Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

The Centrality of Christ to our faith

From Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. 21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25 I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

I had such fun on youth trips as a youth. It was always an adventure to leave home with kids my age to go to another town or city for a district or conference retreat or gathering. And on one such trip, our president, an older girl, said, "Now remember, the first rule is to follow all the rules. Rule number two is to follow rule number one!" And we all laughed. She went on to explain that one of her teachers had once shared in one of her classes and that has always stayed with me as I'm sure with her.

This is Paul saying the same, Jesus is central to our faith. We cannot forget Who and What Jesus is to us. We have before us a wonderful list of just Who our savior is. The first is that Jesus represented in visible form the invisible God. Jesus was the first born of all creation. We affirm that in Jesus all things created, both in heaven and on earth were created. Yes, including those things we have not yet seen on this realm. And that includes all who are in authority through all the ages, including kings and rulers of power. They were created by Him and for Him. Jesus is the head of the church. His life showed that through Jesus we have victory over sin and especially over death, thus Jesus' being known as the "firstborn from the dead." And this comes to serve as the reason we should place Jesus in first place in all things, especially our lives. The person of Jesus was for humanity an understanding of the complete God, serving to bring about reconciliation with us and God. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross is what should bring us peace from the things that used to disturb us. All who have been separated from God should find in Jesus that invitation back to the fulness of life. No matter our sin, we are always welcome back. Jesus came and continues to serve as He who can wash us of our sins and uncleanness to make us "holy and blameless" before God. The Gospel should be our anchor in our faith, the root of our hopefulness. And the Gospel should be shared with all people (Paul says "every creature under heaven"). And Paul closes this section by stating again the reason why he is a servant of the gospel and why the sufferings he has endured count as nothing compared to what is coming. He knew he and we need to make God better known and accepted, using whatever method we can to reach all. The goal, according to Paul, is for one day we can "present everyone mature in Christ."

Examine your life and tell yourself honestly what is the "main thing" thus far. I know we have a list of main things and if it's not Jesus, then here's our task; make Jesus the main thing. Everything else, honestly, will pale in comparison.

PRAYER: Dear God, I borrow the word of a precious hymn as my prayer. "Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclapse and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine. Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere; Open my heart and let me prepare love with Thy children thus to share." This I ask in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Sinful Times Are Sorrowful Times

Being Intentionally Apart from God is Never a Good Idea

Let us hear from the prophet Amos these words in chapter 8: 1 This is what the Lord God showed me—a basket of summer fruit. 2 He said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the Lord said to me, "The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by. 3 The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day," says the Lord God; "the dead bodies shall be many, cast out in every place. Be silent!" 4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, 5 saying, "When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, 6 buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat." 7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. 8 Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who lives in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt? 9 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day. 11 The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.

The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and we know that death brings with it mourning and wailing. In the same way to live an intentionally sinful life is to invite sorrowful times to accompany us. Pity the poor prophet, who as God's "mouth piece" had to speak God's hard truth to a hard-hearted people, the people of Israel. They were not being compared to a basket of summer fruit, about to spoil from its ripeness, and the message is clear, Israel's days with God were almost over, not by God's intention but by Israel's unfaithfulness and disobedience. The picture that follows is a sad one; instead of praise songs being sung in the temple, the sound of wailing will take their place. Dead bodies will litter the streets and silence will follow. Their sin? Abusing the needy and bringing even further ruin to the poor; not what God desires in our relationship with God and God's people. Prophetic imagery continues; sun going down at noon, darkness in the sky during daylight hours, feasts of mourning instead of celebration, songs becoming crying sessions. The dress of the day will be the dress of those mourning, sackcloth and ashes and shaved heads. And God says that a great famine will come upon the earth, not a physical one, but one for the Word of God. And in their search for it, they will go from here to there and there to here and not find it.

God has given us free will and we're free to be apart from God, but given what we know or should know, why make that choice? We remember Joshua's sermon on that day before the people of Israel crossed the Jordan into the promised land and he said plainly, we have a choice between blessings and curses, life and death; choose life! (Deut. 30:19). To choose to live a life of sin is to choose to be away from God and it is a choosing to invite sorrow to come your way as well. And there will come a point where you will die spiritually and it will seem like there is no resurrection possible for you. But, we know that is not true; as long as you are alive and breathing, you can return to God no matter your sin. God's grace and love will take that sin away from you and God will make you new. We can only imagine what it was like for those who experienced that famine of wanting to hear about God but could not, for it was no where to be found. We take for granted the resources and freedoms we have, and choose not to hear and not to believe; what would happen if one day those resources were taken away from us? Can you imagine a country where Sunday schools no longer exited? Can you imagine not being able to own your own Bible? Can you imagine not being able to hear a Christian sermon because they were outlawed and to preach or hear a sermon could mean you losing your life? May we instead choose to feast on what is ours now.

PRAYER: Loving God, use me to reach those who have chosen to be away from God. Help us realize the feast that is set before us, yet we choose to starve. May it not be so; may we seek You and Your word in all times and may we lovingly and freely share it with others. This is our prayer; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Other Half...

"The rest of the story."

We read from Psalm 52: 1 Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long 2 you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. (Selah) 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah) 6 The righteous will see, and fear, and will laugh at the evildoer, saying, 7 "See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!" 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good.

At first reading, this psalm is disturbing. You wonder, who is the "mighty one" and what mischief has he done? To the commentary. As we read an account of David's life in 1 Samuel 22, we find the story of Saul's hatred to David expressed through his followers. Doeg was one such follower, a commander of Saul's army who killed 85 of the Lord's priests because they had helped David. It was when David heard of this slaughter that he wrote this psalm. He spares no words to describe how evil this man was and the anger that David feels towards him. His motivation was money and Saul spared nothing in giving Doeg a lot of money for obeying him. David's anger is fueled by that knowledge as well. He said, like many of us do, Your day is coming.

But David knows that he should stay faithful to the One in Whom he believes. Verse 8 is a key verse for many, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." David's faith was not easily shaken by the actions taken by Saul and his followers. They revealed their hearts in doing things that were wicked in the eyes of God, but it did not faze them. We sometimes see that and we're tempted to do either things against those or to do the same thing; David knew that we should stay faithful in our beliefs and not drop down to their level. "You may be rich, but you're evil; and the day is coming when you will pay for your evil deeds and you will lose all your money." David chooses to thank God not only as he writes, but "forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim Your name, for it is good."

