Author: admin

Most everyone at some point in their lives has been involved in a game of tug-of-war. Two groups, equal in number and in strength, standing on opposite sides of a line, pull when instructed. People shout, scream, frown, strain, fall, and do whatever necessary to pull the opposing team across the line.  Sometimes, people think if they fall, it’s easier to pull. Others think that if they face in the opposite direction, they’ll pull better.

I’ve seen members fall on the ground get dragged across the field! The correct way to play is to have one foot forward, one hand behind the other and pull. Try taking a step back. If each member takes a step back, they’ll pull their opponents.

Nevertheless, after the event, people are usually aching and their hands hurt.  Some, may even have rope burns on their hands, scraped knees, and muddied legs from the torturous event.  Winners are elated, even if they were originally dragged!  Losers, aren’t happy.

People have tug-of-wars with God on a daily basis. Some pull like little goats tied to a post trying to break free.  Others turn their backs to Him hoping to win on their terms. Still, some scream, shout, frown, strain, fall, and do whatever they deem necessary to break free from His grip.  Many don’t realize God’s always on the winning side!  In fact, God alone, is the majority!

When people yank to break free from Him, He sometimes allows them to “run free” knowing exactly where they’ll end up at.  See, He knows our every step as well as what’s on the horizon.  He tries to protect us, but oftentimes allows us to get dragged through the mud and rain and scrape our knees before we realize His intentions are to pull us to the winning side to join His team! 

Tired of eating mud, of scraping your knees?  Tired of rope-burnt hands and a bruised ego?  When God pulls at your heart, don’t resist, give in!  He plays fair and has the best players! 

When dealing with Israel, it seems that after some time, they forgot God was behind their trials and victories while also guiding them and healing them as well.  He said, “I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love” (Hosea 11:4).  Is He tugging at the ropes of your heart?  Want to trade your heart of stone for one of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26)?  Wait no more! Get up, dust yourself, dry those eyes, allow yourself to cross the line and join His team!  As the song lyrics *go, “Hold me close, let your love surround me. Bring me near, draw me to your side.”

God Bless!
Sam

Recommended Song: The Power of Your Love (By Khool Praize, from Rock the Flock) on YouTube

Picture, courtesy of former high school classmate, Maria Lugo, whose birthday is 1 day and 1 year apart from mine!  Though we communicate via email, we haven’t seen each other in 50 years.

My wife and I have always been the type that are last in catching up with advancements made through technology as well as keeping up with movies, etc.  I once saw an ad for a movie sequel #9 and we had only seen #1!  By the time we acquire an item, it’s already been obsolete, and people have moved on to more advanced ones.

In 1994, my wife won a raffle to Miami.  Got on a ferry ride through the waterways to see how the rich and famous lived.  While tourists around me had their fancy cameras with top-notch lenses, ours was a small rectangular one with a latchet that you had to swipe left to right and back again.  Remember those?? You have one too?! One guy had what seemed like a 7’ extended lens! He didn’t even leave his seat to take pics.  He was able to lay the lens on the other end of the ferry and photograph bits and pieces of a fish as it was being eaten and gulped down by a bear in the next state!  Meanwhile, when a whale came up three feet away to show off its talents, I ran to the side of the boat climbed down a few inches with my “modern” camera, and with my wife clutching the seat of my pants screaming, “Don’t fall overboard Hunzy, you can’t afford another pleather belt” I managed to get my camera in position.  By the time I swiped the small, delicate lever to the left and then to right to snap a picture, I got a nice clean shot of clear waters.  The whale was gone! But at least I kept my belt!

My nephew just sent me some pics enhanced by an AI program. It’s new to us but probably half the world uses it daily. Really makes pics come to life, which got me thinking. Hypothetically, it’s something the Anti-Christ might use when he appears on the earth.  This isn’t scriptural but it can happen.  Picture it. Revelation 13:3 paints it like this:
“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.  And they worshipped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And check this out: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15).

My take: Since the heads represent leaders from countries to be used by Satan, someone mortally wounded will suddenly reappear healed and receive the attention of a world seeking power and unique leadership. After all, it’ll be amazing to see this person (beast wounded by a sword verse 14) restored!  It’s possible that the healing may not be actual.  It does say he had power to give life to the image… What if it’s AI impersonating the leader, bringing him back to life? What if it’s a hologram?

