TWSYTJ: James, The Brother of John

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James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder) (Mark 3:17)

Good day dear Friend; may the blessings of the Lord Jesus and His grace be with you and yours is my prayer.  May your plans for this weekend include time to worship with other believers in the house of God.  I ask your prayers for me as I preach both services at First United Methodist Church of Gonzales.  Our series is Superheroes of the Bible, and this week's superhero is Daniel.  May the Lord bring a blessing to His Church is my prayer.

The book, The Master's Men by William Barclay begins his treatment of James with this sentence:  "James, the brother of John and the son of Zebedee, is the most tantalizingly vague figure among the twelve."  Thank you? The one thing we do know about him is that he was the first of the Twelve to die a martyr's death as recorded by Luke in Acts 12:2:  "He (King Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great) had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword."  We do know that in all the list of the apostles, his always in the top three in the list.  In two of the accounts, his name comes before John's and scholars believe it is because he was the eldest of the two.

His life is difficult to study individually, because his name always appears alongside that of John.  The two were fishermen, who worked for their father, Zebedee; apparently well-to-do because he was able to employ other men in the business.  And both James and John were called by Jesus to be His followers; and the two were part of the inner circle of Jesus on the most sacred occasions.  The two were typically impulsive and quick-tempered, a trait long associated with Galileans, and this outburst type of anger earned them the nickname, "Sons of Thunder, Boanerges."  We have read how they wished to blot out an entire Samaritan village which had refused them hospitality, and we know they asked Mommy to secure for them the two spots next to Jesus in His kingdom.

What we do have are legends about the man in other writings.  Eusebius shares a story about James in the seventh book of the lost Hypotyposes of Clement of Alexandria:  He says that the one who led James to the judgment seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved and confessed that he also was a Christian.  They were both, therefore, Clement says, led away together; and on the way he begged James to forgive him.  And he, after considering a little, said: Peace be with thee, and kissed him.  And thus they were beheaded at the same time."  So John was one of that army of noble martyrs whose faithfulness to the Lord converted even those who accused him.

Another legend has to do with magicians by the name of Hermogenes and Philetus.  The two worked together casting spells and deceiving people out of their money, but Philetus was converted by James' preaching and told Hermogenes that he was leaving that life behind.  Herme bound Phil by magical incantations and Phil was able to get word back to James.  James sends a kerchief and that cloth set Phil free from Herme's curse.  Herme then sends devils to bind James to bring him to him, but the devils returned saying they were powerless to touch "not even an ant in his chamber."  James sends the devils back to bring Herme bound; which they do and he asked to be free.  James said he would release him because he did not do "evil for evil."  Herme went home and destroyed all his books of magic and retuned back to James to ask forgiveness.  James sends him back to undo all the evil he had done and to spend in charity what he had gained in his art.  He obeyed and grew in the faith to the point he was able to perform miracles.

The above two legends point to the greatest we have about this disciple.  To this day, James is the patron saint of Spain.  The legend holds that James went to preach in Spain.  He returned back to Palestine and was executed by Herod.  His two old friends, Hermogenes and Philetus took his body on a ship from Joppa.  The next morning the ship was off the coast of Spain.  They landed at a place called Iria Flavia, today called El Patron.  James' body lay there for a long time and wonderful miracles happened just by its presence in that area.  In the 8th century, the body was lost in the barbarian assaults on Spain, only to be found in the 9th century and taken by King Alphonso the Chaste to Compostella, where it is said, it still lies.  It is also believed the Virgin Mary appeared to James when he was alive and preaching Christ, to give him strength.  An image of her still has hundreds of candles burning for their respect for what she did in their country.

We conclude  with these things:  James was a man of courage and forgiveness.  James was a man without jealousy; it was okay with him to live under the shadow of his younger brother John.  James and his brother were both men of great faith, who even though they knew Jesus to be a homeless Galilean preacher on a course bound to collide with the powers-that-be, they never doubted that Jesus was a king.  Lastly, James and John both asked for places of honor.  Jesus asked if they were willing to drink from the cup He was to drink; both said yes.  John goes to Ephesus and lives to be almost a hundred years old, dying in peace; James dies young and by the sword - yet both drank from the cup of Christ.  The Romans had a coin which had on it the picture of an ox facing an altar and a plough with the words, "Ready for either."  The Christian, like the ox, must be ready for either sacrifice on the altar, or the long routine of the plough.  One Christian died in one heroic moment; the other lives a long life of fidelity to Christ, both drank from the same cup.  Not one was superior to the other; the Christian must be ready too.

PRAYER:  Grant us faith like James, loving Father. May we serve You in all ways and in all occasions, seeking not honor nor glory, but the presence of Your company until that day we enter into Your kingdom forever.  In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  May we serve Christ in all ways today and all days!

Eradio Valverde

Here's a video that I shared yesterday in case you missed it!

Great is the Lord, Worthy of Our Praise!

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Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.  Then the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;  trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor,  as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. (Selah)  We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever. (Psalm 48)

Let the celebrations still continue!  Dear friend, may our celebrations of the greatness of God never end!  I trust you had a safe and happy Fourth of July, and as the work week continues may it be one that blesses God, us, and those who can be blessed by our thoughts, words, and actions.  

Yesterday, we read where David was asked to be king of Judah, later of both Judah and Israel, and how he moved his capital to Jerusalem from Hebron.  This is a psalm he wrote about that beautiful and significant city.  I have to confess that I never felt the need to go to Israel, but a blessing allowed Nellie and I to be there in the first part of March.  I have shared how Jerusalem so blessed us, that Nellie said she wanted to live there.  It is a beautiful city, filled with people from all over the world.  It is the center of three of the world's major religions; Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  It is a city that allows one to feel secure; never once did we feel we were in danger.  Yes, it is a big city, so like big cities, there are places where one may not be safe; but the tourist areas are the most secure, for the residents and officials of the city recognize the impact the tourist money brings in to them and blesses them-they will take care of their tourists.  And they seek to take care of their residents.

The city is a reminder of God's presence.  To walk along its streets is to emotionally be stirred by all that happened in that city as recorded in the pages of our Bible.  To see the City of David, a small section within the city that has the remnants of David's palace is enough to make your mouth gape with wonder as to the place where this great king lived and died.  And the place where many of the psalms were written.  Jerusalem, as David wrote, "is the city of the great King," meaning God.  It is the "city of the Lord of hosts," "the city of our God, which God establishes forever."  A steady and constant reminder of God's love, and a call to worship the Lord as often as we can.  And it serves to remind our children and their children about God; who serves to guide us forever."

The photograph in today's devotional is the rebuilt wall of the old city.  It is precisely the place we took on our first and subsequent days when we walked from out hotel to the university and to begin our tours of that famous city.  One can never see it again as a place never visited, for we visited it and it blessed and touched our lives; and we praise God for that blessing, for the ones who made possible that blessing, and for all God has, is, and will do, for us.  What remains is to ask what we will do to bless the Lord in our lives?

PRAYER:  Loving God, we rejoice in the knowledge that You are everywhere; and we love that You reside in our hearts.  May our glad hearts praise You today and all days.  May You guide us to faithfulness and fruitfulness is our prayer, which we lift up in faith, and in the name of Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  May you be a source of motivation for someone to praise God today!

