Park Slope Pastor

Walking with Jesus

2009-04-03T21:51:00.017-04:00

In his book, "Walking with God", author John Eldridge writes about how a Christian can have a real and intimate walk with God. John shares how we can hear God's voice and understand His guidance in our lives. Eldridge's book is his one year spiritual journal. John writes everything from how he and his family missed God's timing when going on a trip, how he brings his feelings of emptiness to God and asks for His discernment, to asking the Lord if they should get a puppy. I was delighted to read how he understood God's will and his presence.

One of the stories of the resurrection in the Gospel of Luke tells us of two disciples on the road to the town of Emmaus :

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;but they were kept from recognizing him. -Luke 24:14-16

These disciples were discussing everything that had happened with Jesus and He comes along side of them and they don't know it was him. Something veiled Jesus' identity. It was only after they had gotten into town and asked Jesus to have dinner with them that they realized it was him.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"-Luke 24:30-32

They realized that their hearts burned with in them, when Jesus spoke to them. Although they did not recognize that God was among them. God was there and His presence caused something to stir inside of them. Many times when God speaks to us something burns within us, we feel an impression, something within us. It's His Spirit.

The Scriptures teach us to listen to God’s voice:

He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught -Isaiah 50:4.

. . . for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts . . . (Psalm 95:7–8).

'..They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd
-John 10: 14–16

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears
my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him,
and he with me -Revelation 3:20

It's God's desire that we learn to recognize His stirring, burning in our hearts when we hear His voice. Imagine if we could hear His voice more, if we could be more aware of His presence? How would our life change as the simple choices and major decisions are informed by Jesus?

For the next couple of months @PSCT we'll be considering how we can hear God's voice more in our Spring Life Groups. Join us!

Pastor Luis

Love is a Choice

2009-02-08T22:09:00.005-05:00

Brent was thinking and feeling what thousands of husbands have thought and felt through the years. Unfortunately, Brent had never made the distinction between stage one and stage two of romantic love. In stage one the feelings are euphoric and without effort. In stage two the feelings come only when we speak each others love language. Can Brent's marriage be saved? Yes, if he and his wife will confess past failures and agree to speak love in a language the other person understands.

The "In Love" Experience
The average life-span of being in love is two years. The "in love experience" temporarily meets one‚s emotional need for love. It gives us the feeling that someone cares, that someone admires and appreciates us. Our emotions soar with the thought that another person sees us as number one. For a brief time our emotional need for love is met. However, when we come down off the emotional high, we feel empty, sometimes accompanied with feelings of hurt, disappointment, or anger.

Emotional love must be nurtured. Speaking the primary love language of your spouse is the best way to keep love alive. Love is a choice you make daily. If emotional love is to return, it will require each of you to discover and speak each others primary love language. There are only five basic languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. Learn the language of your spouse, speak it regularly, and emotional love will return to your marriage.

"It Doesn't Come Naturally!"
I'm often asked, "What if the love language of your spouse is something that doesn't come naturally for you?" Maybe their love language is physical touch and you're just not a toucher. Or they prefer acts of service, but you don‚t find satisfaction in keeping the house organized. So, what are you to do?

You learn to speak their language. If it doesn't come naturally for you, it's even a greater expression of love. It shows effort and a willingness to learn. This speaks volumes to your spouse. Also, keep in mind that your love language may not come naturally for them. They have to work just as hard to speak your language as you do to speak their language. That's what love is all about. Love is giving. Choosing to speak love in a language that is meaningful to your spouse is a great investment of your time and energy.

There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.

Excerpt taken from The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

Congratulations President Obama!

2009-01-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

Today the United States swore in it's first African American President, Barack Hussein Obama. This is a watershed moment in our country's history as Senator McCain's gracious concession speech pointed out back in November. McCain said: "No mater where you might be in the political spectrum and who you might have voted for that night , this event is worthy of note.
This is a significant contrast to our nation a little over 40 years ago when African Americans where disenfranchised and the civil rights movement highlighted our nations injustice. It was 40 years ago that Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, but not before hope was engendered by his famous "I have a Dream" speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial years before.

There is little doubt that this President Elect Obama's achievement ushers in a new era in the Presidency and a unique affirmation for all people of color. It also possibly gives us glimpse of progress in the healing of the American psyche and the possibility of further racial reconciliation as alluded to by MLK's "I have dream" speech, in the greater scheme of things, God's desire for justice and harmony among humankind.