This psalm calls us to take stock of where and who we are. It is an invitation to come back to, or stay with, God. It is a call to reaffirm our faith and to share our faith; for there are many who wonder why about so many things, and this speaks to the good we find in thanking God in all things, no matter the circumstances.

PRAYER: Loving God, as I start this day, I thank You for all that You have shared with me. I thank You for allowing me to believe in You and I pray that I not shy away from chances to share with others that faith and love You have shared with me. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Eternal Life Depends On My Neighbor?

It's as simple as crossing the street

From Luke 10: 25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

What is it about lawyers and questions on eternal life? Most of us know the precious and powerful story. Jesus is asked by a lawyer about "inheriting" eternal life. Jesus liked to respond with questions, so He asks, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" Jesus knew that at least the heart of this lawyer had heard the law and so the lawyer responds with the Great Commandment, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, "You nailed it, now, just live it!" The lawyer knew that part one he had probably kept, but worried about part two, that neighbor bit. "And who is my neighbor?" He asks this, the Bible says "wanting to justify himself."

Jesus shares this story that is still happening today. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and got mugged in the process. He was robbed of his money, they even took his clothes, beat him, and left him almost dead. Jesus continued, a priest happened to be walking down that same road. The lawyer probably thought, what luck! A priest to help him! But this priest, upon seeing the man, crossed the road and continued walking on the other side. Then, Jesus said, here comes a Levite, a member of a royal lineage of Israel, rich historical ties to worship and leadership; but this Levite also crosses the street. Hmm, must have thought the lawyer, what could Jesus possibly be getting at?

It was, Jesus continued, a Samaritan, one from whom you would expect nothing positive towards Jews, who actually saw this man (keep that word saw in your mind), had pity on him and stopped to help. He bandaged this injured man's wounds, having dressed them with oil and wine, then put the man on his own animal, took him to a hotel and took care of him, meaning he spent the night keeping watch over him. On the next day this Samaritan takes two days wages and gives them to the innkeeper with orders to care for the man. The Samaritan also promises to return and cover any additional expenses that were incurred in the care and healing of this man.

Jesus asks, Which of these three was a neighbor to the injured man? The lawyer wisely replies, "The one who showed mercy." You nailed it, young man, now go live that way.

We sometimes choose not to see some of our neighbors. Remember that word saw? The first two of those who walked by the man hid from their vision and their hearts, the presence of need in this man. The Good Samaritan not only saw but acted on the need of this man. He was the good neighbor. We heard last year the prayer of a Florida church that asks God to send to them, "Those that nobody else wants nor sees." I wonder why they pray that? It's because so many of those of us from whom aid is expected have blind ears and hard hearts to truly helping the needs around us. We are afraid to cross the street, especially if our church is located in a transitioning neighborhood. We strive to keep it our exclusive enclave where we can continue worship in our way not realizing we are not worshiping God but our traditions and rituals. We sometimes don't want to cross the aisle to greet others. I served a church where I would invite folks to cross the aisle during the time of greeting, only to be told by one member that they would not arrive in church until after that time, because they did not like to greet others.

Eternal life does depend on our neighbors and how we as individuals and as churches, responded to the needs of our neighbor. As we drive into our church's neighborhood, do we become blind to the houses immediately across the street? Do we turn a deaf ear to the languages now being spoken that are not English? And do we try to reach them and invite them to be a part of our community?

We have a lot to still to do.

PRAYER: Gracious God, thank You for this powerful story about mercy and compassion. Help me to live it in a way that says all people are my neighbor and that I will do whatever it takes to care for them; not out of obligation but out of that same love I am to have towards You. I pray this, needing the help of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Caring for Each Other Through Prayer

We can and should recapture the power of prayer!

From Colossians 1: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7 This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant.He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabledyou to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

There is a cartoon strip that shows a man approaching another man and the first man's thought balloon shows him thinking, "Here comes someone I said I would be praying for, and I forgot! Lord, bless this man!" And in the second frame the "praying man" says, "I've been praying for you!" Sadly, we have been there. We are asked for prayer and we respond, Yes, I will pray, and then the stress and pressures of life come in and we forget.

This passage shows the dedication of Paul to truly engage in prayer for one another and how he encouraged others to join in the prayer ministry lifted up for those early believers. As he writes to the sisters and brothers of Colossae, he is sharing the joy he has felt in knowing that these prayers have been answered and the people at the church in Colossae have been faithful in "bearing fruit" for God's work among them. Can you imagine what would happen in your faith community if you prayed like Paul and Paul's friends?

Taking a closer look at what Paul is sharing about prayer we see the depth of caring and understanding he possessed about the needs of those for whom he was praying; He prayed that God grant them grace and peace. He offered up a prayer of thanksgiving for this other church (Compare to some churches today who seem to be in competition with each other!). He thanks God for the strong faith they have and because of that the hope that stored up in heaven. He is thankful that the gospel is bearing fruit among them and throughout the world. He is thankful for the work of Epaphras, who seemed to have been their pastor, and how Epaphras shared about their faith with Paul and others. Paul prays that God's wisdom and knowledge be theirs; that they live lives worthy of the Lord, seeking to please Him and bear even more fruit. He prays that more strength come to them so that whatever challenges or problems may come their way they can endure with patience. And above all for them to be a thankful people, giving God thanks for all things. And a reminder is shared about that which has come to them and us, redemption and the forgiveness of sin.

What will happen when we pray these things for our faith community and those other faith communities in our towns and cities? Why don't we find out?

PRAYER: As I pray today, dear God, I pray for my church and for what we have yet to do. Bless us to reach that which You have set before us to grow Your Kingdom. I pray for the other churches in our neighborhood and for churches and church leaders around the world. We've yet much to do, but with Your grace and strength we shall bear fruit. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Upright and Accurate?

Who Keeps Moving the Line?

