Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

The late Steve Jobs shared in his commencement speech to Stanford University graduates in 2005 three stories. The last story was of knowing that we must love what we do for a living. He learned early on that one should live each day as if it were his last. He shared the discovery of his pancreatic cancer and how that drove the point home. He shared how we should know our time is limited and so we should live our lives in ways that make a difference. He also shared how a publication from the 1970s blessed his life, The Whole Earth Catalog, which in pre-desktop publishing days, was put together with typewriters, tape, and Polaroid cameras. The catalog did not last long and in its final issue on the very back page was a photo of an early morning country road, with the words, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." Those words drove Mr. Jobs to do incredible things. In the same way, as pastors sharing the Gospel of the Most High, we should never be full, content, nor comfortable with what we have done. We have to stay hungry, and we should encourage our churches to stay hungry; and in our attempts to fill the church we should not rule out doing "foolish" things that might irritate some folks.

Stay hungry.

Stay foolish.

We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ.-1 Cor. 4:10

Pray. Count to Ten. Walk Around the Block. Pray Again. Take a Deep Breath. Pray Some More!

Jim Gaffigan said of this coming holiday, "Thanksgiving is like we didn't even try to come up with a tradition. The tradition is that we overeat!" Then in a voice of another person he says, "How about at Thanksgiving we just eat a lot?" Jim then says, "We do that every day!" The other voice then says, "What if we over eat with people that annoy the (heck) outta us?"

David Letterman said, "If I wanted to negotiate with terrorists, I'd go home for Thanksgiving!"

Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks to God for all with which we have been blessed. The reality is that we do overeat, and sometimes with people that do annoy us or push us to limits we don't want pushed. Jesus did say, or meant to say, "Where two or three are gathered; there's going to be trouble." And there usually is. But should there be? Many we have not seen for a long time, and their comments or ours sometimes makes others feel bad especially if we make a comment of appearance. "You sure have gotten big!" Parents will say to children; some kids are sensitive, even at a young age, about their appearance. Some may already have a weight issue and the "big" comment really says to them, "You're getting fatter!" The child sensitive about his/her height hears, "Woah! You sure are tall!" Not what they want to hear. Some well-meaning parent may jokingly say, "What's the matter, son? That wife of yours not feeding you anymore?" Do I even need to explain that one? And yes, you can reverse the roles in that last statement. "Well, there's snow on the roof now!" Yes, our hair does get grayer/whiter with age. The classic is, of course, to the single people, "Why aren't you married yet?" in whatever "clever" form they may think of with which to torture those who have not yet, or have chosen not to, marry. You may have your own list, but the key is this: Jesus said, "Where two or three are gather in my name, there will I be also." The best Thanksgiving is to invite Jesus to sit with us at the table and to thank Him in genuine ways for all that Jesus has blessed us.

If a comment hurts, re-read the title of this post. Pray. Count to ten. Walk around the block. Pray again. Take a deep breath. Pray some more! Then smile, love back with a nice comment about them, and carry on. Oh yeah, the shirts begin with what Winnie said, "Keep Calm and Carry On."

May it be so.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shine, Don't Pine!

It is said that David, when he says in Psalm 121, "I look up towards the hills," was referring to his enemies encamped around him, and he knew knew to answer his own question by saying and knowing, that his help came from the Lord. Smoke of us sometimes, look towards the hills and see other churches and pastors, and we pine for the day we might pastor such a church. Where would David have gotten had his vision been cast so low? He would have met defeat in every battle. He looked beyond the challenge to the source of help. We are also called to look towards God so that we might find victory where God has placed us. For a reason and a season, we march faithfully.

look beyond! and look upward. Shine, my friend, where you have been place.

For a reason and a season.

¡Ganas!

Okay, boys and girls, today's Spanish word is ganas. It's a simple, but powerful word. It literally means desire, and can mean to win, when used as ganar. For our purposes in this posting, it means desire; but deeper the drive to win is found in that desire. We used to say (and still do; in fact, that's what I'm saying now) ¡dale con ganas!

Anything we enter into should be with the passionate desire to success, or as Paul say, to be more than conquerors in these things of God. To be in a relationship, one must have ganas; a fire of passion to enjoy the other person; in a church setting as pastor or leader or servant, one must have ganas or it will show very quickly that we don't.

It's your choice. But to succeed, ¡dale con ganas!

Hit the Piñata with Your Eyes Open!