Moving on to a warning, listen to what Jesus said: “Therefore, if they shall say unto you, ‘Behold, He is in the desert!’ go not forth; or ‘Behold, He is in the secret chambers!’ believe it not. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:26,27).

What it’s saying here and further on, is don’t be tricked believing Jesus will only be seen in isolated places caused by trickery. Read: “And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and glory” (Matthew 24:30).

Don’t fall for any imitations, whether AI, holograms, or impersonators; demonic or otherwise, because every eye will see Him worldwide at the same time!  How?! Internet will feature Him from all angles!  Warning: don’t be fooled by man’s scams!  Know Jesus today!   “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matt.26:41).

Inventions, inventions!  Seems we’re finally catching up with society.  I just bought a “New” reel- to-r eel deck; don’t be fooled by those saying 8-tracks will replace them!  What’s next, Cassettes, CDs?

God Bless!

Sam

Every now and then people will find a missed call on their phones. I rarely get them since I don’t like making calls, I don’t get many.  The few I’ve gotten are usually SPAM-initiated.  When we see a missed call, if we don’t recognize the number, we either call back or wait for the caller to call again, 

Recently I thought of the so many great artists out there singing, painting, performing, acting, or entertaining for a living.  Some might be famous while others barely known.  But each received a call. Some, answered it, while others missed it.  The calls were not SPAM, but legit. Phones would not have shown where they originated from, hence the number unrecognizable.

But for certain, the calls came from God. He has gifted people for His glory and honor with some type of talent to spread to others. Millions of such talented people choose to ignore his call focusing instead on themselves. The talents are received and viewed as personal and self-achieved. God gets no glory.

Thousands die as either famous, or almost famous artists, musicians, etc. maybe reaching millions, but never fulfilling His purposes.  His call will not be on the screen of your phone, but on your heart. His tug is there and it’s up to us to take it or reject it.  Didn’t recognize it?  Waiting for Him to call again? Be ready and alert! Don’t miss His call. It’s on your life!  As Steely Dan sang in 1974, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” don’t lose the number to God’s heart!  Jeremiah 33:3 reads, “Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Need help? As Jim Croce sang, “Operator, “won’t you help me make that call?” Call on God and the Holy Spirit will draw you near to God. He’s got a great message for you.

“For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).  Translation: God doesn’t change His mind once He’s gifted you with a calling; He doesn’t take it back even if we fail Him. So, go ahead, lift up your voice and sing these lyrics to Him:

“I called, You answered And You came to my rescue And I wanna be where You are” Came To My Rescue (Be Lifted Up) Hillsong 2006

God Bless!
Sam

Closets have undergone transformations in recent years.  From tiny to medium, to mega-sized, to walk-ins, they’ve really expanded as per people’s tastes and needs. Closets have been the talk of the town in recent decades. No longer just for clothing, they store and hold a variety of things such as bikes, gear, foods (pantries), mini offices, and more.  

In New York, teachers were sometimes placed in rooms the size of closets; particularly, those heading specialty programs like ESL and Bilingual Ed.  As we know, closets can quickly become overcrowded.  Which reminds me of the scene of The Marx Brothers in A Night At The Opera aboard the ship where while they’re waiting for all the food to arrive (with a ton of “And two-hardboiled eggs”), the plumber, the maid, the maintenance man, etc. all show up one after the other. Once food arrives, however, pandemonium sets in! When the door is opened, everyone rolls out! 

Our son’s closet was like that!  When checking out his room, everything seemed neatly organized as he’d stand in front of his closet hoping we didn’t open it!  He’d just toss everything in and quickly shut the door!  But once you’d open it…yikes!  Our oldest daughter once made her young sister disappear right in her room!  When asked where she was, she said her sister could practically sleep anywhere.  She proceeded to open the closet door, pull out the bottom drawer of a dresser in there, and therein, lying very still, was her sister!              

 Yep, closets can be special.  In recent years, skeletons in closets have been exposed, and while people can go into closets, some have actually “come out of closets.”

 Well, with all this talk on closets, might as well see what God has to say about them!  Check it out: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

In our prayer closets, away from distractions, alone in His presence, we commune with Him.  We pour out our hearts to Him. As He indwells us, He wants our skeletons out in the open. He wants everything that we’ve hidden; everything that may bring us shame, confusion, hurt, loneliness, etc. brought out to Him.  He calls us to walk out of our closets, not to a lifestyle that dishonors Him, but to one that brings Him glory. All we need do is step out in faith in Him and He’ll do the rest.

