointed out in verse one. God needs workers and will put to work those who want to work whether they come to Him at 9 years of age or 90 years young. To God it matters not the age of when we first believe but whether after our belief we started to work for Him or not. Our churches are full of those who have been sitting on the premises rather than standing on the promises, who have done nothing for God. Well, if you consider grumbling and griping, some do a lot... but for the good of the Kingdom of Heaven what have they done? More importantly, what have you done?
The very least we can do is to invite someone to come and be a part of our church family. It does not take a fancy invitation, rather a loving invitation to those without a church home to "come and check out my church." We may be surprised what blessings will be ours to enjoy as we see the changes in our lives and especially in the lives of those who do not yet know the Lord.

PRAYER: Loving God, may my days be spent doing good for the kingdom of Heaven. I ask You forgive me for the days I've done little or nothing. Help me to be the person You've called me to be. I ask this in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

LIFE IS SO GOOD!

Good day dear friends.

My thanks for your prayers for this weekend. Nellie and I had the privilege of worshiping with dear friends, Rev. Dr. Steven Sweet and his lovely wife, Rochelle in their church in Manchaca, Texas. While preaching there I saw old friends from San Marcos, a young lady who had been active all her life at El Mesias in Mission, now married and doing movies in Austin, presently shooting one for Lifetime, and a young lady active with my campus ministry when her dad was my district superintendent here in the Valley. It was a great time also seeing and spending some time with daughters and sons-in-law, and especially our grandbaby who now talks a lot in understandable words! While shopping, she saw some sandals wrapped in plastic and handed them to grandma and said, "Nice schwees! (her word for shoes)"

After we left the Austin area late, we traveled to Houston to check on my dad. Our prayers are still needed for that poor area. The traffic was heavy heading back into Houston. One indication it would be was our stop at Buccees, a very popular, always crowded gas station/super convenience store. Sunday it was packed with cars waiting to find a parking spot. The good thing we discovered as we exited to take Beltway 8, a toll road, was that tolls were not needed. The trip down that road showed many buildings whose windows were blown out and many neighborhoods with significant damage.

My dad is still without electricity, but having natural gas for hot water he has that and an ice chest filled with food and drinking water. He has a flashlight and a battery operated lamp for his bedroom. Huge power company trucks made their way down his street as we visited and we hope that's a sign that soon my dad will have his electricity restored. His home, thanks to the loving attention of my sister, brother, and brother-in-law has made his home look like it's been untouched. The neighbors are not so lucky. Their storage sheds look like crumpled paper and their trees are packed with limbs and otehr debris. Prayers for God to comfort and be with all who are still reeling from Hurricane Ike.

We left Houston at about 7 p.m. and drove straight home. We praise and thank God for a safe drive, although about 40 miles from home in that lonely stretch of land between Riviera and Raymondville we're in the left lane, cruise control set at 65, when out of nowhere we see a white calf in our lane! I step on the brakes enough to swerve out of the way, I'm able to correct it without flipping over and on we travel. The conversation got livelier especially as Nellie remembered her dad's tales about a mysterious white calf in these areas. The one thing he stressed to his nephews who lived on ranches, "Never follow a white calf at night." Great! We didn't turn back. We were too sleepy! Thank You, Lord for safe travel! We got home at about 12:30 and by 1:30 we were asleep.

My sermon in Manchaca was on Paul's dilemma as found in Philippians 1:21-20:

21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

I stressed that all of us should be so blessed: Having a great postive, faith-based outlook on life AND death. Paul knew Christ to be real so that made both his life and death things he didn't fear and in fact looked forward to. Living meant more opportunities to share Christ. Death would mean a reunion with Jesus. What's the problem he seems to ask?

We're the problem when we fear one or the other more than we should. Life is wonderful when lived in Christ (remember John 10:10: "I have come that they (that's you and me) might have life and that in abundance." I shared with them some intro thoughts on George Dawson's "Life is So Good" book that I recently started reading; he faced some of life's most awful challenges including not being able to read or write until he was 98 years old. Yes, ninety-eight, not a typo! And at 103 he, with the help of a newspaper reporter wrote the book. What's our atttitude having learned to read in first grade?

Death is a part of God's plan and a life lived in Christ never ends. Jesus' many promises about Heaven and life after life are found in John, look at chapter 11 and chapter 14; great teachings and promises about that great unknown that scares so many of us. Christ's desire is to have us with him thus His going to "prepare a place." What better thing to help us live life do we need?

