Monthly Archives: August 2009

It's been a month

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Adriana and her family graduate from high school

Adriana Flores with her parents, Raphael and Lila and brother Raffa at Bell High School's graduation at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Adriana is a co-valedictorian of her class and was awarded the Gates' Scholarship Award ('full ride' to Dartmouth)

After an incredibly full July, I should have anticipated the events of the last week would be like the grand finale of a fireworks display—delightful sensory overload.

A week ago Sunday, we all enjoyed the parents’ dedication of themselves and their newest daughter to the Lord. She, along with every child, is God’s vote that life continues. Wednesday I conducted a funeral for a 91 year old woman who had endured Alzheimer’s disease the last 12 years. Death is God’s reminder to the living to be ready for the appointment that awaits each of us at the end of our earthly life. Saturday I had the privilege of officiating a cousin’s wedding. Marriage between a man and a woman is originally God’s idea (not man’s) and, in part, symbolizes the relationship that exists between Jesus Christ and His redeemed people.

What are some of the other events you missed during our absence?

The Korean Bible conference saw several make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord! Now Pastor Yoon and several from the Korean congregation have just concluded the same conference in Korea (I haven’t yet heard word of what God has done). Before they return home they will also minister in Thailand and, I believe, Vietnam.

The last Sunday of July, twenty-five years ago, the English congregation prayed for Pastor Tony Núñez, commissioning him to lead the Spanish congregation. Just now the congregation continues to work together in loving and serving Jesus Christ and one another while Tony, who is on a sabbatical, turns his energy to completing his doctoral dissertation by the end of the year. At the men’s breakfast, God saved two of the invited men by His grace.

Pastor Rigsby concluded preaching on the “double hallelujah” psalms between an unplanned journey to Tucson for Donna’s mother’s funeral and a planned trip to Kentucky to visit family and Donna’s milestone high school reunion. In Pastor Rigsby’s planned absence, Shawn Sammartano (who is a student at Talbot Seminary) had an opportunity to preach from the book of Galatians. In his unplanned absence, the English congregation endured feeble attempts at forcefully expressing myself. That Elona Siemsen accompanied the singing on the piano, in Donna’s absence, was joyfully received because it meant I didn’t play the guitar. Those who remembered her were delighted to read that Della Clark will be married to Rick Barber August 15 in Salem, Oregon (1678 Nut Tree Dr. NW / Salem, OR 97304).

Here is a brief glimpse into August and September.

Tomorrow, August 4, the Bell Gardens Police Department, Neighborhood Watch, and Churches of Bell Gardens will see the culmination of our work together on a national event that seeks to promote safe communities. This is a one night event from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Ford Park. Last year an estimated 3000 people supported this rally. After last year’s event, the local police and neighborhood watch council recognized that the spiritual dimension also needs to be included in reducing crime. They approached the churches and invited us to fully participate with no strings or restrictions attached. The ceremony portion of the event will begin at 6:00 PM with prayer from the pastors and music from a band (chosen by one of the churches). The remainder of the evening includes activity and information booths, a baseball game between the Police officers and youth, and other fun goodies. We will have some information about the church, tracts, and Gospels of John to distribute at the information booths.

The Spanish congregation is preparing for a three-day “Campaign” (we might call this “revival meetings”) September 25-27. They are preparing faithfully, praying regularly for God’s blessing, and systematically canvasing several of the neighborhoods, inviting others to come hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have revised our plan for showing slides from Turkey, Greece, and Rome a couple of times now for various (and always significant) reasons. At this time, the slides will be shown and Pastor Rigsby’s commentary will be given simultaneously (imagine!) on the Sunday nights in September at the usual time, 6:00 PM.

How long is forever?

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You’ve been asked, “who is Jesus Christ?” Immediately you think of a few appropriate qualities. He is love. He is everywhere all the time. He is God. He is also human.

As a follow-up, you were asked to prioritize His characteristics in order of significance. Where would you begin? What would be of first importance? He is the Savior. He is the Creator. He is Sovereign.

Would you be surprised that John, the beloved disciple, chose none of these? In his Prologue (1:1-18), John begins his list of eight truths that reveal who Jesus Christ is with this: Jesus is eternal. “in the beginning was the Word.” With the stroke of his pen in one memorable line, John assumes God exists (as did Moses, from whom John borrowed the phrase) and declares Jesus as always existing (and especially pre-existing all of creation, time, and space). In other words, “before there was a beginning, the Word had already been.”

My head hurts trying to think of Jesus, of God, always existing. How is that possible? Was there ever a time before Jesus existed? What did He do (before “us”)? Have there been other creations He hasn’t told us about? Why now? Why this? Why us? That Jesus is eternal is incomprehensible!

Now, without even trying to prove the existence of God, John wants me to believe that 1) Jesus is God, 2) who has existed forever? Why should I believe something that appears so far-fetched, it should be labeled as a “fairy-tale”?

It is our very view of who Jesus Christ is that affects our response to Him. John’s purpose in writing his account of Jesus on earth is to offer proof that God exists and that Jesus is the Son of God because if Jesus did not exist eternally, He cannot be fully God.

Turkey, Greece, Rome trip summary, part 7

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Rome. St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls Church (where the remains of Paul's body awaits the resurrection).

Rome. St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls Church (where the remains of Paul's body awaits the resurrection).

It has taken far longer than I anticipated to complete our trip summary. Here is the final installment. Those shouts of joy are not only yours but mine as well. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 21; Rome (Churches)

We saw the Vatican Museum but we didn’t see the Pope. The history of the painting of the Sistine Chapel is more about political maneuvering rather than Biblical doctrine. A new addition to St. Peter’s Basilica is the display of Pope John XXIII’s remains. We learned the Pope does not speak “ex-cathedra” here. We visited the church building called St. Paul’s Outside the Walls (which was the largest church in the world until St. Peter’s was built). There we saw the Pope (well, we saw all of the Popes) on ornate mosaic medallions. This is where Paul’s bodily remains are buried (but not on display). The church called “Three Fountains” is where Paul was executed. The legend says when his head was severed it bounced three times. At each spot where it touched the ground “a spring of water broke forth.” More believable than the legend was the delicious Trappisti chocolate we bought and ate.

Thursday, January 22; Rome (Ancient)

We had a half-day to tour the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum), the Roman Forum, and the Mamertine Prison. The architectural wonder of the Colosseum is that it is free-standing instead of against a hill. The Romans’ use of the arch makes this possible. The Arch of Titus, on the edge of the Roman Forum, was erected to commemorate Rome’s victory and capture of Jerusalem. A relief in the Arch depicts the menorah, trumpets, and possibly the Table of Showbread plundered from the Jerusalem Temple. In the afternoon everyone went to sites that especially interested them. Some locations included shopping, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and McDonalds. In the evening we met together for our Final Farewell, to give thanks to the Lord for our adventure together.

Friday, January 23; Farewell Tour

What seemed like the longest day of our entire tour began with a short leisurely morning and a white-knuckle landing in Paris. After a few tense moments prior to our departure due to a lack of necessary international documents, our long flight to Los Angeles was routine and uneventful. We were instructed how to use the seatbelt, the location of the exits, and forbidden to smoke in the lavatory. However, there were no signs or verbal warnings about getting too close to the edge. The day “officially” ended thirty-six hours later with hearty greetings from immigration officers and custom agents.

. . .

At the abrupt end of Luke’s second volume we are given one final insight about the way Paul chose to live as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. Eugene Peterson summarizes the thought, “He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.” Good teachers tell and show.