A NEW WAY TO WORSHIP....

Church can be scary!

John 2:13-17 - When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Since it was the passover the moment and the temple the place to sacrifice animals, it was probably expected that they would have some animals for sale in there... in the same way, since during that week people from many regions were coming to pay their tribute, it was obvious too that people would exchange the currency in there too; then why Jesus got upset?
It was when people would sell animals with defects as ‘holy animals’ for sacrifice, that Jesus got upset. It was when people would take advantage of the foreigner that comes to worship, that Jesus got angry. It was when Jesus notice that the spirituality of His father house was exchange for spiritual rituals that he rebuke them... when he saw that the remembrance of God’s love, power and grace, was now cheapen by tricks, humans re-interpretation of the law, that it is used to take advantage of others that He didn’t hesitate to kick people out of the temple.

The point is not judge the people from this story, but to be aware if by any chance in our churches we are doing the same thing.

My five questions about the church practices of today:

1.- When did we change the definition of being Christian as the witness of the guidance of the Holy Spirit within people, to just a merely membership.
2.- How did we distortion ‘worship’ from being an encounter with the living God, to just a merely religious activity that by any means cannot last more than 59 minutes.
3.- Why does discipleship do not implies anymore to deny ourselves and follow Jesus, but now is a matter to watch a dvd study course.
4.- Who wants to be part of the leadership that would reflect the empowering of the holy Spirit to serve others, and not a position to shape a church in the way we like it.
5.- Where is the church that would stop consuming ministry, but doing ministry.

We often wonder in church when Jesus is coming back; and how is going to look like his return; and who is going to take part of it...but the real question that we need to ask in our churches today is...when Jesus comes back, what is he going to find in his church...hopefully he can have a better experience than the first time.

Israel - Day 13

Bethany.....

On Bethany, May and Martha Worship and Serve Jesus (see Luke 10:38-42)

Here is also where Lazarus death took place, but also where he was raised form the Dead (see John 11:1-44)

Here is also where Mary anointed Jesus with very costly oil (see John 12:1-8)


According to tradition, this was Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ home.

Qumran.....

Most scholars believe that the Qumran scrolls were left by a Jewish religious community, apparently Essenes, who occupied the site from some time in the second century B.C. into the first century A.D.


The Scrolls include various books of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament.

Jericho......

Jericho is located in the Judean Wilderness, near the Jordan River and is the oldest city in the world with around 10,000 years old.

Here is where Joshua guided the people of Israel to the promise land. (see Joshua 1-6)

Outside of Jericho is possibly when the Temptations of Satan to Jesus took place. (see Luke 4:1-14)


This is Sycamore that Zacchaeus climbed to encounter Jesus. (see Luke 19:1-10)

Dead Sea.....

It’s called a sea (because of the hebrew word of sea) although it is a big lake; it is bordering to Jordan to the east, and Israel and the West Bank to the west.

Its surface and shores are over 400 meters below sea level, therefore is the lowest elevation on earth.


It is so salty that there is no life on it, and people can float.

God’s redemptive plan is amazing....share it!

Israel Day - 12

Oh Bethlehem....

Bethlehem has played an important part in religious history for three interrelated reasons: 1) It was King David’s ancestral home (read the book of Ruth); 2) It was the place of Jesus birth, his parents having returned there for a census because Joseph was “of the house and lineage of David” (read Matthew 2); 3) In A.D. 330, Constantine founded the Church of the Nativity above the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Church of the Nativity.....

Luke 2:6-7 “So it was, that while they where there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


This church is over 1400 years old, and currently is occupied by Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Armenians.

Shepherd’s Field.....

Luke 2:8-9 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living our in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them; Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great h=joy which will be to all people”.


This is the place where according to tradition the angel appeared to the shepherds.

Go and tell in on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere...

Israel Day - 11

Upper Room.....

Matthew 26:17-18 “Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bred the disciples came t Jesus saying to Him, Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover. And He said, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him,. The teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”


This is where the last supper took place.

Caiphas House.....

Luke 22:59-60 “The after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean. But Peter said; Man, I do not know what ou are saying! Inmediatly while he was still speaking the rooster crowed”.


This is the patio where Peter denied Jesus three times.

Luke 22:54 “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.


This is where Jesus was kept over night before he was crucified.

Garden Tomb.....

Matthew 27:33 “And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull.”


You can see the form of the Skull on the rocks!

Luke 24:1-3 “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus”.


According to Protestant tradition, this is the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose.