In the first letter to Timothy 2:1-3, God tells us through Paul the Apostle:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior."

God urges us to pray for President Obama and in this poignant time of history, filled with uncertainty and unique challenges, the President deeply needs our prayers and support. We've just come out our "New Testament Challenge" PSCT, where we read the New Testament in 63 days. I'll invite you to take the Presidential Challenge this year
Would you pray for President Obama daily?

Some of the things we can pray for:
1) His and his family's health and safety
2) Wisdom to govern our country
3) To begin to steer us out of economic crisis and toward economic prosperity
4) To set us toward a course of peace and out of terrorist threat.
5) That the president might ultimately lean on God and recognize His hand in America.

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The Bible "Raw and Uncut"

2008-11-03T21:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday @ Park Slope we began our "New Testament Challenge". The challenge is this, to read the New Testament in 63 days( Click here for the Reading Plan). On Sunday, As I made the altar call for the challenge I closed my eyes and began to pray. When I opened my eyes almost all the congregation came up to take the challenge. It was a beautiful site. Young and old a like came up. I challenged Christians to re(read) the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles and the book of Revelation and they said Pastor, here we are. There were even some guests that came up. I challenged non-church goers to really give the Bible a try and some of them took me up on it too.

We're reading the Bible "Raw and uncut". Don't get me wrong I'm a real proponent of devotionals, books, and Bible Studies but some times we need read the Bible in its most purest form. Reading it "raw and uncut" will give us a greater appreciation when we read books about it and when we hear great sermons and teachings based on it. The great thing is that you don't have understand everything right away but hold on the things you do understand, and let the words sink deep into you. Ask yourself what is God teaching me with this passage? We're meeting in Life Groups during the week to discuss what we've read and on Sunday we'll be teaching on the major themes of the New Testament.

I'm excited to see what do is going to do in the spiritual life of our church.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

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With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

2008-09-06T23:27:00.009-04:00

I've always loved Super Heroes since my youth. Among my favorite is Spiderman. This quote from the first Spiderman comic book is close to my heart,"With great power comes great responsibility". Peter Parker (Spiderman's alter ego) uncle Ben gives him these words of wisdom. In essence it means that there was a reason why he was given these super powers. A gift has a purpose. Some how I thought that Stan Lee (the creator of Spiderman) borrowed these words from Confucius. Ana, one of brilliant young people at PSCT, corrected me a couple of weeks ago. I did some digging and she was right. Although this was in keeping with Confucius' teaching about those who hold power, It turns out that Stan Lee actually derived this quote from the Jesus. See below:

I heard Stan Lee speak at a college in Connecticut many, many years ago...and/or I read it later in an interview with him...where he said he enjoyed reading the Bible as Great Literature and a source of story ideas. I think he may have said at that time that the "with great power comes great responsibility" quote was adapted from what Jesus Christ says in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, verse 48: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
That's the King James version that Stan might have read years ago. A contemporary translation reads: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2005_10_06.html

Who would have thought,biblical truths in Spiderman.

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God's Faithfulness

2008-07-15T09:24:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 25

Praise to the LORD

1 O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.

2 You have made the city a heap of rubble,
the fortified town a ruin,
the foreigners' stronghold a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.

3 Therefore strong peoples will honor you;
cities of ruthless nations will revere you.

4 You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall

5 and like the heat of the desert.
You silence the uproar of foreigners;
as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is stilled.

6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.

7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;

8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.

9 In that day they will say,
"Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Men's Hike

2008-06-16T00:08:00.004-04:00

We had a great time last Saturday.
A few us from Park Slope went to Bear Mountain and Hiked up 1200 feet. We had a few vertical challenges but we stood the course and conquered a 5 mile trail.
Below are some photos from flickr.
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Pastor Max Rios Leaves with the Lord

