There was a young woman of approximately 14 or 15 years old not very well educated (apart from the Scripture she had memorized), poor and from a town no one cared since it was a place where those who were of mixed races. She really had not “bright” future or possibilities for advancement. Her only future, as it is in many countries where women are not valued, was to get married, be a mother and raise children. If everything went well, if all her children would survive. She was engaged to a young man named Joseph of Arimathea who was a carpenter. The age at which they could marry was 12 years and older. Today, a teenager cannot get married until she is 18. And although this young woman was not likely from a good status, from the moment she gets heavenly news from the angel Gabriel, her life changed radically. If she had any honor, it disappeared after this incident. She would never be looked upon by her contemporaries as a pure woman (of course, this wouldn’t be a problem in our times). This period of “betrothal” lasted from a month to a year. It was a time of waiting and preparation, but they considered themselves married. The sexual purity of women was expected (not so today). In case she found out that she was not a virgin, she could be stoned according to the Law. The man also had the right not to officially accept her as a wife.
But Mary was chosen and blessed by God by taking part in the most significant event in humanity, God the Son becoming human. God the Son decides to be human, and it all begins in the womb of this young woman named Mary. She would be “Christokos” carry Christ in her womb.
Today we will answer three important questions about her.
Es difícil creer que hace 43 años tomé un autobús con mi mamá y tres de mis hermanas y me fui de El Salvador. No tenía ni idea de a dónde íbamos. Pensando en retrospectiva, no recuerdo haber tenido equipaje, pero probablemente teníamos alguna muda de ropa. No teníamos posesiones reales que llevar. No tenía nada, excepto la foto de nuestro pasaporte familiar. Mi amigo Toño me contó la semana pasada que guardaba un par de zapatos usados que eran míos. Eran pequeños para él, pero los guardó durante un tiempo.
Recuerdo cruzar la calle pasando por la escuela “22 de junio” donde acababa de empezar 5º grado. Nos subimos a un autobús grande, pero recuerdo muy poco, excepto cuando llegamos a Zapopan, Jalisco, donde vivimos como un mes mientras esperábamos para ir a los Estados Unidos. Esa es toda una historia en sí misma.
Sin nada que me lo recordara, dejé el lugar que vi por primera vez cuando nací. Dejé el lugar donde crecí y se formaron mis primeros recuerdos. Dejé a mis amigos (sobre todo a mi amigo Toño que para mí era mi hermano mayor) con los que tuvimos tantas grandes aventuras, recorriendo el camino peligroso yendo a la escuela, yendo a recoger café (que ellos hacían por trabajo, yo solo insistía en ir por diversión), bañándonos en el río, robando caña de azúcar de una finca (nos atraparon), pastoreando ganado y siendo arrastrado por una vaca, explorando barrancos y muchas más. Mi amigo Toño no paraba de preguntarme “¿Te acordás…?” y yo tuve que responderle que no me acordaba.
Dejé mi casa rural de madera de una habitación con todos sus árboles de mangos y aguacates. Dejé la hermosa naturaleza verde que me dio muchos buenos recuerdos. Dejé el lugar al que llamé hogar durante más de diez años. Me fui por mucho tiempo. Pasó el tiempo. Crecí, me casé y tuve hijos. Les conté a mis hijos mis aventuras de niño, tal como las recuerdo. Me las imaginé en mi cabeza muchas veces. No sabía cuándo volvería. Mi hijo mayor finalmente vino en 2015 (y vino en agosto con su familia). Sabía que volvería, pero no estaba seguro de cuándo. Finalmente, tomé la decisión de venir este año con mi esposa y mi hija de 14 años. Y también vinieron mi hijo, su esposa y mi nieta. No podría tener mejor compañía. Mi hijo mayor, al ver lo bueno que era volver a conectarme con mis amigos, me recordó que quería venir aquí desde que era un adolescente. No regresé por varias razones, pero principalmente fue porque no pensé que no fuera seguro. Pero ahora lo es.
