Disciples of the Master

"Glory" of Christmas

2007-11-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We are now full speed into the Christmas season (not just "holiday" season!). Everything around seems to be gearing up for all that goes on during this time; and it seems that the more we "advance" in society, the more challenging it becomes to keep the main thing the main thing - that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Isaiah 40:1-5 talks about a time for preparing the way of the Lord, that "voice" in John the Baptist that would announce and prepare the way for the Christ to be revealed. Isaiah 40:5 says that "the glory of the Lord will be revealed..."

What is the glory of Christmas to us? What do we glory in during Christmas? What is our main focus as we come into God's house of worship each Advent Sunday?

Do we yearn and work to prepare our hearts to celebrate for Christ's birth the same or more than working to decorate our homes for the Christmas season? Do we stop each day to reflect on Scripture more than we stop to consider our Christmas shopping list?

The point is clear - the tendency of our human nature pulls us to "glory" in the material aspect of Christmas (which is not evil, by the way!) which will take away from our preparation and celebration of Christ's birth if we don't balance it with the true and only glory of Advent and Christmas which is that moment when Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, became flesh, and lived among us!

Join us next Sunday as begin our Advent and Christmas journey by preparing our hearts to receive Jesus, the glory of Christmas!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the glory of Christmas. Help me during this Advent and Christmas keep the main thing the main thing. Help me each day to focus and re-focus on preparing my heart to celebrate your birth in a fresh and new way. In your name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

"Popular" Discipleship

2007-10-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Many blessings to all of you today as you start your week! I hope and pray that everyone enjoyed a good time in worship yesterday and look forward to becoming "doers of the Word" as well.

When I go to bookstores or department stores, I am easily drawn to the book section and perhaps 75% of the time I end up in the "religious" section. I am intrigued by the way many best selling religious books have taken on a "popular" discipleship approach; that is, there are 3, 5, 7, ways to do live this way or that way, or 10 principles to gain this or that, or the "secrets" of securing God's best blessings for me, etc. Don't get me wrong, there are principles we can live by through which we will experience true discipleship; however, I just don't think they're popular nor do they appear on the national best-selling lists. [By the way, many of these best selling and "popular" discipleship approaches focus on my benefits and what I can receive as I follow Christ]

In my devotional reading today I came across two phrases that reminded me of true discipleship. It was said of a discipleship community group in Scotland that "they are changing society because they have been changed." It sounds so simple and yet so distant in our Christian discipleship experience. Do I want my church to change? Well, then maybe I have to change! Do I want my community to change? Maybe I need to be part of that change. Do I want my marriage, family, and life to change? Well, maybe somewhere in the process I have to change! Change what? Well, that is between you and God in sincere prayer and reflection.

Secondly, Thomas Merton wrote, "It has never been either practical or useful to leave all things and follow Christ. And yet it is spiritually prudent." The spirit of this phrase is that "all things" should not govern my spiritual life but rather Christ should. When "things" begin to determine and shape my walk with Christ then it becomes a distorted faith because Christ is not at the center of it all.

We all know that God's blessings and goodness come to us whether we deserve them or not (Matthew 5:45). But when what "I will receive" overshadows the committment to the cross, then we are missing a key ingredient of true discipleship because the cross calls us to a discipleship that is denial of "self" as center for acceptance of Christ as Master.

It's interesting that of all of the graphic symbols and language that Jesus used in his life and ministry (i.e. good shepherd, bread of life, lamb of God, etc.), the one symbol that became the universal sign of Christianity was the cross. The message of the empty cross reminds us of both the suffering and victory of Christ.

As we journey as disciples of Christ, let us be reminded that the cross we bear is not easy nor "popular", but the one who walks along side us has already carried the cross and is here to empower us to live as his disciples.

Prayer: Lord, I praise you for your love for me. It is my desire to walk closely with you and to be a faithful disciple. Help me change so that I may be an instrument of change in my family relationships, church, friendships, community, and world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Good Reflection Questions for a Disciple

2007-10-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

I hope and pray everyone has gotten off to a good start this week!

Our "team" theme for Sunday paid off since the Cowboys scored yet another win!

No doubt that part of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ involves being a good team player in sharing, giving, participating, and cooperating in the life of the church. A good team effort will take us a long way, especially when we follow the right game plan - God's plan for us as a church and as individuals.

In today's devotional time, I was reminded, through a series of questions, that a team's effort can be impacted positively, or negatively, by the commitment of each player or member. That is, if the whole team is on the same page regarding our mission and purpose, and I am on another page, then I will be hindering the team's success and progress. Therefore, our individual progress in the Christian journey is essential to the overall team's effectiveness. How can we measure or evaluate our individual progress? How can I know where I need to grow? How can I know what I need to do to be a better team player?

In A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie we find the following reflection questions which I will simply highlight:

"Have I today done anything to fulfill the purpose for which You did cause me to be born?
Have I accepted such opportunities of service as You in your wisdom has set before my feet?

Give me grace to answer honestly, O God.

Have I done anything today to tarnish (to stain or blemish) my Christian [character]? Have I been lazy in body or languid (lacking vigor or vitality) in spirit? Have I wrongfully indulged my bodily appetites? Have I kept my imagination pure and healthy? Have I been scrupulously honorable in all my business dealings?

Give me grace to answer honestly, O God.

Have I made more excuses for myself than I have been willing to make for others?
Have I, in my own home, been a peacemaker or have I stirred up strife?
Have I, while professing noble sentiments for great causes and distant objects, failed even in common charity (love) and courtesy towards those nearest me?

Give me grace to answer honestly, O God."

And he closes with the following prayer; I invite you to make it ours today:

"O Thou who infinite love, made manifest in Jesus Christ, alone has the power to destroy the empire of evil in my soul, grant that with each day that passes I may more and more be delivered from my besetting sins."

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Are You Ready?

2007-08-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

I pray that your week has gotten off to a good start! May God give you the strength to do all you have to accomplish today and the rest of this week.

It's been a while since I've posted on this blogspot but now that summer is winding down I'd like to share more devotional thoughts more often.

Yesterday's sermon was "Ready or Not", and we heard from God's word that Jesus expects of us a waiting with a notion of readiness to serve. In fact, in the Luke passage (12:32-40) Jesus reminded us that it would be good for the master to return and to find us "serving".

When we think of waiting for the coming of Christ, sometimes we can get caught up in the "waiting" part and become overwhelmed with the hows and the whens. And indeed, we can see the signs of the times and see some reasons to be concerned as the direction our world has taken.

On the other hand, a closer reading of the passage will challenge us to an "active waiting" of that day with a committment and desire to be "dressed" and ready to serve Christ in all we are and do (especially as part of his body). The question is: Are we ready? Are we "dressed" for service? Are we prepared? Are we prepared to make that committment?

The opportunities to serve are there, are we ready...or not?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your loving care. Help me this day to seize those opportunities to serve you in all I am and do, for your honor and glory. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Staying Close to Christ

2007-06-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Blessings to you this day! I hope and pray that this week has gotten off the "right" foot for each of you. God indeed is good...all the time!

Today I'd like to share the closing prayer of my daily devotional:

"My Lord, I come to this moment knowing altogether too well that my feet are prone to wander and my heart prone to coldness. Go with me, my Lord. Keep my feet to your path and my heart aflame with your Spirit. Amen."

I don't think that I need to ask how challenging it is to keep our "feet on the path" of Christ and to keep our "hearts aflame" with God's Spirit. Everyday there are so many preoccupations that make us prone to "wander" from God's path of devotion, service, justice, and worship. It's not easy to accept but, our focus tends to wander away easier from God (and the things of God) than it does, say, from sports, favorite TV show, shopping, working, "chatting", text messaging, etc. As I've said before, not that any of these is evil, but when we realize our tendency to wander and accept the challenge, it may become easier for us to become more intentional in re-focusing our attention and priority to sensitize our spirits to God.

Some time ago someone circulated an email (you may have read it somewhere) that raised some questions along these lines: Why does an hour and a half in a church service seem so long to us and yet we're willing to sit and watch a program(s) for 2, 3, or 4 hours on TV? Why does $20 seem like too much during offering time in worship service yet when it comes to shopping it may not be nearly enough? And so on and so forth - the idea of course is that our tendency is to lose focus on the priorities that God has for us.

We are prone to wander - our priorities, focus, devotion, and "feet" are prone to wander. With God's help, we can keep our feet on the path. Let's make this our closing prayer as well:

"My Lord, I come to this moment knowing altogether too well that my feet are prone to wander and my heart prone to coldness. Go with me, my Lord. Keep my feet to your path and my heart aflame with your Spirit. Amen."

Solo por gracia,
Pastor David

Jesus Prays

2007-06-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

I hope and pray that you will have a great weekend, especially as you worship on Sunday!

Today's text is from John 17:20-26 where John tells of Jesus' prayer for his disciples just prior to his betrayal and subsequent death and resurrection. Jesus interceded for his disciples who were about to go through the most difficult time of their lives. They would lose their leader and their hearts would be filled with uncertainty. They would lose self-confidence and in a very real way, they would lose their sense of direction.

The point I'd like to share today is that Jesus prayed for them - and I believe that Jesus continues to pray and intercede on our behalf before God the Father. As much as their hearts were filled with uncertainty due to Jesus' betrayal and death, I'm also certain that in some perhaps mysterious yet powerful way their hearts were affirmed and assured through Jesus' prayer. Looking at the bigger picture, we can see just how powerful and effective Jesus' prayer was as the disciples eventually went on to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit after which they "turned the world upside down" with their ministry to Jesus Christ (Acts 17:6 NRSV).

Do you sense or face uncertainty in your life, family, job, church, relationships, etc., today? If so, be assured that Jesus is interceding for us and that he will affirm our faith.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your presence, and thank you praying for me. Grant me your assuring power in the midst of my uncertainty. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Crossover

2007-05-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family in Christ,

I hope and pray that your Memorial Day was a joyful one, albeit a wet one, as we enjoyed the company of our family. Thankfully, we were able to get in a family barbecue.

We give thanks and remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

Today's Bible passage is John 5:19-29. We read in this passage about the close relationship that the Son enjoys with the Father and how out of that relationship flows the life-giving role of the Son. This life-giving power, in fact, flows as a result of the Son because just "as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). This is true because the Son has pleased the Father in all things.

In reading this passage as my devotional for today, the verse that drew my attention was John 5:24, the last phrase:

NIV John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

As we celebrated Pentecost Sunday last Sunday, in the sermon I not only made mention of the fulfillment of the coming the Holy Spirit upon the early believers (and church), but I also mentioned John Wesley and his Aldersgate experience. In a certain sense, both the early church and John Wesley a "cross over" from "death to life". Although the early believers had seen Jesus, their faith had still not "come to life" in the way that it would after the coming of the Holy Spirit. And although John Wesley was living and "doing" the right things - Bible reading, praying, worshipping, etc. - his faith also had not yet "come to life" in the way that it would after his Aldgersgate experience (which was his experience with the powef of the Holy Spirit).

In both cases, a "cross over" took place if you will. One in which their faith took on a new dimension and a new level of discipleship. Obviously, in both cases there was a level of faith present that made them spiritually alive. But, to reach the potential that God desired for their lives required a "cross over" experience. A "cross over" experience that left behind "self-centered discipleship" and embraced a Christ-centered discipleship. You've probably seen the following graphic before:

Christ is the "bridge" that allows for the "cross over" to take place. When we embrace the cross of Christ, we leave behind a life of sin (the practice of sinfulness) and embrace a life of service to God.

What was your "cross over" moment? Do you need a "cross over" moment? Do you need a "cross over" moment in a specific area of your life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the perfect example of living a life that is pleasing to the Father. You also know my heart. Give me my "cross over" moment in that area of my life that I need it the most and empower me to walk obediently with you each day. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,

Pastor David

P.S. Pray for me (and Gilbert), as we travel to Annual Conference this week.