2008-06-06T15:41:00.008-04:00

On Friday, May 30, beloved Pastor, father and friend, Rev. Maximino Rios (Max) went to be with Lord. Rev. Rios pastored Ebenezer Temple in Newark NJ. for 23 years and was a father of 9 children and 19 grand children. A funeral service was conducted the following Monday with over 1200 people in attendance. People from the community, tri-state region and across the country came to give their last respects to a person who marked their lives in a significant way. There were old friends and newer friends. I was among the old friends. Max marked my life significantly. He was one of my Associate Pastors in John 3:16, Astoria, Queens, in my early teens. Max had a consistent joy and passion for God and was always a source of encouragement to me. He would play and sing the most heartfelt songs as he strummed his guitar. It was with Max that I a received a glimpse of King David's deep, no holds barred worship to the Lord. It was through Max that received a glimpse of Job's faithfulness, as he and his family lost everything in a tragic house fire one year, and his 15 year old son to cancer in the following years. He was a man of sorrows, but a man of great joy.

Our heart and prayers are with his wife Iris of 46 years and this outstanding family.

Max loved life. He challenges us to live life well and to live a life fully surrendered to God.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
-Psalm 116:15

Love you Max.
I'll see you in Glory!
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It's π Day

2008-03-14T23:08:00.006-04:00

I continue to "geek out" today. Nerds have dubbed this day Pi (Greek letter ) day because of the month and day 3/14. Ironically it falls on the same day as Einstein's birthday. Pi is one of the most important mathematical constants. Pi can be found everywhere, from astronomy to probability to the physics of sound and light. It is mathematically irrational and transcendent number. It represents the world's oldest mathematical mystery: the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

A common use for Pi is to calculate the circumference of a circle (it's distance around). It can be found by multiplying Pi by the diameter (distance across) of the circle. Pi is approximated to 3.14. Actually, its 3.14159..... . It goes on and on. Because of my 10 grade math teacher Mr. Fronhoffer, I accept it as 3.14159 (oddly enough I wasn't good at math).

The knowledge of Pi was used in the construction of Solomon's Temple (see 1 Kings 7:23). As an existential geek I've always loved this symbol. Some how I felt that the enigma of has some divine message, that this incalculable foundational constant in mathematics is analogous to an incalculable God, that can not be completely nailed down, but only approximated. A mysterious constant present in the fabric of our existence. This begs the question, if we can accept a in math and science, can't we accept one in life?

Here's more Pi

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Einstein's Birthday

2008-03-14T22:10:00.005-04:00

Well, it's time to show my geek card. Today is Einstein's birthday.
He was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany.
Einstein learned to speak at a late age, he was considered a slow learner as a child, and he showed no particular aptitude for formal schooling. His theory of general relativity (E = mc²⁾ revolutionized science. His name is synonymous with intellectual giftedness.

Interestingly enough this iconic scientific figure firmly believed there was a God and was fascinated by the Historical Jesus. In the following quote he rejects a contemporary author, Emil Ludwig's view on Jesus. This is portion of an interview with the magazine The Saturday Evening Post, in 1929 :

"To what extent are you influenced by Christianity?"

"As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene."

"Have you read Emil Ludwig's book on Jesus?"

"Emil Ludwig's Jesus is shallow. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrasemongers, however artful. No man can dispose of Christianity with a bon mot."

"You accept the historical Jesus?"

"Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life."1

1. George Sylvester Viereck, "What Life Means to Einstein", The Saturday Evening Post, 26 October 1929.

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Baptism Splash

2008-03-11T15:25:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine just sent me this video. It's hilarious....
By the way, you jokers in PSCT don't get any ideas.
I'll have you take "Class 101" 7 times if you do.

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Tim Keller's New Book

2008-03-09T22:27:00.007-04:00

I was checking out Jeremy del Rios' site and he posted Tim Keller's new book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Tim is known for his ministry to New York's intellectually thirsty. Check out this CBN interview

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Meeting Rick Warren

2008-02-01T13:39:00.009-05:00

A small group of pastors, including yours truly and Danny Sanabria (PSCT Youth Minister), had the privilege of meeting Rick Warren last night at the Journey Church Offices in Manhattan. Rick shared his heart and some great "pearls of wisdom" in his trademark personal style.

Rick, of course, is the author of A Purpose Driven Life and the Pastor of Saddleback, a 20 thousand member church in Southern California. He was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Evangelicals in America. Many consider Warren the successor to Billy Graham's place as America's minister.

Thanks for coming down and blessing us Rick!