From Amos 7: 7 This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; 9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword." 10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said, "Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.' " 12 And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." 14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'

Amaziah had his dream appointment. Senior pastor at the church of Let It All Hang Out and Chaplain to the Royal Family. He preached his theology and interpretation of If It Feels Good, Do It! (I think he invented that phrase) and set aside what God had shared with both the nation and himself. Amaziah took his church far away from the starting line that Isaac had shared with the nation. It was a religion that did not resemble one devoted and dedicated to God. Thus the plumb line. On the other side of town, on a farm, lived Amos, a spokesperson for God. After having received two visions about the spiritual needs of Israel, he receives this third vision of a plumb line measuring the uprightness and accuracy of the spiritual foundations of Israel. And it was out of whack. God says that all of what Amaziah had done would soon come to an end as would the kingdom of Jeroboam, and this in a violent way. As soon as Amaziah heard about this he confronts the king with the news saying that Amos was a trouble-maker and needed to be removed. He then goes and tells Amos that he should get out of there and move to the land of Judah, because his preaching was troubling both to him, and the people who worshiped there. All Amos could respond was that he was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but a herdsman and a gardener of sycamore trees, and this that you're hearing comes from God not from me.

This still happens. Perhaps, we might argue, not to the degree of wanton behavior like Amaziah's "church," but think about what some believers now and some churches now regard as sacred and theirs and when inspected closely have nothing to do with God or the things of God. What happens to those who preach against territories and kingdoms in the church? They're either labeled, like Amos, as trouble-makers or as those whose heart is not right with God; when in reality what they're seeking is the type of ministry that gives away God and the things of God that the world so desperately needs. Amos was a man with a heart and ear for God and thus God calling him to go and do the difficult work of speaking truth in the midst of lies, and like all the prophets before him and after, suffered greatly for sharing such truth. Truth is not easily received by those who started the lie. Messages about comfort and self-appreciation sooth the soul but sometimes lead us even farther away from what God truly needs us to be about.

Where is the plumb line in your life? Has God found your life to be "upright and accurate" with what God has shared with you? Amos' message came when it was too late for Israel, where do you find yourself and what can God do to help you move to where you should be?

PRAYER: Loving God, help and guide me to the place of righteousness and faithfulness. Allow me to be fruitful in sharing Your love with those with whom I have not yet done so. And if need be, allow me to speak the truth even at the cost that may come with it. Let me bloom and grow in my setting for Your honor and glory; this I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Call

It's all about justice for all... And God means all

From Psalm 82 we read: 1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? (Selah) 3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I say, "You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince." 8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!

There is nothing sweeter than to hear a child sing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." I may be dating myself in even knowing that song, but I remember hearing my Mom sing it, my learning it and singing it, and later my daughters learning it and singing it. Now I have the joy of hearing my grandchildren hear it. It is a simple song, yet it has the faith that says that in all things and in all places, God has the last word. The psalmist knew this and thus the writing of this psalm. Through the ages it has come to be known as a psalm for magistrates and judges, but its message is for all who will hear it and receive it. No matter your status or position in life, your authority and influence should be for good of all. Think of those who hold the power of life or death in their hands on a daily basis; would it not benefit them to know this psalm about the God of justice? These are the ones who are called "gods" in this psalm. The message from God was that their importance comes from giving "justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." The very ones the world think no one is on their side, find that God is on their side and God wants us by their side helping them in their needs.

A rabbi was killed some twenty-five years ago in the city of Brooklyn, New York. He was sitting in his car and a foiled jewelry heist made a gunman panic and thinking he might carjack this rabbi, shot him in cold blood. The police made an arrest rather quickly at that time and years later, someone in the Brooklyn DA's office decided to re-open the case and discover that this was a rush trip to justice, and the wrong man was put in jail. The man, who had just had baby daughter, was finally freed after serving 23 years in prison. Given his life and life's conditions, he qualified as one of those who are weak and lowly. Had not someone intervened on his behalf, he would still be in jail. The same DA's office is investigating the detective who is believed to have coached witnesses to pick "the man with the biggest nose" out of the police line-up, which happened to be this man. The detective was one with power of life and death and if found guilty, did abuse his power at the expense of the life of this man, who suffered a massive heart attack after being released from prison.

We are reminded that we are all mortals. In the ultimate scene of our lives, we will die just like everyone else regardless of whatever position we held. Our prayer should be that we live our life knowing and singing that God indeed has the whole world, us included, in God's hands and that we live a life that gives and shares with others.

PRAYER: Loving God of all, bless and protect us as we live our lives in ways that glorify You. May our actions match our prayers. May our thoughts be guided by our prayers and You; to indeed bless the lives of those who need blessing. This we pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Urgency of our Work

We are sent two by two to reach the world!

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. 3Go 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. 8Whenever 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.' 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."

"Why do we have to go home?" asked our 4 year old grandson, Liam. Nellie and I talked later about how rare it is to hear a little boy say that he is not ready to leave church. Yesterday, while in the middle of a movie he asked, "Is it almost over?" Hmm. The church service was catered for the young and the young at heart. It didn't hurt that it started with food, and he was hungry. It didn't hurt that they had Oreos, his favorite. And it blessed his spirit that the music was rocking. Then they dimmed the lights and then the band threw out glow sticks. One of the host pastors made sure Liam, who was still eating, got his fair share of glow sticks. Every one greeted him. No wonder he did not want to go home. I thought to myself, no wonder Sunday morning church has a hard time attracting the young and young at heart. The crowd present there reminded me of the key verse for me in this passage, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." (v. 2).

The Sunday morning church has lost its sense of urgency in reaching those outside its walls. Jesus has this urgency in this passage. There is work to be done and it must be done now. Go and do it! Jesus never says it will be easy, because it's not, we go as Jesus said, "like lambs into the midst of wolves." There is no need to worry about money and housing and clothing, etc.; all of that is provided in the field by God. These seventy sent by Jesus went and did as told, and when they returned they reported success so awesome that Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning." (v. 18) The 70 reported that "even the demons submit(ted) to us!" (v. 17). The great joy, Jesus reports to them, is not the success of you mission, but "that your names are written in heaven."

The Sunday morning church has its names written on pews, walls, markers, monuments, committees, almost everywhere except where it really counts; the hearts and lives of those whom it has touched lately. Now, not all Sunday morning churches are like this, but you know which ones I'm talking about. The play it safe, play it like always, churches that seek to stay alive rather than sharing life. The urgency is in finding enough money to stay alive.

Friends, we have work to do. We cannot think that others will do it in our place. It is urgent, as Jesus knew, to do that work quickly. I saw a quote by a noted preacher of the 19th century who said, "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for." (Charles H. Spurgeon).

