Campus Blogs

[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Dr. Angulus Wilson[/caption]

One of the greatest things known to the body of Christ is Prayer. Prayer is the catalyst for spiritual growth, spiritual intimacy, building tighter and closer relationships, and opening up the eyes of our spiritual understanding. When a brother or a sister prays for you, it is one of the sweetest things a saint could ever give or offer of themselves. There are 15 powerful things about prayer that every believer needs to remember, and here they are;

• Prayer is the friend of the believer,
• Prayer is a confidant in the times of trouble.
• Prayer helps you to get through trials and tribulations.
• Prayer helps you in seasons of confusion and dismay.
• Without prayer, the child of God could not make it in tough times.
• Without prayer, the child of God would be hopeless
• Prayer enables the believer to hope and trust in the God of heaven and earth.
• It is prayer that assures us that all will be o.k when it looks like life is about to drive us crazy.
• It is prayer that unites the believers together
• It is prayer that drives the enemy away.
• It is prayer that strengthens the saint.
• It is prayer that God hears and answers.
• It is prayer that supports you in missions.
• It is prayer that creates in you the ability to understand.
• It is prayer that the believer cannot live without.

Did you know that when the church of Jesus Christ is praying for you, it is a blessing that supersedes all of the hidden treasures of life? When we pray for one another we are requesting for our God, who made the entire human race to intervene for us and to do some great act of grace that we are in need of.(I don’t know about you, but I love it when the saints pray)

I am your University Pastor, and I love to pray for you.

For Christ and His Kingdom

[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Dr. Angulus Wilson[/caption] Life had been exceptionally cruel to him. He was born into royalty, but now forced to exist in poverty and obscurity. He was the grandson of the great King Saul, and son to Prince Jonathon. However, at the age of five his entire world came crashing down all around him. One day His grand father and daddy were out in battle and were both Killed. When his nanny heard of the tragic event she came in to get the child to flee for their lives, and in her escape she dropped the boy and instantly he became crippled in both feet. His fall and the death of his daddy changed the course of his life. When life does you like this a person is in need of a savior! When life mistreats you a divine intervention is what is needed. In today’s text Mephibosheth needed a savior to rescue him from the pains of this old world, and King David was sent by the Lord to make a difference in his life. David has had the privilege now of uniting the children of Israel. Judah and Israel are one again. God has given him favor in the region, and military might like no other king Israel has ever had. Whatever he touches God makes it to prosper. One day as David is reflecting upon his journey into power, he remembers his soul brother and friend Jonathon, former prince to the throne. He is reminded of the oath he made to him, for David loved Jonathon and Jonathon loved David. According to scripture, David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "At your service!" Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet." When the King heard this he was drawn to search for him. [This is a picture of the love and compassion of Jesus for those who are lost in life. Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, Jesus came to find the lost valuables of God, and Jesus came to recover the lost sheep of God. He was a King just like David to rescue those who were hurting.] So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar." Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. According to the rest of the story, King David sends a rescue party to go get Mephibosheth. He was living in a place where people were sold. Mephibosheth had become some ones property! The town was called lo Debar (The place of no pasture) It was barren and life less. He was forced to live in a barren land. “Mephibosheth” was once the heir to the throne, but because of his “fall” he lost everything, and was now in need of a savior. [As a result of our fall from Grace, we were born into slavery of sin, sold into the house bondage, and forced to live in a barren land. We are the modern day Mephibosheth’s in need of a savior] The story goes on to say that when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. When the meeting happened between David and Jonathon’s baby boy there was a great reunion and a change of positions. Mephi-bosheth expected something bad to happen to him, but instead he received mercy and grace. David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

1. Mephibosheth was looking for punishment but instead receives mercy
2. Mephibosheth was looking for wrath but instead receives grace
3. Mephibosheth was looking for prison but instead receives promotion

God had gone before Mephibosheth and planned out his life! God had gone before Mephibosheth and ordered his steps. HE had blessed him before time. God had put David in place to be a blessing and bring “Mephibosheth” comfort in his pain. In spite of “Mephibosheth’s” history God had taken him out of the barren pasture, and given him a home in the kingdom.