Beginnings

2007-05-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ!

"It's a great day to be alive!" (Some day I'll share the story behind that phrase)

Today's passage is Ephesians 4:17-32 where the Apostle Paul gave several words of admonition regarding how we as believers must live now that we have come to the saving knowledge of Christ. He covered a lot of ground as he mentioned several of the "sinful" attitudes that include our thoughts, words, and of course, our actions.

But, the Apostle Paul made an interesting statement after his introductory challenge that we should not live in the "sinful pattern" of the "Gentiles." The Apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 4:20:

Ephesians 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. (NIV)

Ephesians 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!- (ESV)

Ephesians 4:20 But that isn't what you learned about Christ. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:20 That is not the way you learned Christ! (NRS)

Somehow, this verse takes me back to the "beginning" of my "learning Christ." What are the "beginnings" of my (our) Christian journey? I mean, sure, what comes to mind are the countless hours I spent in vacation Bible school and Sunday school throughout my elementary and middle school years, not to mention youth retreats and weekly Bible studies. But also what comes to mind are those seasons in my life when I personally began to take my faith more seriously, when I began to really take to heart my desire to be and live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

This season in my life began somewhere around the age of 18 or 19. Myself, along with other fellow "disciples" began to take our Bibles wherever we went, we would spend hours discussing Bible themes and tried to become as much involved in church as possible. There was a strong desire (and zeal) to invest time and energy in our Christian journey. This season of my life was no doubt formative in my Christian experience.

As the years went by, I noticed much of that "zeal" replaced with the "busyness" of "church life." Don't get me wrong, church life is essential. But that zeal to invest time and energy into the spiritual disciplines (Bible study, prayer, fellowship, works of justice and mercy, etc.) was now competing with career, meetings, social life, etc.

In today's world (more so), time has become ever so precious. If we're not careful, our agenda will consume our time before we know it and the day gone without us taking some time to listen to God through prayer and His word.

Somewhere I needed to recover that "zeal" from the "beginnings" of my Christian journey. It's not easy, but the time and energy invested in spiritual formation has certainly made the difference in my life. The beginnings of friendships, relationships, or marriage are full of zeal to enjoy time together. But somewhere in that process, that zeal can be compromised if we don't invest time and energy in strengthening and nurturing that relationship. The same is true of our formation and relationship with God.

May God give us the zeal to walk daily with Him and to make time each day to hear His words.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this new week and for the desire that You place in my heart and mind to follow your ways. Help me to hear your voice each day as I pray and read your Word. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

2007-05-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings and a good morning to each of you this day!

You might remember a couple of weeks ago the sermon dealt with "Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing." What was that "main thing." The passage was Matthew 28:16-20 and in that passage we find Jesus' command to "Go and make disciples..." In the sermon we were reminded that indeed the main thing is discipleship, which as you might imagine covers a lot of ground.

You'll recall that I asked: Why didn't Jesus say "Go and make teachers, pastors, evangelists, worshippers, church administrators, preachers, missionaries, committee members, etc.?" After all, isn't that what we really need to "do church"? People who know the structure of the church and can follow the program? Not really. Jesus knew that a person first needed to become a disciple, a serious follower and learner of God's ways, in order to effectively become a pastor, teacher, missionary, etc.

We need to become more and more a disciple, or learner, of God's ways. We have already mastered the "discipleship" of my ways. What we need to do now is align our ways with God's ways even if it means forsaking some of my ways, preferences, ambitions, etc. Jesus invested time and energy with his disciples so as to instill in them his ways - he must have done something right because the church in Acts grew and muliplied as new disciples were made. It must have been tough for Jesus as he dealt with 12 different men, personalities, preferences, temperaments, cultures, and backgrounds. But in the end, we see 11 transformed disciples who are now ready to serve Christ and lead others in God's ways. But it took an investment of Jesus' time and energy.

My garden is beginning to show signs of growth. Just about all of the plants are over 6 inches high (or in length). Some time in the next several weeks I'll expect to see signs of "fruit" on each plant. And, in about a month I should be able to enjoy my first "calabacita con pollo." And, hopefully, I'll have some watermelon as dessert. As I do, I'll look back and know that the time and energy spent on the garden was worth it.

True Christian discipleship is not automatic and does not happen without investing time and energy in the process. We make ourselves available to be shaped and formed by God's word to reflect God's ways. And when we do, we will see the fruit of our labor. We'll look back and know that our time and energy invested in God's ways was eternally worth it.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Calm after the Storm/Struggle

2007-03-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

May God’s blessings be upon each of you this day as you begin the work week. I hope and pray that wherever you are, that God would guide and bless you.

Genesis 32:22-32 tells about Jacob’s struggle and wrestling with a “man” all night long. After a long struggle and a series of mutual questions, Jacob received a blessing from God. This long and difficult struggle resulted in a blessing to Jacob.

Yesterday’s sermon was called, “Great Things Happen on the Third Day” and I was sharing how after some “dark” and difficult days in which we encounter the initial impact of the struggle, the calm after the storm begins to settle in as we sense God’s healing grace with us. Just as there was victory for Jesus on the third day of his sacrificial offering so we too have the hope of victory on the “third day” of our struggles.

Struggle is a part of our human existence. At the same time, it is a part of our Christian journey as we are called to participate in Jesus’ suffering. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:10 – “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” We hear quite a bit about sharing in the power and “wealth” of Christ, but not too much about sharing in his suffering. “To share in Christ’s suffering” is not popular preaching. “Struggling” with God in our discipleship journey is not popular teaching. Yet it is those experiences that shape and form our faith and lead to a deeper love for the Master.

What is your struggle today? How are you called to share in Jesus’ “suffering”? Remember that before, during, and after, God’s grace is present to see us through until we victory on the third day.

Prayer: God, I come to you in thanksgiving for your Son who died to show us the way. Help me to endure through my struggle with the confidence that You be with me each step of the way. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

How Do We Pray?

2007-02-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

Good morning dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ! Remember that “it’s a great day to be alive!” (There’s a story behind that phrase that I’ll share someday)

Today's passage is 1 Kings 8:22-30.

Have you prayed today? Did you pray yesterday in church service? Did you hear your pastor or someone else lead the prayer yesterday? Are you going to pray with your family sometime today? If so, how are you going to pray? That is, is there a certain pattern that you usually follow?

You’ve most likely heard the “ACTS” pattern which is based on the Biblical pattern of prayer:
A – Adoration and praise
C – Confession
T – Thanksgiving
S – Supplication

Many prayers that I’ve heard (and I certainly include the prayers I pray!) seem to have the tendency to invert the ACTS pattern. That is, our human nature is concerned with supplication, what I need or want. Now, God wants to hear the desires and needs of our heart, but He also wants to hear adoration and praise. We need to have a balanced prayer pattern. Notice the following prayer from the Bible:

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below-- you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it-- as it is today…” (1 Kings 8:22-24)

Notice the opening sentences of Solomon’s prayer before God and how he names God, lifts up and praises Him, and declares His mighty works and faithfulness; notice also how many times Solomon uses the pronouns “you” and “your”.

How do your prayers begin? Do they quickly move to “Bless me…my need is…grant me…Help me…I need…etc.”? Again, there is nothing wrong with asking God for something, He wants to hear that. But for our prayers to be “balanced”, we should acknowledge and remember to declare God’s faithfulness and mighty works in a spirit of praise and adoration.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, You who created all things and have given us your love. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You have provided for us for our every need. You alone are worthy of our praise. I praise and thank You this day for our goodness and mercy. Help me this day to remember You in all areas of my prayer and daily life. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Make Every Effort...

2007-02-22T09:14:00.000-08:00

A good day to everyone wherever you are. May God’s grace and favor be upon you this day and every day. I pray that everyone’s week has been a productive and blessed one.

The passage for today is Hebrews 12:12-17.

In this passage, we find the following verse, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”[1] When we think of “holiness”, what comes to our minds? What image comes to mind we think of God’s command to “be holy”? Perhaps the first image that comes to mind would be God Himself since only He is absolutely holy, perfect, and pure – this image is easy to imagine. But to say “me” be holy, perfect, and pure – this image is not so easy to imagine; and rightly so because again, only God is absolutely holy, pure, and perfect. But how can understand this verse that calls us to be holy for “without holiness no one will see the Lord?”

The Biblical concept of “holiness” for believers involves a whole-hearted devotion, commitment, and dedication of our lives to following God’s ways and of love for Him and our neighbor. Now, in this particular verse, the writer to Hebrews expressly affirmed that our holiness is reflected in a specific attitude – “to live in peace with all…” But not only that, we are also charged with the following action: “[You] Make every effort…” If I were to stand up in church next Sunday and ask, “Who wants to live in peace with everyone?” I’m sure most hands, if not all, would be raised. And then if I asked, “Who is willing to make every effort to live in peace with all even if it means admitting and accepting that you were wrong and reconciling with that person?”

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent season – a time to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. Is there peace in all of your relationships? If not, have you made every effort? Have you made any effort? Is there peace in your relationship with God? Let us use this season of Lent to reflect and make every effort to live in peace with God and one another.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that I can trust in You and confess to You my weaknesses and doubts. Help me overcome any obstacles in living in peace with all, especially with You. And help me to make every effort to live in peace with those around me. In Your name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

[1] Hebrew 12:14

Who is Your Master?

2007-02-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, may the beginning of this week prove to be one of renewed energy and strength as we trust in the Lord that together with Him, we can make it through whatever may come our way this week.

Jesus’ familiar phrase “You cannot serve both God and Money”[1] was addressed to his disciples with the Pharisees eavesdropping in the passage found in Luke 16:1-13. The complete verse where that phrase is found by Jesus reads, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money.”[2]

About one-fourth of what Jesus taught on the Sermon on the Mount had to do with money (materialism). It is also said that Jesus spoke more on the topic of money and material possessions than he did on prayer. Should we deduct that material possessions were more important than Jesus; no, but he was fully aware of human nature’s tendency to cling to material possessions in such a way that our devotion to God would become mediocre.

Jesus’ own words clarify that he was not only warning against the dangers of “money” when he said, “No servant can serve two masters.” God is the Master and the other master can be any number of “things.” All along Jesus’ main objective with his disciples was to make of them devout followers of the Father’s ways. If the Father is not mastering our lives, then something else is. Who/what is mastering our time, energy, resources, etc. It is not so much that Jesus is calling us to abstain from routine activities; rather, he is cautioning against allowing for those routine activities to shape, form, rule, govern, and master our lives.

Who is your master? What is your master? Who or what determines what you do with your time, energy, resources, etc.? Is the Father’s agenda?

A faithful disciple’s goal is to live under the Father’s master agenda more and more each day while becoming less and less influenced by the popular cultural pull; in short, for the Father to master us, and not for us to master ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help me realize that if You are not my Master, then something else is. Through your Spirit grant me direction and strength to seek out the Father’s agenda in such a way You truly would master over my life. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

[1] Luke 16:13
[2] Ibid.

"Take nothing for the journey..."

2007-02-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m sure that you are rejoicing that it’s Friday and a weekend of peace and rest (?) is at hand. Thank God for this week that He has seen us through.

In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sent out the twelve disciples for their first “missions” journey. Their mission was “simple”: preach about the kingdom of God and minister healing to the sick. Of course, there is nothing simple about that. And Jesus’ instructions were: “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.”[1] Luke 9:6 tells of the disciples’ obedience to Jesus’ commands to take nothing and to fulfill his mission. I’m sure that in the back of their minds the disciples must have been wondering what they would eat and what money they would use to survive.

In much the same way as the disciples, Jesus has set us on a journey; a life time journey of discipleship in which our hearts and minds are being shaped and formed through the Holy Spirit. And just as Jesus told his disciples that they needed to leave some stuff behind, he asks us to leave some “stuff” behind. What is that “stuff”?

