Related to Christ?

Mark 3: 20-35 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"— for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

The Twelve had just been appointed to be a part of Jesus' work. This amidst the great success and crowds that Jesus was attracting. Healing were taking place; people being fed both physically and spiritually, and unexplainable signs and wonders from God were being witnessed. The 12 might have said, "We've got it made!" when Jesus' family gets involved. You've been there probably; things are going great and Mom/Dad, brother/sister gets involved and things don't look so great any more. The family got involved because the neighbors were saying, "Jesus' lost it! He's crazy!" Add to the nosey neighbors the religious folk from the big church who are now saying that Jesus was not only demon possessed but also, controlling the demons. The hint of satisfaction or success was quickly wiped away by this encounter, but it served to strengthen them in their faith in Jesus. Jesus shares a great truth used by a president of the United States at the brink of civil war: "And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." Jesus spoke this truth to show that a demon-controling person would not be casting out demons. In fact, Jesus warns, such accusations go directly against the Holy Spirit, and those are not forgivable.

Mary and her children come to Jesus and say something like, "Come home, son." This message gets to Jesus probably in the "Your Mom and your brothers and sisters are outside waiting for you." Jesus asks the question, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Looking at those around Him who believed He says, "Here are my mother and my brothers and my sisters. Whoever does the will of God is my brother and my sister and mother."

Are you related to Jesus? Are you seeking to do the will of God in and for your life? Or, are you still following selfish, self-centered passions and pleasures? I would rather be a relative of Jesus than a mindless servant of Satan. Why not join the family now?

PRAYER: Loving God, help me to renounce the things that are not Yours in my life. Turn my face towards Heaven and You and let me do your will. I want to be Yours and in Your family, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Many Things We Can't Understand

Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!" The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

The recent storms and floods have left so many devastated. There were people killed, some swept away and not yet found; properties destroyed and lost. The beginning of the week started with Nick at night asking Jesus about things he could not understand, and Jesus gave him a key to the beginning of understanding: To understand the spiritual things, we must have a spiritual mind; but even then, not all things will be understood. Paul knew this and looked forward to the day when he and us would come to complete understanding. For now, we are like the psalmist trying to make sense of all things in a poetic way ending with a simple prayer for even us today: May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!

Beyond that, we have no answers. We pray for comfort for those mourning. We pray for peace for those lacking it. May God grand strength to all people. May we be able to share what we can with those in need.

PRAYER: Lord, we repeat David's prayer: Give us strength and bless us with peace. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Nick at Night Made all Things Bright!

Image is from the network Nick@Nite

John 3: 1-17 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Nick at Nite is a television channel devoted to children. It was the favorite of our children as they were growing up and they were exposed to some of the "old" stuff that Nellie and I used to watch; Donna Reed, Dobie Gillis, and many others. I just checked and the channel still exists, though we've not seen that channel on our tv in a long time. I remember the first time a preacher preached on this passage and he called it "Nick at Night," referring to the person and the setting this passage contains. A devout man (Pharisee), who also served on the Sanhedrin, comes to see Jesus at night out of fear. He feared an open, meeting in the middle of the day would expose him to his colleagues and that might not fare well for him. Something was nagging Nicodemus, for it is evident in his opening statement to Jesus: You have come from God; no one could do what you do if they were not from God.

The exchange between the two yields some important truths about our faith: One must be born again (from above, or anew), meaning that keeping an earthly attitude and not letting God transform our lives and thinking will not allow us to understand the heavenly things. Nick didn't get this right away; but Jesus explained it to him. Second, Jesus said who He truly was and where He was from. He also reveals that as Moses brought life to those perishing in the desert by lifting up a serpent, so would Jesus bring life to the perishing by our looking up to Him on a cross. Then, the heavy duty truth; the verse that is perhaps quoted more often from the New Testament: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life." There is is. God's declaration of love as expressed by His only begotten Son. God loves the world. That means, all people, all creatures, all of creation. God does not want any to perish, and so, God offers eternal life. The closing verse of this passage; "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that there world might be saved through Him."