PRAYER: Loving God, may my life count in the lives of others. May my teeth, lips, arms, all of me, be used to love people away from Satan and into Your arms. Help me not lose the urgency with which you called me to service. Help me be part of the pen that continues to add names into the Book of Life. This I pray, for Your honor and glory, through Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Happy and Safe Fourth of July!

Eradio Valverde

The Power of Peace

Caring for one another starts with self-care

From Galatians 6: 1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16 As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

The first part of this passage reminds me of a song I first heard after having moved to Houston, Texas. The song's music and lyrics spoke to me in ways I didn't completely understand; but having become a stranger as the new kid in a big city and big school, "I Am A Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel spoke to one who wanted to be an island. I wish I could say I did not cry for my old hometown those first few days. But I did not stay an island long. Being in community, especially one of friends and faith, one quickly learns about the importance of forgiveness and helping each other out. One shares with another in hopes of having a caring and listening ear and heart, and in turn one listens with care to another who shares with you. There can be learning and growing in listening and sharing. And this carries over into every aspect and relationship of one's life.

The second part is about our relationship with God. With God what we share with others will be what we receive. Paul says that what we sow is what we reap. If our thoughts and pleasures consume us, corruption in our bodies will follow. But if we seek that which is spiritual in all things, then we will reap a truly blessed earthly life followed by the reward of eternal life. Paul encourages us to stay faithful to God with no thoughts of leaving or falling away. Work at sharing and showing faith. This was so important that Paul as he wrote this in his own hand, scrawled big letters to emphasize his point. LET US WORK FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF THE FAMILY OF FAITH.

The closing is about Jesus' grace in the face of the Law. There will be those who adhere to where to dot the i and cross the t, but it's more about relationship and obedience. Jesus did not take away the Law but fulfilled it so that we might understand the love and grace of God behind our living and acting right with each other and especially with God. God has made all of us who have this relationship with God through Jesus, new creations. This brings to us the power of peace.

Let's get busy!

PRAYER: Awesome God, thank You for making me new. Help me to work for the good of others, especially those in my family of faith. May we together make a positive and powerful difference in the lives of those not yet in faith. We ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Faith of a Nameless Slave Girl

A miracle through obedience

From 2 Kings 5: 1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, "Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel." He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me." 8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, "Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Clotilde Nañez was a very interesting woman. She was the wife of Dr. Alfredo Nañez, who in his own right was interesting as well. I had the privilege of knowing them both and of listening to both. He was a retired preacher and conference leader by the time I met him, and she taught Sunday school and led UMW presentations. One night she taught on this passage. The thing she said that had stayed with her since first reading the passage was the faith of this nameless girl. Taken against her will as a prisoner of war, this girl never wavered in her faith and even when the man who now owned her had leprosy, this girl said he could be healed in the very land from which she had been taken. From a human perspective, faith in God sometimes goes against what we believe is logic. Most prisoners would have wanted a way out of their imprisonment and the death of their captors would be a place to start. Not so with this girl who knew of a prophet of the living God who she believed could cure even this dreaded skin disease.

Now the event that takes place is a miracle, please do not doubt that. Leprosy was not easily cured and like demon possession cases of the Bible, it meant the death of the person in the sense that they were usually sent to live among the dead in cemeteries where they would not inflict the disease on others. This man because of his status as a commander of the king's army was not treated in that way, in fact, his king paid for his treatment sending this treasure of silver, gold and garments. The story gets interesting when this general comes to call on the king of Israel who freaks out that this high-ranking enemy officer wants healing. Thankfully, Elisha hears of this request and says, "Send him to me."

I like the next part of the story. The important high-ranking army officer, used to giving orders and having them followed goes to the man of God. Upon his arrival a servant of Elisha comes out and gives him orders on how to be healed. This insults the general. "I thought that for me he would surely come out." Yes, you're an important man and you're sick. Just do what you're told. Second part, "And stand and call on the name of the Lord his God." Okay, no faith here in the same God, but a chance that with this "prayer" it might begin the healing process. Third part, "And would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!" With the prayer a little magic motion might bring the healing. His mind said that he was important enough that if he followed protocol and practiced healing the way he had either seen or head from his country, healing might occur. Isn't that something we believe even today? We must be seen by a doctor, not his/her assistant nor her/his nurse, but by the doctor him/herself! And they must give us a shot! The shot begins the healing. Are you old enough to remember those days? I remember hearing people say, "If he doesn't give you a shot, he's not a good doctor." And I remember seeing those "good doctors" that before it was all over I had gotten a shot of some kind. And I still remember the shock of hearing the doctor tell me, my wife, or our children, "Just let it run its course." No shot? "No." Naaman must have thought the same of Elisha.

The instruction was simple, go down to the Jordan River and immerse yourself seven times and you will be healed. Naaman says are not our rivers cleaner than this one and yet you want me to wash seven times in this dirty river? Again, it was the servants who spoke some sense into this man, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean.'?" The general would have loved nothing less than to go and get the tails of a hundred foxes or the heads of a thousand warriors. Yet, the healing would come through obedient faith. Go, wash seven times in the Jordan River and you will be healed. Thankfully, the servants convinced him and he was healed when he finally did as he was told.

The Bible exists as God's word for us even today. Our healing in spiritual and even physical matters comes through obedience and faith. Given our upbringing as a society we usually rush to the doctor first and then we remember we should pray. In some societies around the world, especially the third world, prayer is the only remedy and there more unexplainable healings take place than we hear about here. Hmm.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my doubt. Speak to my sense of self-importance and make me obedient to the word of God. Bring healing to those for whom I am praying and if I have any healing needed in me, help me do that which shows my obedience to you. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

I Can't Thank You Enough!

Saying Thanks to God is Eternal...

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

A precious moment of decision by a young girl at last night's Beacon of Hope first anniversary. The Beacon of Hope was started as a dream of Rev. Camille Bryant after being challenged by her district superintendent to do something "uncomfortable, outrageous, and courageous." She called up the Disciples of Christ pastor and shared her dream with him. They started a young people oriented service. They knew the music would be loud and the crowd would be young. Last night they closed out a two-day celebration of that first year's anniversary with having celebrated 43 professions of faith. The young lady pictured above was the first of three from last night. Only God knows where the young woman has been, but the psalmist knew what it was like to be away from God. He knew what it was to create messes. He knew what it was like to be criticized by friends and foes alike. He also knew in times like those there was only one person in whom he could trust, and that was God.