PRAYER: God of the always new, make new my faith in You and in life and in that which comes after life. May each day bring me an opportunity to share You and when the days of opportunity end, and I find myself face to face with You, embrace me and welcome me. Life is so good and I want to live it in abundance. I pray all this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR MIDWEEK PRAYER

Good day dear friends.

As we have our daily prayer and devotions, please pray for Danny Burke, husband of Rev. Kim Burke of Buda UMC. Danny is undergoing hernia surgery this morning. We also request prayers for Ashley Furst who is undergoing labor; her blood pressure and that of the baby has gone very low and doctors were concerned. Ashley lives in El Paso. Also today Mrs. Rita Tanberg is undergoing a procedure here in Harlingen and we pray the Lord be with her and her husband Carl Lee Tanberg.

Please also pray for the family of Kathe Stewart; her funeral is this morning at Rudy Garza Funeral Home at 10 am. I will be officiating.

Here is our prayer guide: Our midweek day of prayer. Pray that God would help us and all who are facing difficult decisions.

PRAYER: Loving God of all life, we thank You for the precious gift of life. May we know that each day we have Your presence and guiding Spirit to help us in the difficult decisions that come our way. Guide us to making those that are for Your honor and glory. Lord, you have heard the prayers lifted up for those mentioned above and we place them in Your hands. May comfort, healing, joy, and wholeness come to each. Guide the doctors, surgeons, and nurses in their care of those we love. Above all things may You be glorified. We pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

PARENTS IN THE FAITH

Good day dear friends.

As you spend time in prayer today, please be in prayer for Nellie and I as we travel to Manchaca UMC this weekend. I will be preaching at that church at the very cordial and longstanding invitation of a dear friend and Christian brother, Dr. Steven Sweet. The sermon title is "The Bigger Dilemma" and it's based on life and death. Is that clue enough? Thank you for your prayers!

Here is today's study guide: Again in Genesis, chapter 12:1-5 we find the story of the “Father of the Faith.” Read these verses to discover why he’s called that.

Here is that text from Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan.
Abraham, not Adam, is considered the father of the faith. There are of course, several reasons, but the greatest is that Abraham made an important decision of faith at God's request. It was a most difficult request to leave his country and his family, especially his father's house to go to an unknown land. The promise was that God would make of him a great nation complete with blessings. Not an easy request for anyone of any age, but keep in mind that Abraham was 75 years old when this request came. The only sweat most of us want to have in those days is from 18 rounds of golf, a nice tennis match, or a victory at shuffleboard (I'm showing my age, aren't I?). A nice cold glass of Metamucil (in the olden days it would have been two tablespoons of Geritol), a stroll through the garden, then inside to watch The Price is Right. Not to uproot and leave! Yet, that was God's request.

What has God asked of you? Does it seem difficult if not impossible? Are you able to do it? Of course, you won't do it alone, you'll have God with you guiding you and using you, so what's holding you back? Our theme this entire week is making the God-decisions in all of our decisions. Not all are easy and yet all have consequences. What will you choose?

In many respects you and I are the fathers and mothers of faith for others whether we realize it or not. What are we showing by our parenting in the faith?

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to be a great father/mother in the faith to those who are looking upon me. May their decisions be made easier because they've seen me make mine trusting completely in you. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

FREE WILL:GOD'S GIFT

Good day dear friends.

For all of our non-Harlingen friends, today is Day Two of a Twenty-Day Prayer Commitment we've made to join our police chief, and other Christian communities to be in prayer against gang violence. Yes, Harlingen has a gang problem and our chief, thank God, is a man of faith and prayer, and realizes our prayers will help us win the war against violence. We also recognize the gang problem exists because of a breakdown in the home and we're praying for all families and each member, to step up to the plate to do their part in making their family strong. We're calling God to help fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, etc. to be more commited to loving each other and making each other feel a part of the family. Please join us pray against gang violence!

Here is our study guide for today: God created us with free will and that’s when all the trouble started! Read again Genesis 3: 1-7 and see where it all began. How would you have “played” it differently?

Here is that text from Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, "You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.' " 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, F11 knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Free will is a gift and it leads most of us to be curious. What will I miss out if I don't try this or don't do this, is what we usually say. As I mentioned in my sermon my hardest thing about losing weight is turning down different foods that I think, "If I don't take this now, I may never have this chance again!" The reality is that most of us eat about 80-90,000 meals in our life time, so the odds are great that if we turn down this piece of pie or cake, it will be offered to us again, usually really soon. The same is true about those temptations that cause us to fall from grace. We think we're not hurting anyone and no one will see us and then we go ahead and do just what we're not supposed to, and sadly realize that we've hurt many.