Salvation is ours. Salvation is everyone's who chooses to believe and become what God intended. It is our job to share about salvation with any who will listen. God desires us to be saved away from sin and into the fullness of life, and ultimately that salvation will lead us to eternal life.

PRAYER: Loving God, use me to share what Jesus shared with Nick, but let me hear it and share at all hours of the day. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.

Eradio Valverde

Guide Me into All Truth

John 15:26-26; 16:4b-15 "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, "Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. It is when the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven in the form of flames as of fire. The act would be a memorable one and one that Jesus is seeking to prepare His disciples for witnessing and experiencing. In fact, the Gospel of John was placed between the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, believed to have been one volume, because of the emphasis and preparation that John spend on the Holy Spirit. Here is what Jesus shares with us: 1) The Holy Spirit is an Advocate sent from the Father. 2) He is a Spirit of truth who testifies on Jesus' behalf. 3) We are called to share what we know about Jesus because Jesus has been with us. 4) Jesus had to go away in order for the Holy Spirit to come. 5) The Spirit's arrival will do many things that th world doe not already know: a) He will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. b) Sin will become real because people will know Jesus. c) Righteousness will be real because Jesus will be God the Father and the Holy Spirit will speak about what is right. d) Judgment is coming to he who rules the world (Satan). 6) The Spirit will guide us into all truth, for what He shares is truth from God Himself. 7) The Spirit will glorify God and this will be revealed to us.

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated because every time the Church invites Him down, He comes. Every time we invite the Holy Spirit in, He enters. And life lived without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is a weak life.

PRAYER: Come, living Spirit, into our lives. May we seek to receive and be all that Jesus prepared at the Holy Spirit's coming. We pray in the strong name of Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Where Are You Planted?

Psalm 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Those who delight in all things of the Lord, do well in all places. For they know Who planted them there, and they seek to stay connected, watered, fed, nourished, and grow where they are. Some may blame the place they are for how they are. Others may blame where they came from for the way they are; yet, these are the ones who have not yet fully and truly connected with God. The Psalmist knew the way to connect and delight in the Lord. For him it was to know God's Word. He sought to know more about God with every free moment he had. It may have been one of those moments as he sought to know more about God that he saw the trees planted by a stream. Those trees had roots directly in the source of life, the water, and as a result they were stronger and more alive than those who found themselves far from a stream and who depended more on rainfall. Connected trees are fruitful, and come what may, their leaves do not wither; everything they encounter is a prosperous endeavor. Those who reject the Lord are like trees who dry up easily and just blow away. The psalmist knew that the Lord watches and blesses those who seek Him.

Take a look around where you are. What you see may reflect your relationship with God. If you seek opportunity and blessings waiting to happen, you may be walking with God. If you speak blessings and hope to those around you, you may be listening to God. If you seek to be a blessing to those around you, you are living with God.

PRAYER: Loving and Living God, grant to me the connection of life right from You, the source of life so that I may be a blessing to You and others. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Adding to Our Number

Our oldest granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina Cortez, lifting her hand, for she knows the answer! Do you?

Acts 1: 15-17; 21-26 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

"I want you to be on the ground floor of this new and exciting opportunity!" Have you ever heard that and thought, "That's just too good to be true?" You know the rule that says, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't? Imagine being Barsabbas or Matthias. You would probably know Peter, James, and John; and certainly you heard of Judas Iscariot, but more importantly, you know Jesus. You saw, heard, witnessed and believed all things about Jesus. And then you get the offer: Would you like to join the Twelve? How many of you would have said, Yes, I would!

What sort of invitation have you made to others; keeping in mind that you are a believer and follower of Jesus. What evidence have you shown, spoken, or lived that might attract someone to say, "Yes, I'll have what you have!" This work of invitation is not easy, but we should not attempt it on our own. It is Holy Spirit work and work that the Spirit can do for us if we but ask. It should begin with our prayer life where we say, "Make me an example, a living proof of faith that You live in me and that You have blessed me; and let me draw others to You." And then the opportunity and words will come so that you can share with others about fullness of life in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Awesome God of life, fill me with faith and love. Let the joy that I have from You be evident in a contagious, attractive way so that all the world may come to know You. This I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Our Heart's Testimony

Image of Chelsea McMahon and Rev. Greg Hackett, as she shares her testimony at our confirmation rally.