Estoy agradecido de haber podido caminar en el mismo lugar donde estaba nuestra casa, ahora solo un pedazo de tierra que nadie enhebra o incluso sabe quién vivió allí. Esta era la tierra que mis abuelos Genaro y Estebana poseían después que se mudaron de Chalatenango. Aquí, me contó mi mamá, muchos campesinos venían en sus carretas jaladas por el ganado para comer y descansar. Mi abuelo tenía una hamaca donde descansaba. Finalmente murió de un ataque al corazón a una edad temprana. Nunca lo conocí.
Le doy gracias a Dios por esta tierra donde nací y tengo mis raíces. Al caminar y pisarlo, siento algo aquí, un poco de nostalgia. La gente y la forma en que hablan, que rápidamente retomé de nuevo, son parte de lo que fui hace mucho tiempo. Sin embargo, me doy cuenta de que ya no es mi hogar. Hoy me voy a casa, el lugar donde he vivido durante más de 43 años. Pero esta vez, sé a dónde voy. Me siento triste y derramo algunas lágrimas por mi país de nacimiento. Sé que volveré otra vez. ¡Hasta la próxima, El Salvador!
Esto es parte de futuras publicaciones más largas.
It’s hard to believe that 43 years ago I took a bus with my mom, and three of my sisters and left El Salvador. I had no idea where we were going. Thinking back, I don’t remember having any luggage, but we probably had some change of clothes. We had no real possessions to take. I had nothing except the picture of our family passport. My friend Toño told me last week that he kept a pair of used shoes that were mine. They were small for him but he kept them for a while.
I remember crossing the street passing by the school “22 de junio” where I had just started 5th grade. We got on big bus and remember very little except when we arrived in Zapopan Jalisco where we lived for about month while we waited to go to the US. That’s a whole story all by itself.
I left the place that I first saw when I was born without anything to remind me of it. The place where I grew up and were my first memories were formed. I left my friends (especially my friend Toño who for me was my older brother) with which we had so many great adventures, walking the treacherous path going to school, going coffee picking (which they did for work, I just insisted on going for fun), bathing in the river, stealing sugar cane from a plantation (we got caught ), herding cattle and being dragged by a cow, exploring canyons and many more. My friend Toño kept asking “Do you remember…?” and I had to answer that I didn’t remember.
I left my rural one room wooden home with all of its mangoes and avocadoes trees. I left the beautiful green nature that gave me many good memories. I left the place I called home for more than ten years. I left for a long time. Time passed. I grew up, got married and had kids. I told my children about my adventures as a child as I remember them. I pictured them in my head many times. I did not know when I would come back. My older son finally came in 2015 (and came in August with his family). I knew I would come back but I wasn’t sure when. Finally, I made a decision to come this year with my wife and 14-year old daughter. And my son, his wife and my granddaughter also came. I couldn’t have better company. My older son upon seeing how good it was to reconnect with my friends, reminded me that he wanted to come here since he was a teen. I didn’t come back for several reasons but primarily it was because I didn’t think it was not safe. But now it is.
I am thankful that I got to walk in the same place where our house stood, now just a piece of land that no one threads or even knows who lived there. This was the land my grandparents Genaro and Estebana owned after moving from Chalatenango. Here, my mom told me, many farmers would come on their cattle-driven carts to eat and rest. My grandfather had a hammock where he would rest. He eventually died of a heart attack at a young age. I never met him.
I am thankful to God for this land where I was born and have my roots. As I walk and step on it, I feel something here, a bit of nostalgia. The people and the way they talk which I quickly picked up again all are part of who I was a long time ago. Yet I realize it isn’t my home anymore. I’m going home today, the place I’ve lived for over 43 years. But this time, I know where I am going. I feel sad and I shed some tears for my country of birth. I know I will come back again.
I have four days left here in El Salvador after 43 years since I left. I have gone running a few times and I have thanked God for allowing me to be born in this country. But I thank Him He allowed me to live in the United States for over43 years. It is no wonder it is called the greatest country. I cannot be thankful enough for what He has allowed us and has given to us there. But above all, it is the gift of salvation in Jesus. That is the best gift ever. Without his gift, I would be nothing. I would be in despair, in hopelessness.