• God knew just how to bless him
• God knew just how to fix him
• God knew just how to turn his troubles around
• God knew just how to lift him up
• God knew just how to change a bad story
• God knew just how to bless him and make him a Kings Kid

As we read this story we can’t help but see a parallel for our own journey hidden within. David was a savior for “Mephibosheth” as Jesus is a Savior for Humanity. As David sought for someone to save, Jesus seeks for someone to save. David was the King of Jerusalem, and Jesus is our King of Salvation. David went to great lengths to redeem someone from bondage. Jesus went to the old rugged cross to redeem you and I from our sin and bondage, he paid the price by sacrificing His life to redeem us and rescue us from a barren land. When our King (Jesus) concurred death, hell and the grave, he rose to give you and I a seat at the kings table in Heaven. Now we too have a seat in His Father’s house, in spite of where we have been living and existing. God has something amazing in store for us! He has not forgotten the fallen ones. Rest in these words today, and find them trustworthy to live by.

[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Dr. Angulus Wilson[/caption] One of the most frightening things on this journey is the fact that as a Christian I can sometimes misbehave. (You too) And in these hours of wicked behavior we often times do things, and say things, that hurt other people. I want to suggest to you this morning that when these times come up that they are not always your fault. You have an enemy. An enemy, who is seeking to destroy you, misuse and abuse you. When I was a young man there was show on television called, the Flip Wilson show. And Flip Wilson had a character on his show called Geraldine. Geraldine was loud, disrespectful, out of control and full of excuses. I will never forget the time she did something evil to another character, her excuse for doing this was “I did it because the Devil made me do it”. All though it was a joke there is a theological truth to her excuse. Whether you know it or not, there is a devil and he does make people misbehave! (Can I get an amen?) When we read today’s text we see Judas a disciple of Christ doing something that he should have never done. All because he was influenced by the Devil and made to betray Christ.

1. The truth about this is THAT ALL OF US HAVE AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER, been just like Judas.
2. You and I both have betrayed JESUS in some area of our lives. In fact, somebody looking my way this morning, is playing the Judas right now.

Example: Perhaps you have given Christ up for money, fame, relationships, careers, creature comforts, and a host of other temporary thrills. (You are acting Just like Judas) I wrote this to tell us today that before we cut up Judas we better be ready to examine our own hearts, because there is a little Judas in all of us. We may not admit to it publicly, but if the truth police pulled you to the curb today, they could easily arrest you for some act of betrayal against God. The sad thing about this text is Judas was handpicked by the master to be one of his disciples.

• He had a ministry in the first church; and gave it all up!
• He was trusted in the leadership, and gave it all up!
• Judas hung around Jesus, but yet never made him Lord.
• Judas didn’t want the life that Christ could give, so when he got tired of Jesus he betrayed HIM for Money.

Definition Observation: The word Betrayal according to Webster means to lead astray, to seduce, to deliver to an enemy by treachery or to fail or desert someone in time of need.

• This is what Judas did; he faked His love for Jesus.
• He seduced people into believing that he was all in, but was a traitor the whole time
• He delivered his Jesus over in an act of treachery.
• When the other disciples needed Him most, he deserted them

Question: How about you today, are you feeling like a Judas? (food for thought huh?) The word to live by today is don’t allow your heart to play the role of Judas…Instead, be steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, for your labor is not in vain. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these other things will be added unto you. Keep pressing on, and dont be like Flip Wilson's character-Geraldine, and make excuses for bad behavior. For Christ and His Kingdom AW

Friday June 27th Today was a fairly relaxed day! We went to the city of the tabernacle which is called ancient Shiloh. This is where the tabernacle was established and where the land was divided among the tribes. We were able to discuss the importance of this place and relate it to the text in 1 Samuel 4 and the bringing of the covenant into Shiloh. It is so amazing to read scripture in the actual spot where it took place. Then we went to the Israel Museum, they had a miniature model of the old city that was extremely detailed and descent size! There were different sections like art, archaeology, a clothing and a culture section. The museum was interesting to walk around and it was very cool! My favorite part was the archaeology section. There were skeletons found that dated back over 92,000 years ago! I found this extremely fascinating to see!

