Planted by Water

A couple of days ago I was writing about the fruit of repentance. I said that it is a change of mind leading to a change of life. It is about both how we think and what we do. John tells his hearers ‘don’t just say……’ (Luke 3:8). It’s not primarily about what you say, but what you do. Action, not just words. (though tomorrow if I get chance I will share about the fruit of what …

A couple of weeks ago I was with my fellow elders from our related churches in the North and my friend Richard Anniss, who leads the church in Manchester (visit his blog here), shared about the importance of being fruitful in our spiritual life and making sure that all we did contributed to such fruitfulness. Since then I have found myself turning this thought over in my mind and considering the roots that determine our fruitfulness. …

Thanks to Hugh and Gavin for their comments yesterday. I agree with you Hugh that there doesn’t have to be an either/or about the mind and the Spirit (though the Spirit must be given priority and the mind submitted to him). However I think that there may well be an either/or when it comes to the Law (i.e the Mosaic Law) and the new covenant. I intend in the near future to write something of greater length on this subject (which I will put on my Pages) but for now …

It’s been a while since I had anything to say about trees but I was particularly struck by these words of Jesus to some religious leaders:

A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. …

I like this verse I came across in reading Genesis recently. God exhorts Abraham to take a walk and explore the land that he was giving to him:

Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you (Gen.13:17)

We need to do the same with our spiritual land - the inheritance that we have in Christ. For too many Christians it goes undiscovered, let alone unexplored! Part of reading the Bible, should be to discover, …

Yesterday, Alison and I were in Lancaster (the picture is of Lancaster Castle) where we were both at College and where we met and got married. We were there  for the funeral of Frank Dowthwaite, who was the pastor of the church we were in, and my first father in the faith. Many would be able to call him that, but I just thank God for the influence he had in my life. Although we had not …