As Christians we're called to live our free will in making decisions that guide us closer to God and to each other, rather than the other way around. God loves us and gives us free will in the hopes we would make the right decisions about life, especially the eternity decision, that we would choose to spend eternity with Him rather than separated from Him.

PRAYER: God of free will and love, guide me in my understanding to make the choices and decisions that bless you. I ask this in Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF SERVICE

Good day dear friends.

As we seek to do God's will today, let us, besides prayer, do something
to bless someone. May our actions help those who feel defeated or down
on their luck. May we never think we are too good, too important, or
too busy to help. I read in today's paper that Tony Romo, the
quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, recently stitched up with 12
stitches from his victory Sunday, stopped (and he was the only one of
100s who zoomed by this family in need) to help a family patch up a
flat tire on a busy Dallas freeway.

Also, as you pray for those in the hurricane's path, remember this
request from Richard Waits, a longtime ConCafe reader from San
Antonio: "And pray for the crazy cellular tower technicians who are
heading that way to help keep phone service up...am I insane?"

No, Richard, you're brave and you're doing a vital job. May the Lord
watch over Richard and those like him staying behind to keep vital
services going.

Blessings,

e.v.

OUR MIDWEEK PRAYER

Loving God, I want the faith of those seventy "others" that You sent to minister to the world, appointed and anointed by You to do Your will. May my words today be only those of healing faith that help heal the hurts of the world. May my thoughts be Your thoughts guided by that which is noble, honorable, pure and praiseworthy. May my hands be instruments of peace and wholeness, helping, lifting and building that which is Yours. God, you know many await the coming of this storm in the Gulf but we do so with our prayers of faith solidly trusting in You. May You guide this storm to an area where we pray again, no one would be hurt and the damage would be minimal. Thus is our faith. We pray for the sick and those in hospitals and care centers that have been or might be uprooted for their safety. May their travel be safe, painless and guided by You.

I pray a blessing on Your church, Your servants, my family, my enemies and all the people of the world. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

PS You know this storm is serious, Friday night football have been moved to Thursday all over the Valley!

APPOINTED BY GOD

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today: In Luke 10 we find the call of 70 people to go and do the work of God. These were not the Disciples, but “others.” Please read from verse 1 to verse 24. What motivation can we Christians find in there for us?

Here is that passage from Luke 10: 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." 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

This week's sermon was called, "Put Me In, Coach." It's part of our WINNING series. The sermons have been about living life according to God's plan and purpose and this week's topic was about being prepared to respond well whenever called or given an opportunity to serve God.

You can almost see the joy of Jesus in this passage at the willingness of seventy folks to go and do His Father's will. Keep in mind these were not the twelve, but a group that followed Jesus as well. These were "appointed" by Jesus and given authority to go in great haste to do GOd's work. They were to go into towns and spread the message of God's love as well as to cure the sick. The purpose of that preaching mission was to share God's healing and wholeness. As wonderful as that is, Jesus knew that not everyone would be willing to hear God's word and so

He gave instructions on what to do with those people. Here you can hear the anger in Jesus' voice about those who are inhospitable towards God's servants. The outline of what awaits them is quite clear.

The seventy returned with great joy. What they did amazed even them. "Even the demons submit to us!" was part of their happy response. Jesus replies that He saw "Satan fall from heaven" a reference to the defeat that the enemy suffers when people do the will of God.

Ours is to serve the Lord in all times and in all ways. Ours is to be ready to be appointed and authorized to do God's bidding. Ours is to have the faith that with God with us, nothing, not even "demons" can stand in the way of God's victory.

PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your presence with us and for the "appointments" that come our way. Prepare us and use us. May all we do be done for You and for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

A HEART TO LOVE ALL

Good day dear friends.

I forgot to mention for your online pastors that if you click on this link you can find some sermon starters for this period in the Lectionary. Yours truly was asked by the UM Publishing House to write this and that was quite an honor.
http://www.umph.org/pdfs/circuitrider/ACPS003806PDF001.pdf

Here is our study guide for this week: In Acts 6:8ff, we find the sad story of Stephen, whom the Bible says was “full of grace and power, (and) did great wonders and signs among the people.” His faith was an example of a willingness to do what God had asked of him. How does your faith compare?

