All posts tagged: Merlin Gonzales

Remember the Fire?

September 18, 2014 Merlin Gonzales a Study on God's Dominion, blog, KIOM, Testimony

Remember when you first commit your life to Jesus Christ?

Remember when you first experience God?

Two months ago, I posted about a house fire that happened to a Pastor who is friend of mine. Many people have helped him in terms of some donated money, furniture & appliances and most of all, prayers. I have been helping him in finding out the best solution for the future of the house that was burned. I have a sense that this tragedy will end up to be a blessing for him and his family. I kept encouraging him and praying for him in the past several weeks.

Last Monday, we heard news about the house and we did more negotiations. We were confirmed that there’s nothing else we can do, so we settled for what was agreed upon. Tonight, I received a message to call the main person regarding the house. We received great news; something that we did not expect!

In these past several months, God has been showing me things that are beyond my imagination. The unexpected things such as the pallet shelving, the launching of one-of a kind food pantry, the $70k walk-in freezer donation and many more.

There is another huge thing that has fall on my lap just 2 weeks ago. I ask that you pray for wisdom and discernment on my part. This one could impact thousands of people and may be an integral part in this particular community for years to come.

God is awesome! I would like to invite you come alongside with me in experiencing the goodness of God. Some people are experimenting with God to see what happens when you trust Him. I would like to invite you to journey with me in fully trusting God in every aspect of our lives.

There’s a difference between making Jesus as our Savior and making Him as our Lord. Our lives reflect who our Lord is – the way we conduct ourselves, react on situations, make decisions and our habits. Our reality is mostly based on our experience. I think many of us have knowledge of God but do not have much of experiencing life with Him – that’s why sometimes we find out selves asking ” where is God in this situation?” Unless we experience Him intimately, His reality in our lives would be fragmented.

Remember when you first experience God and felt that He is involved in your life? If you are like me, I was on fire! It seem like God is so close to me… not only during Sunday but every day of the week! What if we fully trust that every aspect of our lives is connected with our relationship with God…our finances, our relationships, our health and our spiritual life? This may be a silly question: “What if all of our life experience is directly interconnected with our relationship with God?” How would we cope with our failures and celebrate our success, treat our families, work with our associates and deal with our neighbors? If God is ever present in our consciousness, what would our lifestyle be, how would we react with every situation – good or bad, and what would be our perspective in life.

Here’s what I have in mind. I will share with you my experience with Him. Similar with what I have been writing before, I will continue sharing with you what God has been doing in the ministry of FHL. This time, I will be more intimate and share more of my personal experience with Him such as frustrations, praises and prayers, requests and dreams, questions and answers and, my experience. I would like to encourage you to share your stories as well, make comments, prayers and praises. Let’s experience God and share our stories to encourage and to uplift one another.

I hope you would consider joining me in learning more about ourselves and our relationship with the God that we profess – our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. What’s your story and what has God been doing in your life? Remember your passion for Christ when you were a new Christian? Remember the fire in your heart?

Lessons on tendering a garden

July 9, 2014 Merlin Gonzales blog, KIOM

A small 16ft by 4ft plot can yield many kinds of vegetables

During early spring of 2014, I turned a part of my lawn into vegetable plot. I have written how I started my vegetable garden and documented some of my experiences.

Since then, I took care of my garden almost every morning before going to work and almost every evening as soon as I get home. I weed it, water it, prune it, fertilize it and aerate it. It has become my habit and started to enjoy the process. I would look at the flowers and observe the growth of the cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, etc.

My appreciation grew deeper in the uniqueness of every plant and specie, their character and design, and the different fragrance that they emit in the atmosphere.

One morning, I was looking at a plant. I was admiring how the shoots are so long and then, a thought came to me. I enjoyed looking at it although there are no flowers on it. “Of course“, I said to myself, it is not their nature to bear flowers. They have uniqueness in themselves and they are beautiful in their own way. That’s the way the Creator created them. I cannot expect flowers from them because they are not suppose to have flowers.

