Author: admin

About eighteen years ago, I purchased a collection of Rooster ceramic plates on a rusty-metal rack. They looked great! We figured the best place for them was in the dining room, so that’s where we hung them.

Often, throughout the years I’ve looked at the rusty-metal rack and have been inspired to display my western-scene bear and coyote ceramic plates, but then I hear a faint, glass-smashing sound and I just shake off the thought. Meanwhile, I have a lonely display rack begging for ceramic, make that plastic, plates to display*.

One day when I came home my wife said to me, “Honey, I’m so sorry about your plate.” When I asked what had happened, she told me she was sweeping and ‘accidentally’ hit the rack and smashed a plate. I was silent for a few seconds, then told her it was okay since I still had three more. That’s when she said, “Well, not really.” “See, I swept back & broke another one.” I was silent again thinking that at least two plates had survived the storm. As I asked to see the remaining two, I was informed she swept back and broke a third one. At that point I was really questioning how much of an ‘accident’ this really was… “Well, I asked, did anything survive?” “Yeah”, she said “The rusty-metal rack.” I asked her, “Honey, what did you do???” You must have had some kind of party accidentally sweeping back and forth again and again.” I couldn’t grasp how that could have been an accident. Usually, at the sound of breaking glass we stop, but she kept going and going and going.

Well, on a regular basis my wife will tell me to clean up or get rid of stuff. Then, for years, she’s been telling me, “It’s very frustrating for me, cause you won’t allow me to clean up for you.” Are you kidding?!! If that was an accident back then, I can only imagine what intentional looks like!!! Graciously, I tell her I will put things away and try my darndest to do so. Of course, I inconspicuously make sure to keep brooms away from her at those times.

Now and then, most of us have had items of significance taken away, whether through an ‘accident’ caused by others or ourselves. It sometimes hurts. Sometimes, it may not have been an item but maybe a person or a job that was lost. When our dreams are shattered, no amount of glue can paste them back. Neither welding, smelting, or other means can replace what is gone. If your life is broken, smashed asunder, only Jesus can bond it back; only He can rebuild it. Only He can give us new dreams and new hopes. Only Jesus can display your life for others to see, and it doesn’t have to be on a rusty-metal rack. He’ll put your name in The Lamb’s Book Of Life (Revelation 21:27) and all of heaven will know who you are. Everyone around you here on earth will know you were once broken but now are whole; made new.

Last Sunday, June 30^th, marked our 24^th year on ‘Paradise’ island; otherwise known as the “Island of Enchantment.”  Just before leaving our native New York, a word from the Lord came forth at our church through our pastor’s wife.  The word had to do with plenty of storms and contrary winds that would shake up a lot of things.  That word would be ‘right on the money’ as the saying goes.  We’ve had our share of turbulent times-and ‘it aint over yet!’

Enchantment is a way of being lulled over.  Yes, the island is beautiful and enticing with clear skies, deep blue and green waters; mountains all around, but life is awfully tough.  Despite so many advances in technology, we’re worlds away from life in the states.  Marching to a different drum, allowed us time to learn to mix cement by hand; not pre-mixed concrete but truckloads and wheelbarrow loads of gravel, sand, water, and the cement.  Like the time we mixed thirty-one 47lb. sacks for half our porch and then thirty-three more the second time around.  We learned shovels had different characteristics and purposes.  We (son and two daughters also) learned to carry cinder blocks, etc.  In fact, our oldest daughter took her newfound skills and taught them to Masai tribe members in Tanzania, Africa.  She also taught ‘machista’ teenage boys in Mexico that a girl could do the same thing they did; only better, by mixing cement right before their incredulous eyes.  Yeah man, to locals, we were the ‘Gringos’ living in the mountains.  We were The Robinson Crusoe on a quest to escape the city life; on a quest to breathe clean air; on a quest to be independent as well as survivors.

