Building Houses 4 Faithful Pastors

Please, check out the "GoFundMe," addition to my FACEBOOK page. Building Homes 4 Faithful Pastors have been a part of this ministry for the past thirty years. And, we are praying for extra funds, more supplies and even asking for visitors that would like to come and help us put these houses together. If you feel led to help us with these projects, just make sure that this outreach is mentioned on the check's memo line and it is tax deductable. God Bless You and thank you for your prayers and help. You are a blessing to many and I trust that God will give back to you for everything you share with us. Amen.

More Summer Drug And Alcohol Outreaches

After visiting numerous rehabilitation centers during the past two weeks, the final report is again, fantastic! Literally hundreds of men and women, after hearing a very good and direct presentation of the Good News Of Salvation in Jesus, and watching a inspirational-testimonial movie, gave their hearts to Jesus. We will continue to visit these centers and to pray for these people and trust that the good seed will find the best place to grow and flourish in their lives. God Bless Them All! God Bless All of You, and God Bless Stephen Gould, Alex, William and David and Kelly. You are true brothers in the faith and with this ministry. You'll long be remembered and prayed for and I hope that you all return, time after time.

Our Visitors Help The Ambulance And Rescue Teaam

Jorge, the director of the ambulance and rescue service here in San Vicente, gets a needed donation from our friends, DDS. Anthony and Naomi Wong, from Southern California. This group of medical and lay-people has come to do God's work here in Mexico for more than twenty years. They are a blessing to hundreds each and every year. They do all their treatments for free, not charging anyone for the medical attention that they so graciously share in Jesus's Name among the poorest of the poor. They bless so many people and not only here in Mexico but around the world. Please, remember them in your prayers every so often, they do things that no one else is doing in these communities. They are true servan

ts of God and leave this place and everyone they meet along the way, better off than before they came. The true mark of a believer is to love not only in word, but also in deed and they most certainly do that. Amen! (Pictured with Jorge is my little helper Ashley, she loves to see the ambulance and is always joyful when she spots it in action. She knows they are there to do good.)

Still Believing In Miracles

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse and substance use disorder, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others, and is a form of substance-related disorder. That’s a lot of words, right? Widely differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical and criminal justice contexts, along with all of this, I know it’s also centered in a deep spiritual problem. Which, as I have seen, can best be helped by Christian counseling and a complete work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, mind and soul of people which are willing to ask Jesus for help. And, yes, He does come in and cleans up the worst life ever, making it a wonderful and beautiful place for Him to reside. The exact cause of substance abuse is not clear, with theories including: a genetic disposition; learned from others, or a habit which if addiction develops, manifests as a chronic debilitating disease. I will add, satan hates the human race, families, good people, spiritual progress and Christian maturity, among other things. And, does whatever he can to trap mankind in sin to keep us separated from God, hope and eternal life in Heaven. ‘Drugs’ is a term that includes alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, methaqualone, cannabis and opioids. In many cases criminal or anti-social behavior, even satanic acts and rituals can occur when the person is under the influence of a drug. Long term drug abuse can produce drastic and violent personality changes in individuals as well. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, use of some drugs may also lead to over-dose and death.

Substance abuse in the USA and Mexico is widespread with estimated millions of users of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and other synthetic drugs. In 2013 drug use disorders resulted in 127,000 deaths up from 53,000 in 1990. The highest number of deaths are from opioid use disorders at 51,000. Cocaine use disorder resulted in 4,300 deaths and amphetamine use disorder resulted in 3,800 deaths. Alcohol use disorders resulted in an additional 139,000 deaths. This is such a shame when addiction, abuse and drug related deaths are really avoidable. At this mission base we preach and teach life in Jesus. Why do we reach out to drug addicts and alcoholics? Our motivation is Christ’s love for the lost. New life in Jesus is the point. This life comes from God through Jesus. Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself,” John 5:26. As Jesus said later, “I am the resurrection and the life,” John 11:25. He has this life in Him from the Father and He is this life. And Jesus came to share this new life with others; with us. As He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” John 10:10. Notice He came not to give us just a taste or a little bit of life but He wants us to have this new life in great abundance. Any time you visit with us at Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission and would like to join us in our drug and alcohol ministry, you are always invited to come along with us. Your presence, prayers and participation would be a real blessing to us and those serve and reach through this ministry. "A new heart also will I give you [or, create for you], and a new spirit will I put within you [or, create within you]: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and CAUSE you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall KEEP My Judgments, and DO them. Without Me ye can do nothing," Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 15:5.

