Archive for 'Gleaner'

http://atlantic-union.org/youth_connections_dec11.html

Christmas, a Season of Opportunities
By José Cortés Jr.

How did December 25 become a Christian celebration? The most respected of several theories states that December 25 was the birthday of the invincible sun, the day when pagans honored the sun god, Mitras. History relates that from mid-December till early January, non-Christians in Rome held festivities, which included drunkenness and other corrupted practices. During the fourth century, Christians in Rome decided to directly challenge the pagan god and the practices associated with his birthday. They proclaimed the same day as the day of Jesus’ birthday, stating that Jesus is the true Sun of Justice that brings light to a dark world. As the pagans got drunk, the Christians, who were in the minority, observed the day with reverence.

The pagan celebrations were introduced in the United States as the European immigrants began to settle here. The Puritans did not celebrate it, but others did, by hunting, dancing, and getting drunk. Violence was recorded in some of the early Christmas celebrations in the United States. The first Police Corps of New York City was organized after a violent Christmas riot. As these things happened, some people worked hard to make Christmas a family-oriented season, with beautiful activities. They accomplished some of their objectives, but through the years Christmas has become, for many, a consumers’ festival, a time for holiday specials. It is also significant that more than 80 percent of the public in this country believe that Christmas has spiritual relevance and they see this season as a time for reflection.

Regardless of what we think or do, Christmas is here to stay. It will happen whether we like it or not. So what can we do? Following are a few options:

• Party, get drunk, and be violent like the pagans did.

• Ignore Christmas, since we know it is not really Jesus’ birthday anyway, and criticize those who celebrate it.

• Enjoy the season and use it to make others aware of Jesus in our neighborhood, workplace, church, and community.

I like what Ellen G. White had to say in The Adventist Home, p. 478: “As the twenty-fifth of December is observed to commemorate the birth of Christ, as the children have been instructed by precept and example that this was indeed a day of gladness and rejoicing, you will find it a difficult matter to pass over this period without giving it some attention. It can be made to serve a very good purpose.”

In our home, we see Christmas as a season of opportunities to serve a good purpose, a time of enjoyment and happiness, a time to celebrate the fact that Jesus was born, a time to point others to Him, not only through words, but with acts of kindness and love. We enjoy sitting by the fireplace to talk and reenact the nativity story. Our kids know that Christmas is not only about receiving gifts and blessings, but primarily about giving love, peace, and salvation to others, just as Jesus did and continues to do during and since His first Advent.

We remember that Immanuel means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23, NIV). My knowledge of history will not keep me from remembering that God is with us, that Jesus was born to make my life and yours better, and to give us salvation and hope. I will use this season, as well as other seasons, to share Him, always keeping in mind that during this time of the year, more than 80 percent of Americans are willing to think and reflect on their spiritual lives. Christmas is a season of opportunities in the home, the church, and the community.

José Cortés is the director for the Youth Ministries, Pathfinder, and Adventurer departments in the Atlantic Union.

Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter at: https://www.facebook.com/PastorJoseCortesJr, https://www.facebook.com/JoseCortesJr, and https://twitter.com/JoseCortesJr.

Noël, une Saison d’Opportunités
By José Cortés Jr.

Comment 25 décembre a-t-elle devenu une fête chrétienne? L’une des théories les plus respectées déclare que 25 décembre a été l’anniversaire du soleil invincible, le jour où les païens honorent le dieu du soleil, Mitras. L’histoire raconte que depuis la mi-décembre jusqu’au début de janvier, les non-chrétiens de Rome organisaient des festivités qui comprenaient l’ivrognerie et autres pratiques corrompues. Pendant le quatrième siècle, les chrétiens de Rome ont décidé de contester directement le dieu païen et les pratiques associées à son anniversaire. Ils ont proclamé le même jour comme jour d’anniversaire de Jésus, affirmant que Jésus est le vrai Soleil de Justice qui apporte la lumière dans un monde ténébreux. Comme les païens ivres, les chrétiens, qui étaient en minorité, ont observé le jour avec révérence.