 In time we’ve come to realize this is our wilderness.  Hopefully, we won’t be here for 40 years like the Israelites were wandering in circles, though it sometimes feels that way!  But this is where God wants us.  This is our training camp.  Does that mean we’ll be in the construction business in heaven?  I don’t think so!  I’m petitioning against that right now and giving Him some suggestions!  But God teaches us and speaks to us in our daily activities.  He changes our lives and our perspectives on things.  Things we thought to be important lose some of their significance.  Must-haves become, eh-maybe someday…  As He works in us, we learn to keep our focus on Him and on His desires. We learn to consult Him for everything we do or plan.  As we’re in tune to nature-the trees and all that surrounds us, we hear His voice; not a mystical, spooky voice but in our hearts and in our spirit, we sense His direction.  Of course, you don’t have to live atop a mountain with breath-taking views or near a rainforest.  Heck, you may not even be surrounded by lush vegetation breathing in clean mountain air all day long, and God may not take you to tribes ‘outta-the-way,’ but He can and will use you right where you are.  However, if you’re an adventure-seeker, by all means, let Him know!  He’s got a plan for you!

So, we’ve had our ups and downs and have learned to do a lot of things on our own.  We’ve learned to survive and to hold on to the man Jesus, the One who told a thief, “Today, you’ll be with me in paradise.”  Someday soon we’ll be headed to heaven.  No shoveling and hopefully, no cement mixing!  As we look back at almost a quarter century of our lives here, we can definitely see God’s hand leading us, feeding us, providing for us, and shielding us from the storms.  He’s got us in the palm of His hand.  It’s the safest place to be.  Our adventures are many, and God’s in control.  How about you?  Do you need some adventure in your life?  Need a little zest?  I could suggest moving out here (Puerto Rico)!!!  But for a real adventure, seek Jesus and invite Him into your heart.  You’ll be enchanted forever.

God Bless!

Sam

Work on our balcony and deck by me

Enjoying the mountaintop view

…quickly fly the years, one season following another, laden with happiness and tears… So go the lyrics to the wonderful song of yesteryear by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. What makes the song so especially memorable is the fact that it’s true; our days seem to whiz by at record speed. On a day much like today, June 26, 1988, my dad, Abraham Cruz Sr. took his last breaths. He was 76 years old. A very serious-looking man he was. Inside, however, he was funny; always cracking jokes. He had a big heart, couldn’t bare to see someone going through a tough time. Couldn’t stand to see someone go without food, clothing, or basic home necessities without doing something to help the person out.

On his dying bed, he had been in a coma for several days before I arrived with my youngest brother, Nelson. Our flight there was most interesting: We knew our dad needed to give his heart to Jesus. We prayed a lot on our way there. To begin with, after being dropped off at the airport we learned it was the wrong terminal or something like that. I know we had to drag our suitcases over grass and climb over fences just to reach the right place on time for our flight.

Shortly after takeoff, I noticed on the small TV screen behind the seat in front of me that the mileage was decreasing, meaning we were returning to the airport. An engine had died. While we waited for an hour, then two, then four, then six and all throughout the flight, there were two men, drunk beyond sense, who kept cracking jokes about the plane going straight down into the waters and how they could see the sharks just waiting to feast on us! They definitely did not help anyone on board!

Hardships aside, we landed in Puerto Rico at 3:45 a.m. and went straight to see our dad. We were told that as soon as we walked into the room and he heard our voices, he came out of the coma. We didn’t know he’d been in one, much less that he was being fed through tubes. He called our names. We spoke together, he removed all his tubes, and we even fed him. While I prayed for him, Nelson led him through the sinner’s prayer to repentance. He shed tears as he asked God for forgiveness and into his heart! Days later, he was gone.

Last week and 31 years later, our oldest brother, Abraham Jr. passed away after having been in a coma for several days. He was 77 years old. Like his dad, Jr. was also serious-looking on the outside, funny on the inside, and a very caring person. Family always came first for him. He did what he could to keep them close at bay. Unfortunately, as the song above goes, our sunrises quickly turn to sunsets. Jr., a weightlifter in his youth, now laid aside every weight as he took his final breath on June 18.

Scripture tells us in James 4:14 b “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes.” Regardless of whether we’re a boxer, a weightlifter, of even the fastest runner on earth, our lives are at best, a dash, a sprint; a short step to the finish line and then we’re off to eternity.

