A House of Prayer

As I was thinking last week about the four devotions of a local church I was struck by the commitment of the New Testament church to corporate prayer. If you grew up in the church as I did you no doubt have memories of a variety of “prayer meetings.” Some churches have regular Sunday evening or Wednesday evening prayer meetings. I don’t have a lot of memories of these times as a kid – I think I must have slept through most of them. I have been a part of churches that had a regular practice of “pre-service prayer,” i.e., a regular prayer meeting 30 minutes before every service. I’ve also had the privilege of being a part of a congregation that viewed the prayer room as “the engine of the church” where intentional, focused corporate prayer took place simultaneously with any and every church event, a ministry that extended out into the parking lot, the neighborhood, and the city.

Unfortunately, I’ve also experienced the gradual falling off of regular, consistent participation in “the prayer meeting,” whatever and whenever that was, ultimately resulting in the abandonment of any attempt at intentional corporate times of prayer. In some cases we have replaced corporate times of prayer with a variety of “prayer chains” or virtual prayer meetings. Any form of prayer is always good, or as a good friend of mine says, “More prayer is better than less prayer.” But I’m challenged by the commitment of the church in the book of Acts to corporate prayer.

We’ve already noted that even before the Day of Pentecost, “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14), and that the church devoted themselves “to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Peter and John encountered the crippled man at the gate to the temple because of their regular observance of “the time of prayer” (Acts 3:1). We’ve also seen that the church responded to every new challenge with prayer (Acts 4:24) and that the local elders viewed their primary function as giving their “attention to prayer” (Acts 6:4). It was the prayers of Cornelius that got God’s attention (Acts 10:4, 31). Every leadership decision in the church was accompanied by prayer and fasting (Acts 13:1-2; 14:23). The church was so devoted to corporate prayer that the apostle Paul was always able to locate “the place of prayer” (Acts 16:13, 16). Paul’s ministry was accompanied by prayer (Acts 28:8).

Why was regular, consistent corporate prayer so important to those who participated in that first church? Remember how the church was birthed. Jesus told his disciples to wait until . . . they were clothed with power from heaven. On the Day of Pentecost the church experienced a supernatural visitation from God paralleling that of the birth of the nation of Israel in Exodus 19-20 with miraculous signs and wonders. It was as though God was emphasizing the fact that the church, if it is the church Jesus is building, is a supernatural, Spirit-led, Spirit-filled community, dependent in every way and at all times on the specific, personal leading and energizing of God’s Spirit. Thus, the need for prayer! In fact, it is only those who still believe they can do the work of God’s Kingdom on their own who have difficulty establishing a regular practice and lifestyle of prayer, both as individuals and as a local faith community.

After all, Jesus is the Head of the church, abiding in the midst of the church, giving specific instructions and directions to the church. We often say that the church is not about the building but it is about the people, but in the end, the church is about the Head – it is about Jesus. It’s that reality that was the basis for the teaching of Jesus about corporate prayer: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:18-20). When we are gathering “in his name,” representing Jesus, with Jesus at the center, Jesus in the midst, we become a place where heaven and earth literally intersect, at a specific time and place. It’s at the point where heaven earth meet, where Jesus and some of his followers are gathered, that the power of corporate prayer can best be seen. The authority of heaven then partners with God’s kingdom representatives, so that “binding” and “loosing” can take place as a result of their prayers. I suppose that can happen virtually, but it seems to me (maybe I’m just old fashioned) that an actual gathering at a specific time and place is called for.

The local church that does not have a regular practice of corporate prayer has given up its spiritual authority, and is relatively ineffective as a result. The good news is that a variety of “prayer revivals” are happening around the world. Groups of young people are setting aside places where they can maintain a 24/7 prayer vigil (www.24-7prayer.com). Some have established an “International House of Prayer” (a new kind of IHOP) devoted to corporate prayer (www.ihopkc.org). It appears as though the Body of Christ worldwide is rediscovering the truth and power of corporate prayer – a book of Acts church indeed. What about us? How will we respond to the work of the Spirit in the church in our day? “Whoever has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). 

A Lifestyle of Devotion

There is an ongoing “revival” among American Christians, and it’s called “post-congregational Christianity.” It is the fastest growing group of Christians in American, currently numbering around 12 million. The adherents have completely dropped out of local churches with the conviction that the local church is hindering their relationship with Jesus and their spiritual growth. (You maybe know some of them.) When I became a dedicated Jesus follower my commitment was to avoid the local church so as to keep a “simple” devotion to Jesus.

