Oak Trees or Pear Trees?

When our family returned from our flight out of Charleston in the wake of Hurricane Floyd, we saw that our neighbor's Bradford Pear tree was completely uprooted and tossed across the yard. Not sure how our trees fared, we pulled into the driveway. The verdict? Our oak tree was still standing strong!

Which is better - the oak tree or the pear tree? Well, most everyone would say the Oak. Why? It's more deeply rooted and therefore stronger. But it takes a long time to grow, so some would say the pear is better. Which one will withstand a storm better? No doubt, the oak would withstand the storms better.

If Christians were trees, what kind of tree would you be? Jesus said we are to "make disciples." Are you a disciple? A disciple is a fully-devoted follower of Christ.

I would say that the fully-devoted followers of Christ are like oak trees. They have strong root systems that have developed over a long period of time. The trunk of an oak tree is stout and sturdy. The branch system is such that it can withstand the strongest winds. The "fruit" - the acorn - is not that beautiful but it is plentiful, but when planted, produces yet another mighty oak!

I am convinced that discipleship is the single greatest need in the church today. In fact, evangelism in America has waned because the average Christian has not been discipled; the average Christian is more like a pear tree. They have a shallow root system, the flowers bloom quickly but then soon wither, and when the storms come, the tree is oftimes uprooted and tossed.

So, why is discipleship not happening in the church? Why are churches producing a considerable number of pear trees but very few oak trees? There are probably a whole list of reasons, but the two that come to my mind are: 1) it is hard, and 2) it takes time.

C3 exists to cultivate the seed sown in the heart of ALL believers - whether they have been a believer for 20 years or 2 months. This cultivation occurs through various "growth" opportunities. These include: consistent intake of the Word of God; persistent prayer time with the "Gardener"; regular worship and digestion of God's Truth through songs, prayers, sermons, and fellowship; systematic "working out" of one's knowledge of the person AND work of Christ; proven endurance through trials and troubles (the storms) that come into one's life; and daily articulation of one's faith both in practice and in witness.

If you were to start today, it may not be for a long time that you begin to bear the fruit or resemblance of the oak tree, but if you persist with steadfast endurance, you will one day become the mighty oak that God desires for you to be.

It all begins with a decision of the heart!

Randy

The Patience of Job?

Do you have the patience of Job? Most of us would say we don't. Where did that term originate anyway? As I peruse the pages of the book of Job, I see a significant amount of restraint and faithfulness in the midst of suffering, but I don't find the term "patience" as it relates to Job; in fact, the only reference to patience when it comes to Job is his question to his friends, "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?" (Job 6:11)

So then, where does this concept come from, if not from the book of Job? It comes from James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (James 5:10-11, KJV)

The word "patience" in this verse is also translated as perseverance, steadfastness, and endurance in other translations. The distinctions among these terms must be noted. The actual Greek term used by James is hupomone. It carries the idea of a person who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to his faith in the face of suffering and/or persecution.

Job would not curse God, even in the most dire of sufferings. The very essence of God is His patience..."The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some consider slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

God is patient. Job displayed patience. Come find out this Sunday how you, too, can foster the fruit of patience!

Randy

Got Peace?

The psalmist encourages us to "seek peace and pursue it." (Ps. 34:14) David would also later declare to the Lord, "Great peace have they who love your law." (Ps. 119:165)Solomon would state with confidence, "A heart at peace gives life to the body." (Pr. 14:30)

Isaiah prophesied that the "Prince of Peace" would come from a virgin (Is. 9:6). This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. This same Jesus, as a grown man, would say, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Mt. 10:34)

How are we to reconcile this paradox? These scriptures seem to be contradictory, but the Spirit which gives us understanding helps us to see that Christ's first coming brought the sword by which He divides those who fully follow Him versus those who only profess His name. His Second Coming is to usher in everlasting peace. In the meantime, those who are fully-devoted followers of the Prince of Peace find that He IS their peace, both in this life and in the life to follow.

Have you ever noticed how the genuinely converted Christian displays a remarkable CALM in the midst of tragedy, trial and tumult? I have, and it IS quite remarkable.

The question is...do you have peace? Is Jesus YOUR Peace, or are you trying to find peace through some other means. This Sunday, we will learn from God's inerrant, holy, inspired LOVE LETTER to man that we all CAN have the peace of Christ.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Randy

There's an app for that...