Piñatas have been a part of my life since way back. It seemed you could not have a birthday party in the town of Kingsville, Texas, without a piñata. Pictures of my birthdays show a piñata. We tried introducing that practice to our family, but having done a great job of raising them, they were not violent girls. The idea of using a stick to hit something, especially in the form of a person or superhero was not kosher. And they were correct; imagine having love and respect for Minnie Mouse and then having her appear at your party with the instructions, "Take this stick and hit Minnie as hard as you can!" Wait. What, Dad? Hit. Minnie. Mouse? I think not!

Image from pinterest.com

The piñata is a symbol of a special celebration. It is also a symbol of an opportunity. Those who are familiar with the practice, especially those of us who love candy, know that inside the papier-maché container, in whatever shape it comes in, there's candy! And the only way to get the candy is to hit the piñata; take the opportunity. Yes, the traditional practice involved a blindfold. I've often wondered why did so many childhood activities involve a blindfold? I remember going to parties where we were blindfold, spun around, and then told to "Pin the tail on the donkey!" Wait. What? There's a real donkey here and we're supposed to prick it with a pin? No way, sister! I'm not about to be kicked to the next life by a mistreated almost-horse! And even if led to the paper picture of a donkey, I was not one known for accuracy, especially when I did not know the purpose of the game... The piñata celebration also involved the spinning and blindfolding of children, armed with a stick, and then instructed to swing wildly in the air in hopes of hitting Minnie, Mickey, Batman, or some other object, usually another donkey, to get candy. I remember most kids were allowed to try and hit the piñata until everyone had a turn, and usually no one had hit the thing hard enough to get the candy. And then, blindfolds off, the stick was handed to the biggest kid with the hardest swing. Bam! And the candy would fall to the ground, and the kids would fight each other for the candy. Usually discovering, in those days, that the candy was usually the kind not found on the US side of the border. And once we tasted it, discovered why...

Life and ministry present us with several special celebrations, all of which come with opportunities, and we might discover, if we take advantage of these with good intentions, we might find a special surprise down deep beneath whatever we have encountered. Life does come with some blindfolds, but usually, our eyes can see beyond or through whatever blindfolds folks try to place on us or we place on ourselves. Every opportunity should be a time to enjoy the zest of life and to help ourselves and others discover the pleasant and rewarding substance of joy found in those who seek for it.

copyright 2014 Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Gratitude Lifts Our Altitude and Attitude

In the book The Traveler's Gift, Anne Frank is quoted as saying, "Too many times I have offered up the prayers of a bigger, always asking for more and forgetting to give thanks. I do not wish to be seen as a greedy child, unappreciative and disrespectful. I am grateful for sight and sound and breath. If ever in my life there is a pouring out of blessings beyond that, then I will be grateful for the miracle of abundance.

I will greet each day with laughter. I will smile at every person I meet. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

Today I will choose to be happy."

P. 110

Passion; It's What Works

"Getting started, getting finished -- both ends of a journey require a demonstration of passion." A quote attributed to Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus to you) in the book The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews, as he greets the 64th day at sea certain that he would see land on that day. He continues, "Passion is a product of the heart. Passion is what helps you when you have a great dream. Passion breeds conviction and turns mediocrity into excellence! Your passion will motivate others to join you in pursuit of your dream. With passion, you will overcome insurmountable obstacles. You will become unstoppable!"

Passion in the pulpit is what makes people believe you believe. Folks who hear a passionate sermon will respond with passion if your conviction and enthusiasm is genuine. Passion about God gets the results every sermon seeks; to reach all and bless those in need a blessing.

The opposite of passion is going through the motions; an unprepared, uninspired talk or report on something you read but did not feel.

You feel me?

The %'s in our lives...

40% of things we worry about, will not happen.

30% of the things we worry about, have already happened. Nothing in the world is going to change what already has happened.

12% of the things we worry about are needless imaginings about our health. Do I have cancer? Is that a tumor I feel? My leg hurts. My daddy died of a heart attack when he was sixty, and I'm 59.

10% of our worries are petty-little-nothings about what other people think. And we can't do nothing about what other people think.

8% is left over...for legitimate concerns. Please note that usually these legitimate concerns are things that can be dealt with.

The above percentages are from a wonderful book I am reading called The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective, by Andy Andrews. It is an easy, but powerful read; told in novel form about an old man who visits a town that shares with folks in need, the perspective they need to have better lives. The author shares some of his own story, of losing both parents in a relatively short period of his life, ending up living under a state park pier, when he gets visited by Jones, the old man with unique perspectives on all things life.