Local Ambulance And Rescue Team Needs

This volunteer team has attended to just short of 400 hundred accidents, fires and medical emergencies in the past ten years. Thanks for your help, prayers and supplies. This needs list can be translated to English, just ask me and I will send that version to you.

East meets West meets South and Arizona, too! May 2015

God Bless all the visitors that come to Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission and that work in various communities and with other pastors. It is our delight and pleasure to have you help in this area of Mexico. Your work is valuable and such a blessing to so many. You are all part of the miracle.

Street Eating: To Do Or Not To Do

Some people are confused about eating on the streets in Mexico and I can understand that. The government says not to do it. They don’t advertise reasons telling one how to detect good places from bad, or any other thing; they just tell us not to do it, flat out. But, I will say this, some times I’ve have been happy to have eaten where I did and other times, much less than happy. One can get amoebas, bacteria and even food poisoning from poor kept, prepared or served foods. But, you probably wouldn’t eat in a place that looks that dirty, I would hope. I’ve seen how one place cut the meats, and then the cheese with the same knife, only wiping it off with dirty towel between cutting the meat and cutting the cheese. Also, if the stand you are going to eat at has no running water, it’s not the place to for you to chow-down. If the mayonnaise and condiments are kept at high outdoor temperatures; that’s also a sign that you should move on to a different food stand. Take note, if there is not a restroom at the vendor’s spot, don’t stop to eat there. If the place is busy with lots of people, looks clean, has lots of napkins and the sellers look presentable and have their permits readily visible, then you’ve probably found a safe place to get a quick taco, burrito or quesadilla. Just keep your eyes opened. And, don’t settle for something you don’t really want to eat. Nowadays there are lots of one-stop-quickie-type markets that sell fast food at a very low price. Plus, most of them have all facilities you would likely find in any indoor restaurant. But, again, remember that the Mexican government says, don’t eat in the streets. They seem to know what they are talking about. Buyer, please beware.

Christians: Going To Church Is Important

Fellowship: Human beings are, by creation and nature, social creatures. No one lives absolutely isolated from everyone else. Interaction with other people is indispensable for our mental health and civic wellbeing. Even though fellowship with others might be difficult, still it is necessary for us as humans and even more so as Christians. Here are some verses that have taught me to seek fellowship for myself and to provide it for others. We need each other, plain and simple. As a pastor, I care for my congregation and I try to show each and every person in the fellowship that they are important to me. I want them to be well-taught, to be instructed in righteousness and to be prepared for all good works. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--- and all the more as you see the Day approaching," Hebrews 10:24-25. "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved," Acts 2:46-47. Spiritual battles are going on all around us. We often find ourselves in the thick of it. So, please pray for us in Mexico and for all the people to whom Rancho Santa Fe and El Camino Agape seek to minister to. The battle is too big for us alone, the enemy is too evil. We need your help, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,” James 5:16b. But thankfully the battle belongs to the Lord and He will obtain the ultimate victory! 2nd Chronicles 20:15; Psalm 60:12. Most of all we need the help of the Lord, Psalm 20:7. We really appreciate your fellowship in prayer, interceding for us makes a positive difference. Alabado sea nuestro Dios. May our God be praised!

