I was reading the book of Job recently, and came across a very interesting verse. While lamenting his deplorable condition, and wondering at the purposes of God in his afflictions, Job makes the following comment:

"For there is hope even for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that it's tender shoots will not cease". (Job 14:7)

Have you ever seen such a thing? It is a peculiar sight indeed - a mighty tree that has been felled, and before long a little sprig starts growing from the stump. Presumably, if given enough time and care, it could eventually replace the former trunk and branches.

How can this be? I'm sure there are probably many reasons for this, but one of them is simple: it still has it's roots, and the roots are still healthy.

Now, the root system is certainly not the most noticeable part of a tree. After all, they are mostly concealed under the ground. Most people usually admire the massive trunks, strong branches, beautiful flowers, and tasty fruit of trees. The roots are rarely commented on except perhaps in conjectural form, just wondering how big they must be to support such a massive structure. However, God made the roots of trees to be a major provider of nourishment and stability to the tree, and therefore without a healthy root system a plant simply won't survive. Even the Scriptures discuss their importance, with passages such as the parable of the sower where some of the seed that sprang forth speedily did not have a proper root, causing it to wither in the sun. Conversely, Psalm 1 treats us to a picture of a healthy tree "planted by the rivers of water, yielding fruit in it's season".

Thus, Job can speak of hope for a tree which, regardless of the circumstances of it's life, can recover to bring forth fruit again if it's roots are healthy.

Unfortunately, just as we devote our attention to the visible features of physical trees, so we also often spend our energy on the purely external things of life. Not that these should be abandoned, for indeed some of them - like our speech, our actions, and the attitudes we display - are very important. However, I wonder if all too often we over-emphasize these things to the detriment of remembering and cultivating our "roots".

You see, in John chapter 15, the great passage on "abiding" in Christ, we are given yet another metaphor from the plant kingdom which contains a critical truth. In verses 4 and 5, we read the following:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing".

The picture Christ paints for us is very simple. The vine is everything. The branches are just a part of the vine. Even so Jesus Christ is everything to us, and we are simply a part or extension of Him.

Let's consider this concept for a moment. Have you ever seen a branch stressing, straining, and pushing to produce fruit? Of course not. Fruit is a natural product of the vine. In like manner, we too have only one responsibility - to abide in the Vine, to cultivate our connection to our Root, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we do so, the Lord promises us that "fruit", i.e. the externals, will be produced as naturally as it comes from your favorite fruit tree.

Much more could be said about this point, but I want to summarize it by sharing with you one of the many aphorisms we memorized in Bible School. It's very simple in it's construction, and yet very profound in it's meaning:

All is in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, for the Glory of God.
All else is nothing.

Do those words truly reflect our attitude towards life? Do we, as the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3, count all things - yes, all things - as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord? A test would be to simply note what takes the majority of our attention. Do we, like Martha, "worry and fret over many things", or are we, like Mary, choosing that "one thing needful" - our fellowship with Christ?

Perhaps you are currently like the tree in Job. Life has dealt a heavy blow, and you feel like you have been cut down and left to die. You don't see much fruit being borne in your life. If so, don't be discouraged, for there is still hope: abide in the Vine, cultivate your connection to your Root, and let His life sustain and strengthen you. In due time, you will produce fruit.

Regardless of our circumstances, Christ's call on our lives is very simple: "Abide in Me". Like the roots of a tree let us ask and trust Him to be our source of sustenance and support. In so doing, we will deepen our understanding of the principle that the Christian life is Christ. All else is nothing.

In His Service,

Stephen Tecklenberg,
President

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Ministry Report

2001 Grand Western Adventure. A small one, but a good one. This year we were joined by three young men on our backpacking tour through Grand Canyon.

After a two day orientation, we began our hiking expedition on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on Monday, May 21. Over the course of the next four days, we traversed the entire width of the Canyon (a trail distance of about 25 miles), arriving on the North Rim early Thursday morning.

Along the way, we of course were greeted with some spectacular vistas, and explored many of the features unique to the Canyon, using them as springboards for learning about God's character and working in history.

"Totally His" Youth Conference. On Monday, June 18, about 50 young people from all parts of the country came to the Evangelical Institute in Greenville, SC, for this unique and challenging week to consider God's Word and His call on their lives. For three hours in the morning, and then an hour in the evening, they dealt with such topics as Intimacy With Christ (Wallace Francis), The Priorities of Life (Aidan McKenzie), a book study of Galatians (Dan Johnson), and Biblical Apologetics (Steve Tecklenberg). These sessions were interspersed with various opportunities for recreation, not to mention excellent food and fellowship.

What a blessing it was to see these young people express their deep desire to know, love, and serve the Lord. Especially during the final meeting, when the young people were given an opportunity to testify, it was a great encouragement to hear them speak of the gentle conviction of the Spirit of God that living their lives for their sake on this Earth must end. They had come to an understanding that God truly wanted them to be "totally His", without reservation.

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Congratulations....

ENM wants to congratulate Eric and Jamie Stamper on the birth of their daughter, Brianna Renee, on May 19th.

Both Eric and Jamie served with us in several of our international ministries. Eric also functioned as a part of the founding Board of Directors of Eagle's Nest.

We pray that God will bless them greatly, and give them wisdom in raising this child for His glory.