I highly recommend this book.

Paz,

Eradio

Curiosity

This is borrowed from an interview with Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact. (Numbering as added by me)

Question: What are you looking for? (In regards to hiring but this applies to all things)

Answer: "The single biggest quality I look for is the ability and desire to learn. Are you a really curious person? If you are, then you learn. If you're not, then you won't learn.

And curiosity opens up so many other windows.

1. You're more inclusive.

2. You question more.

3. You listen.

"In today's world, if you're not curious, you're dead, because every day is so different from yesterday. In an interview, I want to know whether you are willing to exhibit all the qualities to learn, and are you willing to spend the blood, sweat and tears to learn? How important is that for you? Some me some examples of that.

"One thing that comes with curiosity is sheer passion, and that can neutralize many other shortcomings. You make make a lot of mistakes. You may end up going down the wrong paths. You make have to make decisions that are based on not enough information. How are you going to convince people to follow you? If you don't have passion, you're not going to be convinced yourself, and if you don't wear that on your sleeve, how are other people going to be charged up to go in that direction?

"They actually depend on what you're telling them, because they may not also have all the answers. And hard work and persistence have to start with passion, because if you don't love what you do, it's not going to work."

The N Y Sunday Times, Corner Office, Business Section, 7/13/14

Demonstrations

Demonstrations have a place in society; some have a place in demonstrations. But the greatest demonstration is that of love for one another, esp. to those deemed unwanted by society.

Generous Giving

I have a guilty pleasure. I like to watch Million Dollar Listing New York. In my previous life I was a salesperson, and for the 38 years I've been a pastor I have been a salesperson of the most wonderful and awesome "product" the world has ever seen and needed; a loving and trusting relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I like to keep keen my sales instincts and this show provides a little of that. True, they make way more money than 85% of our churches in one sale. The "they" I'm speaking about are the three main characters of the show. Fredik Eklund, Luis Ortiz, and Ryan Serhant. Fredik is from Sweden and makes the most money. Luis is from Puerto Rico and is the youngest cast member and realtor in the show. Ryan is from the Midwest and does okay for himself. They seek to set records in the sales of the properties they list, and they usually do. They know how to present a sale and how to say and do the right things to bring about a sale.

Long story short: The last show of the season was a behind the scenes look at video that did not make it on the show. And part of that was when the three decided what to do with their money. Fredik, in talking with his assistant, said he wanted to help a charity. He did this while eating sushi and his assistant told him he should give up sushi. Fredik asked how much the meal was worth that he was eating. Fifty dollars, replied the assistant. "Fifty dollars? For this?" asked Fredik, "How much is that a year?" The assistant in doing math in his head, estimated it was about $20,000 per year for one meal. "Well, cut a check for $20,000 for that gift I want to make!"

Luis, after having made a huge commission on an apartment he sold, in talking with the camera said he wanted to reward himself. Next, we see him in the studio of a famous New York artist who sells huge paintings of different things. Given Luis' Latino background, the artist suggested a painting of a matador. The price? $85,000. Luis talked him down to $65,000 and walked off with it.

Ryan ordered a telescoping iPhone holder so he could take selfies of himself without it seeming like he was doing it himself.

A sharp contrast in personalities and gifts. Which of these was truly the most generous? You decide. Which gift was sacrificial? Again, you decide. Which, Jesus asked, gave of himself and all that he had?

Come Unto Me, All Who Are Heavy Laden

Image from agnusday.org

And I Will Give You Rest

From the New King James Version of Matthew 11: 16-19; 25-30: But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus compared the generation of people for whom He came as a generation much like marketplace children. While their parents tended their shops or while they shopped, the kids would taunt other kids. The saying Jesus uses is one to tease those who were not aware of much, children who did not know what to do or how to react. The ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus were not understood and many did not know what to do or how to react. The taunts were a bit harsher with accusations running from demon possession to drunkenness and influence by bad company. But the truth was, Jesus say, that God was revealing to "babes" the things of God's Kingdom among them. Those whom the world believed had no clue, indeed had the keys to the kingdom. Those who were "heavy laden" would find in Jesus' message and teachings, "rest." Being yoked to Jesus would mean having an understanding no one else would; and a rest for souls that the world could not match.