The Pinata Is So Much More Than Just Fun

The Moral Of The Piñata

The original piñata was a decorated clay pot, called a canter way-back-when. Which, in times past, represented the devil, who often changes himself to an angel of light, a mask, 2 Corinthians 11:14, “And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,” to entice humanity. The first piñatas looked something like an early space vehicle, like Sputnik, with seven points, each with flashy ribbons. These points or cones represented the seven deadly sins, greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and lust. Painted beautiful and bright, with flashy decorations, the piñata was indeed tempting. The candies and fruits placed inside represented the many temptations of wealth and earthly pleasures. With all of this, the piñata reflected various theological virtues in the religious instruction of both adults and children. The blindfolded batter represents the foremost force in confronting evil, which is faith, Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” The people congregated near the contestant twirled him or her around to confuse the sense of direction and space. Life often leaves us reeling. Sometimes the spins numbered thirty three in memory of the life of Christ. Other times, 39 revolution like the stripes Jesus suffered before going to the cross. The voices of others cry out guidance: ¡Más arriba! Higher! ¡Abajo! Lower! ¡Enfrente! In front! (Some call out false directions to further disorient the hitter.) The piñata served as a symbol of Hope. Psalm 147:11, “The Lord delights in those who fear Him: Who put their hope in His unfailing Love.” With the piñata hanging above their heads, people watched towards the sky or heaven yearning and waiting for the prize. The stick for breaking the piñata symbolized virtue, as only good can overcome evil. Once broken, the candies and fruits represented the just reward for keeping faith. The piñata embodied, Charity. With its ultimate breaking, everyone shared in the divine blessings and gifts. Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. The moral of the piñata: all are justified through faith. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Asking For Help

It is really hard to ask someone to commit to building a house for a pastor in Mexico that they don’t know. And, I have never done that. But, over the years, as funds have come in, we have helped to build over 50 small concrete block or wooden houses. Each house built honestly changes the lives of the people helped by these homes. It takes up to $4,000 dollars to build a tiny new shelter using local labor. Each project creates short-term work for several people, as well as builds a new sense of community as neighborly hands truly serve each other and the Lord.

We use only Christian laborers and we construct these buildings just for church families. In this case, it’s for a pastor and his family. Juan, Ellie and Nicole, work in El Zorrillo, near Ensenada and are currently living in a little borrowed basement space. Juan was a Bible student, now graduate and has been pastor and mission helper for the past ten years. He has struggled hard to earn enough money to finish his house on his own, but to-date, he hasn’t been able to do that. I am now asking God to send laborers to pick-up a bit of the load and help him finish his house. Your prayers are certainly appreciated as I know the prayers of a righteous person can do a lot of good. James 5:16b, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Still Working On His Plan “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (perfection, godliness or Christ-likeness): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:13&14. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you,” Romans 12:3. These are only two of the many verses that I repeat in my mind anytime I think of myself as something even slightly important or useable or needed in this world…because, I am not. Everything, anything and all that I have or can do or am able to possibly achieve, is only due to God’s great and abundant grace, mercy and undying love for sinners, such as am I. Over the last 30 years of ministry, I have eagerly focused my spiritual activities on preparing myself (and hundreds of others) for the call of God in whatever way He may choose to lead me or use me. During this period of time I have had the blessing of being involved with many godly pastors; hundreds of growing and going missionaries and a multitude of visiting groups all working to help this mission to teach God’s Word. I have been blest, privileged and honored to lead this ministry, which, as anyone can see, is so much bigger than just this one man.

This is a ministry that runs on faith, hope and prayer. And, it has progressed, expanded and matured in to a ministry focused on spiritual advance, discipleship, leadership, revival, prayer, and biblical literacy. There is no mega-strategy that we are working from, except this: Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The main area of emphasis is in getting people to accept Jesus, to walk with the Lord and to live out their lives in sincere service the Risen Savior. Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.” 1 John 5:11&12, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” Thank You All for joining me on this fantastic journey in to the Lord’s Harvest. There is no other thing I would like to be doing. This is just great. Sure, it’s not always high-hilarity and pure fun but even at that, it’s a great thing to be involved in.

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.” God Bless You for being wise!

Blessing The Children In Jesus' Name

In Mexico, kids love to have piñatas at their birthday parties. A piñata is usually made out of paper mache, or cardboard, with bright and colorful decorations, usually in the form of an animal or some popular cartoon character, like Mickey Mouse or Frozen. It is filled with goodies and even fruits and small toys then hung from some place high, like a tree branch. The birthday child is blindfolded first and hits the piñata three times, and then the other invited children also have a turn or two at hitting the piñata until it is cracked open and all the goodies fall out. Then all the children rush in to get a share the goodies. In Mexico, Catholic children often go to church for the first of their two celebrations. The first one is quiet and is for your particular saint, often children are named after their saint. On this day you attend church and a priest blesses you. Then you go home to have the second celebration that includes relatives and close family friends and school mates. Which is the real birthday fiesta we mostly know in the USA.

At Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission and in our church, El Camino Agape de San Vicente, we do not observe any saint’s day celebrations. There is no biblical base for us to do so. Las Mañanitas is a traditional Mexican song that is often sung on birthdays and other important holidays. It is often sung as an early morning serenade to wake up a loved one. At birthday parties it is usually sung before the cake is cut. It is a long-standing traditional song which almost everybody knows, only at most Mexican parties only the first two verses are sung. Within our church, at Rancho Santa Fe and with our Bible students, we try to make every birthday celebration a real event, as much as we can, finances allowing. Again, without our help, working among very poor people, most children would not have much of a special day if we could not assist them in making the day unique. And, whenever possible, we combine several birthdays to help us save money and to encourage fellowship among the students and the children. Often, our congregation and students don’t have personal transportation and couldn’t organize a full fiesta on their own. Your help makes these days very distinctive and a real and true blessing for these little children and their families. As we help build up family relationships and friendly ones, we help to build up the family of God. When you do good works, you spread the Gospel. Or, if you like, when you do good works, you do the Gospel. Amen. Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 9:37, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”

Summer Ministry With One-By-One Ministries

Here I am in Colonet in July, 2014, with Stephen Gould, his team, and some of the men that reside at the facility. We, as in years past, were taking the Good News to the men in treatment. It was a wonderful day and about 40 men gave their lives to the Lord. Stephen and his team shared hamburgers and a Christian movie and Scriptures with the residents. As usual, it was a joy to be there. God surely blest all of our efforts.

During Stephen's summer visits, we go to centers that treat both men and women. And, I know this is hard to believe, but the one at the beach in Jaramillo has to changed to be almost all teen boys. Amazing, but true and sad.

Your Job Is Important

Who Has The Most Important Job In The World? Who has the most important job in the world? Well, to be quite direct, you do! Your job is even more important than what the President does. How can I say that and mean it? With your job you support and take care of your family. You buy them food, a home, health insurance and even take them on vacations. Your job, therefore, is of the utmost value to you and that makes it, without a doubt, the most important job in the world. There was this lady, with a key job, she was a church officer of some sort, possibly a deacon, perhaps a member of the board of directors or some other church official that made this one incredible statement. When I heard these words, I was in shock, I was amazed and I was really offended by her attitude. But, maybe she was right, perhaps, just a little. To tell the truth, I am not sure. I still can’t digest what she said. Nevertheless, she said that she got to decide who is going to Heaven and who is going to hell. How is that possible? She, this one authoritative religious lady, controlled the mission funds for her church. She was the go-to-person who determined where the church’s mission funds were to reach and how they were to be spent. So much startling power placed in the hands of just one person. Standing next to her, I felt weak and anemic. She was the ‘Decider,’ of all human fate, controlling the destiny of lost souls; she was a truly formidable human being, to say the least. You see, even though she was called to do some central work at her church, she was not, after all, such a weighty person. The person at the other end of the story, the missionary, was actually the person doing the real soul-saving work. It was he, or she, that had forsaken so much to share the Word of God with some lost and lonely souls in some far-off land. The person on the front-line is that special kind of person that responded to the call of God on their lives and perhaps learned a different language, customs and culture to be able to properly extend the Good News of God’s Love to people that this church lady would never, ever see. “Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest,” Matthew 9:38. And, was this money actually her capital, funds that this particular lady had supplied, no, it wasn’t. She just managed the donations of others and sent them out and most likely, didn’t suffer any loss for all the work she did at her church. Now, her work is still good, because, it really does take a team to make a mission happen; it is never just the work of one simple soul. A true missionary knows that they work for their supporters, their church and above all, for the Lord. We extend God’s Kingdom by all humbly working together. You see, missions are part of God’s plan of salvation. Mark 16:25, “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” He asked us to go, He asked us to pray for our missionaries and it seems that He asks people to support their missionaries. "For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:13-15. This powerful lady at this big church, well, God Bless Her. Yet, God Bless the Mission Supporters, too, and all those that pray, and everyone that sends or brings a gift and God Bless all those that are out there on the mission field, helping to save souls and representing all of these other fine folks that make up all the many parts of the other most important job in the world, Soul Saving. Without this team of champions, there would be no missionaries and without missionaries, God’s plan of salvation through missions, would be frustrated more than one might think. No one is a Superhero in the saving grace department, except Jesus. Because, that word isn’t even intellectual enough to explain what Jesus did for us. 2nd Corinthians 5:19, “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” How He took back what was rightfully His. Nor does it have the potential to express the intense Love of God that was working through Jesus, which now works through churches, organizations, individuals and missionaries. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It really takes a whole church to run a mission. The most important Job in all the world, apart from yours, is saving souls and we all should, could and had better take a part in this work because it really is our Father’s Business. Amen. 1st Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (emphasis mine) Luke 2:49, “And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?” (emphasis mine) Here in Mexico, everything we do at this mission base is to serve God. I realize that we all are His hands and feet; we are all His tongue, spreading His words and His love. God Bless You All & Thank You, again and again, for your generosity and support!