I’m reminded of the verse that says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”[2] I like the way the New Living Translation words the phrase, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.”[3]

That “stuff” is whatever hinders or slows down our progress in the journey of becoming more like Christ. That “stuff” can be easily traced to the “sin that so easily entangles” us. To many, sin entangles their hearts and minds in such a way that they are blinded to God’s good purpose for their lives. However, that “stuff” can become every day activities that pull us away from doing God’s good will.

God’s good and perfect will is for us to be whole in all that we are and do. Our relationship with God and those we love make us whole; our love and service to God and one another make us whole.

Is there any “stuff” that is hindering or slowing down that progress in your journey? If so, Jesus invites us as he did to his disciples, to leave it behind and fix our eyes on our journey with him.

Prayer: Help me today, my Lord, to discover your good, perfect, and acceptable will and to focus all of my desire and energy upon doing it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.[4]

Have a great and blessed weekend!

By grace alone,

Pastor David

[1] Luke 9:3 (NIV)
[2] Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
[3] Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
[4] From A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People, The Upper Room.

I Did It "My Way"

2007-02-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with each of you in a special way this and every day of your lives. After dealing with the flu for several days, it’s good to share some devotional thoughts again.

Today’s passage is Hebrews 1:1-4. Although God had already spoken to the world through various ways, including the prophets, He chose to send his Son to be the “exact representation” of Himself to us. The Incarnation of Jesus came to reveal to us what a son or daughter of God should look like. In the way that he lived, thought, and acted, Jesus gave us a prime example of what words, behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes God is looking for in us.

One of the central issues we deal with in our Christian journey as disciples is pride. Our pride will many times get in the way of something good that God is trying to do. Essentially, pride (in the selfish, self-centered negative sense) is about self-gratification…first. It is about satisfying the ego. It’s no wonder that English adopted the Greek word “ego” (which means “I”) to represent our “egoism”, “egocentrism”, etc. This is the pull of human nature. “My way is the best way” is our human tendency. Without the mind of Christ, it is difficult, to not say impossible, to get beyond that tendency. In fact, our relational conflicts can always be traced back, in one way or another, to egoism – “my way is the best way…first.”

Naturally, Jesus came to show us just the opposite. In fact, Jesus came to show us a “healthy” and “holy” pride; that is, a heart that seeks to please and glorify the Father…first, and only. Everything else will fall into place. Jesus was “proud” to be the Father’s Son who lived in joyful and humble obedience before Him. Jesus learned to deal with enormous success and praise (signs and wonders in ministry) and still remain humble before the Father. He also had to face much criticism. But in the midst of it all, Jesus embodied the prophet Jeremiah’s words, “‘but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”[1]

Jesus knew the Father. We know Him, too. Our relationship with the Father should lead us to that “healthy pride” of joyful and humble obedience, of pleasing and glorifying the Father, and of not making “my way” the only way in our relationship with others.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me through good and not so good times. Forgive me when “my way” has gotten in your way of doing something good in me, for me, or through me for others. Help me to imitate you as I strive to walk in joyful obedience. In your Name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

[1] Jeremiah 9:24

The Easy Way Out

2007-02-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all of you good people! My hope and prayer is that the beginning of this new week has been uneventful and full of God’s blessings.

Today’s passage is found in Luke 14:7-14 where Jesus was eating at the house of a prominent Pharisee. One can only imagine that some of the “cream of the crop” of the religious leaders were present. During this visit, Jesus shared a parable that exposed our human tendency to look for those places (or seats) of “honor” at weddings and banquets; and Jesus gave his reasons why this should not be so. A key verse in this parable is verse 11, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” No matter how you slice it, this takes work. Humility? Humble myself? Who, me?

In a day and age when popular culture is mostly (if not all) about self-oriented instant gratification, bigger is better, materialistic power, etc, Jesus’ call could not be more challenging. Look around you (if you are at work, for example), who has the place of “honor”? Are you in a place of “honor”? Does it feel “exalting”? Is it easy to be humble when we are in a place of “honor”? James echoed Jesus when he wrote, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).

Our humility begins “before the Lord.” When we see God’s grace to us in light of who we are (and aren’t), we’re humbled. The fruit of that humility is of course a humble attitude that leads us to seek to walk in God’s ways in all we do, particularly in our approach to those who are not in places of honor. In fact, as he continued his parable Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 7:12-14).

The essence of what Jesus was saying here is “Don’t take the easy way out.” In today’s world, there are short cuts for everything from weight loss to learning another language to getting out of debt. One devotional writer I read this morning said, “The task of [those] who work for the Kingdom of God is to work for the Kingdom of God.”[1]

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, to seek to be humble before the Lord, to live out this call is nothing easy. It takes work. It is true that salvation is a gift, it is not earned. But we must work at being true to that gift.

Are you tempted to take the “easy way out” in your walk with Christ? Is God’s Word the source of your strength, wisdom, power, and direction? Do you seek to be a Christ-like servant to those who are not in places of “honor”?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for looking at me when I was in a place of no “honor”. Thank you for your grace that saw me through. Enable me this day to be true to you as I seek to live humbly before you and as I strive to work for your Kingdom. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

[1] From “The Inward Journey” by Howard Thurman

The Greatest Paradox...The Greatest Truth

2007-02-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Blessings to each of you as we look forward to the weekend.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Key verses: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I don’t know that I’ve ever felt my strongest during a time of weakness or frailty. I don’t know that when difficult times of trial and difficulty have come my way that I have felt like a “super-Christian”. And furthermore, I can’t say that I’ve exactly “delighted” in weaknesses or hardships. That is, when I look at it from strictly the human dimension.

The ultimate paradox seems to be “for when I am weak, then I am strong”(!). We have all had moments in life that have seemed like the ultimate hardship, difficulty, trial, or weakness. That ultimate moment of crisis could have been in a personal or relational sense or any other number of ways. The truth is that humanly speaking those moments are crushing. They can be devastating even. They impact our emotions and health. And they impact our communion with God, and our relationship with others. Worry, anxiety, difficulty, weakness, hardship, etc., can crush the human soul.

And yet, somewhere, somehow, God’s word breaks through to us with that great truth – “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Without reading the beginning of verse 9 this statement doesn’t make much sense. Verse 9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” At the moment of deepest despair, weakness, and anxiety, God’s grace is sufficient for us. When we trust in God’s grace to sustain us, then we are stronger than our weakness. When God’s grace becomes our ultimate anchor, then His power is made perfect in us and we are able to endure the tough times.

Where are you in this paradox? Has the weakness overcome you? Is there anxiety in your life that you need to trust God’s grace to? God’s grace and power are perfect in our weakness…but only when we yield to His loving call.

Prayer: Lord, in a world that is competing for our best, give me the faith to turn to You as my ultimate source of power. Help me trust in your grace to be sufficient for me. And help me to overcome my weakness with your power. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Power of God's "Voice"

2007-01-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

Good morning to everyone. My prayer and hope is that God’s grace will be sufficient for each of you this day!

Today’s Bible passages are Psalm 29 and John 1:1-13 where we find the familiar words of John giving witness to Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God” (John 1:1). We know that Jesus is the living Word and the Bible is the written word of God. “In the beginning…” sounds very much like the Genesis 1:1 “in the beginning” and it is not a coincidence. John was pointing to the fact that Jesus’ origin was not in Bethlehem’s manger but rather that Jesus was eternal.

When we continue to read the creation account in Genesis 1, we read several times the phrase “And God said…” God “spoke”, God’s “voice” and “words” were heard and things came into being. God’s “voice” and “words” created something out of nothing; His “voice” breathed life into a lifeless being. Sometimes I ask myself, what must God’s voice have sounded like? Well, our reading from the Psalms gives the following summary of God’s voice:

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" [Psalms 29:4-9 NIV]

God’s voice sounds pretty powerful if you ask me. What if we heard God’s voice like that one Sunday morning? The psalmist declared that God’s voice was “powerful” and “majestic” and was able to “break” the strongest of elements and that in the end, it was all for God’s glory.

God “voice” spoke to you and I one day. In fact, God’s “voice” came and walked this earth 2,000 years ago. God’s powerful and majestic voice called out to us one day to walk with Him. And the power of His voice and word “broke” (to not say shattered) the grip of sin upon our lives. The same voice that called all things into existence at the creation is the same Word that gives life to us today. And it is the same Word that can “break” the barriers that hinder us from a full and faithful walk with Christ.

Have you made yourself available to hear God’s voice through His written word today? What is God’s “voice” saying to you? What barrier is hindering a closer walk with Christ today? Remember that God’s powerful and majestic Word can break through your barrier for His glory.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the living Word that has reconciled us to you through his loving sacrifice. And thank you for your written word that reminds us that your voice can remove barriers and give us hope as we continue to walk with you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Unpopular Walk

2007-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

My hope and prayer is that as the week winds down that God’s blessings have been upon you in a special way. I also pray that somewhere in your day, there has been a space for your personal devotional time with God.

Luke 4:21-30 tells of the “unpopular” and rocky start to Jesus’ ministry in none other than Nazareth, the town where he was raised. As Jesus stood to read the Scriptures and apparently to elaborate on them, the people, who without a doubt included some childhood friends, relatives, and teachers, were amazed by the way he spoke of the word of God. At the same time, their question, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son” kind of sounds like, “Isn’t this Jesus who played with us and went to school with us?” At any rate, Jesus quickly outgrew is grandiose homecoming.

Jesus reminded his “friends” that God’s universal love was for all and not exclusive to Israel. In fact, Jesus continued, God at one point chose to work His mighty acts through two Gentiles, a widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. Jesus took an unpopular stand with this unpopular statement as he introduced an unpopular walk.

Our walk as disciples of Jesus will sometimes be unpopular. Why? Because in God’s kingdom if you want more, you have to become less, if you want to be great, you have to serve, and if you want to live, you have to die. Popular culture (i.e. the popular walk) says that the more you have the greater you are and then you are really living.

Jesus perhaps could’ve taken a more “popular” approach to his hometown. But he chose the unpopular walk of the kingdom which can be summed up in pleasing and glorifying God, loving God and neighbor, and in serving God as we serve others. The unpopular walk involves a Christ-centered approach to life vs. a self-centered one. It is about asking, how can I be more like Christ? And less like the patterns of popular culture?

Has your journey as Christ’s disciple ever required an “unpopular walk”? If so, know that Jesus has walked that walk and still walks that walk with us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, to walk with you is not always popular. Help us to walk with you in obedience, always keeping in mind the purpose and ways of your kingdom. In your name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Are You Ready?

2007-01-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

A popular phrase that is heard on Monday night during football season is “Are you ready for some football?” And of course, all of us football fans reply with a resounding “you bet!”

Today’s passage is Jeremiah 1:1-10 in which we find the narration of God’s calling upon the prophet Jeremiah’s life. Essentially, the Lord has called Jeremiah for some pretty scaring scenarios – “to uproot, tear down, destroy, overthrow…” I don’t know that that particular call sounds too appealing. Whatever happened to love, compassion, and kindness? Well, love, compassion, and kindness still remain an integral part of our call as God’s people. However, in the spirit of the writer in Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

The call to live and serve God may not always be “pleasant”, but it is always necessary. Challenging scenarios are an integral part of the Christian disciple; it is a part of the way of the Cross. One writer responded with this prayer when asked “Are you ready?”: “O Lord, you are always ready, but am I ever ready? O Lord, make me ready, or at least make me more ready to be made ready.”[1]

God has called us to be and do something – to be and do as Christ. He has called us to glorify His name and to edify His church. Are we ready to do our part? James C. Fenhagen challenged me today with these words, “We can’t do everything, but each of us can do something.”[2]

What is that something that God is calling you (us) to be and do? Are you ready? Remember, you and I are not expected to do everything, but we can all do something.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your call upon my life. Help me to make myself ready to be and do as you will. And help me do something that will glorify You and edify your church. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,

Pastor David

[1] From Together in Solitude by Douglas V. Steere
[2] From Invitation to Holiness by James C. Fenhagen

Be Holy

2007-01-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

A good day to everyone! I hope and pray that the New Year continues to be one of Carpe Diem – of seizing the day and moment of God’s opportunities to live a life that is pleasing before Him.

