Bearing Fruit & the Hazards of Summer

There are several hybrid pear trees that do not produce pears. They are popular trees because they do not grow too tall, have a nice shape, produce beautiful spring flowers and are not messy with pears falling to the ground. Well at the park by my house this type of pear tree has lots of mini-trees growing from the roots of the "mother tree." Several of the smaller trees, or rather shoots growing up from the ground, are actually producing pears. Despite the hybrid quality of the main tree, there is still a genetic propensity to grow fruit.

This got me thinking about fruit in our lives. Are you producing spiritual fruit in your life this summer? Summer can be a hazardous time, spiritually. A different schedule and the lack of accountability can lead to sin. Everyday we must fix our eyes, our attention, our affection on Jesus.

John 15:4-5, Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

P.S. for incoming Timothy Students: remember to send me a cool tree picture with you in it from this summer. Email it to wiener@timothychristian.com.

July Already?!!

I can't believe that June is over already! I have some thoughts as we start July:

1. THE BIBLE: I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but are you reading the Bible on a daily basis? With all the different voices we hear in life, it is essential to regularly be in God's Word if we want to grow in faith. We need to hear from God. Psalm 19

2. PRAYER: When you need prayer, who do you ask to pray for you? We all need to people to pray for us. Too often, we do not reach out for prayer support.

3. A STORY: I went to Colorado Challenge last week (had about 300 youth & a bunch of Timothy students were there as well). We did lots of great activities like rappelling, white water rafting, high ropes course, paint-balling, and more. The speaker was former TC Bible teacher, Jeff Klein. As he shared in the leaders' meeting one morning, I was impressed that I should ask him to pray for me, especially since we both have the Timothy connection. Afterwards, I talked with him and then I asked him to pray for me–that I would be the Bible teacher God wanted me to be. The prayer was one of those special moments. I was overwhelmed with a sense of God's presence and power during the prayer. By the end of the prayer time, my vision was blurred but my heart was strengthened. Who can you ask to pray for you?

Me with a beautiful Ponderosa Pine

On top of Pike's Peak with some friends!