Fortunately, Jesus is the only person to go beyond that finish line and returned to tell us about it. When you reach your final race, when you take your last puffs of air, if Jesus is your savior, He’ll be at the other side with rewards to bestow upon you ( Revelations 22:12 tells us: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”).

While both Abrahams are gone, we’ll always treasure their memories, their stories, their joys of life, their challenges and their triumphs as well as their characters in our hearts. Before your last vapor, before you fall into a coma or how ever you may go, you may want to invite Him into your heart. Reap rewards in heaven for your work for Him on earth. Today is your best bet. Go for it. God Bless You.

Both Abrahams shared a special corner for their granddaughters:

Abraham Sr. with my daughters

Abraham Jr. with his granddaughters

Not all of us have had fathers matching those on sitcom shows where we ended up with an ice cream or a Life Saver candy after messing up an event or flunking a class, etc.  We may not have always received a pat on the back as an act of confirmation; maybe a pat across somewhere else, if you know what I mean. Relating to our earthly dads can sometimes be difficult. As a result, understanding our heavenly Father can be a hang-up or a challenge for many of us since the closest to Him might be, or have been, an abusive dad or someone who fell short of our definition (or God’s, for that matter) of what a loving dad ought to be. 

    Granted, not all dads fall short of loving their kids. They don’t all break their promises.  It’s a fact that being a loving and caring father requires lots of work, dedication, planning, and love. There are many kids out there growing up without a dad; without a male figure to relate to; without a friend with whom they can go camping with, fish with, shoot some baskets with, talk about life issues with, or wrestle across the floor with.

Back in New York, I once read about some famous man who gave his son the best gift he could afford to give: he dedicated something like one hour a day to spending time with him.  I remember thinking I’d go nuts if I gave an hour a day, each day to each of my three kids!  I decided to modify that.  Once a week, I’d give each child thirty minutes.  We’d begin with a prayer, discuss bible teachings, cover school/home situations, and then we’d wrestle!  We would have lots of fun rolling all over the floor, bopping each other over the head with pillows, etc. As the kids grew, we’d play basketball outside.  Then came boyfriends and what to do in the future. We’d have lots of family meetings where we’d agree to change the way things were done or how to improve things. The bottom line was that the kids knew their father was always present in their lives.  He took time to get to know their joys and hurts. This dad was an integral part of his kids’ lives.

Only you know where you are right now in life.  Only you know the joys and/or hardships of having had or not having had a father in your life.  You might be someone’s Lil’ boy or some dad’s Lil’ girl. It might be that’s it’s been a while since you last saw or spoke to him. Maybe you burned all those bridges behind you years ago and have never looked back.  Deep, deep inside, you’re still his little child.  He still yearns to hold you close.  I know every time I see my son, my 38 yr old son, I hug him and kiss him on the cheek.  He’s still that little boy in a crib playing hide-&-go-seek.  Despite of all types of hardships, family relationships are most important in my life. 

This morning at 5:28 a.m. our youngest daughter called me from Jerusalem to wish me a happy Father’s Day.  That was nice. Back in our wrestling days, she was the one beating the daylights out of me.  Glad she wasn’t close enough to whack me out today at age 35!  But that’s life.  Reach out to your father if possible.  Forgive him if that’s what’s needed. Let him know he’s appreciated. Love him.  If he’s long-gone, honor his memory.  Think of your heavenly Father and how He’s always there holding you in His arms in the spiritual realm.  He longs to hear your stories.  He longs to know what things you wrestle with. He makes himself available to you not for thirty minutes, but all the time you need.

 This afternoon my wife shared with me how at age 14 she wished she had a dad.  Her sisters had one, but hers had left a long time ago.  As she cried out to God wanting to know why she didn’t have one like they did, she felt Him embrace her and tell her, “I am your dad.”  Tears swelled in her eyes back then just like they did today decades later, recalling His embrace, His care, His tender mercies towards her, and His commitment to staying by her side all these years. Our heavenly Father makes no distinction of persons. He loves us all the same and gave His Son Jesus to lay His life for us that we may be called children of God.  Happy Father’s Day!

