A Christ Follower: The Journey

Making a decision is easy for some, but difficult for others.  Doing so can be especially challenging for people in the midst of dramatic struggle and pain. I have provided Pastoral Care and Counseling for more people than I can remember.  The numbers are significant, and a huge number want to decide not to decide when they are asked  to decide to surrender their will to God.  When they really want is  to be in control of the life wreckage they have created in creating a whole bunch of  their uncontrollable stuff.  Now, keep in mind that to decide to not decide is indeed a decision. This non-deciding decision does not occur in a vacuum, and it will have consequences perhaps more significant than if they had decided to make a healthy choice followed up with a plan. I have seen people in bondage to cocaine not decide to surrender their addiction to the Creator.  Needless to say, they became progressively worse and they cycled downward spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financi

I   Am The Vine.  You Are The Branches Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing. Jesus One of the great things about knowing the Son of God, Jesus or experiencing The Son of God, is the power that comes upon a Christ-Follower's life when we actually are IN Him and HE IS in us. This is quite a relationship. Jesus describes this relationship in many ways, and this includes an interesting discussion He has with us in John 15. He actually shares with us the identity we have by telling us who HE is and who we are.  He says, "I AM."  Now that is a biblically accurate name for God, but HE says more.  "I AM THE Vine." It's interesting that HE does not say I AM "A" Vine.  HE is clear that HE is authentically "THE" vine.  There may be all kinds of other creatures out there that are called vines, but it's clear that the Son of God is making an authoritative point. I don't think that Jesus views Himself as a mere anything.  It's