Few of us have been literally in the grave, but many of us have had those days when it felt like the only thing left to do was to throw dirt on us. We've also been at places where we were "down-and-out." God has rescued us! So, the psalmist says we should sing our hearts out to God! "Thank Him to His face!" God's love is never-ending. Yes, there are times we turn away from God and it seems like God has turned His face on us; but when we return to God there is always celebration necessary because God never lets us down.

The psalmist concludes about his obligation towards God, "I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you, God, my God, I can't thank you enough."

Wherever you find yourself today is not where you need to stay. God can pull you out and lead you to the place where God has wanted you all along. You just need ask. Then, thank God!

PRAYER: Loving God, thank you! Even if I'm still not where I need to be, I am thankful and I am hopeful. Bless and protect those who are in need, and we pray for the comfort of those whose loved ones have perished in fighting fires in Arizona. Stay with us now and always, we pray. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

I Will Follow Him...

Following Jesus Means Looking Ahead

From Luke 9: 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 The they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

"If only I had..." We've had thoughts like that of missed opportunities, previous career choices, offers, etc. Sometimes we get sad thinking that had we just done that instead of this, we'd be better off. Such was the case with three who encountered Jesus and thought about serving alongside Him. It starts in an unfriendly region; people did not "receive" Jesus and the disciples wanted to call a bolt of lightning to come from the sky to destroy this village. Which is another devotional, not today's... But a man comes to Jesus and offers, "I will follow You wherever You go." This man understood the itinerant system and was willing to follow it in order to serve Jesus, but Jesus shares the reality of the journey. The modern versions says, "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know." Jesus implies that even if Bob Bodett left the light on, they wouldn't be seeing it. To follow Jesus means sometimes having to sacrifice comfort and luxury.

Another man is approached by Jesus and Jesus says to him, "Follow me." This time it was Jesus offering an invitation. The man responds, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." He was perhaps saying he had many obligations to his dad and until they were fulfilled he could not leave home. Jesus' reply is that His mission is about life not death and it is an urgent one in which followers must be about Jesus' business now, not later.

A third man offers to follow Jesus, "I will follow You, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." He was ready, except he wanted to say his goodbyes to his loved ones. Sometimes that takes a while. Jesus' response was "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Kingdom business is serious business and it requires immediate attention, focused concentration on what is ahead not behind.

We can play the different games of why we're not ready to follow Jesus; we want the best for ourselves, comfort and luxury, bigger and better appointments or committee responsibilities, this or that - Jesus is looking for those who put God first, then themselves. We can also play the fulfillment obligation game; I have so much to do right now in my life that I couldn't possibly go now. I had a plan for myself and I've not yet completed it. I want to have fun now and do this and that, maybe later... - Jesus is looking for those who love God enough to go when called. It was no accident that Jesus said whoever left father or mother or lands, etc. would soon receive a hundredfold of whatever was sacrificed for Him. We can also play the my time with family is important to me right now and I have to say goodbye to them first; I'll catch up with You a bit later. Jesus is looking for forward-looking kingdom people; those who set their eyes and the work ahead and are ready now to do it, not later.

Jesus needs you now.

PRAYER: Loving God, I'm ready. Send me and put me to whatever helps Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Free to Bear Fruit!

The Spirit Can Lead us to Fruitfulness

Today's passage comes from Galatians 5: 1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. 13 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. 14 For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. 15 If you bite and ravage each other, watch out - in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? 16 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. 17 For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. 18 Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? 19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. 24 Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good - crucified. 25 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

In this country, this is the week leading to one of our biggest celebrations as a nation; the Fourth of July. It is the celebration of our declaration of independence from Great Britain. For us as believers, Jesus Christ has given us freedom through our relationship with Him. The only form of slavery we should know is of that of service in Jesus Christ to others. Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to act on our pleasures or desires, but to seek that which glorifies God. The basis of our freedom is found in what Jesus left as the great commandment "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." A life lived in fighting with one another is no life at all; it is a show ground for Satan, not God. Our call is to live guided by the Holy Spirit not our carnal desires. Paul's list in this modern version of life led by the physical is easier to understand: 1) repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; 2) a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; 3) frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 4) trinket gods; 5) magic show religion; 6) paranoid loneliness; 7) cutthroat competition; 8) all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; 9) a brutal temper; 10) an impotence to love or be loved; 11) divided homes and divided lives; 12) small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 13) the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; 14) uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; 15) ugly parodies of community. Quite a list. Quite a life if you can call it that.

By contrast, the Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life results in these: 1) God brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard; 2) things like affection for others, 3) exuberance about life, 4) serenity; 5) a willingness to stick with things; 6) a sense of compassion in the heart; 7) a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people; 8) an involvement in loyal commitments; 9) no longer feel like forcing our way in life; 10) an ability to marshal and direct our energies wisely. That is a sound way to live and it blesses God and others by our choosing to have our path directed by God's Holy Spirit. It is a complete life.

We cannot pick and choose from one list and the other. Our discipleship is a total commitment to the spiritual realm and to God. To choose anything else would be to choose something less.

PRAYER: Lead me, dear God, to a life of complete commitment to You and Yours. May my life be filled and guided by the Holy Spirit. I cannot accept nothing less. I want the fullness of life that comes in being in You and bearing fruit for You. This I need and this I ask for, in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Who's Taking Your Place?

Saying Goodbye and Welcome!

Hear now the Word of God from 2 Kings 2: 1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent." 4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 10 He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

If your first name starts with an E, like Eradio, you stand a better chance of going to Heaven without dying. The first was Enoch, who walked with the Lord and one day they just kept walking right from this life into glory. The second is Elijah about whom you have just read above. It is a fitting entry given all the old man suffered and did for God. It was not that long ago we read of Elijah's frustration and fear after having defeated the prophets of Baal and having been led into the wilderness to hear God's voice in the wilderness after experiencing a mighty wind, an earthquake and fire. After that encounter with God, Elijah's prophetic ministry continued and one of the highlights was finding a successor, Elisha, to take his place. Elisha was a farm boy who felt God's call upon his life when he met Elijah. He left farming to become a follower of God.