As I see people here, running around, driving in awful traffic, I prayed that God’s kingdom would come soon. We need his kingdom to be bring forth the restoration that we need. I can’t imagine that people think this is what we were meant to be or that this is the ideal place. Only God’s kingdom will bring about the peace, satisfaction, and the perfect environment where justice will reign. I read this morning Luke 14:25-35 where Jesus asserts that we need to calculate the cost of following Him. We must be willing to renounce all to be his follower. But many don’t want to follow him, they don’t have ears to listen. They are too busy (see Luke 14:15-24). Nevertheless, as I read Luke 15:1-10, we are called to help the lost Sheep come to Jesus. Until His kingdom comes, we are to continue sharing His Good News. It is our only hope.
I hope to write more in the following weeks about my return to my roots.
The cover of this book captures what El Salvador has gone through.
In this passage we find the author through the Holy Spirit, calling, reminding us of three things we as the church need to do. The author of Hebrews encourages Jewish believers to three things. He does it by saying “Let us…” These is what we are called to do as members of God’s Body, the Church. The first one deals with worship and having a heart of faith when we approach God. The second one deals with gripping firmly the hope of our confession and the third one deals with promoting or inciting each other to love and good works in our community of faith.
I was born in El Salvador and spent almost eleven years of my life there. I was a curious, active, independent boy in my childhood. I was highly curious and liked to explore nature. I climbed avocado and mangoes trees, went walking in canyons and rivers with friends, and herded animals. Discovering new things was my favorite thing to do. I went to a rural school. I remember my walks to school through a dirt wall trail. I thought it was fun. I was very diligent in school and had good grades.
I enjoyed outdoor games in the night with friends. Arranca cebolla (people tug a war), mica (freeze tag), A la vívora de la mar (the serpent of the sea) and salta cuerda (jump rope) were some I remember. Singing silly “Ronda Songs” like “Los pollos de mi casuela” were part of nightly games.
I had very little supervision by my mom who was a meat dealer at the mercado (market).My older sisters (at the time four of them lived at home, two of them adults) didn’t guide me either.I don’t remember any formal intentional instruction on how to live life or anything else. I learned by “discovering” the world.
When I was ten, we moved to the closest city of mejicanos. I got to know modern amenities such as running water, flushing toilets, and showers. After this we moved to a wood shop that my uncle owned who had moved to the United States. I started 5th grade and about halfway we moved to the United States. I started 6th grade while we lived in Los Angeles for a year.
Then we moved to Orange County and went to Intermediate (Middle) school for 7th grade. While we were there our family got invited to a Baptist church. We had never gone to a Christian church. I do remember that as a kid I had gone to a service in Mariona where I lived. But I never really got involved or got interested. It was in Santa Ana where the church was that I first heard the Gospel. Eventually I trusted Christ during an evangelistic meeting.
From this point on I had a man named Jimmy that took me along and I was able for the first time to see what a Christian marriage and family looked like. I was introduced to Christian music, Amy Grant and Keith Green, the latter which I still listen. He left to go to the military, then went into ministry. I helped him a couple of times while he did church planting in another city in California. He went on to become a pastor at a church in New Mexico where he still is a pastor after 27 years. We are still friends, and I value our friendship. He is like my older brother that I didn’t have (I do have one but never lived with me or my side of the family).
Then came my youth pastor who mentored me as well in areas of ministry. He only had a daughter then and so I became like his son. He was very temperamental and had issues with anger. I learned the good things and ignored the bad things. Eventually this was problematic because he exploded publicly in anger towards people including his wife. It was very embarrassing. He is still a pastor, and is currently planting a church. Regardless of his weaknesses, I learned a lot from him about ministry perhaps more than from anyone else.