Les célébrations païennes ont été introduites aux États-Unis au moment où les immigrants européens ont commencé à s’installer ici. Les puritains ne les ont pas commémorées, mais d’autres, par la chasse, la danse, et l’ivrognerie. La violence a été enregistrée dans certaines des premières célébrations de Noël aux Etats-Unis. Le premier corps de police de New York a été organisé après une violence émeute de Noël. En raison de ces incidents, certaines personnes ont travaillé dur pour faire de Noël une saison axée sur la famille, accompagnée de belles activités. Ils ont accompli certains de leurs objectifs, mais à travers les années la Noël est devenue, pour beaucoup, un festival des consommateurs, un temps pour les promotions de vacances. Il est également significatif que plus de 80 pour cent de la population dans ce pays croient que Noël est la pertinence spirituelle et ils voient cette saison comme un temps de réflexion.

Indépendamment de ce que nous pensons ou faisons, Noël est là pour rester. Il arrivera, qu’on le veuille ou non. Alors, que pouvons-nous faire? Voici quelques options:

• Fêter, se saouler, et être violents comme faisaient les païens.

• Ignorer la Noël, puisque nous savons qu’elle n’est pas vraiment l’anniversaire de Jésus, de toute façon, et critiquer ceux qui la célèbrent.

• Profiter de la saison et l’utiliser pour rendre les autres conscients de Jésus dans notre voisinage, travail, église, et communauté.

J’aime ce qu’ Ellen White avait à dire dans le Foyer Chrétien, p. 478: “Tandis que le vingt-cinq décembre est observé pour commémorer la naissance du Christ, comme les enfants ont été instruits par le précepte et l’exemple que ce fut un jour de joie et de réjouissance, il vous sera une question difficile à passer cette période sans lui donner une certaine attention. Il peut être fait pour servir une bonne cause.”

Dans notre maison, nous voyons de Noël une saison d’opportunités de servir une bonne cause, un moment de plaisir et de bonheur, un temps pour célébrer le fait que Jésus est né, un temps d’attirer d’autres à Lui, non seulement à travers les mots, mais avec des actes de bonté et d’amour. Nous trouvons beaucoup de plaisir à nous asseoir près de la cheminée pour parler et rejouer l’histoire de la Nativité. Nos enfants savent que Noël n’est pas seulement une époque pour recevoir des cadeaux et des bénédictions, mais surtout pour partager l’amour, la paix et le salut aux autres, tout comme Jésus a fait et continue de faire pendant et depuis son premier avènement.

On se souvient qu’Emmanuel signifie “Dieu avec nous.” (Matthieu 1:23). Ma connaissance de l’histoire ne m’empêchera pas de me rappeler que Dieu est avec nous, que Jésus était né pour améliorer ma vie et la vôtre, et pour nous donner le salut et l’espoir. Je vais utiliser cette saison, ainsi que les autres saisons, pour Le partager, en gardant toujours à l’esprit que pendant cette période de l’année, plus de 80 pour cent des Américains sont prêts à penser et à réfléchir sur leur vie spirituelle. Noël est une saison d’opportunités à la maison, l’église et la communauté.

José Cortés est le directeur pour les ministères de la Jeunesse, Eclaireurs, et Aventuriers à l’Union Atlantique.

English translation available at atlantic-union.org/youth_connections_dec11.html.

Navidad, una Época de Oportunidades
By José Cortés Jr.

¿Cómo fue que el 25 de diciembre llegó a ser una celebración cristiana? La teoría más respetada indica que el 25 de diciembre es el cumpleaños del invencible sol, el día que los paganos adoraban al dios sol, Mitras. La historia relata que desde mediados de diciembre hasta el principio de enero, los no cristianos en Roma llevaban a cabo festividades, las cuales incluían borracheras y otras prácticas corruptas. Durante el cuarto siglo, los cristianos en Roma decidieron desafiar directamente al dios pagano y las practicas asociadas con su cumpleaños. Ellos proclamaron el mismo día como el día del cumpleaños de Jesús, diciendo que Jesús es el verdadero sol de justicia que trae luz a un mundo en tinieblas. Mientras los paganos se embriagaban, los cristianos, que eran la minoría, observaban este día con reverencia.