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The Clock Tower is Back

2008-01-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to see the Williamsburgh Bank Building's Clock Tower is back. Originally the building was owned by the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, then later its parent,Republic National Bank, then, via a merger, HSBC. For years the building contained offices, notably dentists' offices; the once called it 'The Mecca of Dentistry'. Now HSBC has relocated across the street to 118 Flatbush Avenue. In early 2006, Magic Johnson began converting the building to luxury condominiums. The clock on the tower disappeared when visible construction on the tower began. Many (including yours truly) thought that we had lost the iconic clock tower for good, but it is back!

At night the dial sports a new red luminescent glow. Aside from being a beautiful Brooklyn Landmark its always provided me with a point of reference for the various times I realized that I had "misplaced myself." It's always good to have a guide...Amen?

I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.-Pr. 4:11

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Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

2008-01-21T22:40:00.001-05:00

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

For many of us holidays are just time off. Days that we take a break from work. In England when you go "on holiday" its just that. It means you're going on vacation. It seems that we become far removed from the significance of the day. I suspect MLK Jr. 's holiday will become just another day of unless we hear his words and let them sink deep into us so that a tree of hope flourishes and from that tree the fruit of justice and righteousness.

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Out of the Rabbit Hole

2007-12-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

I've been in the "rabbit hole" for a while. The holiday has given me a chance to take a breather. I'll be catching up in the next few weeks and getting back at my regular pace.

I'm almost finished with "Everything Must Change" by Brian McLaren . I'll share some of my reflections on the book soon, but I thought I might share this picture that I took in the Dominican republic last month. It goes well with the following line from the book.

"I think about where the path of gross inequity leads - globally, nationally, locally. I think about the streets of Latin America and Africa, where every widow must be protected by iron gates and every wall topped with razor wire or broken glass to keep out desperately poor people who have found robbery the only way to survive."pg 248

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Unexpected Surprise - Fooling the Pastor

2007-10-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Park Slope Family,

I want to thank you for that unexpected surprise yesterday. You really got me! The gifts and words of encouragement really touched my heart. As a matter of fact I was a bit speechless. Thank you Missionettes for creatively disguising your award service and thank you leaders for putting it all together. The special Dinner was excellent. Thanks Emma & Ariel for lending us your beautiful home.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 1:2-6

Big Hugs

Pastor Luis

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C.S. Lewis on Leadership

2007-10-13T13:22:00.000-04:00

"Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live."

-C.S. Lewis

Balance

2007-10-07T23:54:00.000-04:00

I just finished a preaching series called "Balance" and these folks took me seriously (LOL). There's Deacon Noemi leading the pack with Gilbert right behind her. These are a few of the pictures from our annual Apple Picking Saturday in Battleview Orchards, New Jersey. Though it drizzled off and on, God gave enough time to pick apples, have a picnic and enjoy an epic game of whiffle ball. Deacon Jon got lucky and struck me out once. Would you believe that?

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Metro Hope Church: First Preview Gathering

2007-10-03T12:25:00.000-04:00

Church Planters Jose & Mayra Humphreys had their first preview gathering on Sunday, September 23. The gathering took place in Harlem's National Black Theater. There was a fantastic turn out of well wishers and those seeking a unique church experience.

They incorporated media and arts into the gathering. Leslie Rios, an artist from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, did spontaneous painting while Pastor Jose preached on Mark 2, the story of the paralytic.

Jose and Mayra are committed to a wholistic praxis of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last week they were able to collect canned goods and gently used clothes to be given to the African Services Committee, an organization in Harlem that works with African refugees and immigrants.

Jose and Mayra have been long time friends. I can attest to their heart for the city and a heart to serve people in an authentic way. Metro Hope is positioned to be a catalyst for revolutionary change in the city as well as an model for urban community.

Metro Hope Church is one of the churches that we support at Park Slope Tabernacle.

Let's continue to pray them....

Check out their blog CrackPots
For more info about Metro Hope check out http://myspace.com/metrohope

"Adelante como un elefante"

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Latino Leadership Circle to host "The Question of God"

2007-09-10T14:19:00.000-04:00

The Latino Leadership Circle is hosting a series of relevant movies that will encourage discussion and reflection.Movies will follow group discussion on topics presented in the film. Everyone is welcomed but seating is limited. Please register ASAP.