My friend Mark, our first youth leader also mentored me, teaching about leadership, administration, taught me how to play the guitar, got me started memorizing Scripture as he learned from the Navigators when he was in the Navy. He also instilled in me the passion of reading, especially biographies.
Our youth group at a family camp. My friend Mark on the far right.
The first book was about the life of Jim Elliot who became a martyr for the cause of Christ. He was the son-in-law of the pastor and was charged with starting the youth group. He had a strong personality and ideas that put him at odds with others. Regardless of his weaknesses, I admired him (he was the first “Caucasian” that I was close to) in how he intentionally discipled his children, though at times he was rough. He eventually left the church and went his way; I think it was because he was trying to become a missionary. He died of a heart attack in his fifties. We went to his funeral. His investment proved to be very fruitful in my life. I am very grateful for his life.
These three men gave me much of what I became.I became a self-learned young man by reading books about the Bible and the Christian life. I was a ferocious reader and became an avid reader. My passion for teaching became dominant in my life. And it has continued. I served in the church in all aspects including preaching. I loved it. This is where I know God called me to become a pastor which led me to prepare for ministry.
I continued to learn about preaching through several other pastors. I listened to John MacArthur on the radio, bought the study guides and studied the Scriptures daily. I was spellbound by the way he could explain the Scriptures verse by verse. Another local pastor in a local church where our Senior pastor was sent as a missionary, was instrumental in teaching me how to preach with passion with a clear outline. He preached and explained the text giving much of the background of the text. I sat under his teaching for at least a year, and this also helped me a lot and formed me in the way I preached thereafter. I also learned from Chuck Swindoll (He turned ninety years old this month and formally retired from preaching.), who was then a pastor in a city nearby. I listened to him on the radio and read several of his books. From him, I learned the art of communicating in a creative way using stories and quotes from good authors. It is from him that I first learned about C.S. Lewis who has become one of my favorites. I got introduced to A.W. Tozer, and many others influential Christian writers.
My personal ethics and morality were also influenced by an organization called Focus on the Family started by James Dobson. I was introduced to them by my friend Mark and begin to listen to their broadcast and became informed through their literature that helped me understand the Christian worldview. Much of what I believe now about family and morality was formed by what I learned from this organization.
My Bible college experience also formed me. Academically, it was easy because I had studied a lot on my own and had already a diploma in theology. I was recently married, and we had two kids, and we decided to move to another State. With an offer of $300 a month from a small Baptist church to be their pastor we moved with our family. The first six months were not easy, and we depended on savings. After this, my wife got a job, and I also left the pastor position and focused on my education. Financially, this was our hardest, but we learned to depend on the Lord and on good budget management.
Three of my professors come to mind that helped me in my Christian formation. South African, Dr. Peter Flint, a Dead Sea Scroll scholar who taught me Hebrew for three Semesters. He was small in stature but had a great gentle heart. He guided me as I learned the basics of classical Hebrew. During my graduation, he gave me a commentary on Psalms and Ruth as an award from the American Bible Society as a “student who has demonstrated excellence and consistency in Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages”. I have no idea why I received it because I struggled to learn Hebrew. I felt frustrated spending many hours translating passages from the Old Testament. It’s hard to believe he is already gone with Jesus.
Professor Steve Sonmor, a former missionary to the Philippines helped me to keep a passion for missions and for evangelism. Our time going to Mexico on a missionary trip was memorable. I enjoyed our conversations and his stories about his experiences as a missionary. Professor Tim Reed, youth pastor helped me to see that college education was not just for the head but for the heart and feet. His assignments often challenged us to live our lives faithful disciples of Christ. I wrote my obituary as an assignment, and it is so interesting to read it now. I read In His Steps for the first time as an assignment and it has become one of my favorite Christian novels. My time in bible college was short, only two years and after graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Bible we moved back to California.
I started my Master of Divinity as soon as we moved back and became part of a Southern Baptist church. The next three years were very practical and helpful since at this point, I also became a church planter which lasted for six years. Going to school full-time and being a church planter wasn’t easy but it was what God lead me to pursue.