He wasn’t there..Thanks be to God!

Israel - Day 10

Mount of Olives......

Jesus spent the night on the Mount of Olives, during his last week in Jerusalem (see Luke 21:37)

It was also in the same Mountain when he ascended to Heaven after empowering the disciples. (see Acts 1:4-11)


This is the church of the Ascension.

Garden of Gethsemane.....

All four gospels record the incident of Jesus’ agonizing prayer and betrayal by Judas. (see Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32; Luke 22:39-40; John 18:1-11)


Some of this olive trees are possibly back to the first century (Jesus’ time)

Bethesda.....

John 5:2-9 describes the Pool of Bethzatha (also called Bethesda) as a pool with five porticoes located near the Sheep Gate.


This is also the place of Mary's birth.

Via Dolorosa....

The way through the narrow streets from the Anonia to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher came to be known as the Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Way of Sorrow”)


This Via represent the approximate route that Jesus carried the cross from condemnation to crucifixion.

He carried the cross for you and for me!

Israel - Day 9

Megiddo.....Armageddon

The word for “mountain” in Hebrew is “har”. Thus Megiddo could be spoken of as “har-megiddo” or Mount Megiddo. The Greek form of “har-megiddo” is “Armageddon”.


People were living at the site of Megiddo as early as the fourth millennium B.C. and the site continued to be occupied, off and on, until the fourth century B.C.

Megiddo was fortified city during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and great battles took place in there leaded by King Josiah, King Salomon and Alexander the Great.


According to Scripture, (see Revelation 16:15-16) the last battle on earth would take place in here.

Caesarea Maritima....The Mediterranean Sea

Herod the Great had a dream (and accomplished) to build the major Roman-style city which include: a water seaport, city wall, aqueduct, royal palace, administrative center, theater, race track and a temple dedicated to Caesar Augustus.


Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea before being sent to Rome (see Acts 23:23-26; also 9:30; 10:1,24; 11:11; 12:19-23; 21:8)


Caesarea in a glimpse:
*Built by Herod in 31B.C.
*Witness of the Jewish Revolt in A.D. 66
*Expand at its maximum during the Byzantine Period (4th to 7th century)
*It surrender to the Arabs in A.D. 640.
*Was conquered by the Crusaders in 1101.
*Fell to the Muslims in 1265.


Now....on the journey to Jerusalem....

Israel - Day 8

Mount Tabor.....The Transfiguration!

Matthew 17:1-9 “After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”


Mount Tabor is strategically located in lower Galilee and for most Christians it is a Holy mountain - "the mount of Transfiguration". This mountain has been a witness of battles from time of Joshua, second temple, byzantine period, and the crusades. Today there is a Franciscan church on the top


Western tradition locate this place as the mountain where Jesus’ transfiguration and encounter with Elijah and Moses took place. It was overwhelming to stand in the top of the mountain; in one hand by looking down the mountain and see all the valleys and towns, but in the other hand by looking into the sky and feel close the clouds and God’s presence.


After reading the scripture with four other clergy, we decided to set 5 rocks on the altar table as a reminder that is not about building churches or altars (as the disciples intended), but simply about recognizing the Lord and listening to Him.

Since the Son of Man has been raised, it is time for you to tell what you know!

ISRAEL - Day 7

Caesarea Philippi












When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. his kingdom was divided between three surviving sons: Archaelus, Philip and Antipas.

The territory that Herod Philip received for his territory was called Caesarea Philippi.

Most of Jesus’ early ministry took place in Galilee, which was part of Herod Antipas’ terrarchy.

But at least in one occasion Jesus and his Disciples went into Herod Philip’s territory.

Matthew 16:13-16... “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”





Remember your Baptism at the Jordan..............(See Mark 1:1-11)
Baptism, as understood through the baptism of Jesus, represents the deep covenant of life that has been extended to us through God. Each time we witness the sacramental act of a baptism, we do well to remember that we too live by this same beautiful covenantal relationship of God’s love. Today I had the blessing to experience this remembrance at the Jordan River.
I invite you to remember your baptism and live!












At the border with Syria...........not everything is peace around here....



......let’s keep this country in our prayers.

ISRAEL - Day 6

Nazareth!!!



According to scripture and western tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary at her house. Therefore, the cave that represents her house is known also as the Grotto of the Annunciation.


Nazareth in the New Testament times was a small farming village, probably with between two and four hundred habitants.

Today there is a huge city on top, with thousands of habitants.


Currently there is a church on top of Mary’s cave, it’s call the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation.

