Stephen De La Vega

Last week I wrote about injustice and anger that boils within. Today, I share a story about justification that was framed from injustice. It’s a story that many of us have heard in some fashion – a story that I believe we can all relate to if we will pause to hear it. It’s a story about a person who lived a life many of us would applaud, yet whom was killed by people of power. He fell victim to a system that may have been born of good intentions, but somehow ambled into a gait of arrogance and superiority. The perpetrators, in the form of an organized aristocracy and as individuals, didn’t like him messing with the good thing they had going. So, they plotted to slap a death penalty on a man who did no wrong. And they carried out their plot to the bitter end. May I tell you about this victim of injustice?   His name is Jesus. In many ways, we can say there are people in America and in other countries, throughout the generations, with the same story. Jesus was a victim of ...

I enjoyed how my rhyming paraphrase of John 1 told the story of Jesus in vibrant yet plain language, so I had to continue rhyming John 2 and 3.  If you didn't read John 1, start there .  Then come back to read Chapters 2 and 3. I wrote all three chapters in a fun meter so it might help engage the kids in your life (including the big ones). In the second and third chapters of John, Jesus began performing miracles, explaining He is the Savior, and foretelling His resurrection. Through Him we may have eternal life. John the Baptist announced Jesus' coming in Chapter 1, and in Chapter 3 he announced His salvation. On to the rhymes and the truth about eternal life... The Gospel of John Chapter 2 - He Who's the Son A wedding occurred a couple days later. Guests one and guests all, with joy the host catered. Among those who came Was Jesus acclaimed, And men of His crew. His mother came, too. And wouldn't you know, they drank all of the wine. But watc...

To help ring in Christmas, I hope you enjoy this paraphrase of John 1. I wrote it in a fun meter so it might help engage the kids in your life (including the big ones). The first chapter of John introduces Jesus as the Savior for all - the Son of God, and the Messiah for which the Jews waited so long. We also get to know John the Baptist, God's chosen messenger who explained the good news of Jesus to the Jews. Read about how it all plays out... The Gospel of John Chapter 1 - He Who's the Word Now, there is a He, who is also the Word. This He who's the Word, spoke before He was heard. He spoke before ears Were on heads that could hear, With nothing around, Not even the ground. This He who's the Word, is also the Maker, He's with God, and is God, but no, not a faker. He surely made all, Like trees, short and tall. There's nothing, for sure, That's not made by the Word. Now, John was a man the Maker made later, To...

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7b Many of us love snow, at least visiting and enjoying it for a while. It offers a variety of good, clean fun. I enjoy a white Christmas every year. To me, the more snow, the better. It makes me smile. So I hope you enjoy this post about what snow is and how God wants to make every one of us "whiter than snow." (What follows can be read aloud to a group. It is a gospel presentation and a celebration of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior. If you want to share this with a group, you have my permission to read it. That’s why I wrote it. Or, feel free to make it more interactive.  Ask questions. Solicit thoughts to get listeners engaged. And pray that they will understand, appreciate, and accept the cleansing blood of Christ and His gospel.) Whiter than Snow Fresh snow on a calm day brightens us with a special purity. Its as white as we can imagine, and it captivates us as it dances f...