Pastor’s Corner 5/12
{ April 26th, 2012 }
A favorite pastime of mine has always been gardening! It is a moment into which I set aside time to clear the land, dig up the dirt and basically prepare the land for planting. I especially enjoy watching the seeds germinating and slowly bear fruits that are able to provide for everyone within the family and others. Over the years gardening has given me the chance to grow vegetables as well as root crops and help my wife with her flower garden.
The boys and I were always looking forward for the opportunity to garden together, whether it is at home or at the church! We were sure to not leave any weeds unrooted in our small garden in our backyard before planting new seeds and frequently watering the garden.
Shortly after moving from Fiji to Descanso near San Diego for my new appointment, our son David planted some seeds in our small garden in the front yard. He took pride in his garden and anticipated the growth of the seeds, but shortly in mid-March we received heavy snow. The whole neighborhood was covered with layers of snow, and it seemed for sure that the garden that David had planted was not going to make it through this harsh weather.
I assumed the seeds would not make it through the snow and heavy rain, but to my surprise the seeds began to spring into life. How the seeds continued to bloom under harsh conditions is a story applicable to our lives. Those who died in Christ will not remain in the tomb, but will rise again with Christ and live forever. He will never leave nor forsake us. And though we may walk in the valley of death with our sinful ways of living, God’s grace is sufficient and ready to forgive and welcome us back!
On Easter Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples. As written in John 20:21-22, they (the disciples) were gathered together behind locked doors and Jesus came and stood among them and Jesus said to them, “As the father sent me so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It was not until the day of Pentecost that the disciples received the Holy Spirit; they were not true believers and were similar to dead seeds. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit and lived again to spread the Good News to the end of the world.
All of us are created by God and are full of potential gifts and talents waiting for God’s grace to give life. As we anticipate the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost, we pray the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see the glory of God dwell among us, open our ears to hear the needs of others and open our hearts to receive God’s love.
It is our call to go into the world and plant the good seeds of hope and salvation and to share our new lives in Christ with all mankind and especially those who haven’t heard the word of God. Let us be mindful that God is calling us to witness for Christ through our actions and deeds.
With love,
Pastor Finau
I struggled for 5 years with my son’s problems. I prayed after church so many times I can’t count them. Then one day in January 2011 I said, “it wasn’t my problem any more”. I knew he wanted to be in Maine, near his son, who at the time was 10. I had a free ticket available and booked a trip for him. Then I had to make sure I could get him to agree to go. With a lot of praying he left Jan. 21, 20111. He had not been able to keep a job here for 5 years. When he arrived, he slept on a friends couch, found a job within a week, and has been there over a year, and has remained drug free.