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 1:13-25. This passage is loaded with so many exhorting, encouraging, and edifying words not least of which are the call to “be holy.” Most times when we have heard God telling us through His word that we are to “be holy, because I am holy” we shy away from whatever that might mean for us. After all, “nobody’s perfect”, right?

Obviously, God, the only absolutely holy, perfect, and good God, does not expect us to be absolutely “perfect” in our “performance” in our Christian living. That is, we will always live with “faults” and “shortcomings”. Only God is absolutely perfect. However, a deeper reflection on both the Old and New Testaments points us to a more achievable goal. “Holy” and “perfect” in Scripture can also be understood as “complete”, “mature”, “whole”, “undivided, or “entire”. And many times in the Old Testament these meanings of “holy” are attached to the idea of “heart”. In other words, what God is after in us is a “complete” and “undivided” heart and life that will yield a “complete” and “entire” devotion to Him; a “whole-hearted devotion”, if you will.

What does this mean? At the risk of oversimplifying God’s call for us to be holy, let me sum it up this way: To be “holy” is to strive to have a “whole-hearted” devotion and intention to being and doing the right thing before God. Our “whole-hearted” and “undivided” intent is to always do God’s will. Will we fail? Naturally, but that is not our intent.

To “perform” perfectly in our doing is important, but ultimately it’s not only about that. In fact, it goes deeper than that; it’s about a “perfect” (whole, complete, entire, undivided) heart, a whole-hearted devotion and intention to follow God’s ways.[1]

Holiness understood this way, then, is achievable. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed, lived, taught, and preached it. We would do well to reflect upon it – God will honor our faith as we seek to live with a whole-hearted and undivided devotion for His ways.

Prayer: Lord, the holy way is not easy, but it is not impossible either. Grant me the will and the whole-hearted devotion to seek Your ways in all that I am and do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

[1] This idea of “perfect performance” vs. “perfect” (complete, entire, undivided) heart was borrowed from John Oswalt’s book Called to Be Holy, which I highly recommend in order to have a more complete understanding of God’s call upon us to be holy.

Carpe Diem - Part II

2007-01-16T23:42:00.000-08:00

Good morning to everyone. To the brothers and sisters from Agape UMC, I was sorry we missed our Sunday worship service due to inclement weather, but I have included in this week's post a summary of what was to be preached on Sunday (following our preaching calendar).

The text for this sermon was 1 Samuel 17:32-50.

Last week the call was to Carpe Diem, to “Seize the Day!” To seize the day (or moment) of God’s salvation and opportunity to be and do all that God wills of us. And in the words of Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society English teacher), “Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary!” Usually when we think of an “extraordinary” life we think of some great, awesome, and impressive achievement that someone has accomplished. Breaking a long-standing sports record, inventing a successful product, becoming an executive of a large corporation, etc., are all examples of great achievements. But what was “extraordinary” to Jesus? After he had described the “greatness” of the Gentiles, Jesus reminded his disciples, “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). James took it a step further and wrote, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up (or exalt you)” (James 4:10).

These two verses to hand in hand – a servant must be humble before the Lord, and the Lord will do the exalting. A humble servant dependent on God’s promises and grace will yield “greatness” in God’s kingdom. When greatness ultimately depends on us, then it ceases to be Christ-like. Why? Because to be a humble servant in God’s hands means we align ourselves with God’s agenda whereas following our own agenda will yield a “distorted” greatness – one most likely aligned to self-centered ambition. In other words, just the way Jesus was and did what he heard and saw in the Father, so we must be about being and doing what Jesus has taught us to be and do – a humble servant dependent on God’s grace working for His purposes.

I. 1 Samuel 17:32-50
A. This passage of 1 Samuel narrated the awesome and unbelievable victory of an apparently insignificant shepherd boy, David, over a Philistine “giant”, Goliath.
B. This is the ultimate underdog triumph in Scripture. This story has all the elements of a classic moment in history – a sling and stones versus sword, spear, and javelin; defiant military aggression versus purity and faith; of right versus might; of tall versus short; and of youth versus maturity.[1]
C. Regardless of how we might understand Goliath’s size, he was nevertheless and without a doubt a “giant” obstacle and source of fear for King Saul’s army. An often overlooked question is: Why was not the mighty King Saul not trusting in God and motivating and leading his army against Goliath? After all, he had been described as one who himself was of good size. King Saul seemed to be the obvious match for Goliath.[2]
D. The truth is that a less than qualified “soldier”, a shepherd to be exact, placed his sight not on the might of the armies but on the living God who leads the army! A humble servant who trusted and placed his life in God’s hands to fulfill his purpose was ultimately victorious over Goliath and the “giant” obstacle and trial before him.
E. David Carpe Diem, seized the day, and trusted God to lead him to victory.

II. Application/Conclusion
A. We can identify with David’s story in many ways. Who of us can remember a “bully” situation that we had to overcome? Or a “giant” obstacle, trial, or life situation where we needed a “miracle victory”? David’s trust in the living God set the pace for us to also trust in God.
B. As David did, we can seize the day/moment of our faith and set our eyes on the God of all power and love instead on the “giant” source of our fears.

[1] Arnold, Bill T. The NIV Application Commentary: 1 and 2 Samuel, 2003.
[2] Ibid.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being at my side when I have faced my most "giant" of all problems and trials. Help me to be faithful to You in all of my ways. And grant me the faith to seize the day of being a humble servant in your hands. In your Name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)

2007-01-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all of you and the best of a Happy New Year! I know, it’s been too long and I apologize for the extended hiatus. Thank you for your patience. The holiday season just swept me over. This year I will try to be more consistent and post a devotional thought at least twice a week.

Today’s text is 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2 in which the Apostle Paul declared that “Today is the time of God’s favor, today is the day of salvation.” Sunday I preached from this text and used the phrase “Carpe Diem” to convey the opportunity we have to make a difference in our walk with Christ this year. Carpe Diem is Latin for “Seize the day.” It became somewhat famous when Mr. Keating, an English teacher in the movie Dead Poets Society, challenged his students to capture the moments of opportunity that life presented and to make the most out of them. They were challenged to “seize the day” or “seize the moment.”

This is still a new year that we have before us. The beginning of a new year somehow “feels” like a new page in life. All we have to do is look at the amount of resolutions that will be made; resolutions that range from weight and financial management to family and conflict management. As believers who seek to be disciples of the Lord, we must make it a priority to Carpe Diem of our faith – “seize the day” of opportunity and seek to be and do God’s will; to not conform ourselves to the pattern of this world but to conform ourselves to Christ.

What will be your response to this New Year? Will it be Carpe Diem? Let us seize the day of the God’s salvation as we walk closer to him this year.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this New Year. Thank you for your faithfulness throughout 2006; and now be my daily guide as I seek to seize every opportunity that You give me to live for you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Happy New Year!

By grace alone,
Pastor David

What is Your Creed?

2006-11-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

Good morning to each of you.

Our text for this day is Luke 12:1-12.

When we hear the word “creed” usually what comes to mind is the Apostles’ Creed that begins with “I believe…” Among others, “creed” is derived from the Old English creda and the Latin credo and again, is the first word of the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed is the universal statement of belief of the Christian church and is an excellent summary, in my opinion, of the essential elements of our doctrine (and beliefs).

In one of the verses in today’s text Jesus said, “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8 NASB). Other versions use “acknowledge” rather than “confess.” In any case, according to Jesus, when we live out our faith we are to “confess” Jesus with our lives. That is, to embody the life of Jesus in who we are and what we do; to allow for Christ to set the pace for our lives; to allow for God through His written word to set the parameters in our being, thinking, and doing.

Jesus alerted his hearers of the danger to the contrary to this as well in Luke 12:9 – “But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before God's angels.” In other words, just as there are ways that we can confess Christ (by who we are and what we do), there are also ways that we can deny him (by who we are and what we do).

What is our “creed”? May our “creed” be Christ-centered so that we can please God in who we are and what we do.

Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are my Lord and Savior and I thank you for loving me. I want to confess you in all that I am and do; give me the strength, faith, and courage to do just that. In your Name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Making the Most of Everyday...in Everyway

2006-11-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all of you! I hope and pray that this week will be a week of blessing and joy for all.

Today’s text is Philippians 1:12-18. The Apostle Paul is imprisoned and is writing to the Philippians from prison. Paul was one of those people who apparently always tried to the make the best of every situation wherever he was…even if it was prison. Paul declared in Philippians 1:12-13:

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

The Apostle Paul was actually not a stranger to prisons, he’d been there before. However, the fact that it was “clear” to the “whole palace guard” suggests that Paul had been “preaching” to them in one way or another. Perhaps the palace guard heard him praying…for them, heard him read a letter from a brother or sister of a church, heard him telling about his conversion to a fellow inmate, etc. Whatever the case may have been, it was “clear” to those around him that Paul was a disciple of the Lord. By being a witness in prison, Paul made the most of everyday, in everyway.

We may not be in prison, but we do meet people everyday wherever we go. Let us make the most of everyday, in everyway as we live for Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this day to make a difference in this world. Empower me to make the most of every moment of this day in every way. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Doing Our Part

2006-11-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Good morning dear brothers and sisters in Christ! It is a beautiful and sunny day in Dallas. Let us keep in our prayers Diego and the Luna family as Diego went in this morning for further tests. Also, let us remember Rev. Finees Flores who is very ill in San Antonio; let us pray for him, his wife, and family.

Today’s passage is John 11:38-44 where we find the raising of Lazarus from the dead. A truly impressive miracle of Jesus. First, Jesus heard of his good friend’s illness and did not immediately respond. Then, he arrived too late (in the opinion of Martha and Mary) to help Lazarus. But after all is said and done, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Can you imagine that?

This is a very well known passage. One of the aspects of this account that has always intrigued me is John 11:44 – “And Lazarus came out, bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" And prior to this, “they” were asked by Jesus to remove the stone - "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them (John 11:39). What captures my attention is this – if you’re going to raise someone from the dead, why would you need “help” removing a stone and some garments?!? If you’re going to raise someone who has been dead for four days to life, why not just do the whole thing?

Seeing it as a whole, there are those things that we must do. God will always to His part, but we’ve got to do ours for our faith experience to be complete. We have to remove some “stones” from our way in order for Him to complete His work in us. There are some “garments” that we need to remove that will enable us to be truly free to love and serve Christ with our all. Could Jesus have done it all? If he was going to raise a dead man, yes, I think he could have. But he didn’t because I think there is a deeper lesson here for us. God has done His part of “raising us from the dead (sin)” through Christ, but we must do our part and remove those things from our lives that hinder a complete freedom to love and serve Christ.

What “stones” do you need to remove today? What “garments” are keeping us from serving Christ fully?

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you never arrive too late. You always step in right on time. Empower us to remove the “stones” and “garments” from our lives so that we may love and serve you in a more complete way. In your Name we pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

He Knows

2006-11-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all! May the joy of the Lord be yours throughout this whole day.

Today’s passage is John 11:28-37 as we continue to read on from the story of Lazarus’ being raised from the dead. As we remembered yesterday, Martha was deeply sorry that Jesus had not made it in time to heal Lazarus and yet how at the same time she expressed hope in that Jesus could make the difference. And again, he did...and he continues to make the difference in us.

In today’s passage we find what many have called the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Prior to that John recorded that Jesus was “troubled” and “deeply moved” (John 11:33). As Christians one of our vanguard doctrines is the Incarnation the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus. God the Son became man; he became human. So much so that he broke down emotionally as he felt the loss of his dear friend Lazarus and the pain of his dear friends Martha and Mary. Jesus felt the pain; he knows the pain we go through.