One of the things that is affecting the Christian church today is that members have not taken seriously the call to make other disciples. And as a result, upon their death, they leave a vacancy. As a pastor I have tried to share God's call to all who would hear it and see if indeed God is calling them, and I have been blessed by those who have said to me they felt a calling through my ministry. In the same way, you should be praying about making an impact on the lives of others so that one day they can take your place in ministry. The other day one of my key lay leaders in one of the churches of this district confessed, without my prompting, that he and others had not done a good job of finding people to take their place. He worried about his church and what would happen when all these wonderful leaders are called "home."

The day came when the Spirit let Elijah know that his day to return home had come. He started out on this final journey by traveling to several places. All along the way as they encounter prophets, the Spirit had revealed to them as well that today was the day of Elijah's departure. And they shared that with Elisha. "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" Thanks for reminding me! Elijah had tried to convince his protege to stay behind, but the young man insisted on being by his side when this happened. They finally reached the point where they came to the Jordan River and Elijah takes his mantle and strikes the water, the water parts and they cross over. Then the moment of goodbye occurs and the old man asks Elisha what he wants. Elisha responds that he wants a double portion of the prophetic spirit that had blessed Elijah's ministry. It was as if he was saying, "I want to be faithful like you but be able to do more!" Elijah says that he can if he happens to be able to witness his being taken up.

A chariot of fire comes to pick the old man up. Elisha is overcome with joy and emotion and cries, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" A witness to the power and glory of God and a recipient of what God had shared with his mentor.

You and I are called to continue to bless others with what we know about God. We are commanded to make new disciples and we have been given permission to reach others. In fact, we never travel alone and nor do we travel without the weapons of joy, love, and peace with which to share with those who do not yet know the love of God. It may come through a simple act of kindness of sharing a cup of coffee and time of conversation. Last night in a tiny church, I introduced their new pastor to them and they were sharing how this past Sunday, a young man who had drive by their church (and it's in the middle of nowhere!) saw the sign for Free Coffee, went in, had the coffee and the conversation and decided to worship with them, baptized his baby son, and then he and his wife joined the church. New believers and followers, through a simple act of sharing and caring.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to continue to find those who will take our places and even start new places of service and ministry with You and for You. Help us know we can do it, with Your power and presence. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Remember Your Salvation!

Remind Yourself of God's Great Work in Your Life

From The Message version of the Bible we read Psalm 77: 1 I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens. 2 I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said. 11 Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; 12 I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. 13 O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! 14 You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do - 15 You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph. 16 Ocean saw you in action, God, saw you and trembled with fear; Deep Ocean was scared to death. 17 Clouds belched buckets of rain, Sky exploded with thunder, your arrows flashing this way and that. 18 From Whirlwind came your thundering voice, Lightning exposed the world, Earth reeled and rocked. 19 You strode right through Ocean, walked straight through roaring Ocean, but nobody saw you come or go. 20Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron, You led your people like a flock of sheep.

I remember vividly the song from my Sunday school days in my little church of Kingsville, Texas, where we sang, "If you're saved and you know it clap your hands...If you're saved and you know it then your heart will surely show it; if you're saved and you know it clap your hands." I also remember very well when my daughters came home singing the version they learned, "If you're happy and you know it...etc." I wondered when did we change it? If they learned it at public school then I can understand someone liking the melody and message of being happy and of course, they're not allowed to sing about salvation. Yet, I heard the song in church the same way. I stomped my feet, shook instead of nodded my head, and didn't clap my hands.

The psalmist was anything but happy in the words penned in this psalm 77. He was miserable and troubled. This version more honestly puts it that he yelled out in pain and frustration because of his situation whatever that might have been. It was a needed release. It is a release some of us have tried from time to time depending on what we faced. As the psalmist has found himself in trouble, so have we, and we have had God to Whom we could yell. He knew God listened but the state of mind this challenge brought to his life kept him from believing it. To have a problem that one compares to ones life being "an open wound that wouldn't heal," it is a serious thing indeed. Even the comforting counsel and presence of friends sometimes doesn't seem like enough.

He did what we should do. He laid out in his mind all that God had done in his life up to that point. The commentary in the Wesley Study Bible calls this a remembrance of salvation. He remembered when he did not know God and how his life was at that time. But when he entered into a relationship with God his life changed for the better. No "ancient wonder," no "ponder(ing) on the things accomplished" by God compares to the joy found in knowing God's grace and love. To know, trust, love, and walk with God is salvation. It is a way of living spiritually and positively. It is a way of true happiness. I love the phrase, "You're the God who makes things happen." (v. 14). And the psalmist knows that in the way God rescued those whom we have read about in ancient days, God will again rescue him and us when we remind ourselves and pray to God for God's power and peace in our lives.

Say to yourself, There is nothing so great facing me that with God's power and peace I cannot face and defeat. I will take the hand of God, listen for God's voice, and walk out of trouble and into peace.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my heart and those who are reading this, that we may receive the power and peace You offer to us. And if anyone reading this does not yet know You, may today be the day of new birth, of entering into a real and lasting relationship with You. May we turn over our sinful ways to You and let You be the one to guide and lead. Help those facing trouble to take your hand and walk right out of it into peace. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

What Has God Done for You?

Have You Told Anyone?

Luke 8:26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me"— 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenesasked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

"You're only as good as your last _________" fill in the blank. Sermon. Interview. Recital. Etc. God is always good. God has always been good in my life and I don't measure God's performance by the last blessing or the last miracle in my life. I measure my being alive as a great blessing from God. I measure my having faith in God as a great blessing. Yet, the Bible and life today, is filled with those who only speak about God is when they have either left Him or need Him. I have been guilty of that in my life, too, but I strive towards giving thanks for all things and in all things.

This is the story of a man who had a lot to be thankful for. The picture of his life when we meet him is sad. Filled with multiple demons, living among the dead, naked, not wanting contact with people, and Jesus comes into his life. The power of Jesus over the demons sets this man free. It came with a cost, for a herd of swine was lost in this act of deliverance, and those who lost their investment asked Jesus to leave. The man now free to do as he pleases, chooses to leave with Jesus. Jesus instead sends him home with this message, "Declare how much God has done for you." And he did.

