Few Thoughts
1-11-2019
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT
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According to the weather folks we are in for some wet and rainy days these next few days. Be very careful out there while traveling the slippery highways and freeways and keep warm!
Last year many of you read that I was running in the LA Marathon trying to raise funds and awareness for our Arise Mission Korean Church here in Los Angeles. Thankfully, the Lord was good and very gracious, and through your generosity we have been able to raise some solid support for our needs in this church.
Today I am in preparation, once again, but for a different cause here on the Los Angeles District. I have been in contact with Pastor Mike and Barbara Vasquez of our
Hollywood Children of the Shepherd Church
, asking them if it would be okay with them for me to run in the Los Angeles Marathon to raise funds for this great church.
The LA Marathon is scheduled to take place on March 24, from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. It is a full 26.2 mile marathon and I will be running to raise funds for
CHILDREN OF THE SHEPHERD. I know that many of our members across the district run for various causes, but I have chosen to help out one of our own ministries on the district. If you would like to sponsor in the needs for this great church,
100%
of the funds received will be sent to Hollywood Children of the Shepherd, as Pastor Mike and Barbara minister to the many homeless who live there.
Checks can be made payable to “L.A. District Church of the Nazarene” and sent to the District Office. Thank you!
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ENCOURAGEMENT:
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
(Matthew 4:18-22)
I know last week I wrote a similar thought taken from this passage, but I am simply drawn to this scripture as we are still only a few days into the New Year. Jesus has called us to go fishing! He sought after fishermen and I am certain he is still looking for the same.
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In my office hangs a tarafa (
tah-RAH-fah
) that I brought back with me many years ago from Peru. In fact, when I was in high school some of the Aguaruna men taught me how to sew together one of these great nets, and after several months, I made a giant tarafa, multi-colored, and one of my friends, Andres Wipio, liked it so much, asked me if he could have it. Well, he had a very nice blowgun that I really wanted… so we made the exchange. Today, I have his blowgun at home and he has my net somewhere in the jungle. Anyway, these fishing nets are one of the greatest ways to go fishing. I can honestly say, that one who goes fishing with a tarafa along the river, will NEVER come home skunked. Especially when you know where to fish.
Immediately after a rainstorm the river’s current typically increases in movement. The current is stronger, there are more waves, and the fish are looking for ways to get out of the main current. Many of the smaller fish make their way closer to the edge of the river where the banks are because of the backwater. And it is there where the best fishing can take place. Kunchi, Utuí, sútsum, and my favorite karachama (Plecostomus) just to name a few. We’ll even pull in fresh water crab and shrimp, and even piranha
.
But you must take out the piranha quickly for they WILL bite through the net.
I loved fishing with the net. By far, my favorite way to fish. When we first came to the states I took my tarafa with me to Mammoth when the family was camping. My two uncles had told me we were going to go fishing up there. As we were getting things ready to go, I grabbed my tarafa, and my uncle asked,
“Greg, what are you doing?” “We’re going fishing, aren’t we?”
Was my reply. And he then told me,
“You can’t use a net… it’s against the law!”
WHAT? I’d never heard of such a thing. I could have caught a lot of trout up there.
And Jesus comes along calling four young fishermen to join Him in casting their “nets” for people. I just love this. Several things Jesus knew, and He knew very well. Just as there are huge quantities of fish in the lake, there are huge numbers of people in need. They are everywhere. And they CAN be caught. They just require someone to go out there and bring them in. So Jesus spent some time training them, encouraging them, assisting them, praying over them, and sending them. It wasn’t long before they were fishing for people.
I am more certain now that TODAY is our time to go fishing for people. In the midst of a rainstorm, I’d grab my fishing net and head for the backwaters of the Kusu and Marañon Rivers. I knew the fish would be there. As we take a look around us, our neighbors, or co-workers, our friends, our traffic companions, are we being aggressive enough to go fishing for souls? The
Outreach Sea
is huge, let’s go for it!
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Camarillo:
Last Sunday I was invited to preach in the CamNaz Church and what a joy it was to be with Pastor James & Lindsey O’Connell and their wonderful church. Many of us remember the tragedy that struck this church several weeks back when one of their own was killed in the Borderline mass shooting. May the Lord continue to bless Camarillo Nazarene in their ministries for Him!
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Camarillo Chinese:
While I was in Camarillo, I was able to swing over and see the new start of their Chinese Ministry. I praise the Lord for His leading as we continue in the new ministry starts.
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Fillmore:
I had the opportunity the other morning to meet up with Pastor Karl and Mary Mason, our newly installed pastors in Fillmore. In these first 10 weeks he has been ministering in the this community they are already planning revivals and reaching into the community. He has written an article nearly every week in the local newspaper and it is paying off as people are dropping in to visit. May the Lord bless the efforts of this great church as they fish for people.
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L.A. First and Casa Robles
:
Last Saturday morning the District NMI Council, under the leadership of President Debra Hamrick, all gathered together at Casa Robles for our planning meeting for the upcoming CELEBRATE Festival at Camarillo on Saturday, January 12. Following the meeting, we were invited to join in with the retired missionaries and LA First English as they provided lunch for us all. Thank you, Pastor Josh Tiguila and your team for the wonderful meal and fellowship together!
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LA DISTRICT NYI WORSHIP UNITED:
Thank you, District NYI Council, for leading such a great evening in worship and fellowship at the Alhambra Church. Pastor Tim Olson did an outstanding job sharing from the Word of the God as we all spent some fabulous time together in worship and praise.
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NTS OFFERING:
Please remember that every January our churches receive a special offering for our Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Would you take a moment this month to participate in this great ministry? Recently, Dr. Tim McPherson of NTS presented Lois Ward Baker a nice painting for the support she has shown the seminary:
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PRIME TIMERS’ RETREAT:
More information to come soon. Leslie and I hope to see you at the Prime Timers’ Retreat in Murrieta on April 22-25. These are always special times together with the three districts.
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May the Lord bless you this weekend! I love you and I do hope to see you soon. As I close these Few Thoughts, let me share with you my recent discovery: Yogurt Land! I had never heard of this place or anything like it.
I know, I’ve been told that I live under a rock, but when I went for the first time to this “buffet” of frozen yogurt, I was in heaven! WOW! I love this place. I know where I will be spending my days, especially come summertime.
I can hardly wait for the 100+ degree weather.
Fishing for Him,
Greg A. Garman
Los Angeles District Superintendent
Church of the Nazarene
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