     Wafts of hot dogs, burgers, chicken, steaks, and other yummies fill the air in neighborhood after neighborhood throughout our cities, country-sides, mountain tops, beaches, and everywhere we can gather to honor and remember those who gave their lives defending our country.  Whether male or female, rich, poor, or a regular average Joe, this a day to pay our respects to them all. Yes, we may go ‘all out’ in our get-togethers, parties, or gatherings eating and sharing stories, but deep in the hearts of most Americans, we acknowledge the great price paid for our freedom by those we knew or have heard of.

   Some of our boys returned home in great shape, some injured, some with medals of honor and courage while others only with medals of stress, tension, fear, valiant stories as well tales of horror which no one but those who experienced them could know. The term “War is hell” was a common one in the 1960’s from those who battled in Viet Nam.

      Two centuries ago, a man lived and died a brutal death. Instead of hundreds of thousands of men dying for peace and freedom, only one man died hundreds of thousands of deaths (all at once) for all humanity. He suffered and experienced what every human who ever lived and will live was guilty of.  He fought your battles and mine.  He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, and the punishment of our sins was laid upon Him, and with His stripes/wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:6). 

    Even hundreds of years before His birth, God had instructed His people Israel to honor Him by holding special memorial days to reflect on God, His goodness, and His faithfulness.

In Exodus 12:14, God writes: “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.”  God instructed His people to follow a mandate that foreshadowed the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.  Following it proved their belief in Him and in His word.  Striking the blood of a perfect lamb on their homes’ two side doorposts and on the upper lintel spoke of Christ, the perfect lamb’s shed blood for all humanity. Today, make time to honor not only the men and women who spilled their blood and laid their lives for our freedom, but honor and remember Jesus who shed His blood and laid His life for all humanity.  He did so for His undeserved creation: We punished Him and nailed Him to a cross.  He returned from the toughest war ever: The War for the Souls of Men to share His story of triumph over sin, sickness, Satan, and over death.  In fact, while many cried that war is hell, Jesus actually descended into it; to the pit of darkness and stripped Satan of his power.  He holds the keys of life and death (Revelations 1:18. He made a spectacle of Satan and his fallen angels. Today He holds the highest medals of honor any man can ever aspire to: The Son of God, The Almighty, The Lamb of God (who takes away the sins of the world), and The Great I Am, among hundreds of others.  So, eat and celebrate. Read His story.  Share His story around the grill, around the campfire.

Love expresses itself in many ways.  Generally, we love our kids and our spouse and we share good times as well as trying times.  We might play games, sports, watch movies, and sometimes work on projects together.  In our case, we built a home together.  With three kids under age seven, we began planning our own ‘Lil’ house on a prairie.’  When we bought our land and home in a kit, we worked together every summer on getting it one step closer to a livable place.   Our ever-creative eldest-of-the-two daughters was always engineering ways to speed things up.  As our log cabin was being put together on the inside, she and our son straddled the tie-beam log, spanning the living room almost ten feet above ground, and scrubbed it with water, cleansers, and a brush.  Not wanting to have to get down often, she decided to tie a rope on the handle of a five-gallon bucket and lower it down to her younger sister who in turn would empty & fill it and pass it up again.  The bucket was even used to hoist the younger sister up & down!  Working together does create bonding, not to mention lasting memories of pulling together and the love that is achieved when a group of five becomes a group of one in purpose and function.

God expresses His love to us every single day multiple times over.  We need to stop and look for it.  It’s everywhere: from the air we breathe, to the fact that we can breathe, to faithful sunrises and sunsets, and critters singing to Him in praise.  As St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated this year, make a connection to the love God has given you.  His heart was in everything He created.  The red heart resembles the blood He shed for us.  Chocolates and candies represent the sweetness in serving Him.  True, rising prices may affect our choice of goodies, but then again, He rose to the occasion of crucifixion, He paid the high price of salvation, He rose from the dead for us, His goodies.  All He did for us oozed the sweet-smelling fragrance of love.  Not just any love but unmerited love, undeserved love, unrivaled love, and unconditional love.  Will you accept His box of chocolates for you?  Will you accept His love? Will you ask Him to be your Valentine?  Just as when He died, He’ll accept you with open, outstretched arms. 

