Putting Down Roots...

Today, I'm sharing a bit more from that little book I mentioned in yesterday's post.

Paul shares about a family who has just returned from the mission field, and the mother is asked what it was she found so overwhelming upon returning to the U.S. Her response? "The potato chip aisle in the store."

Did you know that Lay's Brand produces over 40 different types of potato chip? That's NUTS, people! And when you've been to a foreign country where a potato itself thrills you no end...you realize just how nuts that is.

Now, let's move it into the realm of the Spirit, shall we? How many different types of churches (denomination, style, size, etc.) do we have in this country? And how healthy is it for the Body of Christ?

Before you come flyin' at me with your theological debates primed and ready, let me say this...I'm not knocking denominations. I'm just saying, how long have you been serving where you are currently at?

Most Christians spend an average of 2-3 years in one church. The average pastor spends only 7-8 years as pastor of one church (in our denomination, the average is much less). Now, somebody tell me how you can put down roots that way?

So many believers are saying they feel so disconnected from the Body. I know of one woman who feels no one in her church "gets her". My question is "has she been there long enough to be gotten--and how 'there' is she?"

When my husband pastored 14 years ago, we lived along the Sacramento River, and we had lots and lots of almond orchards surrounding us. In 1995, our area was severely flooded, to the point we had to evacuate to my parents home 45 minutes away.

As we drove along the highway, we saw tree after tree after tree lying on its side, root ball sticking up in the air. Later on we read how most of the almond crop for that year was destroyed by flood.

The reason? These were trees with shallow roots. They hadn't been planted long enough to go deep into the soil, so when the flood came, they popped up and toppled over. Had the flood waited another few years, the root ball would have been deep enough that the trees might have stayed planted.

With all of the variety and choice in the Body of Christ, I wonder if we stay put long enough to take root. I've watched in my own small town as "this church" become the "happening place to worship" and people move in droves to worship there...only to have it shift within a couple of years and then people move over there.

Or the worship/children's ministry/fellowship changes and doesn't meet my needs, so I'm going to go over here now. How will it ever be what it can be if people don't put down roots and help be the change they want to see?

So, let me ask you again...how long have you been in your current church? And just how "in" are you? Are you putting down deep roots? You need to...and don't worry...God will move you when it's time to move.

I'm just saying...

Deena