Join With Us In Prayer

Rancho Santa Fe Mexico Mission Prayer List June 2014 1. The need for extra visitors is always important to our work here in Mexico. We actually love to share the work here with as many people as we can. We covet your prayers and welcome you to come for a weekend, a week or even longer. We now have a much larger water supply and we always have more than enough for everyone to do. I can assure you that all of your help is more treasured than you might know. Acts 16:14-15 2. The rain has been less than we would have hoped for this year. A lot fell in the late fall and after that, very little has come down. Hundreds of thousands of camp workers depend on the rain to have a job. Also, if the dry weather continues, prices will go up in the stores as they will be selling fewer products for more money to make up the difference. Please, pray for rain, we so desperately need it. May God Bless Your Prayers. Job 5:10 3. The new governor or Baja California has raised taxes beyond what anyone guessed he might. And, many are calling for reform and asking that something be done to lower them but, to date, nothing has made a difference. It seems that some are presenting real, tangible and workable programs to reduce the prices of gasoline, electricity and groceries, but these ideas are falling silently to the floor. Mexicans don’t earn enough money to make ends meet as it is, please, go before the Lord on behalf of these people. Proverbs 11:14 4. The people reached through this ministry value every bit of help that comes to them through the gifts that you share with Rancho Santa Fe. Unlike many missions or foreign-based ministries, we don’t charge a cent for what we give to the needy. Nor, do we demand that they only come to our church if they want our help. I never saw where Jesus asked anybody their church affiliation before doing a miracle in their lives. I can’t do that. But, please know, that all you share makes a real and solid change in the lives of some poor and disadvantaged people. Psalm 82:3-4 5. Please, keep our mission improvement and construction projects in your prayers. We have always tried to make improvements that are timely, low-cost and necessary. The idea is that you deserve a nice and safe place to stay while you serve the Lord with us. So, all that we do, is done first to bless the Lord and then to show our thankfulness for all that you do for the mission and its outreaches. You are a real and honest and needed blessing. Amen! Psalm 127:1 6. Have any extra construction tools lying around your garage, barn or property? If you don’t have a need for something, we probably do. And, if not here, we do pass things along to others here in San Vicente, Ensenada or farther down the road. We want to bless not to hoard. Hebrews 13:16 7. We are wondering if we will have a Summer Bible School program this year. We have not had any offers of help from the north but will do what we can do to make sure that our kids get a summer session of Bible lessons and activities. If you can’t come to help, we would still love to have your prayers. We are looking at the middle of July for the start date. It will run for five days. Thanks for helping us with your prayers, they are always needed. Luke 18:16 “The Poor Have The Gospel Preached To Them,” Matthew 11:5 God can't resist the prayers of a the humble and poor in spirit. He is the God of YES! "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." Second Corinthians 1:20