Two days ago I had to say goodbye to a woman that I met a week ago. Her name is Elena Orozco. Her name is the only thing she knows how to write down but the life she lives I’ll write down so that it is remembered and shared with others. Elena works at a house as a maid and babysitter, at my first host-parents house here in Guatemala City. She makes $192.95 a month, roughly about six dollars a day, and for the ten (sometimes more) hours a day that she works, that is about sixty four cents an hour. Nevertheless, Elena is the sweetest, kindness, caring, most tender woman that I have ever met. Elena cares for her three daughters and does it with the most optimistic attitude while not displaying any of her daily worries. Her walk to work takes about an hour and a half and walks home at night which is a dangerous task considering the location of her home. Yet Elena knows no different. In the five days that I knew her, she changed my life. This woman has become so dear to my heart as I have seen her worry about her kids, get yelled at, and have tears running down her face while washing clothes by hand. Elena reminds me of my mother, Emma Vergara, who also takes care of a little girl back home.  My mother has never felt the need to share in detail the worries and struggles she had being a single mother with six children. But my siblings and I can now see that it must have not been easy. My mother worked no matter how tired she was and was able to take care of us on her own. She would work endless hours for us and give everything to us first so that we can have the best life we could afford. My mother’s love for us was her drive, her motivation to go another day. For that I will also work hard to obtain my goals and maker her proud. Now she is my motivation. Love is such a powerful thing! It moves us to take action. My love for Elena (the woman I knew for a week) and had secret conversations with has become a motivation for me now. This country has begun to redefine the word “service” to me. I hope to serve people like Elena in any way that I can. I will not forget how tightly she hugged me when I promised to call her. My hope is that you simply share Elena’s story with someone today. Elena deserves to be remembered, and people like her cherished forever. Thank you God for the life of Elena, that she may experience your love in abundance. That you may work through me and others so that we may help in anyway we can to show them your love. Amen. *Story published with Elena's permission Blog post by Reyna Benitez, Biology Major @FPU

My morning starts out amazing, I journal through 2 Timothy 1:6-7, therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you to the laying on of my hands for God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness (timidity) but one of power, love and sound judgment. What an amazing verse to journal as we prepare to go to the fortress Masada and climb the Roman siege ramp into the fortress. For ourselves, the climb to the top can be seen as a pilgrimage, our victory as we make the hike to the high places of Masada. Once there, you share the stark reality of what took place on that fateful day when the Romans finally made entry via the top of the siege ramp do the case mate walls. To see the bodies of the rebel Jews all about in a mass murder suicide must been breathtaking, and not in a positive way. To then change gears and to go back in time to the time of King Herod and to see the ability he had to lead and empower others to do their jobs is amazing. You could say the modern day equivalent to Herod would be Donald Trump, a man that has all the resources he needs but let’s just say his past is not the best. The way Masada was dressed in fine linen (architecture) and pomp allows us to see how Herod thought and lived. Whether he knew Jesus or knew of Jesus will be decided at the end of the age. To then proceed to the Dead Sea and to gather the facts of how the lake is receding at an alarming rate is staggering. Dear God we need a miracle of biblical proportion to save this Dead Sea.... Lord hear our prayers. Off to En Gedi and another pilgrims walk up the canyon as we recount the account of David hiding from King Saul who is trying to kill him. David hides in the En Gedi wilderness and avoids Saul. The day finished off at Quram and if most of the group thinks like me, you are wondering what else lies within the dessert that is yet to be discovered, could I possibly be the one to discovery it? Life is an adventure and to dream big dreams is what gives us direction. When we fail to dream and set goals, we have no direction and passion, life becomes meaningless with no compass to lead us. Our relationship to Jesus Christ remains that compass that leads us and guides us. Time with God and time alone in places like these, allow us to hear Gods voice in a fresh way and new passion. I end today having heard from God and acknowledged his direction for me. Shalom Gary L. Mejia