Not That Far

(Wrote this Thursday while at the airport!)

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, NIV)

While the sun rises at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, I’m waiting with my family pondering a little thought…

We woke up at 3 AM just to get dressed and leave by 5. (Don’t worry, I’ll deal with the schoolwork later!) Everything went fine: packing our bags to the car, driving to a Vallet parking lot and dropping off our van, taking a shuttle to the airport and passing through security. All was normal except one thing (a constant on any trip, unfortunately): the incessant hollering of verbs and short, imperative sentences.

At this point in time, I should know better. I do regret being told and admonished by anyone in my nuclear family (sorry for being PC!) about the same thing over and over again. To date, it is uncanny for someone to be scolded about being aware of EVERYTHING! And yet, it is not far to obey and listen.

This is the same warning Moses gave to Israel (I do love this part of Deuteronomy!) It is not so far out in the heavens for someone to holler, “Dude, can someone get a ladder and take it out for me?”. Nor is the law so far out in the sea or down in the earth for someone to say, “Dude, can you get an oil rig and drill it out for me?” His law is in our minds, souls and hearts, embedded at the sounding of the Spirit within. Paul also uses that a few millennia later, with the obvious reference to Jesus, the One that left from Heaven (not far from the sky), the One that left to Heaven (not that far from the Earth). He is the word that we will listen, sooner or later.

Now, if paid attention….

Writeaholic

(Sorry for being a sloppy writer! This will be my last post before we hit tomorrow to Florida. I should return with my craziness by next week.)

And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."(Revelation 10:4, NIV)
While pausing in my blogging, I am still active writing songs and trying to play the piano. I am doing well on my grades, all As and one B, obviously, in Musicianship. I’m keeping an inventory of what I write, and it’s growing by the minutes. Simple things give even the slightest meaning to a song. I look for worship; I love for it, I seek to it, not because I deserve it, but because it is my duty.

Allow me to leave slight narcissism away. I lost my binder by utter carelessness. (You must be aware at this point that I leave stuff periodically in many distinct places.) This gave me a reason to write (and another admonishment from my uncle and mother of being more careful). Another thing: when I hear my dad yelp about America and wanting to go back to Puerto Rico (I don’t blame him), I take a pencil, notebook and paper, and start writing. Even more, there is potential material for writing, just as long as I can get my hands on a Bible and a verse I’ve been thinking of writing something up!

This, as you see, is pure irony. Writing about Jesus has become my staple and my passion, and I do not want to let that dwindle, not even in the craziest means! On one side, writing is a gift; as such, it should not go to waste; on another, am I exaggerating on writing too much?

What are the specifics of a writeaholic? When it’s the time that God says, “Do not write, it is not time yet?” Daniel was instructed to close the book, but what about John? He was instructed not only what to write, but also when to write. It’s so amazing that even God leads our steps, our consciences and our freedom. Maybe God will show me when to write, when not. For now, I’ll just enjoy writing worship to heart.

We're Beggars

It is mysterious and wonderful how Facebook works it out. I’ve requested ads of a few people I know back there, and I can connect with others much faster (especially with the older people who don’t use MySpace). I’m having a sad countenance now, unfortunately, because I see how things are going in Puerto Rico. Even more, it looks certain the fact that I may head home again… and that makes me afraid. My fear is not of God deserting me –He will never depart my way- but of returning home. Going to Orlando is exciting to see my family again, but it seems like the beginning of the end of my journey in America, cut short by a whim. On another hand, I leave a pack of experiences of America in my heart. Many things I have learned, and I love this so much I do not want to pack my bags just now. I know it’s too early to jump into conclusions, but God does things that aren’t comfortable for us. (I feel that I will revert to classical Joe any moment soon.) God does things that we are NEVER ready to do! (This I learned from Christian Club, and it is true to the highest power.)…And I draw something that I wrote up on December 16, 2009, about returning and God…

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58, NIV)
I see this verse on a crazy time in my life. Now that Christmastime has arrived, it is also prudent to be open that I do not know where the rest of my life is headed. “In Christ”, of course, will be the first and logical answer (and the perfect clause to add), but there is a truth evident: we’re beggars.

Whatever happened since June must’ve been God’s job. The truth of the matter is, we don’t know where we will sleep next. This transition, this big leap across the pond, has changed our lives in an unorthodox, but magnificent way. Tension still remains, for we do not know if we will stay in Maryland, or leave to Florida, or even turn back to Puerto Rico.