Las celebraciones paganas fueron introducidas en los Estados Unidos cuando los inmigrantes europeos comenzaron a poblar esta región. Los puritanos no celebraban la navidad, pero otros sí, lo hacían cazando, bailando y emborrachándose. Actos de violencia fueron registrados en algunas de las primeras celebraciones de navidad en los Estados Unidos. Los primeros cuerpos de policías de la ciudad de Nueva York fueron organizados luego de un motín violento un día de navidad. Mientras estas cosas sucedían, algunas personas trabajaban arduamente para hacer de la navidad una ocasión orientada hacia las familias, con hermosas actividades. Ellos lograron alcanzar algunos de sus objetivos, pero a través del tiempo la navidad se ha convertido, para muchos en un festival comercial, un tiempo para especiales de compras. Es significante que más del 80 por ciento de las personas en este país cree que la navidad tiene una relevancia espiritual y ven esta época como un tiempo de reflexión.

A pesar de lo que pensemos o hagamos, la navidad está aquí para quedarse. Seguirá celebrándose, lo queramos o no. Entonces, ¿que podemos hacer? A continuación hay algunas opciones:

• Haz una celebración, embriágate y se violento como los paganos hicieron.

• Ignora la navidad, ahora que sabemos que no es realmente el cumpleaños de Jesús, entonces critica a aquellos que lo celebran.

• Disfruta de la época y úsala para traer conciencia a otros acerca de Jesús en tu vecindad, trabajo, iglesia y comunidad.

Me gusta lo que Elena G. de White dijo en el Hogar Cristiano, pg. 478 (en inglés): “Mientras el 25 de diciembre es observado para conmemorar el nacimiento de Cristo, mientras los niños han sido instruidos por precepto y ejemplo que este es un día de alegría y regocijo, encontrarás que es muy difícil pasar por alto esta época sin prestarle alguna atención. Puede ser usada para un buen propósito.”

En nuestro hogar, vemos la navidad como una época de oportunidades para servir a un buen propósito, un tiempo de placer y alegría, un tiempo para celebrar el hecho de que Jesús haya nacido, un tiempo para señalar a otros hacia El, no solo con palabras, pero con actos de bondad y amor. Nos encanta sentarnos cerca de la chimenea para hablar y repasar la historia de la natividad. Nuestros hijos saben que la navidad no es solo acerca de recibir regalos y bendiciones, pero primordialmente de dar amor, paz y salvación a otros, como lo hizo Jesús y lo sigue haciendo desde su primer advenimiento.

Recordamos que Emmanuel significa “Dios con nosotros” (Mateo 1:23). Mi conocimiento de la historia no me alejará de recordar que Dios está con nosotros, que Jesús nació para hacer mi vida y la tuya mejor, y para darnos la esperanza y salvación. Yo voy a usar esta época, al igual que otras, para compartir a Cristo, siempre recordando que durante esta época más del 80 por ciento de los americanos están dispuestos a pensar y reflexionar en sus vidas espirituales. La navidad es una época de oportunidades en el hogar, la iglesia y la comunidad.

José Cortés es el director de los departamentos de Jóvenes, Conquistadores y Aventureros en la Unión del Atlántico.

English translation available at atlantic-union.org/youth_connections_dec11.html.

http://www.atlantic-union.org/youth_connections_oct11.html 

The Future is Now, and You Are Not Too Young (Part 2)
By José Cortés Jr.

For about three decades I have observed that although youth and young adults are very much affected by the challenges and problems in society and in our churches, they are hardly ever the cause of these problems. If you find this statement hard to believe, look around in your church and in board and committee meetings. How many youth and young adults are voting members? Youth are hardly ever the cause of the problem, because most times they are not among those making the decisions. They are often considered too young for the present and maybe the future. When David showed up, Saul and his army were in big trouble. The trouble was not David’s doing or the doing of David’s generation.

“And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth’ “—1 Samuel 17:33 (NKJV).

