(Versión español sigue abajo)

This weekend marks the Centenary of the sinking of the Titanic.

During the war the Nazis made a blockbuster propaganda movie about the sinking of the Titanic, in which they blamed British profit-seeking greed for the tragic loss.

In the last days of the war, the same ship SS Cap Arcona that had been used for filming, was used again to cover up the horrors of the Holocaust. Packing the ship with inflammable materials, the Nazis forced concentration camp inmates on board. The ship would be attacked, and many witnesses of the Holocaust would be killed in the operation.

On May 3 1945, not knowing who was on board, the Royal Air Force sank the SS Cap Arcona. 5,500 were murdered as the ship blew to pieces. Almost four times as many who died in the actual Titanic sinking in 1912.

Disgracefully, we have all heard about the Titanic, but few have heard about the SS Cap Arcona. I wonder why?

“Jerusalem, we pray that you will have peace, and that all will go well for those who love you.” Psalm 122:6 (CEV)

Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial los nazis rodaron una película de propaganda sobre el hundimiento del Titanic, en la cual ellos culparon la avaricia británica y la búsqueda de la ganancia por la pérdida trágica.
En los días anteriores del fin de la guerra, el barco SS Cap Arcona que había sido usado para la película, fue usado otra vez ya que los nazis trataron de cubrir los horrores del Holocausto. Llenando el barcocon materiales inflamables, los nazis forzaron a prisioneros de campos de concentración a bordo. El barco sería atacado, y muchos testigos del Holocausto serían matados en la operación.

El día 3 de mayo de 1945, no sabiendo quiénes estaban a bordo, El Ejercito Airea Real Británico hundió a el SS Cap Arcona. 5 500 fueron asesinados cuándo el barco sopló a piezas. Casi cuatro veces más murieron qué en el hundimiento del Titanic actual en 1912.

Vergonzosamente, hemos oído muchas veces de la tragedia del Titanic, pero pocos han oído sobre el buque Cap Arcona SS. Me pregunto ¿por qué?

“Pedid la paz de Jerusalem: Sean prosperados los que te aman.” Salmo 122:6

(Versión español sigue abajo)

“They marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13.
Until I read the Bible in Spanish, I always believed that this verse demonstrated that there was an aurora hanging around those who spent time with Jesus. After all, I had heard hundreds of sermons from this text, and every one of them gave a supernatural edge to people who ‘had been with Jesus’! The suggestion was that there was a super-class of Christians, who were so ‘holy’ their piety was rewarded by a kind of protestant halo.
But in the Spanish Bible RV1960 (and also in the REB) the connotation is quite different: “They KNEW them – that they had been with Jesus.” It was only a short time since the trial of Jesus. The apostles were standing before the Sanhedrin. And the men of the Sanhedrin recognized them. They knew them. They knew they were ‘companions of Jesus’ as the REB says.
So what’s my point? Simply this: Christians do not glow in the dark simply because they pray and read the Bible.
People will only recognize us as His companions if we tell them that we are His disciples!
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God…” Luke 12:8

” Entonces viendo la constancia de Pedro y de Juan, sabido que eran hombres sin letras é ignorantes, se maravillaban; y se notaron que habían estado con Jesús.  Hechos 4:13.
Hasta que leí la Biblia en español, yo siempre creía que este versículo demuestra que hubo una aurora alrededor a los quienes pasaban tiempo con Jesús. Después de todo, había escuchado cientos de sermones de este texto, y cada uno de ellos le dio una ventaja sobrenatural a las personas que ‘habían estado con Jesús’! La sugerencia fue que existe una superclase de cristianos, que son tan ‘Santo’ que su piedad es recompensada por una especie de luminosidad, una especie de ‘gloria’.
Pero en la Biblia española RV1960 (y también en el REB) la connotación es muy diferente: “les conocían que habían estado con Jesús.”
Fue sólo un corto tiempo desde el juicio de Jesús. Los apóstoles estaban de pie ante el Sanedrín. Y los hombres del Sanedrín reconocieron. Les conocieron. Sabían que eran ‘compañeros de Jesús’ como dice el REB.
¿Cuál es mi punto? Simplemente esto: los cristianos no brillan en la oscuridad simplemente porque oran y leen la Biblia.
La gente sólo reconocerá a nosotros como sus compañeros si les decimos que somos sus discípulos!
“También os digo que, quien me deberá confesar delante de los hombres, él será el hijo del hombre también confesar ante los Ángeles de Dios… ” Lucas 12:8