The Question of God, explores in accessible and dramatic style issues that preoccupy all thinking people today: What is happiness? How do we find meaning and purpose in our lives? How do we reconcile conflicting claims of love and sexuality? How do we cope with the problem of suffering and the inevitability of death? Based on a popular Harvard course taught by Dr. Armand Nicholi, author of The Question of God, the movie illustrates the lives and insights of Sigmund Freud, a life-long critic of religious belief, and C.S. Lewis, a celebrated Oxford don, literary critic, and perhaps this century's most influential and popular proponent of faith based on reason.

Date:	Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Location:	The American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
Cost:	Free of charge, but registration is required

Click Here to Register

For a recent interesting NY Times article entitled, "Defender of the Faith?" which argues that towards the end of Freud's life, he sees value in religion, click here.

I recommend this movie discussion for friends who struggle with belief in God and college students who, at best will confront an agnostic view of God in the classrooms.

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San Juan et. al.

2007-08-30T10:41:00.000-04:00

We're really soaking up all the great thing Puerto Rico has to offer. We visted "El Morro" yesterday and wandered around el "El Viejo San Juan." The people are "bien chevere" with us everywhere we go. The coqui lulls me to sleep at night and the warm Caribbean sun greets me at the dawn of each day.

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IMG_0232.jpg
Originally uploaded by pastorluisalvarez

Las Bellas Playas del Borinquen

2007-08-28T13:50:00.000-04:00

My good friends David and Gigi let me tag along with them to PR. We're out here in beautiful Moca, Puerto Rico taking a few days of r & r. We've been hitting the near by beaches of Moca, Aguadilla and Cabo Rojo. What can I say, "la Isla del Encanto" it's a beautiful place. It feels good to get away.

I'll be posting some more photos and perhaps some reflections...

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The 2007 Leadership Summit

2007-08-18T15:33:00.000-04:00

Last week 9 leaders (Jeanette, Lolita, Vanessa, Samantha, Chris, Daniel, Gabriela, Noemi and Wanda) and I had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Summit this year at Christian Cultural Center. Once again it was an outstanding experience. Speakers included: Rev. Floyd Flake, Colin Powell, Jimmy Carter and of course Bill Hybels.

Here's a link with video recaps

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The Worship Industry

2007-08-18T01:03:00.001-04:00

I caught this clip from Brian McLaren on worship. Check it out what do you think about what he calls the "Worship Industry"?

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New Fossils Challenge Evolution

2007-08-13T17:08:00.000-04:00

Apparently, new fossils found in Nairobi, Kenya are challenging the traditional notion of evolution. Scientist believe that human evolution occurred in linear succession, Homo habilis to Homo erectus to ourselves, Homo sapiens. This new discovery shows that Homo habilis and Homo Erectus were actually contemporaries. One couldn't have evolved from another. Interesting stuff...Of course this doesn't dispose with evolutionary science, but it certainly casts doubt on how we think humans evolved.
Check the article out in the NYU Public Affairs site.

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2007-08-10T17:51:00.001-04:00

Dr. George O. Wood was elected the 12th general superintendent of the Assemblies of God General Council, August 10, at the 52nd General Council. Having served as general secretary since 1993, Wood fulfills the unexpired term of Thomas Trask, who stepped down during the middle of his four-year term. Needing a two-thirds majority, Wood was elected on the sixth electoral ballot, receiving 70 percent of the vote. Read Wood’s biography.

I've meet Wood in 1999. He's a brilliant seasoned minister. Wood should finish Trask's term with faithfulness and distinction. Lets continue present the AG before the Lord.

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Steve and Dorothy Tie the Knot

2007-08-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of Mr. and Ms. Steven Sanabria, at the Woodbury Country Club in Long Island. It was a fantastic wedding.
Many blessings on your marriage guys!

Here's the Flickr Photo Set.
Thanks Pastor Jeremy.
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Arriving

2007-08-09T22:27:00.000-04:00

I was at JFK International Airport a few days ago to pick up my friends from their vacation in Puerto Rico. I waited outside of the airport arrival area for quite a long time. I remember doing this when I was about 10 years old or so. I remember picking up my grandmother as she arrived from the Dominican Republic one cold winter. Back then JFK was the only airport I knew about. We stood in crowds of people eagerly waiting for a glimpse of her. When we finally spotted her there was a sense of joy and relief.