As you shut the door behind you in prayer and with confidence in God, He’ll answer you publicly.  Meaning, your life will be a testimony to others of the transformation He’s wrought in you.  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).  How does that look? God’s transforming power in your life will be like that movie scene: As others open the door to your life, all God’s blessings within you will pour out and your ship will continue to sail; with, or without two hard-boiled eggs!

God Bless!
Sam

Recommended Movie: WAR ROOM

It’s been over a month of computer and WINDOWS issues!

What a pain!  But I’m back for now.

                                 ON THE LOOKOUT!

Early one morning two days ago, as my wife and I were getting ready to walk, I noticed as she put on her sneakers, a small hole in one of her socks and pointed it out.  She knew it and responded with a “Yeah, yeah.”  The day went on and half a million things transpired.  Some ten hours later, as I was getting ready to shower, I removed one sneaker, and Lo, and behold, my big right toe was poking through my sock!! We looked at each other, high-fived, and laughed!

I said, “WOW, this morning I noticed the small hole on your socks, and now there’s an even larger one on my sock!”  Reminded us of God’s word: (Matthew 7:3,5) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

God’s telling us to first check our own standings, our own issues and sins before pointing out others’ problems.  As scripture goes on, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

We’re living in a world where people tend to attack others for any reason and then justify it.  One important point we were taught in our high school writing/debate class was, “To be a good speaker, one must first be a good listener.”  In other words, before debating a person, first listen to their viewpoints, to better defend your own and to know exactly where they stand.

Obviously, not today’s standards where people disrespect others and even attack others for having differing viewpoints.  Now, I wasn’t criticizing my wife’s socks, but it became a teachable moment for us both!  Lesson? Check your socks before speaking? Nah! Self-examine ourselves before pointing fingers. Thereby avoiding hypocrisy.  By the way, that’s one of the purposes of the Lord’s Supper; examining ourselves keeps God from disciplining us.

God Bless!
Sam

My wife and I were just reminiscing.  It began with a news article on the defunding of PBS (Public Broadcasting System). We agreed with a comment on how PBS was great back in the early 60s when communication methods were limited.  Back when technology wasn’t available. Around 1962, I used to watch The Romper Room where a teacher had a group of well-behaved students who’d use large, bottomless boxes for the kids to put over their heads and pretend to drive around in. Life was simpler then.  We only had TV channels 2,4,5,7,9,11, and 13 (PBS). Two of those channels shared the same programming, like 2 and 9.

This was also when TV was black and white, and when color was invented, if you couldn’t afford it, you bought a plastic $.49 colored film to place over your screen.  My dad placed ours upside down giving us green skies, blue land, and pinkish-faced people!  When remotes first appeared, they had a 6’ wired cable attached to the set.  As our pastor (Carl) once said, “In the 60s you either had a limited wired remote, or you had kids to change your TV channels!”   Years later, when I first heard there were about 130 channels, I thought that was crazy! I remember thinking, “Who can watch so many things at once?”

All this reminded us of a time when paint colors were also limited.  Somewhere towards the end of the 1950s and early 60s, people bought Avocado Green, Canary Yellow, or Sky-Blue paint.  People didn’t spend hours color-matching their gray linoleum with “hints” of blue from their time-worn tapestries.  You simply bought a gallon of yellow or green paint (probably $1/gal) and plastered your walls with it.  If unsure, you bought beige or white. Not even off-white or eggshell existed.

We laughed at how my parents bought their home in PR in the early 80s and the division walls in the back room were 3/16”  thin decorative panels.  The type was just a bit thicker than paper, and maybe, as thick as a cardboard! You could lean on them and go right through the walls! They reminded me of what a high school teacher taught us about Japanese home with rice paper decorative walls invented for barriers but not for much privacy.

A few years ago, we visited a wood house our son wanted to buy. As we were checking it out and deciding upon/against it, I leaned on a wall and almost went right through it! I had to be grabbed and pulled out!  Which reminds me of that funny scene in the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World where two guys with super-thinned walls are having a Grand Opening at their garage-tire shop and have it demolished in no time!

Life in the 1960s was simple. After several years you might remodel your kitchen. You’d go from one two-gallon bucket as a sink, to 2 two-gallon buckets!  Had your heart set on a farm sink?  You’d move up to a huge five-gallon bucket!  After all, how many people could claim having that?!  Modernization came at a price (about $.79)!

