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| Jesus is not Puerto Rican??? You’ve got to be kidding! |
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I was amazed when I heard Jesus was not Puerto Rican. I was a kid and everything I learned about God led me to believe that He was Puerto Rican, just like me. Imagine my surprise when one Sunday morning, in a small church in Puerto Rico, the Sunday School teacher told me that Jesus was Jewish and he was born in Israel. My little eyes opened so big! First, I did not know what a Jew was or where Israel was on the map. Second, if He was not Puerto Rican, who was I speaking Spanish to all this time? Yes, it was a shocker, but it didn't last long because like any kid at that age, I put the thought aside so I could get to the coloring paper the teacher gave me to color Jesus. OH... You want to know what color I used for Jesus? Well, I looked at my arms and my hands and I searched through the 64 crayons in the Crayola box for one crayon that would match Jesus and me.
Well, it has been many years since that Sunday School class and I've learned that Jesus' nationality as an Israeli gave him certain cultural characteristics. Oh, and they weren't Puerto Rican ;-) I also learned that according to the Bible something of his pre-resurrection image changed after the resurrection; Mary Magdalene is cited as mistaking Him for the gardener (John 20:15), two of his disciples walked the road to Emmaus without realizing who He was (Luke 24:15), and in John's Gospel, Jesus stood on the shore calling to His disciples in a boat, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus (21:4). I guess they were as shocked as I was. lol
You see, I have accepted the reality that I really don't know what he looks like, and I don't think He wants me to worry about that either. But one thing I am certain of... I may not know what He looks like physically, but I sure know what He feels like... LOVE!
13:4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 13:5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 13:6 it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never ends...
When I read 1Corinthians 13:4-8a, I see a portrait of what love looks like. It is there that I learned to move from the fantasy image I created when I was a kid, and I see Jesus for what He really is. John said it best, "God is Love." (1John 4:8)
Does it matter to me what He looks like? Not really! What matters is to know that He loves me enough to die for me and He will pave my way, walk with me, and keep my feet from stumbling. He's done it before and He'll do it again! So, today, when I pray, sometimes my childhood Puerto Rican Jesus bubbles up in my mind, but it is ok, because I know that He is listening and I can hear Him say "Te Amo Lourdes", and I humbly answer "Yo también te amo Señor" - I love you too Lord!
Lourdes ;-) |
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Jen |
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November 13, 2007 at 10:16am |
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| Great blog, Lourdes! And you are not alone with your childhood surprise that Jesus didn't look the way you envisioned. I was shocked to find out he wasn't white! :-0 |
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Deb |
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November 13, 2007 at 10:18am |
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| Great blog! It does not matter what He looks like, we just need to know that He Is. |
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| Gee Lourdes, you don't write often, but when you do it's a knockout! Btw, I hate to correct you, you being a pastors wife and all, but Jesus was actually of European descent. Northern European I believe, judging by the blonde hair. (I have a picture that proves it!) ~mike |
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| Si Lourdes, no es borica... Es cubano! Que cosa mas grande la vida, chica! Ja,ja,ja,ja! |
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| Sé lo que usted escribió, Pastor Ruben. ¡Siento pero usted se equivoca! :-) |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 10:55am |
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Jen, I think we’ll be amazed when we see Him face to face!
Deb, Thank you for your comment, and you’re right… He is!!!
Thank you both for the stars ;-) |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 11:00am |
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Mike, Your comment humbles me. Thank you! By the way, I see you are trying Spanish now. You did pretty well there. Soon you’ll be able to blog in Spanish. lol
Thank you again ;-) |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 11:13am |
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Pastor Ruben, You have made me laugh so hard. Muy gracioso!!! I am trying to picture Jesus as a Cuban. Just thinking about it makes me want to dance salsa, son, rumba, mambo, and cha-cha-cha. lol lol
Saludos a todos mis hermanos Cubanos! |
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Awesome blog Lordes!
Also, I figured that I would try out some Spanish as well. Here goes.
Su blog muy animaba. Pienso que usted debe escribir más.
Bendiciones,
Pastor Tim ps - A special thanks goes out to http://babelfish.altavista.com/ for the help. lol
I also hope that what I thought I said, I actually said. lol
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| Well, assuming Jesus were on earth on a contemporary assignment in the 21st Century rather then the 1st, then he would surely go to a major City that impacts the global community via its excellence in media, telemarketing, finances, and political accessibility; hence, He would go to New York City. That is just the obvious. Consequently, He would inculcate into his linguistic approach the idiomatic realities of the New Yorker which is a combination of English & Spanish (namely the mystical tongue known as spanglish). That leaves no other option but to respectfully and humbly point to another obvious truth.. Jesus was really NewYorriccan!
LOLOLOl...
Good One Lourdes...
Dr. W. |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 12:04pm |
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Pastor Tim, I love it!!! This blog was worth it, just to have you and Mike writing in Spanish. lol
You did great! Make sure you make http://babelfish.altavista.com/ one of your favorite links. You don’t know when you’ll need it again ;-)
Thank you |
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| Is there an online translator to translate what Dr W said? |
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Amen!!! Bottomline--If you can tell me what color love is, I'll tell you what color Jesus is because Jesus is love!!!!!
