From Pastor Bill

You may be aware of the analogy that Jesus used in John 15 when He compared Himself to the vine, while we are like the branches.  Jesus said (Vv. 4-5): I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Now let me push that analogy a bit further.  Some plants (ie. tomato) must be staked and tied or else the branches break easily, thus losing their very life-tie to the vine.  So, you see, although the vine alone can transmit the life-giving minerals to the branches, we are to stake and support over-weighted branches, lest they snap.  So, even though only the vine can allow the branches to become fruitful, we can provide much-needed support. 

And that is the way it should be in the Church of Jesus Christ.  We alone cannot possibly make people spiritually productive; that is the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is within our capability, however, to stand beside one another, binding the wounded, restoring the weak, sharing the gospel with the lost, and encouraging the downtrodden.  So please ask God to give you ministering opportunities to stake and support “branches” who are ready to snap, and then begin to look for them, because they are all around us. 

Devotedly your pastor,

Bill Blanchard