1 John 5: 9-13 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

A little girl was asked to share her testimony in front of our confirmation rally this past Saturday. She was, as all could tell, and as anyone would be, scared to death; but she had a story to tell. Her dad died before she was even baptized. Her story is that she was raised in the church by a congregation that loves her and cares for her. Standing tiny at the pulpit of First UMC-Beeville, she was accompanied by her pastor, whose presence gave her strength and courage to go forward and share what God has done in her life through the witness of those who know and love her.

The presence of God is power; and those who know God, as this passage says, have a testimony to share about God and God's Son, Jesus; and that is a story that needs to be shared. Years ago, the United Methodist Church has a weekend event called the Lay Witness Mission and it was designed to allow people to come and hear the testimonies of people such as themselves about what God had and was doing in their lives. As a result of that weekend, many heard the call into ministry. And who, once they've experienced, cannot but share the truth about God's love and power? This writer says: "And here is the testimony: God gave us eternal life,and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life."

Do you believe? If yes, then you, too, have eternal life. Live like it!

PRAYER: Loving God, for the testimony in my heart, I give You thanks! May I share it with others so that they too may believe in the life that never ends in Jesus Christ; in Whose name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Not Being Lost in the World

The Confirmation Class of 2015 from St. Luke's UMC in Corpus Christi, with Pastor Paul and Mrs. Tess Allan, and yours truly, in front of the Welcome Center of FUMC-Beeville. This was the largest group present at our Confirmation Rally.

John 17:6-19 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Some years ago, our firstborn worked for Texas Lutheran University and was on the road a lot. One early morning found her in the state's largest city and she was lost. She called me and asked if I was on the computer and needed help in getting to her first appointment of the day. Being from Houston I know some of Houston; there are some parts I don't know and may never know. However, the Internet and computers have come a long way since then and we also now have GPS apps for our phones and some cars come equipped with those; and she who was temporarily lost became found. Being lost in a big city can be a bit scary; but being lost from God is even scarier. This passage shares with us one of Jesus' prayers for us. One of the key elements of this prayer is our protection and our relationship with God; Jesus does not want any of us lost. Jesus also wants us to remember that we are His, and He wants the best for and from us.

I can think of no better way to start the work week than having read and having been reassured of Whose we are. No obstacle, no challenge, no bump in the road we encounter this week can beat this precious and powerful message. Live your life in that faith.

PRAYER: Loving God, what Jesus prayed for me, I claim. I am Yours and You are mine. Whatever I may face this week, let me face it in the name and faith and spirit of Jesus. Let me bring glory to Your name! This I pray in the Name above all names, the strong name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Love One Another

Prayer Cross at Clergy Family Retreat

John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Chosen to love is how we may sum up this passage; yet, if we do not love, what have we been chosen for? And making this even harder, Jesus is asking us to love everybody! Not just the ones who love us, or look like us, or dress like or even talk like us: Everybody! It is how we're known as Christians; by our love. Jesus stresses the importance of keeping commandments and makes this a new commandment, that we love one another. A love that bears fruit, that is to say, love that produces more who love because they have seen love in us. Which begs the question, what do people see in us if we do not have love?

PRAYER: Loving Lord, I want to be all about love; may love be seen in me, and may the love in me bear fruit of new people who love. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Living in Love, Blessing Others

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God is Awesome!

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Abide in Me; Bear Much Fruit

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

No Hay Otro Nombre/There is No Other Name

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

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

Eradio Valverde

How Do I Love Thee? Not That Much?

Image from christthetruth.wordpress.com

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Like a Good Shepherd, Jesus is There!

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

How Do You Sleep at Night?