Here are a few more great lessons from this Bible story:

“You are the future” and “you are too young” are two significant mistakes we have made regarding our youth. Satan has been successful in having us perpetuate these phrases, hoping that he will prevent new generations from becoming change agents in this world and in the church. I say to the youth that believing these phrases will paralyze you, and one day you will wake up and realize that the future never came and that now you don’t have the passion, drive, or energy to make the difference you once wanted to make. In frustration, you too will start telling the younger generations that they are too young. Unless someone stops believing these lies, the cycle will repeat itself and the church will never become what God wants it to be.

If you don’t do something today, you may have nothing tomorrow. Saul did not realize that without David in the present, Israel faced destruction, slavery, and exile. There would be no future unless David acted. In order to have a future, there must be a present. If you sacrifice the present for the sake of the future, the future may never come. If you are young and you are not active in the church today, you may not be in church when you become an adult. Find a ministry and begin to work for God, for your church, and for your community today.

Dear adult, enable the youth for service and leadership today, even if you have to yield your place to one of them. With God’s blessing, this will assure a growing movement and a victorious church tomorrow.

Stop looking around to see who is going to do the job at hand. This world and our church are filled with people who are standing and looking around to see who is going to do the work. God is willing to use you, and anyone who is willing, to do great and awesome things in His name. When God gave the challenge, the young man, Isaiah, who trusted Him said, “Here I am.”

David could have believed the lies and waited, but he trusted God and did something. If you are an Adventist youth or a young adult in Bermuda, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, or New York, I challenge you to embrace the fact that the future is now. And please remember, you are not too young to serve and lead for God.

To be continued in the February 2012 issue.

José Cortés is the director for the Youth Ministries, Pathfinder, and Adventurer departments in the Atlantic Union.

Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter at: https://www.facebook.com/PastorJoseCortesJr, https://www.facebook.com/JoseCortesJr, and https://twitter.com/JoseCortesJr.

Pastor Jose Cortes Jr., Director of Adventist Youth Ministries

I vividly remember the first time I heard the phrase “Youth are the future of the church.” It happened during my Busy Bee Investiture in Esperanza, Cuba. I was five years old and the Cuban Union youth director told us that now we were part of “the future of the Adventist Movement.” I can also recall the last time I heard the phrase was in June in the Bronx while in one of our Atlantic Union churches. I wonder, have you ever heard anyone in your church say, “Our youth are the future of the church?”

This phrase is not contemporary, but goes back, even to Bible times. The Bible story of David and Saul, found in 1 Samuel 17, is a great example. Goliath had been terrorizing King Saul and his army for 40 days and no one had done anything about it. There was no end and perhaps no hope in sight; then young David showed up. His assignment was to bring some food to his older brothers who were mature enough to be part of Saul’s army. When young David saw Goliath and heard the insults he made toward God and God’s people, he decided that something needed to change. What had been happening for 40 days could not continue to happen. It seemed that business as usual had been an option for Saul and his army, but it was not an option for David. The biblical account in  1 Samuel 17:32,33 (NKJV) says that David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

We can learn some awesome lessons from this Bible story:

• Youth are not easily intimidated by giant challenges. Young people like to do rather difficult things. Super-easy tasks underestimate their abilities and tend to bore them. When youth and young adults are not the cause of the problem, they can be a part of the solution. Don’t take my word for it, just gather the youth and young adults of your church and present them with a big challenge and give them the freedom to solve it. Watch and see what happens.

• Every adult is given the golden opportunity to empower a youth to greatness—I believe this opportunity was King Saul’s “golden moment” to go down in history as one of the greatest mentors ever. Saul could have said, “I am so glad you are young, willing, and ready to do what we have failed to accomplish, but with God’s help, perhaps you can do it.” Yet, when I read this verse, I see someone trying to put the lid on the endless potential of the already anointed king. Saul told David, “Goliath is very experienced, you are too young; maybe in the future.” King Saul will be remembered as the one who told David, “You are too young . . .”

To be continued in the October issue. 

José Cortés, Jr., is the director for the Youth Ministries, Pathfinder, and Adventurer departments in the Atlantic Union.