Foundations

If you have ever had a house built or done an extensive remodel, you know that the foundation part really takes a great deal of time, energy and money.

The whole has to be dug. The borders set. The markers put in. The concrete poured. It seems endless and in fact NO ONE EXCEPT THE TERMITE INSPECTOR may ever see that. However, the foundation is vital for the building. If it isn't right the entire edifice will be unstable.

Whether we are laying a foundation for a building, a friendship, a marriage or a Christian work, these
things must happen.

l. there must be a plan done by an expert.
2. there needs to be checking of the specifications.
3. there needs to be time- no rush.
4. there needs to be capital to finish.

Jesus said "a wise man builds his house upon the rock." Luke 6:48.

The rock represents a stable foundation. When winds or other trouble comes the house will not blow down or be destroyed.

I have been thinking recently of the seven years of foundation work that went into the Project Lost Sheep. We prayed. We waited. We had pastoral advice. We put down a deep foundation of friendship on the team. We asked God to direct us. We called prayer home base. We weren't building it for ourselves. We wanted God's work to be established...even when we weren't sure at all what the building would look like!

Think about it....

Looking At The Children Of Your City

One of the things we all struggle with as Christians is to get the Lord's priorities first and not be so concerned with our agendas.
In San Jose,where a new Project Lost Sheep group is forming, I have given the ad hoc team the assignment of LOOKING AT THE CHILDREN OF YOUR CITY.

This is so important because if we don't see the children, we can't see what Jesus wants us to do to serve these children. Children are important to Jesus. He said "let the little children come unto me for of such is the kingdom of God."

Children have something that we very much need. Jesus put the children in the center of the circle because the disciples were trying to keep them away from Jesus thinking he had more important things to attend to.

If we are honest and we look at our hearts, do we really care what happens to children that are not in our own family? Do we care about the children down the block or in the downtown. Do we care that children IN AMERICA have no place to play and cannot afford to go to camp and they are LOCKED in stuffy apartments by themselves to "grow up" informed by tv!
I can recommend that adults take a walk around the block or go to a park and watch children play. Really look at the faces. Look at a child when he is crying or laughing. Remember that every child is important to the Lord.
I was out recently and saw two children with their parents at a casual eating place. The parents were talking to each other. The children were not interacting with anyone except for their digital devices.
There are other children who are poorly dressed or not able to have parents who can help them with their homework. How would you feel if you had a family that could never help you with your homework?
Let's not just keep our eyes on those who are our own height. Let's look down and see what Jesus saw when he looked at children and then say.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THIS CITY FOR THIS CHILD?

Epiphany

Epiphany is 12 days after Christmas and it  marks the three wise men's arrival. First they came to Jeruslaem (see Mathew 2) and then after consulting with Herod & Co. they were redirected to Bethelhem.

The wise men asked "Where is he born King of the Jews."  Herod, the sly old devil, wanted them to tell him where this Christ baby was..."bring me word again that I may come and worship him also." Mathew 2:8 Of course his intention was not to worship but to kill this perceived rival to his power.

The wise men then got on their camels and proceeded to follow the star to Bethelem and they rejoiced and found Mary his mother and fell down and worshipped the Christ child.  (please note this correction from former blog of the location).

One of my favorite carols from ages ago..."we three men of orient are..bearing gifts we travel afar...field and fountan...etc. following yonder star." It may have been months or even years on their journey to worship the King of the Jews.

We always like the part about gifts: gold, frankinsense and myrrh. (Mathew 2:11)  However, there was another gift they all brought together. That was their total intent to find and worship this King. They left home, they had a very uncomfortable journey..they only had the star as evidence that they really were getting somewhere. God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod. So they went back to their country another way.

What gift did they receive for this journey? They got to see the Christ child and they rejoiced with great joy.  Like divers finding a treasure trove after years of searching, they found what they set out to find. They didn't have the gold, the myrrh or the frankincense but they had two great gifts.

One: they had JOY.  Joy came with the worship of the little King of the Jews.

The second gift they had was GUIDANCE.  God himself warned them in a dream to go back another way.  They now had not an external star but the internal wisdom of God to set their course towards home.

Ephiphany has come to mean revelation. When you find the right journey, when you come to the right city, when you find the true one to worship, you will know why it was worth the trip.

Generosity

Have you ever received a gift that just made you want to shout and sing?

Imagine the City of Newark, New Jersey getting a generous check from a business ENOUGH TO REVAMP THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.  Now that is what is a gift to a city.

All of us like to think that we are generous.  Especially we like to think at Christmas that we are really giving to loved ones and ones in need and to churches, etc. But, soon that can pass and we become a bit more ourselves i.e. thinking about our own needs.

Think for a moment on the most generous thing that any human being has ever given to you.
Hint: it might not be monetary.  It might be time, friendship, or something really different.

 The wise men came bearing gifts for the Christ child.  They went first to Jerusalem and then were redirected (notice this correction) to the little town of Bethlehem where they found under the star that had stopped what they had longed for for months and years.  They found a gift that was so precious that they returned back home with that JOY that wasn't going to leave.  They took time to seek and find and to give gifts to this Child.

One day a poor widow put a few pennies into the offering and Jesus told his disciples she gave more than all the others because she gave what she had to live on.