In a time frame of 2000 years, there has been over 5 different churches builded in top of each other in the same place (from Christian to Byzantine to Crusader to Franciscan to Roman Catholic).

For me is not really important the ‘place’ as much as the ‘business’ of the One that was raised in that home; it is my prayer that as we continue to be part of our churches, we can see beyond the walls and take part in what the heart of the matter is.

ISRAEL - Day 5

Sailing in the Sea of Galilee....


Jesus’ Galilean ministry was situated along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (which is more like a lake)





















In 1986 archeologist found a boat that is around 2000 years old. The question is then, to whom did this boat belong?
- Jesus and his disciples
- The fighters of the Migdal battle
- A fisherman of the Sea of Galilee












This is a view of Tabgha, the place where Jesus feed over 5000 men + women and children. Note that the population in that place was of around 10,000-15,000. Therefore most of the people in town where participate of the miracle of the multiplication. (How cool is that)



During the boat ride we got to read the passage of Matthew 14:22-33 and share communion. It was a powerful experience to be mindful that God is with us, and therefore ‘To Not Be Afraid’.

Chilling at the Sea is overwhelming....

ISRAEL - Day 4

A day in the Mount of Beatitudes....

Today I had the privilege to read the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5 - 7) to the group of clergy that I'm traveling with, in the same place that according to tradition Jesus gathered the crowds and taught the same words.



As I was reading the last words of chapter 6, suddenly an overwhelming peace came to my mind and heart. Jesus was encouraging the crowds not to worry for what they would eat, drink and wear according to what God does with the birds and lilies; and then He said... “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (v.33-34).

I have to admit that often I tend to worry about what the ‘tomorrow’ has for me, my family and my church. I have known for years that Jesus’ words are not a ‘free pass’ to the responsibilities, obligations and opportunities that God has given me to honor Him. I strongly believe that I’m accountable to Him and others in every aspect of my life, and I should live a life that strive for excellence. But today these words challenged me in a different way.

The conviction is not to live a life without worries...but to live a life that seeks for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, my thoughts should be around...

Does every aspect of my life (body, mind and soul) seeks for God’s will?
Does the way I treat my family, friends and strangers reflects God’s love and righteousness?
Does my role within the Church advances the Kingdom of God?

God’s peace came to me when I understood that is not about ‘what I shouldn’t do, but what I should do’. Since where my thoughts and actions are, there is also my heart. Where are yours?

Heavenly Father, please enable us to keep the main thing as the main thing, and to live the life that you want us to do. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

ISRAEL - Day 3

Capernaum.....

Capernaum played a central role in Jesus’ Galilean ministry (see Matthew 4:13, 11:23; Mark 1:21; Luke 7:1, 10:15 and John 6:59)

"Simon Peter's House"

• Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel soon after John the Baptist was arrested.
• Capernaum was the home town from Peter; and where him, Andrew, James and John were called to follow Jesus.
• Some of the most common healing miracles from Jesus in Capernaum were: ‘the man with an unclean spirit on the synagogue’; ‘Simon’s mother in law of a fever’; ‘the paralytic that was let down through the roof to be healed’.

Tabgha.....

Tabgha, is the arabic name which means “Seven Springs” (see Mathew 14:13; Mark 6:30; John 20:15)

"Church of the primacy of Peter"

• Tabgha is at the foot of the traditional Mount of Beautides, and on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• There is a church build upon the stone in which according to tradition, Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes to fed thousands.
• Tabgha is also the place where Jesus met with his disciples after His resurrection, and after asking Peter if he loves him for three times, he encourage him to ‘Feed His Sheep”.

After walking today in some of the places where Jesus’ walked, preached and performed miracles.....I found myself asking me the question raised in ‘The Summons Hymn”.....Will you use the faith you’ve found, to re-shape the world around?

Will you?

ISRAEL - Day 1 & 2

And the journey begins....

We left the Atlanta Airport at 6:00 pm on Wednesday 02/09....after 10 hours of flying + 6 hours of time difference, we arrived to Frankfurt at 10:00 am on Thursday 02/10.... with only 1 hour of connection + 4 hours of flying + 1 hour of time difference, we arrived to Tel Aviv at 4:00 pm...... and after 3 hours on a bus ride, we finally arrived to Tiberias at 7:00 pm.

The place were we are staying is called “The Scotts Hotel, St. Andrew’s Galilee”. This place used to be a hospital sponsored by Presbyterians from Scotland, and know they use the facilities as a hotel. Therefore, the architecture and style are amazing, you can also sense a very spiritual environment, although all the male employees are wearing those funny skirts (respectfully).