Nellie and I were reflecting on the impact God is already having on our grandson Liam's life at this point. While his mom works on Sunday, Liam usually ends up making long trips with grandma and grandpa, usually to things he would not normally choose. Yesterday was such a day. We worshipped here in Corpus Christi, then we felt led to take a nursing student to lunch. We then drove to Cuero, Texas, for a five o'clock dedication service of their new organ and we sang and sang. We sang what I called the "newer Doxology" that has in it several "Alleluias," and we heard a community choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus. As we left the church he could not stop singing "Alleluia, Alleluia," and even asked if I had in my iPod "that church song with the alleluia?" I do have the Hallelujah Chorus and played it several times on our way to Beeville where we greeted the young workers of the UM Army in town to do repair work on several homes. His singing of alleluia I believe, is rest for his young soul. He's being exposed to worship experiences that others are not. My prayer is that his soul never depart from that understanding and relationship that he has or will have with Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Christ we find rest for our souls; an understanding and acceptance that the world cannot and tries not to match. In Christ there is a pace and a peace that everyone needs and should have. And guess what? It's ours for the asking.

PRAYER: Lord, the demands of life on my soul can be taxing at times, but I thank You that in You I can find the pace and the peace that I need. Help me to receive it, and more importantly, help me to share it. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Conviction

The Apostle Paul wrote, "I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some." (1 Cor. 19:22). He was describing the need to reach all people and experiencing and living what they lived. Earlier, Jesus said, "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" (Mat. 5:37). This was shared in relation to people feeling the need to swear to have people believe them. I was guilty of that on the grounds of my elementary school. "Cross my heart and hope to die!" Or "I swear on a stack of Bibles!" But what is conviction, and why is that important in the life of a believer? Conviction is standing for that which one believes is of God and God's righteousness, and never wavering from that. If the situation calls for one to say "yes" when a yes is required, then Christ would say for us to say yes and stand by that yes. If the situation required our saying "no," then we would need to say no and stand by the no and all the reasons behind it.

For the pastor who believes one must please all people, don't. There is only One whom we seek to please and that is the One who sent us into the joys of ministry and serving. We are called to stand on our convictions and rely on prayer, reflection, study of scripture, and honest searching to help us know where we are to stand. In all things of course we stand on God's love and grace, and that we should offer to all people; but we should not be afraid to hurt someone's feelings if we have to say no or yes, when they are expecting or demanding the opposite.

As parents we have had to stop being our child's friend, to say yes or no when they expected or demanded a no or a yes. Years later, they will understand and realize that because of our love we had to stand firm on what we believed to be best for their development and growth.

As humans we will make mistakes. Seek to err on the side of God.

Passion

I'm reading a book called "The Promise of a Pencil" by Adam Braun. It is an extraordinary book about a wonderful response by this young man to a global need. I won't say more because I believe you should read it. But I do want to quote something Mr. Braun wrote about passion. He was in his early years of his career, which he did not like; seeking to make lots of money in New York City before going and doing what he wanted, but a friend told him that that was the wrong approach. If he worked for twenty years and then tried to do his passion, he's have children and a mortgage. So, that night he was invited to hear the New York Philharmonic. He had never been to the symphony before and the sounds of that night mesmerized him. What intrigued him was that as people performed they left the stage to thunderous applause, and then an oversized man sat at the grand piano to play. Mr. Braun wondered if just one person could stir the same wonderful response that the entire symphony had done.

"The pianist began playing the concerto, starting with soft melodies that soon became soaring harmonies. Thunderous sounds poured from the piano. This man was crushing the keys and swaying with such force that the few hairs on his head flew from side to side. As an audience, we hung on his every note. I closed my eyes and could hear the passion he brought to his craft. I thought, if I could feel as strongly about any one things in the world as this man feels about his piano, I know I would be fulfilled.

Whatever you do in your role in the church, are you doing it with passion? Are you fulfilling God's call upon your life as well as stirring something in the people with whom you work? If you're a Sunday school teacher or small group leader, can the others in your class or group feel the passion you have for God and for the subject matter you are sharing/teaching? If you're a pastor, when you preach, do you preach with passion that shares the contagious and excitement that should be in every message of good news?

Passion is what comes from the deep rooted love we should have for what we do because of the great love we have for God and God has for us.