And then I read these words of Jesus: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”  Unless Jesus returned and none of us were aware of it, he is still building his church, a triumphant, overcoming church. But that begs the question, “What and where is the church Jesus is building?” My post-congregational friends have dropped out of “the institutional church,” and the more radical have left “the organized church.” (Is it possible to be institutional and unorganized?)  I’m convinced that many of them are still participating in a local church with a non-traditional label. Some are belong to “missional communities” or “house church networks,” still local churches no matter how you define them. Others have successfully cut themselves off completely from any expression of the Body of Christ (a dangerous decision in my view).

I’m convinced that Jesus is indeed building his church – I just want to find out where that is. The local church is the instrument of God’s Kingdom carrying out the mission of God’s rule in their specific time and place. Is it possible to identify the key elements of a local expression of Christ’s Body? Are there a minimal number of foundational elements that comprise a local church? If so, what are they?

The story of the First Church in the Book of Acts contains the narrative of the working of the Holy Spirit in and through the church to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. The story of the birth of the church seems to give us foundational “seeds” from which everything else has grown. Acts 2:42 describes this first community as “devoting themselves,” to certain things. They had attached themselves to these things, had made clear commitments that governed their daily lives. They lived in a state of readiness with a deep, sincere desire to continue in these things. The story only refers to four “seeds” that those early believers were “devoted” to. I suggest that these are the elements that make up a church that Jesus is building.

The Apostles’ Teaching. It’s interesting that this would be the first commitment listed. I would prefer that it be “pot lucks” or small groups or picnics. But these first believers understood the need for teaching. The foundation of what they believed and how they lived was based on God’s written revelation in Scripture. They didn’t have “itching ears” but rejoiced at the opportunity to receive and respond to instruction. And not just any teaching but the teaching of the apostles. God’s delegated authority was clearly represented in the community. Some of the impetus behind our modern post-congregational movement is a rejection of authority; however, any expression of the Jesus community will be in a context of God-given, Christ-honoring, Spirit-empowered spiritual authority.

Fellowship. This English word has lost a lot of its power, but the Greek word koinonia was one of the most important in the early church. It comes from the root koinos which simply means “common.” It refers to a common life, a shared life, an intimate partnership. “Fellowship” did not just happen at special times, but rather it summarized the daily lives of those first Jesus followers. A devotion to real covenant relationships known for certain “one another” qualities with real brothers and sisters (who are unfortunately human) is necessary to have any expression of God’s Kingdom community.

The Breaking of Bread. This unique expression referred in general to the essence of the shared life, to “table fellowship.” It was used to refer to the “last supper” Jesus shared with his disciples (see Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19). In fact, when the post-resurrection Jesus revealed himself to the two disciples in Emmaus it occurred “when he broke the bread” (Luke 24:35). For the church, “breaking bread” always referred to the heart of worship, to the sharing of intimate fellowship with Jesus (Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 10:16). A local expression of the church will always be a worshipping church with set times to fellowship with Jesus around the table.

Prayer (literally, “the prayers”). The first church was a praying church. They understood the need for regular, united, corporate prayer. Even before the Day of Pentecost, “they all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). They had regular “times of prayer” (Acts 3:1). Every new challenge was responded to with corporate prayer (Acts 4:24). The job of the local elders was to give themselves “to prayer” (Acts 6:4). Today’s church seems to have lost the regular practice of corporate prayer, one of the only four things the first church was devoted to.

It’s seems fairly clear: No matter what you call your Jesus community, these are the four things you must be devoted to. May we renew our commitment to each of them, and may they form the Kingdom lifestyle we are each of us called to. 

Know Your Family History

I’ve gained a great appreciation for the value of large extended families here in the South. It seems like everyone is “kin” in our community. Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins, all have a special and important role in the family. When a new life comes into the world, raising that child is the responsibility of the whole “village,” not just Moms and Dads. And everyone seems to be aware of their family connection, no matter how distant or obscure. Beyond that, key members of the neighborhood or the community become “Uncles” and “Aunts” as members of an even larger “kinship network.” (I enjoy being an all-purpose “Granddad” to some of our children.)

We are also members of a huge, wonderful church family. To bear good fruit it is vitally important for us to see ourselves as members of the NCC family. We want to know our family history and see where we fit in our family tree. But NCC is not the whole Church Family. As Jesus followers we are each of us members of a much larger story.