Eradio Valverde

King of All Israel

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Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. (2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10)

Happy Fourth of July, dear Friend!  I hope your plans for today include prayers for our nation, the United States of America, and its needs.  We see a story about an important nation in the Bible in today's Biblical passage.  May it bless our hearts and minds to better serve the Lord Jesus!

The story of Israel and Judah has been an interesting one.  Made up of twelve tribes, it was in the meeting held with David in Hebron, that the northern and southern kingdoms came together as one nation, keeping the name Israel as the name of the country.  I have long seen the star of David, shown above, as the symbol of the northern and southern kingdoms having come together.  Apparently I can find no proof of this, there are about a hundred different explanations for why it was chosen; I use it as a guide or reminder of what happened in Hebron.  (And if you put that down in an essay on a test, it will be marked wrong, probably!)

Unity was what the nation needed and finally wanted. Their approach to David was, "We're all related; we're all in this together; you saw the mess we had with Saul and while he was still on the throne, you were the one doing the real work - be our king!"  Well, David was already anointed by Samuel as the next king; this made it official.  And they sealed the deal with a covenant, a three-party holy covenant, with the party of the first part being God, then Israel, then David.  I imagine the covenant was a simple one:  You shall be our king and we shall be your nation, so help us God.  Then the 30-year old is now the king of Judah, which he was for seven years; the unification of both kingdoms took place and David ruled a total of forty years.  During his reign, he moved the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem, which he named the City of David.  (Two points if you know what other city in the Bible holds that name as well?)  And the key verse:  "And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him."

God should always be involved in our lives and all aspects of our lives.  As Israel found out, David was a man of God, and to have him as king meant the presence and power of God in all the dealings of the nation. Imagine a life without God?  I cannot.  The blessings and peace in a life lived in God far outrank anything; money, power, prestige, etc. and etc.  A life lived in God is a life well lived.  It may be said of you that "you became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with you."

PRAYER:  Loving God, we thank You for all the blessings you have shared with us.  As a country, The United States of America is richly blessed and we pray for Your guidance in how we are to best live out our purpose not just for ourselves, but for the whole world.  Bless this dear reader and all that they are facing; bless the sick, the hungry, the naked, the thirsty, the lost, the prisoner, and those who should minister to them.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  May you be a blessing of life blessed by God to all you meet!

Eradio Valverde

For Whenever I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong!

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I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:2-10)

Dear one, I am thankful that last year, which was yesterday is over!  It seemed like a year; I even slept in today, arising at 6:05!  If I were a farmer, I'd be fired!  I am a sower, and so please dock my pay.  I'll share what made last year, I mean yesterday, what it was.  I awoke with the reality that that was the day of Nellie's second surgery in such a short time; June 5th foot surgery, July 1, wrist surgery to repair what came about because of foot surgery.  Then the text with the photo of a posting that I had to read three times before I could even grasp that it was real.  A dear friend and colleague in ministry, Rev. Sheldon Johnson, had in one accident on Sunday night; the first day of his retirement, lost his family.  His wife and son, killed, and he badly injured, as was his sister-in-law.  No way!  Interesting how our minds go to that or similar phrases when confronted with news you don't want to hear or read about.  No way!  I thank God, Almighty God, that Nellie's surgery went well, with the exception of a high pulse rate at the end, that medication brought down quickly enough and we were home.  She's still sleeping.  Thank you all SO MUCH for your prayers.  It made last year, I mean, yesterday so much easier to endure.

The Apostle Paul had worse days that last year.  Yet, through it all he had his eyes and mind on two options all the time.  Reread the first verse above again; he's thinking of the first option that he looks so forward to - Heaven.  He heard from a man he knows, tell of a near-death experience or vision of some sort, that gave that man a glimpse of something Paul had already experienced and he knew to be his final and eternal destination; that made him so happy he wanted to shout and boast about it; but he refrained.  He did write it down so we could know and we could be comforted; there is a reality that awaits those who live in the Lord; for they will die in the Lord and be with the Lord forever.  Paul had a joy about life since he met Jesus (as should we!).  He was a very aggressive man, a successful man in his first career - that of putting Christians to death and in prison; and he took the same oppressive skills and made them evangelistic skills.  But something troubled this dear servant of God, something scholars have no real idea what it was, and something we add to the list of People to Look Up and Ask Questions About:  "Say, Paul!" which I would say with the same tremble and fear that young girls used to say to The Beatles, but it's not Sir Paul, but THE Paul, the Apostle Paul, "What was the thorn in your flesh?"  I would also ask, if the answer did not satisfy me, "What made you call it 'a Messenger of Satan'?"  And, as we further read, he prayed to the Lord three times about it, and God's answer was that His grace was sufficient for him, as it is for us; and that His power is made perfect in weakness.  Ponder that.  There are some days, like yesterday, that we cannot ever fully explain nor understand, but at our weakest, Christ is His strongest.  And we can brag on that so that that power of Christ Jesus be in us.  Paul's list of "years" that he endured for the sake of the Gospel is long, but he shortens it for our sake:  Besides weaknesses, there were insults, hardships (too numerous to list), persecutions (imagine both your former colleagues and your enemies trying to kill you!), and calamities.  Then the title of today's devotional, and that which blesses us: "For whenever I am weak, then I am strong."  Bam!  Nothing can come out way that will ever weaken Jesus in us.  Our pains may still haunt us, but not our memory; those things we have turned over to the Lord.  Our walk may not be the spring in our step that we once enjoyed, but we move steadily forward and upward.  Paul could see, as should we, the outstretched arms of a loving Savior; for He both embraces and strengthens our walk and guides us to that for which we long.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for the "years" we have had to endure in the last month or so of our lives, we are thankful above all else, for You.  Stay with us.  Put up with us.  Be strong in us. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.  Even if it seems a year, today is the present God gave us; make the best of it for His sake.  Nothing will ever make Jesus weak in us!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST:  Please continue in prayer for Rev. Sheldon Johnson.  He underwent his first surgery yesterday to repair his left ankle, today at 10:50 or so, he undergoes his second surgery.  There are others he will have to endure and the reality of having lost his family will be his soon; pray the Lord make him strong and share with him, His comfort.  For our brother Bob Clark.  I spoke with him late last night; he is in Houston and shared how today will be a long day of treatments as will Thursday.  Tomorrow he gets a day of rest.  May he beat this cancer!  And continued prayers for Nellie Valverde as she recovers.  She received a nerve block which deadened his arm for about a week, and has it in a sling; her fear is the pain that will come when it awakens.  Pray for one another, pray for yourself.

You Are the Equipment!

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He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Maryand brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honor, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:1-13)

Dear Friend!  Thank you for starting your day with God!  Actually, any time with God is a blessings; but I find I start my days off better if I spend time in prayer and God's word.  I pray you made time to worship the Lord with other believers at the church of your choice, and that you're planning even now to be in church next Sunday.  As we pray today, please keep Mr. Bob Clark in prayer as he has started cancer treatments; also for my wife, Nellie, as she undergoes surgery this afternoon at 1 pm in San Antonio.