That night reminded me of a time when picking someone up from the airport was an event. I was happy to see it still is for many people. The gate was filled with people from different nationalities Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Salvadorian, and Israeli. All were part of an audience in hopeful anticipation. Some held humorous signs, husbands and boyfriends had flowers in hand waiting for their "one and only," (yes it's true...chivalry is not dead). The appearance of an expected passenger brought shouts. Some passengers felt like celebrities on the red carpet. Rendezvous were endearing. Some were just smiling gazes and one word greetings. It was refreshing to see.

I reflected on how airport pickups embody acceptance and hospitality. They contain encouragement, cheer leaders and personal rooting squads. They bring to the surface thoughts and feelings that are too often not spoken or taken for granted. I wondered how our lives would change if we made most of our meetings "airport pickups". If we saw people as always "arriving," we would express our love to one another more frequently. We would appreciate each other more. We in turn would feel appreciated, cared for and encouraged.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11
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The Immigration Issue is Still Alive

2007-08-03T10:06:00.000-04:00

Although the general immigration bill failed to pass this year, pieces of the bill are being presented in the Senate, in particular the "Temporary Worker Program" and a version of the "Dream Act." This is a hopeful sign. Please continue to pray on this. Check out the NY Times Article below.

In Increments, Senate Revisits Immigration Bill

Alex Quesada for The New York Times

Juan Sebastian Gomez, 18, and his family received a reprieve this week from being deported to Colombia.

Enlarge This Image

Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, right, listened this week in Washington to friends of Juan Gomez, who asked that he not be deported.

Last week, the Senate approved $3 billion for border security as part of a Homeland Security Department spending bill. Democrats and Republicans have also begun laying ground for a bill to create a new temporary immigrant worker program for agriculture.

Another bill, also with bipartisan support, would give a path to citizenship to high school graduates who are illegal immigrants if they complete two years of college or military service. Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and a sponsor of the bill, attached it as an amendment to the military authorization legislation that the Senate last month put off until September. Mr. Durbin said he would seek to move it again then.

The agriculture and student measures “have a decent chance of passing this Congress because they have strong champions, broad bipartisan support and they have been around for a long time,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, which supported the broad bill. But he cautioned that they would have to overcome a “toxic” atmosphere on immigration in the wake of the defeated bill.

The college bill attracted renewed interest this week because of Juan Sebastian Gomez, a student who just graduated with honors from Killian Senior High School in Miami. On July 25, immigration agents in Florida detained Mr. Gomez, 18, his brother and his parents, all illegal immigrants from Colombia, and prepared to deport them. Immigration officials delayed the deportation on Wednesday after a group of Mr. Gomez’s high school friends roused support in South Florida and then flew to Washington to pound on doors.

The friends pointed to Mr. Gomez’s academic record — a near-perfect 3.96 grade-point average — and top scores on 11 Advanced Placement exams. They said he should not be punished for his illegal status because his parents brought him to the United States when he was 2.

The sweeping Senate immigration bill, which included a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, was defeated by opponents who said it would reward knowing lawbreakers and the employers who hired them. But many legislators, including some who opposed the broader bill, see the student measure differently because it would benefit immigrant teenagers who are illegal only because of decisions their parents made when the children were young.

“It’s unfair to make these young people pay for the sins of their parents,” Mr. Durbin said.

The Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington, says nearly a million immigrant students across the country could gain legal status under the bill, whose backers call it the Dream Act.

While the bill’s prospects seem favorable in the Senate, the outlook is not as bright in the House.

“We call it the Nightmare Act,” said Representative Brian P. Bilbray, a Republican from California who leads the Immigration Reform Caucus in the House. “We’re giving status to immigrants based on the fact they are here illegally. It really sends a mixed signal to both legal and illegal immigrants.”

Support has also re-emerged for the agricultural bill as labor shortages have hampered harvests this summer in states like California, Michigan and North Carolina. The bill’s supporters include growers, the United Farm Workers, conservative Republicans like Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho, and Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California.

The bill would expand and streamline the existing agricultural guest-worker program and offer legal status to illegal immigrants who are experienced farmworkers. At least 70 percent of the workers in agriculture are illegal immigrants, says the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, a national trade group.

The bill’s supporters say they are looking for ways to bring it to a vote before the year’s end. In one effort last week, during the debate on financing the Department of Homeland Security, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, sought a vote on an amendment that would combine the agricultural bill and the illegal immigrant student measure, but he did not succeed.