Today we have thousands of color choices. There are shades of every color out there and names created by each manufacturer. From lazy summer to (probably) crabby cream; boring fall, and frigid-freezing winter!

We can be sure God has no boring colors in heaven! From the vibrant colors on the ephod (mentioned in the books of Exodus and Leviticus), to the colors of the rainbow surrounding His throne.  God’s majesty involves the riches, most profound colors ever!  His throne room and His habitation aren’t decorated in boring pale colors! God’s tastes call for exuberant and vibrant colors of majesty, splendor, riches, royalty, and Kingship.  He doesn’t dwell in black and white.  He isn’t affected by life’s pressures.  He lives outside this realm. He inhabits earth, heaven, the oceans, and every galaxy out there. There isn’t a space or void He doesn’t fill.  He fills the void in your heart.  Knows your questions, doubts and fears. God even inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3).

With one (brush) stroke, He can paint your life from pale to bright; from insecure to confident; from stranger to friend; from distant to near, from lost to saved.

“But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

God Bless!
Sam

The group, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother (MFSB) sang/played a great laidback saxophone-y piece back in 1973, Love Is the Message.  It’s almost an all—instrumental piece. According to God’s message, love is something we should all want in our lives because we all need it.

Back around 1992, I had one of the best first grade classes ever! The group only had six girls and about 12 boys.  Almost all of the students were small.  At the time, all classes lined up in size-order.  The girls’ line was led by S.S. and the boys’ line by K.M. One month, a class trip was coming up and they had to bring their permission slips signed by their parents.  Every day I asked K.M. for his slip.  Every day, his mom would forget. Finally, the day before the trip, I took drastic measures. Just before dismissal time, I took a Manilla envelope, and on the outside wrote in very large print: OPEN, READ, SIGN. Inside, I placed the slip. As K. held the envelope to his chest, I wound masking tape across the top and bottom of the envelope wrapping it around his chest, front to back.  I told K. “When you get home, have your mom unzipper your coat, and then point to your chest.” She couldn’t miss it, or could she?

All the kids in the class wondered what would happen next day.  When K. came in, everyone was nervous. When I called his name, he said, “Mr. Cruz, she signed it, she signed it!” We all were glad! The message had gotten through and K. was able to go on his trip and enjoy himself with his friends.  Later on, when I saw his mom, she apologized for ignoring the slip and also laughed at my tactics.  It got her attention!

You and I have a permission slip from God that He’s waiting for us to bring in. He left His Word for us to open and read.  Before His crucifixion, Jesus’ enemies tore open His robe and tunic, and in a sense, saw the message on His chest reading: “OPEN, READ, SIGN.” But how?  Scripture says that He went humbly like a lamb to the slaughter.  He wasn’t cursing them.  He wasn’t kicking and fighting. He made no threats to them like, “When I get out of here;” “Just wait till the third day, I’m gonna have your heads…”  No, instead, without fighting back, He demonstrated a willingness to die for us. His sacrifice was an invite for them to open their hearts to the Savior of the world. He wanted them to “Read My Lips: I Love You.” His goal then, as now, was for them to render their lives to Him.

God poured out His heart and blood for us at the cross.  He was hung high for all the world to see. Everyone saw His shame, His piercings, His tortured, bruised and battered body; punished beyond recognition, as a sacrifice for us. What the enemy hoped to use as humiliation, God exemplified as unselfish, unconditional, and sacrificial love to the world. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me” (John 12:32).  As we know, every day on this earth could be our last.        

Jesus’ crucifixion demonstrated to the world his selfless “Love is the Message to get us to OPEN His Word, READ it, acknowledge we’re in the wrong (we’re sinners), apologize to Him, and SIGN (receive Him into our hearts). God wants us to enjoy our time with Him, both here, and on our heavenly trip when called home.

Have you missed His message?  Has His Love-message gotten through?  Does He have your attention?  Or, have you opened, read, and signed your life away to God?  Are you waiting for something drastic or horrible to happen before saying “YES?” Sign up now and all your Christian friends and family members will rejoice over you! They’ll also be there in heaven for that great reunion!  Can’t ever go wrong with God!

Departure Awaits!
Sam

Daylight Savings Time can save us an hour depending on where we’re at. It can make a giant impact on pending choices; good or bad.  Many people hate the hour-changing ritual.  But what if we could change more than an hour?