Here is that text from Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." 12 They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." 15 And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen's "success" or "winning secret" was 1) Knowing the Lord, 2) Listening to Him, 3) Being filled with the Holy Spirit, and 4) Doing God's will. The sad thing was here is a man of God doing God's work for all people and another "church" as it were (synagogue), "could not withstand the wisdome the Spirit with which he spoke." Imagine jealousy and envy in the church?? No way, right?? They decided they would silence him and so, like Jesus, came up with false accusations of his speaking against the house of God. Yet, even in the face of those accusations, verse 15 says "his face was like the face of an angel."

How many of us can stay and angelic in the face of lies and falsehoods against us and our ministry? Stephen never lost God's love for others because God had placed that love in his heart. And God will do the same for us if we ask. A famous pastor of a very large church once presented to another group of us and opened with, "You all think I have it made because I have this huge church and I've been the sole pastor all these years, but let me tell you, there is a group here that does not like me or what I say or do. And guess what they sit on the front pews of the church to remind me of their dislike, so every Sunday I pray this simple prayer as I walk from my seat to the pulpit, 'Lord, give me a heart to love these people.'"

Where do you feel less than appreciated? It is precisely there that you need to ask for God to share with you that which you need.

PRAYER: God of endless love, fill my heart for You, your people and myself. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

A GIANT OF FAITH FACING DAILY GIANTS

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

1 Samuel 17 is the most recognized story of size vs. faith. Please read the entire chapter and see what “giants” you can defeat with faith in God.

Here is that entire chapter: 1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah, and formed ranks against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 13 The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. 17 Jesse said to his son David, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers; 18 also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them." 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. 24 All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid. 25 The Israelites said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel." 26 David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 The people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." 28 His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David. He said, "Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle." 29 David said, "What have I done now? It was only a question." 30 He turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way; and the people answered him again as before. 31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul; and he sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, "Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 David said, "The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine." So Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you!" 38 Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David strapped Saul's sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them." So David removed them. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field." 45 But David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand." 48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 The troops of Israel and Judah rose up with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath F110 and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 The Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent. 55 When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." 56 The king said, "Inquire whose son the stripling is." 57 On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

The entire key of this chapter, if not the entire Bible, is faith. David had a most interesting and dangerous childhood. As a boy shepherd he encountered lions and bears and these he defeated because of his faith. I believe each day in the pasture, as someone once said, was preparing him for the palace. And the road to the palace went through the battlefield with this giant, Goliath. David was ready and he was victorious.

This Sunday I will be preaching on the preparation one receives while living life to face life. David's life prepared him for some of the toughest battles one could ever hope to NOT face, but through most of them, he used his faith to overcome and be a victor.
What "giant" are you facing? We all face giants every day. How we face them will determine our victory or defeat. If we face our giants with faith we can have an outcome unlike the one we even hoped to have.

PRAYER: Loving God, let me this day be a giant of faith as I face the giants in my life. Make my life an example of true faith. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

YOU ARE FROM GOD!

Good day dear friends.

As we prayed on Sunday and before and after, Hurricane Gustav did not directly hit New Orleans. Last night I heard though, of eight lives having been lost during this tragic storm, so please pray for the families of those victims.

Here is our study guide for today: i John 4:4-6 again speaks of how God’s people should view things in life, especially challenges. Read that passage and apply it to your life and your challenges.

Here is that passage from 1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

We are from God; what an awesome thought! Set in a context addressing spiritual forces of wickedness and evil, the next part of the verse addresses those, we, because of God, "have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

Being from God is enough, but add to it the knowledge that we are conquerors over evil, and that Christ Jesus who lives in us is greater than "the one who is in the world."

Now, what was it that you/I were facing? As Mr. T used to say, "I pity the fool (or fill in the blank of that which you are facing)!"

PRAYER: God of power and might, I celebrate being from You. I celebrate the victory that is mine in all things today. I can with Your help and presence overcome and conquer that which is troubling me. Help me to share that message with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

HAPPY LABOR DAY! DON'T LABOR TOO MUCH TODAY!

Good day dear friends.

I trust we are all still praying for our brothers and sistera long the Gulf Coast as Gustav bears down on them. Thank God Gustav came in as a Category 3 compared to what it was just a day or so ago.