Mr. Gomez’s case has given Washington a vivid illustration of the issues behind the illegal immigrant student measure.

An affable teenager who attracted friends at Killian High by tutoring classmates in subjects as diverse as European history and biochemistry, Mr. Gomez seemed likely to be an exceptional college candidate. A volunteer at a neighborhood homeless shelter, he often did his schoolwork on the computers of friends because his parents could not afford one.

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Mr. Gomez’s parents, Liliana and José Gomez, brought him and his brother, Alejandro, who is a year older than Juan, to the United States from Colombia on tourist visas in 1990. The parents stayed and started a small catering business in Miami, and the boys went to public school.

Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Mr. Gomez’s parents applied for legal status but were denied in 2002. They have been facing deportation orders since then.

Mr. Gomez, barred from applying for financial aid because of his illegal status, enrolled in a Miami community college for the fall.

“All I’m hearing now is that I’m Colombian, but I’ve never really been there,” Mr. Gomez said in a telephone interview from Miami. He said he had no memories of the country where he was born and does not speak articulate Spanish. “They are taking me from my home in America,” he said.

The family was arrested as part of a nationwide immigration agency operation to track down immigrants scheduled for deportation, agency officials said.

From the vehicle that took Mr. Gomez to an immigration detention center, he made furtive cellphone calls to his high school friends. They opened a site on Facebook to signal his plight and contacted the news media.

A week later, Mr. Gomez’s site had more than 2,000 members and seven of his friends were working the hallways on Capitol Hill.

In interviews here, friends recalled Mr. Gomez’s spurring them through a three-day sleepless marathon of studying for an Advanced Placement exam in world history.

“I truly see Juan pursuing a career that does America good,” said Andrew Dubbin, 17, a junior at Killian. “He could do anything. He’s just genuinely smart and sociable.”

On Monday, Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida, offered a private bill to the House Judiciary Committee asking for legal resident status for Mr. Gomez and his brother. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican of Florida, delivered an appeal for the brothers to the White House, and Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, called immigration authorities.

On Wednesday, officials stayed the family’s deportation and released them for 45 days to give Congress time to consider their bill, Ms. Gonzalez, the immigration agency spokeswoman, said.

On Friday, Representative Zoe Lofgren, Democrat of California and chairwoman of the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee, will hold a meeting to consider private bills for three other illegal immigrant students facing deportation.

Ms. Lofgren said she hoped to take up Mr. Gomez’s bill after the August recess.

Brazil Air Crash

2007-07-18T10:40:00.000-04:00

Please pray for the families of the victims of plane tragedy in Brazil. It's believed that at least 189 are dead.
See article

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Part-time pastors juggle to fill churches’ needs

2007-06-25T15:31:00.000-04:00

An Associate press article says that many more churches are being run by bi-vocational pastors.

Part Time Pastors Article

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Bush Says Hispanic Evangelicals Key to Immigration Reform

2007-06-19T17:48:00.000-04:00

See the article from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

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Washington Trip

2007-06-16T17:10:00.000-04:00

I attended the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast,hosted by Esperanza. A couple of us from the Latino Leadership Circle were there. I had the opportunity of connecting with Hispanic Clergy from around the nation and neighboring countries, to pray and act on behalf of the Hispanic Community in the United States. Of particular concern was the current Immigration Reform Bill. To our dismay the bill was almost dead when we arrived in Washington. But after much lobbying by the President, media attention, particularly Latino Radio Personality, Piolin's more that 1 million letters, our lobbying on Thursday and our prayers, the bill was resurrected. My colleague, Pastor Jose Humpheys said that "it was as if everything aligned." We felt that we were part of history as we received the news that Thursday night that the bill was back in the Senate.

President Bush made an appearance Friday morning at the Esperanza Breakfast. He expressed that Hispanic Clergy

will be instrumental in getting an immigration reform bill passed. Other notable speakers were Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Gov. Howard Dean, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) who received the Esperanza Leadership Award, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY).
The Esperanza Spirit Award was given to Dr. Virgilio Elizondo and to the Rev. Eldin Villafañe, Ph.D., for exemplary ministerial service. And the Esperanza Advocate Award was given to Mr. Juan Hernández and to Mr. Eddie Sotelo “Piolín” for advocacy on behalf of the Hispanic faith based community.

