WORDS TO PONDER

OTHER ARTICLES:

The Goodness of God (Posted June 18, 2008)

Today is my birthday! I want to extol the goodness and faithfulness of my God. The following verses have really touched me and they continue to serve as my inspiration,… (Continue reading)

The Joy of the Lord (Posted June 30, 2007)

Two weeks ago, a regular member of our Richmond Bible Study group came over and asked me how she could experience joy in her Christian life. Joy is the by-product of our action after we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (Continue reading)

Managing Stress in a different way (Posted May 27, 2008)

Not too long ago, an officemate approached me and said, Hey Joe, of all the people in this office, you appear to be calmed, relaxed and seem not to be stressed by office routine… (Continue reading)

BAHRAIN TO RICHMOND & BEYOND
by Bro. Joe Larano

Richmond Review Letter to the Editor

My letter to the editor expressing my appreciation to the many people who volunteered to assist those victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

A popular landmark in Manama, Bahrain

My ministry in church leadership started in Bahrain in 1986 when I volunteered as a newsletter illustrator. Later on I was appointed as news editor and eventually became the chief editor of the church newsletter, covering all the news and activities of the church. Through this ministry God paved the way and opened a bigger ministry role. I was elected into the Board of Elders of Bahrain Christian Fellowship and became the chairman of the Newsletter and Publication committee. I believe this post prepared me for a more fruitful and challenging church ministry ahead.

In 1998 my family immigrated to Canada and I found myself in the forefront role in church planting endeavor. Together with two other newly landed immigrants and with our respective families we started meeting as a Bible study group in Richmond B.C. This group later on formed the core members of the Family Christian Fellowship which held its inaugural worship service in October 2003. Serving the Lord as a church leader is fulfilling but it is equally satisfying to serve Him in various capacities as a Bible study leader, worship facilitator, driver, adviser, encourager and counsellor, to name a few. I believe whatever role God entrusts to us is to be considered with sanctity and due diligence. Everything He has given us has to be put in productive endeavors.

God has opened several avenues to facilitate the enormous roles I have been playing in the ministry. I am amazed that despite my lack of wisdom the Lord has sustained and has given these leadership qualities. I believe everything I did in the ministry is “not by my power but by the spirit of the Lord”. Christ’s method of leadership serves as my example: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve”.

As a church I have seen how God has wonderfully allowed Family Christian Fellowship to grow both spiritually and numerically. He has also graciously allowed me to experience the challenges and trials the church has undergone in difficult times. In both circumstances, I am so blessed that God is always good and in control of everything. I am convinced that in the past God was with us. At present He is at hand and in the future and beyond, God will always be there for us!

Looking back through those years as a servant of God I can truly say that our life and everything in it should be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are God’s created beings and we owe our life and existence to Him. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made at the cross to save us sinners is proof of His great love. We are created to worship Him and our praise and adoration should be directed only to Him. I am His child and I am proud to be called “a sinner saved by grace.”

OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD THIS COMING YEAR

by Joe Larano, Jr- Richmond B.C. Canada

Walking and driving using roads and highways with several inch-deep snows could be torturous, if not dangerous. This is the case when Metro Vancouver experienced a heavy snow falling intermittently over a period of two weeks in December 2008. While snow at main roads are periodically plowed by city crews, local and interior roads serving neighborhoods are left with snow piling up to knee-deep, which makes driving or walking a real nightmare.

Our neighborhood street at the height of Dec. 2008 snowstorm.

One morning, I braved the thick of the snow and headed to office for work, confident that my AWD vehicle can easily make it just like” walking in the park”. With snow as thick as 12 inches, I inched my way to reach the end of my driveway. Backing off and slightly increasing speed to align with the road, the sound of engine started to roar which meant that the wheels are turning but not gripping to any hard surface or foundation. The car is stuck! With a little push to the accelerator, the car still can’t move. A neighbor who is passing through came closer and gave a cursory look at the still-moving wheel tires. The man signaled me to press a bit on accelerator but worst it got stuck going deeper into the snow. He tried steering and tried various gear shift position but to no avail. This car is no match to this kind of snow. My neighbor, sensing that the car is going nowhere, excused himself as he, too is going to work that morning. While slumping to seat in utter desperation, I noticed a button beside the gear shift lever. I haven’t used that button before and have no idea of the function of this button. I reached for the car owner’s instruction manual and started reading what that button is for. It says the button is a special gear shift to ensure a smooth and safe driving over a medium to heavy snowy road conditions. After turning on the button and pressing a bit on the accelerator the whirring sound disappeared. The car started to move forward and backward, too. I gave the accelerator a final push and “lo and behold” the car was able to moved, left that spot and reached my destination.