Allow me to evaluate: I am willing to stay in Maryland for a while, but I want to finish high school. My dad has been crazy ever since we got here to go back there (I don’t blame him; he’s comfortable), and I am tied to whatever decision he and Mami takes. My sister and I are still reluctant to go back, if the point of this change is to… well, change! But what if we do leave and I have to restart high school somewhere in the country, or somewhere back in my country?

The question remains: If I leave Maryland to turn back to Puerto Rico or to Florida or anywhere, what would I do? Isn’t it the Lord’s job to send us, as He was sent by His own Father to earth, as He did on that manger? On the cross? On the temple? Truth is, the immortal Son of Man was delivered on this transient world for the freedom He already has. Everything He touched was mortal: skin, man-made temples, the sea, cloth, even He was buried on a “loaned” grave! Such human place for an immortal… is this love?

Whereas we pack our bags tomorrow and leave, amidst all the reluctance, this should be the prayer in my heart: “Be it Your will, Son of Man, that I take at every place I go.”

You Alone are God

I woke up early to take the SAT. I can explain later, but it wasn't too grueling as I thought, even though I had the Reasoning only. Before I hit the sack, lemme post something up...

I must've had the song in my head. (I wanted to post "Yele", the one Wyclef Jean sang, but it was in Creole/French.) Anyways, I'm relieved that this week has ended, and all the pressures (SAT, science project) have died out. Thank You, Jesus.

Organizing a bit for next semester, but knowing consciously that I'll leave to FLORIDA for the week! I can't wait to see the family!

Blessings y Bendiciones,
Joe

P.S.: Please explain...?

As Long as Today Stands

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:12, 13, NIV)

Today is a day where we have stuff to do. God gave us 24 hours to spend (or waste!) wisely, but we like to chew a little bit more, huh? (I know the feeling.) Plans may not work, reasoning may fail, but God will still find a little empty niche in the deep of our hearts to say, “It is still Today, My love”. I have never realized the power of Today…

As long as this earth keeps running, there is still a chance to know His heart. Even with the entire hoopla going around the world, our future, our schools, our churches, and in our lives, Today means the value of Jesus knocking and saying, “I am still here.” There is still a spirit groaning in us that pays attention to the will of the Father, at least convincing us of opening our eyes, even though we are not willing… This is Today, where God can fill the empty hearts and He can raise the dead again.

Today… is hard to say. Fear will still evade us, and we are to do good ALWAYS! What will it be if our light is dimmed by will? What would Jesus do? When will His return come by and pass? Expectation, anger, anxiety, fear, hope, and love just mix together at the grasp of a moment… And God is still there!

As long as there is a Today, be it this second, this hour, this day or whenever, we know that by grace we will still make the best of it in our lives. (Why did the Lord made us a sense of humor?) Regrettably, the night will end, the day will soon shine with justice. Let us hope that our lives are not hardened, and that His Spirit resounds brightly over us.

If and Only If

(Been thinking about this…)

The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." (Exodus 16:3, NIV)

In my geometry class, I learned about logical reasoning and conditionals. A conditional is an if-then statement (e.g.: If a city votes against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife, then its citizens are mostly Republican.). However, its converse follows the same if-then statement backwards (e.g.: If a city’s citizens are mostly Republican, then they are against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife.). A conditional may have a truth value, and it may be true or false. The conditional may be false, but the converse may be true. If both conditional AND converse are true, they are combined using a biconditional with if and only if (e.g.: A city votes against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife if and only if its citizens are mostly Republican; is it true?)

I do not mind the value of conditionals and biconditionals. However, I do not see them with good eyes when it comes to the things of God. I look at the desert, where the Israelites suffered –for their own good at the end- during four straight decades. They were hollering infinite “If only’s” and complaining –REAL killers of the power of the Mighty! “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand…!” This time, per verse, they were complaining about the food. “If only…” “If only…” “If only!”…

Seeing how “if and only if” as a way of limiting God has made me view things differently about stuff. If you are a Christian, then you are going to Heaven, but if you are going to Heaven, then you are a Christian? If Jesus is the Savior then He died for us, but if a man died for us, then He is Jesus the Savior? If God is holy, then He has big standards, but if God has big standards then He is holy?