There are two parts to this passage; the rejection Jesus received from His hometown, and the sending of the Twelve out to do ministry.  It seems that on the pain of rejection can come mission and purpose.  Let's focus on the rejection.  I wonder how many of you still live in the same town?  How many of you have never left for any reason?  And if you did move, did you have a say in that move?  I've shared how economic realities of the mid-60s made necessary our move from Kingsville to Houston.  Had I had a vote I would have voted to stay.  Given the wisdom of the move, now I would change my vote.  How many of you still attend the very same church you did as a child?  Again, because of the impact my tiny church in Kingsville had on my life, I would have voted to stay in Kingsville precisely because of the church; however, looking back it was an awesome move.  If you've moved away for any reason and then come back, your experiences may have varied, but some of you may identify with Jesus' dilemma.  Jesus returns home and does His thing.  The hometown folks praise Him in one breath and with another they criticize Him.  They would never forget that Jesus was the son of a carpenter, nor who HIs family was.  All the wrinkles and pimples had been counted and never forgotten; and Lord have mercy on those families where a member, however distant, ever broke the law or committed a deed that would never be forgotten!  The oppressive spirit of that crowd kept Him from doing His thing in the way folks expected.  I almost titled today's devotion, "Is Jesus amazed at your unbelief?" because of the verse that says, very sadly, "And He was amazed at their unbelief."  

Jesus continued His mission going from village to village teaching.  And He reached a point where He decided the disciples were ready to go and try their hand at ministry.  Sending them out two by two, with complete authority over unclean spirits, he prepared them by saying they needed no special equipment for this ministry, for as The Message version says, "You are the equipment."  In other words, use your gifts to bless people.  Open your mouth and words will flow out with God's words.  Visit with all you can, and stay as long as you feel there is a need, and then leave.  Early in my days as a superintendent I received a call from a church who had a "serious" problem.  Their pastor did not know how to have short visits with families.  Now, some of you would welcome that, others, not so much.  I remember my professor saying these words about home and hospital visits, "Leave them wanting more!"  And I try to still practice that.  Jesus said that if any place did not welcome them, the disciples were to leave, shake the dust off their feet "as a testimony against them," and go start over some place new.  Their mission was a success; many repented of their sins, many demons were cast out, and many who were sick were made whole.

You and I have a daily mission service project to do.  Just like the disciples, everywhere we go, whomever we see, we should find an opportunity to share God's word with them.  It may just be a word of hope or encouragement; it may simply be an "I understand, and I'm praying for you" phrase.  There is lots, I repeat, LOTS of work still to be done and in some of the least likely places you can imagine.  One may just simply need to walk across the room or across the street.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, for the joy of Jesus, we are thankful.  Help us to share with those in need that same joy You have shared with us.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  You are the equipment; use it!

Eradio Valverde

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Simon the Zealot

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and Simon, who was called the Zealot, (Luke 6:15b)

Dear Friend, is there an adjective after your name?  ______ the Dad?  ______ the wife?  ______ the Astros Fan? What does that word say about your personally?  Today's disciple had this adjective after his name, though sources varied as to what word was actually used; most scholars know him as Simon the Zealot.

The lesser manuscripts from which the Bible came to be, believed the adjective to be Cananite; thus many people wrongly assumed that he was the bridegroom from the wedding of Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water into wine.  The legend goes that after the wedding, he became a believer and thus a disciple.  The greater manuscripts, or those whom the scholars trusted more, have him as a zealot, so he could not have been that bridegroom.  Sadly, other than his name, the scriptures do not tell us much, if anything about this man.

If he was indeed a Zealot, we know him to have a been a part of the last of there great Jewish parties to emerge; enthusiastic patriots of the Jewish nation, whose actions led to the final destruction of the Jewish state.  We cannot forget that Palestine was under Roman rule, and the Jews had never learned to accept the fact.  Palestine was a sleeping volcano, even during the days of Jesus, ready and quite liable to erupt in violence.  Herod the Great, for many years, kept the Zealots under his peace, by his sheer force of personality and his skills in diplomacy; this blessed his relationship with the Romans and the Jews.  When he died in 4 B.C., he left the country to his sons:  Philip received the regions of Ituarea and Trachnonitis in the northeast; to Herod Antipas he left Galilee; and to Archelaus he left Judea and Samaria.  This had to first be ratified by Roman authorities, and of course, before it could be Palestine erupted.  The violence was quickly calmed by Roman soldiers.

We know this much about Zealots from Judas the Galilaean philosopher:  "They [the Zealots] have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is their only Ruler and Lord.  They do not mind dying any kind of death, nor do they heed the torture of their kindred and their friends, nor can such fear make them call any man lord." (The Antiquities of the Jews, 18, 1, 6).

This gives us the background of Simon; he was a man of fanatical nationalism, a man devoted to the Law, a man with bitter hatred of anyone who dared to compromise with Rome.  And because we know that, two things emerge.  1.  The makeup of the Twelve as nothing short of a miracle given all who made up that band of followers.  There were tax collectors, and Simon the Zealot.  Those two would have made most groups very uncomfortable!  Matthew accepted and benefitted from the political situation; Simon would have willingly stabbed to death any Roman within his reach (or someone who agreed with the politics of the day; like Matthew).  The common love of Christ destroyed the personal enmity of these two men; examples of what Jesus can still do today.  2.  As Acts 1:13 shows, after the Cross, Simon was still there.  Further proof that the dagger must abdicate for the Cross.  Simon had rededicated his life to sacrificial love as he had been taught by Jesus.

Legend has Simon the Z preaching in Egypt, in Africa, and Britain.  We read about him being in Persia, where he went up against two magicians, Zaroes and Arfaxat; their power and wisdom were not match for Simon's; even being defeated in the presence of a king who ordered the two murdered; the disciple and Jude refused to kill the two magicians basing their decision on Jesus.  The two magicians were set free, but they were not convinced or grateful for that action.  They continued to follow Jude and Simon, to warn and incite the people about them and their Christian teachings.

Simon and Jude ended up in the city of Suanir, where there were 70 priests and a great temple.  These had the two arrested for their preaching agains their gods.  They were arrested and sentenced to death.  An angel of the Lord appeared and gave them a choice:  Escape and you will live, and all these here in the Temple will die with the collapse of the building or suffer martyrdom.  Simon chose to preach in hopes of converting some, rather than having them all die, and so Jude and Simon died.  The man who once would have killed for the Jews, became the man who saw that God will have no forced service and a man who would not buy his life at the price of the lives of others.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, grant me the faith to allow You to live and guide in me.  May my allegiance to You be greater than any earthly allegiance I may have now.  This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Has the Bottom of Your Life Fallen Out from Under You?

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Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you,so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psalm 130 NRSV)

Help, God - the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!  Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.  If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?  As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.  I pray to God - my life a prayer - and wait for what he'll say and do.  My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.  O Israel, wait and watch for God - with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption.  No doubt about it - he'll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin. (Psalm 130 The Message)

Good day dear Friend.  Praying that this be a day of blessing for you; as you receive, may you also give blessing after blessing, in Jesus' name!

Yesterday we visited David at one of the lowest points in his life.  He lost his best friend, and he lost a king that he respected, who besides being king was his father-in-law (You know, or should know how wonderful that marriage was!  You don't?  Read the Book!)