God sees what we give and what we don't give. God never forces because what He wants from us is not our stuff but our love. However, if our stuff is an idol, it has to go.

Generosity. Think about it.  How can you express your love to God by sharing?

Waiting? or Waiting on God

I find the first of the year difficult.  It is a time where we make all kinds of choices that will make a difference in how we look, feel and who we serve.  The worldly focus is usual on self. Am I exercised enough, rich enough, disciplined enough.

Notice the 'I's.

One way to really get into trouble in our walk is to think IT ALL DEPENDS ON US.

Back to the Christmas story, after Christmas.
Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus have to wait until it is time to go up to Jerusalem for the offering.
They have two rather strange characters one an old man and one an old woman confirm that Jesus is the redemption of Israel.

The wise men come to Jerusalem, not Bethlehem. Gifts are given and then they depart another way home.

The taxes are paid, the baby is circumcised according to the law.
Still the young couple lingers..waiting not on what they want but on what God’s plan is for them.

It certainly isn’t what they thought. Joseph has a dream in which he is told to “flee” to Egypt because Herod is going to try to kill the baby.

What if they had not waited and listened to God? I wonder if God looks down at times and thinks ... if only they had waited for me instead of making their own choices.

Waiting isn’t easy. It is lonely, hard work and sometime we feel “lost”. Never mind. God never will lose his sheep. He knows where we are heading. We don’t.

May January find you waiting for your marching orders ... not your own but the Lord’s.

Lessons From Mary

In the midst of a miracle. Mary, the mother of our Lord, has let God the Holy Spirit overshadow her plans. She was going to marry Joseph but now all she knows is that she has been blessed and is carrying a blessing. Her cousin, Elizabeth, six months pregnant is where she flees.

"I see so much the need for one woman to run to another in this very unusual cricumstance ..."

"Blessed are you of women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb," is part of what Elizabeth says. "My soul magnifies the Lord", says Mary, "FOR HE WHO IS MIGHTY HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR ME". 

Mary's plans for her life have been overshadowed by God's plans. She accepted this because she had understood for some time that she was the "handmaiden of the Lord," The Lord was number one to her.

In the midst of a miracle, Mary keeps her focus on the One she serves.
It is easy to get the focus on the "I".
- I want this perfect situation. Jesus was born in a manger with odors of animals around him.

- I want the perfect gift. Jesus is my perfect gift. 
- I want security, certainty and control.  Mary and Joseph had nothing after taxes, but then the wise men came. 

Mary and Joseph had no certainty except the  Holy child they guarded. They had no control. Their circumstances seemed "out of control." But they were not BECAUSE GOD WAS IN THE MIDST OF A MIRACLE not just for them but for the entire world.

Joy to the world, the Lord is born..

May you be ready for the unexpected, the uncertain, the plan that is beyond you!

Thanksgiving Party-November

This Thanksgiving dinner has been a wonderful turnout and we have been recapping the whole year's event. We have seen what God has done for us. We realized how great it is when we trust God and miracles are performed according to God's will every time. Everyone is so special in every way and gifted. It is our very wish to bring the best versions of each other and ourselves in this life time.

Enjoy the photos and guess who is in it!!

Patty Cardona’s parents enjoy dessert.

President Patty Cardona

Volunteer, Jack Wilson with Chris Dueker

Elaine Biser, guest, and Patty

Alex, from Verbo after school program with Dad.

Terrell Slawson, supporter, with Barb Siegal VP  Project Lost Sheep

Catherine Parlanti, treasurer, with guests: Irma and Sue Stevick.

Doris Bates, camp co-ordinator, and hospitality co-ordinator, sets out desserts.

Joyce Dueker and Jack Wilson clear tables with smiles.

Joyce Dueker with husband, Chris Dueker.

Pastor Orlando Cardona and volunteer from camp.

Alex with Teacher/Guide

Alex with parents.

Alex's cousin

Darlene Stethem, Bible teacher, with guest, Michelle Bedecarre

Alex's cousins

Elaine Biser, Circle of Prayer

Jack..always helping

Pastor Cardona, camp volunteer, and founder, Joyce Dueker

The World Would Be A Better Place

Are you discouraged about this world? 

Here what a Dad whose son, Alex, is in the Verbo after school program said, in front of us all before the meeting even started.

We were all a little surprised at this honoring statement. Later we heard from Alex, his son who said. “I like multiplication tables.”

The after school program is going well. There are 24 children who went to Touchdown Camp and are now “in” this free program. The ball is rolling. The school has a waiting list.

How did this come about?

Ingredient #1
VISION. A pastor who saw the church as a place that could be used more than on Sundays.

Ingredient #2
PRAYER. Prayer with pastors from a larger church.

Ingredient #3
NEED. A small child “The Little Man” who talked to an adult about how he couldn’t go to an after school program.

Ingredient #4
MIRACLE GIFT. The release of funds from the large church to the smaller church for this program for one year.

Last time I was talking about miracles. Do you think this would be considered a small miracle or not? When the kingdom of heaven comes down to this sorry earth, something should change that you can see, feel and touch.

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Come visit the school
2798 Bay Rd. RWC 
Weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It might be a good idea to call Verbo Church first.

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What kind of miracle could God do if He made
you one of His ingredients?