Mexico Learns To Love Israel

Mexico is not an anti-Semitic nation, and for the most part, at least in Christian circles, there is a growing appreciation and developing brotherhood for all things historically Jewish among the faithful. Probably the main reason for this is the freedom of religion act that started in 1993 and the reality that many foreign missionaries have come to share the Jewish side of Jesus and more detailed information about the lives of the early believers with their congregations. Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Trust me, many Mexicans are learning to love Israel not for the blessings that follow the promise, but simply because it’s the right thing to do. They are, after all, God’s Chosen People. Be that as it may, in this one case, and it’s not isolated, a Mexican man decided to make an anti-Semitic website, he then got the Mexican officials to give it a green rating, despite obvious racism and anti-Semitism. I won’t show you the page or tell where to find it, but as one surfs the site and sees all the anti-Jewish stuff written all over the page in Spanish, you can see the man has built an openly racist site. Of course, everyone knows that anti-Semitism isn’t only found in Mexico, hardly! Racism and racial purity movements can be found in every country on earth. For that sickening and sad statistic, I am personally sorry and so ashamed. I know people have asked me, “Where was God during the Holocaust?” And, my questioning answer is, “Where were all the human beings during the Holocaust?” Back in November 27, 2012, in Mexico City, Jacqueline Hoist, the President of the Council to Prevent Discrimination in Mexico City, said that 35,000 messages were posted on Twitter that where against the Mexican Jewish community. Said Hoist, "There is a call to hatred against the Jewish community that affects coexistence and creates a perception of fear, it creates bad behavior. It’s true that a large series of disgraceful electronic assaults against members of the Jewish Community in Mexico occurred via Twitter. Just like the rest of the Jewish-Zionist garbage, it poisons the consciousness of the Mexican people and therefore should disappear." Even as good as Jacqueline Hoist’s words are, the Chiapas Herald takes an uncritical view of a local festival where they celebrate the burning of Judas and other Jews, reporting that as far as it concerns Mexicans, this anti-Jewish display, “fosters unity and respect,” and “purifies the soul.” All Christians have a duty to love the Jewish people for their donations that gave beginnings to the Christian faith. Jesus Christ was an outstanding Rabbi from Nazareth and He said, "Salvation is of the Jews!" John 4:22 We should carefully consider what the Jewish people have imparted to Christianity: The Sacred Scripture, The Law, The Golden Rule, The Prophets, The Patriarchs, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth, The Twelve Disciples, The Apostles, ETC. It is impossible to say, "I am a Christian," and not love the Jewish people. The Bible teaches that love is not what you say, but what you do, 1 John 3:18

. In life we know that a bell is not a bell until you ring it, a song is not a song until you sing it, and love is not love until you share it. While some Christians try to deny the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the Jews of the world, Jesus never denied His Jewishness. He was born Jewish, He was circumcised on the eighth day in keeping with Jewish tradition, He had his Bar Mitzvah on his 13th birthday, He kept the law of Moses, He wore the Prayer Shawl Moses commanded all Jewish men to wear, He died on a cross with an inscription over His head, "King of the Jews!” Jesus considered the Jewish people His family. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (the Jewish people), ye have done it unto me.” Part of any missionary or outreach pastor’s job is to biblically teach about the relationship that exists between Christians and Jews. And, I certainly do that and so do my students. And, we promote love, relationship and connection with our Jewish friends, even with those living in Mexico. This flyer is still posted on a wall near the beach in Ensenada and it’s a bit confusing as an X crossing the photo might mean, ‘no, not a good thing to do.’ But, it can also mean, ‘yes, a good thing to do.’ When people go to vote in Mexico they must draw an ‘X’ over the candidate of their choice. I hope that in this case it means, ‘no, not a good thing to do!’

Happy Mother’s Day, 2014 On this tiny planet, on this very ordinary human plane, apart from Jesus, God’s only Son, our Mothers are one of, if not, the most valuable gifts that God has given to us. They should be treasured as much as is refined gold and pure silver. Mothers are most often the ones who not only cultivate the good in their children, but they also love each of them unreservedly. Mothers are teachers of kindheartedness, tenderness and pluckiness. It’s been said that a woman, when she becomes a mother, becomes complete in heart, mind and purpose. She shines in this role and works hard at becoming a real, true and living heroine and at being a life-builder as she does her best to serve her children with such a deep and real love that she would willingly lay down her life to save her children from harm. Mothers are amazing. Mothers keep infants alive, they sacrificially care for them, gently cuddle them, bathe and change them and then mold them into little boys and girls that would die without her tender and continuous care. In the Scriptures, there are ample citations, in which mothers are regarded as the matchless individuals. Genesis 3:20, “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” Leviticus 19:3, "Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God." Isaiah 66:13

, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." A giant and powerful Happy Mother's Day, to all my family and friends that are mothers or that still have their mothers living around them. Mine is in Heaven and I know that she is doing just fine. I do miss her. I hope to see her again and to honor and worship the God that gave me to her. He knew what He was doing. I pray for all the Mothers, God’s Best and Richest Blessings to all who are reading this message. Please, know this, you are blessings sent from God to a needy and nearly dead earth. You bring much happiness to the world. Your work here on earth is extremely valuable. And, I mean that. Amen. "Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." Author Unknown "The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." Henry Ward Beecher "A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them." Victor Hugo