Several men stand out during this time that impacted my life. Professor Thom Wolfe who taught missions. He was then a pastor in East Los Angeles that took a dying church and helped her become a multiethnic church and a hub for missions. The church sent more missionaries than many other churches back them. His passion to take the Gospel to the nations was contagious. He often shared and wept as he taught. My wife who also took his course, was impacted as well. He went on to serve in India. Pastor Wolfe continued to affirm our call for missions as the church not only here but abroad. This has led me to understand what God wants to do here in America to reach those from other nations and learn how they can be instrumental in carrying out the Great Mandate. The second person that influenced me was my preaching and theology professor John Shouse. I had the privilege of taking two semesters with him, one on advanced preaching were there were only two of us. I appreciated his words to me when he said he liked me as a preacher. With his background in Shakespearean theater, he taught me that a message was woven as movements, it was all linked together. This helped me become a better preacher seeing it as a theatrical piece with a series of movements that lead to a conclusion helping hearers apply the Word of God. Finally, Don Overstreet whose classes on church planting helped me navigate as I strived to plant a church among Hispanics. His heart for reaching the lost through church planting was evident. He was gentle but exuded a passion that has helped me understand that the best way to reach the lost is through church planting. He went home with the Lord in 2017.
These years as a church planter were hard and eventually, I left ministry and went into full time teaching. I decided I would no longer be in ministry ever again. But God had a different plan. After six years of not been involved in ministry, God called me again and after nine years I am still serving as a pastor.
Many times, while I was growing, even as a young adult, I felt lonely. At times I felt sad and cast down. At home I was the only man, but I was not treated like a man. I was expected to act like the man of the house without knowing how to be one. At church I was a leader but I was younger than most of my peers and so I was seen differently, and I did not connect well with many of them because of this. But it was there that God gave me a wonderful wife that has been my helpmate for most of my life. She, like no other has made a huge difference in my life and who I am now.
In retrospect I know that not having a father and not having any instruction as a child affected me. But God knew this, long before he created me. He knew what I would be, what I am now, what I will be in the future and prepared the path for me. He’s been my guide, the Good Shepherd whose rod and staff comfort me. I follow him. He uses me even though I don’t have exceptional qualities. Nothing can make me worthy because I am worthy enough through Christ. Yet, I know serving him is a privilege, an act of grace from Him. I don’t take it for granted. This morning, I didn’t think all of this. But my initial feelings of being alone prompted me to think these things (I have often included these into my conversations with the Lord). In the process of reminiscing, it brought a remembrance of my joyful childhood, and the path God has led me through in my life. I am grateful. I’ve been given a lot. I don’t ever want to take it for granted.
This version of the sermon was preached at our Encore Group, the service for our seniors.
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If anyone had uncertainties about the future, it was Israel. Their disobedience brought God’s judgement on their lives. They were to be taken captives by the Babylonians. They surely thought, “This is the end of us. This is the end of our nation. This is the end of our future. There is no point in trusting God anymore. He has forgotten us.”
But God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and offers them hope. Hope amid their uncertainties. He shares a five-fold encouragement to face them. These are good for us as well as we face our own uncertainties.
If anyone had uncertainties about the future, it was Israel. Their disobedience brought God’s judgement on their lives. They were to be taken captives by the Babylonians. They surely thought, “This is the end of us. This is the end of our nation. This is the end of our future. There is no point in trusting God anymore. He has forgotten us.”
But God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and offers them hope. Hope amid their uncertainties. He shares a five-fold encouragement to face them. These are good for us as well as we face our own uncertainties.
Scripture is clear that all good gifts come from God (James 1:17). One of his gifts is music which are words set to a melody. I believe God loves music and this is why I think in His Kingdom there will be songs of worship to Him. It is no wonder that we as beings created in the image of God, are drawn to love music as well. We long to express our words through rhythmic melodies. It is part of our nature made in the image of God.