David's main outlet for his feelings, both good and bad, was to write praises or petitions to God.  It's a practice some of you already have, and it might be one you might want to develop as well.  For now, as we reread the verses, it could be our lives that he's describing, certainly days that we've had at some point in our lives.  One of those days for me was this past Monday.  I was in my office in Gonzales, had just finished my sandwich lunch, when the phone rings and it's Nellie.  She was crying and in obvious pain.  She said she had fallen and she thought she had broken her wrist. Yikes!  I left everything I was working on as it was, rushed down the stairs, shared with our business manager and our organist and her husband who were visiting the office, what had happened and that I was headed home.  Praying all the time I rushed the 32.9 miles to our home in Seguin.  I juggled multiple calls and ideas from our daughters, finally listening to Nellie who said our insurance card quoted the price we would pay at the ER; so to the Seguin ER we headed.  A very long, tiring journey that doesn't make a good story, but shares with you that when we hit the depths as the tradition version says above, there is only One on Whom we can depend, and that is God.  The modern version has the same thought, "Help, God."  And help is ours when we cry out to the Lord.  My continued prayer when I realized the injury to her wrist would require surgery was that her orthopedic surgeon who worked on her foot also work on her wrist.  Nellie said she'd rather my not having to drive her all the way to San Antonio, that the Seguin doctor would be fine.  So, we made the appointment for Monday, when the surgeon there would evaluate the needs of her wrist.  Yesterday in our visit to have the stitches removed from her foot, the nurse said they were going to x-ray both the foot and the wrist as our doctor would work on both.  Silently, I said, "Thank You, Lord!"  

When we reach low points, it is natural to reflect on our wrongdoings and faults.  We think also, "What could I have done to have prevented this?"  Some think of their iniquities before the Lord.  The modern version says, "As it turns out, forgiveness if your habit, and that's why you're worshiped."  Indeed.  At our lowest point we turn to God, who in His Highest point, forgives us and restores us.  The seemingly never-ending night ends.  The morning watch is over, and in God's steadfast love we rejoice; thankful for God's great power to make us new.  

Dear Reader, I pray that even if you believe yourself to be at a low point, you would call out to God and allow God to lift you up.  Share what you feel with God, and let God deal with it.  The tears of those nights spent crying as if no hope or solution was ever going to be available will soon dry up with the joy of the morning's arrival.  God is here, and has brought with Him, this new day filled with great possibilities and opportunities.  Rejoice!

PRAYER:  Awesome Heavenly Father, as we pray, we pray for those who are low as they read this; lift them up in a special way.  We also pray for those who are soaring high; bless them with continued joys.  For those who are still thinking they've done too much to turn You off, remind them of Your steadfast love (a love that never ends) and lift them up as well.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Dear one, may the joy of the Lord be your strength today!

Eradio Valverde

How The Mighty Have Fallen!

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After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.  I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me;your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (2 Samuel 1:1, 1:17-27)

Good day dear Friend; may the rich blessings of the Lord be with you and yours this day and all days is my prayer for you.  You probably have heard the phrase "How the mighty have fallen," and you may have known it comes from King David's lips. And if you didn't, it's a good thing to know.  Somewhere down the line there may be a sermon series called, "Is that in the Bible?" which will address a lot of sayings and beliefs that are not in the Bible.  It's not like we said in college, "If Elvis didn't say it - he meant to!"  

Here is why this is in the Bible.  David, though he had a troubled relationship with King Saul; he still loved him, loved his son, and was married to his daughter.  It was really King Saul who had the problem with David.  As we mentioned in weeks past, after David's win over the Philistine giant, Saul was very threatened by the young boy.  This second book of Samuel opens after King Saul saw his son, Jonathan, and the remaining sons, killed in battle, and Saul seeing that his army was being defeated, and having been wounded several times by the enemy's archers, fell upon his sword and died.  David has returned from his campaign against the Amalekites and hears the sad news that Saul is dead.  Please note that the young Amalekite brought a different version of Saul's death, and fabricated the story to find favor in the new King's eyes.  (It didn't work!  Read the between verses from 2 Samuel 1:2-16).  David does several things as part of his grief.  He laments and mourns, of course, but he also orders that a song called "The Song of the Bow" be taught to the people of Judah, and orders that news of Saul's death not reach the Philistine cities, for he did not want anyone celebrated this death.  And in his grief he exclaims the phrase, "How the mighty have fallen!"  Saul and Jonathan were professional soldiers, esteemed by most of Judah and especially by David, and David knew them to be as he describes them, "swifter than eagles, (and) stronger than lions."  The only comfort for David was that father and son died together.  

David has a great love for Jonathan.  He was that friend the shepherd boy never had growing up.  A confidant, colleague, trusted partner.  In Jonathan he found love from one who should have hated him; for David was to take the throne from him.  Jonathan knew this was God's doing, not David's, and his love for the shepherd never wavered.  You can imagine the sorrow and pain David felt at their death.  It was in his laments of Jonathan's death that David again exclaimed, "the mighty have fallen." and a hopeful wish that "the weapons of war perished."

Pain and grief are part of death, just as death is a part of life.  For some, death comes as a beloved friend, at the right time, in the right way - with it pain and suffering are taken away, and God's ultimate healing is received.  For others, death is anything but beloved; it comes as an uninvited visitor, who interrupts, better said, disrupts lives and relationships, plans, goals, pretty much the future.  And all perspectives are, of course, based on faith and personal beliefs in God.  The most important is to grieve as comes natural to us, remembering the promises and hopes we have in the Lord.  Though life be interrupted in severe ways by death, the hope in an eternal life reigns supreme over the despair of this life.  Jarius' grief was severe, but the resurrection of his daughter brought him and his family, great joy.  Lazarus' death even made Jesus cry, but the raising of that dear friend was as much for us as it was for him and his sisters and friends.  The power of Jesus to raise up the death, and yes, that same power that God used to raise His Only Son from the grave is the one in Whom we hope.

PRAYER:  Loving God of life, speak to the hearts of those who mourn this day.  Bless them in their grief and let the words of hope and comfort come from the lips of those who care.  We know the day is coming when death will be no more, but for now, speak to those who face it.  The comfort that You bring is the only relief we can hope to have.  Bless this dear reader to be one who shares that comfort with those in need.  And we pray in the Name of He who defeated death's grip on us, Jesus our Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Speak life to those who are in need!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please continue to pray for the Gindler family who yesterday said their goodbyes to Andy in a worship service at FUMC-Gonzales.  Continued prayers for the Koehl Family (Cheryl Meadows' mom) as they prepare to say their goodbyes soon.  Pray for Nellie, as today she gets the stitches out of her foot. Pray as she continues in severe pain from the broken wrist that she has.  Pray for those who are in need at this hour. Pray for one another.  Pray for yourself.

Be Generous in All Things!

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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.’ (2 Corinthians 8:7-15)

Well, dear Friend, yesterday was an unexpected day for us, but I trust you are well and enjoying God's blessings.  As most of you read the email I sent last night, my bride fell and broke her left wrist.  Please pray as we'll try to see an orthopedic doctor today.  Pray that her pain subside.  Nellie has a high threshold of pain and to see her this way means she's in a LOT of pain.  Thank you for your prayers!

