​WORD From The Woods


Philemon 1:12-16
“12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”


    This passage beautifully reflects the fragrance of Christ-centered, intimate relationships. We see this in Paul’s relationship with Philemon, where Paul, despite his authority as an elder, chooses to elevate Philemon above himself in humility. Then there is the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, a bond once strained but is now full of the potential for renewal through the bonds of Christ. Finally, we witness the deep connection between Paul and Onesimus. While the duration of Onesimus’s time with Paul is unclear, it was significant enough for Paul to describe Onesimus as his “very heart.” This powerful statement reveals the profound depth of their bond and offers insight into Paul’s heartfelt affection for him.
One of the most intriguing qualities about Paul was his ability to cultivate such deep bonds with people, especially other believers, wherever he went. A glance at the names listed at the end of each of his epistles showcases the great affection he felt for others. Of course, it’s important to consider the context of Paul’s time. Life in the first century often involved traveling with groups of people for days or weeks depending on where they were going, and in Paul's case, maybe months. Such prolonged interactions naturally fosters closeness and affection. So, it should not surprise us too much that Paul had many close relationships. He not only consistently traveled with people, but he also stayed in certain cities for years, preaching the gospel, starting churches, and knowing the people well enough to be able to appoint elders in those churches, from among their own, who are devout and filled with the Spirit. These are not tasks that can be undertaken flippantly or without intention.
Paul’s emphasis on relationships is also evident in his teachings. The epistles contain over 100 “one another” statements, underscoring the importance of living in close community with other believers. Consider these examples:

• Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love; honor one another above yourselves.”
• Ephesians 4:2-3: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
• Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
• Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

How can we fulfill these commands without intimate relationships with fellow believers? While today’s culture often makes it difficult to nurture such connections, the challenge does not diminish their value but bolsters it. Hard things are often the most rewarding.
For example, this past weekend, I helped my grandfather fill his elk damage tag. At almost 80 years old, his physical capabilities are waning. After he successfully shot a cow elk (400 yd shot), the real challenge began. The elk was 300 yards down a steep clearcut with no road access at the bottom. Due to my grandfather's waning health and growing age, I had to clean and quarter the elk, a task I had never done alone. My 10-year-old daughter was with me, but understandably, she couldn’t contribute much. The process was overwhelming and physically taxing, leaving me sore for days.
Yet the difficulty of the task brought immense rewards. My grandfather was deeply blessed to experience another hunt, knowing the forthcoming hunts are very limited, my daughter had the invaluable experience of being part of a harvest with her dad and great grandfather, and the meat would fill both his freezer and mine. The effort, though exhausting, was profoundly worthwhile.
Similarly, building deep relationships often involves awkwardness, inconvenience, and effort. Sometimes, exhausting effort. Yet, these relationships allow us to confess, repent, encourage, and exhort one another, reaping benefits far beyond what we can imagine. Such connections have eternal significance, shaping our faith journeys and helping us become more Christ-like.
My encouragement to you this week is to take an intentional step toward cultivating a meaningful relationship. Seek out a friend and invest time in building a deeper connection. Remember, relationships take time to grow, but they are essential to your spiritual walk and growth in Christ.


Have a blessed week! -Ethan-

WORD From The Woods


Philemon 1:8-11
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)


This passage marks the opening third of Paul's appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. As I reflected on verse 11, I found myself pausing. What could Paul mean when he describes Onesimus as "formerly useless" but now "useful"? Perhaps this comes easily to mind for some, but for me, it required deeper thought. After diving into several commentaries, the answer became obvious—and I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Of course!” If you’ve wrestled with this verse as I did, let me share my learnings that reveal not just how Onesimus became useful, but how we all undergo a profound transformation in Christ.
Outside of Christ, we are all spiritually useless, separated from God, and incapable of fulfilling His purpose for our lives. But in Christ, we are made new creations. This truth isn’t groundbreaking new revelation as it is foundational, but it raises an important question: How does being made a new creature make us useful?
Consider Onesimus. The only change we know of in him that would cause him to be useful is his conversion under Paul’s influence while in prison. Through this transformation, he moved from being a child of wrath to being a child of God. Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:30 resonate here: "Whoever is not with me is against me" (paraphrase). This shift in allegiance, from opposing Christ to being with Him, redefines our purpose and usefulness.
As followers of Christ, our priorities change. No longer are we consumed with serving ourselves; instead, we seek to glorify God in everything. Our desires align with His will, and we embrace servanthood by preferring others above ourselves. The Gospel doesn’t make us better, it makes us vessels for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit, now residing in us, is equipping us to serve others and bring honor to His name.
Matthew Henry offers his reflection on this transformation:
"What happy changes conversion makes—of evil good! Of unprofitable useful! Religious servants are a treasure in a family. Such will make conscience of their time and trusts, promoting the interests of those whom they serve, and managing all they can for the best."
Paul’s argument to Philemon follows this reasoning: Onesimus, once unreliable and unprofitable, has been changed by the Gospel. Philemon can now expect Onesimus to be a dutiful and faithful servant, qualities that stem from his newfound identity in Christ.
This transformation isn’t limited to Onesimus. As believers, our lives should reflect this same change. In everything we do, whether eating meals, raising children, changing logging roads, or loading trucks, we aim to glorify God by working with excellence. Matthew Henry reminds us that "religious servants are a treasure."  As ambassadors of Christ, we honor Him by striving to be treasures wherever we are: in our families, workplaces, churches, and communities.
Let us embrace this calling and seek to glorify God in all we do. May our actions reflect the life-changing power of the Gospel, making us useful and faithful treasures in every area of our lives, bringing glory to God through our service and excellence.