The incarnation of Jesus is one of the most powerful sources of hope and challenge for us as disciples of the Master. It gives us hope because we know that Jesus is not a distant “high priest” who cannot empathize with us but just the contrary, he has lived in a totally human body and understands what we go through; therefore, it gives us hope that he can walk with us, strengthen us, and empower us to live for God.

As we live each day with it’s own challenges, let us remember that the One who walks with us has already walked that walk and is able to give us strength and courage.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to this world and not only dying for us, but living life for us and in this way giving us a model by which to live by. Help me each day to find comfort in you, knowing that You know what I go through. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

If Only

2006-11-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

Good morning brothers and sisters!

Today's text is John 11:17-27.

Have you ever had an "if only" moment"? If only this or that would have happened. If only I had more of this or the other. If only things could be better or bigger or clearer, etc. If only God had...

Martha had a similar feeling when Jesus arrived "too late" for Lazarus as he died. Martha felt that if Jesus had only been there - if only Jesus had been there, he could have saved Lazarus from dying. But even so, Martha said, "But even now I know that God..." Somehow in Martha's mind, she knew that there was still hope because Jesus had shown up...and she was right.

In our "if only" moments, let us be reminded that "even now" we can know that there is hope in God when Jesus shows up in our lives and makes things right.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the hope you give us daily. Be with us in our "if only" moments as we are assured that even then, You are with us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Glory in Pain...

2006-11-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ! I praise the Lord for the worship services we had yesterday and the way that God brought to mind those who have gone before us and have left us an example of faithful living.

John 11:1-16 talks about the time that Jesus received news concerning the illness of his dear friend Lazarus. At the time, Jesus did not show too much concern but rather assured his disciples that "this sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). And that is just what happened.

How can a time of illness glorify God? How a time of suffering, pain, crisis, etc., be a time where God is glorified? How can such times be times of edification for us? Of course, humanly speaking it is impossible to endure such things with any hope of any “good” resulting. After all, pain is pain and suffering is suffering. However, when our hope is in the “Higher Power”, then it is possible to endure such trials with a certain degree of confidence. Especially because the Incarnate Jesus can understand that pain with us since he himself felt our pain, sadness, suffering, etc. (i.e. his pain for Lazarus’ death).

Whenever we have trials to endure, God is glorified when we trust and hope in the fact that Jesus has endured those very trials and can be the one who strengthens us through it all.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you are not far from feeling my trials. Walk with me this day and everyday as I face life’s trials and as you strengthen me, glorify your Name in my life. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

Blessings on your day!

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Fan the Flame

2006-10-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

“It’s a great day to be alive!” is a phrase a very good friend used to always say. And it’s true, everyday is a gift from God for us to live in thanksgiving for Him.

2 Timothy 1:1-14 is today’s text. The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy recalled the way that both Timothy’s grandmother and mother had instructed him in the doctrine and faith of the Lord. Timothy had had the blessing of growing up in a home where an experience with God was central. Paul considered that to be a vital privilege and responsibility; perhaps this was why he “reminded” Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God…”

“Fan into flame…” is an interesting choice of words. Usually when a flame is going and gradually begins to lose heat, fanning the flame will maintain or increase the heat once again. The Apostle Paul had already commended Timothy for the faith that “now lives in you.” Now, the issue was to continue to live in that faith (i.e. “fan into flame the gift of God”). Throughout his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul gave him words of instruction and encouragement as to how to “keep the flame” going.

In any case, we too need to “fan the flame” in order to keep it going. What are those things that we can be and do to keep the flame of our faith active and strong? Where can we go to the keep the flame active and strong? How can we keep the flame of our faith strong in the midst of the culture pull?

The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that he himself was committed to keep the flame of his faith going because “he knew in whom he had believed” and “was convinced” that Christ was powerful enough to guard his faith. Fanning the flame of our faith must be Christ-centered.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithful love to me. Enable me to fan the flame of my faith with those tools that you have provided me with as I trust in your power to guard my heart and mind. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

I Want to See Jesus

2006-10-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

Good morning to you! Sorry I’ve been absent a few days, it was just one of those busy weeks.

Yesterday I preached on the healing of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) and noted how his physical healing, among other things, authenticated Jesus’ mission as Messiah. Furthermore, Bartimaeus, although a down and out blind beggar, was able to see Jesus for who he was as he called out to him as “Son of David.” Somehow, this blind beggar, an outcast and marginal person, was able to recognize the Christ, the Son of God – something most of the religious leaders of the first century were unable to do. This the blind beggar acknowledged while being physically blind.

We could conclude, I think, that his spiritual “sight” was restored prior to his physical sight. This way, he had hope in Jesus prior to actually seeing Jesus’ power in action. As a result, when Jesus did perform a powerful miracle, the healed blind beggar began to follow Jesus without hesitation.

There is a popular song that says, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord…I want to see You.” What does it mean to see Jesus? Is it a burning bush? Is it a pillar of fire? Is it sitting through a worship, praise, or prayer service? How did most of the Biblical characters see God?

We concluded yesterday’s service singing, “He lives! He lives!...He walks with me and talks with along life’s narrow way…” We can see Jesus as walks and talks with us – as we pray, read Scripture, meditate on His word, serve God and others, seek to do good to as many as we can, wherever we can, for as long as we can, and as creation itself gives witness to an all-powerful, all-loving God.

Have you seen Jesus today? Look to him as walks and talks with us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your company each day. Help me to see you in all that I seek to be and do for your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Free!

2006-10-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

¡Buenos días!

Today’s text is found in Mark 5:1-20.

This is one of the most fascinating stories to me – what makes it so fascinating is that it is a true story about a true man about a true crisis in need of a true miracle. Nothing short of a miracle would be of any help to this no name man. A man tormented by demons to the extent of physical harm and agony (Mark 5:5).

It astounds me that the man, mainly by impulse of the demons and partly by his own desire for help, ran to Jesus, fell at his feet, and then actually acknowledged his divinity! This evil spirit (demon) actually recognized Jesus for who he really was! It kind of reminds me of the way that James put it, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder” (James 2:19). A seminary professor once told us, “Even the demons have better theology than we do sometimes!” While this statement is quite exaggerated, humorous, and a bit of a stretch, the point is well taken – evil spirits recognize the omnipotence of God.

Once Jesus delivered this man from his possession by this evil spirit, the gospel of Mark says that the man was sitting (vs. running around uncontrolled), dressed (vs. naked), and in his right mind (vs. screaming, yelling, and harming himself) (Mark 5:15). However we choose to understand this evil spirit, the fact remains that it was torturing and destroying his life and that Jesus was able to deliver him. The man’s encounter with Jesus made all the difference. Jesus’ intervention in his life made all the difference. So much so that the man returned to his family and community to tell of what Jesus had done in his life (Mark 5:20).

What has Jesus done for you? Have you ever felt yourself in a desperate situation? “Naked”? That is, unprotected or unshielded to life’s harm? Or not in your “right mind”? Thoughts, problems, worries, etc., that cloud your mind to see God’s light? Let us thank God that he can deliver and help us. Give it over to God – He will give us peace of mind.

Prayer: Lord, life’s situation many times try to cloud us to not see your grace at work. Free us from being overwhelmed by life’s uncertainties and help us to trust your wisdom. Thank you for your delivering power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

P.S. Let us continue to pray for Alicia’s family as they deal with the loss of their son, brother, cousin, nephew, and friend.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Love Much

2006-10-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

I hope and pray that you have gotten off to a great week this Monday morning. I praise God for the wonderful services we had yesterday especially since we had two laity speakers who brought us the message of God’s love and hope.

I ask you to join me in lifting up the young man who died of an overdose Sunday morning and who was a nephew to our sister Alicia. May the peace of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit be near to them in a special way.

Today’s devotional text is Luke 7:36-50. This is the story of the sinful woman who came to anoint Jesus with an expensive perfume. Naturally, for a woman to approach a table full of men was in and of itself radically odd, let alone make her way to one of them and actually touch him! Yet that is exactly what this sinful woman did, she knelt before Jesus as “she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them” (Luke 7:38).

As Jesus illustrated with his parable, this woman was a “heavy debtor” when it came to sin. In fact, Jesus himself declared, “her many sins have been forgiven” (Luke 7:47). It is safe to say that she was loaded with sin. Then, Jesus said, “But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47b). This verse has always perplexed me. I’ve always asked myself, “Who has little to forgive?” It’s kind of like, “Well, mine was a little white lie; at least it wasn’t a BIG one!” Who could be the one who indeed has “little to forgive?” The answer is no one, really. Every day we fall so short and yet are on a daily quest to fall less short and less short each day. But we must come the throne of grace each day.

But the one who really and actually believes that he/she has little to be forgiven, as Jesus implied, is the one who will love little when it comes to God and the things of the kingdom. Jesus was not implying, in my opinion, that there was indeed someone who could make such a claim as much as he was clarifying the end result of a person who was a bit on the self-righteous side.

May we live each day in thanksgiving for the abundance of God’s grace upon us and let us love him more each day as we daily seek to fall less short and less short everyday.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in the spirit of this sinful woman who anointed your feet in Simon’s house. She gave us an example of how we should express our thanksgiving – bowing down before in you in humility and gratitude. Give us your grace this day. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Harmony

2006-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

I hope and pray that your morning is going very well. The last couple of days I was dealing with some sort of upper respiratory condition, but thanks for your prayers and patience.

What kind of thoughts come into our minds when we think about the word “harmony”? Perhaps “accord”, “agreement”, or “unity”. I know that one of the things that come into my mind is music. Harmony occurs in music when two or more notes are played to create a new note or sound. When done right, the result is a beautiful sound. To hear how different instruments play different notes that make up one big sound is truly impressive; of course, the same would be true for a choir singing in harmony. The catch, or course, is for everyone to do play or sing their own part well.

Romans 15:1-13 has two key verses that tie this passage up and puts our Christian faith into perspective: 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of harmony among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).

The Apostle Paul, as he was giving words of advice and direction as to how the church should conduct herself, emphasized the whole idea of living in harmony with one another as we are in harmony with Christ Jesus. When in perfect harmony, the church of the Lord can be a place of worship, fellowship, restoration, and growth. As in music, no one note is identical to the next and yet, when played together they create a harmony. In the same way, when we find our place in church and we play our part well, an atmosphere of love, peace, joy, and service is created.

The result of this attitude and atmosphere of harmony in the church, according to the Apostle Paul, is that with one heart and voice we may glorify God. What a great thing that every church lived and served in harmony with God and one another.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to play my part in church and to play it with all of my heart knowing that if I endure, I will join others in glorifying your name. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

God of Life and Hope

2006-10-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

I hope and pray that this day is going great for you. For us in Dallas, we awoke to a cooler start to our day. The change of weather feels good.

Today’s passage comes from Romans 4:13-25. The promise of a many descendents came to Abraham when he was 100 years old – he needed to have some faith! God had made a covenant with Abraham and declared that he would be the father of many nations. How could that be if he was well past his child rearing age, not to mention Sarah. In any case, the odds were against Abraham and Sarah…it would take a miracle.

Have you ever felt down and out? Have you ever felt as though there is no hope? That the odds are against you? With, everything seemed to point towards a hopeless case. Yet, the Apostle Paul declared, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be" (Romans 4:18). Yesterday I reflected upon our need to wait on the Lord – to hope in the Lord and know that He is faithful to His word. Somewhere, and at some point, Abraham had to have had a “faith” and “hope” moment. Who was the God that Abraham believed in?

“He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed – the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)

Abraham had believed in the almighty God who could give life to an apparent dead situation. This was why Abraham was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” And of course, he was witness of this with his own wife who gave birth to a son, although she was barren.

What is our “barren” situation? Where do we need a miracle? A divine intervention? The same God whom Abraham trusted and believed is the same God who hears our prayer. God can “give life to the dead” situations in our lives; He can give us strength and courage to persevere.