A dear friend used to say in her sermons and in talks with people; "I didn't know I was poor growing up until somebody told me!"  I resemble that remark.  Dad was the only one of the two parents working outside the home and we were okay.  It wasn't until the economy shifted, and the creamery where he worked moved south that we noticed that we were not getting or doing the things we used to.  Dad tried many places in Kingsville to find work, but none worked out.  The day came when he decided to join other neighbors who had decided Houston was the place to find good work.  And so, one Sunday afternoon, after church, we said goodbye to Daddy.  He got in a car with some other men and off he went.  Needless to say, that was a traumatic event.  But it blessed us in that we started praying like never before.  And every single Friday, Dad would return home with someone from the neighborhood or he would hitchhike his way home.  Sunday he would return back to Houston.  That went on for six months and then we moved to Houston with him.  That's when we realized we were poor.

Poverty or the lack of money does not stop anything unless you let it.  Dreams still flowed into our hearts, and visions of what could be were still ours.  Joy and excitement for life were still real and very present; and those were fueled by the blessing of being a part of a great church. And all of those experiences fueled my wanting to be generous.  In particular I remember that one Friday afternoon, Dad did not come home at his usual hour.  The routine on Fridays was one I looked forward to.  Dad would come home.  He had been paid, and off we went, all seven of us piled into the '55 Chevy to Kroger.  We would buy our week's groceries and back home.  Once home, the weenies and celery were devoured by the three boys (me included), so plans for hot dogs vanished as did whatever Mom used the celery for.  LOL.  But this one Friday, Dad was late.  It soon got dark.  And supper time came and went.  We lived in a four-plex type of apartment.  An old wooden house was made into four apartments.  Two of the apartments were empty, and a family lived downstairs.  The mom of the family was called Tommie.  Tommie came upstairs, knocked and asked my Mom if we were okay.  By now the little ones in our family were restless with hunger.  Tommie had brought with her "the only thing I have which is this can of Spagehetti-O's, which you can have."  Mom accepted that and added about four times the water recommended on the label.  And that was our meal.  Dad finally arrive after having accepted to work overtime for additional money.  The generosity of Tommie, who like the first part of this chapter in 2 Corinthians talks about people in Macedonia like her, " for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part" (v. 2). If Tommie knew how to share from the little she had, so could I.

Paul encourages the people of Corinth as well as all who read this passage, to share, to give, to be generous, remembering the greatest gift ever given was by God.  Re-read John 3:16 in this way:  For God so loved the world He gave."  Re-read what Jesus gave in the above passage.  Jesus gave all.  He left the riches of Heaven so that we might have life.  I love that Paul stresses to give based on what we have, not what we hope/wish/dream we will have; give.  Share.  Do.  Good intentions are foundations if we build on them.  What's the old adage, "The road where? is paved with good intentions?"

PRAYER:  Awesome and loving God; in the good and the bad, we love You and thank You for all things.  For people like dear Tommie, who modeled a life of sharing and giving, let us also follow that, so that we might bless others.  We thank You for those churches that bless people and encourage lives that will bless others.  Bless them richly we ask; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Give today of yourself to someone in need; not to have them pay you back when it's their turn, but just because you love as God loves you!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please continue to pray for the family of Doris Koehl, mother of Cheryl Meadows, who passed away yesterday afternoon.  For the Gindler family as they prepare to say goodbye to Andy, their son.  For all everywhere who mourn, who need healing, and who could be blessed by our generosity.  Pray for one another, pray for yourself.

Gossips and Casseroles

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After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside.  One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, "My dear daughter is at death's door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live." Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him. A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years -  a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before - had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe.  She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well."  The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with. At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" His disciples said, "What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you're asking, 'Who touched me?' Dozens have touched you!" But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it.  The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.  Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague." While he was still talking, some people came from the leader's house and told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?" Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, "Don't listen to them; just trust me."  He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John.  They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."  Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.  He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, get up."  At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, "Give her something to eat." (Mark 5:21-43)

Good day dear Friend!  Here's trusting you had a fairly good weekend and are ready for what this week holds.  Never forget, dear one, whatever the week holds, God holds you!

This is a wonderful passage that I recommend you read from your favorite Bible.  I chose the Message Version because of some of the words it uses, and the title comes from this version.  This is a story of the ability Jesus had to multi-task; for we find a miracle inside of a miracle or as our friends the sheep in today's graphic said, "Two miracles in one day?"  Yes, two.  Such is the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

The Lord had just landed on the shore when a man named Jairus came to plead with Jesus for the life of his little daughter.  Those of you who have daughters, or granddaughters, or nieces, or family friend's daughters, know how delicate it is to see any of them sick.  The first fever our firstborn had had us calling the doctor every five minutes in near-panic.  We were ready to rush her to the hospital if need be!  Imagine Jairus' heart in seeing his child at the point of death.  Please keep in mind that Jairus was a leader of a synagogue, and one who could have easily been Jesus' nemeses, for it was the religious people of the day that disliked Jesus' ministry; but that was put aside when Jairus said, like most parents:  I will do whatever it takes to make my little girl well!  And, perhaps, swallowing his pride, he goes to Jesus.  He affirms his faith in the Lord when he says, Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live."  That was his plead, and that was his prayer.  So, Jesus agrees and tries to make his way through the crowds that gathered whenever they heard  Jesus was near.  As our Lord makes His way to Jairus' home, there was a woman who sought Jesus' healing touch as well.  For 12 years she had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging.  One can only imagine the discomfort, not to mention the weakness and general yucky-ness of losing so much blood during each day; and then to know this poor lady suffered this for twelve years.  That's 146 months, 4,380 days of this misery.  She also was willing, and had, done everything to get healed.  Scripture tells us she spent all her money on doctors; so she not only suffered a flow of blood, but a flow of money, and only to get worse physically.  Her faith was now in Jesus.  "If only I can touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed."  She makes her way to Jesus, touches Him, and immediately is healed.  End of story, right?  Nope.  Jesus knows that some of His power has left Him and so He asks, "Who touched my robe?"  The disciples think it funny for Him to ask such a question as the crowds were massive and there would be no way to know who had done it.  But He kept asking, and she, to her credit, goes and with "fear and trembling" kneels before Jesus and confesses.  Jesus responds, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole.  Live well, lived blessed!  Be healed of your plague."  She receives her healing and a blessing from the Son of God.

Then the news comes that Jairus' daughter has died.  The opinion of those near Jesus was that they should no longer bother Jesus.  Death is final after all.  Leave Jesus alone.  Jairus, get home and start that awful task of planning a funeral.  Jesus ignores all of this and still continues on His way to the home where the body of the little girl lay.  Taking the intimate three in with Him; Peter, James, and John, Jesus pushes His way into the house.  The verse I love says, "They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles." Ouch.  

Jesus then asks, "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? The child isn't dead; she's sleeping."  Folks laughed and provoked the Lord.  He takes the girl's hand and says, "Talitha Koum," which means, "Little girl, get up."  And just like that, she awakes and starts walking around.  Everyone was now besides themselves with joy.  Jesus leaves them with the plea no one was to know what had taken place in that room, and for them to feed the little girl.