New Community Church is a single congregation in the larger “church of LaGrange.” The New Testament church connected every local church with the city God had planted it in:

·         To all in Rome who are loved by God (Romans 1:7).

·         To the church of God in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2).

·         To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi (Philippians 1:1).

·         To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse (Colossians 1:2).

·         To the church of the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

The Body of Christ in LaGrange has a single, united Kingdom mission to represent Jesus in every area of life, and NCC gets to participate in that mission.

But even more, New Community Church is a part of the worldwide Body of Christ. There is a big, beautiful church out there, from the ancient Eastern and Roman churches to the Reformation/Protestant churches to the more recent Evangelical churches. Each one of them has a unique story; every one of them loves Jesus and is committed to the Gospel and God’s rule on the earth (as it is in heaven). When we view the various Christian “tribes” as in competition with each other, we tend to focus on our differences. When we see each one as a unique New Covenant instrument of God’s Kingdom, we see that underneath it all, we are one.

But no matter which congregation we are a member of, no matter which city God has placed us in, no matter what “tribe” we identify with, we all have the same founding story. The founding story for NCC is not in 1992 but rather is in the book of Acts. We clearly see ourselves as a continuation of that story with a commitment to being faithful to the lessons of that story in our time and place.

The stage was set for the story of the book of Acts in the life and ministry of Jesus. He clearly proclaimed the “gospel of the Kingdom” and demonstrated the nature of it with signs and wonders. His contemporaries were disappointed with him at best and radically disagreed with him at worst. But that didn’t keep Jesus from pouring himself into 12 men and preparing them for the day when he would begin building his church.

Specifically, the “commission” of Jesus to his disciples set the stage for what was to come:

·         Go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Matthew records the “big picture” of the commission, including instructions to disciple “all nations.” The church was to be a change agent in the world as new believers were taught to “obey everything I have commanded you.”

·         Go into all the world and preach (Mark 16:15-18). In Mark we are told to preach the gospel “to all creation.” The church is to be a universal expression of God’s Kingdom on the earth, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to everyone and everything.

·         As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20:21-23). Jesus came on a specific mission and carried that mission out in a specific way. He commissioned his followers to continue in that same mission and in that same way. That’s why he said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

·         You are my witnesses of these things (Luke 24:45-53). The commission as recorded by Luke began with the need for the disciples to “understand the Scriptures” so they could accurately teach along with the need to preach “in his name to all nations.” Jesus then concluded with these words: “Stay in the city until you until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus was giving his disciples a supernatural commission that would require them to receive supernatural graces, and they were not to attempt to fulfill any part of the commission until they had been “clothed with power.”

The response of the disciples to these last words of Jesus laid the groundwork for the book of Acts. During the next nine weeks we are going to be unpacking the dynamic themes of this book, rightly referred to as “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” Beginning with this Life Guide we will include a reading guide for a portion of Acts in the daily devotional. We will also include a study guide for families and small groups, along with recommended resources for further study. Our hope is that as we gain a greater knowledge of our family history, we will be able to see ourselves more accurately as those who are carrying on the story in our time and place. 

“I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God”

Recently I was able to spend some time with my parents in Florida and we were reminiscing about the beautiful congregation we were able to pioneer and shepherd in the ‘70s and ‘80s. (Yes, we’re old enough to reminisce.) When we were a young congregation we used to end every gathering by joining hands in a big circle and singing the old Bill Gaither tune, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.” And we really were a family, and we really were glad. So many of us were permanently marked (in a very good way) by our experience of life together as the family of God.

And it wasn’t just a matter of sentimentality; the Bible refers to the local church as a family or household. Jesus referred to his followers as members of his “household” (Matthew 10:25). Jesus was appointing certain leaders who were responsible for “the servants in his household” (Matthew 24:45). In John 8:34-36 Jesus refers to himself as “the Son” in God’s family. Many of the early congregations were centered around believing families/households:

·         The household of Lydia (Acts 16:14-16)

·         The household of Justus & Crispus (Acts 18:7-8)

·         The household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15)

·         The household of Apphia & Archippus (Philemon 1:2)

Paul encourages us to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). He rejoices in the fact that we “are no longer foreigners or strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19). He commended the Thessalonian congregation for loving “all of God’s family throughout Macedonia” (1 Thessalonians 4:10). Paul also instructed Timothy on how he ought to conduct himself “in God’s household” (1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus is not ashamed to call the members of his family “brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). Peter exhorted believers to “love the family of believers” (1 Peter 2:17; see also 4:17 & 5:9).