Here is our study guide for today: In the OT book of Numbers, chapter 13, verses 30-33, we find a famous reference to attitude. Please read it and compare the two attitudes towards the enemy and the challenge they posed to God’s people. What would have been your attitude?

Here is that text from Numbers 13:30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we." 32 So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. 33 There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

Two attitudes from two groups. Is that something new? No, of course not. One's attitude is shaped by many things as I shared yesterday in my sermon. Fear is a great thing and can cause our response to many things. But so can faith. That was the major difference between Caleb and "the men who had gone up with (Caleb)" to assess the potential danger between the Israelites and their enemy. Do you notice the difference between facing something with fear and facing it with faith?

PRAYER: Loving God, fill my heart, mind, spirit, and body with faith. May it be faith in You that overcomes all fear. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

IT'S OUR CHOICE!

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

John 10:10 comes in the midst of an interesting declaration Jesus is making about His “I Am” statements to the disciples. Please read that chapter and see how it speaks to your life.

Here is that chapter, it's only 42 verses long!
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" 21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? 35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

John's gospel contains Jesus' famous "I Am's," which were declarations about Who He was and what He offered. His I Am's are promises that we can bank on. They all offer to us some spiritual hope and strength that without them we would be lost.

As you read the chapter did you jot down each of the promises? Notice how they lead us to that favorite verse of mine and many, verse 10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Ours is a promise of life after we see what "the thief" offers. His is not any promise of goodness, it's a certainty of personal destruction. It's our choice! What will you choose?

PRAYER: Loving Father, I choose life and its fullness for myself. I wish I could ask it for all of those under my care, but I know they must each make that decision. I pray that Your spirit would move among them to touch them and move them closer to making that decision for themselves. I ask forgiveness of my sins and those things that serve only to "steal, kill, and destroy" and ask again only for life beyond existing, life in abundance. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

SLAVES NO MORE!

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:
tuesday Have you found yourself a “slave” to something? Jesus addressed slavery to sin in John 8:31ff. Jesus also said “the truth shall make you free.” Can the “truth” about your “slavery” make you free?

Here is that passage from John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

Sunday I also mentioned John 10:10 about Jesus' promise of the fulness of life, and that came after Jesus talked about "the thief" and how he has come to "steal, kill, and destroy." A logical order of those things in our lives that we know are harmful and that we should not be doing. I mentioned drug addiction, an addiction to smoking, alcoholism, etc. Those habits or vices steal from us the fullness of life; they can also kill and our death will destroy our families.

What is it that you know is harming your life? Jesus said that sin can enslave us but through His teachings, through His love, through our surrender to His will, we can become free. What a wonderful promise to add to the fullness of our lives. We are not meant to live as slaves, we're meant to live as free people.

PRAYER: Lord of Life, I thank You for the freedom and the fulllness of life we find in You and Your Son, Christ Jesus. Bring to my life that fullness that will bless You and Yours. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

NIC AT NIGHT CAME TO LIGHT

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

monday There’s been thousands of years discussion on the “new birth” offered to Nicodemus in John 3:1-8. Some have called it being “born again” others, “born anew,” and “born from above.” What do you call it and have you experienced it? Do you believe it is necessary for your spiritual life? Why or why not?

Here is that text: 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

I call Nic's encounter with Jesus a salvation experience. I truly believe Nicodemus became a "Christian" because he came to fullness of life because of that nighttime visit with Jesus. Evangelist Luis Palau tells of his nighttime experience as a youth at a camp where one of the adult leaders asked him at night about his relationship with Jesus and taught him the way to salvation. Reverend Jose Luis Palos, of the Rio Grande Conference and a mentor of mine, tells of the night at FUMC-Harlingen at a crusade were Sir Alan Walker of Australia was preaching and Joe came to a relationship with Jesus because of that night time encounter with the living Lord.
Being born again means having your spirit born from above. You give in to The Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide your every move and moment. You are no longer guided by the things of earth. You surrender your sins to the Lord, He removes them, and you truly become a new person.

Is being born again necessary? Can you give up breathing and still live? Yes, it is very necessary. It is a life-saving, life-changing experience. You'll be the better for it.

PRAYER: Loving God of love, I thank You for Jesus and for His invitation to me to be one of Your children. I pray that I might indeed be born anew to You and the things that are Yours. Help me to be in the world as one who knows and follows You. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Good day dear friends.

I thank God for safe travel as I returned home from Nashville, where we had a great training session for board of ordained ministry chairs and registrars.