Dear reader, if you have fear of approaching the Lord, you're missing out on a lot! Learn from these folks we just read about.  Jairus did not let his position and pride get in the way of seeking the help of Jesus.  The woman who had suffered for 12 years did not let the size of the crowd dampen her faith and hope that in Jesus she would find healing.  And whatever excuse you may have been using to not seek the Lord should be put to bed.  Take courage and seek help!  The Lord knows what you are facing and the size of your needs; He stands ready to help and to bless.  All we have to do is approach Him with faith and see what He will do for us.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for the power of healing as found in this passage, we thank You.  We pray that we might have the courage of a Jairus and of that brave woman, to seek You and share with You that which troubles us.  Let us find in You that which we need.  But above all, we pray that Thy will be done.  In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Approach the Lord today.  And tell someone about what Christ can do.

Eradio Valverde

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: Philip

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The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ (John 1:43)

Dear Friend, you don't need my permission to jump up and down and celebrate Fridays!  So, go ahead!  I pray this is a blessed day for you and yours.  May the word of the Lord uplift your day and weekend!

Imagine being the first one to hear from our Lord, "Follow me."  That honor belongs to Philip.  His name is found in all four gospels, but it is the Fourth Gospel, John, that tells us a little bit about this disciple.  The honor of hearing those words was a blessing doubled when Philip said yes to Jesus.

We should know that there are two Philips in the Bible.  The disciple who we are studying, and the one whom we meet in Acts.  The one in Acts was a Deacon and a successful missionary for the Lord.  But, he is not the one whom we see in Acts 8; that's the missionary.  Sadly, the Bible tells us more about Philip the missionary than Philip the disciple; but we will explore his life and what he brought to the Kingdom of God.

He was from Bethsaida, and he was a homeboy to Peter and Andrew, and more than likely was, like them, a fisherman.  Besides being the first to hear "Follow Me" from Jesus, we know these four things about him from the Gospel of John:  1)  His first action was to bring Nathanael to Jesus.  Philip goes to Nate and tells him all about the Lord. It was Nate who asked if anything good could come from Nazareth.  Philip doesn't argue with him, simply says, "Come and see." (John 1:45-46).  This action tells us that Philip had an evangelistic zeal; from meeting Christ he learned all he needed to know about Him and wanted to tell others about Him.  Nate becomes the first.  Philip also had the right approach to dealing with skeptics - don't argue just say, "come and see" for yourself.  Skeptics usually want to experience for themselves that which one tries to share with them. 2). We find Philip next at the feeding of the 5,000.  Jesus has asked Philip the question, "Where can we find bread, that these people may eat?"  Philip replies, Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’  It has been suggested that Philip may have been the quartermaster of the disciples' band.  It would fall to him to find food and supplies for their needs, and so Jesus spoke to them about the need of the five thousand.  His quick answer shows that Philip had been already thinking and evaluating the situation and how best to address it. The Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels tells us that in Palestine one denarius normally bought twelve wheaten or thirty-six barley "loaves," a span in diameter and about an inch and a half thick.  To have bought that with that amount of money even if they had it, would have only provided a bite for each person present.  Philip had a warm heart but a pessimistic head; like many, who would love to do something good for someone else, but do not see how it could possibly be done.  Cavour has said that the supreme essential of a statesman was "a sense of the possible."  Philip had not yet reached the point of knowing that with Christ even a little is much, and that with God all things are possible.  

3). As Jesus' days on earth are coming to an end we see Philip greeting some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem, and the approach Philip with a request to see Jesus.  They may have thought Philip, with a typical Greek name would identify with them.  Philip goes to Andrew and tells him; and on Ethen did Andrew and Philip bring the Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22).  

4). Philip's last appearance is in the Upper Room, where Jesus is talking about the Father and Philip, still not yet strong in his faith asks Jesus to show him the Father.  Yet, if nothing else, we see in Philip the confidence to approach Jesus with his problems with neither fear nor shame.  We can learn from that.

We have a legend, among many others, of Philip after his NT days.  The most common is how he came to die.  He came to Hierapolis and found the people worshipping a giant snake. Philip arrives there with Bartholomew and with his sister, Mariamne, who had taken a vow of virginity and sought to serve the Lord alongside her brother.  Philip preaches  and is successful in converting many.  This, however, angers the proconsul, who orders Philip arrested.  He is stripped, pierced in the ankles and ankles and thighs and hung upside down.  Philip does not want this sort of treatment and orders the ground to swallow up those around him, and the ground swallows seven thousand people.  Jesus then appears and rebukes Philip for his anger and action, and restores to life those whom had been killed in the ground swallowing.  It was then that Philip confessed his sin and died upside down.  His last request was that he not be buried in linen as was the custom, but in papyrus, for he was not worthy to be buried like Jesus.  That request is granted, and as soon as his body is in the ground the heavens open up and a voice declares that Philip had received his crown.  So we can say that Philip was faithful even unto death.

PRAYER:  Loving God grant us stronger faith to be faithful and fruitful.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed weekend!  Show your faith in Christ to many as often as you can!

Eradio Valverde

Words Without Knowledge

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Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk,or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? ‘Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, “Here we are”? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,or given understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together? ‘Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens,or lie in wait in their covert? Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?  (Job 38:1-7, 34-41)

Good day, dear Friend!  I'm praying that today be a special and wonderful day for you in spite of what you dread doing, or whom you dread seeing.  Hear the word of God to a man whose life was unlike any other in history, dear Job.  May we find strength and comfort in God much like Job ultimately did.

In case we have forgotten, Job was a wealthy and blessed man.  So blessed that even Satan envied him.  And in a scene where God and the devil talk, Satan blames Job's blessings for his faithfulness.  "I bet if you took everything away from him, he would despise you and turn away from you!"  were Satan's words to God. Fast forward to where we find Job being told what's what from God.  And this after three friends have tried to explain to Job how they see God and life.

"Words without knowledge" is how God describes our attempts at understanding and explaining things we don 't know.  I smile as I remember the days of our little ones asking, "Why?"  And that was followed by "Why?"  I smile also because their children now ask us, "Why?"  And that is a good question when we would dare to say we know more than God.  We don't.  Try as we would, we would still fall way short of knowing God and what God is thinking.  God's exact words were that Job's friends and even Job's attempt were "(darkened) counsel by words without knowledge."  And God then asks Job to be ready to answer like a man the following questions:  "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding."  Ouch.  A good question that proves a point without our even trying to answer it.  We were not there.  We did not see it.  We can't even understand it, let alone try to explain it.  Next question, "Who determined its measurements-- surely you know!"  I personally have trouble determining how far a mile is, let alone .03 of a mile as my GPS tries to guide me someplace.  "Was it you that stretched out the Equator of the Earth?"  No sir, it wasn't me.  I barely understand pier and beam, let alone the foundations or bases of the world.  And though I don't even know where the cornerstone of the Earth is, I sure would have loved to be there "when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy"!  I love the way today's graphic asks, "Why do you talk so much when you know so little?"  Ouch again.

The most difficult person to explain the difficult things of life to is ourselves.  We have a less than perfect teacher and we make poor students when we are also the instructor.  We should trust God and leave all things to God's understanding, will, and purpose.  Left to ourselves many times the best response is "I don't know."  But add to it, "But God knows, and I trust God."