Happy Resurrection Day, 2104

Easter is another moment of our year, our lives, that offers us a beautiful occasion to once again consider the Life of Christ and everything that He did for us. The Day asks us to think about what it all means, to me, to you, to each and every believer on the face of the Earth. Contemplating the Life of Jesus is something that we should do on a regular basis, and not just on Easter Sunday. In Luke 22:19, Jesus asks us to remember Him, “And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Perhaps at this moment in time, we casually or passingly think of the Agony of the Garden that He suffered the night before he died. That’s when Jesus asked His disciples to spend some time in prayer with Him, while He talked with His Father, but they got tired and fell asleep, like a lot of us do. Jesus then asked them, “Could you not spend an hour with me?” Matthew 26:40. Well, they couldn’t and, usually, we don’t, either. Easter denotes an opening for me as a pastor to remind the congregation and certainly all those around me of the violent and severe price that Jesus paid in order for us to profit from the breathtaking relationship that we have in God because of His torture, death and resurrection. In my heart, mind and soul, lives a burning passion that forces me to want to live my life in a way that contemplates, emulates and shares the Good News about the Love of God that was in Christ, reconciling the world to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19, “That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Romans 11:15, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” Easter helps me value Christ’s guidance. Jesus was very much a leader of the people. He loved people profoundly, sincerely and intensely, Jesus got involved with every aspect of their lives. 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love.” He ate with them, drank with them, laughed with them and cried with them. He was compassionate. He provided for their needs, He healed the sick and cheered the lonely, lifted up the downtrodden and even revived the dead. He literally touched people with contagious leprosy and allowed a woman of the night to anoint his feet in public. He wasn’t anxious with what the people thought about Him, and as a pastor, or believer, like Jesus, we shouldn’t worry about this, either. His chief concern was doing what was commanded of Him by His Heavenly Father. He introduced Himself as He was and made no apologies for it. God loves us all, just as we are, without one plea. Jesus proved that, Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus wasn’t proud or haughty, He was just a man who knew who He was and stood by what He believed. So should we. Jesus wasn’t one to twiddle His thumbs, He was a worker. As early as twelve years old His panic-stricken parents who had been searching for Him, found Him in the temple listening to and questioning the educated teachers of His day. He asked the religious elders questions, He challenged the thought process of the spiritual leaders. Luke 2:49, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Fathers business?” Jesus always stands up for those who are defenseless. The death of Christ purchased us freedom from guilt and sin and hell. Now we are free to be salt and light in a sick and dying world. His birth, life, death and resurrection should mean everything to everyone on this planet, every day of the year. It is also living proof that He will return and that I will have to give Him an account for how I have lived out His Gift of Love to me. Our impacting the world for Jesus is not an option; it’s the ultimate burden and calling for each and every pastor and true believer in Jesus. Happy Resurrection Day, to one and all!