Prayer: God of life and power, I offer all that I am to You this day. I offer my thanksgiving to You. And I also offer my “barren” situations that seem hopeless. I pray that You would give life where there is little or no life. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Waiting

2006-10-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all of you! I pray that today will be a day of blessings, peace, and joy to you.

Today's text: Isaiah 40:18-31

How patient are you? Are you the impatient kind? Is it challenging at times to have to wait, wait, and wait? If you're like me (and millions of others), then there are times when it is indeed challenging to be patient and wait. And yet I've heard numerous times when at a dinner, barbecue gathering, or other such event as that, when the meal has been delayed that after the meal people say, "Now that was worth waiting for!"

Today's Bible text reminds us that "those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength..." God calls us to wait on Him at times. In our fast-paced culture (what is often referred to as the "microwave" culture) we want everything now. If we pray to God, we'd appreciate His answer within 24 hours. Waiting requires patience. Patience, it has been said, is a virtue. The Apostle Paul declared, "I have learned to be content..." Can we learn to be patient? That same Isaiah text reminds us of God's almighty power to do all things. Can He help us learn to be patient? Absolutely. The question is whether we want to be learners in order to be patient.

The Hebrews waited 400 years to be liberated from Egypt's stronghold. I suspect that when Moses showed up as the deliverer, the Hebrews thought, "Now that was waiting for!" When we wait on God, He does things right in His time.

Do you need patience to wait on God today? Do you need patience, period? Ask God, then wait on Him...

Prayer: Lord, teach me to wait on You. Give me more patience. Thank You for the times that You have waited on me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Free to Serve

2006-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

A very good morning to all of you! I feel we had a wonderful worship service yesterday as we had the Emmanu-El youth here to share their presentation along with our own youth. Let us continue to support our youth with prayer and encouragement.

Text: Exodus 3:7-22

When we consider the Exodus experience and how God miraculously delivered and freed the Hebrew slaves out of the powerful clutches of the Egyptian empire, we may often get caught up in the amazing miracles or simply in the fact that the Hebrews were no longer oppressed as slaves. We do (and should) praise God for His mighty acts and we do (and should) rejoice that God set the slaves free. The question I'd like to reflect on is: Why did God set them free? And what for?

We know that God had established a covenant with Abraham and based on that covenant, God was fulfilling His provision and care for His people. He desired that they be a free people. But once free, then what?

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)

The word in Hebrew for worship can also mean "to serve". When we hear worship many times we think immediately of a worship service or a style of worship. However, taking the Biblical message as a whole, "to worship" and "to serve" God is a daily journey. Worship does not end at noon on Sunday; service to God does not end at 5:00 p.m. It is an ongoing journey. As disciples on the road to a lifestyle of discipleship, we must look beyond the superficial aspects of "worship" and "service". How we conduct our selves at home, school, or work reflects how we worship and serve God. How we speak to our family, friends, neighbors, or strangers can reflect how we worship and serve God. What we set our minds to can also reflect how we worship and serve God.

As we set out to begin the week, let us be ever-mindful of how we are worshipping and serving God, and let us indeed serve Him with whole-hearted devotion.

Prayer: Lord, I come to you in praise and thanksgiving. You are the reason I live. Your faithful love for me is my strength. Give me resolve to worship and serve You in all I am, do, and say. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Obedience

2006-10-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

My prayer is that your day has been a productive, peaceful, and blessed day!

How many times have we as Christians on the road to discipleship dealt with the whole issue of obedience? In fact, one of the first lessons most of us have memory of is that moment when we begin to realize that we must obey our parents. We're taught the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and to obey your elders.

Well, in Matthew 21:28-32 we find Jesus' parable of the two sons. One of them, upon receiving an order or command from his father, told his father he would not obey his command. However, later on he repented and chose to obey his father. The second son, also upon receiving a command from his father, told his father he would obey his command but he, in fact, did not obey.

How many times do we say "yes" to something all the while knowing or at least doubting our true desire to indeed follow through? How challenging is it for our "yes" to be "yes"? I suppose that it's always nice to know if someone is going to "obey" and follow through on his/her committment. On the other hand, Jesus said that there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents and turns to God.

Jesus said that the the first son "repented" or "changed his mind" and obeyed the father. What do I need to repent of? What/where do I need to be more obedient in?

Prayer: Lord, I'm sorry for the times that I've told You that I will obey but then turn right around and disobey. Forgive me, and empower me to be obedient to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

A Thought-Provoking Prayer

2006-10-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

May God's blessings be with you as you go about your day. Let us continue to be in prayer for Hna. Pauline who is feeling better but is still awaiting test results.

Acts 8:1-8 tells about the persecution of the church and how that triggered a scattering which in turn led to an incredible spreading of the gospel because wherever the believers went, they "preached" the word. That phrase caught my attention, "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). One of the causes of the church's growth in the first century was due to the fact that those who chose the narrow path of discipleship took "Christ" with them wherever they went. Wherever they went, they tried to emulate the life and ministry of Jesus. Wherever they went, they tried to live out the teachings of Christ. Wherever they went, they never left behind their Christian identity.

Do we preach the word wherever we go? St. Francis of Assissi reminded his young preachers to "preach the word, and if necessary, use words." To preach the word wherever we go does not always require words; in fact, sometimes it's just best if we let our actions speak for us.

Let me conclude with this very thought provoking prayer by John Baillie from A Diary of Private Prayer:

Have I today done anything to fufill the purpose for which Thou didst cause me to be born?
Have I accepted such opportunities of service as Thou in Thy wisdom hast set before my feet?
Have I performed without omission the plain duties of the day.
Give me grace to answer honestly, O God.

Have I today done anything to tarnish my Chrisitan ideal of manhood?
Have I been lazy in body or languid in spirit?
Have I wrongly indulged my bodily appetites?
Have I kept my imagination pure and healthy?
Have I been scrupulously honorable in all my business dealings?
Have I been transparently sincere in all I have professed to be, to feel, or to do?
Give my grace to answer honestly, O God.

Have I tried today to see myself as others see me?
Have I made more excuses for myself than I have been willing to make for others?
Have I, in my own home, been a peace-maker or have I stirred up strife?
Have I, while professing noble sentiments for great causes and distant objects, failed even in common charity and courtesy towards those nearest to me?
Give me grace to answer honestly, O God.

O Thou whose infinite love, made manifest in Jesus Christ, alone has power to destroy the empire of evil in my soul, grant that with each day that passes I may more and more be delivered from my besetting sins. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

"Amputees"

2006-10-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

May God bless your day today and every day. I am thankful to the Lord for a blessed World Communion Sunday united service yesterday.

Yesterday's text was one of the "hard" sayings of Jesus. It was one that called for drastic measures. It has often been said that drastic situations call for drastic measures. Jesus said in Mark 8:43-48:

43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where
'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

I shared that obviously Jesus had not meant that as literal amputation, but rather to heighten the mark of a radical discipleship. That is, that may very well be "rooms" in our hearts and minds that need to be cleaned out of any and all anxieties that hinder our faithful walk with Christ. Jesus used the rather extreme image of amputation to emphasize the importance of ridding our lives of these hindrances - in some cases, amputation can be a matter of life and death. As I reflected on this passage I found myself asking, "what did 1st century people know about amputation?" Well, to my surprise, both Plato and Hippocrates wrote about therapeutic amputation of both hands and feet in 385 BCE. So, Jesus' hearers knew, at least, that some sort of amputation was indeed possible, albeit extremely traumatic and painful. Hence, the application that ridding ourselves of those anxieties, fears, worries, etc., can indeed be a traumatic yet necessary experience in order to live the life God has intended for us.

The kingdom of God is full of "amputees", those who have set their hearts and minds on that life-long journey of "cutting off" those attitudes, choices, behaviors, mindsets, etc., that keep us from a full committment. Let us embrace the amputee spirit of God's kingdom.

As we pray today, let us remember Hna. Pauline who was admitted to the hospital this morning, may God's healing grace fill her life.

Prayer: God of love and life, I come to you in a spirit of thanksgiving and praise for who You are in my life. Help this day to begin, continue, or pursue a journey of "cutting off" those things in my life that keep me from enjoying your abundant life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Humble Your - SELF

2006-09-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

God bless all of you this morning as we all look forward to this weekend. This Sunday we will be celebrating World Communion Sunday in which we join with millions of believers world-wide to celebrate the Lord's Supper.

Bible text: Luke 18:9-14

What does it take to be humble? Who truly wants to be humble? Humility is not something innate to us; it doesn't come naturally. On the contrary, it is totally unnatural for us to lean towards being humble. Our human nature wants "my" way in "my" time on "my" terms. This obviously leads to a very selfish attitude.

In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus told of two different approaches to God:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' (Luke 18:10-13)

There was a sharp contrast here - the Pharisee (a religious leader) was "proud" of his "innocence" regarding the "big" sins. He was equally proud of his religious accomplishments, his "spiritual" disciplines. His approach did not show a "need" for God but merely fufilled his "need" for the religious routine. On the other hand, the tax collector (who did not enjoy a good reputation in the 1st century) did not dare draw close to the temple nor could he even look up to the heavens. But he humbly asked God for mercy - he did not mention his spiritual disciplines nor his "big" sins. All he knew was that God would not refuse a humble heart.

Spiritual disciplines are essential, "big" sins are bad (and all sins for that matter), but simply fulfilling a religious need is not enough. Jesus knew that we had to deal with the pride, self-sufficiency, and self-centeredness. Let us approach God with a humble, repentant, and sincere heart - this sincere and humble approach will lead us to want to embrace and practice spiritual disciplines and abandon sinful ways (however "small" or "big" they may be).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this week of blessings. Even though every moment may have not been a smooth one, I trust in your steadfast love and grace. I approach You with a humble heart, help me to embrace your grace and live a life of faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Have a great Sunday worship experience!

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Find us Faithful

2006-09-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon/evening to you all!

Sorry for the late post but today it seemed like one of those days that "when it rains, it pours"! But here are a few thoughts on Luke 18:1-8.

Isn't easy to lose heart? Doesn't seem easy to sometimes lose faith when things don't go our way? Or, does it seem easier at times to be faithful when everything is "fine and dandy like a sugar candy", as one sister in church used to say. My oldest daughter who is in fourth grade just made the 4th-6th basketball team at school and was a little hesitant to stay in because she was the shortest, smallest, and youngest. She was ready to lose heart. I encouraged her to hang in there, and today she is doing great.

At the end of today's passage, Jesus asked, "When the Son of man returns, will He really find faith on the earth?" What kind of a church will Jesus find when he returns? A faithful church? Better yet, what kind of faith does Jesus see in you and I each day? Does he find us faithful? Or do we seem to lose heart and faith easily? It is amazing how many times God called his people to faithfulness throughout the Old Testament. He continues to call His people to faithfulness.

In our journey as Jesus' disciples, let's not lose heart. Faithfulness is not easy, but it is rewarding. God is faithful. John Wesley said as he neared death, "The best of all, is God is with us." God is with us, praise God! God is with you; don't forget that.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness. Help me be faithful to You so that when you return, you will find me having been faithful to You each day. In Your name I pray. Amen.

La Familia

2006-09-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning, dear friends in Christ!

Today's text: Matthew 12:46-50

I suspect that when Jesus walked this earth, more often than not, people who witnessed his miraculous power through healings, exorcisms, and miracles wanted to be with him - they wanted to be part of "la familia". Not all of them, certainly not many of the religious leaders, but certainly many of the popular crowd. Because when you're part of "la familia", you could say that you were "hanging" with Jesus.