Master Davis J. Barnett of Kerrville, Texas

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Power in the Name of Jesus!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

A Powerful Chapter!

Image of Mount Hermon in Palestine

Psalm 133

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Not a Needy Person Among Them

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Image from clickseed.com

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Risen Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?

Image from wheelsms.files.wordpress.com

Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eradio Valverde

While You Slept

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eradio Valverde

Silver, Bread & Blood

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

Why is This Night Different from Other Nights?

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Giving 'til the End

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Chief Cornerstone

Image from bibledaily.files.wordpress.com

Jesus as the Building Block for Our Faith

From Luke 20:9-19: He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.

Why did Jesus come to the earth? Why was it necessary for God to send His only Son? Those answers are found in this passage. In the presence of those who wanted to kill Him, Jesus tells this parable. A parable was a teaching method used to help people identify with something or someone they knew, and in this one, Jesus is talking about a vineyard. Many knew or walked by those who owned vineyards. They knew the work involved in a vineyard and they also knew the harvest that came from a well-tended one. They also knew that not all owners of vineyards tended their own, and so they knew that sometimes slaves would tend them. In this case, since it was a leased vineyard, part of the crop was the owners, but those who were leasing it did not want to share with the owner his rightful part and so beat and sent the slave away empty-handed. A second slave was sent and the same results. Also, a third. After wondering what might convince the tenants to comply with the arrangement they had, he sends his son. The tenants discussed this and believed that murdering the son might make them become heirs of this vineyard. And so, they threw the son outside the vineyard and killed him. Jesus then asks the question, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?" And answering his own question says, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Those listening replied with an unbelievable, "Heaven forbid!"

Jesus offers the explanation that they could not understand: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus is that cornerstone, the symbol and building block of our faith. Not yet fully understood by the world, and even rejected by some whose agendas and passions are not spiritual; to those who come to know and love Jesus, Jesus is their all. On this Tuesday of Holy Week, many in Jerusalem, like now, are wondering Who Jesus is, and what does He want? The answer is that Jesus wants them, and you, and me. Jesus' whole purpose was to restore the broken relationship and agreement God had with His people, and it would take His death on a cross to restore and renew and rebuild that relationship. It was our sin, our stubbornness to believe and repent that led Him up that painful way to the cross. Still, He loves you and me, and wants very much to have us in the relationship for which He came.

PRAYER: Loving God, make this week more meaningful by allowing me to be restored into the right relationship with You. Let Jesus be the cornerstone of my life and faith; this I pray in His precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus' Authority

Image from revandy.org

From Where Does It Come? Where Does It Go?

This is Monday of Holy Week. We find in Luke 20:1-8 these words that ask and speak about Jesus' authority: One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, "Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Don't you like to be questioned about why you do the things you do? Neither do I. Those questions usually come from those who don't have a clue, or those who worry too much about you. After His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His display of anger for the Temple, Jesus is questioned by those who already hated Him: "By what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" Obviously, they did not like what Jesus had done and they certainly did not relate to the teachings they had heard Him speak that went against the order and authority of the day. Jesus answered with a question: "Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" Great question as their discussion proves: "If we say Heaven, He will ask why we did not believe him; but if we say of human origin, we will be stoned by the people, because they believed him to be a prophet." So the answered, "We don't know where it came from!" Jesus answered, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

The key question for us is, What authority does Jesus have in your/my life? If we give Jesus no authority we miss out on so much. We will question what He does or says. If we surrender to Jesus and admit our need for Him, then everything becomes clear and understandable. Those who say Jesus is Lord, understand the Lord's desire for those who are His. We will understand Jesus came to restore the right relationship God desires with us. We will understand that sin and other things not of God in our lives, like those things in the Temple, need to be overthrown and cast out; then the real work of Jesus will begin in us.

Surrender, dear friend today, to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of love and life, and our lives are empty without Him. Meaning and purpose will be ours if we but say, "Come into my heart Lord Jesus."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, come in today, come in to stay; come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Make clear the things of Heaven in a mind that used to be tuned only to earth. I pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde