Hope is My Ever Praise for God! Robert Ochoa

“For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.” From Psalm 71:5-6

If here is a God, why is there so much tragedy? If there is a God, why do some lose, and some gain (sometimes by cheating)? If there is a God, why doesn’t God end all the suffering and torture occurring on our planet? If there is a God, why should I praise God for this crap we call life?

As a Baby Boomer, I am a suvivor. I survided the polio epidemic of the fifties, the civil unrest and the Vietnam confict of the sixties, the drugs and sex of the seventies, the AIDS epidemic of the eighties and nineties, and the Y2K scare of 2000. I along with millions of others watched 9/11 in horror and have endured watching loved ones shipped to Afghanistan and Iraq, sometimes serving two to four tours, int he name of American freedom for over a decade.

But through it, each day I get up I praise the Lord…and Give Thanks each night I lay my head! For what I have learned in my almost six decades on this earth is that “Hope is my confidence since my youth”. The truth is that we are on a journey…and we make the best we can each and every day! So instead of lamenting about yesterday and worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34)…like the Psalmist, I have decided to live each day as if it is my las and sing my praises to God, which actually helps me deal with the sometimes messy reality we call life.

Yo soy Hispano…Yo soy UCC!

Prayer: Dearest God, “this is the day that you have made and I shall rejoice in it”…each second, each minute, and each hour I am awake. Each night as I fall to sleep…I shall give you thanks for the blessings you bestow our world, our loved ones, and on us. Amen.

Personal Faith and Social Action

Julio Filomeno

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and to interview the blind, to set at liberty to the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord. ” from Lucas :18-19.

The letterhead of our church states “Personal Faith and Social Action.” The other day two sisters from the Rhode Island Conference visited our church to participate in a Conference sponsored focus group. After the meeting they said “for a small church you are very involved in the mission of God.” We believe that the Church and its members should be involved in the action (actualization) and mission to the community. These two women were astounded that we participate in a rotation of a Soup Kitchen day (founded 23 years ago with another church), that we have a committee visiting the sick and those in crisis every Sunday, a group of ladies who meet in homes for fellowship, yard sales to sell items at affordable prices while also sharing with people (and also provide information about the Church and the Gospel). The ladies were also thrilled to learn that two church members dedicated time this year to mentor and recognize young college students. Our two conference sisters left the church very happy armored great news for their report. Thanks to our brothers and sisters of the church. I believe we are not only renewing the work of Jesus, but we are also striving to always be authentic (authenticity), transparent, and responsible (accountable) to the work of Jesus Christ. Someday, I too would like to hear about the “Personal Faith and Social Action” that takes place in your ministry. God Bless You.

Prayer: Omnipotent God, put the Spirit of mission, commitment, and service in our hearts and minds and then renew it according to your will. Amen.

Mirrors of God…reflect and are (actualized)! Elivette (Elly) Mendez Angulo

“Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.” from Revelation 22: 1-5

To actualize means to make real or to portray realistically…to become actual! Reflections of God, that is what Jesus followers are called to be. I don’t know how many of you attended General Synod 29 in Long Beach, or much less how many of you caught the action behind the scenes…

Sunday’s theme was “Everyone Mirrors God,” but this was not a regular Sunday, this is General Synod Sunday! Worship is…different. Local people who aren’t able to attend daily services with us, come! Local churches attend as congregations! And there’s the Eucharist with the Big E. And well, everything is what you expect at a typical Sunday service at your local church, except it’s a service that tries to honor all our different church traditions! Imagine…the little church that meets in a small space and the big church, services that have pipe organs and those with jazz music, the UCC in all of it’s differences in one place! All in all this is a big service with a lot of small necessary pieces.

On this day, God chose to remind some of us that we really are mirrors of God reflected for the world to see! A necessary piece was missing. Some of us spent time running through the Exhibit Hall begging to see exhibitors mirrors and then, begging to borrow “The CHOSEN MIRROR” for the next 3 hours! God really has a sense of humor, because it wasn’t till half-way through the service that we realized that THIS was the day that we heard all about how WE are Mirrors God!

“I-mag-o De-i, I-mag-o De-i, born in the im-age of God are we. I-mag-o De-i, I-mag-o De-i, called to com-pass-ion; born to be free.”

It was with a renewed spirit and purpose that we sang: “we are mir-rors of the face of God, we are mir-rors of the face of God…we are mirrors, we are mirrors, we are mirrors of the face of God!”

Prayer: God make us more like you. Compassionate to the need of others, and full of your love. Amen.

I’m UCC.. I’m Hispanic: Actualization

Actualization Luz Berrios-Taveras

“Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!” from Matthew 25:11

I had a million excuses why achieving higher education was not the correct path for me. I felt defeated because of the circumstances of my past and I had given up on my future. One day my boss gave me an ultimatum; “Go back to school; your employee evaluation will be dependent on it!” I was in disbelief! Go back to school, why me? At that very moment I paused and recalled that in my prayers I asked God to use me, to help me actualize his will over my life. My prayers were being answered but not the way I ever imagined and I had a decision to make.

On that day, the Lord used my manager to deliver a message that I would hear loud and clear. In order for the Lord’s will to come to fruition required for this good and faithful servant to prepare for the journey. As a wife, mother, and full-time employee, going back to school was a monstrous task. There were many sleepless nights and stressful moments but God was with me every step of the way.

I graduated in September 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Phoenix. As I walked across the stage I envisioned myself walking on a dusty road that was instantly converting itself into a paved road with directional opportunity signs. Through my educational journey, I allowed myself to prepare for the actualization of God’s will over my life.

Praise God!

Prayer: Father God, too often higher education is not a message ingrained in the minds of Hispanic children. Socioeconomic barriers frequently prevent the dream of higher education to come to fruition. The dream can become a reality through our collective actions. We ask that you continue to pave the way for all, young and old, to reach a higher level. We ask for your guidance as we help develop new and future mentors that will hear the call. In your name we pray, Amen!

I’m Hispanic, I’m UCC!

“I Push Toward the Goal … ” David Alicea  (Pastor of UCC Paradise Hills in San Diego, CA)

“I push toward the Goal…” from Philippians 3:14

The Apostle Paul thinks again about his ministry and the sum of all his experiences in the process. As he took spiritual inventory, the Apostle Paul began to realize that not all those difficulties that filled “the room with water and punished the heart with dismay”, dismissed what he found; the strength to go forward. The Apostle Paul had strong reasons to tell God, I am done! In fact, his discouragement enters intolerable levels when he asked God to remove his thorn. Spiritual warfare is for the brave and not for cowards. Not to say that all things are going to go off without a hitch; many of the challenges that an individual may face are often caused by those least expected.

As chaplain of the Naval Forces of the United States, I was stationed on the Marine base of Recruitment and Training in the heart of downtown San Diego, CA. The facility is also called – Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD). This is the location where young people who desire to become Marines sign up; they go through the most intense training in the world. As chaplain of the First Battalion, I could see up close the rigor of such training. Recruits rose at 5:00 a.m. for a one minute shower and then go marching, running, exercise, overcome obstacles, special indoctrination, and learn how to unload their M-16, seven days a week 12-hours a day. It is a process to break the individual down to then build the individual up again; the Marine way.

The graduation exercise is called the 24-Hour Crucible perpetuated at week 17. Individuals are sent to their respective groups and are armed with Marine military equipment. They are charged with overcoming various obstacles that involve defending their area to save a drowning Marine while carrying all of their military equipment withstanding sleep deprivation and lack of food. These young people end up emotionally and physically drained. Only 45% complete the entire workout. The basic question is: Why? Many give up halfway; others enter a state of shock or show signs of being comatose, which prevents them from finishing the course. Others feel completely destroyed, crying inside unable to have garnered enough strength to continue. The interesting thing is that those who manage to finish the workout feel exactly like their counterparts who were unable to complete the task. What is the difference? Those who completed the training did because they decided to go on even though they believed they did not have the strength to do it.

That’s the big difference in your life, even if you do not have the strength to go forward, even if you do not understand where your life is headed or do not understand what is the will of God, even when your body and mind scream – “ENOUGH,” even when no one supports or helps you, (which unlike Lot’s wife tells – ” Curse your God and die,”) you have to raise your head and say aloud to the world,to sin, even the devil himself – ” I push toward the goal, toward a higher calling in Christ Jesus.” You will notice that forces from heaven will propel you to continue forward. Most importantly, you will realize you’re stronger than you thought. “Jehovah is the fortress of my life …” What kind of person are you? : Someone who surrenders or someone who will say: Although I have no strength, I will push on toward the goal … The rest is history…. God Bless You.

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“ Prosigo hacia la meta…” David Alicea

“Prosigo hacia la meta…” de Filipenses 3:14

El Apóstol Pablo recapacita sobre su ministerio y la suma de todas sus experiencias en tal proceso. En su inventario espiritual, el Apóstol Pablo realiza que a pesar de todas aquellas dificultades que le “llenaron el cuarto de agua y castigaban su corazón con desaliento” pudo encontrar fuerzas para seguir hacia adelante. ¡El Apóstol Pablo tenía razones contundentes para decirle a Dios hasta aquí llegue! De hecho, su desanimo entra en niveles intolerables cuando le solicita a Dios que le quite un aguijón. La lucha espiritual no es de cobardes sino de valientes. No quiere decir que todas las cosas te van a salir a pedir de boca y sobre todo que muchos de los retos te pueden llegar de aquellos de quien menos tú lo espera.

Siendo Capellán de las Fuerzas Navales de los Estados Unidos, me encontraba en la base de Reclutamiento y Entrenamiento de los “Marines” en el mismo downtown de San Diego, CA. La misma se llama – Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD). Allí llegan todos los jóvenes que desean ingresar en la Marina de los Estados Unidos, los mismos pasan por el entrenamiento más intenso del mundo. Como Capellán del Primer Batallón, pude ver de cerca el rigor de tal entrenamiento. Levantaban a los reclutas a las 5:00 AM para una ducha de 1 minuto y salir a marchar, correr, hacer ejercicios, vencer obstáculos, recibir adoctrinamiento especial y aprender a descargar su M-16 los 7 días de la semana, 12 horas diarias. Es un proceso para quebrarte para luego re-hacerte al modo de la Marina.

El ejercicio de graduación se llama – EL CRISOL DE 24 HORAS – (24 Hour Crucible) perpetuado en la semana número 17. En el mismo están con todo su equipo y armamento militar de la Marina, venciendo distintos obstáculos que implican defender su zona hasta salvar a un Marino ahogándose con todo su equipo sin dormir o alimentarse. Los jóvenes terminan emocionalmente y físicamente desgastados. Solo el 45% termina todo el entrenamiento. La pregunta básica es: ¿Por qué? Muchos se rinden a mitad de camino, otros entran en un estado cromático o en shock, lo cual les impide seguir el curso. Otros llegan llorando totalmente destruidos por dentro al no poder tener más fuerzas para seguir. Lo interesante es que los que logran terminar el entrenamiento se sienten igual que los que no pudieron hacer el mismo. ¿Cuál es la diferencia? Los que pudieron completar el entrenamiento lo hicieron porque decidieron seguir aunque no tenían las fuerzas para hacerlo.

Esa es la gran diferencia en tu vida, aunque no tengas las fuerzas para seguir hacia adelante, aunque no entiendas hacia donde se dirige tu vida o no entiendes cuál es la voluntad de Dios, aunque todo tu cuerpo y mente te gritan – “BASTA YA, “aunque nadie te apoye o te ayude, al contrario cual mujer de Lot te dicen– “Maldice a tu Dios y muérete.” Tienes que alzar tu cabeza y a voz en cuello dile al mundo, al pecado, hasta al mismo Diablo – “Prosigo hacia la meta, hacia la soberana vocación enCristo Jesús.” Vas a notar que fuerzas desde el cielo te van a llegar para proseguir hacia adelante. Lo más relevante es que te darás cuenta que eres más fuerte de lo que pensabas. “Jehová es la Fortaleza de mi vida…” ¿Qué clase de persona eres?: Los que se rinden o los que dicen: Aunque no tengo fuerzas, prosigo hacia la meta…El resto es historia….DTB. 

Rahab, the (gasp) prostitute, Just Believed Robert Ochoa

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were unbelieving.” From Hebrews 11:30-31

Rahab has always fascinated me in the Bible. Rahab, the (gasp) prostitute, who for her daring deeds and courageous faith, was able to save her family, servants, and herself from the fall of the great city Jericho.

The story as found in Joshua, chapters 2 and 6, describes a woman who willingly put her life on the line to save two Israelite spies to insure the safety of her parents, siblings, and other household members because somehow she just believed in God. By sealing the deal of a tied scarlet (red) cord at her window, her family was saved and went on to live among the Israelites.

In the Gospel of St Matthew of the Christian Testament, Rahab is thought to be the mother of Boaz, the husband of Ruth (of Ruth and Naomi) in the genealogy of Jesus.

What makes the Bible a living inspiration, are the countless of faithful people who were looked down upon and even jeered, used by God, because they just believed, to demonstrate the Grace of God’s Love for all, no matter our skin color, ethnic heritage, faith affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identification, physical and mental abilities, and age, to name a few.

For by “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”(Hebrews 11:1) even if we are looked down upon as prostitutes.

Yo Soy Latino – Yo Soy UCC!

Prayer: Dearest God, even when there are those that may mark me as “scarlet”, I shall hold firm to my faith and belief in YOU through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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With great power, comes great responsibility…and Accountability! Elivette (Elly) Mendez Angulo

“And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” from Luke 12: 42-48 (Matthew 24: 45-51)

Peter Parker was bitten by a radio-active spider, his life changed. From being a studious young man who avoided trouble, he changed to a person who welcomed the fight. His Uncle Ben, reminded him that “with great power comes great responsibility!” That message changed his life…he realized his new super powers were to be used responsibly. He had a responsibility to use them for good.

But there is something missing in that equation. Peter Parker did not have a mentor, or a leader to teach him to use his gifts wisely. Uncle Ben was the only one to recognize the need to be a responsible steward of that gift, but he died. The radio-active spider never spoke or educated him, so poor Peter Parker had no one to call him out, no one to hold him accountable. We don’t have that issue. In Luke 12:48b, the Lord says, that for “every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required. Accountability!

Our gifts come from a loving God that has our names and stories tattooed in the palm of his/her hand. Those gifts that God gave us, they are meant to be share, and God will hold us accountable for them. Sometimes we forget that those little things we have going for ourselves, those hidden talents are gifts from God. We choose how and when to use them, but they were gifted to us for a reason.

Imagine what our church, our UCC, would look like if rather than hiding those talents at home in our local church, or in our immediate community we dared to share them with the wider church? Just imagine the diversity of worship that could exist if when invited to contribute a dish to the next church potluck, we were to bring some rice and beans. Those gifts that we were gifted, whatever they might be, are meant to be used, they will help others see who we are, what wonderful things our God can accomplish through us!

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Accountability Luz Berrios-Taveras

“What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.” from James 3:17-18

The year 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The words spoken by Dr. King in 1963 still resonate today; I believe he called on everyone to not only be peaceful but to also be accountable.

Recently I was browsing through my Facebook account and I encountered something that struck a nerve. A Hispanic woman uploaded pictures of a day trip she took with her family. Her picture comments identified people by name, but some family members were identified in a slightly different manner. Family members of dark colored skin were identified first by the color of their skin and then by their names. As I continued to look at the pictures, I was reminded of the underlying and acquired racism that is still rampant in the Latino community. Phrases of yesteryear that were used as terms of endearment continue to perpetuate the division between Black and White within Hispanic communities today.

I hold myself accountable to refuse the perpetuating cycle of injustice in the Latino community. I will seek wisdom from above to treat my fellow brothers and sisters from other Hispanic origins with equality regardless of the color of their skin or their immigration status. I will seek to make peace and sow the seeds of justice with my peaceful acts.

We all need to be accountable to bring Dr. King’s dream to fruition.

Praise God! I’m Hispanic, I’m UCC!

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for keeping Dr. King’s dream alive but we are fully aware that much work needs to be done. Give us the strength, wisdom, and tenacity to hold ourselves accountable for our actions. Our fight for justice includes our Hispanic brothers and sisters who have no voice because of their immigration status. Remind us that we are all part of the body of Christ regardless of color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation. In your name we pray, Amen!

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