Well, Jesus had his natural family of mother, brothers, and sisters. And it only stands to reason that they would have a "privileged" place when it came to Jesus - and no doubt that Jesus had a special place in his heart for them. However, when it came to the mission his Father had sent him for, "la familia" was redefined. When it came to establishing that true connection to Jesus' familia, there was a renewed criteria introduced. Whoever wanted to be in "la familia" had to do the will of the Father in heaven; essentially, be and do as Jesus did in his life and ministry - love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor, and seek to please and glorify the Father in all we are and do. Jesus' earthly family had a special place in his heart, but in the Father's heart, it was not only Jesus' earthly family but all those who desire to do His will on earth, patterned after his life and ministry that had the opportunity to be in la familia.

As believers who seek to be disciples of Jesus, we are part of la familia de Dios. As disciples who want to do the Father's will in our lives, we are part of God's familia. Let us be thankful that we are in God's familia and extend that invitation to others as well.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I thank you for your Son, Jesus. And I thank you that through your love you've made me a part of your family. Help me to find strength and courage in knowing that I am your son/daughter. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Careless Words...

2006-09-26T09:45:00.001-07:00

Dear brother and sisters in Christ,

I hope and pray that you are having a great day in the Lord. I have prayed for our church family today and hope that your strength and faith be increased by God.

Our devotional text for today is Matthew 12:22-37. Jesus was accused of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub (i.e. the devil) while he declared that indeed it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that these demons were expelled. Jesus went on to warn against attributing the things of God to the devil, a warning that carried with it a severe consequence. Then Jesus used a tree to describe how a good tree would inevitably produce good fruit while a bad tree would yield bad fruit. And much of becomes evident in the things we declare and stand for. I want to believe that when Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" he not only meant the literal words we speak but also the "statements of faith" that we stand for. In other words, with our words and statements of faith, we tell a lot of our relationship with God.

Having said that, Jesus at the end gave this admonition: "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." What caught my attention was "every careless word." Careless. Carelessness. Careless words. The Greek word for "careless" can also have the following implications - ineffective, useless, without thought, or indifferent. Furthermore, "careless" in the Greek "pertains to not giving careful consideration to." Every day we use words to communicate our ideas, thoughts, desires, emotions, etc. When we speak, are we "careful" not to be "careless" in our words? What if we were to interject some of the other implications of careless; are our words ever ineffective, thoughtless or indifferent? Can our "careless" words harm or damage someone else or some other situation? They most surely can. Have we used careless words with our family, church family, co-workers, friends, neighbors, needy people from the church community, "active" children, etc.? Jesus' words of caution were these: "The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:37 NLT).

Does the way we speak and the words we use edify, encourage, are thoughful, effective, productive, and a blessing to God and others? Our witness may stand or fall based on our words as Christian disciples. Let us be "careful" not to be "careless" with our words at all times.

Prayer: Lord, You created us in your image. You gave us the unique ability in all of creation to speak. Give us a greater awareness of our words so that they may truly be a blessing to others and praise to You. Help us not be careless with our words, but rather to be careful in our speech. In your loving Name we pray. Amen.

By grace alone,

Pastor David

Failure?

2006-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning to everyone! I really missed being in yesterday's worship service with you all but I'm sure that the Lord was with you . Thanks for your prayers as Bro. Juan and myself travelled to Sandia, TX for the men's retreat (and yes, we did eat sandia in Sandia).

The theme at the men's retreat was "Da lo mejor al Maestro...not the leftovers". I was able to share as one of the guest speakers at the men's retreat and one of the points that I made was that before we worked at becoming a success in our Christian journey as disciples, we had to first be a failure. A failure!?! No one wants to be a failure. No one likes to think about being a failure. In fact, it is absurd to consider the possibility of being a failure. So, what possible failure can be "good" failure?

I shared that we needed to fail in the following areas (and there are many other areas as well):

Self-righteousness - "I think that I'm good enough", "I'm not that bad", etc. We need to fail in having a self-righteous attitude when confronted with the holiness and mercy of God, just as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:5, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah "failed" at self-righteousness before God.
We also need to fail in abandoning God's ways in the face of social pressure, family pressure, or even "religious" pressure. We need to fail in having a double-mind when it comes to God, and succeed in resolving to choose God's ways as did Joshua, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
We need to fail at living a life of sin, of practicing sin. Our desire each day should be to live closer and closer to God and follow His ways, and further and further away from a sinful lifestyle that will hinder our walk with Christ. The Apostle Paul addressed it this way on one ocassion, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2) We need to fail at "living in sin any longer."
We further need to fail at allowing the "world" or secular thought to dictate the drumbeat we as disciples will march to. Our ultimate source or "drumbeat" is God's living Word (Jesus) and his written word (the Bible). But we must fail at allowing the secular and popular opinion to form who we are, what we do, and how we think. Again, the Apostle Paul declared, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). The New Living Translation version puts it this way, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."
And finally, we need to fail at thinking and believing that we achieve this merely by our own efforts. "For it is by grace you have been saved...not by works..." (Ephesian 2:8) We can't "fail" on our own; we don't have to "fail" on our own. It's all because of God's grace, it's possible because of God's grace.

We can begin to succeed in our walk as disciples of Jesus when we fail at self-righeousness, abandoning God's ways under pressure, practicing a sinful lifestyle, allowing the secular world to dictate our Christian pace, and thinking that we have to do all of this on our own. God wants to help us succeed in our walk with Him. He wants to help us truly fail at living without Him, but we need to truly fail at those things that do not please God.

Are you ready to fail at sin? God's grace is sufficient for us.

Prayer: God of grace and love, we all want to be a success. I'm ready to fail at sin in order to succeed in my walk with You. It's not easy, it never is. But I trust in your grace today to be sufficient for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,

Pastor David

It's Not Easy, Part II

2006-09-21T08:49:00.001-07:00

Buenos dias a todos! Just one more day and weekend is here! God be with each of you in a special way during this day.

Yesterday I shared about my Korean friend who coined the phrase for me, "it's not easy." Life is not easy, we could say. What about life is not easy? What is that challenges us the most? Is it our careers, family, life-altering decisions, financial matters, moral values, etc.? I have always said that just plain everyday life is tough, but when you factor in all of the daily "crosses" we must bear, life takes on a whole other meaning. In any case, life is not easy, my friend would say. And certainly, when you factor in the "way of the Master", it most definately is not easy.

The Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 gave thanks for the church in Thessalonica because their faith had been growing steadily. The church was bearing fruit, fruit that lasts. They most likely were involved in ministry, mission, evangelism, worship, and were good stewards of their resources - all of this without any 5, 7, or 12-step method approach. They had not gone to the latest seminar on church growth or congregational mobilization and development. Yet, their faith in Christ was growing and so was their love in Christ for one another. So, if they didn't have the latest 7-step method for growing a church, what was going on? 1 Thessalonians 1:4 says, "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." They were "working" their faith, "laboring" in following Jesus. You'll remember that yesterday I mentioned the distinction between the work we do versus the labor that we exert to perform that work. It's no wonder that when a mother is giving birth it's called "labor." There is pain, agony, and suffering involved in the process of carrying out the "work" of giving birth. And somehow (somehow we men will never understand), they are able to endure. But as we all know (especially all the mothers who have given birth), that endurance leads to the joy that that "labor" brings - a new life that is invaluable.

We all face the journey of life that includes trials and struggles and a mission that requires "labor". There may be pain and suffering, but we know that in Christ we can endure so that our faith would indeed grow as our love for God and each other also grows.

Prayer: Dear God, we thank You for your Son and for your Spirit who give us life. Help us endure the reality of life. And when we feel the agony of our "labor", strengthen us we pray. We know that "it's not easy", but we know that we can come to You and receive comfort and strength. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

It's Not Easy

2006-09-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning hermanos y hermanas! May today be a day filled with the best that God has for us as we offer the best of who we are to the Lord as well.

When I was in seminary in Kentucky, I had a Korean neighbor who was a fellow seminarian and who also shared with me the joy of playing tennis. Because English was his second language, it was a challenge at times to fully understand all that he was saying. But he had a phrase that he learned well early on in his experience in the United States - "it's not easy", he would frequently say. Whether it was a particular shot in tennis, a course he was taking, or trying to raise two young children while going to seminary full-time, it was always the same phrase, "David, it's not easy", he would say. Needless to say, that phrase has become a household phrase for the Blancos - "it's not easy."

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 reminds us that "it's not easy." Last Sunday I was preaching on Mark's gospel, chapter 8 where Jesus challenged his disciples to "deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him." He also told them that the way of the Messiah was one of suffering, rejection, and death. In other words, to say that "you are the Christ" carries certain implications - "it's not easy." The Apostle Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians' work, labor, and endurance. I got to thinking, "isn't work and labor synonymous?" I was always under the assumption that to labor was to work and vice versa. However, Paul used "ergon" (work) and "kopos" (labor). The difference is that work is that task that we are called to partake in as the church. Labor refers to the "toil" and "exertion" that it takes to undergo that task. In other words, we know the work at hand, to "labor" towards it is another matter - "it's not easy." Let us take on the challenge of laboring for God's kingdom - for God's glory and for our edification.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "it's not easy"? I do. And it isn't. But it's worth it, and God will give us the grace to endure (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithful love. We find ourselves many times saying, "it's not easy." Help us to endure, give us courage, and continue to give us your grace to be faithful disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Simplicity

2006-09-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ!

I hope and pray that this morning has been a productive one so far. The text that I read this morning was 2 Corinthians 4:8-13 in which the Apostle Paul put forth their physical struggles as apostles. And there is even a tone of sarcasm as he semi-accused his readers of self-sufficiency. In any case, the whole idea of how "materialism" impacts our daily walk continues in this portion of Scripture.

Yesterday I mentioned how part of our walk as disciples was to acknowledge that all of our blessings come from God. One question that was raised as part of my devotional reading was, "Are there ways that I can simplify my lifestyle in order to be a better steward and offer more to God?" I think that we all would agree that there is a "power" to money and material goods. There is something about it that attracts us to it. We would like more of it. And sometimes we think, "If I only had ____ dollars, life would be perfect..." Not realizing that if we would only simplify our lifestyle, life could very well be "perfect."

To simplify my lifestyle would mean that there are some areas of spending that I would reduce or dramatically reduce in. To simplify my lifestyle means that I would have to drastically modify my spending and become more intentional as to how and where my money is going...all the while remembering that ultimately it is not my money, but that it all comes from God and belongs to God. To simplify my lifestyle means that I would be more generous when it came to giving to the things of God. That doesn't "sound right", but it's true. When we simplify our lifestyle, we are in a better position to be generous...all with a cheerful heart.

I am not a financial analyst, but I do know that human nature tendency is "the more I earn, the more I spend (over spend)", and I also know that to simplify our lifestyle cuts against the grain of our human nature. Why? Because it all begins with our hearts and mind. When we come to Christ, our way of living and thinking must change. When we realize just how God's grace has redeemed, restored, and reconciled us to Himself, we want to be good stewards of all that we are before God. We want to please God in all that we are and do. A redeemed heart will be a grateful heart, a restored heart will be a giving heart, and a reconciled heart will be a generous heart.

How can you and I simplify our lifestyle in order to honor God? What area of our lives needs to be simplified?

Prayer: Lord, You are the giver of all things. Your word says that all the gold and silver are yours. You give us the strength and ability to earn a living. Help us to simplify our lifestyle and be better stewards of your gifts to us. Give us a disciplined, thankful, and a generous heart. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Faithful Servants

2006-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends in Christ,

Good morning and a good day to each of you. Sorry I missed Friday's post but somehow time got the best of me. Most of Friday we were planning for the "16 de Septiembre" celebration with our community; this event turned out to be very successful. We had nearly 150 people in attendance! The evening included a chalupa/rice dinner, nachos, two piñatas for the kids, and a wonderful folkorico group. Thanks again to all those who came and/or helped out with this event.