During the 16 + hours that I was in the airplane and bus, I ‘got’ to spend all my time with John’s Wesley biography and theology, and I was able to read the 374 pages of the book ‘The Burning Heart, John Wesley:Evangelist” by Skevington Wood. (Note that it wasn’t because I love to read, but a requirement for a class; although it was very enriching).

So I’m exhausted, but before I crash in my bed, I want to share with you my five favorite quotes from John Wesley that I read today:

1.- “Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.”

2.- “You have nothing to do but to save souls.”

3.- “This is the great work; not only to bring souls to believe in Christ but to build them up in our most holy faith”.

4.- “ Your profession of faith must be evidenced in sanctity of living.”

5.- “Oh why is it that so great, so wise, so holy a God will use such an instrument as me.”

I hope these phrases can challenge you as they are challenging me.

What time is it?

I have addressed in other articles some reasons to worship God (Why do we worship) and the differences of worship styles (Putting an end to style wars); now the obvious question is “What do we do now?” “What time is it?”.

I think once again in the subject of worship, we can find the answer in Jesus’ words, in this situation particularly in the gospel of John 4:23“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

I’m not going to address in this article what it means to worship God in spirit and truth, since I believe you can find the answer in the articles mentioned above; but I do want to challenge you to reflect in the idea that the time to worship God in those terms is NOW.

Let’s consider first the fact that Jesus’ words took place while he was on earth (in this case while he was holding a conversation with a Samaritan women at a well in Sychar, Samaria), and that when he was declaring that the time was “now”, he was implying the day and time the conversation was taking place (the present time according to the meaning of the word in greek “nu/n”), which we may presume was probably around year 30 AC.

If we also consider the fact that as christians we believe Jesus hasn’t returned yet, and that the fulfillment of His Kingdom and spreading of the Gospel among the earth is still pending; then we can conclude that the father is still seeking for those worshipers, and therefore we are still in the time frame of NOW mentioned by Jesus.

I personally have 2 main reasons to be encourage and challenge by this verse, and to take the word NOW as my daily present and not rest in the possibility of tomorrow:

My first reason is that people are dying every single day without knowing and hearing about God’s love and God’s redemptive action of sending Jesus Christ. As I have mentioned in previous articles, through worship we narrate the whole story of love of God for humanity. By worshiping God NOW (in the terms He wants us, which implies integrity in the way we narrate the story and respond to it), people will be able to get to know, love and worship God.

My second reason is because I cannot assure myself that I will have another day tomorrow. I strongly believe that it is only God who knows when our last breath on this earth will be, and I do not want to take a chance not to worship Him now, under the false assumption that I may have a chance tomorrow. This reason it’s not based on fear of the consequences for not to worshipping God while on earth, but simply because of an honest response to the love that He has shown me.

NOW is the time to worship, and that is what pleases God.

Putting and End to Style Wars

When we talk about worship in our churches, it usually comes to the table the questions of “What style of worship do we like?” “Which style of worship is better?” or “Which style of worship pleases God?”.

If worship is the expression of our relationship with God in which we remember His story and we participate (through faith, gratitude and obedience) in the anticipation of His return; where does the “style” of worship fit in?

In a simple way and paraphrasing Constance Cherry’s definition of worship style, we can define “style of worship” as the way a congregation expresses the content of its worship as a result of its given context. It is vital to keep in mind that the “worship style” should flow from the context and not determine the context. In other words it should flow from the inside out, and not from the outside in. (I do want to make that clarification, since there are a lot of churches that try to preserve a style that does not fit their current context, or that try to adopt a new style that also does not match their context).

How then can we know which worship style should be used in our churches? I believe the question should be more like: “What kind of worship helps people encounter God in this worshiping community?

Currently in our churches when we talk about worship styles we talk about “Liturgical Style”, “Traditional Style”, “Contemporary Style”, “Blended Style” and “Emerging Style”; let me give a brief description of each style:

• Liturgical Style = The order of the service is highly prescribed by the church (through a Book of Worship or a Prayer Book), they promote a strong sense of reverence, and are very strong spiritually based.

• Traditional Style = Uses a rich heritage of content (like hymns and prayers), observes the primary seasons of the Christian year, and the primary instrumentation is provided by a piano and/or organ.

• Contemporary Style = Fosters intimacy with God, promotes joyful worship (mostly led by a praise team with the use of modern instrumentation and technology), and it is more casual in appearance.