The Immigration reform bill is currently in the Senate and looks to be heavily amended, and rightly so, its implementation seems unclear in many cases and at least 3 million of the undocumented would be left out if it were to be implemented as is. Nevertheless, this bill represents an opportunity to set things in motion and give a path of legalization to over 12 million good and hard working members of our society. Please continue to pray for this reform.

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Click here to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Headless Army

2007-06-07T02:34:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks a go I was at Princeton with the Latino Leadership Circle, for a strategic retreat and on our off time we had an opportunity to walk through the campus. We came across an intriguing statue outside McCormick Hall called "Big Figures". The sculpture is composed 20 bronze figures created by Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz. The figures, which form the sculpture stand 9 feet tall and weigh 600 pounds each. Abakanowicz, who says she became “obsessed by the image of the crowd, manipulated like a brainless organism and acting like a brainless organism,” describes her work as “a sign of lasting anxiety.”

The sculpture is a great metaphor for clueless leadership. The figures are Tall and heroic looking and tall. They don the garb of public figures, like politicians, businessmen and many clergy. Their formation speaks of succession or of a historical parade of men. They look gallant and intimidating, but a vital part of their anatomy is missing, the head. I got to thinking of how easily we follow such "figures" in life. It seems that much of leadership is devoid of true direction and understanding. Abakanowicz's "Big Figures," presents us with headless leadership. As leaders are we simply headless suits and is society simply following a brainless cadre?

In Colossians 1:18 Paul, using the body as a representation of the church, says " And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church;" The guidance of church leadership and ultimately the church itself is divine. As followers of Christ, it is Christ himself who directs us individually and who provides the "senses" to church.
If our ultimate guide is Jesus Christ (John 14:6) then we are not direction less, but heading on a clear path of life (John 10:10). I pray we don't lose our "head."

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Stuck in Limbo

2007-05-23T15:15:00.000-04:00

Film maker Joseph Martinez, young man who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Latino Leadership Circle ACTS Urban Youth Ministry Training, has put together a short film where he interviews Angie also an ACTS 2007 alumni, regarding the "Dream Act." The "Dream Act" is compassionate legislation that would allow undocumented students who study at college to have a path to citizenship.

Check it out

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Pastor Rick Waren represents an Evangelical Shift

2007-05-22T17:43:00.000-04:00

Many are considering Pastor Rick Warren among a growing group of Evangelical Christians Leaders who are rediscovering social responsibility. The New York Times makes a note of this. Check out
New York Times Article

Javier Arrives

2007-05-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Mayra and Jose had a 6 lbs 7 oz bundle of joy today. Congratulations guys!I celebrate this day with you. And it happened on Mothers day no less... I pray wisdom, intelligence and divine protection on Javier.

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Waiting for Javier

2007-05-12T13:56:00.000-04:00

Last night I hung out with Jose and Mayra at Lenox Hill Hospital. Mayra's water brok at 1:00pm and they're early awaiting their baby boy Javier. I think I was more nervous than they were. They looked relaxed, "just chillin." I'm really excited for them. Jose and Mayra are one of my closest friends. Along with this new birth they're also starting a new church, geared at the unchurched and seekers.See,

I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
-Isaiah 43:19
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Leg Hugs

2007-05-12T01:50:00.000-04:00

It's been a challenging week to say the least. The demands of church and work have been weighing heavily on me. There are times that I can feel the full weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I can go like this for weeks on end, but something happened today that eased the weight, as I made my way to my office on the 2nd floor of the church, I passed through k5. I was greeted by a kindergartner, who said "Hello Pastor" and gave me a big leg hug. As he did the others followed. I was recieving leg hugs from everywhere. I was touched it afforded me a moment to pause and reflect on life and my role in the Kingdom. Above all, these children made me feel loved and appreciated.

These moments cause me to continue unravel Jesus' mention of children in Mat.19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Could it be that children just by their presence have the unique ability to remind us of what the kingdom of heaven is all about, love, acceptance and faith. I wonder, could it be that our Lord was blessed as he blessed the children. Did he find love and acceptance in his busy day as children came to him? I did, and as these children hugged me I felt God's and their affirmation for me and my ministry.

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Pastor Luis