I know that my argument with myself seems crazy but if we apply this same observation with our families, friends, volunteers, employees, etc. they make a lot of sense. How many times have we catch ourselves expecting others to become just like another person? How can we expect a donkey to run like a thoroughbred and a chihuahua to grow bigger than what they’re suppose to be? Then why do we expect John to be like Paul?

If we can learn how to appreciate the uniqueness of each individual, we can avoid the stress of trying to change other people. What if we slow down and observe others and learn about them for the first time again?

God had created us to be different from each other and to realize that our differences complement one another. As the famous saying goes, “slow down and smell the roses” is very true – to see the importance and the value in each of us. This is also a reminder for ourselves to learn more about ourselves, to appreciate who we are and to celebrate how God had created us.

– Merlin

“Preacher, I’m a drug dealer!”

May 28, 2014 Merlin Gonzales blog

What would you do if a drug dealer wearing dark sunglasses suddenly walked in the middle of sanctuary during the middle of your sermon at a church located in one of the most dangerous cities in the US? The suspicious man sat in the front row with his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

I woke up early on Sunday, May 25th, 2014 to prepare my message at Tree of Life Ministries just north of downtown Indianapolis. I have been thinking about the message in the past several days but could not get myself to write it. I knew I will be speaking about the occasion – Memorial Day. While researching and writing my message, I suddenly felt my heart beat fast, I hyper ventilated and I felt that I was being attacked by the enemy. I prayed and continued writing my message while I breath hard to suck more air in my lungs.

My parents came with me to the church and we arrived just on time. The church rents a space at a store front located at a busy intersection. I heard just several months ago, there were shootings at the intersection. This is an area that is considered 17th most dangerous neighborhoods in the US. This small church has only 3 rooms – the sanctuary, the back room with 2 restrooms and a pantry. They were just finishing their Sunday Bible Study when we arrived.

At the Bible study, they were talking about marriage and somehow they started talking about addiction. When I heard the word “addiction”, I thought I should mention something about it when I preach. After the Bible Study, we had a brief intermission, then I saw my daughter pulling up at the curb and my instinct told me I should help her to park. As soon as I got outside, my daughter immediately said that she does not feel safe because the people on the street were staring at her suspiciously and she is afraid to park her car on the street. I assured her that nothing bad will happen.

The style of the church worship team is southern blues. I really like the freedom to worship with them. After a few minutes of worship, I felt shaky and weak. I was trying to figure out if it was because of low blood sugar or I was just nervous. I went to the back room and helped myself with a doughnut and coffee to regain my strength. Then, I prayed for strength and for clarity of mind.

I still felt a little weak as I approach the podium. However, I forgot about my physical weakness when I started to talk. “Even just for one” was the title of my message. There were about 20 adults including my parents, my daughter and me. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as I was getting into my message. Suddenly, a man wearing rugged clothes with dark sun glasses walked in the middle of the sanctuary and sat in the front row. I was talking about the Parable of the lost sheep. Jesus left the 99 to find the lost one – the backslider.

“I’m a drug dealer”

All of a sudden, the person who walked in late, raise his hand. After acknowledging him, he said, “I am a drug dealer, I need help.” It took me a couple of seconds to compose myself. I told him that God can heal him. He took his sunglasses and his eyes told me that he was serious. I asked the pastor of the church if we can take a few minutes to pray for him. After prayer, I encouraged him with positive words and affirmation. A couple of people were wiping their tears as they were praying.

He received a mighty move of God in his life

Before I ended my message, I prayed for the leaders of the church for wisdom, protection and provision. As soon as I got to my seat, a well-built man came to me, shook my hands and gave me a big hug. Then, the pastor came and did an altar call. The same person who shook my hands came to the front to receive Jesus as his Savior. The entire church raised up to their feet, clapped their hands and more people started to weep. I found out later that he was the son of one of the church leaders. It was a chain reaction. When he saw the boldness of the drug dealer who confessed publicly, he opened up to the grace of God. God has been pursuing him and He used the drug dealer to communicate His unconditional love.