• Blended Style = It’s a hybrid of traditional and contemporary worship services, and it may hold potential for intergenerational worship.

• Emerging Style = It’s a style that is still in the flux of what is and where it is going, but it seems to try to take communities of faith into discovering their own way to connect to God, it appreciates new and old forms of worship.

I personally believe a particular community of faith CAN encounter God in a worship service in ANY of these styles; and I believe God does not have a preference in any of them, as He does not have any preference in the language, the culture, the generation or the customs we use. I think that what He cares about is for an integrity and authenticity in the style that we use in our particular church, which is represented in an acceptance and celebration of the type of people that we already are.

We do not adopt a particular style of worship “because that is what we have been doing for many many years; or because that is what everybody is doing now”; but because whatever style of worship we use, it helps us to naturally express ourselves to God and to have an encounter with Him.

What we do in our worship services, is of a greater eternal significance than how we do it. Be authentic!

Why do we worship God!

We worship God because we were created to worship Him. In order to sustain this claim, let me use what Constance M. Cherry wrote on her book The Worship Architect that “Worship is the expression of a relationship in which God the Father reveals himself and his love in Christ, and by his Holy Spirit administers grace, to which we respond in faith, gratitude, and obedience”.

It is important to clarify then that God indeed created us to relate to us, to have a relationship with humanity. The book of Genesis says clearly that we were created by God, (Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”; Genesis 5:1 “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”), and it is in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy when God clearly instituted a relationship with the people of Israel with the intention to remain associated with them as their God and them as God’s people. (Leviticus 26:12 “I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Deuteronomy 30:19b-20 “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”) Lastly, it is in the Gospel of John in which we can found the assurance that the relationship that God intended with the ancient Israel, it is also intended to the rest of the world (John 3:16 “"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”, John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.")

Now then, we can move forward with the assurance that we were created to have a relationship with God, and now then lets attempt to sustain how that relationship should be expressed through our worship. I may suggest that Cherry’s definition of worship is grounded in two main elements: God’s revelation towards humanity and our response.

The first element, God’s revelation in love towards humanity it is manifest in its major expression in the form of Jesus Christ (his birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection). But it is very important to recall that God’s revelation in love towards us has been manifest since the creation, the fall, and the journey of Israel. Therefore, in worship we are remembering what God has been doing among His people, his saving acts in history, his mighty deeds and we are narrating His whole story. Remembering the powerful past keeps God’s community from forgetting God’s love and fidelity from generation to generation, and it is through “historical recitation and dramatic reenactment” that we are able to do that during our worship services.

The second element, is our response in faith, gratitude and obedience through the grace administrated by the Holy Spirit. Since God’s major expression of love is grounded in the life of Jesus Christ, and as Christians we are expecting for His returning, therefore our response in worship reflect our anticipation to the future. Through our worship we connect the past with the future by participating with God in the recasting of his original vision (the culmination of all history in the new heavens and new earth), which it should be what shapes our ethical behavior to reflect the kingdom ethics on earth. It is vital to recognize that it is only through the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit that we are able to move towards that direction in our daily lives and in our worship services, and that should be manifest in our expressions of faith, gratitude and obedience.

Therefore we may conclude that we worship God as individuals and as communities of faiths (corporal), because we acknowledge and remember God’s love in the past and crowned in Jesus Christ (Good News), and we are participates of the anticipation of His returning by responding through the grace of the Holy Spirit with our expressions of faith, gratitude and obedience.

This is just my interpretation, and I hope it may enrich your life.

Blessings, Rodrigo

Bring it on......

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Two weeks ago I decided to join Karate classes with RJ. The main reason I decided to get him into this type of training/classes was to help him understand that life may get tough, and he’ll need to do something about it. I decided to get in the classes with him to show him also that I’ll be next to him, side by side as long as God allows me, to face the challenges together.

We are learning how to defend ourselves from attacks, but also how to attack when it is needed. Life indeed has a similar dynamic, we need to learn how to defend ourselves from attacks but also how to go out and conquer the blessings that God has poured out in front of us.

I’m having the time of my life by sharing these classes with my son (as you can imagine, he is hilarious), and I’m growing in confidence that he will be alright. The training is not easy, sore muscles, blood and bruises, and even broken muscles that may need to happen in order for us to achieve the “black belt” level, but it is achievable.

In the same way, I can imagine God desiring and craving to have a wonderful time with us as we share our lives with Him. Life will not always be easy, but those challenges are shaping us in order to achieve the “holiness” that is expected, and that is achievable.

