"Stand Tall"

This stately old tree, a Giant Redwood,

located outside Santa Cruz, CA

has weathered many storms and fires over a hundred years, that have left it

battered and scared yet it still reaches up to the sun each new day.

t’s roots have grown strong and hold it in place no matter what the rains, wind and storms of life throw it’s way.

This grand tree, though it is scared by life has grown to a height of nearly 300 feet tall and massive in width.

I can remember my brothers and I playing in it’s cave-like scar. My own kids have played around this old friend which towers over the grove.

The amazing fact that Redwoods, as giant as they are, have a very shallow root system that requires them to join their roots with others to stand tall! It is being joined with others that give these truly remarkable giants their strength to stand against whatever weather throws at them.

It’s then, I remember the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3: 17 and 18:

^17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

It’s you, being rooted and established in love;

It’s “The Power of Togetherness” of God’s people that enables you to stand tall against the challenges that life throws at you. You maybe battered and scared by life;

Be rooted and established in God’s awesome love, and

Be connected to others of like faith my friend.

Stand Tall friend ~ Pastor David Rails

A Word About Discipleship…

A Word About Discipleship…

Have you ever heard someone say, "I tried Christianity, and it didn't work for me!"

The truth is, that for many people, the 'Church' has let them down. We invite friends, and even family to visit church, and for many the seed of the Word of God is planted in the heart by a timely message that pricks the heart, but there is little to no follow up; no discipleship. And when they fall away for lack of follow-up they say, "I tried Christianity, and it didn't work for me, didn't help me and I don't need church!" 

Consistency is what they needed, a commitment to continue to go to church for relationship building and a grounding in Bible understanding and a training that leads to application of the Bible to life and an understanding that "Life in Christ, is a life-long commitment", not a trial period to see if, 'God works for me or not.' 

As a radio marketing executive and manger, I ran into many business owners who, "Tried Radio" and found it didn't work for them. The reason? They never gave themselves to commit to it for 'the long haul', and because there was someone who failed them by not developing a relationship with them first and who failed to work with them to develop a personalized plan, to teach them that success comes with commitment to a plan. For those businesses that committed to a long term plan and were consistent, they saw continued growth year to year. Can that translate to a relationship with Christ?

Relationship, commitment, planning, consistency in personal discipleship with new believers for, "The Long Haul", leads to growth and helping them maintain a walk with Christ. 

Do churches see this, and do they practice this? Can we change to practice what we preach? Here is hoping we can. ~ Pastor David.