By: Obed Pineda “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:13-14) 5:30…
By: Obed Pineda “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2nd Timothy 3:14) Meeting strangers for the first time, for many, is not an easy experience. A primary reason this is so is because a…
By: Obed Pineda The beautiful story of Job is probably the most read Scripture by those who feel trapped in a cage of affliction. Reading about the triumph of this holy man over the Satanic challenge brings comfort and encouragement during our personal storms. The poem of Job (for it…
By: Obed Pineda “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.” (Luke 10:8) Montezuma II was emperor of the mighty Aztec empire in sixteenth century Mexico. It was during his reign that the Spanish conquistadores (“conquerors”) successfully overthrew the Aztec empire and…
By: Obed Pineda “Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) David is a quiet and timid southern man. Because of his build and height, it is not an easy feat for him to disappear within a sea of…
By: Obed Pineda Lessons I Learned from Arequipa: “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.” (Mark 2:3) It was a crisp Sunday morning in Arequipa on July 14th. Experiencing such exquisite, cool weather in the month of July felt surreal, considering that just…
By: Obed Pineda “Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 9:17) I remember sitting in my political science class (during the short stint I was blessed to attend the University of Houston) listening to the professor begin his…
By: Obed Pineda “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35) The current population of Lima, Peru is estimated to be…
By: Obed Pineda “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) We had finally arrived to our destination. After several unforeseen setbacks, delays, tough personal trials, and very little sleep, we had finally reached Arequipa, Peru. Even though my…
By: Obed Pineda “‘So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Luke 10:36-37) There is no doubt that when a person is going…