God has shared with us good news. God has given us new life. God has promised us victory over sin and death. The question is, what have we done about it? Why do we keep it to ourselves? Many have yet heard and some may just be waiting for us to tell them.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to our hearts and remind us of all the good You have done. And give us the courage and the wisdom to share with those who have yet to hear. We pray in Christ Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

We Are God's Children!

We Should Be On The Road to Maturity

We find from reading Paul's letter to the Galatians 3, these words from verse 23 to 29: 23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

We are God's children. We can ask for no better parent than God. We can ask for no better label than to be able to say we are in the family of God. Our earthly families may have been less than perfect, but in God's family, through faith in Christ, we find that which we need. Paul is celebrating this and so should we! Hear what he's saying. There was a time when we did not know the love and grace of God. We lived either according to our passions or under the guilt of the prison of dos and don'ts. It was the revelation of faith through Christ that we discovered grace. In Jesus we found the clothing we needed that not only identified us but guides us. Our oldest grandchild just graduated from Kindergarten where she was required to wear a uniform. Sarita is an artistic girl who likes to express herself not only on paper but in her clothing. To have to wear almost the same thing day after day was not good for her spirit. When she learned she would be attending a grade school where they wear what they want she was elated. To wear Christ is elation as well. We are embraced and covered with His love for us. We are embraced by the One who will not let us fall away or be eternally separated from the love of God. And, because of the clothing of Christ, there is now no divisions between whatever labels we or society has placed on us. No more Jew or Greek, Paul says. No slave nor free, not even male or female; we "are one in Christ Jesus." All heirs of God.

So quit the "broke" thinking of "I'm poor" or "My church is poor." It's thinking like that that has us poor in all things; thought, spirit, ideas, resources, etc. Put on Christ and the label of being the son/daughter of the Most High God. Apply that to your daily thoughts and you will be blessed and a blessing to others.

Quit also, listening to those who continue to try to label you in a category or a division. We are one in Christ Jesus. Those who insist on labeling are outsiders, outside of the love and blessings of God. They're the poorer for it. Love them and pray for them, but listen not to those voices, listen for God's voice.

PRAYER: Thank you, loving God, for making me Yours. Help me to share the Good News of Your love and grace with others. This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Even in Despair, God is There!

Listening to the voice of God...

1 Kings 19: 1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 11 He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."15 Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus;

"The more you do for God, the more the Devil wants you back." My Mom used to tell me that, and I've heard it in several ways since then, but it comes to mean that every victory you claim for God may come with a reaction from those who oppose God and the things of God. Such was the case with Elijah, the great prophet of God. He had had a show-down with 400 priests of Baal at Mount Carmel and handily defeated them. He showed to those gathered there that there are no other gods, just one, ours. This angered both the king and queen, who were no fans of God. You may have heard of them, King Ahab, and Queen Jezebel. She may be more infamous because of her temper and reactions to God's things. It was her words that said to Elijah you'll be dead by tomorrow. Not a good word to hear from your queen. Elijah did what many of us would do, he fled.

He wanders into the wilderness to seek God. God had blessed his life and had always provided for him, but this last threat was a breaking point in his life. Elijah felt he could do no more and asks God to take his life. A man I once knew would come to a point in his work day when he would announce, "I have ceased to be productive!" and he would go home. Elijah felt that way but in a deeper sense wanted to go home to God. He finds a place of shade under a "solitary broom tree" where he lays down and sleeps. A tapping from an angel awakens him and he is told to "Get up and eat." He finds that this heavenly messenger has baked a cake of bread and brought a jar of water. He ate this meal and then lay down again. A second time, awakened by the angel, he is told again, "Get up and eat." (This is beginning to sound like a Methodist story; pot luck or covered dish?). But this second feeding comes with a warning, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you."

Elijah wanted to die, and God feeds him. Elijah wanted no more on the road of service with God, and God prepares him for a longer journey. It was a journey of 40 days and nights of fasting and prayer. He comes to Mount Horeb and in a cave there spends this fortieth night. God visits and asks what he is doing there. Elijah answers again with despair, "I have been trying to serve you, but I have found too much opposition to what I am trying to do. People don't respect Your Word, they have destroyed places of worship, they have killed your prophets; I'm the last one left and even now they are looking for me to kill me."

Even in despair, God is there. Even in the glum face of defeat God provides a sliver of hope that all will be well, we have to but wait and trust God. And sometimes that seems like the hardest thing. In the rest of this story, God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain for God was to pass. A great wind comes with the strength to break rocks in pieces, yet God was not in the wind. There comes an earthquake after the wind, but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake comes a fire, but God was not in the fire. After the fire, sheer silence. Elijah wrapped his head and stood at the entrance of the cave. Again, the question comes from God, "What are you doing, Elijah?" Elijah again shares the same response, and God tells him to continue his work.

Even in despair, God is there. Even when we think our faithfulness and our discipleship is doing nothing good, God may surprise us and show us that God is still in control and working. Our efforts may seem in vain, but it may be years later that we hear that what we have shared or said have found a home and the blossom of that seed planted will result in yet another victory for God. If you read the rest of the story, God blesses Elijah in ways he did not expect, and the final blessing is one that amazes us even today. (You'll have to read the rest of the story!)

Even if you find yourself unappreciated or swimming upstream in your daily walk with Christ, God is with you and the greatest victories may have not yet come your way, but still you remain faithful. Even in despair, God is there.

PRAYER: Loving God, may this message speak to the hearts of those who need it. Many have been the days when we have sought You and thought we were alone and abandoned, but Your Word proves otherwise and may this passage serve to strengthen us in our faithfulness to You. Bless this dear reader and his/her needs, and if this gets forwarded to someone else, may that other reader also receive that which You have prepared for them. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Everybody Gets The Blues

But it's God that lifts us up!

Psalm 42:1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?" 10 As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

A newer version of the Bible, The Message, has the psalmist saying, "I'm on a diet of tears - tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, 'Where is this God of yours?'" Either we have been there or close to there; days where sadness takes over our lives and we find ourselves thinking that God has abandoned us. The great thing about the psalmist was that he knew he had been the one to allow this to happen to him, thus the first line - he must be like the deer seeking "flowing streams" because in finding God would be where he would find the power to uplift his spirit. Yes, it can happen on a Monday; the thought of getting back to the routine (or rut) of everyday life, the challenges that were out of mind on Friday come back to needing fulfillment, etc. It is easy to get the blues, even after a great weekend of worship and praise.