The passage for today is 1 Corinthians 4:1-7. Among other things, the Apostle Paul exhorted his readers to take on the "trust" of being faithful. He also enrusted them with the challenge of being servants. According to the Apostle Paul, we have been entrusted with the "secret things of God", those elements that when taken to heart, will shape and mold us as faithful servants of Christ. "Faithfulness" and "loyalty" are words that seem to have lost their impact on today's popular culture. Loyalty to God, family, spouse, church, friends, values, ethical standards, integrity, etc., seem to be of secondary importance to society. Nonetheless, the Apostle Paul reminds us that it is because of God's goodness that we have what we have, and therefore should not be overtaken with pride or self-sufficiency.

A faithful servant is one who takes to heart the "secret things of God", always living in an attitude of thanksgiving and pursuing loyalty to God, family, church, and one another.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your goodness and your mercy. Thank you for one more day in which I can strive to live for you and be your faithful servant. Help me to be loyal to You and to those things that are truly important. Guard me from self-sufficiency and pride. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Blessings on your week!

Pastor David

A Welcoming Church

2006-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Good day to everyone!

As we look forward to the weekend, we can anticipate a full weekend of activities. Tomorrow, we have an opportunity to practice our hospitality. As has been announced for about a week now, tomorrow we'll be hosting a "16 de septiembre" celebration for our church and community. Many people in our surrounding area are quite fond of this celebration and hopefully will attend. We, as the host church, will be prepared to welcome those who come to this event. By the way, "16 de septiembre" celebrates the Mexican Independence Day that was triggered by the 1810 "grito".

Interestingly enough, today's passage is from Romans 8:1-11 which in the first two verses says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). The written law could provide an atoning sacrifice whereby God's forgiveness was declared, but the written law could not set us free from the law of sin and death - only through Christ Jesus. Through Jesus' sacrificial death we are able to be reconciled to God and to receive and enjoy new life through the Spirit. Paul went on to say, " For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering" (Romans 8:3). Our "independence" from sin is granted through faith in Jesus. Our "independence" from our sinful nature is possible because of God's love through Christ. We don't have to live life with sin as our master. Christ is with us to set us free from the law of sin and death - all we need to do is reach out to Him. Enjoying freedom from the law of sin and death is indeed a reason for a "grito"...

Prayer: Lord, as we reflect on Your word and on your provision through Christ, help us to celebrate the new life we have in You. Now that we can be free from the law of sin and death, move us to be closer to You each day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

A New Life

2006-09-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Our text for today is Romans 6:1-14. Paul began by asking, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" The implied scenario is rather disturbing - if you want to experience more grace, go ahead and keep on sinning!?! What a thought! The Apostle Paul, of course, answered himself with a resound "By no means!" "No way!" On the contrary, the new life we have in Christ is one of leaving behind our old self, our old way of thinking, speaking, and living. Paul used language related to slavery in describing our struggle with sin. He said that sin should not be our "master", that sin should not "reign" over us. In fact, that is the way the Apostle Paul ends this passage, "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

God's grace is grace at all times. The question is not a matter of it being experienced more in one way or another. It is about us responding to that precious grace by not allowing sin to master us, but rather allowing the Master to master our lives.

Prayer: *Forgive the sins I have confessed to You, forgive the secret sins I do not see; that which I know not, Father, teach Thou me - Help me to live. Amen.
*Prayer by C. Maud Battersby

By grace alone,
Pastor David

Keeping the Balance

2006-09-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope and pray that everyone has had a great start to this week. Each week is a new opportunity to do the right thing before God. Each day is a new page that we can fill with "right living", for that matter. Today marks the fifth anniversary of 9-11. We remember where we were and what we were doing. Let us never forget the tragedy and the memory of those who courageously lost their lives. Let us remember in prayer the many families that were so deeply impacted. And in all of this, let us never forget God's grace with us that gives us hope to live one day at a time.

Yesterday the message was about keeping a good balance between faith and works.

There was a popular phrase a few years ago that went something like this, "Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk." I would like to add a slight variation, "Don't just talk the talk, walk the talk." It's amazing the way the Holy Spirit inspired James to give such an exhortation, particularly with the example he used in illustrating this "balanced faith" - making a distinction between people based on their "material" value. We say we have faith, but how do we take time to do good to others, regardless of who they are?

No sooner had we finished the service yesterday morning when I was approached by someone, a "stranger" who apparently had been "out on the streets" for a few days and in need of some food. I had just preached the sermon...was I ready and willing to live the sermon? With the help of other brothers and sisters, we were able to bless this person with some help.

St. Francis of Assisi once told his young student preachers, "Go and preach the word, and if necessary, use words." Are we ready and willing to live the sermons? To live the word? May God give us His grace to live our faith.

Prayer: Lord, we give you thanks for the faithfulness of your word, for it speaks the truth in love. Forgive us for the times we have not lived our faith, and help us this day to not only be hearers, but doers of your word. Give us courage and strength to "walk the talk." In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Pastor David

Discipleship Involves Faith and Works

2006-09-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

I hope and pray that you all have had a great start to your Friday! We can all look forward to a weekend of rest, family time, and worship on Sunday. This week's New Testament lectionary reading is from James 2:1-17, a very well-known passage that among other great exhortations, challenges disciples to have a "perfect" blend of faith and works. Of course, if we say we have faith in Jesus, if we "claim his name" and believe in who he is then the natural result is that we will do those things that will honor his name. In the same way, if we are doing those "good deeds" in helping the needy, being kind to all, going to church, etc., and do not possess genuine faith, then our faith is incomplete. In fact, James goes to on to say that faith in itself is not "enough" because even the demons have faith and believe that God is God. It has to be a sincere faith and devotion to Christ, a faith that compels us to be God's hands and feet to a hurting world.

In either case, the question for us becomes, is my faith "complete"? Both extremes can lead us down an incomplete Christian experience. We may wholeheartedly believe and defend all the right doctrines of the Christian church (and we should!), but if we rarely ever engage in the everyday needs and affairs of those around us, then our experience is incomplete. On the other hand, if we consume ourselves in meeting the everyday needs and affairs of those around us (and this we should also do!), and do not "root and ground" ourselves in God's word, prayer, worship, etc., and teach others God's truth, then our experience again is incomplete.

A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who nurtures his mind and heart, only to share that blessing and joy by serving others with good deeds.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this new day, this new opportunity to "get it right". Give me a heart after your own heart, and give me a heart to serve others in your love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

See you in church on Sunday!

By grace alone,
Pastor David

When I was a Child...

2006-09-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great day. One of the reasons I chose discipleship, or being and becoming a disciple, as the theme of this blogspot was because there is so much to say in this area. I suspect this is true in just about every area of our Christian walk. When do we stop growing? When do we stop learning? When can we say we know enough? Being a true disciple of Jesus truly involves a full and entire commitment, just as I shared yesterday.

One of the realities that we have to live with everyday is the fact that we are indeed human and therefore, imperfect. Our thinking can be imperfect, our words can be imperfect, and our actions certainly can be imperfect. And yet, time and time again, Jesus and the New Testament writers call us to a high standard of being and doing. That is, who we are and what we do really do matter. On the other hand, this high standard goes beyond a "perfect performance" way of understanding our full commitment to Christ. It is not so much that our every little thought, word, and action will always be immaculately without blemish, but rather that the drive behind living as Jesus' disciples will always be one of reaching our full potential as disciples of the Master.

Perhaps just as many of you have, I have read 1 Corinthians 13 many times. 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter of love. I preached from that chapter recently at a wedding and a verse caught my attention like it hadn't caught my attention before. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways" (NRSV). There was a time when we were children! We spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child. But then, we became adults and left those childish ways behind. Obviously, the Apostle Paul was using a very human experience to describe a very spiritual reality! A big part of becoming a disciple of Jesus has to do with submitting to God's word and Holy Spirit in such a way that we can move on to maturity in our faith journey. It has to do with putting an end and leaving behind our spiritual "childish ways", whatever that may look like in our lives.

The expectation of a small child is that he/she will one day grow up in such a way that he/she will be responsible, reasonable, and respectable; that he/she will mature and no longer think, speak, and act in "childish ways." This expection is certainly true for our spiritual life. Are we spiritually "childish"? Perhaps there is an area(s) in our spiritual life that needs to just leave childish ways behind. What area might that be?

Finally, this whole admonition of "leaving behind childish ways" by the Apostle Paul is enveloped in the concept of God's love. God's loving patience, kindness, and forgiveness give us the motivation and encouragement to want to grow in God's love. God's love is with us to help us as we grow.

Prayer: God of love, I thank you for the purpose you have for my life. It is my desire to follow you daily. Help me to put behind me those childish ways that hinder my spiritual growth. And help me to know that your love is present with me each moment. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

By grace alone,
Pastor David

With All

2006-09-06T07:18:00.001-07:00

In virtually every circle of life we've heard the undenying importance of giving our "all" to whatever it is we're trying to succeed in. Since we were in kindergarten and on through high school we were given the task to give it our all when it came to homework, tests, projects, sports, band, and good behavior. But even before that, as three and four-year-olds, we wanted all of the candy bar, all of the toys, all to ourselves. Then later, as we matured and got older we found that other areas of life also required our all - family, college, career, job, relationships, etc.

Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment of the law was. Naturally, they had heard that Jesus had silenced the Saducees so they wanted to press the issue. Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). When referring to the degree of commitment required of the heart, soul, and mind, Jesus declared all. At the very top of our top ten list of being a disciple of the Master is loving God with all. That is, to set our heart, soul, and mind to seek after God's will for us as His followers. To set our heart, soul, and mind to strive to be Christ-like in our being and doing, in our thinking, speaking, and living. And this requires all of our effort, strength, and commitment.

The Greek for all implies a meaning of "whole", "complete", or "entire." To love God strongly implies a relationship. Therefore, to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind is to be in relationship with Him through Christ with a complete, whole, or entire commitment. To follow Jesus as his true disciples requires a complete commitment. This does not mean that there will never be setbacks. But it does mean that when those setbacks do come, we will not look back but rather set our face to following Christ with a complete effort. A marriage is not always smooth, it may have setbacks and bumps on the road, but that does not mean that I cannot have a complete, entire, whole, and loving commitment to my wife. I can always be in a committed and loving relationship with her in spite of bumps on the road.

We can follow Jesus with a whole heart, with a complete desire, and with an entire effort. Are you completely committed to following Jesus? Are you completely committed to thinking, speaking, and living like Jesus? Jesus gave us his all, won't we do the same?

Prayer: Lord, it is not easy for me to give my all. Yet that is what you call me to do. It is my desire to be in relationship with you with a complete heart and will. May your grace strengthen me to follow you with a full commitment. Amen.

Grace and peace to you today,
Pastor David

An Introductory Statement

2006-09-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

As a pastor's son, I grew up in the church. I attended Sunday school, vacation Bible school, youth and young adult retreats, played in a praise band, etc. I am very blessed to have had such a solid Christian foundation in my home. Through my parents, I was able to see, taste, hear, and feel what it was to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. The way my parents lived out their faith engraved in my heart what it means to follow Jesus in a serious way. It wasn't until I was 19 when, to use John Wesley's words, "I felt I did trust Christ..."

From then on, I tried to pursue living for Jesus at any cost. I had a newfound zeal. I read my Bible, took Bible classes in college, carried my Bible everywhere I went, went to prayer meetings, taught Sunday school, chaired the evangelism committee at church, etc., all because I wanted to follow Jesus. Needless to say, I went through phases in my Christian journey before I realized that there must be something more to following Jesus.

That is not to say that the abovementioned things were not following Jesus, but I learned that to follow Jesus was just that - learning to think, speak, and act like Jesus...to be and do as Jesus did. As I went on to seminary and was exposed to that closer walk and deeper walk with Christ I realized that I needed to embody the life of Christ somehow. Two things are obvious from Jesus' life and ministry - he pleased and glorified the Father.

How did Jesus please and glorify the Father? How should we please and glorify the Father as Jesus' disciples? Hopefully, following discussions will help us reflect on that.