Confession

Confession is good for the soul. And that holds true for individuals as well as for organizations. I have often wondered if individuals, who make up the Church, ever pray a prayer of confession for the Church as well as for themselves. Confession is an admission of guilt or fault needing correction. Confession is the first step towards forgiveness, both that sought from the offended or violated person, as well and just as important for the one making the admission.

We have at our disposal one of the greatest prayers of confession that we should use more often for ourselves and for our Church. It is the one found in the beginning of our hymnal, and one prayed monthly at most of our churches:

Merciful God. We have a God of mercy rooted in love. All of scripture speaks of God's lovingkindness and readiness to forgive. This is a great starting point.

we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. Honest and realistic. We tend to love others or other things more than we love God. But our confession is personal and we should confess that we have not loved God as we should.

We have failed to be an obedient church. Just attend a meeting, any meeting, and ask yourself, What is this meeting about? Is it about doing what God expects of the church or is this meeting more about us?

We have not done your will, Not just the meeting, look at the calendar of events scheduled for any week of that church; does it reflect going beyond our walls and campuses to our neighborhoods to do good?

we have broken your law, Again, back to that "law" of loving one another or getting along with those who disagree with our points of view; and even the ten found in the Ten Commandments. Should we be reminded of what they say?

we have rebelled against your love,Love from God is free, but to accept it means our willingness to love others in everything we're about, our thoughts, words, and actions. Are these three holy and pure before God? Are they geared to making disciples for Jesus Christ?

we have not loved our neighbors,This in every regard is true. We don't know those who live across the street from us or who live across the street from our church, let alone love them in ways that bless and help them during their times of need. Most of us drive quietly into our parking lots of worship and leave the same way. We sometimes refuse to acknowledge all people as our neighbor. Remind yourself of the conversation Jesus had with the one who asked, "Who is my neighbor?"

and we have not heard the cry of the needy.Most of our dwellings and churches are comfortably air conditioned, the music is soothing (usually) and we are insulated from hearing anything from the outside; and when we do we express our frustration with our frowns and scowls or the eye contact we make with our "neighbors" in worship.

Forgive us, we pray. Lord, truly hear our prayers when we do ask for genuine forgiveness, meaning we want to repent, to turn away from this old way of living towards a new way, a better way, a more inclusive way.

Free us for joyful obedience,Joy is still allowed in church, but we wouldn't know it in some. Obedience is what is expected of those who love God and seek to do God's will. What did we use to sing? Oh yeah, "Trust and obey, for there's no better way!" Obedience lived out joyfully is a blessing to God and to us.

through Jesus Christ our Lord.All things center on Jesus, especially all done in the Church,and it is through Jesus that we should pray all prayers.

Amen This is like the "Like" button on Facebook, or the "10-4" from old days on the road, or "Roger" for those who fly or "May it be so" for those who truly pray in Jesus' name.

May it be so.

Observe & Receive

Read a story once about Albert Einstein. It said on the day he and his family were set to move, he was, as was his custom, in another world. He had been working in his home work space and came out to the street and encountered a little boy. "Little boy," he asked, "Do you know where my family has moved?" The little boy said, "Dad, Mom knew this would happen and that's why I'm here waiting for you!" I don't know how true this story is but it proves the point; we can sometimes be so wrapped up in what we're doing we miss the bigger picture. Is the glare of a smartphone or tablet screen dimming your view of the bigger picture?

If we observe more carefully at the bigger picture, we're set to receive a bigger blessing of what God has, is, and will, do in our surroundings. I've shared numerous times how when arriving to a charge conference I noticed a little girl playing outside her home across the street from the church. She and I shared the same skin color and that made her pause to see me get out of my car at this particular church. I smiled and waved at her and entered the church. During the charge conference I asked if anyone in the church knew that little girl's name. No one did. Is the glare of the routine dimming our view of the bigger picture?

Two men worked side by side for over thirty years. They both retired on the same day, and it was on that day they discovered they were both United Methodists! Thirty years of hello-how-are-yous, and not once, How was church? Thirty years. At least on the last day they finally shared at least their faith background. Is the glare of the mundane dimming our view of the bigger picture?

Think of all we have missed because we've not observed or shared as we should. Think more of what others have missed because we have not shared our faith story with them.

In reading from Acts this morning, it strikes me as how important the church once took sharing. In chapter 8 of that awesome book, in spite of the persecution, Christians running for their lives still found ways to share their faith stories with others. Philip, guided and blessed by the Holy Spirit, was able to share even while on the road the good news of Jesus Christ. Is the glare of fear dimming our view of the bigger picture?