God bless! -Ethan-

WORD From The Woods
Philemon 1:1-7
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.[a] 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
    One thing that stands out to me in this passage is Paul’s consistent thankfulness for Philemon. He writes, “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.” It’s easy to skim over verses like this, but they hold valuable insight and application. Coming from a Pentecostal background, I often heard people speak about the amount of time they would spend in their “prayer closets” each morning. Some would share how they prayed for one or two hours before ever leaving the house, and I always admired this as a mark of deep devotion to the Lord. Yet, if I’m being honest, that felt unattainable for me. The various demands of life, whether it was kids, work, mental distractions, or sheer exhaustion, kept me from spending this amount of time in prayer. It left me having a constant sense of guilt.
Looking back, I realize I had turned prayer into a legalistic task rather than a means of genuine communion with God. I thought about making prayer journals to help me track requests, stay focused, and spend more intentional time with the Lord. While the idea might work for some, it didn’t for me. My busy schedule and frequent fatigue made it hard to stick to it, and I felt guilty about falling short of that too. But when I read this passage, I notice something important: Paul didn’t mention a strict prayer routine or a journal. He said, “when I remember you”. When Philemon came to mind, Paul thanked God for him. This makes me think of the long hours Terry puts in logging. Just thinking about his long hours makes me tired! I work in Forestry, so I put in long days too but not as often as he does. For many of you in the industry—logging, trucking, forestry— early mornings and late evenings are normal things, and like me, you might feel anxious about not having time to read the Word or pray as much as you think you should.
My encouragement to you is this: Relax. Think about the Lord throughout your day. When someone or something comes to mind, pray. When you have time, read the Word. Strive to make a concerted effort because there is life and grace given to us through praying and reading. But don’t beat yourself up over missed sessions. God hears you when you call on Him, and He is faithful to answer.
Colossians 3:1-3
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


