I have preached a few times lately on loving one another and felt I should write something on that. Then I remembered this story and found this rendition and this is better than anything I could write. He who has ears to hear…
Juan Carlos Ortiz sat comfortable in his chair while the congregation finished the final stanza of a song. He had labored in pray for many hours on what to say to the congregation. The title of his message was rather simple, Love One Another, but he thought that the message was very important given the spiritual life of the congregation.
When the band played the final note of the song, Pastor Ortiz stood up to walk to the pulpit but as he stood, God spoke.
"Juan”. "Yes, Lord"
"How many sermons have your preached on theme of loving one another?"
"I don't know Lord, maybe a dozen or more."
"And how many times have your exhorted the congregation in other sermons to love one another."
"I don't know Lord, maybe a dozen or more also."
Have they done any good?
The conversation with God ended the moment Pastor Ortiz positioned himself behind the pulpit. The Lord's words were ringing in his ears. He thought to himself, "I have preached dozens of sermons on love and what good have they done. This congregation still spends more time looking after their own interests more than others. They barely know one another. They are not friends with each other. They barely talk to one another after the church service." Juan Carlos stood silent in the pulpit. His congregation waited for him to begin his sermon. Pastor Ortiz began his sermon, "Love one another." He then went and sat down.
People looked at one another thinking that they had missed something. They were accustomed to sermon of nearly an hour not 3 seconds. The congregation did not know what to do. After what seemed like an eternity, Juan Carlos walked back to the pulpit. The people repositioned themselves in their pews assuming that he would now deliver his message. Juan Carlos again said, "Love one another," and then he again sat down. Heads really began to turn. Some began to murmur. No one knew what to do. Pastor Ortiz again waited and then he again walked to the pulpit. He waited for the congregation to become settled and then as before the only words he delivered were three, "Love one another" before he returned to his chair behind the pulpit.
Now a general stirring moved through the congregation. People began talking to one another, everyone asking the other if they knew what their pastor meant. Finally, an elder stood up and spoke. He said, "I think that I understand what Pastor Ortiz means. He wants me to love you." (Pointing to someone in the pew behind him) "But how can I love you, when I do not know you." With that, he introduced himself and began to meet the people behind him. Others got up from their pews and introduced themselves to people they had seen but not met. Phone numbers were exchanged. Dinner invitations extended. Arrangements were made for financial assistance. Before the service ended, someone raised enough money for bus tickets a family could return to their village. Another man arranged employment for a man out of work and someone offered an apartment a homeless family. With just three simple words he delivered his most powerful sermon.1
1 Juan Carlos Ortiz, from a lecture delivered at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Mentor, OH, November, 1981.
If there is a theme song I want for myself and GCF in this New Year it is “Where you go I go,” which starts, “Where you go, I go, what you say, I say, and what you pray, I pray” and later says, “Jesus only did what he saw you do and he would only say what he heard you speak and he would only move when he felt you lead, following your heart, following your spirit.”
Jesus said, “the Son can do nothing by himself.” He can only do what he sees his Father doing.” It is so humbling and convicting to realize the Son of God made flesh, who walked on water and healed the blind, could do nothing without the Spirit’s enabling. If Jesus himself had to surrender to the Fathers leading constantly, how can I expect to do anything less? At the same time it is encouraging and comforting to know that the same Holy Spirit lives in me and enables me to do what Jesus did. ”I can do all things through him that strengthens me.”
Paul said, “Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Life can be very simple if we realize that all we need to do is be in touch with our Father and we can’t go wrong. Jesus never did.
Since Jesus succeeded in living victoriously on earth just by following his Father’s heart, it is possible for us to do as well because we have the same Holy Spirit in us. You and I can start by joining in during the first two weeks of the year as we take time from our busy lives to pray and fast during the first 15 days of the year.
You can sign up for one day or more. You can fast from food, or TV, or Facebook, or whatever you like to do the most or whatever would be the hardest for you to do during your day of intense concentration on the good things the Lord Jesus has done for you, and seek His face to see where He would have you go, say, pray, as He does. We are not asking that you fast for the whole two weeks, just one day at a time. We would ask that you try to get to the church building for an hour some time during your day(s). We want to bring in the new year as Proverbs 3: 5, 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
In Christ,
Robb
PASTOR’S PAGE
Thank you for visiting our site. My name is Robb Dix and the lovely lady in the picture is my wife Bonnie. We are excited to be here at the Goffstown Christian Fellowship. If you are moving to the area or do not have a church home we believe you’ll find God is on the move here. You don’t have to dress up. Just come as you are and get to know us and we’ll look forward to getting to know you with all the potential that God has put in you. Come and check us out!
As our mission statement says we are trying to “Love God, love one another, and as we go make disciples”. For us that means trusting our very real but unseen heavenly Father, striving to become like Jesus, listening to God’s voice as it is revealed in the totally reliable Holy Scriptures and as unfolded for every day life by the power of the Holy Spirit. We intend to be the “aroma of Christ” for a world lost in sin without Him and to be a united body of believers who love each just as Christ loves us – sinners saved by grace. Come and join us as we reach out into Goffstown, New England and beyond to see the great things God has in store for all of us through Jesus Christ.
In Him,
Pastor Robb Dix
Please do not hesitate to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 603-497-5625 if we can serve you in any way. Bonnie and I can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-207-409-1627 ( yes it’s Maine exchange – we live here – long story ).
Pastor Robb and Bonnie's contact information:
Facebook Friends: Robb-Bonnie Dix
E-Mail:
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Phone: 603-664-3060
As a pastor, Rev. Robb believes he is called to minister to many types of people in different life situations. He sees the local church as the key in seeing Christ’s “kingdom come and (His) will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. His strong belief is that lives change as we meet together, share Christ’s presence, feed on His Word and reach out to those who don’t know Him.
He understands the day to day struggles of people since Pastor Robb has worked full time in the work force, just like you and I. He has experienced the ups and downs, personalities, pressures, and struggles which can make it difficult to grow and mature in God’s Word in the work environment. He has served as pastor in small churches, a church plant, each with unique blessings and challenges and was an associate at a larger church, overseeing small groups and prayer ministry.
God has also blessed Pastor Robb and Bonnie with 6 children. They can identify with just about every parent out there having dealt with many of the same issues most parents face. They believe that life is the sandpaper that helps us to look more like Jesus. They look forward to becoming a part not only of our church community but the greater Goffstown community as well.
The members of Goffstown Christian Fellowship are blessed with God’s choice for them and look forward to this new beginning, working with pastor Robb, and would like the Goffstown community to rejoice with us and welcome our new pastor. For more information you can call our office at 603-497-5625.