Val |
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Lourdes:
I went back to read over the comments on this blog and I still haven't stopped laughing especially at Pastor Mike and Pastor Ruben's comments..lol. But then Pastor Wilson ran ahead of the pack with his critical thinking and grounded theoretical approach to discovering the tinge as well as cultural implications of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
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Gene |
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November 13, 2007 at 1:10pm |
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Lourdes,
I'm not EVEN going to try any Spanish so put your mind at rest.
Seriously, I absolutely love your story. I think it's representative for many of us who grow up thinking as a child and then one day, putting aside our childish ways. I also think you're right in that we can see Him as He is - God Almighty, our Lord and Saviour - and not worry about nationality, culture or generation.
Peace, brother! |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 1:12pm |
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OK, Val (Evangeline), I can tell you understood what Pastor Wilson (Dr.W) said. I am still trying to find a good translator to figure out what he wrote. lol lol
Like you, I laughed so hard. The people in mychurch are great and very funny!!! I am enjoying every minute of it. |
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I love it Mike.... LOLOLOLOLOLOL....
Dr. W.
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 1:43pm |
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| Gene, I love it when God takes our personal theology and change it to His theology ;-) |
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Kathy |
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November 13, 2007 at 3:12pm |
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| Querida Lourdes, ¡has dicho la verdad, que aunque Jesús se nació en Carolina del Norte, todavía ama a los puertoriqueños muchísimo! :) ¡Buen blog! |
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¡¡Pensé que Jesús nació en Bronx del sur, Nueva York todos estos años!!!!
Val |
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Denise |
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November 13, 2007 at 7:48pm |
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| Great Blog Thanks. |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 7:52pm |
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| Kathy, I guess this blog has inspired people to write in Spanish. Hey, it is great. It is much easier for me to read. lol Thank you for your comment. |
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Lourdes |
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November 13, 2007 at 7:53pm |
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| Denise, Thank you for the star ;-) |
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Oye Miguel,
Donde aprendistes escribir el espanol tan claro? Muy impresionante... pero Jesus no fue Europeo... sino, NuevaYorrican!!!
LOL.
Dr. W. |
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Brent |
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November 23, 2007 at 12:17pm |
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Lourdes - What a truly enjoyable blog with so many funny comments. I had no idea some of them understood spanish. I am still not sure they do understand spanish. *giggle* I remember having pictures of Jesus on the wall when I grew up and he looked European like Mike has said. And this was the age of the hippies with long hair and yet my parents didn't like me to have long hair. We grew up confused, didn't we? LOL I starred your blog and I too have been smiling. I read it to my daughter and wife who were in the room with me at the time. We all had a good chuckle. Have a great thanksgiving. |
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Lourdes |
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November 24, 2007 at 10:21am |
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| Brent, If I was able to bring laughter and some thought provoking time to you and your family, then I have done my job ;-) Thank you for the star and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well. |
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Lourdes |
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November 24, 2007 at 10:26am |
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hopefendd.. Thank you so much. I have to admit, I love to come back to read it and I enjoy reading all the wonderful comments as well. |
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Lourdes |
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November 24, 2007 at 10:35am |
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I guess a good question to ask will be... How do you see Jesus when you close your eyes? I imagine we all be amazed at the answer ;-) NOW... Does that affect the way we see ourselves and others? Hummmm!
Lourdes |
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Gene |
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November 24, 2007 at 9:24pm |
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| I'm sorry to say but the image I have of Jesus when I close my eyes is from one of the paintings hanging in the old church where I grew up. It was one of those earth tone pastels with Jesus praying in the garden. A classic Anglo image I confess. Lourdes, you have me! |
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| ohh..my I thought he was spanish and indian growing up, that is what he looked like in the picture in our Mexican home...I honeslty thought he was traveling to other countries one to another trying not to get deported. |
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Gene |
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November 24, 2007 at 9:56pm |
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lol
Good night! |
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Lourdes |
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November 26, 2007 at 1:31pm |
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Gene, The funny thing is that everytime I thought of the Holy Spirit I thought of wind and/or fire. OH well, it is a good thing I learned to see God as love ;-)
Giving my..., That is great. Never imagine Jesus being deported ;-) Thank you for your comment.
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acruz |
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November 27, 2007 at 9:39am |
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I remember going through a similar feeling when I found out Jesus didn't speak Spanish... I grew up in PR as well and I thought "so how does he understand all languages?"
Thankx. |
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Okay Okay, New Yorican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, blonde, .... I still haven't seen a picture of a fat Jesus.... and he still loves us too.... So, you're right, what He looked like makes no difference. He is Love. ... oh, that's right, Jesus didn't sin,... So, Jesus couldn't be like the overiweight glutton that I'm struggling not to be.... So, what,... I still look reeeeeeally good! - oh wait.... that's pride, foiled again!
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Lourdes |
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December 11, 2007 at 6:25am |
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acruz, Thank you for your comment... "Que paso Boricua?"
Hojo_Malone, You are funny! AND you do look reeeeally good ;-) |
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JoshMo |
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January 12, 2008 at 1:43pm |
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HE ISN'T PUERTO RICAN!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! |
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Joey |
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January 12, 2008 at 1:48pm |
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| You are so funny! I always thought He was HUGE... He had long white hair and a long white beard. So God was sort of like Santa... that meant He was really good! |
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| JoshMo, Surprise, surprise ;-) |
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| Joey, hey thank you for stopping by. You are right, we have so many different ways to view Jesus, but they are always "really good!" as long as we compare Him with goodness, mercy, forgiveness, and justice ;-) |
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