It’s clear that from God’s perspective, the local church is a family. And as the old saying goes, “you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your relatives.” Family is family! We are not members of a club – we are brothers and sisters. But as you well know, there are a lot of dysfunctional families these days. Thinking about your family (or families you might know) and God’s family, have you ever heard family members say something like this?

I’ve been disappointed (or hurt) in a family so I’ve decided to not be in a family. The big problem with all families is that there are human beings in them, and if you hang around a human long enough, they will inevitably do and/or say something stupid. And you will be disappointed (or hurt). However, our commitment to family is based on the simple fact that family is family, and you can’t choose to not be in a family.

I’ve not spoken to my (mother/sister/father/brother) for years. When someone fails to meet the expectation of another family member, some just cut them off. Just leave. I’m not speaking to them again. I will pretend they are not part of the family. They’re dead to me. Really?!! Other than a little problem called “hatred,” this kind of response is unrealistic. To ignore family is to live in a fantasy land.

I’m not participating in any more family meals because I’m not being fed any more – in fact, I may not come back and eat ever again. Parents (and pastors) are especially fond of this one. Mom worked hard and put a healthy meal on the table – you just refused to eat it. And don’t you have some level of responsibility to participate in the provision of healthy meals, and to even occasionally feed yourself?

I’m not comfortable here any more – I’m taking a break from this family (and may not come back). I don’t know about you but I’ve never thought that the purpose of my family was to provide me consistent comfort. In fact, sometimes family is very uncomfortable. However, being uncomfortable could be a growth opportunity for me. Feeling uncomfortable and bailing may just be a sign of my immaturity.

I’m not going to help pay any of the bills this week because I mowed the lawn (or did the dishes, or some other volunteer act of service) last week. To be realistic, families have practical needs that have to be systematically and consistently met, and it takes all the member of the household to adequately meet those needs. As members of our family we can’t just assume that some other family member will take care of it and then assume a passive attitude toward those needs.

Family can be irritating. Family can be disappointing. Family will never meet all of our needs. But we need family; in fact, we simply are family. Our commitment to our brothers and sisters is on a much higher level than our commitment to neighbors or co-workers. Family is God’s gift to us. All of us have a variety of “family” relationships, covenant relationships that form a vitally important bond and foundation for the rest of our lives. While I can’t choose my family I can repeatedly renew my commitment to my family, and try to make a positive contribution to everything my family needs and does. I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad I’m a part of my family – my Asplund family and my NCC family. They are God’s gift to me, and they fill my life with joy and challenge. 

The Missing Ingredient

Today is Father’s Day! We’re all clear about the importance of Mother’s Day – it’s one of the most sacred days of the year, preceded only by Christmas and Easter. We’re not so clear about Father’s Day. On Mother’s Day we honor, wine and dine our mothers, send gifts, make long phone calls, and put motherhood on a pedestal. We’re not as clear about Father’s Day. When I recently took an informal survey with the question, “What are you doing for Father’s Day?” I received a variety of blank looks and – I don’t really know. We honor what we value. So what’s up with fathers?

I think we’re all aware of the facts by now. Currently 50% of children in America live apart from their biological father and 41% of all children are born to an unmarried mother (as high as 80% and 70% respectively in some communities). 63% of all teen suicides involved kids living without a father; 85% of children exhibiting behavioral disorders; 71% of high school drop-outs; 70% of youth in juvenile detention. The crime rate is much higher for fatherless kids: 73% of all teen murders and 80% of teen rapes are committed by fatherless kids. 85% of all those in the prison system grew up without a father. The educational achievement is much lower for children without a father in their lives. Kids who grow up without a father are much more likely to engage in sexual activity, to have drug and alcohol problems, to have confused gender identities and psychiatric issues, and to be divorced as adults. Fathers are the missing ingredient in the American family.

The Bible very clearly raises the value of fathers and fatherhood:

·         Fathers are to “direct their children” and establish a godly legacy in their family (Genesis 18:19).

·         Fathers are to show compassion to their children (Psalm 103:13).

·         Fathers are known for their generosity and for being faithful providers for their family (Luke 11:11-12).

·         Fathers provide important role models to their children (1 Corinthians 4:14-16).

·         Fathers are to encourage and comfort the members of their family (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

·         Fathers are the ones charged with teaching, training, and disciplining their children (Hebrews 12:9).