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, as  this dear reader and I sometimes try to make sense of life and life's most difficult and trying challenges, remind us as you reminded Job, that we can and should trust You.  We can ask, and we do, pray for victory in all of the challenges before us this day.  May we find peace so that we can share it with someone who doe not yet trust You.  May the love You have placed in our hearts be exactly that which we can share with someone today.  This we pray in Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone of Life's strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Be a blessing to someone by learning how to be a blessing.  It's not what you know, it's who you are that may bless someone today.  So be the best!

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUEST: Please be in prayer for Mr. Tim Wilson (Charlotte's son) who is undergoing surgery this morning here in Seguin.  Prayers for the family and friends of The Rev. Thom Elliott, whose memorial service is today in Georgetown, Texas.  Pray for each other.  Pray for yourself.

The Rest of the Story... for David, anyway...

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On David’s return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.’ When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; (! Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16)

I pray this finds you dear one doing well and enjoying God's blessings upon your life.  I pray that today's devotional speak to your heart and needs.  Let us be in a posture of worship and listening.

"And they lived happily ever after."  Great ending.  For fairy tales.  How we wish we could tack that on to big, special events in our lives, don't we?  After our wedding..."and they lived happily ever after."  After the birth of our child... "and they lived happily ever after."  You get the picture.  How about, David killed Goliath, and he lived happily ever after?  Today's passage begins the narrative about David's life after his big win.  We see the general of the army taking David formally before the king, King Saul.  Saul asks who David was, and David replies he is the son of Jesse, who is from Bethlehem.  And as this introduction is being made, the heir to the throne, Prince Jonathan sees in David a friend that he longed for.  One can only imagine growing up in royalty and in a palace; access to peers would be limited, and not everyone would be considered a peer.  Keep in mind that David is about to become Jonnie's brother-in-law; for Saul promised his daughter to whoever killed the giant, and that would be David.  And that would be the first of many wives for David, as was the known custom of the day.  But, we also see the reality of how Jonnie may have grown up; in the household of a troubled man.  

Saturday night was the night we finally got to see the movie "I Can Only Imagine" on the story behind the hit song by the same name by Bart Millard.  If you have not yet seen it, I will only say that Bart grew up in the home of a troubled man, much like Saul.  The Old Testament explanation was that "an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul," which is as scientific as the OT got.  The thinking is that all things were created by God and so this that Saul had must have surely come from God, when in reality it must have been a personality disorder of some kind.  There are demons and evil spirits, but in this case, Saul's life as king led him slowly away from God, and when one gets too far from God, one is open to all sorts of influences and temptations.  Saul tries to kill David.  It is finally dawning on him that this boy is going to take the throne away from him and his son.  This boy also seems to be filled with the presence of God.  Remember that Saul, in his good moments, made David the head of military operations, but now wants him dead.  David escapes, but never enjoyed peace until that fateful day that Saul died.  Suffice it to say that David did enjoy the blessings of God "in all of his undertakings; for the Lord was with him."  Saul is in awe of this, but the people of Israel and Judah (these were the people of God in divided kingdoms at this point of their history) loved David.

The key to the story is that we don't all live happily ever after without the bad thrown in by life.  This was the case with David and may be the case with you, dear friend.  The key to David's success and true happiness, as it is to our successes and happiness, is that God is invited in, and God is given all credit and glory for what comes next in our lives.  This may have been a rough week for you; unexpected challenges and worries have come to your life; take heart, we are not to be afraid nor are we supposed to give up or to give in.  Stand with God as God stands with you.  There is still much to do and experience and that is best done walking and trusting God.  Your having taken time at this moment to read God's word, to pray and to be prayed for, means you're on the right path right now.  And that, dear friend, is good news!

PRAYER: Awesome Father, thank You for the faith and life of David.  Speak to our hearts at this point of our lives.  You better than we know what is ahead for us and we turn it all over to You.  We ask that You be gloried in our lives.  May the victories coming our way be because of You.  We thank You right now for that which will bless our lives.  And we pray all these things in He who is Our Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Tell someone that you're standing and walking with God.

Eradio Valverde

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please be in prayer for Bruce and Lisa Gindler  as they have lost their oldest son, Andy who died unexpectedly at age 38.  Please be in prayer for Tom Lester, Jr and testing that he is undergoing.  Prayers for Rosannah Green who also is to undergo some tests today with an oncologist.  And for John Lucas who received two heart stents this past week in San Antonio.  He is home recovering well. Pray for one another.  Please pray for yourself.

The Smallness You Feel Comes From Within You

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Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.  God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.  Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;  when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;  ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.  Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)

Good day dear Friend!  May this find you in a place where God's voice can speak lovingly and openly to you.  May all the cares and worries of yesterday cease to bother you today.  Listen to God's voice, learn to recognize it, and learn to be blessed and guided by it.

Our youngest grandchild lives in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  Yet, must of her early education has been coming from England.  The other day when she was visiting, she talked to her grandma and me about sending us something in the post.  And we received it yesterday.  "Post?" I asked.  She gave me the look every grandchild gives to their grandfather at least once that says it all:  Grandpa, I thought you were smarter than this!  Her favorite show is Peppa Pig, a show from England.  It has allowed our baby girl to say the number four like someone on the streets of London, as well as other words which amuse us.  You could say that even at three years old, she's living "openly and expansively."  The cares and worries that most grown ups have, are not hers yet; and my prayer is that they will never overwhelm her or any of our little ones ever. Yet, here we are.  We're human and we worry.  And it seems like we sometimes forget Whose we are, and what we have become because of Jesus Christ.  Our attitude towards life should be like children; life is marvelous more so because we see with Christ's eyes; "in the nick of time" God heard our pleas and rescued us.  His strength is that which allows us to face the truly difficult days that may come into our lives.

The Apostle Paul lives a marvelous life even though as he shares the list of things he endured, we shake our heads and wonder how he was able to survive it all.  But Jesus was so important, so central to his life, that nothing else mattered.  Jesus when He called Paul revealed to him all he was to suffer, and Paul still said yes.  "Hard times, tough times, bad times," - Yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "When we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed," - yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "Working hard, working late, working without eating" - Yes Lord, if Thou goes with me.  "With pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love - all of this because He is with us.  Dear one, did I happen to share a word with which you identify this morning?  Then, leave the constricted places behind and enter into the "wide-open, spacious life" that is ours through Jesus Christ.  Dear Reader, if you feel a smallness about life, or feel hemmed or boxed in, that's you that's sharing that with you!  Paul said it best, "You're living (life) in a small way... Open up your lives.  Live openly and expansively!"

That's good news!  

PRAYER:  Loving God, bless this dear reader with all that we have read above, and please include me as well.  Remove the restrains, open wide the jail doors of the prisons we have made for ourselves and let us be the people You called us to be.  Remove the smallness of thinking and belief; grant to us the faith of a trusting child, and let us live big!  In Christ Jesus we pray and live, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Today, we shall be big!  

Eradio Valverde

The Wind Ran Out of Breath!

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On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ (Mark 4:35-41) Good day, dear Friend!  I trust this finds you in the calm of the day, when God can speak to you and share with you that which your spirit needs today.  May it be found in His word and in the words of this servant.