Wait a minute!

These conditionals I don’t view well definitely speak a truth…for us who believe! On one side, they show a complaint which is not pretty; on another side, they will always be true with Jesus, in any way or matter. Let us try how it looks with each conditional…

If God is love, then I am glad to be alive.
If I am glad to be alive, then God is love.
God is love if and only if I am glad to be alive!

Mamut Takes On: I Had a Dream...

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." (Exodus 12:31, 32, NIV)

Today, a day is celebrated for Martin Luther King, one of the most important leaders of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s. As I write, I am also hearing his speech, “I have a dream”. (This is a challenge!) How he uses history, how he uses many techniques to display his message better! But that’s not important; he had a dream: everyone would be together in this Earth, as a whole family. Even after death, his dream lives on to the future.

Can we consider that many of the changes in society during this time and space affect the world? In a sense, yes, they did! Today, minorities have a greater call on politics, even the defining votes! The voice of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and others who live in America is now being heard fairly, echoing –if the least- King’s dream of a people together in peace and grace. Unfortunately, as much as America is finally showing fairness to everyone, there is also a window for injustice and lewdness. King’s ideals have been tried to be silenced, but –thank God- it failed.

There is still hope in all of this madness. The dream of an Exodus keeps pressing onwards. King’s dream is not another plain glimpse of Heaven, but a just cause for excellence. The time is now for us to show the same ideals that King did to everyone. I dare use this without a startling remark of shortcomings, because I know that God will head me into His grace.

I draw Exodus, not because of the reference in Negro spirituals and songs, but it is the simple reminder that God even lets His people be imprisoned, and then He would use a vessel to liberate them. I guess, MLK Day is a reminder of our rights as minorities, but more, as a reminder of hope in a new world.

I Sit and Look Out

(I have used Deut. 32:39 once, but not in this way. I mixed the title, “I sit and look out” with its namesake (the poem by Walt Whitman) and said verse. This is a reminder that God will “sit and look out” for us, even in tragedy. This goes for the victims of the recent Haiti earthquake…)

I sit and look out upon the troubles of the Earth
To see how My land is doing
I see many nations grieving in pain and death
I have wounded and I will heal
No god can stand before Me
See how that I am your Deliverance

I sit and look up, between the heavens and earth
And see how dry is the soil
I open my heart to confess to the King
You have wounded and You will heal
No god can stand before You
Let us see that You are our deliverance

I sit and look out, upon the troubles of the earth
My pleas to the Father continue
Yet I stand from the throne while I see praises
I have wounded and I will heal
No god can stand before Me
See how that I am your Deliverance

I raise my hand quietly to see the that in pain
The Lord’s my exceeding joy
The destruction is over, hear our repentance
You have wounded and You will heal
No god can stand before You
Let us see that You are our deliverance

I sit and look out upon the troubles of your heart
To clean your stain and blemish
You are made righteous by the power of my Word
I see His favor upon our heads
The sun is shining brighter
The people will sing, sooner or later the song

I have wounded and I will heal
No god can stand before Me
See how that I am your Deliverance
You have wounded and You will heal
No god can stand before You
Let us see that You are our deliverance

I Still Have Hope

 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. (Lamentations 3:21,22, NIV)

Seeing Haiti in such condition…

Haiti is an already poor country, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. I only lived a few hundred miles away, in Puerto Rico, and hearing in the news, we had a bigger chance of an earthquake than Haiti did! (The last earthquake in Puerto Rico was in 1918, and there is still an ominous presence for the “big one”.) Seeing Haiti crumble in such desperation worries me deeply because anything can happen in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico can be next, and by God’s grace nothing has happened in the last few decades…

I am not shaky, but worried. I’m as worried to Haiti and Puerto Rico as I am for a project in which I joined hands with someone I didn’t knew, knowing perfectly that I can do it alone. I still have a heart-heavy chest as I am writing, which is a completely unnoted irony. More than that, why condemn them now, when they need the most of our help!? (Pat Robertson told Haitians made a “pact to the devil” in order to be free from the French two centuries ago, but they suffered “one thing after another” and they are poor.)

Where has the compassion gone to? Many are dead, displaced, feeling sorrow and disgrace. The city of Port-au-Prince has been flattened to the ground. Others can’t go yet to their home countries, and rebuilding will obviously go to the billions. Will I be willing to return to Puerto Rico if something happened...?

