ALIENS AND STRANGERS

HOLY WEEK AT THE BEACH

Did you know the Bible in 1Peter 2:11 refers to us as aliens, and strangers on this planet?

Thanksgiving 2000

My godfather Oliver Powers wrote down what he was thankful for and threw it in to a little container. When the anonymous papers were read, everyone mistook his list of things he was thankful for as Marlon’s. “I’m thankful that I am an alien here in this land and I am thankful for my beautiful wife.” Marlon was the only one in the room with a card in his wallet that said “Resident Alien”. Oliver laughed and told everyone it was his paper and referenced the Bible verse.

MAY 2025

    Our fellowship with immigrants in Corpus Christi has greatly increased over the past six months. We have so much in common (especially with the Central Americans). The greatest bond that holds us together is that we all love Jesus and have a similar way of worshiping God. Some people have lived in the States for years, others have only been here almost 3 years like my family. The new arrivals are children and teens brought from the border. They have been placed in a special foster program until the authorities can confirm who their parents are and where to send them.

   There is a comradery of trying to adapt to a new place and still preserve the “Joie de vie” and love of spontaneous gatherings with tons of food. Every Christian that has moved around a lot in their life, (especially internationally), gains a special perspective on our status as aliens and strangers on this earth. The only true “home” we can rely on and that never will change is the kingdom of heaven. There will always be culture shock when we are faced with the cruelty, violence, greed, obscenity etc..in this fallen world. We know deep down that we don’t really belong here. In the words of Jesus, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:16