The "fix" or cure is to set our eyes on God again, and God will bring smiles to our faces and praises to our lips; in everything and everyday, our lives should be about seeking and praising God. A dear member of one of my churches died this past Saturday. She had liver cancer and being the widow of a serviceman, she received treatment at Brooks Army Medical Center. Her son shared with me how even undergoing treatment for this terminal disease, she made it a point to know her neighbors and visit them and share how God had blessed her life and how she was changed because of the love of God. Dinorah Cloyd was an artist, who used her talent of painting to share beauty and hope with so many. She had gone from painting canvases to note cards to bookmarks, that she used to share with other patients. The doctors and nurses gave witness to her life and compared her to Ghandi; she loved others because she loved God and she knew God loved her. When she was released to go home it took several minutes because so many wanted to thank her again for her visits and sharing of her faith, which gave many of them hope.(Please pray for the Cloyd family, including Rev. Carlos Cloyd, her son and her two daughters.)

What witness do we have about our God? Do we let the geography get to us, the lows of valleys and highs of mountains? Do we let the "whitewater rapids," and "breaking surf" crash and crush us? The answer should be no. These are but temporal things, the big picture of faith says, God is still in control and God is still worthy of our praise!

Let God dry the tears and let us turn to God so that we can give witness to the living God, the God of hope and life.

PRAYER: Loving God of life, we ask for your blessings on those whom we have not yet blessed. We ask for comfort for those who are on a diet of tears. Comfort them and give them hope and let us have from You the words that we can share with others. Whatever need I may have, I turn over to You for your blessing and protection, and all this I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Personal Privilege: Happy Birthday to my wife, Nellie. She is my biggest fan and devoted reader of ConCafe since day one. May God bless her with many more, because I need her!

God Forgives Our Sins

Still we go scuba diving!

Hear these words, people of God: Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. 19 He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. From Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. And from the last book, Revelation 21:1: 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

God forgives all of our sins. It seems too good to be true, but it is. Hear it again: God forgives all of our sins. And the Bible says there is an action on God's part that should speak to us. And this comes to us as a promise and as a help; God takes our sins and "cast(s) all our sins into the depths of the sea." Hebrews then adds God saying, "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." God has trouble with His memory, like us older types, God forgets those sins for which we have asked forgiveness. Here begs the questions, why don't we?

Memory is a great thing most days. It is precious to remember loved ones. It is priceless to remember good things done for us or that we have done for others. It is powerful to remember what God has done for us. Yet, memory sometimes comes to haunt us. We confess to God that we are sinful and ask for forgiveness. God forgives our sins, casts them into the sea, forgets that we had even sinned, and in Revelation we see that that part about all our sins being in the "depths of the sea" becomes even more powerfully absent because "the sea was no more." Yet, we scuba dive in our memories and remember things. It's part of our conscience to let those past sins creep into our thinking, but here is where grace overrides conscience. God forgives and forgets. Oh, if only we were so gracious ourselves. We hold grudges. We shouldn't. We say we can forgive but not forget. We declare ourselves, though we are children of God, to be anything but Godlike. And it comes back to haunt us when it comes to such words and actions, and our words and actions said or done against God or God's people. Still, we scuba dive. We go lurking in the depths of the sea every time we let a memory of a past sin come to haunt us. What do we gain from that? Absolutely nothing, except to come face to face, as the diver in this graphic, with a monster of the deep.

I have a dear friend and brother in Christ whose second home is the sea, the underwater part. And he takes beautiful photos of the deep and shares them with me and those who are his friends on Facebook. And in all the pictures and movies he has taken underwater, Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza has yet to show me my past sins. At least in photographs! ;) And were he to come face to face with his or anyone else's sins, that would probably be the day he quit going under there looking for beauty.

Say this to yourself: My sins are forgiven. My sins are forgotten. My sins for now are sleeping with the fishes, but the day is coming when they will be no more.

PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God, for Your mercy and grace. My prayer is that You would help me and those reading this as their own prayer, to rely on Your grace to forget our sins. We are a people sent, not sit or set; so help us move towards You. We ask this in Our Lord and Savior's name, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

To see the photo of the scuba diver and this in another format: http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ddb0d8e9e8610bb92960afa4d&id=30c5e7a3b4

Forgiveness of even my sins!

Christ's love hits close to home.

From Luke 7 & 8: 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner." 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48 Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." 1 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Somewhere in the mid-Atlantic, during a violent storm, a difficult question was asked of a little man who was afraid to die. The storm made him question survival and seeking a place below deck where he could die, instead he encounters a group of Christians celebrating their pending death. The leader of the group had to ask this man if he knew Jesus. The man replied that he knew Jesus to be the Savior of the world. The leader then asked if he knew Jesus to be his savior, and he had to confess that he did not.

The man asked that question could have been me or you. The man was very religious, but was not in a relationship with Jesus. The same is true about the man who hosted Jesus to supper. He wanted to know a little more about Jesus, but did not show any genuine signs of hospitality one would show to a friend or an honored guest. This mysterious woman did; weeping, she used her tears to wash Jesus' feet, and used her hair to dry them. She kissed His feet and used ointment to anoint Jesus' feet. She was in relationship with Jesus; she had know that she had made some wrong choices in her life; we call it sin. But she also knew that in Jesus she could find forgiveness for those sins, this the acts of gratitude toward Jesus. And the passage ends with with a partial list of wonn who followed Jesus and out of their gratitude, financially supported Jesus' ministry.

The man I mentioned above was a very religious man until he understood the need to have a relationship with Jesus. It would be a bit later when John Wesley went to a lay-led meeting at Aldersgate that he felt his heart "strangely warmed" and he understood that Christ had died for his sins, "even mine."

There should be no room in our hearts for sin. Sin kills. It's a slow, painful process and takes victims with it if we are not careful. But the Good News is that Jesus takes away our sins, even mine, for the asking. It's a message too good to keep to ourselves. Transformation begins from within, and taking away our sins is the first big step.

PRAYER: Living and Loving God, help me to stay in relationship with You. Forgive my sins and cast them into the deep part of the sea. Remove from my memory the harm they may have caused me and others. Let me be all about telling others about Your love. This I ask in the Name of He who came to take away my sin, Jesus my Lord and Savior, amen.