It is my prayer that RJ can be totally confident that he shall not fear life and its attacks, and not because he knows karate, but because God is with him and that HE is his most powerful weapon. I’m also hoping you can develop the same faith!

Dear God, thank you not only because you protect us as we live and enjoy the life that you have placed before us, but also because you enable us to embrace the blessings that are truly out there for us.

Six years ago......

Genesis 2:24 - For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Six years ago in a day like today (July 31st) this was my schedule:

• (8:00 am) I was having a massage in an SPA followed by a haircut, manicure and pedicure.

• (12:00 pm) I was eating for the last time at my parent’s as a resident.

• (2:00 pm) I was riding with my best friend and his girlfriend towards Kelly’s house to pick her up.

• (2:10 pm) I was amazed and astonished by the beauty of Kelly in her bridal dress.

• (2:30 pm ) I was with Kelly riding all over the city of Monterrey taking our wedding pictures.

• (6:00 pm) I was signing before a judge, witnesses, family and friends my commitment before the state and law to be the best husband that I can.

• (7:30 pm) I was standing in the aisle of my home church, tears in my eyes as I saw the most beautiful bride coming to stand next to me and have a moment together before God.

• (8:00 pm) I was making a pact before God, family and friends to love Kelly for the rest of my life and to make sure she will feel loved my me.

• (10:00 pm) I was dancing with my wife our first dance.

• (12:00 am) I was sharing with my wife our wedding cake.

• (2:00 am) I was heading with my wife, friends and family to some friends house to keep enjoying God’s blessing.

• (4:00 am) I was having breakfast with my wife and friends as we keep celebrating our marriage.

• (6:00 am) I was in my house showering, changing my clothes and picking my bags to get ready to go to the airport with Kelly for our honeymoon.

• (6:30 am) I was dropped at the airport with Kelly by some friends and family.

• (8:00 am) I was sitting in an airplane with my wife to get ready to fly to the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon.

Those were the most exciting 24 hours of my life, and I cannot thank enough God for the wonderful blessing that He gave me. Six years ago I did know that Kelly was a great person, women, girlfriend and fiancee. Today I can attest that she is also an amazing wife, mother and ministry partner.

Dear God, thanks again for those incredible 24 hours that you gave me six years ago, but now I also want to thank you for the ridiculous 52,560 hours that I have been able to enjoy shoulder to shoulder with Kelly.

Love and nothing less....

Matthew 22:36-40 - Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Today it was a great and busy day at NBUMC. We started the day by washing cars at a temperature of 94F degrees; but after hearing what those little children of God are going through in Kenya, I would do it again even if someone would add another 100 degrees to the day.

Honestly, it should be embarrassing to try to think that I’m a “good” person because I sacrificed some of my time, resources or physical work for the goodness of someone else in need. The definition or evaluation of “good people” is based on our moral and social standards, and they not only change from region to region, or culture to culture, but they are not necessarily scripturally based.

Jesus didn’t encourage his disciples or followers to be good people; actually non of the prophets of the old or new testament ever revealed a word from God that instruct people to be good. Even those that instructed the people to obey the law didn’t use the term ‘good’. Jesus’ and God’s intentions for humanity is that we LOVE others.

2000 years after those words “Love your neighbor as yourself”, we as humans have created exceptions, rules, standards, qualifications and many other types of distinctions in order to love another human being. (This has absolutely been without biblical support). We have shifted those words and convinced ourselves that we may not need to love them, but just be ‘good’ with them.

We ended the day at NBUMC by hosting a banquet to our brothers and sisters of Restore and the Seminole Spirit Group. It was a great evening and a lot of volunteers from the church made that possible.

What really struck me during the reception, were the words of one of the members of Restore and probably a church member if not a constant visitor. His words were: “I’m thankful with this church, because as a difference with many other churches they accept us”. (For those that do not know what Restore is and what he was meaning; Restore is an organization that treats people that have suffered severe accidents and therefore have special needs).

Someone may think that we are “good people” because we have accepted the people from Restore and other churches don’t. First of all, our accountability to God is not measured by what other churches are doing, but of what we are doing according to our call. Secondly, we are not meant to accept, tolerate or be good with people, we are meant to love them.

Therefore, it was a great day at NBUMC because we as a church are moving in a direction based on loving people and not just simply reflecting that we are good people.

Dear God, please enable us to love others in the same way and measure that you love us, and nothing less.