Today is our midweek day of prayer and here is the study guide's recommendation for us: Our midweek day of prayer. Pray that any negativity in your might go into God’s hands and instead you would receive a positive spirit for life, for family, for work, for church, etc.

PRAYER: Loving God of all life, joy, and hope, fill my heart with those. As I pray I pray that all and anything negative in me might find a better home in those reaches of existence where no one lives. Fill me with life as I continue in the land of the living. Make me see things with Your eyes, that I might see the potential and power of Your presence in others, in me and in the things You've called me to do. Let me see my family with more love, beyond what I've considered faults or shortcomings. May they see the same in me. In my work, let me work as though life depended on what I do. If I am unhappy or uncertain as to where I should be in my vocation, speak to me and lead me to where I can best serve. For my church, may the Holy Spirit come and reign in every heart and soul. I pray for all pastors, including mine, that they might continue to follow You with faithfulness. This I ask in the Name of He who is life, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

FROM THE DOUBT SPACE TO THE FAITH SPACE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday I sent, or tried to send, the daily ConCafe via my phone but alas it is wandering somewhere in CyberSpace. Yahoogroups is hot on its trail but I am making no promises of its finding its way to you. I apologize for that.

Our theme for Sunday, yesterday (take my word for it!) and today was CNN, the Cranky Negative Naysayers that we sometimes find ourselves being. Sometimes that involves our doubt and for today we use this study guide:
Let’s remind ourselves why Thomas was called “the doubter.” You’ll find this in John 20:19-31.

Read that slowly and carefully.

Here is that text:

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

Would you have reacted differently? Thank history it was Thomas who was known as Doubting Thomas and not Doubting Eradio or Doubting Nellie or (fill in your name). The truth is that sometimes we do find ourselves doubting. It may not be a major crisis of faith but we ask, "How am I going to pay that bill?" or "Will this spot on the exam turn out to be cancer?" And it's quite normal to have those questions until we turn back to the Lord who promised to see us through all that we face.

PRAYER: Loving God lift me from the doubting space to the faith space. Let my faith help others today. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF SERVICE

Good day dear friends.

Today is our day of service. Here is the recommended service guide:

A day of service. Give of yourself to day. Be God’s voice to those who have not yet heard.

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

GOD OF LIFE

Good day dear friends.

Our thanks for your prayers for Arnie Burttschell as he continues to hold steady. Please continue to pray for Arnie, his wife, child and child-on-the-way.

Here is our study guide for today:

In Acts chapter 9 the story of Saul’s conversion says a lot about what God is able to do.

Remember who Saul was and who Paul became! Do you think God can do that in your life as well?

Here is a part of the Acts 9 passage: In Acts chapter 9 the story of Saul’s conversion says a lot about what God is able to do. Remember who Saul was and who Paul became! Do you think God can do that in your life as well?

Our theme this week has been on God's ability to have people come to know Him and His love. It is the duty and joy of every Christian to give witness to God and what God can do for one's life.

Imagine a life that's well-connected, successful, influential, and meaningful; then imagine having an encounter with the living God who challenges all that you've held sacred and special and reveals to you life, and life's greater meaning. Such was the case of Saul of Tarsus who has such an encounter in Acts 9.

God has incredible power to change those who ask. Sometimes, even in the case of Saul, even when you don't ask! God is a God of wonderful and awesome surprises! God will use us when we can serve Him by helping others come to a new understanding of God's saving love.

PRAYER: God of power and life, speak to my heart in ways that help me give witness to You. Help me share with others that which can bring true life to those who are lost. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

WALKING IN THE SHADOW OF GOD

Good day dear friends.

I thank you all for your prayers for Arnie Burtschell; Daryl saysArnie is in stable condition but worries remain about blood on thebrain, a punctured lung, two broken ribs. Arnie was a cyclist hit bya Suburban in Monterrey, California.

Also, I ask prayers for the family of Willie Rodriguez, a longtimemember of La Trinidad UMC in San Antonio. Willie died yesterday.

Here is our study guide from yesterday (Sorry I did not have time toshare a devotional): David had a faith about God's strength, power,and presence. Part of what we are called to do has a lot to do withthe way we respond. Where are you?

In Psalm 91 we find that faith mentioned, and honestly, most of thePsalms of songs of faith:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in theshadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and myfortress; my God, in whom I trust." 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will findrefuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High yourhabitation, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near yourtent. 11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you inall your ways.