Like those yummy chocolates, His love oozes out for us every day, until one day when it may be too late for us to accept Him; yet His love will continue with or without us.  Like our kids working together and being creative to accomplish a task, God is busy creating ways to get our attention to accomplish the task of reuniting us with Him and inviting us into His home.

His Name and His Being is Love.

It’s not unusual to hear some parents tell their kids that they were unplanned, unwelcome, unwanted; in essence, a mistake.  Whether you’ve been a victim of this harsh talk or know someone who has, we know it’s not an easy pill to swallow. 

When our kids were growing up, there was a girl in one of our daughter’s class with the same first and last name-and it’s not a too common name.  The only difference between the two girl’s names was a middle initial in our daughter’s name.  Having the same name as someone else can lead to mistakes.  I recall once when our phone rang and a company had congratulated us on winning a three-day trip with full-bloom deals including beautiful bedrooms as well as included meals.  All we needed to do was pay $49.00.  Although it was for a timeshare program, we were ‘chosen’ because of a mistake!  After all was over, as my wife and I discussed the events we realized the offer came as a result of mistaken identity.

After giving birth to our daughter mentioned above, my wife learned that a young mom at the nearby clinic, also had the same name as she (my wife).  It dawned on us that the call with the offer was for her since we never applied to any promotions.  That mistake was to our benefit.  (We called the company back to let them know that they had contacted the wrong person, but they were still willing to give us the offer.)

In God’s creation there are no mistakes.  That includes you and me.  He sees us way-beyond what we actually are at any given moment.   You’re not a reject.  You’re loved and appreciated by Him.  He never bad-mouths you.  Quite the contrary, He’s crazy in love with you.  In His eyes, you’re special and unique.  He’s even preparing a great room and feast just for you, if you choose to invite Him into your life.  He believes you’re worth dying for-which is why He laid down His life for you.  His love is so great for you that He can’t leave you (or me) the way you are.  Since He knows far beyond our finite minds, He changes us from the inside out preparing us for our entrance into His mansions in heaven (1^st Corinthians 15:50).

Mistakes???  The only mistakes in God’s creation was the one Lucifer, Satan, made when he desired to be equal with The Almighty God, which led to him being cast out of heaven and when he tempted man in the garden, which sealed his ultimate fate: destroyed by God. Mistake???  No!!!  You and I have never been considered a lowdown or good-for-nothing piece of garbage.  We’re the pinnacle of His creation!  Forgive those who have been used by Satan to wrong you.  Begin living right now.  God has even given you a new name (Revelation 2:17) which will be revealed to you in heaven!

God Bless!

Two weeks ago, we received the generator we purchased just shy of sixteen months ago!!!  Although, it’s production and delivery were hampered by hurricanes Irma and Maria as well as other factors, we were glad to finally receive it.  When our power was turned off and the generator kicked in, it was great to see the lights go on in a matter of seconds!  It immediately reminded me of two things:  The creation of the world when darkness covered everything and God spoke, “Let there be light,” and all the darkness vanished having been replaced by a wondrous light that invaded every corner of this earth. 

And, the salvation of mankind when the powers of darkness lurking behind every human being were confronted by the True Light; The Light of the World, Jesus.  When Jesus went to the cross for our sins, He defeated the-already- dethroned enemy: Satan.  He stripped away his powers, He made a spectacle of him and of his demonic companions.  The prophet Isaiah tells us “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.”  At the cross, Jesus not only wiped away our sins, but also wiped away the darkness that befell us.  He took away the curse of sin and the sting of death for all humanity.  You can receive His sacrifice for your sins and His present of eternal life this Christmas Season.  Forget New Year’s resolutions!  Instead, begin the new year with new life in Christ!  Receive your gift under the ‘tree’-the cross!

God Bless!

Be Joyful!

Merry Christmas!