Healthy Spiritual Growth

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." Matthew 12:33

God wants you to spend time doing meaningful things. But how can you tell if what you're doing is really the best way to spend your time? One way to find out is to take an inventory of your life to see where your time is going. The next step is called pruning and it may cause discomfort. Pruning is necessary to not only keep healthy growth, but also to make sure that the growth is in the right directison. Your thought process should start with, "How can I make more room in my life for God's best?" God's best is so much greater than anything else that you could ever put your time into. Go through the pruning process to produce all that God has for you -- the very best!

Learn from the Marines

(from "Think Blast" by Randal Niles - vol. 5:31)

Marines know their safety depends on the person on their right and the person on their left. They are bonded together in battle. Shouldn't the Church be the same way? Do we believe that our safety or our Christian faith often depends upon the people in the pews on our left and on our right Take the story of Jason Dunham whose parents recently receieved their son's posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor, our nation's highest militar award.

Dunham, a Marine Corporal, was leading his squad in Iraq when they were ambushed by insurgents. During the hand-to-hand combat, Dunham leaped to place his helmet over a live grenade. Dunham's bravery saved his friends and cost him his life. Why did he do it? To save the men serving under him. It was true heroic altruism. Would you or I be prepared to show what Jesus called no greater love? Would we lay down our lives for our Christian brothers?

As Christians, do we really understand the proud heritage of our faith; how the martyrs in the first century gave their lives to preserve the Gospel; how Christians through the centuries have championed great causes for the benefit of mankind: the abolition of slavery, the development of hospitals and universities, care for the poor, the protection of human life? We all remember Mother Teresa, of course, and some of the great missionaries, but how about the saints of bygone years? How about the Christians in the Roman Empire who gave their lives to tend the sick during the great plagues when pagan doctors fled?

The story of human history is a great cosmic battle between good and evil, and greater struggle than any war in human history. We're engaged in it, and we're on God's side. What if we Christians ahad the same sense of loyaltym, commitment, and responsibility for our heritage as Marines?

A Lesson from Geese

(from "The Power of an Encouraging Word," by Ken Sutterfield. Pages 43-45.)

Each year as the seasons change and winter approaches, I look forward to seeing and hearing the geese as they migrate south in formation. Did you know as each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the bird following? By flying in a "V" formation the flock as a whole adds 71 percent more flying range than if a bird flew alone.

We can certainly learn a lesson from this illustration from God's remarkable creation. People who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier when they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

"Encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:25.

Also, when a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone--and quickly gets back into formation to take full advantage of the lift. We need to realize as Christians that we need to stay connected to one another, encouraging and helping each other. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies the point position.

Hebrews 4 includes and excellent passage for the encouragement of rest for God's leaders. The writer affirms the need to follow God's model for rest and encouragement.

"Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11).

Geese also honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep flying with speed. Words are important. They have real power. James warns us that although the tongue is a small part of the body, it has the power to determine the whole course of human existence (James 3:5-6). What kind of message do you present when you "honk" at others?

Finally, another lesson we can learn is that when a goose is wounded or sick, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is able to fly again or dies. Then they branch out on their own to catch up or join another flock.

We, too, need to stand by one another--be a wind break in someone's life--a true encourager. By ourselves we are weak and fragile but together, with the Lord's strength, we can encourage one another with the power of our words.