The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful place to be.  Nellie and I were blessed to spend three nights on its shore in a very nice resort.  The sea is also called a lake, and it is nestled in a valley of sorts, with mountains in just the right places to allow the wind to do some scary things, like the storm in this passage.  A simple crossing from one side to the other is long enough for a nap and long enough for a storm to make itself known on the normally quiet waters.  This great gale that arose brought with it huge waves, as the illustration above shows.  One can only imagine that a boat would not last long in such a storm.  Though some of the disciples were professional fishermen, and experienced boatmen, this storm was more than they could handle.  The storm found them in a panic, while Jesus slept soundly on a cushion.  Their fear drove them to wake Jesus up and to ask the question, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  Jesus woke up and calmed the storm.  The Message version says that "the wind ran out of breath, and the sea became like glass."  The words of Jesus were "Peace!  Be still!"  Those words might as well have been directed to the disciples, for Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?"  Have you stopped to consider how many times God, Jesus, and angels have come with the same message?  Do you remember when God visited Adam and Eve in the garden after they had disobeyed Him and ate from the forbidden fruit; what did the man say to God?  "We were afraid?"  Since that day, humanity has had to put up with fear.  The angel comes to Mary to announce her role in Jesus' birth and his words were "Be not afraid."  And it may just be that those words come to you saying the same thing:  "Why are you afraid?"  

You may have a list.  You may have no idea of what to answer, but you may still fear a bit unsure or uneasy about today and the things expected of you.  Hear Jesus speaking His word of peace and power; for the Man who calmed the sea is the Man at your side.  No storm, no gale force winds can harm you, for with Jesus, the wind will run out of breath!  And the sea will become smooth as glass.  I have shared how my mom, dad, and grandmother all prayed for me while I was still in college.  I was walking on unexplored territory when it came to our family.  I, after all, was the one who said I would sign up for 40 hours thinking college hours were the same as work week hours.  What decent person doesn't want to work 40 hours?  And imagine the anxiety on the upcoming first exam of my college career!  I was told I needed to bring a blue book.  I searched through my stack of new books and none of them was blue, and certainly not the one I had bought for my class!  Thankfully, I was not too shy to ask a classmate, "What blue book are we talking about for the exam?"  The classmate walked me to the school bookstore and showed me the stack of Blue Books, the college exam books for sale for all students.  Aw! said I; now I know.  The blue book did not calm the storm; but a call home to ask for prayer did.  And so did studying.  And my own prayers.  The storm was nothing to fear for I was ready, thanks to the Lord.

Dear one, what storms are you facing today?  Are there gale force winds coming your way?  Guess what, with the Lord walking beside you and in you, that storm, like the wind, is going to run out of breath!  And your spirit will be renewed by the breath of the Living One who gives us new life.  So, in the Name of Jesus, hear again the words that the Bible shares so often from God (who truly means it!):  Be not afraid!

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, in Your hands you hold this dear reader.  You know the storms or the dangers of storms in their life, but You, who calmed the sea, can calm the nerves and heart of this dear reader and share with them the calm and peace that will bless them today.  Be glorified in our lives we pray, in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!  Share those words with someone today:  Be not afraid.  God will direct you to them and you will know who needs to hear that today.

Eradio Valverde

Those Who Said Yes to Jesus: James, the Brother of Jesus

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  but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. (Galatians 1:19)

Friday!  Dear Reader, why do we make a big deal about Friday?  Well, how much time do you have?  For many, the end of the work week!  For some pastors, it's their day of Sabbath (day off)!  Whatever day makes you happy, seek to bless the Lord and make Him happy!  

"The enemy who became the friend," is how one scholar begins his treatise on James, Jesus' brother.  As we have studied this week, King David was the youngest of 8 brothers.  Joseph, the one with the technicolor coat, was the youngest of his brood; and on Sunday I mentioned in my sermon how annoying younger siblings can be to us older, wiser, smarter, better looking... Okay, I'm getting us ready for today's devotional.

James was not one of the original 12.  Yet, we know him to have been the president of the Jerusalem Church, and he was a martyr for the faith.  And we include him in the list of Apostles, because of what Paul wrote in today's passage.  Suffice it to say we do not know much about this follower of Jesus.  One thing we do know is that he first said NO to Jesus.  We should remember he was part of the clan who came to regard Jesus as being mad, as in crazy.  James was among those who wanted to take Jesus home to care for Him. (Mark 3:31-33).  We also can read in John 7:5 where John says, "neither did His brethren believe in Him." Also, in Matthew 10:36, Jesus says, "A man's foes shall be they of His own household," words Jesus spoke from personal experience.  Ouch.

James had a change of heart.  When the Apostle Luke listed those present after the death of Jesus, the Resurrection, and the Ascension, he includes the brothers of Jesus (Acts 1:14). Later, as the question of Gentiles coming into the Christian faith, it is James, who in a clear-thinking, clear-speaking voice that settled the issue to allow them in. A clean indication that he had become the leader of the Jerusalem Church. (Acts 12:17). Later, when Paul comes to Jerusalem with the collection for the poor, it is James who meets him.  On his very first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion, Paul met with James and Peter.

Beyond the New Testament, we have two accounts of how James died.  Josephus, the Jewish historian records that between Festus, the Roman governor, and the arrival of Albinus the next governor, Ananus, the high priest took advantage of the transition to do as he please, which included holding a judicial council and brought James before it, on the charges of having violated the Law, so James and others were ordered to be stoned. (Antiguities of the Jews, 20, 9, 1).  Hegesippus, a Christian historian, wrote a fuller account of James' death.  He writes that James lived such a life of holiness and piety that he was respected by all.  He never ceased to follow the Jewish Law, and Christians and Jews alike, respected him and regarded him a saint.  The account states, "He was holy from his mother's womb; wine and strong drink he drank not, nor did he eat flesh; no razor touched his head; he never anointed himself with oil; and he used not the bath."  His knees were hard as a camel's because he was so constant in prayer and in his pleas for God to forgive his people.  His piety led people to call him James the Just, and Oblias, which means The Bulwark of the People.

This story makes it clear that the Jewish authorities did not realize where James stood in his belief.  What alarmed them was the large number of people who came to him to become Christians.  This led them to plead with James to "restrain the people who are led astray after Jesus... for we all have confidence in you. Stand in the wing of the Temple that your words may be heard by all the people."  During Passover, as the city was crowed, they place James in the wing of the Temple, but his message was not as they had expected.  "Why do you ask me concerning Jesus the Son of Man?  He is now sitting in the heavens on the right hand of the Great Power, and He is about to come on the clouds of Heaven."  The Jewish leaders grabbed him and threw him down the pinnacle of the Temple, stoned him, and one of them ran up to him and clubbed his head, and James' brains came out.  The fact remains that the man who once considered Jesus as the enemy, died for Him.  From contempt to content in Jesus.

As James' life was renewed by the Resurrection, so should ours.  We can leave behind that which separated us from the Son of Man, and become one of his most faithful followers.

PRAYER:  Loving God, for the testimony and faith of James, we give You thanks.  Increase our faith to move from that of yesterday which separated us, to the faith of today, of right now, to become better and more faithful disciples.  This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.   Dear one, Take up your cross, follow Jesus!

Eradio Valverde