Being a father is considered a blessing from God (Psalm 128:1-4). A father who fears the Lord provides security for his family (Proverbs 14:26). Fathers have the ability to “exasperate” and “embitter” their children and are therefore warned to not do so (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). A father who does not provide for his family is “worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

Recently considerable research has been conducted on the values provided by a father. Here are some examples:

·         Fathers provide love

·         Fathers provide support

·         Fathers provide comfort

·         Fathers teach children values

·         Fathers teach children problem-solving

• A father's involvement in children's school activities protects at-risk children from failing or dropping out
• Fathers who are more involved with their children tend to raise children who experience more success in their career
• Involved fathering is related to lower rates of teen violence, delinquency, and other problems with the law
• Father involvement is associated with positive child characteristics such as empathy, self-esteem, self-control, psychological well-being, social competence, and life skills
• Children who grow up in homes with involved fathers are more likely to take an active and positive role in raising their own families

It’s not just an issue of absent fathers, it’s also an issue of passive, uninvolved fathers. Active fathering is certainly complicated by divorce and blended families. Godly fathers will explore ways to provide the benefits only they can give to their children no matter what their life circumstance.

Today we are declaring that fathers are our heroes. We are celebrating fathers who have who waited until marriage to bring a child into the world and who have remained faithful to their wife and children. We also celebrating fathers who are committed to being actively involved in the lives of their children even in situations that are not ideal. We are also celebrating men who are committed to providing fathering relationships to kids who don’t have an active father in their lives. After all, nothing can replace a godly father. You are our hero! Happy Father’s Day!

"Worship God!"

I remember praying for a newborn believer who was trembling in fear. When I asked him why he was so terrified he told me had started reading the Bible, beginning with the book of Revelation. When he got to chapters 8 and 9 he started to have horrible nightmares and needed prayer. I prayed for him and advised him to start his reading in John’s Gospel, not John’s Apocalypse. But then I thought about all the weird ways Christians read the Revelation; it is, after all, God’s Word and therefore designed to have a message that will reveal God to us and draw us closer to God.  Taking a fresh look at the book I concluded that the theme of the Apocalypse is very clear, simple and powerful: “Worship God!” (Revelation 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:1, 16; 14:7; 15:4; 19:4, 10; 22:9).

In fact, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that our highest calling as human beings is to be worshippers, to celebrate Jesus, to bring honor and glory to God in every area of our lives. The word for “worship” (Greek proskuneo) in the Revelation (and the rest of the New Testament) simply means “to do homage by kneeling or prostration; to kiss the hand; to make obeisance and express respect.” It is a combination of intimate love and reverend obedience. We “worship” whatever we assign great “worth” to. Everyone worships something or someone. Not everyone worships God. The worship of anything or anyone other than God or in addition to God is what the Bible calls “idolatry.” To be honest, our instinct is to worship ourselves, putting ourselves at the center.

The issue of worship was central to Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness when Jesus responded, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). Jesus also exposed the phony worship of the Pharisees when he said (quoting Isaiah), “They worship me in vain, their teachings are merely human rules” (Matthew 15:9). When the New Testament church elders were asking God for direction, they gave themselves to fasting and prayer and worship (Acts 13:2). Paul’s confession of faith was simply this: “I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way” (Acts 24:14). To the Romans Paul pointed out that when humans begin to worship created things rather than the Creator, it results in a self-destructive lifestyle (Romans 1:25). “True and proper worship” involves offering our whole concrete selves to the Lord (Romans 12:1). The ultimate goal of spiritual gifts is worship (1 Corinthians 14:25).

There is such a things as false worship and false worshipers (Colossians 2:18, 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). However, Jesus called out “true worshipers.” Remember the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well? The Samaritans were a “mixed-race” people despised by the racially pure people of Judea. They also had a less than orthodox theology, disagreeing with Judea about the role of the Torah and the best place to worship. The Samaritan woman wanted to engage Jesus in a debate about theology, and almost succeeded when Jesus responded, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). However, the subject was not theology but worship. The heart of the matter was this: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). God was seeking for “true worshipers,” not religious sects or theological debates. And what is a true worshiper? Because “God is spirit,” true worshipers “must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” It seems as though worshiping God “in your own way” is not necessarily true worship. True worshipers worship God in God’s way, and that way involves “Spirit and truth.” The Holy Spirit is to be our real worship leader, and the worship the Spirit will lead will conform to God’s own truth.

In fact, the Bible has a lot to say about worship and praise. (“Praise” is the outward celebration involved in our worship.) Here are a couple of simple, biblical outlines pertaining to praise and worship that might be helpful:

Why do we praise the Lord?