Inward?

Nellie and I worshiped in a church not from our district, nor from our conference. As the pre-worship announcements were made, and a couple of people walked up to the pulpit to make these, one of them made my wife write in pencil on our bulletin a single word: Inward! Yes. My wife thinks like I do, that our church is turned inward and we cater to the whims and fancy of our members and care not much about the culture outside our walls. As we drove home the discussion was about what good such an event serves. I answered that it builds up the Club.

Christ said, "Go into all the world." Yikes. That isn't inward at all. Pentecost was an outward event spilling the disciples out onto the street, acting drunk, according to some, but joyfully telling of the great works of God. Think about it; the disciples had been inward during those uncertain days, but when God's power was poured out, outward they went.

We have that same power.

Go!

Listen & Love

A pastor that I introduced recently to a local church shared his philosophy of his first year at the new church. "I'm going to listen and love." I was impressed. I've heard of pastors that come into the church with a plan or plans without having made time to listen and love. Someone once compared that to a doctor walking in to the examining room and prescribed treatment or meds without having touched the patient. Truly listening is a gift one can share with others. To not listen is an offensive posture. Yes, we get distracted, but as a leader in a church setting, we must listen. The common statement used by many is "God gave you two ears and one mouth so that we would listen twice as much as we speak." We can show love by listening. Listening leads then to processing and reflecting, certainly to prayer to discern with God's listening ear that which we have received.

We are also to show love. This was the new commandment that Jesus gave so that the world would know we are indeed His disciples. How we show love varies and depends on personal preferences, but generally, respectable demonstrations of genuine love. People who share with us many times just want us to listen. We may not have anything profound to share with them but we share love. To have spent time listening to them also shows them love.

Listen and Love. Build on that foundation for the relationships that matter to you.

Shared Journey

There are sacred places in all our journeys. For many of us here in this area of Texas it just might have been Mount Wesley. For my children, it was Sacramento. For you, some other place where during the summer for a week you spent getting to know God a little better, making new friends, avoiding old ones, and getting to know yourself a little better. It was at Mt. Wesley that I came to sense my call into ordained ministry. My faith was always confirmed there and I enjoyed the company of those who wore the Methodist brand proudly. We didn't all agree, but we had fun. It was the shared journey. If all were still alive and could be called back for one hour I know the journey for each of us had taken us in different directions. The shared-ness would be our destination, still the same and shared with all humanity; the certainty of leaving this earth. The purpose of those weeks during those summers was to teach us how to live better lives and to know of the love of a God who wants to see us return home. I pray that we have not lost that part of our destination.

Whatever bumps or obstacles have come along your journey, think back to those days for the inspiration and charge you might need to go just some more miles forward, and with God's help, upward. Lend a helping hand, open a loving heart, and speak loving and encouraging words to each other. This journey from ashes to ashes is best traveled with deep love for God, self, and neighbors.

Jumping to Conclusions

Last night I got a FaceTime call from our oldest granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina. As soon as her image came on the screen she was crying. "Grandpa, something terrible is happening!" My mind is thinking the worst! "My tooth is really loose and it's about to come out and Mommy's trying to trick me!" Whew! It is the worst thing for a seven year old to lose a tooth and I heard her cry and say that she believed her mommy was trying to take it out before its time. I said, "If Mommy ties a string to your tooth and then to the door, then she is tricking you!" Her eyes showed the horror of that thought. I could hear her mommy laughing behind her, and Grandma says, "Grandpa's going to say a prayer for you so that you can be okay." I start thinking about what to say to God about a 7 year old and a loose tooth when I hear Sarita say, "Oh, something wonderful is happening! My tooth just came out!" Indeed, wonderful. She held it up so that Grandma and I could see it. I had already prayed silently and then we all said, "Thank God, mijita!"

Our mind has the incredible capacity to run at lightening speed to the worst possible scenario which usually ends up with nothing coming true as we expected. And usually we have to say, Thank God! The same is true about jumping to conclusions without having all the facts or having time to think and reflect on what is best for all concerned. In the movie Office Space, a man stuck in what he believed to be a dead-end job kept thinking he would get rich with a game called "Jump to Conclusions" in which a mat had a list of possible conclusions on which one could jump. We know it isn't that simple. Our mind usually takes care of that if we're not careful.