Have a blessed week!
-Ethan-

WORD From The Woods

​     This is the first installment in a new series though the book of Philemon. This week is an introduction, and next week we’ll jump into the text .
     Philemon is a fascinating book of the Bible. It is written by Paul during his imprisonment, and addressed to Philemon, a host of a house church, regarding his runaway slave. While hosting a house church doesn’t necessarily mean Philemon was a leader, it does suggest he was a man of some wealth. After all, he not only owned slaves but also had a home large enough to be the meeting place for a congregation of indeterminate size. This church was likely located in Colossae, as we can infer from the letter to the Colossians, where both Onesimus (Philemon’s slave) and Archippus—who are mentioned in Philemon—are referred to as members of the church there.
The focus of Paul’s letter is a heartfelt appeal to Philemon, asking him to welcome Onesimus back into his household, not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. Paul urges Philemon to show mercy, minimize any punishment and assures him that he will personally cover any debts or damages Onesimus may have caused.
     When we read books of the bible, it’s natural to imagine ourselves as one of the characters. However, this tendency can often lead to misinterpretation, as we might place ourselves in the wrong role distorting its original meaning and our understanding of it. In this story, however, I think it is proper to put ourselves in Onesimus’ shoes. We are the sinners, the offenders, the ones burdened with guilt. Like Onesimus, we often find ourselves in a mess of our own making—struggling to fix things in our strength and only making them worse.
Now, the text doesn’t tell us why Onesimus fled or how he came into contact with Paul, but we can infer a few things: Philemon represents the “Law,” and Paul acts as a stand-in for “Christ.” Onesimus, as the offender, is subject to the Law, which could demand severe consequences for a runaway slave—ranging from a beating to death. Yet, Paul steps in, much like Christ does for us. He pleads Onesimus’s case, offers to cover his debt, and asks Philemon to extend grace.
Likely Onesimus is the one who delivered the letter to Philemon. Can you Imagine that?! It would have taken immense humility and courage to ask for forgiveness. Picture him standing at Philemon’s door, head bowed, tears streaming down his face, silently presenting the letter that held his plea for mercy. We don’t know exactly how this scene unfolded, but we can easily relate. How often have we wronged someone—at home, in the workplace, or elsewhere—and struggled to admit our fault?
     For loggers in the Pacific Northwest, these themes are strikingly relevant. The tough and often stoic nature of the men in this profession can make moments of humility and reconciliation particularly challenging. Admitting wrongdoing to a crew or crew member at the start of a workday, for example, might feel almost impossible. Yet, just as the Holy Spirit empowered Onesimus to seek forgiveness, He also enables and empowers us to reconcile with our neighbors in the same way He reconciled us to God.
     Philemon may be a short book, but it’s incredibly profound. It vividly illustrates the gospel message as we are sinners in need of Christ's intercession for us. As we explore this book further, we’ll continue to see this beautiful truth unfold again and again. 


Have a blessed week! -Ethan-

​WORD From The Woods


Isaiah 53:1-5 
   “Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
 and like a root out of dry ground;
 he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
 smitten by God, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
 and with his wounds we are healed.”
Matthew 1:21
  “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 


    Well, Christmas is almost here! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is coming to and end. As you gather together with family and friends this week, or however you plan to celebrate, I hope and pray that you won’t forget reason we celebrate Christmas. I hope that you will be mindful that the reason for the incarnation of Jesus Christ is for the salvation of sinners. The very name Jesus, embodies salvation. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh Saves.” The entire bible is God’s unfolding plan of salvation from the fall in Paradise to the promise of Paradise restored. This coming year I hope that you won’t forget the reality that God has chosen you and I as the means through which the free gift of the water of life is dispensed to a parched and thirsty world, and the world needs it now more than ever! Perhaps you yourself are thirsty! If so, the concluding words of the last book of the bible have direct application to your life, “And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17). If you haven’t put your trust in Christ for salvation, don’t let another Christmas pass without without really knowing the true reason for the season! And if you do truly know Christ, don’t miss this opportunity to share the good news of the true Christmas story with your family and friends. The gospel is really the greatest and most valuable Christmas gift that has ever been given! Here’s a great and clear way to share the gift of salvation through Christ this Christmas. 
    First, you need to realize that you’re a sinner. If you don’t realize that you’re a sinner you wont recognize your need for a savior. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
    Second, you must repent of your sins. Repentance is an old english word that describes a willingness to turn from our sin toward Jesus Christ. It literally means making a complete U-turn on the road of life. It’s a change of heart and a change of mind.  It means that you are willing to follow Jesus and trust Him as your Savior and Lord. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). 
   Third, to demonstrate true belief means to be wiling to receive. To truly receive is to trust and depend on Jesus Christ alone to be the Lord of our lives here and now and our Savior for all eternity. It takes more than knowledge, the devil knows about Jesus and trembles at the thought. It takes more than agreement, the devil agrees that Jesus is the Son of God. What it takes is knowledge, agreement and trust in Jesus Christ alone. The requirements for eternal life are not based on what you or I can do, but on what Jesus Christ has already done. He stands ready to exchange His perfection for your imperfection. 
    According to Jesus, those who realize they are sinners, repent of their sins, and receive Him as Savior and Lord are “born again” (John 3:3), not physically, but spiritually. The reality of our salvation is not dependent on our feelings but rather on the promise of the Savior who says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24).
    If you have confessed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you can rejoice in the angelic proclamation of salvation given to the shepherds on that very first Christmas, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) If you have never confessed your faith in Jesus Christ, then do so today and start the new year off right as a new person in Christ! If you have already done that, then take this moment to renew your faith and commit to share the good news of salvation with the world around you throughout the coming year! 