The crucifixion was over. Christ is Alive! But things weren’t the same as before.  They had always been together, a busy group. They’d travelled around the country together. But now there wasn’t a lot to do. Peter yawned, and kicked a stone. He was bored. “Boring” is the mildest way of describing a life when Christ has left! He looked at the other disciples. “I’m going fishing!” he exclaimed, as though a fishing trip would make up for the loss of the Messiah!
Fishing was what he used to do before he met Jesus. Now Jesus was gone Peter was going back to the old life.
“We’ll go with you!” the other disciples decided, but after a night with no success, they gave up! And as they were coming to shore, a voice on the beach called: “Have you caught anything?”
“No!” they shouted.

“Well, cast your net on the right side!” the voice retorted, as though to remind them that when they had exhausted all possibilities there were still some possible impossibilities.
It was Jesus on the beach – and a miracle followed. As those disciples pulled the net into the boat, their catch was so great that the net began to break. As they reached shore they met the Master Who had already prepared them a meal. When the meal was over, Jesus got Peter on one side, and began to ask him questions. Searching questions like: “Peter, do you love me more than these?

What did he mean? Peter didn’t know what to say. He scratched his head and thought: perhaps He means the miracle – the catch of fish. It was a notable miracle, and there was quite a stack of fish there on the beach. But this wasn’t the only miracle Peter had seen. He had been present when Jesus had worked His greatest miracles. He knew the Master was a miracle-worker, but he knew that he loved Jesus more than His miracles.

Peter thought again. Perhaps Jesus was referring to Peter’s sins: “Peter do you love Me more than these?” Peter had denied the Lord. Three times he had let Him down. As Jesus had come out of the Judgement Hall, His eyes had met Peter’s… and it was a look that changed his life. Hot tears of repentance flowed down Peter’s cheeks. Is that what Jesus meant? For each of the three times Peter had denied Him, was Jesus asking: “Do you love Me more than your sins?”

Peter still didn’t know what Jesus meant. As he looked around the beach he saw the barbecue burning, the disciples sipping wine and laughing together. Was that what Jesus meant? Holidays – relaxation – pleasure. Did the Master want to know if Peter would put Him before comfort and pleasure?

Peter was almost naked. His bundle of clothes was next to him. As he looked down at that bundle of clothes of his he knw that it represented his possessions, and Peter knew he had been materialistic. Once he had asked the Master: “What´s in this for us?” And Jesus had responded that those who followed Him would receive a hundred times back in this life, and eternal life in the life to come. Was that the question: “Peter, do you love Me more than your possessions?

Confused, Peter looked at Jesus and saw that His hand was pointing towards his friends and colleagues. And at last, he realized what Jesus wanted to know. “Peter! – do you love Me more than James and John, and those others? Do you love Me more than any other people?” “Even though they may be MY People?” “And do you love Me more than working with these others in My service?

As he searched his heart, Peter remembered the visits to the sanctuary. The blessings and miracles he had seen in the temple. He loved the place in which God’s honour dwells. But he also knew that God does not live in temples made with hands. He remembered the times of fellowship he had enjoyed with God’s people. To be with them brought joy to his heart and to be apart from them brought sorrow to his soul.

In that moment he realized how right his friend John had been. John had told him: “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Peter fell on his knees, and looking up at the Lord, he whispered: “Yes Lord, I love You most of all! I do love Your People, and I do love working with them – but You know all things – and You KNOW I love YOU more than even working for You. I love You more than Your service.”

Mediaeval religious customs are still observed at Easter in Spain. Penitents demonstrate their penance by carry rough wooden crosses, or by walking barefoot on cobblestone streets, or even wearing chains on their feet as a penance, while covering their identity by wearing the “nazareno” or penitential robe.
So what´s wrong with that? Think about it: We cannot repent anonymously! Recognition of our sin has to be public!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28OLIn8j0YY&feature=related

Costumbres religiosas medievales todavía se observan en Semana Santa en España. Penitentes demuestran su penitencia por llevar cruces de madera áspera o por caminar descalzo sobre calles empedradas, o incluso llevar cadenas en sus pies como una penitencia, mientras cubriendo su identidad por vistiéndose en el “nazareno” o ropa penitencial.
Pues, ¿Por qué importa eso? Fijanse en esto: Nosotros no podemos arrepentirnos anónimamente. Reconocimiento de nuestro pecado tiene que ser público.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28OLIn8j0YY&feature=related

(Traducción en español sigue abajo)

One of the good things about Spain, and especially here in Almería, is the weather. For the past weeks we have had cloudless blue skies, and lovely warm weather.  However, when the rain comes it can be torrential.

