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October 14, 2024

God’s Pruning Shears

John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser . . .every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

I know next to nothing about gardening, but my neighbor, Ms. Sandy, is a fantastic gardener. She can grow beautiful and delicious things. Nearly every time we talk I learn something about how to cultivate plants. And it was Ms. Sandy who helped me understand this wonderful verse. She showed me the purpose of pruning.

We see in this passage that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (15:5). We grow out of Christ. Our life is in and from Christ. If we are separated from Jesus we shrivel up spiritually and die. \

God the Father is the vinedresser, the gardener, and that means he is the one with the pruning shears. Gardeners prune plants to remove the unhealthy parts and to make room for even healthier growth. Who does he prune? Those branches who bear fruit. So if we are drawing life from Christ and our lives are showing public fruit (Christian character and courage, gospel witness, perseverance, sacrificial love, etc.) then we can expect to be pruned. 

Often we feel like the  difficulties we face in the Christian life are evidence of God’s displeasure. They seem like punishment or abandonment. In reality, they very well might be God pruning us so that we can bear more fruit. So our difficulties and suffering are evidence that God is pleased with us and has even greater plans for us. He sees our life in Christ, smiles on it, and prepares us for even more.  

I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville , in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.

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Published on October 14, 2024 03:08

October 11, 2024

3 Things I Like This Week – October 11

Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.

1. The Classic Bandana

My dad was always a handkerchief guy–white cloth square in his back pocket for wiping a drippy nose. To this day the thought of putting snot back in your pocket and then having to launder it later is abominable to me. I say all that to clarify that I do not endorse the use of the bandana as a handkerchief. I do endorse the carrying of bandanas in pockets, purses, and cars for just about every other use–mopping sweat (necessary for some of of us bigger guys in warm climates), wiping kids’ faces, emergency bandage, etc. A dampened bandana is the original Magic Eraser. They are the duct tape of fabrics. Any adult should have one close by at all times.

 

2. Vitamix Blender

I was sold on the Vitamix when I watched my mom dump a bag of whole apples, some honey, and some cinnamon in hers, hit the start button and about 7-10 minutes later deliver delicious apple sauce to the table. These aren’t cheap, but they are worth the money. I use mine most mornings to make smoothies (that are actually smooth). If you are a soup or sauce person, these blenders are awesome. The Vitamix even comes with a recipe book because of all the possibilities you can make with it.

 

3. The Semicolon

[image error]An author I respect, who I would consider a trustworthy person and good thinker, posted something to the effect of “No sentence has ever been improved or made more elegant by using a semicolon.” In response I would simply like to say, rubbish. Admittedly, the misuse of the semicolon can muddle meanings and muck up otherwise sound writing. And, admittedly, learning any sort of “rules” about when to use one is nearly impossible because they don’t really exist. The semicolon is truly punctuation of style, an enhancement of otherwise sound writing by writers with the sensibility, dexterity, and panache to use it well. The semicolon is the gray area of writing–not a full stop leading to a new thought, but neither two thoughts combined into one. It communicates relationship and sequence but also distance and disparity. If that confuses you, don’t use the semicolon. If that intrigues you, become a fundamentally good writer who knows all the rules then use the semicolon.

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Published on October 11, 2024 05:46

October 10, 2024

October 9, 2024

Kindle Deals for October 9

Some Kindle deals worth your mind and money today:

The Book of Leviticus (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Gordon Wenham – $3.99

Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G.K. Beale – $3.99

Proverbs: A Shorter Commentary by Bruce Waltke – $3.99

Song of Songs by Tremper Longman – $3.99

Gospel Eldership: Equipping a New Generation of Servant Leaders by Robert Thune – $3.99

Oversee God’s People: Shepherding the Flock Through Administration and Delegation by Brian Croft & Bryce Butler – $1.99

The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson – $3.99

Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene Peterson – $3.99

Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity by Eugene Peterson – $3.99

To Be a Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond by Katie J. McCoy PhD – $4.99

The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy by Tim Keller – $4.99

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll – $3.99

Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture by Lesslie Newbigin – $3.99

MY BOOKS:

The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99

Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99

The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99

Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99

Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99

These links are Amazon affiliate links.

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Published on October 09, 2024 06:01

October 8, 2024

October 7, 2024

Kindle Deals for October 7

Some Kindle deals worth your mind and money today:

MY BOOKS:

These links are Amazon affiliate links.

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Published on October 07, 2024 05:31

Unrivaled Peace

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

This verse is amazing. Jesus offers his peace to his followers–the peace that can only be found in him. He reassures our souls that we don’t need to be troubled or afraid because we have this peace in him. But it is that middle sentence, so easy to overlook, that brings it all together.

Yes, Jesus has given us amazing peace and made a profound promise, but it is the way he gives it that truly bolsters us. He simply says, “not as the world gives.” So how does the world give? How does the world offer peace?

The world offers temporal peace, peace that passes away. Jesus offers eternal peace, peace that passes understanding.

The world offers unreliable and incomplete peace, peace that soothes to a degree but not to the depths of our souls. Jesus offers proven and perfect peace built on the foundation of his perfect sacrifice and resurrection. 

The world offers peace in circumstance, peace that changes with the winds. Jesus offers peace in himself, peace that will never pass away. 

I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville , in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.

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Published on October 07, 2024 03:36

September 30, 2024

Is God Really There?

John 14:8-9B – Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

Is God really there? That is an intellectual question we might ask. It is a heart-level fear we might have. It is simply difficult sometimes to have confidence in a God we can’t see. 

So Jesus’s words, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father, are profoundly comforting. Wrapped up in this little phrase is a universe of theological depth and eternal promise. But of course you’re probably thinking, “yeah, but I haven’t seen Jesus either.” But you have!

We see Jesus through the words of Scripture, all the words of Scripture. The Old Testament makes plain our need for him, points to him, and prophecies of him. The gospels tell his story as told by eyewitnesses and his closest friends. The epistles (letters) teach about him and his mighty work. And Revelation assures us of his final return and victory. We see Jesus in the pages of our Bibles.

And we see Him through the work of his Holy Spirit. Every Christian has the presence of Jesus in us through the indwelling of the Spirit. He teaches, guides, corrects, encourages, and sanctifies us. (sanctification means to be made holy, that is, to be made like Jesus!) We see Jesus as his Spirit works in those around us and we see them grow and change and reflect Christ. 

So is God really there? He is. We know so because we see his son in such clear and beautiful ways.

I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville , in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.

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Published on September 30, 2024 03:01

September 27, 2024