God bless, have a great week, and Merry Christmas! -Terry-

WORD From The Woods 
1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-17
    “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
    “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”


    Christmas is just over a week away! As we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, I think it’s important to stop and think about the resurrection and what it really means. If it wasn’t for the resurrection of Jesus Christ , there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas at all. As the apostle Paul put it to the Corinthian Christians, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” In light of Paul’s words, it’s vitally important that Christians proclaim the truth, that the Christ of Christmas had the power to lay down His life and the power take it up again, demonstrating that He is God in human flesh. God alone is the only one who could ever accomplish what needed to be done to bring salvation to sinful mankind. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas, the fact that the Son of God came down to us in person as a baby in a manger to live among us and bring salvation! If each and every one of us had to to die to pay the price for our sin, we would just die and stay separated from the love and presence of God forever. But, when Christ died to pay the price for sin in our place, He broke the power of death by walking out of the tomb on the third day, forever victorious over death! I don’t know why we always wait until Easter to talk about the resurrection, it really is the most incredible part of the true Christmas story! As you gather together with family and friends to celebrate, share the whole Christmas story with them. The nativity scene is only the beginning, it’s what that baby laying in a manger came to do that really matters.


God bless, have a great week and Merry Christmas! -Terry-




     

WORD From The Woods


Revelation 3:14-22


“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.  “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”


    The church in Laodicea was the last of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. It was the last and maybe the least because it’s the only one that Jesus didn’t commend in any way. The entire message to them was one of rebuke. The sad and scary part is that, the problems that Jesus identified with the Laodiceans are some of the biggest problems facing the church in America today. The people of Laodicea were wealthy, self-made men. They were prosperous and in need of nothing, they were “blessed” in a worldly sense. They had all they needed physically and financially. But spiritually, they were wretched, naked, blind and poor! They may have thought that being “blessed” in this world meant they were on the right track with God, and that somehow they could buy a place in eternity. Jesus challenged them to buy gold from him that they may be rich, white garments that they may cover their shame, and salve to anoint their eyes. Jesus wasn’t talking about literal gold and clothing, this is a clear reference to the salvation and righteousness that only Jesus Christ can offer through His sacrifice on the cross!  I see these same problems everywhere in our culture today, especially in the timber industry. It takes a tremendous amount of money to run a logging company these days. It’s a real “feast or famine” business. Lots of loggers have done very well and lot of them have hit rock bottom financially, most have been in both places at some point. With the incredibly high cost of machinery these days, millions of dollars per year move though a company’s hands. It’s so easy to think that having a fleet of nice equipment and a large bank account is the measure of success in this life. You can have everything you want in this world and be completely bankrupt spiritually! There is nothing wrong with money and success, and they can be a great blessing, but when it becomes the focus of our heart instead of God then it’s just sinful idolatry. Jesus said to the people of Laodicea, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
    As you go out this week, examine your heart before God. Are on fire for God? Is He the focus of your heart or are you just lukewarm and focused more on the things of this life? 


God bless and have a great week! -Terry- 

WORD From The Woods 


Revelation 3:7-13
    “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. “


    The church is praised for its faithfulness despite having “little power.” While it’s not clear why this church was described as having little power, possibilities include that it was a young congregation of new believers or that it faced constant opposition from “those of the synagogue of Satan,” who falsely claimed to be followers of God. Whatever the case, this church is honored for remaining steadfast in faith and not denying Christ.
Relating to the Church in Philadelphia
I find this church deeply relatable. I’ve often felt that I, too, have “little power.” Whether it’s my struggle with self-discipline, my lack of knowledge or understanding of Scripture, or my poor application of biblical truth, I’ve fallen short time and again. Like this church, I’ve felt weak and inadequate.
Yet, this passage highlights the importance of “patient endurance.” What does that mean? For insight, we can turn to James 1:2-4:
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 and let steadfastness have its full effect, lacking in nothing.”
Here, “patient endurance” is equated with steadfastness through trials. These trials test our faith, strengthen us, and lead us toward spiritual maturity.
You might say, “But I have little power. I’ve failed my trials and fallen into temptation time and time again. What good is this to me?”
To you, my dear brother or sister, I say: do not lose heart! Even James 1 offers hope in its following verses:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let gim ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
God’s Word reassures us of His willingness to give grace, strength, and wisdom. Consider Jesus’ words in John 15:7:
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
All of God’s promises are “yes” in Christ! (2 Corinthians 1:20).
I know life is challenging, especially in workplaces like the logging industry, where profanity, immorality, drunkenness, and other forms of wickedness are commonplace. Temptations abound.
But I encourage you: pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit to equip you with the patient endurance demonstrated by the church in Philadelphia. Pray not only for the strength to resist temptation and “not deny His name” but also for boldness to proclaim His name to the world.
Go forth and take dominion over the earth, as God has commanded, living faithfully in the places He has put you. Trust in His promise to supply your needs, and may His blessings be upon you this week.