The antidote for fear is faith. The outcome of all life according to the Bible is God wins. And if we're believers of God, we're on the winning team. Paul, who suffered and endured much wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13). We can do the same through Christ.

Initiative

I don't know when I learned the word bored, and still can't remember when I first used it. As a child I always had something to do and always found "toys" in what was around me. I was like most kids, one who could imaginatively use the box of a stove or refrigerator as a big toy. I will never forget coming home from school one day to hear how my new bride had enjoyed a day babysitting a fellow seminarian's daughter. The girl was tiny and not even four, but Nellie said, "She said she was bored!" Bored? asks I. "Yes! Had you ever heard a child say they were bored?" No. I had by then used the word more than I needed, but to hear a child use it at that time astounded me.

In my career I have heard pastors say they are bored. And like hearing it from children, I don't like hearing that. It indicates to me that something is either wrong with the individual or his/her perception of the place where she or he is serving. As I was becoming a superintendent, a mentor who had twice served as DS said he once heard a dear friend and longtime colleague complain to him that the church had never appointed him to a place of opportunity. The mentor was sitting in his office and right across the street was an elementary school. He couldn't resist and said, "Look across the street, what do you see? I see opportunity that you're not taking advantage of!"

Initiative defeats boredom. Boredom, like being in a rut, indicates stagnant vision that has drained creativity and energy from a person. The child, like the pastor, that cannot see joy and fun possibilities in all things, needs our prayers. The person of initiative looks beyond the usual, sees possibilities and turns them into opportunities, and with passion, starts something new. Initiative sees a school and imagines children's ministries starting, with adult tutors and readers deployed to help impact lives, all the while calling attention to the spiritual background from which these new leaders and helpers come.

Initiative is hitting the piñata with eyes open, seeing the candy inside as yours!

Thoughtfulness

Are we born thoughtful, or do we learn it? Are you thoughtful? Do you think at least one step beyond yourself to the needs of others? If you see a person carrying a load that seems like it might fall out and break, do you rush to help? If you're on a crowded bus or train and there's an older person that reminds you of your grandparent do you offer them your seat? If you're five steps ahead of someone and you walk in a building, do you hold the door open for the next person?

If you answered yes to all of the above, you are thoughtful. If you answered yes to two, you're thinking. If you answered yes to one or no to all three, you're clueless and self-centered, but not alone, sadly. You're in the company of the too busy, too hurried, too important group that make up a significant part of our society. But there's help and it's called getting a servant's heart through prayer and the study of the life of Jesus who put others so far in front that He got put on a cross for all people, even the clueless.

Get to thinking beyond yourself.

Setting and Living Personal Goals

The late Zig Ziglar, late in his life realized that the "goodness" of life had settled around his midsection and he realized that he needed to do something about it. This was an interesting development because one of Zig's mantras was "checkup from the neck up."

He posted a picture of a man from a men's health magazine on his bathroom wall near his mirror. He was a muscular, slender man, and I would add, fellas, be sure you explain to your spouse what you're doing; otherwise it can get really awkward really fast! But Zig said to himself every morning, "I want to look like that! That's my goal!" And so, every day, no matter where he was, he ran. And regardless of the weather he would run and run until he reached his goal.

You and I have set goals but boy is it easy to let things like weather or a little comment throw us off track. We won't run in the rain and we sure can't run in the cold. Or we say, if our goal is like Zig's, "Any way, I'm running, this cheeseburger won't hurt me!" And we all know the rest.

Set your goals and stick to them in faith, doing what it takes to reach them. Ask God for help and give God the glory every step of that way.

You can do it!

Proof or You'll Goof

Yesterday I thought was going to be a great day. I can't name all the things that were going just right. I had found the ideal parking spot in front of the hotel where I usually stay. I was assigned to the room I always request. I know most of the front desk staff by name, and I even made friends with the hotel's engineer. I told him about a problem with this particular room of a slow draining tub and when I got home the day before, he had left me a note saying the tub was fixed, and the maid left me a note saying I should have a good day. And overall I did, except that I made Jesus a rabbit.

Yep, not an Easter Bunny, but an itinerant rabbit. Yes, Peter Cottontail is itinerant, hopping down the bunny trail and all that, but what a horror to discover an email from a friend who lovingly said that he knew that I usually wrote my devotions before my first cup of coffee, but had I meant to make Jesus a rabbit? Of course no, but I saw it as I reread the post. Yikes. I responded by saying that's why we had the Easter Bunny. Another sent me a message by Facebook letting me know the same thing. I was thankful that somebody actually reads my postings but felt bad that I had not proofed. I goofed. It's on me. Or as the kids say, "My bad."