There is more than what catches the eye. Even in the destruction, there is restoration. As much as Jesus restores individuals, Jesus restores nations. I’m still shaky and worried, but I still have faith that the project will be finished by its deadline; even more, Haiti will trust in the Lord and be restored.

My prayers go to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Blogging for Grace

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9,10,NIV

I have done foolish decisions, yet we all have done so as well. Clearly, I get pent up at times when it’s hard for me to write up a 250-words-or-more devotion and expect comments. It happened in the past, and I guess here too. Writing becomes a work, a hassle, when it is supposed to be a blessing and a delight. Writing Jesus and living Him are two different things, but perfect harmony exists if both are used. Sometimes, I write for mercy, which it shouldn’t be; I write for faith, which I should have; and I may also write for grace, which I don’t deserve.

I’m afraid to blog for grace, which is, writing about God because I need His grace. It does not work like that on this side of Heaven, no matter how many books I write, or how many songs I sing. Blogging for grace… I’ve been thinking of this a long time now. Sometimes we feel forced to do something for God when we should rejoice about it!

This is the oxymoron of love. Who are we to find love, if we don’t have to work for it? Who are we to call for grace, if we don’t deserve it? We do things: we worship, sing, clap, write, rejoice, spread the Gospel, help, and do many other things not because we need to. We don’t deserve love, but God already loved us! I don’t blog because I need to blog; I blog because I am already loved. I don’t write because I have to write for God to save me; I write because God HAS saved me from death!

The mystery of grace is so abundant but mysterious. As deeper we reach the heart of God, we reach a deeper conviction of how dirty are we in His presence. At the same time, we still have a heartbeat of assurance that He loves us, with no need to love us! As long as there is a Today on our minds, there is still a chance to join the people of love. Furthermore, as long as we are in this earth, we still have a God who loves us and follows every path of ours. We still breath and hope that his Truth will shine, not because we want to, nor we follow to, but because He loves us more than enough to give us His truth.

How great is this freedom!

Pray Without Ceasing

…pray continually… (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV)
Just when I woke up, I slid to the laptop and entered NationStates. Out of the blue (thanks, God) I found a prayer chain on the sidebar. Oddity of oddities! Who would be such of a nut to do that!? (Cue thinking in amusement!) I clicked there, and someone decided to start the chain for the benefit of prayer. What amused me was the gall of some spamming the thread, but the dexterity of them to keep going!

“Pray continually”, or in another version, “pray without ceasing”, was the command Paul gave to the people in 1 Thessalonians. They were in need of uprooting and alerted of the Lord’s incoming return. After all, we are to be joyful, thankful, grateful, and humble servants, and even more!

…And I lost track. Sorry! Where was I? Oh! Prayer!

Padre, I know and realize that I am risking it (the prayer), but be glorified in my life. Forgive my sins, forgive my guilt, make me anew. Show the way to many in need, lost, or confused. I pray for my dreams, goals, and aspirations, and other’s drams, goals, and aspirations. I pray for the people, the freedom, hope, love, grace, and truth. I pray for our life in You, as I want to live. In Your name, according to Your will…

I guess we have to start bending down again!

The Dream

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11, NIV)

Ah! I missed opening four or five windows, with two surely being Bible Gateway and the forums. I also missed writing for twenty minutes the first thing in the morning so everyone could see throughout the day. Even more, I missed the snappy comments, the zany topics, my imagination stretched to its limits…constantly. It has been around three months since I stopped writing for whatever reason happened; I’m just happy to start over, but can there be more to writing than as I usually held true on?

Never has it occurred that we are “asleep” in ourselves, as living in a constant limbo. Without Christ, we’re just…snoozing around, looking for something to do. I guess there is a dream we’re prisoners of. Not of our aspirations, our goals, and our future, but just prisoners of unawareness of God. God will either snap us out of it now, or in the final day. (Don’t want to get 2012 on a real thing, but…)

At this point, I am used to writing how I miserably fail to uphold the chance that I can’t do anything. Yet things are different now, more than ever. The deciding moments of this Earth abide by people snapping out of their dream and long on to Christ. I know that I’m a constant snoozer, and that this verse is usually taken off personally. In this case, not so!

