One thing that I am often thankful for is the fact that I grew up in the country. Partly because I didn't grow up seeing all of the stuff that so often comes with a big school.

But being in a small town and small school, one of the classes that you pretty much had to take was Vocational Agriculture. In that class we learned what it took to run a farm. From cutting pigs (that's farm-speak for castration) to welding a fence and making a wood swing. Another thing we had to do was to have a project animal.

I raised a lamb.

Nimfius Scooterpie. That was her name.

Sheep are absolutely the dumbest breed of animal God created. Scientific fact.

I could bring her into the garage, draw a circle around her with a chirt rock and she would not leave.

You could call her name and she might come-if she also sees the feed bucket in your hand. If you pushed on her head she would push back, and you wouldn't be able to budge her. When you fed her, you had better not turn your back or she would put you over the fence. (I broke many a 2x4 over the head of the ram we had with her-almost every day!)

Jesus Called Us What?

Jesus called us--sheep?

Yes sheep know the voice of their handler, but not all of them obey it. They often push against any type of force.

But she did know my voice and would come when I called and not my dad. And when in situations that are not as serious as they appear they don't have the sense to leave.

Sounds like us doesn't it?


John 10:14-16 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Aaron "Tree" Landis
Psalm 1.1-3

May we be ever mindful of who, and what, is also giving all their glory to Him who created them.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NKJV

We are without excuse...


NKJV Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun. . .

and moon; . . .

Praise Him, all you stars of light! Psalm 148:3

Have a blessed Lord's Day!!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Aaron "Tree" Landis

Psalm 1.1-3

Back in 1990 to 93 I worked at a christian bookstore that no longer exists. I can remember during that time that a huge stink in the Christian culture was raised.

Amy Grant came out with a cross over album.

Everyone thought she had sold out at the time. Some of you may remember.

The main justification for this was that, we want to be "all things to all men" interpretation of that verse.(a poor one at that, but we can talk about that later). Christian music was struggling to become more marketable to the general public under the guise of trying to reach them. And it was then that the word "relevant" was starting to be used.

The generation that came up in its teen years in the church heard the message that "Baby, Baby" sent as being, I can look like, sound like and be like my friends so that they will like me and in turn like Jesus. So Christianity became a popularity contest.

And it can all be done under the "ministray" montra.

Also bout this time culminated the school of preaching's 3 points and a poem-no longer than 25 minutes-make em wanna come back next week-approach. I can speak to that cause thats what I was taught in bible college. Sermons that touched on Scripture, if only to give a spring board effect to what the speaker wants to say about the latest newspaper article without getting to detailed.

How does this make him relevant? Well, he has to be up on his current events to be able to get a sermon together. Scripture preaching (expositionally) was something that was unheard of in baptist life-at least to me.

So they heard it from the pulpit, they heard it in the Christian bookstore, even saw the video of a popular Christian musician on MTV, and the youth minister dressed like an off beat member of RunDMC.

So It's Amy's Fault?

No. Please, please don't read that into what I'm saying. This is what I'm asking. How relevant is the church, or Christian faith, supposed to be to the world? Is it even possible or necessary?

I don't think it is necessary or possible. Why? Let's look at Scripture.


Romans 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


2 Corinthians 6:13 - 7:1 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

We need now more than ever people who will come out and be separate, not conformed to this world. I don't want to hear from the pulpit a culturally relevant fable. We NEED the Word of God proclaimed. Preaching from Scripture is making a comeback-thankfully. As that happens some of the issues that have plagued the church over the past century will begin to be looked at in a fresh way.

But we must be visibly, and vocally different in our lifestyle, culture (Christian culture), and everthing in between.Looking at the Romans 12 passage, the way to know God's will for us and the church is to not conform to this world.

Stop looking in Egypt for answers.

The church, and Christians, don't need to be relevant--they need to be Radical again.

In what way? Start with...

Galatians 5:22-23 2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.


Ephesians 5:8-14 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Think that would be a good start, don't you?

Soli Deo Gloria,
Aaron "Tree" Landis
Psalm 1:1-3

Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is my throne, . . .









and the earth is my footstool;" -Isaiah 66:1

Ok so I'm tryin this new look to see how I like it... Not completely sure, so it may change here shortly. Stay tuned

Ok, I took a nice break from bloggin for a while. Shoot me. It was a really long semester and I had to put my priorities in place. This summer its 2 yes, 2 semesters of Hebrew crammed into 10 weeks. So once again I'm a glutton for punishment. Whether or not I survive-remains to be seen.

I'll start posting once again shortly.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Aaron "Tree" Landis
Psalm 1.1