Proof or you'll goof.

Preaching and Witnessing

For many in our churches, our sermons are the only connecting point they may have with God for that week. For those outside the church, how we live our lives is the only connecting point they may have with God for that month.

As far as preaching is concerned, we simply should share the story as written as we preach from God's Word. We should share what it means to us today. Leave the doubt and scholarly discussion for the classroom. Share with passion how the story has blessed and/or changed your life; there is power in showing how God connected with your life in the passage being shared. The Reverend Harry Emerson Fosdick, noted pastor and preacher of the mid-20th century once said, "People don't come to church to find out what the Amalekites are up to this week." Indeed, they come to hear hope and purpose for their lives.

Submission

Image from http://morningstarpoetry.wordpress.com

Lenten Journey Travels Better Knowing Yourself

The Letter from James 4: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

We all have our limitations. We have times when we think we have all the power or at least, a lot of power. Submission is realizing that we do not have all the power and someone else does. There is no one who has more power than God. Submitting to God's power is to assume the power of God coming upon us and blessing us as we face those most difficult of times. James writes that by submitting to God, we were accepting God's power to help us in resisting the wiles of the devil to the point the devil will flee from us. Doubt, sadness, depression, fear, all the negative things you can think of, gone by the power of God. James also stresses that as we draw closer to God, God draws closer to us.

Our Lenten Journey travels easier knowing that God's power and God's closeness blesses us and helps us. Turn over to God all that is weighing heavily upon you today. May the fear of a new day flee from you. The light of Jesus is upon you and you will be blessed.

PRAYER: Lord, bless my Lenten Journey as I seek and draw near to You. May all that I fear and all that causes me to tremble be gone, in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Seminarian Scouting Combine

In reading about the NFL scouting combine I wondered what a seminarian combine would look like; A Reading of the 23rd Psalm, emphasis on diction and drama. A reading of The Great Thanksgiving with extemporaneous adds to the part prior to "And so, we join the great company of Heaven..." The meet and greet line after Sunday morning worship; reacting to standard, "Great sermon, reverend," "You've certainly given us something to think about," and "best sermon on this subject," to the unexpected, "Worst sermon I've ever heard!" Seminarians will also be given a small plate and they must navigate the line at a covered dish, including spotting kitty food mistaken placed in some jello molds. Several actors posing as real church ladies will barrage each with "Pastor, you ignored my famous chicken and cow tongue dessert! How could you!?" An off the cuff sermon on a John 3:16. A pastoral visit with various bedsides. A quick called after worship PPRC meeting to deal with complaints. Seminarians will react to unexpected phone calls from finance committee chair, trustees chair, an irate parent about Sunday school class, and a homeless person will come in and ask for gas money. The combine will be sponsored by the Cabinet and seminarians will be graded by DSs and appointed by those who feel they have a match with church needs.

Love Builds and Fills the House

Every time we pick up our grandson from his daycare, we drive along Ocean then Shoreline streets and he's fascinated by the huge homes we pass. The other day he said, "I want a gigantic house where my mommy and me, and Carli, and Sarita, Big Sarita, etc. can live!" Then he said, "I want it to be a gigantic treehouse!" Then he thre in, "why do we have to live in such a tiny house?!" I said, "It doesn't matter how big or small the house is, if you love God and love one another, your house will be big." At supper he sits quietly then says rather loudly, "I have all this love and I still don't have a treehouse!"

Bleed, Wallow, Or Learn to Pray!

We've all heard the expression or seen the bumper sticker, Lead, Follow, Or Get Out of the Way. For some reason I awoke with the one shared as the title for this post. I think about those who live their lives and bleed in all sorts of ways. I think about those who wallow either in their misery or pain or in their luxuries; nothing is done to get out of their situation. And prayer is the starter for all actions, especially leading and especially following the Lord. It's our choice. Why not choose to be a leader who prays because you started as a Follower of Christ Jesus and learned to pray? Blessings for a great day. Pray!

People lose their way because they lose their why.

The above is a quote from Michael Hyatt and it rang true for me as a pastor. Sometimes we forget the why of our saying. Yes to God's call into ministry and we lose our way. Lord, let us never forget the why.