Pastor Luis' Blog

As many of you know, I think food is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. Besides loving to eat, I believe a meal tastes better when shared with friends and family. The enjoyment you feel as you sit around the table, share stories, laugh and partake in God’s daily bread is unlike any activity that we participate in.

I’m on one of my favorite Islands in the world, Puerto Rico, “La Isla del Encanto”,  with my good friends Rev. David and Gigi Ramos and I’ve enjoyed some excellent food here. Among the great dishes Puerto Rico offers is “Mofongo”, a garlic-flavored plantain dish served with pork, chicken or sea food, with a delectable sauce. I  have this all the time in the States but it just taste better on the Island with friends.

Food plays a prominent role in scriptures,  references include, Jews celebrating liberation from Egypt with the Passover meal, the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion and the Apostle John chronicling the voice of Jesus as he says:

“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.” -Rev. 3:20

The “new birth” is likened to partaking a meal with Jesus. Something happens when we have a meal with others. Intimacy grows among those gathered at the table. Life is shared,  and love and friendship have fertile ground to grow.  I would be the first to admit that I don’t always think of fellowship when I’m hungry, my mind gets focused on gulping down my food and satiating my need. Why do we have to wait for vacations and special occasions to sit down together? With a bit thought and minimal planning we can share the best of God’s provision with others. Here are some things we can do:

• Make it a point to have lunch with someone at least twice a week.
• Buy lunch for someone in need and sit with them.
• Bring back family dinner around the table (not around the television).
• At least once a month have dinner with a close friends, people you enjoy spending time with.

I suspect God has many things to reveal to us around the table.

My Mofongo de Pollo, Isla Verde Restaurant, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Pastor Luis

Moca, Puerto Rico

“Learning is acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men [women], and studying all the various editions of them.” – Lord Chesterfield,”Letters to His Son”

I had the opportunity of driving Erwin McManus to the airport last Saturday with my good friend Rev. David Ramos of Latino Leadership Circle. One of the questions we asked Erwin was what he felt would be the single greatest asset an organization or individual could possess in the future. His answer was simple. He replied, “creativity”. He pointed out what TOMS Shoes is doing, provide shoes for the impoverished children of the world. If you haven’t seen it yet, AT&T features a commercial with this company. This is the offer: for every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS Shoes will give a pair to a child in need. This is not some type of marketing ploy. As a matter of fact TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: “One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good”

This type of social entrepreneurism moved me. Besides becoming a big fan of TOMS shoes, I began to think about ways I can use my God given creative abilities to demonstrate God’s love by meeting a need.

Who ever thought that we could love a child in Mexico by buying a pair of shoes? Who ever thought we could give Jesus a much-needed pair of shoes (Mat. 31:36)

Pastor Luis
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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.

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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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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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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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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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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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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