I have always loved music. It perhaps started when I was a child in El Salvador and my sisters played English songs. America’s culture was already impacting Latin America in the late 70’s. I didn’t understand them and neither did they, but they “sang” them. I learned the melodies and “sang” some of them. Later when I learned English I laughed at the words (they were made up) I used to sing the songs. When I came to America in the early 80’s the trend continued. My sisters loved Chicago which also became part of my favorite repertoire. Some of the songs are my favorite even to this day. Peter Cetera’s Glory of Love became another favorite, especially after the movie Karate Kid II came out in the mid 80’s. “You’re the inspiration” sang also by him has become a song that has become meaningful to me as I consider my wife to be that inspiration in my life. The Beetles were another of my sisters’ favorites, and of course they have become mine as well. There are many more in the “Pop” and “Rock” music of the 80’s and 90’s that have become part of my life. My taste genre has expanded into Country music, Classical, and Blue Grass sprinkled with a mix of many more.
Being Hispanic, I also learned about the Spanish songs my sisters listened to, most of them romantic like Los Angeles Negros, Julio Iglesias and Camilo Sesto. Their songs were very depressive which most of the time involved a lost love. My mom also passed on her cassettes and repertoire of her favorite classic Spanish songs. She loved the song “Señora Bonita” (Beautiful Lady) a bolero from Leo Marini. I heard that this was a favorite because my father sang it to her. There were other famous artists like Los Tres Caballeros with their romantic songs, Javier Solis with his Bolero-Ranchera music and Pedro Infante with his mariachi and ranchera music. The last two died (separately of course) in a plane crash at a young age. There was also Jorge Negrete who also sang ranchera songs. Then there is one more recent, one of the most talented Mexican musician and singer Juan Gabriel. I enjoy hearing the range of his voice and his more realistic lyrics.
And of course, after becoming a Christian Contemporary Christian music became part of my life. The first Christian “artist” that I came to love was Keith Green who was gifted to write songs about the Christian faith like no one else. I first heard him in 1983-1984 when I spent time at my friend’s home who helped me come to faith in Jesus. I was captivated by Keith’s faith-filled music. I still listen to him and every time I do, I am reminded and challenged of how I need to walk in faith. An airplane tragedy ended his life at the age of 28 years. Then there is Rich Mullins, whose ambiguous lyrics also introduced me to the mystical aspects of the faith. Tragically as well, Rich died in a car accident in 1997. Less known and famous, Don Francisco biblical acoustic ballads are so captivating. I often hear them (his live album is my go-to) to help me envision stories of the Bible. Steven Curtis Chapman is also one of my favorites. Many of his songs are full of scriptural truth and express what many of us wrestle as Christians. “I’ll See You in a Little While” is probably one of my favorites but not more than “Cinderella” which has become my daughter’s favorite too. Prior to adopting her I listened to this song and wish I could have danced this with my oldest daughter. After adopting my youngest daughter, my dream was revived. Both of us hope that someday we will dance to this song at her wedding. Chapman has endured suffering at the loss of his adopted daughter and many of his songs in “Beauty for Ashes” album express his hurt and hope.
As I have grown older, music has become more intentional and just for recreation or distraction. I often hear classical music while working. It is a perfect partner as I am about my office tasks. There are times when I need to hear a different type or genre to just enjoy, to be encouraged, to express happiness or worship God. They can be in Spanish or English. They all part of the moments in my life.
Most of the music taste has now been passed down to my youngest daughter. Many of my favorites, especially Christian music have become hers as well. I’ve told her about the stories behind many of the songs, so she knows that they are not just songs to enjoy and sing. They are intertwined in the tapestry of our lives. Part of my life history is embedded into my music taste. And it is important to me, and I hope it is for her.
La historia bíblica de Jonás para niños. Mi hija de 14 años y un servidor ayudámos a grabar para una escuela bíblica en México de nuestros jóvenes. Espero que la disfruten.
I am enjoying this book and agreeing with it (like "yes!", "write on"...laughing that Jesus wouldn't get hired because he was single...silly but prob would be true). There are some parts that uses particular language to describe leadersh...
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