In the 70s, Tyrone Davis sang, (If I Could) Turn Back the Hands of Time. Imagine what that would mean to us if it were possible. You might still have a job. You might not have mailed out that letter. Maybe the phone call would not have gone through. She might still be here with you. Someone might still be alive. That email/text might still be there. Or, you might’ve sent that info on time.  You may have made the wisest decision ever. Your investment might have gone through making you rich now!  Or, glad you didn’t sign on time. So many things may be different if we could turn back the hands of time.

But we can’t!  We can reminisce.  We can dream. We can fantasize of all the what-ifs in the world. But they won’t help.  Facing reality is in order.  What’s gone is gone.  But, let’s look at another two what-ifs.  What if you decide not to guess or wonder what your life-after-death might be like, and instead make a choice now to trust the One who knows and can tell you exactly all the details with your life this very moment?

What if you wait too late for that choice and die before choosing life in Christ and end up (for all eternity) separated from God? There, you’ll spend an eternity kicking yourself because you didn’t choose wisely.  You’ll lament not being able to turn the clock back.  Daylight Savings Time won’t help you then. Turning back the hands of time won’t buy you any time.  Sure, you’ll have plenty of time to think about it…and it goes both ways: Choose Jesus NOW, and in Him, you’ll be able to say over and over, “I’m so glad I chose LIFE in Christ, so glad, so glad! And to think, I almost missed it!”  Choose now!  Eternity will have no clocks! “Time will be no more” (Revelation 10:6)!  No Rolex watches will be up there! Neither Sundials, time machines, or time-telling gadgets of any type!  One thing you can trust 1000% is, you’ll never want to go back to your old life-ever once you’re in Christ!

Moving Forward,

God Bless!
Sam

Millions of people (erroneously) think they have their whole lives before them.  Unfortunately, tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.  We’re all standing on the edge of time; on the edge of life.  Life is fragile. While it’s important to seize the moment and live for now, it’s more important to be ready for falling off the edge of time. Almost daily, there are stories of people trekking up/down, across mountains, peaks, valley, vast tracts of land, and falling right off.  I always wonder how many were ready to step into eternity.  A person’s experience, or hiking gear will not help in these situations. No matter how comfortable or expensive one’s shoes or gloves, nothing tangible aids in the spiritual realm. Nothing in the seen world works in the unseen realm.

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring-what your life will be!  For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes” (James 4:14).

What to do?  We can fall off the edge before realizing it; we can be called into eternity at any time.  Or, Jesus can return for us right now!

“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40).

If you stand on the edge looking down too long, you’re bound to fall in. Step back, look up, kneel, call God to save you and help you.  Be radical! Your buddies will think you’ve gone over the edge; confirm it! Explain it. Share it!

God Bless!

Sam

When our grandkids were small, 3 and 4, we’d play cartoons for them on videos. Each week we’d ask, “This one?” “Uh…no” they’d say.  “Let me see that one, and that one,” one of them would say.  In the end, they’d always pick the same one: “HELP, HELP, somebody help me;” as Huckle Berry Hound would say!

Decades before our grandkids came along, the Beatles sang Help! Remember some of the lines?

“When I was younger, so much younger than today I never needed help in any way. But now these days are gone and I’m not so self-assured, Now I find I’ve changed my mind, I’ve opened up the doors.”

Have you’ve been there? Remember when you needed no one, but now you’re not so self-assured?  The Yogi you’ve followed was a fake, the things you’ve invested in have gone awry?  You thought you had all the time in the world, and suddenly realize it’s almost gone?  Are you finding yourself saying,

“Help me if you can I’m feeling down, And I do appreciate you being ‘round, Help me get my feet back on the ground, Won’t you please, please, help me? Help me, help me Ooh.”

Hundreds of years before this song was penned, King David cried: “Hear my cry, Oh God; attend to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1,2).

And again, in Psalm 130:1, 2 either David or Ezra said: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to my supplication.”

As time moves on, we tend to find we’re not as agile as in former days.  Maybe not as quick or brave as we once were. Like the song, we needed no one to get by, but maybe now we do.  Like God’s Word, we can cry out to Him.  Even from the depths of our despair, Jesus is present to help us.  From the midst of confusion, He will help you get your feet back on solid ground!  If you need direction for your life this very instance, He will definitely help you!  Check out this scripture:

 “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2).

Now that you realize you need Him, have you changed your mind, and are you ready to open up the doors…to your heart, mind, and ways?

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1)

God Bless!
Sam