As they were praying for this gentleman, the pastor’s wife began to praise God with her voice and her entire body. She was being filled by the Holy Spirit. I gave the man a big hug and encouraged him by telling him that he will be used by God mightily by leading an army of God.

I was awe struck by the entire service. In my years of preaching at different churches, I had never experienced someone interrupting my sermon by saying he is a drug dealer. Through him, the “one” who was lost was found. This happened in a small church located in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the US. The small church had no fancy sanctuary but they have authentic congregation, the church sits in a rough neighborhood but they have peace inside their building and in their hearts, the church is definitely not the building, but the people who cares for everyone. It is a church that welcomes everyone, prostitutes, drunkards, addicts and the poor in spirit, similar to the crowd that Jesus hanged out with. It is a church that is willing to interrupt the service, let go of their plan for the service and let the Holy Spirit take over the schedule for the day. They are small in number but they have big hearts for the lost. More is not always better and the central point is not always bigger.

Later, I realized why I couldn’t get myself to sit down and to write the message, why I hyper ventilated while writing the message and why I felt weak during the worship. God was about to do something very special for 2 people and the entire congregation that Sunday morning. The person who walked in late and interrupted the service by saying, “Preacher, I am a drug dealer!” was used by God “Even for just one” lost sheep.

Praise you, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, my Lord and my Savior.

History of FHL Food Pantry

March 2, 2014 Merlin Gonzales FHL Food Pantry, FHL Mobile Food Pantry

The early years of FHL Food Pantries

In the fall of 2006, Merlin Gonzales and a few volunteers agreed to do the first FHL Mobile Food Pantry. FHL partnered with a Hispanic business that allowed us to give the food in the grocery store. One of our partners owned one of the Latino newspapers in town and she did a half-page ad at no cost to us.

The pantry attracted almost 100 families. The first pantry had less than 10 volunteers but was able to give a lot of grocery items from a food bank and other sources. For the next 2 years, FHL food pantries were held in churches, schools and parking lots. FHL did not have problems in attracting recipients because of the follow up system.

After 2 years, FHL introduced prayers at pantries. The recipients seem open and soon it became a regular part of each pantry. Through the process of partnering with different organizations at different locations, FHL developed procedures overtime. The leaders learned how to interact with different denominations, ethnic groups and traditions. The Lord walked the organization through many on-the-job training that were vital to the development creative evangelism. The leaders learned more how to interact with the different segments of our society.

However, setting up and tearing down of food pantry sites at different location became a hindrance to serve more people and to share the Gospel. The idea of starting a food pantry at churches and other sites became obvious. FHL would be able to serve more people and would be able to share its experience with others.

The informal training and partnership emerged. Horizon Christian Fellowship Central was the first food pantry that FHL helped start. It is now a vital part of the Fountain Square neighborhood in Indianapolis.

Through prayers and hard work, God had birth the FHL Food Pantry Incubation. It is now that mission of FHL to incubate food pantries in central Indiana.

The FHL Food Pantry School became a work in progress document. In the class, you will learn that practical and spiritual application of the Bible. You will see that your friends and/or congregation can be a part of the tapestry of a food pantry. Young and old, rich and poor has a place in a food pantry such as the Outreach Team, Prayer Team and Community Relations Team.

An idea of feeding the hungry and reaching out to those in need had evolved to be a powerful tool to engage the community in sharing the love of God. The end result is that the hungry are fed, the Gospel is being shared and more people are becoming Christ-like in their communities. The food pantries are becoming missional communities.

Be aware, be prepared

February 23, 2014 Merlin Gonzales blog, KIOM

We are living in critical hours and our neighborhoods are in turmoil. Mark 13:7-8, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” (NIV) Here are some examples of recent events relating to the verses above.