Recently I was at the bedside of a man recovering from open heartsurgery and in the midst of his pain he asked if I could read to himfrom this Psalm. Tears of joy and comfort flowed from his eyes as heheard this reassuring words. Look again at all the words and focuson the strength and protection David felt God offers to allwho "dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in shadow of theAlmighty." Do you remember days of walking with your mom or dad,seeing their shadow on the ground and knowing that no one noranything could harm you because you were with them? The same andmore so is true as we walk in faith with God.

PRAYER: Loving God we thank You for always being with us. Guide us and strengthen us. Let us live a life of faith. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

A LIFE OF FULFILLMENT

Good day dear friends.

Here is our study guide for today:

Early in Matthew’s Gospel (4:9ff) Jesus said, “I will make you fisher of persons” to the disciples. This was part of His invitation to them. How would you have reacted to such an invitation?

It is never easy to say yes to God and God's invitation in our lives. A careful reading of the lives of the prophets and their positive response to God resulted in some incredibly difficult but fulfilling times for their lives. That's the benefit of saying yes to God, accepting a life of fulfillment and meaning. In yesterday's sermon I shared the Four Spiritual Laws and their use in years back and the first law said basically, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." That's an invitation or at least part of one. To say yes to God's love and God's plan for your life is to say yes to the beginning of a life filled with meaning and purpose.

An honest response to the question of how would we have reacted to an invitation would probably be one of skepticism. "You want me to do what? Right now?" Scholars believe the disciples reacted positively and almost immediately because they had already been exposed to the gospel through John. Some even say that these first disciples may have been among John the Baptist's disciples, thus an invitation from "the Master" was one they could not refuse. If that is true, then it follows that the more we know Jesus and seek to know Him, the easier it becomes to say yes to whatever invitation He may make of our lives.

The points I shared from John 21 and the Resurrection Fishing Story is that the disciples 1) looked to Jesus, 2) they listened to Jesus, 3) were led by Jesus and 4) saw the "fire" lit in anticipation of their success. The same is true for us. If we know and love Jesus, we will look, listen, be led and celebrate in our spirits with all that Jesus will offer to us.

PRAYER: Come, God of invitation to my life. Let me look to you. Let me listen to you and let me be led by you. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Good day dear friends.

Our thanks to the Lord for the great turnout yesterday at our first Men's Breakfast. We hadn't had one in years here at FUMC-Harlingen and this is one of the things that we needed to start again, so thank the Lord we had about twenty guys at the first one. Our next one is Sept 3rd and the menu will feature homemade tortillas, chorizo & egg, and bacon and egg entrees. All men over the age of 18 are invited!

Here is our study guide for today: In Matthew 9:27-31, we find yet another reference to a miraculous healing. Two blind men this time. Please read this and see what Jesus was doing and can still do for our spiritual blindness.

Here is that text: Matthew 9:As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." 31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

Our theme this week has been the light of the world and blindness to it. Today's story tells of two men without sight seeking healing from Jesus. Jesus' fame as a healer had spread throughout the region and as they heard him coming near, they cried out loudly. This, they figured, might be our only chance to receive healing. They followed Jesus into a house and Jesus asked them a question about their faith in Him, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They reply, "Yes, Lord." No mud this time, Jesus' touch upon their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." They were no longer blind. And the interesting part is Jesus telling them to tell no one. And verse 31 says they did the opposite.

Jesus still opens the eyes of those in need. Our spiritual blindness to the way God can work around us, in us, through us, and in spite of us, helps us miss out on so much. Jesus can open your eyes. What a great message of hope that provided to these men in the Matthew story, and what a great message it can provide to those who need to hear that their spiritual blindness can be taken away.

PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes and let me see, glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; let me see the wonder of all You are doing and can do. Take away any blindness that I may have, and let me, like those grateful two, go and tell others. I pray in the Name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

THE NBC CHURCH

Good day dear friends.

This past Sunday we started a new sermon series called T.V. It stands for "Totally Visionary," and it's geared to help the Church remember what we're called to be. The entire series is based on the Gospel of John, and our plan was to hand out copies of the Gospel so that members could have them during the series and after the series pass it on to others who might not have yet read the Gospel. Being a "TV" series we decided we would "visit" channels and the first one we visited was "NBC." New Believing Christians is NBC for us, and the story of the blind man from chapter 9 served as our text. His healing and his interaction with his "church" allowed him to be among the first to say, "I believe," and become a believer in Christ. Think about all that he suffered:

He was born blind. As a result he could not work and so he had to beg to have a living. He may have become a nuisance to his neighbors and those who had to pass him by day after day.

