Posts by Justo Dorantes

THE POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Karina wrote the following words in her social media post a few weeks ago: “In the same place we lost my sweet brother Rafael Ramirez only days ago my dad made the amazing choice to be baptized and join our Beltline Church of Christ Family ❤ we are beyond blessed to have such a big family here supporting and loving us through it all.” Karina wrote this after her father was baptized for the remission…

Last Saturday, August 5, 2023, we had our annual north Alabama Hispanic lectureships. Several Hispanic congregations came from the State of Alabama and other states. Those who attended were from: Colombia, México, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Honduras, Haití, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the United States. There were about twenty nations from Latin America singing praises to God and learning together the word of God. All these people…

One of my favorite holidays in this amazing country is Thanksgiving. I love how families travel from all over to be with their loved ones and of course I love the delicious food! It is wonderful to see parents, grandparents, uncles and grandchildren all together enjoying that special day. OUR THANKSGIVING IN AUGUST On Saturday, August 5, 2023 we will have our annual “North Alabama Lectureships”. This event is every year and we do it at Beltline. We have been…

Several years ago, Paul Harvey reported on his noon news of a 73-year-old man who was pinned beneath his farm tractor for four days and nights in driving rain and a terrible storm. Concerned friends went to see about him just in time. He survived his ordeal, but did lose a leg below the knee. Several newspapers picked up on this little story and centered upon the amazing fact that a 73-year-old man could live after being pinned beneath a…

Last trip I made to Mexico; my father gave me some habanero seeds in a small envelope. He knows I like fresh habaneros, so he usually saves some of the best seeds from the habaneros in the Yucatan. When I got back to Decatur, I placed the envelope in my drawer next to my car keys. Days and weeks passed, and I forgot that I have placed the envelope in my drawer, until I started to plant some tomatoes plants…

THE PRICE TO BE PAID As her seven children grew up, they did not have their grandparents to cheer them up and encourage them! Those seven children did not have grandparents to see them at school events, at plays or at a sports event. There was no hint of grandparents during the graduation ceremonies of elementary school or middle school. There was never a greeting card in the mail of encouragement wishing you a happy birthday or even a dollar…

As the inspired psalmist, King David writes, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident” (Psa. 27:1-3). As one…

In my list of resolutions every year is to take up the sport of running again. Running keeps me motivated to lose weight and to keep myself healthy. A few weeks ago, I dusted off my treadmill and started to run again. I am doing ok so far; I am starting to get in the zone of running a few miles during the week. I am also trying to eat healthy and to eat less desserts. Three days ago, I…

My recent trip to Mexico Last week I had the privilege to preach in several Mayan villages in the Yucatan in Mexico. Some of the congregations in these Mayan villages are facing different kinds of struggles. It does not matter what your nationality is or where you live, the devil will always try to derail the faith of those who are faithful to God. I was very happy to preach each night and spend time in each village and answer…

In 1998 during the winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan one event competition called the attention of the world. Most of the newspapers had articles saying something like this: “Cross-country skier Philip Boit made history when he became the first Kenyan to compete at the Olympic Winter Games, racing in the 10km classic event at Nagano 1998. Despite coming last, he was enthusiastically embraced by the winner, Norwegian Bjorn Daehlie. It was a moment that marked the start of a lasting…

MY BABY WINDMILL PALM TREE One of my favorite plants are the palm trees. I have planted in my backyard about seven windmill palm trees. I planted them when they were babies and now, they are about eight feet tall and growing. One of the aspects I love of this kind of tree is that it reminds me of the tropical weather where I grew up in the Yucatan. Last summer, one of the palm trees had some fruit that…

OPPOSITION The place where I grew up in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico had only one Church of Christ in the whole region. This congregation was the first Church of Christ that was established in the 1970’s and there were only about seventy members. Just imagine! Seventy people who believe in Jesus Christ and had been baptized for the remission of their sins against the hundreds of thousands of people who oppose us. This was the case if you were…