The most recent famine was in North Korea when the government implemented the “Military First” policy, which placed the needs of the military above common people. Then heavy flooding occurred in the country and within the 4-year period (1994-1998), about 3 million people died. (http://listverse.com/)
The year 2011 had the most disasters in recorded history. (Ex. from Global Post):
- The massive 8.9 earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded in history but the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown that followed had the most lasting damage.
- The drought in East Africa resulted in more than 30,000 children died
- The flood in Thailand that started to rise in July and continued through December killed about 800 people.
A massive tornado in Oklahoma in May, 2013 packed with 200 miles/hr wind and 12 miles path killed 24 people.
The strongest recorded typhoon, Haiyan in central Philippines in November, 2013 packed 235 miles per hour wind killing nearly 6,000 and displaced 3.5 million people. (World Vision, worst natural disasters of 2013)
In the past several weeks in the oil-rich nation of Venezuela, the people are rallying to resolve problems ranging from the rising crime to the unprecedented 56% unemployment. (NYDailyNews.com)
After several protest against the government of Ukraine, almost 100 people had died already. They are now trying to control the crowd from vandalism, banditry and a coup d’etat. (BBC News)

“I can’t believe this would happen in my neighborhood”

On the night of Feb. 20^th and early Feb 21^st this year (2014) eight people were murdered in metro Indy. Many of our neighborhoods are under attack from the kingdom of this world. Some of our neighborhoods are in disaster, in crisis, even emergencies. We do not need to go somewhere else because our own backyards need us.

Which kingdom do you belong?

In the midst of all of these, we need to be reminded which kingdom we belong. We are from the kingdom that is unshakable. Hebrews 12:26-27, “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”

Isaiah 2:2, “In the last days,

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.”

The government of heaven will rule over all the earth. Christians are commissioned to expand heaven on earth. God has given us delegated authority to influence the world with kingdom principles. In these critical hours, our neighborhoods are waiting and watching for the Bible to become alive in the lives of the Christians.

Feeding the hungry is not enough

According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 Americans struggle with hunger. Many charitable organizations, churches and ministries are mobilizing people and resources to feed the hungry.

In John 6, many supernatural events were told. Thousands of people followed Jesus because they see miraculous signs He had performed. Then, they witnessed something that they have never seen before! Jesus and His disciples fed 5000 men and the rest of the crowd by multiplying 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish that came from a little boy – through the hands of the disciples! They were rejoicing about the miracles and they were fed. Later, the disciples went in a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. That night, Jesus walked on water.

The crowd followed Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As soon as they found Jesus, they asked Him how He got there since there was only one boat available the night before. Interestingly, Jesus did not answer their question but told them: “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” – John 6:26 (NIV)

Jesus revealed the real motive of people; they wanted just groceries! Then, Jesus taught them that He is the bread that came down from heaven. He told them they must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus was telling the people to hunger and thirst for Christ. Once we hunger and thirst for Christ, we will be satisfied physically and spiritually. We must be set apart for Him and, He is all we need. Then the thousands left Him except the twelve.

Jesus knew that the multitude did not understand His message and His teachings even though they had been following Him. They are following Him because of the groceries! This is an example that feeding people and giving groceries should not be the focus of food pantries. Jesus is saying that giving away food at food pantries is not enough and, if that becomes the focus of food pantries, we are missing the point. It’s all about Jesus.

Food pantries that are intimate and personal are focused on people rather than food. It values relationship over physical resources. The end result is: more people are being discipled, the Gospel is being shared and the community is being engaged to participate. Similar to the early Christians, we gather together in smaller groups to worship, to pray and to share our resources. People would want to get involved. – Acts 11:27-30

In the next several years, there will be more micro gatherings since people want to be personal and want to know each other. We have the most opportune time to share the Gospel with our neighborhoods. History tells that there is an increase of grace during crisis. You can also see that people in crisis are more open to hear about God and about their eternal destiny. The light is brighter where there is more darkness. We have opportunities to reach out to the community in these critical times through simple food pantries. We can raise up more disciples by inviting our congregations and our clients to be a part of solutions. And, as we become more aware of heaven here on earth, we can be prepared before the next shaking happens in our neighborhoods.

God bless you!

Merlin Gonzales