He was healed by Jesus in an unusual way. Rather than just saying the word and having him healed, Jesus made a mud pack to place on his eyes, using his own spit. The mud then had to be washed in the Pool of Siloam, which means "Sent." His healing does not cause great widespread celebration to happen. The neighbors refuse to believe it happened, some even saying it was not the same man. His parents don't know what to do, and the "church" well, the leaders had their own opinions of what to do.

His healing caused him to lose his church. The man is brought before the synagogue to be declared healed. His healing had happened on a Sabbath, so that from the start puts the man's membership in the synagogue in jeopardy. The man is questioned, if you can call it that; more like he was put on trial. And this wasn't considered work on the Sabbath? His parents are brought to answer questions: Is this your son? Was he really born blind? How did he get healed? Finally, the church throws the man out.

No declaration of healing, no rejoicing in the community of faith, only the pink slip to leave once and for all. In fact, the man is ridiculed for being a disciple even though he was not yet one. The man in frustration does ask, "Do you want to be his disciples?" They reply they're disciples of Moses, through whom God spoke, but didn't know who sent Jesus. The man replies, "This man opened my eyes and you don't know who sent him?" In other words, if God was not with this man, how could he possibly do an impossible thing?

He joins the "new" church, the church of those who believe Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus visits the man after his ex-communication and asks him about his faith. The man replies that he will follow whoever healed him, Jesus said, that would be me, and the man believes and worships Him.

NBC is what the church should be about: Having programs, events, ministries, etc. where folks can come to Jesus Christ and start having a relationship with Him. I discovered at Jurisdictional Conference that First UMC-Harlingen, years ago, invited The Reverend (later Sir) Alan Walker, a noted Australian Methodist evangelist, to come and preach. It was during that revival event that a man who has had an impact on my life, The Reverend Jose Luis Palos of the Rio Grande Conference, came into faith with Jesus Christ.

A sad thing that I've heard over the years in churches that I've served is that many have had Jesus-encounters outside the UM church. That should not be. We are the heirs of a great revival, we are the heirs of a movement that started before this nation even started and we moved westward with the nation, providing Jesus, and education, and hospitals, and schools, and community centers and the like, all for sharing God's love in our land.

What to do? Look for Jesus in all that your church offers. If you don't already have a relationship with Jesus, get one! It is so simple: As you pray, and you can do this in silence, ask God to forgive you of your sins and say to God that you're turning away from those sins. Then invite Jesus into your heart and the relationship will begin.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I confess I am a sinner and I stand in the need of Your grace. Forgive me and give me strength to turn away from my sins. I invite Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior and I want to walk with Him and have a relationship with Him. Let me give glory to you by the way that I walk with you. I ask this in Jesus Christ's precious Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.

OUR DAY OF SERVICE

Good day dear friends.

Early this morning, Dr. Howard Yeargen of San Marcos suffered a stroke and died. Howard had taught in Kingsville at A&I and then made his way to Southwest Texas/Texas State University, and was very active at First UMC. Just two Sundays ago after Jurisdictional Conference, we saw Howard accompany his precious granddaughter in some musical presentations. Howard played piano and his granddaughter played the violin. It was a wonderful sight seeing grandpa and granddaughter praising God in that way. Howard had been battling cancer for some time.

Sam Martinez and his mother, Gloria, both underwent surgery yesterday. Gloria underwent emergency gall bladder surgery and Sam had a corrective procedure done. Both were to spend the night at the Renaissance Hospital in McAllen, TX.

Friday is our day of service. Witnessing has been our theme for the week and no better day than today to get out there and share something with someone about your faith. Ask God to guide you in where and how and don't be like Lucy in Peanuts; an old strip of Charles Shultz shows Lucy talking with Charlie Brown and she says, "I could be a great evangelist." Charlie asks how she knows and she replies that she convinced the boy behind her that her religion was better than his. "How did you do that?" Charlie innocently asks to which Lucy replied, "I hit him with my lunch box!"

Leave your lunch box at home and just let God use you in a way that shows the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Loving God, bathe me in your light today. Let me go forth following Your lead and direction as I seek to share my faith. If necessary, give me the words I should use to share how I believe, but mostly use my actions to show that I have Your love, joy, and peace in my heart. Bless the Yeargan family and continue to bring Your healing touch to Sam and Gloria. I pray this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.