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Opinion
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- Written by: Pastor Chris DelCol
It was a special treat when my little sister and I would go out with our little pails and pick wild raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and the like. We’d bring our pickings to the farm house and Grandma would cook up a pie or two. Along the way, we would always indulge and eat as many of these berries as we could.
The one thing we couldn’t pick in Canada was wild grapes. When you get only three months of growing weather, grapes don’t have a very good chance of survival.
That was probably good, because where there are wild grapes growing, there is also Canada Moonseed or Virginia Creeper growing as well. They are highly toxic and deadly plants that look identical to wild grapes. People who eat of the moonseed vine will likely die from the toxins.
So, as I look back and remember eating the wild raspberries and strawberries and blueberries, I am kind of happy we didn’t get the chance to munch on the deadly fruit of the “look alike” grape vine.
Guess where that brings us? The analogy we see in Jesus’ words in John 15, “I am the true vine.” How often we hear these words and simply gloss over and rush by them. After all, we know it. We’ve heard it. We get it. Let’s get to the good stuff. Let’s get to what we need to do. We need to abide in Jesus. We need to obey Him and bear much fruit.
There are many deadly vines in our community, temptations that pull us away from the need to bear fruit for the true vine which is Jesus.
As Lake County is reborn in Christ and people take pride in the joy of living here, the true vine will flourish and the deadly “look alike” will perish.
That is why it is so important for our communities here in Lake County to reach out to folks who are lost, who are burdened with addictions, mental illness, homelessness, unemployment, hate and any other adversity.
By working together in a manner that is focused on the cross of Christ, there will be renewal … but it takes the effort of all to make that happen.
When you see someone who is struggling in any way, offer them some grapes from the true vine. Tell them about the Good News of Jesus, then step back and watch what happens!
Please join us at First Lutheran Church to hear more about the true vine this Sunday at 11 a.m. Bible study starts at 9:30 a.m., contemporary worship at 11 a.m. and lunch following the service.
All are welcome, so come as you are to learn more about the true vine.
Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572.
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- Written by: Pastor Dawn-Karen Roberts
In John, we find the recorded words of Jesus using the analogy of growth of a Christian to the cultivation of a vineyard. As we live in an area of vintagers, you will find that these words of Jesus can very easily be understood by us today.
What we find in the scripture from Acts today may not be so easily understood. Here we find a eunuch, a castrated man, of great authority, in charge of the treasure of a queen, reading but not understanding the words of a prophet. An angel of the Lord told Philip – oh, I will say no more you must come and hear the rest of the story.
For one reason or another, you may have been away from church for some time, but what a wonderful time to reunite. We especially invite you to return in faith to one of our churches to talk to God about your needs and praise God.
Each of our churches is involved in assistance to the their communities. We invite you to come, learn more and be one with us.
For that get-up-early place to worship, join our Potter Valley United Methodist Church, 10075 Main Street, Potter Valley, at 9 a.m.
Join Clearlake Oaks UMC, 12487 The Plaza, at noon, and enjoy a fellowship potluck after the service this Sunday.
For an afternoon service join with us at Clearlake UMC, 14521 Pearl Ave. at 2 p.m.
We pray that we see many visitors in our churches in the beautiful days of spring.
Dawn-Karen Roberts pastors the United Methodist Church congregations in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks and Potter Valley.
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- Written by: Todd Metcalf
This also highlights the important role parents of young adults can play in providing their kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol (and drugs) can have on their lives and the lives of those around them.
Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous, not only to themselves and the community at large, but is also directly associated with educational failure, violence, traffic fatalities, suicide, unsafe sex and alcohol overdose. This even applies to those individuals who may never develop dependence and/or addiction.
Adolescence is the prime time of elevated overall risk-taking and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are often faced with a very unique set of challenges.
Parents sometimes justify underage drinking or drug use as a “rite of passage.” Parents can either sit back and hope that their kids will get through it, or they can adjust their attitudes and partake in an active role to learn about alcohol and drugs and assist their kids in doing the same.
It is not always an easy task to discuss with children about the perils of drinking and drug use, but is well worth the effort parents can put into it.
Studies have shown that kids who have conversations with their parents early on and learn about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are more than 50 percent less likely to use these substances than those who did not have such discussions.
This is the opportunity when parents can reinforce the fact that imbibing alcohol is not a “rite of passage.”
When parents foster a change in attitude about alcohol and drug use in both themselves and their children will help them all to understand that drinking is not a way to be or feel independent, “cool,” or to fit in socially.
Young people can learn that alcohol and drugs are not a requirement in order to have a good time and that non-use of any substance is a viable and most importantly the healthiest option. We must learn to honor and respect another individual’s decision not to drink alcohol.
Alcohol and drug use is a very risky business for young people, and parents are the lynchpin in making a difference. The longer young people delay alcohol and drug use, the less likely they are to develop the inherent problems associated with it.
For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.
Todd Metcalf is the administrator of Lake County Behavioral Health.
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- Written by: Pastor Chris DelCol
What’s so good about a shepherd anyway? I mean, a shepherd is not the most desirable vocation by a long shot even today.
As a matter of fact, a shepherd in the time of Jesus was considered to be the lowest of the low.
These people would spend weeks, and sometimes months out in the wilderness with their sheep, tending to their every need.
They were known to have quite a nasty scent about them, as a matter of fact, one could say they reeked to high heaven! I mean, how ripe would one be if they didn’t bathe or change clothes for weeks on end?
And then of course the shepherd was also known for his desire to be alone, away from the rest of society. Don’t bother me and I won’t bother you was the motto.
For certain, shepherds were known to interact with each other, as a matter of fact they at times combined flocks and moved from one field to another to feed and water the flocks. But for the most part, shepherds were considered outcasts, and low lifers; a label well earned.
So why does the Bible continually refer to shepherds as good? Why does Jesus say, "I am the Good Shepherd?”
A good shepherd? It means everything when it comes to the reason why God uses this very pertinent analogy. You see, when a shepherd calls, his sheep follow his voice; if another calls, they're not likely to respond.
Imagine a hillside where a few flocks of sheep are grazing together. The flocks intermingle and feed on the pastureland … a big woolly mix where they all look pretty much alike.
When the time comes to move on, the shepherds call out to the sheep. The flocks separate, and each sheep follows its own shepherd. That's the sort of imagery that the Lord is using here.
Jesus compares people to sheep. For one thing, you can't tell who they belong to just by looking at them. If you watch a camera panning a crowd at a football game, you cannot pick out who is a Christian and who is not.
Christians do not have some sort of visible mark on their foreheads or a glowing aura that declares their faith. They are not extra fit or extra healthy. They look pretty much like everybody else, no matter who they follow.
So, what's the difference? What sets our Lord's people apart from the rest of the sheep? Well, His sheep hear His voice; and because they hear His voice, they know Him and follow Him.
We hear the voice through the Word of God and through prayer. What an opportunity for us to outreach and communicate that very Word to the lost in our community and pray to our Heavenly Father for guidance.
A shepherd views his sheep almost like a parent views their children – with love. And that is where we are in Lake County. We need shepherds, folks! People who are willing to embrace the reality of a town that is truly in need of “Good Shepherds.”
If you feel called to help, please contact me at the church at 707-274-5572 and we will work together to revitalize Lake County.
Please join us at First Lutheran Church each Sunday for Bible study at 9:30 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. and a time of fellowship and food following the service.
Come as you are and join us as we seek to reach out, embrace and recover a community in need of help through the strength that Jesus gives us all.
Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572.