The Glacier and the Pebble

Pastor Sam Blanco4The present world is full of chaos, confusion and deterioration. The Church of Jesus Christ is not immune to these forces and every church has been affected in multiple ways. However, the question at hand is, how do we stop this glacier from creeping forward? Well, few (if any) would say, how about a pebble? In real terms, the proposal is laughable because a pebble would be devoured by the moving behemoth immediately. Yet, this is exactly what I am saying! The prophet Zechariah speaks of a coming time when those believers who doubted the insignificant ways God was moving would end up rejoicing in them! God’s renewal plan was to go back to the ol’ religion of the fathers and then things would blossom. Why? Because the Spirit of God was behind it! The Apostle Paul also reminded the Jews that it has always been God’s strategy to use what the world considers foolish, low and despised to fulfill His purposes. Our church is made up of ordinary men and women. However, in the hands of God, you become like a pebble capable of stopping the glacier of a back-sliding world. In God’s strategy, it seemed fit to place you along the edge as a Methodist. Some things may seem insignificant right now- but the day is coming when we will all rejoice in them!

“See You In Church”

November 1, 2016

Stirred By God

Pastor Sam Blanco4Every morning I pour a cup of coffee, add some Stevia and stir it. In all the times that I have done this, the law of inertia has never failed: the coffee lies still until I begin the stirring. It has never begun to stir before I get there, nor has it ever spun contrary to the motion of my teaspoon. It lies still until moved.

The prophet Haggai reveals that, for a variety of reasons the people of God remained still. That is, until the hand of God powerfully motivated them: and the LORD stirred up their spirit! At that precise moment, the people became the coffee and the LORD was the spoon. The good thing was that the people offered no resistance, but instead, allowed themselves to be stirred. The result: the beautiful Jerusalem Temple was completed.

Every year, the Fall/Thanksgiving/Christmas season becomes a time when people are mysteriously moved to joy, benevolence, festive gatherings and a malleable, kind spirit. It could certainly be the Spirit of God taking His spoon and moving all of us. But, how much more should the people of God offer no resistance to the stirring of the Lord. After all, it was the same spoon that stirred us and brought us to the feet of Jesus! Come, let us arise and finish the work of the Temple!

“See You in Church,”

October 1, 2016

To God’s Surprise?

Pastor Sam Blanco4Is it possible for the Lord to be surprised by what happens to His people? Is He ever caught off guard? No, God is fully aware of our condition and circumstances and He has already been preparing for our present experience. Therefore, our response to His preparedness is an assured and peaceful expectation that governs our way of life – church life! The church at Antioch plays a predominant role in the life of the Apostle Paul. It is this church community that embraces the new believer and sends him off to his missionary travels. But, the Antioch church begins in a surprising way. At the stoning of Stephen, circa 40 AD, scripture tells us that his clothes were laid at Saul’s feet. (Acts 7:58) This initial persecution sparked the Diaspora, or the Christian dispersion, throughout the Roman world, including Antioch. So, while Saul of Tarsus (soon-to -be Paul) was out persecuting Christians, God was preparing a church that would welcome him and prepare him for ministry.

In recent weeks, we have all heard where we are as a church and what the last ten years tells us. Yet, if we are the people of God, the Lord has been preparing you for this day. Esther arose “for such a time as this.” David had been prepared to meet Goliath. God had prepared Mary and Joseph to care for the boy, Jesus. Antioch was primed to receive Saul of Tarsus. And you have been groomed by God to meet this day! So, whether it be as a Sunday School teacher, a musician, a volunteer, a committee member, a tither, a prayer warrior, or a witness, arise, for the Lord has prepared you for today! Amen.

“See You In Church”

September 1, 2016

Disciples to transform the world?

Pastor Sam Blanco4One of the consequences at the parsonage after our Wednesday Bible Study (WBS) has been the lively discussions that follow around our dinner table. This week it was the topic of hell as the fiery place of punishment. One of the quotes from C. S. Lewis made the point that God allows His creation to reject Him, or as we usually say it, we have free will. Our motto then, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world ought to be well understood. The recent tragedy in France where over 80 people lost their lives points to free will as a deep-seated trait in our human nature. How we define or rationalize the actions that stem from it does not change the fact that self-determination is at work. We learn from Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 15:19 that at the root of our being is an incorrigible desire bent toward evil and rebellion against God. But this is precisely the reason why the Father sent the Son – to undo that heart and replace it with His Spirit. This is essential salvation. So, when we speak of the transformation of the world, what do we mean? What do we want to transform? Are we talking poverty, illness, war, injustice and hunger? All these for sure. However, we preach salvation in Jesus Christ because this is what changes the evil heart into a heart from which flow rivers of living waters, i.e. the Holy Spirit. This makes the disciple who can confront a selfish world. The theologian Jurgen Moltmann says that the causes of misery are no longer found in the inner attitudes of men, but have long been institutionalized. I could not disagree more. The spring for all human misery is but one, sin. To paraphrase a Jewish saying, “Change a heart and you change the world!”

“See You in Church”

August 1, 2016