1.     God is worthy to be praised. Psalm 18:2-3

2.     It is good to praise the Lord. Psalm 147:1

3.     We are commanded to praise the Lord. Psalm 9:11; 22:23

4.     It results in spiritual freedom. Acts 16:25-26; Jonah 2:8-10

How do we praise the Lord?

1.     Praise with the mouth. Psalm 47:1, 5-7

2.     Praise with the hands. Psalm 141:2

3.     Praise with the body. Psalm 149:2-3; 150

So if our highest calling is that of a worshiper, and if the Father is seeking those who will worship in Spirit and in truth, then let us dedicate ourselves anew to worship God! Let us judge everything by the extent to which it will bring honor and glory to Jesus. 

I Love Roses

One of the things I enjoyed most about living in Portland was growing Hybrid Tea Roses. Portland is known as the “City of Roses” because the climate (not much good for anything else) and soil are ideal for growing fabulously beautiful roses, many of them developed in Portland. So I decided to go all out and grow a variety of specialty roses in our backyard. The problem with hybrid roses is that they are very persnickety (a Swedish word meaning “picky”) and need a lot of attention. They have to be inspected on a regular basis for a variety of possible diseases, especially fungi and mildews (encouraged by the cool, wet climate). It’s important to give the roses plenty of water (but not too much water) and good rose food. Most importantly, roses need regular, systematic, and vigorous pruning. Those unfamiliar with growing roses question why it is necessary to cut so much back on those beautiful plants. However, if there is going to be any chance of having a healthy, beautiful, productive rose, it must be pruned.

I remember my first year pruning my roses. The need for pruning was obvious in some cases. If a “cane” was dead or diseased, made obvious by it being dark and bearing no fruit, it had to be completely removed. If that cane was not cut out and thrown away it would eventually spread disease and even destroy the entire plant. The second need for pruning was more difficult. When a rose has borne a beautiful flower, as it begins to stop blossoming the flower itself must be cut off. And not just the flower but the cane must be cut back to the next place of potential fruitfulness. On a rose the beautiful flower is the “terminal bud,” the ultimate product of a season of fruitfulness. However, that terminal bud sends a signal back to the roots to stop the growth on that cane. It’s OK to pause and admire the blossom but before long, unless you want all growth to simply stop, it must be pruned back.

That memory brings to mind my “life verse”: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The life and nutrients of the plant travel from the roots through the vine and finally, into the branches. The branches exist solely to produce the fruit that demonstrates the dynamic and nature of the vine. If you separate the branches from the vine they are meaningless and worthless, capable of producing nothing at all, ultimately becoming a source of disease and death. Jesus uses a double negative (not good English grammar) to emphasize his point – “apart from me, independently of me, separated from me, you can do absolutely nothing at all.” So if we function like a “cane” on a rose, it only makes sense that our health and fruitfulness requires consistent, systematic, vigorous pruning.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2). Fortunately our gardener, our vinedresser and pruner, is our Father God. Because he has created each of us to be entirely unique, he alone know what kind of pruning we need in order to be increasingly fruitful. Unfortunately, some branches are either so diseased or even dead, to keep the vine from being destroyed those branches have to be cut off and thrown away. “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6). However, even those branches that bear the most beautiful blossoms, if they are to continue to grow and bear more fruit, must be pruned. It’s OK to pause and admire the beauty of all God has done in and through the branch, but the time will come when that “terminal bud” will need to be removed.

The word (Greek kathairo) Jesus uses for “prune” means “to cleanse from impurity, to make pure; to make free from corruption, sin and guilt; to make genuine or blameless; to prune.” That’s why Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). (This word is also related to the one translated, “pulling down” strongholds and “casting down” imaginations in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.) The reality is that the seeds of disease and death are present in every accomplishment we experience in life. If we take too much time to focus on those accomplishments, and maybe even build a monument to them, they will inevitably become corrupted and may even become a source of disease and death rather than life and blessing.

Lately I’ve been meditating on one of the “hard sayings” of Jesus: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:24-26). The goal of our lives is not to be important or honored, to have a place of privilege and status; the goal of our lives is simply to bear fruit – good fruit, abiding fruit, increasing fruit – fruit that reflect the life of Christ flowing into and through our lives as a result of our abiding relationship with him. Fruit that is not just admirable but rather fruit that is a source of life and health to others – fruit that is good to eat. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). That will mean submitting to the Father’s pruning, but we can rest in the confidence that the Father loves us and has only purposed good in and through our lives.