My Good Friday Message, 2014

Today is a very special day on the Christian calendar of spiritual events, known as, Good Friday. Some people call this day, "Holy Friday." It’s the Friday directly before Easter Sunday. It is generally celebrated as the day on which Jesus was executed. The Bible does not plainly state on which day of the week Jesus was tortured and crucified. The two most commonly held understandings are Friday and Wednesday. Some scholars, however, using an amalgamation of both the Friday and Wednesday arguments, maintain that Thursday was the day. Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Furthermore, Mark 8:31, says that Jesus will be raised “after” three days. In the massive arrangement of things, it is not all that imperative to know which day of the week Jesus was actually crucified. If it were all that crucial, then God's Word would have clearly revealed the exact day and framework. What is central is that He did die and that He materially and corporally rose from the dead. What is likewise essential is the purpose for which He died, to take the punishment that all sinners warrant. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” and in 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Both verses proclaim that by placing your faith and trust in Him, results in eternal life. This is a truth that equally rings genuine whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“ Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Here’s an interesting question, believing that Jesus was crucified and died on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, should Christians remember Jesus' death by celebrating Good Friday? The Bible itself doesn’t command that Christians remember Christ’s death by honoring any selected day. Yet, the Word of God does give us freedom in certain matters, such as these. Romans 14:5, tells us, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Even though the Bible doesn’t instruct believers to remember Christ's death on a certain day, once a year, like on Good or Holy Friday, the Bible does charges us to remember Christ’s death by observing the Lord’s Supper. First Corinthians 11:24-26, announces, “Do this in remembrance of me, for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” Let us be quick to remember that any ceremony, observance or celebration is up to the individual believer, we are not to judge what a man or woman chooses to observe and what they choose not to remember. They, according to God’s Word, have the right to select to observe or not. It’s truly up to the individual’s heart, mind and soul. Colossians 2:16, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days.” Here’s another attention-grabbing question, why is Good Friday referred to as, “good?” What the Jewish agencies and Romans did to Jesus was undeniably not good, (Read Matthew chapters 26-27). Nevertheless, the outcome of Christ’s death was extremely good and positive! Romans 5:8, encouragingly relates, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” First Peter 3:18, happily tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” Many denominational churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually at sunset, in which Christ’s death is considered with ceremonial hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, and an appropriate message focused on Christ’s anguish for our sakes, often ending with the execution of the Lord's Supper. Whether or not Christians should choose to “celebrate” Good Friday is up to them, but the events of that day should be on our minds every day of the year because the death of Christ on the cross is the highest and most paramount of events and practices within the Christian faith. Matthew 16:21, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Acts 2:24, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Matthew 28:6, “The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” AMEN!

Happy Holy Week, 2014

Happy and Blessed Palm Sunday! Today my message is about the "Triumphal Entry," of Jesus into Jerusalem, just one week before His death and resurrection as told in Matthew 21:1-11. About 500 years before that, the Prophet Zechariah stated, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey." A lot of the people I work with here in Mexico, know a thing or two about donkeys.) Zechariah 9:9 foretells, and Matthew 21:7-9, reveals the fulfillment of that prophecy: "They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down (palm) branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!’” Since this entry took place seven days before Jesus was crucified, it sets the stage for talking about the roadway to our hearts and souls, have we prepared the way so the King to come in? Here's a little story, not my creation, that I use and it's a joke, it's not a true story: This certain man died and went to Heaven and found himself standing before the Pearly Gates where Saint Peter asked him, 'What have you done in your life? Tell me the good things you've done, as each good act has a point value attached to it. You need to reach one thousand points before the gates will open.' So, the man thought for a moment and said, well, 'I've been married to the same woman for 50 years. I never ever cheated on her, not even in my heart.' And, Saint Peter replied, 'Well that is very good and it's worth three points.' The man was surprised at that answer, 'Only three points,' he said. 'Well, I went to Skid Row and opened a Soup Kitchen there to feed the bums and homeless people.' 'Okay,' said Saint Peter, 'that's wonderful and it's worth two points.' At hearing that, the man, frustrated and sorry cried out, 'Seems to me that the only way I can get in to Heaven is by the Grace of God!' At that, the Pearly Gates opened wide and Saint Peter smiled and told the man, 'That's worth a thousand points, come on in!' In remembrance of Palm Sunday, some churches cut palm brfanches and decorate the church with them, some even cover the floor with them. I don't. I don't see the need as I hate religious actions that really don't solve anybody's problems of faith. On a deeper side, Palm Sunday was the fulfillment of the Prophet Daniel's "Seventy Sevens," prophecy: "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times," Daniel 9:25. It seems everyone knew Jesus was coming, it's in the Old Testament, but the majority of Israel missed the message. John 1:11, tells us, "He (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." How fickle we are, as the same crowds that were crying out, "Hosanna," were crying out, "crucify Him," only five days later, Matthew 27:22-23. It breaks my heart when I read those verses. I feel so sad for Jesus and for those that choose to reject the Lord's Love, Grace and Mercy, and His Salvation. What a shame. To my mission friends, helpers and supporters, God Bless You All! I thank God for your kind and warmhearted and obvioius love for the Lord and His work of salvation here on earth. Each and everyone of you is a blessing and a true friend to the lost men and women and children that so need to hear, "Jesus Loves You." You make that possible. Happy Easter, Your Friend, Max (I took this photo back in 2004 in Taxco, in south Mexico. It is a very religious area of the country, where being a non-Catholic Christian, can cause you many social problems.)