I am sitting by a pine tree outside the Christian Centre, and it has brought back some precious memories. Christine and I planted this tree, along with several others, about 40 years ago. We had just two seedlings left to plant, and Christine wanted to put them both in the same hole, so that if one died, the other would live. I was against the idea, and so we argued – and she won!

Neither tree died, they grew in a V shape, fused together at the base. And whenever we looked at those two trees we would smile. And I always thought that I was right! We should only have planted one tree in that hole!

That is until many years later when the torrential rains brought with them flash floods. Two German girls driving on a nearby road were caught up in the floods, and their car was picked up by the raging torrent and carried towards the sea. Many people died in that flood. But for these girls there was a happy end to the story. Their car suddenly came to an abrupt halt, caught up in-between the two trunks of our pine trees! And so it was, they could climb out of the car, up the tree, and on to the safety of the roof – from where they watched their car dislodge from the trees, and continue its journey to destruction!

Christine was right after all! Now I think God must have told her to plant the two trees, knowing that one day He would use them for a miracle.

Una de las cosas buenas  aquí en España, y especialmente aquí en Almería, es el clima. En las últimas semanas hemos tenido cielos azules despejados y un clima cálido encantador. Sin embargo, cuando llega la lluvia puede ser torrencial.
Estoy sentado cerca de un árbol de pino fuera del Centro Cristiano, y me ha traído algunos recuerdos preciosos. Christine y yo habiamos plantado este árbol, junto con otros, hace unos 40 años. Teníamos sólo dos plantas para plantar y Christine quería poner ambos en el mismo hoyo, así que si uno moría, el otro viviría. Yo estaba en contra de la idea y lo discutimos – y ganó ella!
Ninguno de los  árboles murió, crecieron en forma de V, fusionados en la base. Y siempre cuando miramos  esos dos árboles nos hacen sonreír.
Muchos años después, las lluvias torrenciales trajeron consigo inundaciones repentinas. Dos chicas alemanas conducian por una carretera cercana, fueron atrapadas en las inundaciones, y su coche fue recogido por el torrente embravecido y llevado hacia el mar. Muchas personas murieron en la inundación. Pero para estas chicas hubo un final feliz. Su coche quedó repentinamente, atrapado en medio de los dos troncos de estos árboles! Y pudieron subir desde el coche al árbol y a la seguridad del techo, desde donde observaban su coche desprenderse de los árboles y continuar su viaje a la destrucción!
¡Christine tenía razón después de todo! Ahora creo que Dios le había dicho a Christine que ponga los dos  árboles en un solo hoyo, sabiendo que un día el Señor iba a utilizarlos para un milagro.

(La traducción en español sigue abajo)

In Luke 15, Jesus tells us three stories about lost things. There is a lost piece of silver, a lost sheep, and a lost son. The punchline when each one is found is that there is joy in Heaven when a sinner returns. The interesting thing is this: The woman SEARCHES for her lost coin. The shepherd leaves his ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness, and goes to SEARCH for the lost sheep. On the other hand, the Father of the Prodigal son does NOT go searching for His son. He stays at home, and looks down the lane, looking forward to His son´s return.

Now, the lost Son is very interesting, for this reason. When Jesus talks about the concept of TWO, it seems to me me, He is speaking about two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. Let me illustrate what I mean. Two men went up to the temple to pray. One boasted in his works, his tithing: in short his keeping of the Old Testament Law. The other just beat on his chest and asked God to be merciful to him a SINNER. A reference to himself as Gentile. Even the Apostle Paul says:  “We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not gentile sinners…”
Another example of this concept of Jews and Gentiles when Jesus uses the word “Two,” is this: “two shall be in the field, one shall be taken, the other left behind.”  This refers to the Rapture, and the Great Tribulation. The Tribulation scripturally is seen as a Jewish catastrophe. It is called the “Time of Jacob´s trouble. Jesus referred to that day by saying: “pray that it does not come on a Sabbath day!”
And in our thoughts today, Jesus refers to another reference using this word: TWO. A certain man had two sons. One of those sons we refer to as the Prodigal son. He went away for a while. But he comes back of his own volition. In my mind, this is Prodigal Israel. God does not need to search for them. They know the way home. We are living in the “times of the Gentiles,” we Gentiles have opportunity to be saved. “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25. In this story, the elder son is figurative of Gentile believers. He is jealous when the Prodigal returns. This is not his true blood brother! Speaking to his father, the elder brother refers to the Prodigal as “this son of yours!” But the father refers to him as “your brother!”
In these last days, the Church is recognizing her Jewish roots. Prodigal Israel is coming home. Let’s not be jealous like the “elder brother” was. Let´s not stand between God and His people. Let´s welcome them with open arms.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts: In those days, wherein ten men of all languages of the Gentiles shall take hold, and shall hold fast the skirt of one that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” Zechariah 8:23.