When Apple introduced the new iphone 3, the catchy commercial promoting the new product emphasized all the apps (applications) that came with or could be downloaded onto that phone. It seems that no matter what you want or need, there is an "app" for that.

The Christian is commanded to apply the principles and commandments of Scripture to his/her daily walk. We are commanded to love one another. We are commanded to be patient. We are commanded to be kind. And oftentimes, we find ourselves agreeing with the command but feeling at a loss for the "How."

So, is there an "app" for loving one another? How about being patient? Or showing kindness? The answer is simply, "Yes," "Yes," and "Yes."

Join us as we delve into the fruit of the Spirit each Sunday for the next 8 Sundays. This past Sunday, we looked at the application for love. Join us this Sunday as we discover the secret of JOY!

And yes, there IS an app for THAT!

Pastor Randy

My Prayer for you in 2011

There is something spiritually and emotionally cathartic with beginning anew...a new job, a new school, a new car, a new city, a new year.

There is a liberating feeling and a fresh perspective that comes with beginning anew. Jeremiah wrote, "His compassions fail not; they are new every morning." (Lam. 3:22-23) The beginning of a new year brings great promise and great anticipation. Whatever 2010 was for you, I pray that 2011 will be a year you will never want to forget. Here is my prayer for you:

- that you draw closer to God
- that you drink deeply from His Word
- that you dwell richly with Him in prayer
- that you speak boldly of His love
- that you work diligently for His Kingdom
- that you serve humbly within His church
- that you worship sacrificially His Son

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Pastor Randy

Big Question...Answered!

So, finally, I have the time to answer the last Big Question:

What are the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6?

Great question! There are two plausible explanations offered by scholars. "Nephilim" = fallen ones, tyrants; they were the offspring of sexual relations between the sons of God and the daughters of men.

Explanation 1: The "sons of God" were the god-fearing descendents of Seth and the "daughters of men" were the unholy descendents of Cain. This union created evil men who were renowned for their tyranny and strength.

Explanation 2: The "sons of God" were fallen angels (demons) who had sexual relations with female humans. The offspring were powerful and evil. Why would demons do such a thing? One answer is that they may have been attempting to pollute the human bloodline in order to prevent the coming Promised One - Jesus Christ (reference God's promise in Genesis 3:15).

Whatever your understanding, it is clear from the immediate context of their mention that God was grieved by the wickedness of that generation and thereby determined to judge the world by sending the flood.

The story of the Nephilim demonstrates both the wickedness of man and the holiness of God. We should not be surprised by God's response to the Nephilim but we should be in awe of His sovereign choice to save those 8 persons from the judgment of the flood! What a picture of God's mercy and grace!

Peace to all of you and your families this Christmas Season!

Pastor Randy

Open Your Eyes...

When we honestly assess the message of the Bible, we cannot get around the command to "Tell the Good News to Everyone we meet." In fact, we find the Great Commission from Jesus in all four Gospels and also in the book of Acts. There is no doubt what Jesus' marching orders were and are for the church.

On Sunday, we distributed stalks of wheat to everyone. The wheat is representative of the harvest of believers. Jesus said to His disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest?' I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."

The Christmas season is the perfect time of year to have spirtiual conversations with those who do not yet follow Jesus. Please take some time, after reading this blog, to jot down the names of 3 people who you know are NOT saved. If you can't think of three people who are not saved, take some steps to meet some new people!

Once you have those three names, do the following: 1) Pray that God would give you the courage to ask that person to meet for a cup of coffee or lunch or whatever; 2) Ask that person to meet you for a cup of coffee or lunch or whatever; and 3) Tell that person, when you meet with them, that you are nervous but want to be obedient to your faith and ask them if they have ever considered the claims of Christ.

I'll admit, there is a lot that happens between the second and third step. Trust that God will guide you if you are willing. Remember that witnessing is not about you. It's about the Holy Spirit living in you to guide you in what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Just pray before you meet with that person.

Remember to think of the sin condition of your friend, co-worker, neighbor, or classmate is akin to them having cancer. They may not know it, but they are going to die. If you helped them to see that they have cancer but you know who has the cure, then your motivation will be pure and urgent.

Look at the fields. You have a sphere of influence that God has given you. Use it to lead others into the loving arms of Christ!

Randy