I now see what I will lose if I’m not careful. Trying to be more of an adult rather than being a child –and not harming myself in the process- is one thing, but being aware of Christ’s incoming return is another. At this moment, there is still something to hang onto. God is still giving us a window to wake up from the dream of death, and be sanctified in His blood. Again, we all have dreams, even more to those who hope in Christ, but where does it draw the line?

While we can’t conform to this world, what do we have as our Aid? Where many still live in the dream of judgment –the one I rightly deserve- , we are still living in the dream of hope, not of this world, but of the next. This is the hope that I want to live, preach, remember and die for, if it’s the case. This is the hope that is my anchor and dove. This is Joe, this is the God I serve, and this is my life.

Forever, Together?

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21, NIV)

You may remember by now that this blog started on The Commonwealth, back in June. There may be some certain relics of the past (e.g.: the logo, rough translations) that are still maintained in my heart, but it has been ever more lonely since it broke up. (Please recognize, it is a forum.) One of my fears of starting solo was that who would dare to read my posts, outside of my friend back in Puerto Rico and very few people? Another question was, will I see (or…play?) them again?

While trying to draw out the overdramatic tone, I found one of my friends on NationStates. (That is where all started.) He obviously recognized me, and I asked him about other players. He responded with a “some are still active” prompt. (There was a question left unanswered, about the blog, but it is not important now.) I see his “region”, but I also see his forum. (This is the depressing part, so please brace yourselves!) I was depressed when I saw the forum; some of the people that we knew were there. Of course, I checked out other forums with names that I do know familiar. In a sense, I resented for the people to break up and choose sides; even more, I resented not writing for that same group. (This is why I asked him, with not so much exact wording, if I move to his forum, will the blog be revived?)

The discord let me to John 17, when Jesus prayed for unity between everyone. It was hard for Him to pray to His father to be restored, lest dealing with His death. Yet in all purposes, He prayed for them to be together in grace and love. Jesus knew that His people will suffer (we still do, some more, some less, some emotionally and personally), and that His direction of staying TOGETHER is invariably needed.

Certain is today, that we are more than together. The cries of Jesus to His father will never die, yet the world hinging on fights and wars too much…Where are we headed? For now, I cannot choose where to go. But I do choose to love my God with all my heart, strength and soul, and my brother as myself. Earth is too broken beyond repair, but Jesus will take care of that; let me look forward to Heaven, let me see a whole people singing…

Boxing God

First post of the New Year 2010!

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, NIV)

Today I was helping my mother dismount the (fake!) Christmas tree, while I also took a few embellishments. This is literally the most depressing part of the holidays, taking out the decorations. (Inasmuch as we live in an apartment now, we only decorated with a tree, a poinsettia I bought for her from school, and some long winter wreaths in the long window. What was most notable was the fact that we also had to take care of hiding the nativity scene that I adore and some winter houses that Mami brought from Puerto Rico.

Even when I failed to take a picture of Mami dismounting the nativity (thus the creation of said post), I somewhat realized how shallow the holidays can be- and for this Puerto Rican living in America, don’t think that they’re over yet! How are we so fond of boxing God effortless? I know that the nativity, like most things, is made out of ceramic, but something can be drawn from this. Not only holidays, but any day, we are so sure of boxing God even in our subconscious matters, boxing ourselves to His touch, His love, His freedom by our own.

Boxing God is not on our expectations, not an iota. For some, boxing God is relatively easy: they do it all the time! For others, boxing God is the equivalent of a major mortal sin. (Between these extremes, I will fall on the “major-mortal-sin” type, but when I do something that can be considered “boxing God” out of my life, I get stuck!) We do box His power out, putting limits on an unlimited Savior (shall I need proof?), we do need for His fire to be rekindled and filled continuously.

Thus, unfortunately, boxing God out of our hearts, minds and souls will never approach victory, not even the least. He will let hearts harden, but He will also let hearts to melt in grace and favor. (Isn’t the Lord wonderful!?) Thus Jesus knocks in the door of our hears, seeking, just seeking, if someone will take Him out of the box of their hearts into a new life. A new life breathes and bemoans and bewilders out of the ashes, yet life can also breathe by letting God out of the box, letting Him rule our hears, letting Him rule our work and our place in this earth…

(I cannot say I am totally finished.)