En Lucas 15, Jesús nos cuenta tres historias sobre cosas perdidas. Hay una pieza de plata, una oveja perdida y un hijo perdido. El mensaje es esto: hay gozo en el cielo por un pecador que se arrepiente. Lo interesante es esto: la mujer BUSCA su moneda perdida. El pastor deja a sus ovejas de noventa y nueve en el desierto y va a BUSCAR la oveja perdida. Por otro lado, el padre del hijo pródigo NO VA BUSCANDO a su hijo. Se queda en casa y mira hacia al camino, esperando el regreso de su hijo.

Ëste hombre tenía DOS hijos.
Cuando Jesús habla sobre el concepto deDOS, me parece a mí, habla de dos tipos de personas: judíos y gentiles. Por ejemplo: Dos hombres subieron al templo para orar. Uno se jactaba en sus obras, su diezmo: en breve su obediencia a la ley del Antiguo Testamento. El otro hería su pecho, diciendo: Dios, sé propició á mí pecador. Una referencia a sí mismo como gentil. Incluso el apóstol Pablo dice: “Nosotros somos judíos de nacimiento y no gentil pecadores…”
Hay otro ejemplo de este concepto de que Jesús se refiere a los judíos y Gentiles cuando usa la palabra “Dos.”  Esto es: “estarán dos en el campo; el uno será tomado, y el otro será dejado.” Esto se refiere a La Segunda Venida de Cristo y  a la gran tribulación. Según las escrituras, la tribulación se ve como una catástrofe judía. Se llama “el tiempo de angustia para Jacob. “Ah, cuán grande es aquel día! tanto, que no hay otro semejante á él: tiempo de angustia para Jacob; mas de ella será librado.”
Jesús que se refiere a ese día diciendo: “Orad, pues, que vuestra huída no sea en invierno ni en sábado!”
Y en nuestros pensamientos hoy, Jesús alude a otra referencia utilizando esta palabra: dos. Un hombre tenía dos hijos. Uno de los hijos, a quien referimos como el hijo pródigo. Se marchó por un tiempo. Pero él vuele de su propia voluntad. En mi opinión, esto es pródigo Israel. Dios no necesita a buscarle a Isarel. Saben el camino a casa. Estamos viviendo en los “tiempos de los Gentiles”.” Los gentiles tenemos oportunidad de salvarse. “Ceguera en parte es pasado a Israel, hasta estar la plenitud de los Gentiles.” Romanos 11:25. En esta historia, el hijo mayor es figurativo de los creyentes gentiles. Él hermano mayor es celoso cuando el hijo pródigo regresa. Este no es su verdadero hermano de sangre! Hablando con su padre, el hermano mayor se refiere al hijo pródigo como “éste hijo tuyo!” Pero el padre se refiere a él como “tu hermano!”
En estos últimos días, la iglesia es consciente de sus raíces judías. Israel pródigo vuelve a casa. No vamos a ser celosa como el “hermano mayor”. No nos interpongamos entre Dios y su pueblo, Israel. Demos la bienvenida con los brazos abiertos.
“Así dice Jehová de los ejércitos: en aquellos días, donde diez hombres de todas las lenguas de los Gentiles deberán afianzarse, y se espera rápida la falda de uno que es un judío, diciendo: vamos a ir con usted: porque hemos oído que Dios está contigo.” Zacarías 8:23.

Hello! Thanks for visiting my site.

I am in the process of making a few changes. From now on, the site will be bilingual – Spanish and English. Also the “Sunday Sermon” will be replaced by a topical blog. However, sermon notes are still available on my other website: www.thepulpit.co.uk

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Estoy en el proceso de hacer unos cambios. De aquí en adelante, el sitio será bilingüe – español e inglés. También el ‘Sermón del domingo’ será sustituido por un blog actual. Sin embargo, las notas de sermónes todavía están disponibles en mi otro sitio web: www.thepulpit.co.uk