In most scheme of things, we boast ourselves and take pride that we can do things by our own doings. With education and experiences, backed with material possessions, we consider ourselves accomplished, unstoppable and can hit the road with success “just like walking in the park”. We are overly confident that things, materials and all of such desired things can be obtained by our ‘qualifications’. We are boasting that we find our salvation and all the good things in life by our own accomplishment. Ephesians 2: 8-9, simply tells us it is only by God’s grace that we have been saved. Our Almighty God is our Creator who knows every bit of ourselves. As created beings, we hold no authority to pride and boast of ourselves. We can do nothing but to submit to His majestic and loving authority. We have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ which freed us from the slavery of sin should guide us to acknowledge that we are not capable of doing simple or majestic things.

Given the fact that we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, all of our life’s aspects should be anchored to His teaching and instructions. We might have accumulated knowledge and experienced the rudiments of life, but this is no match to the rigor and trials and schemes of the enemies. Unless we acknowledge God’s omnipotence and rely on His words, we are nothing but pile of rubbish before God’s sight. God’s word is our Life Instruction Manual (2 Tim 3:16) that we can always read and refer during turbulent period of spiritual life’s storm. No matter how strong that storm is, surely enough we can overcome all obstacles. Our life’s failure and weaknesses could hamper our journey, but it we cling to God and to His teachings, we can surely move forward and reach our destination. Happy New Year!

May the New Year bring us excitement like a First Love -
with a fresh discovery every day
that will take our love one level closer to our Maker
till we find that His love is all we need in this life.
Blessings of LOVE, PEACE, HEALTH and HAPPINESS
in 2009 and the YEARS ahead.

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A DINNER INVITATION FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

By Joe Larano Richmond BC

A great banquet prepared by the Lord for His children.

A week before Christmas, my boss approached me in my workstation to convey their invitation for a Christmas dinner in their place. Being aware that I am alone with my three boys and nowhere to go during Christmas, my boss openly expressed their sincerity of inviting me in their family Christmas dinner.

With no previous experience of being invited by a Canadian family, and much more, of being invited by my own boss, I was nearly tongued-tied and speechless upon hearing the invitation. I didn’t expect that kind of invitation. As if feeling terrified, I was not able to say ‘yes or no’ and just told my boss I have to consult my three boys first. My wife who left in the first week of December to visit her ailing mother in the Philippines, had told me in the airport to spend the holiday with kids and accept invitations from those in our church circle and from those others who simply want our presence in their holiday gathering. Upon reaching home that day, I gathered round my three kids and told them of the invitation of my boss. Persuaded by my proposition, my two teen-aged boys canceled their personal activities on Christmas day and submitted themselves to my pleading. My kids, then began to understand the fact that the one who invites us is our boss and secondly the other fact that it is an honor and privilege to be invited on such a private occasion as a Christmas dinner. I have always the notion that a Christmas dinner in North American psyche is traditionally a private affair for a family to celebrate. In the end, we were able to attend the Christmas dinner and experienced the merriment eating, drinking and having fellowship with the host and other members of their family.

This personal experience reminds me of the invitation of our Lord Almighty for us to eat, drink and dine with Him. Our Great Boss, who created the heaven and the earth, is giving His invitation to all, to those who will hear his call, pray and seek his face, and to those who humble themselves and ask for God’s forgiveness. In Luke 22: 29-30, our Lord Jesus tells us if we serve Him and stood with Him, we are conferred a kingdom so that in the process we may eat and drink at His table in His kingdom. Our Lord’s invitation is always open in all seasons, not only during special holidays but in every moment as He knows that every second of it is an opportune time for us to heed his invitation- to ultimately know Him as our Lord and Savior. Though the Lord’s invitation is open to all, it is unique in every sense, as this invitation is tailor-made to answer our unique spiritual needs, struggles and weaknesses. The desire of our heart to say ‘Yes’ to His invitation is an act of worship and submission – giving praises and honor to the Lord of Host. The joy of eating, drinking and having fellowship with the Master Host and other members of God’s family is an experience to behold for it says “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb” for these are the true words of God. (Revelation 19:9)