God Bless and have a great week! -Ethan Harris- ​

WORD From The Woods
Revelation 3:1-6
  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”


    The Church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but as Christ said, they were dead. This reminds me of a religious person who, on the outside seems to have it all together spiritually, but inside they don’t have any kind of true relationship with God at all. They’re a “phony Christian,” a Christian in name only, just putting on a good show. Sadly, the churches of America are full of people just like this. We’ve all been guilty of it at times ourselves. It’s easy to fall into the temptation of putting on a good show to make people think we are a “good Christian.” But, that kind of behavior is so devastating to the cause of Christ! The world is watching us and people can spot hypocrisy from a mile away. We must be honest and real with people, we must become true devoted disciples of Jesus Christ and demonstrate the reality of Christ in us each and every day. One of the biggest things I’ve seen since starting Fellowship of Christian Loggers, is the power of honesty with the people around us. We can put on a good show and try by our own power to be perfect. But, when we mess up, the world around us will see us for the fraud we really are. We need have a true relationship with Christ and begin being changed from the inside out by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then when we do mess up, it becomes a testimony to the grace and power of God working in our life! The apostle Paul asked the question, “should we sin more so that grace may abound?” “By no means!” He said. But through our own weakness the power of God is revealed in our life! When I was a kid, I thought that our pastor must be pretty close to perfect. After all, he did work directly for God right? Pastor Del was an old timber cutter and he would come cut oversize for my dad once in a while. One day when I was about 13, Del had been sawing for us all day and it was getting dark, he had an old Ford truck that didn’t run quite right and he was under the hood working on it, more than a little frustrated……Well, I heard a series of words come out of his mouth that I never imagined a pastor of all people even knew, much less say! It might sound crazy, but that moment changed my life. Not because I learned that pastors could swear, but I realized then and there that pastor Del was a real life sinner like me. Until then, I though that all “good Christians” were pretty much perfect and I knew I never would be. When we put on a good show like those people in Sardis we actually just push the world further away, because there is no reality to a dead faith like that. I’m not saying that we need to cuss and sin to attract the world to us, that would just drag the name of Christ though the mud! We don’t want to glorify sin, but we don’t want to pretend that it doesn’t exist either.  We need to be real with people. What I learned from pastor Del over the next few years was that, while he was still a sinner, Christ was alive in him and working though him, growing him all the time. I saw the reality of a faith that was alive!


God Bless and have a great week! -Terry-

WORD From The Woods
Revelation 2:18-29
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.“


     This message to the church in Thyatira is similar to the message to the church in Pergamum that we looked at last week. They are both similar because of the warning against false teaching. The church in Thyatira is warned about tolerating a prophetess that Christ refers to here as “Jezebel.” Jezebel was a wicked woman who married Israel’s King Ahab nearly 1,000 years before this was written. Jezebel violently imposed idol worship on the northern kingdom of Israel and led the nation astray. The mention of Jezebel here is a clear warning to the church that the prophetess they were following was leading them astray in the same way. I don’t know if they were actually involved in some kind of pagan worship involving sexual immorality or if that is a metaphor that points to a kind of spiritual adultery where the church was being unfaithful to God by following false teaching. It very well could have been both, and it really doesn’t matter. The point is that they we’re not being faithful to the teaching found in the word of God. The last part of this passage mentions the “morning star,” who is Christ Himself. They were told to hold fast to gospel of Christ and the truth of His word in order to conquer the false teaching that they were being bombarded with. As I mentioned last week, we’re facing the same kind of false teaching and immorality all around us every day. As loggers we will face it this morning on the CB on the way to the job. Sexual immorality and all sorts of things that go against the clear teaching found in God’s word are all around us everywhere we go. It is rampant in our world today. As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that points people back to Him and we can do that because of the Holy Spirit living in us. We don’t strive to live that way to be better than the guys we work with, but to show them in love and humility, who Christ is and what He has done for us. When we live according to the ways of the world but call ourselves Christians, we drag the name of Christ through the mud and the people watching us won’t want anything to do with Him. As you go about your week, seek to live for Christ and turn away from the ways of the world, rest in the power of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you, and ask Him to point you to truth in all that you do!


God bless, and have a great week! -Terry-